archived: 17 - 23 Apr, 2005 Back Next
UPDATED: April 21, 2005
JERRY
LOBDILL
“Let’s Get Busy . . .”
Junkie: TPJ is republishing Lobdill’s feedback to TPJ today. Lobdill interpreted one segment of my comments following his article to be critical of his point of view, when, in fact, the intent was to support Lobdill’s call that it is time for Democrats to get busy. The comments following Lobdill’s article have been edited to more clearly reflect that support. The edited portion appears in italics.
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As a 67 year old dedicated political activist since May of 2003 (Howard Dean awakened me like a bolt of lightning), I have been deeply involved in the effort to battle the neocons.
This week's offerings by Michael Carmichael and Dr. Steven Jonas echo the feeling that I find invading my consciousness in the last 6 months. We are being engulfed by a tsunami that is teaching us just how powerless we are, with our analytical and communication skills, to turn the tide.
Since Bush's re-selection we have been bombarded by a series of outrageous neocon initiatives that has steadily increased in intensity and insanity. As we try to respond to each of these we are hit again and again from a different quarter without time to react appropriately.
Both Carmichael and Jonas end their litany of outrages today with the same anguished plea: "When will people wake up?" Well, I've been wondering that for a long time. What we need is another U. S. Grant to lead us now in the war against insanity. Until such a figure emerges, however, we who have ears to hear, brains to think, and eyes to see would do well to try to focus on what will be needed when and if the leader appears before it is too late. After all, what have we got to lose?
I think the nation is headed for the rocks, and if Bush et al remain unimpeded by the people there are two crash scenarios that seem plausible. The first, and most likely, is economic collapse caused by outsourcing of capital and jobs, stunning expenses of war and empire-building, and staggering trade and federal deficits. I think this is likely to occur before the end of Bush's second term. The other scenario involves loss of credibility among nations through continued preemptive war and the abandonment of the US by others as a rogue nation. This would lead also to economic collapse.
Meanwhile, I have nothing better to offer than this: We need to convince our progressive tycoons (Soros, Gates(?), Buffett (?)) to invest in progressive TV and print media from which we will beam progressive frames to our base and anchor those frames strongly so that our base unites to overthrow the tyrants come future elections. There is no chance of being allowed the bandwidth to anchor our frames in the present array of corporate media. Perhaps this will be like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic, but like the hapless passengers of that doomed ship, what else can we do?
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Junkie: Courage Jerry, courage.
First, Soros has spent millions helping the cause. Gates and Buffett are problematic. Gates is essentially Republican economically. TPJ noted in a recent article that Gates made positive comments regarding the willingness of the Chinese labor force to accept “less” in healthcare. -- UNTYING THE AMERICAN BONDS Buffett disdains Bush’s economic policies, but supported Arnold for Governor in California, actually serving on his advisory committee.
Second, when it is all said and done, Al Gore continues the effort to get Democrats on the airwaves. Here is a quote announcing that Gore and a group of investors are purchasing a cablevision channel:
Former Vice President Al Gore Monday unveiled his new television network, Current, which aims to attract younger viewers with its short videos and a tie-in with the popular Google Inc. search engine.
The network plans to debut Aug. 1 and be available to 19 million subscription television viewers, Gore said at a news conference at the cable industry's annual convention. Gore led an investment group that last May bought the network from Vivendi Universal for an undisclosed sum.
The channel will show professionally produced segments as well as viewer-produced videos mostly short in length, running from a few seconds to up to 15 minutes.
"We are about empowering this generation of young people in their 20s, the 18 to 34 population, to engage in a dialogue of democracy and to tell their stories about what's going in their lives in the dominant media of our time," he said.
Viewers will also be able to vote for their favorite videos and get tutorials via the Internet on how to produce their own segments, according to network officials. -- Money
It is a start.
Third, there will be no Democratic Party “US Grant.” Former Senator Bill Bradley recently discussed the Democratic Party’s perpetual quest for a “savior.” This quote from Bradley makes his point:
Democrats choose this approach, I believe, because we are still hypnotized by Jack Kennedy, and the promise of a charismatic leader who can change America by the strength and style of his personality. The trouble is that every four years the party splits and rallies around several different individuals at once. Opponents in the primaries then exaggerate their differences and leave the public confused about what Democrats believe.
In such a system tactics trump strategy. Candidates don't risk talking about big ideas because the ideas have never been sufficiently tested. Instead they usually wind up arguing about minor issues and express few deep convictions. In the worst case, they embrace "Republican lite" platforms - never realizing that in doing so they're allowing the Republicans to define the terms of the debate.
The TPJ article on Bradley’s prescription for Democrats, to build from the base up, is a must read. – Bill Bradley
Fourth, Democrats will not alter the course of Bush’s neoconservatives quickly. Republicans have spent years building their base, their message and their infrastructure. Democrats are now engaging the hard tasks of rebuilding a Party.
It will take time – it will take patient but dedicated effort by Democrats everywhere – and it will take our collective resources.
