Obama not only laid the political pre conditions for Trump, but also established many of the presidential powers that he abuses today. Arbitrary drone strikes murdering random people offer perhaps the most compelling example. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/trumps-arbitrary-assassinations-were
Chief Brooms inner monologue, the clarity is soothing, but the conclusion leaves ya gutted.
The loss of geopolitical strategic advantage must be acknowledged as a contributing factor in policy decisions.US Leadership class has no skill other than administrating orders in bad-faith. Artificial intelligence may be a better option, ugh.
Thank you, Mr. Urie, that was very well said. I like reading all your essays, but this one in particular I wanted to comment on. It hits the nail on the head in regards to the Democrats. You are being honest, more honest than most, about what a win for them means. It is something important that needs to be stated, even though most of what passes for the left in the US doesn't want to hear it.
Ajamu Baraka (to erase the memory of Obama) and Jill Stein as V.P. as the answer to “No Exit” - with time to build it (and no Democrat available to compete with it).
I voted for Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka in 2016 and supported Stein in 2024.
The problem is that the Dems and Repubs control the ballot. They have the power to keep third parties from competing effectively through the election architecture that they have put in place.
Additionally, through an economic view of politics, the corporations and oligarchs sponsoring the existing system like it just fine. Leveraging one party off of the other works with two parties. The game becomes less predictable and more expensive with three.
This is why I suggest that changing the form of political economy is the place to start. I’ve written quite a bit on what this might look like over the years. I guess it’s time for a refresher.
Great take down of the dem party, and the government in general. I know its a long slog, but its time to actively start aggressively promoting 3rd parties. But it seems at least at local levels people are beginning to look at candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who actually listen to and understand what the people have been saying for decades what they want and need from the government. Not wanting to give Trump any credit, but his "mask off" presidency has forced people to see how corrupt and craven this country has become, how far we have fallen. Unfortunately anxiety and fear maybe what finally motivates people take control of their lives.
Tis a small thing, but thank you for respecting the difference between the words Democrat and Democratic. Why make life harder by forcing people to remember Rush Limbaugh who coined the intentionally pejorative term, Democrat Party.
Always the voice of sunny encouragement, Rob! Seriously, the grim picture you paint is all too accurate. An additional thought regarding Obama is that some level of racial backlash was inevitable and it could only have been allayed by progressive reform aimed at elevating the working class in general. Of course, as you point out, he did just the opposite. I don’t know if there’s any way out of this at the national level. Local and state democracies seem the only path open, perhaps leading to devolution.
Neoliberalism has been instantiated so deeply that the city government where I live, Democrats all, uses Ronald Reagan’s economic platform to guide it. The city officials imagine themselves to be lefty radicals without understanding that their governing ideology comes from their imagined political enemies.
I hate to suggest that some educating needs to be done, but some educating (as well as listening) needs to be done.
Yeah Patrick, We just elected our first black mayor, here in Albany, NY, which is beneficial, even if only just for the sake of uplifting symbolism (but, as a decades-long registered Green, still would have voted as such, if I lived one mile closer to the city line). This was, as always, another excellent article, btw, which I forwarded on to many others.
We’re doing somewhat better in Seattle with a new lefty mayor, Katie Wilson, a great organizer with whom I have worked on progressive taxation issues. And after a rightward surge in recent years, a string of local election victories for left candidates. We’re funding social housing and discussing city-owned grocery stores. It looks like the state is going to pass a millionaire tax much as Massachusetts. So there are some bright spots here as in other cities and states around the US.
Someone always expects the author to offer the solution to what he wrote. If you'd written on faulty lan wiring you could easily provide the prescription for restoring connectivity. White supremacist capitalism markedly difficult to resolve.
Appreciate all, in particular your commentary on AOC.
Obama not only laid the political pre conditions for Trump, but also established many of the presidential powers that he abuses today. Arbitrary drone strikes murdering random people offer perhaps the most compelling example. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/trumps-arbitrary-assassinations-were
So… Obama is to blame for Trump..
And Biden is to blame for Gaza?
In a tribal battle you are sooo predictable.
No wonder YOU let Trump in.
Brilliant rebuttal. What tribe do I belong to fool?
Chief Brooms inner monologue, the clarity is soothing, but the conclusion leaves ya gutted.
