Comments on: The Elections and the Responsibility of the Intellectual to Speak Truth to Power: Twelve Reasons to Reject Obama and Support Nader/McKinney http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:33 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Brian http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-31541 Brian Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:25:04 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-31541 My vote for Nader, is looking better by the hour. Have you seen how bad Obama's economic transition team is? A couple of liberals, Reich and Bonior, and bunch of CEOs and pro corporate types. Pathetic. My vote for Nader, is looking better by the hour.

Have you seen how bad Obama’s economic transition team is? A couple of liberals, Reich and Bonior, and bunch of CEOs and pro corporate types.

Pathetic.

]]> By: TheFafon http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-31474 TheFafon Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:20:56 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-31474 Now that Obama has been elected, we've only a few more months left until the American people may test these claims against Obama. I voted for Nader, but Obama was a strong second choice for me. I find much of this a bit difficult to swallow seeing the obvious bias, however, all of your points are based in truth and well argued. Let us see what the future holds. Now that Obama has been elected, we’ve only a few more months left until the American people may test these claims against Obama. I voted for Nader, but Obama was a strong second choice for me. I find much of this a bit difficult to swallow seeing the obvious bias, however, all of your points are based in truth and well argued.
Let us see what the future holds.

]]> By: Deadbeat http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30981 Deadbeat Sat, 01 Nov 2008 09:40:31 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30981 Max if what you are saying about the Greens and McKinney are true it means that the Greens are presenting a false front. In that case I cannot fault voters for voting for Obama. A vote for McKinney is essentially a wasted vote because there is no basis for a real future and building up a real viable alternative. I know Elaine Brown threw her hat into the ring but she eventually resigned from the Green Party due the Green Party lack of seriousness. Also Max my point regarding the slash (/) is that most writers write as though Nader and McKinney have NO distinction which is not the case. When one goes into the voting booth they have to make a choice. Therefore there has to be a distinction between the two otherwise Nader and McKinney could have ran on one ticket as a united front. Max if what you are saying about the Greens and McKinney are true it means that the Greens are presenting a false front. In that case I cannot fault voters for voting for Obama. A vote for McKinney is essentially a wasted vote because there is no basis for a real future and building up a real viable alternative. I know Elaine Brown threw her hat into the ring but she eventually resigned from the Green Party due the Green Party lack of seriousness.

Also Max my point regarding the slash (/) is that most writers write as though Nader and McKinney have NO distinction which is not the case. When one goes into the voting booth they have to make a choice. Therefore there has to be a distinction between the two otherwise Nader and McKinney could have ran on one ticket as a united front.

]]> By: Diane http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30951 Diane Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:40:34 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30951 And everybody's shouting out "Which Side Are You On?" And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot Fighting in the captain tower While calypso singers laugh at them And fishermen hold flowers And everybody’s shouting out
“Which Side Are You On?”
And Ezra Pound and T. S. Eliot
Fighting in the captain tower
While calypso singers laugh at them
And fishermen hold flowers

]]> By: Cariboo http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30929 Cariboo Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:20:51 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30929 I agree with Petras that an Obama presidency will not produce any meaningful, structural change in America, but like 'Deadbeat' mentions, there is no Nader/McKinney ticket. After the 2008 (s)election is over with, I think progressives should encourage these two to work together. Until a coalition of this sort is formed on the left, people like Nader and McKinney will remain political nobodies in the mainstream. I write from Canada, and 99.5 % of people here haven't even heard of McKinney, or don't even realize that Nader is running in this election. A real shame. This might be a complete pipedream, but can you imagine Rosa Clemente taking on Sarah Palin in a televised debate? Or how about McKinney versus Obama? Gozales versus Biden? Nevertheless, "progressives" like Chomsky, Zinn, and Solomon should be embarrassed for lending their support for the Obama campaign. I thought Chomsky considered himself an anarchist, and now he's suggesting that Americans choose the lesser of two warmongers? Unbelievable. I think he should retire. I agree with Petras that an Obama presidency will not produce any meaningful, structural change in America, but like ‘Deadbeat’ mentions, there is no Nader/McKinney ticket.

