Comments on: A Look Under the Hood of the (Potential) Obama Administration

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 07:00:05 +0000

Tonight I was at a Naomi Klein talk in Madison, WI in a room of more than 500—-standing room only. While she was glad the Republicans lost and “hopeful”, she really did have a dose of reality for these Obama fans, many of whom I have seen in the past working for Nader. She was extremely critical of Larry Summers as the rumored Treasury head, and other of Obama’s moves or potential moves. She’s very careful in the way she frames her approach to Obama, given that many of her fans are also fans of BaRockStar. I sensed that if she goes too far she’d lose their allegiance. She hoped that Obama’s Administration could be pushed in a progressive direction like FDR’s was. She encouraged the crowd to stay active for that end.

Wishful thinking.

BTW, it was sad to see the great Madison champion of the single payer cause, Dr. Gene Farley, wearing the campaign button of that flip flopper on single payer, Mr. Obama. Very sad. Pablo Ouziel is right: paradigm shift.

By: Michael Rohall

Michael Rohall — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:28:53 +0000

The Iranian Revolution showed what a unified opposition can achieve. A fractured mess of 8 or so disparate dissident movements united behind what they thought would be an easily defeated figure head. Once the opposition united, it took only months for the Shah’s regime to collapse.

The ultimate result of that was a lesson in being careful what you wish for, you might get it. It has been 30 short years and yet we have forgotten the lessons of history. The movement for change must coalesce around a positive ideal. Simply seeking change, for the sake of change, will yield nothing more than chaos.

By: Case Wagenvoord

Case Wagenvoord — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:05:05 +0000

Joshua,
It comes as no suprise that Obama’s administration will be business as usual. The only difference is that business will be done with a smile instead of a sneer.

The time has come to think about a second party since it is now obvious that we are a one-party country. This will only happen if all of the splinter groups in this country, from Libetarians to Marxists, lose thier ideological prissiness and, through a process of comprimise and conciliation, arrive at a common platform. This will involve a lot of people sitting around a lot of tables doing a lot of shouting.

The main plank in the new party platform should be the dismantling of our empire. Those who believe this would be impossible forget that thirty years ago it was considered impossible to dismantle the New Deal.

It would be a battle that would require decades, but it would be worth the effort.

By: Martha

Martha — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:29:38 +0000

Behind in my reading. As always, informative, Mr. Frank. So how many times do Pathetics For Obama get to be disappointed and act shocked by it? That’s my big question. They were shocked by his broken promise on public financing and how many other broken promises already? I think they’ll live in denial for at least two years.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:10:17 +0000

Hope and change into the new version of Empire. Frank’s documenting what others are ignoring. DV readers will be prepared, The Nation readers have no idea what’s in store.

By: Don Hawkins

Don Hawkins — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 22:51:14 +0000

In the White House think of it as a working area. One room research scientists on energy another room what can be saved and what can’t for the big change over. Another room Hansen, Hawking if he will do it and a few more to put the ideas together. Other rooms with heads of corporations on how to change. Like Exxon going to solar or GM to only natural gas for big machinery. A little outside the box well at the same time get China and India thinking in the same way. Come on how do you repower the US in less than ten years? I know one thing for sure not what we are seeing now. Gm or general motors only makes big machinery with maybe the help of Cat and Deere that run on natural gas. One room mass transit the best way. Crazy idea in a few years you won’t think so. Do you read DV President Obama?

By: Don Hawkins

Don Hawkins — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:06:07 +0000

Media. In “Obstruction” I forgot to raise the question about our American media. Why
is it that the Kingsnorth case is on the front page and the 6 o’clock news in the UK, but the Wise
County case is ignored by U.S. media? The damage in the U.S. case, both climate and
mountaintop removal, exceeds that in the UK. A case with 20-year-olds standing up for their
and future generations, against powerful interests, without support of Greenpeace-level
organizations, would seem to warrant coverage. Is this a case of media, in a company-town,
company-state, company-country situation, intentionally looking the other way? Or is it simply
that these young people are not as media savvy as Greenpeace? James Hansen

James has a new post on his web site.

By: Ramsefall

Ramsefall — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:04:28 +0000

Joshua,

thanks for the time invested in composing this piece, it clearly lays out the premise for the new administration’s direction come January; perhaps not so aggressive as Bush, but that remains to be seen.

Illusions still abound, and they need to be dropped while awaking to reality. A reassessment of what organizing means in today’s political climate is undoubtedly in order, it’s a matter of getting the public engaged in those discussions. As Nader inquires, is there sufficient motivation?

Best to you.

By: bozhidar bob balkas

bozhidar bob balkas — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:56:31 +0000

and to make matters worse for many nations, ‘better’ weapons r on their way. ‘delivery’ assured to some lands.
it’s not that US is getting more bestial; it appears so because of ever ‘better’ weapons it is making and ‘delivering’.
which means that obama wld be more hated than bush. and obama, being wh/bck, and because all or most blacks voted for him, blacks will be hated all over the globe.
all the sympathies blacks have enjoyed over last cent will be gone in just few months.
and, as a surprise, from now on the ruling class will be selecting/electing only blacks and ashkenazic zionists for prez’s.
from certain point of view, it may be a good idea.
did u guys hear ab obama’s and lieberman’s pland to expel all blacks and ‘jews’ from wh. america?
that’s what my devil tells me. and as u know he, or is it she, cannot tell a lie. only gods lie. thnx

By: Max Shields

Max Shields — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:30:05 +0000

Well said, Josh.