Marvin Gandall wrote: > > (The following is from Doug Henwood's LBO-list. I may have missed Doug also > posting it here. If so, my apologies for duplicating it. But a case can be > made for reading Tariq Ali's comments twice. Ali, the radical British > political commentator and playwright, has IMO succinctly grasped what is > essential from the POV of the left in this particular US election -- what > the so-called Anybody but Bush sentiment represents in the popular > consciousness. Ali describes it as positive -- a point of some contention on > this and other left lists -- and that it offers the potential for further > advance if it is embraced. Note too his understanding that despite Kerry's > electoral opportunism on Iraq, a Democratic administration would not have > invaded Iraq. TA was interviewed on Doug's radio show.)
First, I agree with Michael Perelman. I think the ABB people are terribly wrong, but I also think that most of them will be with us in the long-run struggle against US intervention around the world. Earlier I came to detest John Lacny for his letter to Counterpunch in which he termed those who rejected ABB "traitors." (A letter to Counterpunch is public domain as it were and disqualifies him for even the minimal courtesy one might extend to a poster on a maillist.) Michael Perelman wrote: > > I don't see any more reason to demonize ABB people than to demonize Nader people. > Both sides see themselves as promoting the left albeit by different routes. I have already posted briefly in response to Tariq on lbo-talk: Dwayne Monroe wrote: > > Doug (quoting Tariq Aziz): > > A defeat for Bush would create a different atmosphere > in American political culture, to show it can be done. > It will make people much more critical. I hope (assuming Kerry wins) that Tariq is correct. I don't think he is. Lincoln's election created a different atmosphere. I don't know of any other presidential election that has. We shall see. Carrol Marvin's final point: > > Note too his understanding that despite Kerry's > electoral opportunism on Iraq, a Democratic administration would not have > invaded Iraq. That is disingenuous. A Democratic Administration (Clinton's) had _already_ invaded Iraq and killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. And without that assault underway Bush's invasion would not have been likely. Leftists have not in 68 years gained by tying themselves to the DP. That tie must be broken, unambiguously. Carrol