After the 2008 (s)election is over with, I think progressives should encourage these two to work together. Until a coalition of this sort is formed on the left, people like Nader and McKinney will remain political nobodies in the mainstream. I write from Canada, and 99.5 % of people here haven’t even heard of McKinney, or don’t even realize that Nader is running in this election. A real shame. This might be a complete pipedream, but can you imagine Rosa Clemente taking on Sarah Palin in a televised debate? Or how about McKinney versus Obama? Gozales versus Biden?

Nevertheless, “progressives” like Chomsky, Zinn, and Solomon should be embarrassed for lending their support for the Obama campaign. I thought Chomsky considered himself an anarchist, and now he’s suggesting that Americans choose the lesser of two warmongers? Unbelievable. I think he should retire.

]]> By: Max Shields http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30877 Max Shields Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:04:39 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30877 Btw, DB, I don't disagree that McKinney has a party from which to position a launch a progressive vault. But, first, I don't see the Green Party rallying around McKinney (and frankly, I don't see McKinney as an honest to goodness "Green"). I think they'll say adeau after 11/4. I do think that McKinney buys into the Gree values and platform. She is a sincere candidate on that score, but it is a marriage of convenience. Ralph remains the begrudging standard bearer of the Green Party, independent or not. Maybe it just feels that way in Connecticut where he has deep roots as a native son. He's a Lebanese Connectictut Yankee! For this election cycle, either one is a good vote in my book. It has been said before, but we, progressives need an independent movement, detached from a party but allied to what, perhaps, Vermont has - a Progressive Party. But once you're in the fray, you're part of the system. When the system is toxic it poisons relationships quickly, it crates, beggers, and thieves out of the best minds and ideals. A movement is essential, but it needs to be one that crates a new system, not simply an adjunct to the existing one. Replacing the Dems with Greens is just a Faustian swap. Btw, DB, I don’t disagree that McKinney has a party from which to position a launch a progressive vault.

But, first, I don’t see the Green Party rallying around McKinney (and frankly, I don’t see McKinney as an honest to goodness “Green”).

I think they’ll say adeau after 11/4. I do think that McKinney buys into the Gree values and platform. She is a sincere candidate on that score, but it is a marriage of convenience.

Ralph remains the begrudging standard bearer of the Green Party, independent or not. Maybe it just feels that way in Connecticut where he has deep roots as a native son. He’s a Lebanese Connectictut Yankee!

For this election cycle, either one is a good vote in my book. It has been said before, but we, progressives need an independent movement, detached from a party but allied to what, perhaps, Vermont has – a Progressive Party. But once you’re in the fray, you’re part of the system. When the system is toxic it poisons relationships quickly, it crates, beggers, and thieves out of the best minds and ideals.

A movement is essential, but it needs to be one that crates a new system, not simply an adjunct to the existing one. Replacing the Dems with Greens is just a Faustian swap.

]]> By: Max Shields http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30871 Max Shields Thu, 30 Oct 2008 22:15:21 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30871 DB, Hate to be technical but "/" represents "or". they obviously are not running mates. DB,
Hate to be technical but “/” represents “or”. they obviously are not running mates.