For example, we can help the national Democratic Party by giving a donation – no matter how small. You can make a contribution here: -- Democratic National Committee Also make a contribution to your state party. If you believe that your contribution, no matter how small, will not make a difference – then the cause is lost.
Finally, Junkie agrees with Jerry. It is time to stop wailing and get to work!
MARY HOOPER
“Banana
Republic”
Today, some might think US citizenship is the most precious on the planet, but there's a good chance this will change as the right wing US govt. gets more and more fascist and eyes greater and greater chunks of the globe as fit for conquest. It doesn't look as if an opposition party is in the plans of our present rulers and as the tax system changes to create two classes, aristocrats and peons, America will be just another banana republic and not such a great place to live. Too bad history classes fell out of favor in the post-Viet Nam era......
JUNKIE
“The Peaceful Mariner”
TPJ has received a number of emails asking if Gene Barber, “The Peaceful Mariner,” has received a response from Chairman Dean. Barber’s wonderful letter to Chairman Dean can be found in Tuesday’s update below.
TPJ understands that Barber has not yet received a response, but TPJ will keep readers advised if Chairman Dean responds.
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SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2005
GENE BARBER
“What Will I Tell Them?”
Junkie: Gene Barber is retired and lives in Hawaii. He authors an email only newsletter called “The Peaceful Mariners.” TPJ follows The Peaceful Mariner as an example of a small community effort by a man of considerable wisdom; demonstrating the passion and talent that remains within the Democratic Party.
Barber’s letter to Chairman Dean expresses the mind of many Democrats. Will Chairman Dean respond?
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Howard Dean:
I have just received a request for funds from you. But, before I give a dime, I want to know to what I'm contributing. Kerry ran a poor and non-creative race and lost. He was not allowed to use the word "peace" but he could use the word "war" as in "The War on Terrorism." No nation wins a war -- although companies and individuals may profit greatly. We should talk more of a campaign against terrorism which would rely less on arms and big bucks and would include attempts to understand why there are terrorists and to come up with creative and peaceful solutions. Remember Abraham Lincoln said: "The best thing to do with an enemy is to make a friend of him." That's the Golden Rule of Jesus -- it is not idealism; it is realism. Ask Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., Arch Bishop Tutu or Nelson Mandela.
When I hear that a war costs money, I ask "Who pays for it? When I hear of innocent people being murdered, I ask: "Who murdered them?" When I hear that 183 Democrats voted for $80 billion more for GWB's Iraq fiasco, I say: "With friends like that, who needs enemies?"
I write from Hilo, Hawaii where we are retired. I am age 80 and became a Democrat at about age 65 because I thought they were the party for the common man. I am a retired navy reserve officer from WWII, an engineer with 40 years experience, a Scoutmaster for 8 years (with many Eagle Scouts) and a man trying to live his last years in peace.
I stand for world peace with social justice. War does not produce peace. Hatred, retaliation and revenge produce only more of the same. We have no business going around the world killing people. This Iraq fiasco will cost us a trillion dollars before the last veteran thereof has died. I believe we should preserve Social Security and its funding and I oppose any privatization of those accounts. .I believe we should support the United Nations fully. We should limit our materialistic urges and needs and we should not sell our souls to China, the Devil or anyone else -- although we should strive mightily to live at peace with all countries
Just as we successfully mediate local disputes (no more dueling in the streets), it’s past time that we mediate international disagreements. I believe we should preserve and improve the environment and that we should "Do unto others as we would have them do unto us." We should walk humbly -- not stomp arrogantly. I say “God Bless our Troops -- and all Humankind." We should scale down the military and give more attention to social inequities at home and around the world. I wonder why the Defense Department has a budget a thousand times as much as the Peace Corp.
I wonder about Pro-lifers who want to save all embryos, then raise undernourished and poorly educated young people and then sacrifice them on the killing fields of war. That's pro-life?? Actually, young people should not fight old people's wars.
Since the bombs started falling on March 19, 2003, I have produced over 250 editions of a peace-oriented e-mail newsletter, which I send freely but which goes to only 55 people, about half of those being my fellow naval reserve officers from WWII. It is titled: "Peaceful Mariners."
We should know and announce clearly what we stand for. So please give us a clear, logical, truthful and compassionate platform before you ask for money. No I'm not making your job any easier -- but my job of working as an effective volunteer for world peace and justice isn't easy either. I work on a zero budget -- actually it's a negative budget.
Both you and I must be the target of unkind comments. And we both live in a country split asunder by the actions of men in Washington. And I am deeply concerned of Democrats who act like Republicans. They are wolves in sheep's clothing.
Thanks for giving me a chance to write. This is a first draft (and I've surely missed a few vital points) -- but there is no time to polish it. Since I have no assurance that you will see it or read it, I will include it in my next newsletter -- and readers may ask me: "Have you heard from Howard yet?" What will I tell them?
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Last Update: 03/23/2006