The loss of geopolitical strategic advantage must be acknowledged as a contributing factor in policy decisions.US Leadership class has no skill other than administrating orders in bad-faith. Artificial intelligence may be a better option, ugh.
Obama is a pretty big con artist in his own right.
Thank you as always for your straightforward and imo entirely correct analysis. Love reading your stuff. Always refreshing.
Thank you, Mr. Urie, that was very well said. I like reading all your essays, but this one in particular I wanted to comment on. It hits the nail on the head in regards to the Democrats. You are being honest, more honest than most, about what a win for them means. It is something important that needs to be stated, even though most of what passes for the left in the US doesn't want to hear it.
Ajamu Baraka (to erase the memory of Obama) and Jill Stein as V.P. as the answer to “No Exit” - with time to build it (and no Democrat available to compete with it).
I voted for Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka in 2016 and supported Stein in 2024.
The problem is that the Dems and Repubs control the ballot. They have the power to keep third parties from competing effectively through the election architecture that they have put in place.
Additionally, through an economic view of politics, the corporations and oligarchs sponsoring the existing system like it just fine. Leveraging one party off of the other works with two parties. The game becomes less predictable and more expensive with three.
This is why I suggest that changing the form of political economy is the place to start. I’ve written quite a bit on what this might look like over the years. I guess it’s time for a refresher.
Cheers.
Great take down of the dem party, and the government in general. I know its a long slog, but its time to actively start aggressively promoting 3rd parties. But it seems at least at local levels people are beginning to look at candidates, regardless of party affiliation, who actually listen to and understand what the people have been saying for decades what they want and need from the government. Not wanting to give Trump any credit, but his "mask off" presidency has forced people to see how corrupt and craven this country has become, how far we have fallen. Unfortunately anxiety and fear maybe what finally motivates people take control of their lives.
Tis a small thing, but thank you for respecting the difference between the words Democrat and Democratic. Why make life harder by forcing people to remember Rush Limbaugh who coined the intentionally pejorative term, Democrat Party.
Always the voice of sunny encouragement, Rob! Seriously, the grim picture you paint is all too accurate. An additional thought regarding Obama is that some level of racial backlash was inevitable and it could only have been allayed by progressive reform aimed at elevating the working class in general. Of course, as you point out, he did just the opposite. I don’t know if there’s any way out of this at the national level. Local and state democracies seem the only path open, perhaps leading to devolution.
Thanks Patrick.
Neoliberalism has been instantiated so deeply that the city government where I live, Democrats all, uses Ronald Reagan’s economic platform to guide it. The city officials imagine themselves to be lefty radicals without understanding that their governing ideology comes from their imagined political enemies.
I hate to suggest that some educating needs to be done, but some educating (as well as listening) needs to be done.
Cheers,
Yeah Patrick, We just elected our first black mayor, here in Albany, NY, which is beneficial, even if only just for the sake of uplifting symbolism (but, as a decades-long registered Green, still would have voted as such, if I lived one mile closer to the city line). This was, as always, another excellent article, btw, which I forwarded on to many others.
We’re doing somewhat better in Seattle with a new lefty mayor, Katie Wilson, a great organizer with whom I have worked on progressive taxation issues. And after a rightward surge in recent years, a string of local election victories for left candidates. We’re funding social housing and discussing city-owned grocery stores. It looks like the state is going to pass a millionaire tax much as Massachusetts. So there are some bright spots here as in other cities and states around the US.
Efforts made here in Oakland to achieve similar results. Silicon Valley $ impacting those efforts.
Glad to hear anypositive news, sir.
Starts with:
"That Mr. Obama didn’t see this coming makes him, and the people that he surrounded himself with, fools."
Ends with:
"The problem is the form of political economy. Until this is resolved, there is no way out of current dysfunction."
A lot of diagnosis, but no prescription.
So, we return to Hamilton, Carey & Lincoln? Seems worth a try.
The rest are details.
I’ve provided prescriptions since I started writing publicly. You can find about three hundred essays worth at the Counterpunch archives.
Someone always expects the author to offer the solution to what he wrote. If you'd written on faulty lan wiring you could easily provide the prescription for restoring connectivity. White supremacist capitalism markedly difficult to resolve.
Appreciate all, in particular your commentary on AOC.