]]> By: lichen http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30869 lichen Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:55:06 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30869 No, I think most of the people claiming they can 'put Obamas feet to the fire' don't realize that the only way to get that status-quo war criminal/corporatist to change is by setting a real fire; burn down every city hall, burn down the white house, riot in the streets for days, trash and loot the shopping malls, bulldoze starbucks, occupy the universities, bomb the pentagon, forcibly shut down all coal/nuclear plants, hold a general strike... If you aren't prepared to do that, then don't vote in a scumbag. No amount of fun code pink songs or weekend protest marches or newspaper editorials are going to do a thing. No, I think most of the people claiming they can ‘put Obamas feet to the fire’ don’t realize that the only way to get that status-quo war criminal/corporatist to change is by setting a real fire; burn down every city hall, burn down the white house, riot in the streets for days, trash and loot the shopping malls, bulldoze starbucks, occupy the universities, bomb the pentagon, forcibly shut down all coal/nuclear plants, hold a general strike… If you aren’t prepared to do that, then don’t vote in a scumbag. No amount of fun code pink songs or weekend protest marches or newspaper editorials are going to do a thing.

]]> By: Deadbeat http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30863 Deadbeat Thu, 30 Oct 2008 21:11:13 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30863 I hate to get "technical" but there is no Nader/McKinney ticket. It is either Nader/Gonzalez or McKinney/Clemente. My preference of the two is McKinney/Clemente because McKinney/Clemente has the basis however flawed of a party apparatus behind them whereby future candidates can emerge. In addition Clemente on Democracy Now IMO provided a sharp contrast between her positions and Nader/Gonzalez. Had there been a Nader/McKinney ticket it would have garnered IMO more support but still unfortunately no where near the Obama phenomenon. A Nader/McKinney ticket would present a united front and a demonstration that the Left is moving in a more cohesive direction. From Dr. Petras standpoint, I agree with him regarding the role and responsibilities of intellectuals. Unfortunately most people do not have the economic protection of tenured professors and they will vote with what they perceive as pragmatic due not only to their choice being limited but also that there is no real and viable alternative coming from the left this election year. If the Green Party stays with McKinney/Clemente it does represent an opportunity to achieve solidarity with oppressed communities who are most likely to vote for the Democrats and a chance to draw them away from the Democratic Party and into the Green Party. I hate to get “technical” but there is no Nader/McKinney ticket. It is either Nader/Gonzalez or McKinney/Clemente. My preference of the two is McKinney/Clemente because McKinney/Clemente has the basis however flawed of a party apparatus behind them whereby future candidates can emerge. In addition Clemente on Democracy Now IMO provided a sharp contrast between her positions and Nader/Gonzalez.

Had there been a Nader/McKinney ticket it would have garnered IMO more support but still unfortunately no where near the Obama phenomenon. A Nader/McKinney ticket would present a united front and a demonstration that the Left is moving in a more cohesive direction.

From Dr. Petras standpoint, I agree with him regarding the role and responsibilities of intellectuals. Unfortunately most people do not have the economic protection of tenured professors and they will vote with what they perceive as pragmatic due not only to their choice being limited but also that there is no real and viable alternative coming from the left this election year.

If the Green Party stays with McKinney/Clemente it does represent an opportunity to achieve solidarity with oppressed communities who are most likely to vote for the Democrats and a chance to draw them away from the Democratic Party and into the Green Party.

]]> By: bozhidar bob balkas http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/10/the-elections-and-the-responsibility-of-the-intellectual-to-speak-truth-to-power-twelve-reasons-to-reject-obama-and-support-nadermckinney/#comment-30824 bozhidar bob balkas Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:20:39 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=4337#comment-30824 nevertheless, i'm still crying over even lesser of "lesser evil". and i haven't even thought of greater of "greater evil". but let's expect it. i understand, one may feel better if greater evil comes and one expects it. so, what's in store? more bombs, missiles killing civ'ns!? syria also receives more missiles? pals lose more people and land. e. euro lands turn more to the right? etcetc. thnx nevertheless, i’m still crying over even lesser of “lesser evil”.
and i haven’t even thought of greater of “greater evil”.
but let’s expect it.
i understand, one may feel better if greater evil comes and one expects it.
so, what’s in store? more bombs, missiles killing civ’ns!? syria also receives more missiles?
pals lose more people and land. e. euro lands turn more to the right?
etcetc. thnx

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