Hi. Here's the best, broadest wrap I've seen of yesterday's election. But I qualify my appreciation, not for what he says, but for little focus on the headlined Moral Center, that is, the movement itself. In mode, I qualify yet strongly endorse Saturday's march as a highly visible, public demonstration which will encourage people to speak and act. I applaud the organizers for the critical grouping you've assembled. But it is not enough, by a long shot. Unions, expected churches and many respected peace groups are not on the sponsors list. Why this is so has to be seriously examined and changed. I'll march with friends under a banner I support and may skip the speeches, one complaint of many I know. However, you've provided this essential gathering for the purposes outlined, while the missing have not. It is my sincere hope that people reading this will join in this spirit. Ed Pearl
http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/08/09/triumph_of_the_new_moral_center.php Triumph Of The New Moral Center Robert L. Borosage August 09, 2006 Robert L. Borosage is co-director of the Campaign For America's Future. Ned Lamont's stunning upset of incumbent Sen. Joe Lieberman in the Connecticut Democratic primary race on Tuesday sends shock waves through the dead sea of American politics. Lamont did the impossible-this virtual unknown beat in his own party's primary an 18-year incumbent with universal name recognition, a $12 million campaign war chest and the support of Washington insiders, the punditry and the corporate lobbies. His victory represents a growing voter revolt against the failed policies and politics of the Bush administration and its congressional enablers, particularly the debacle in Iraq. Until a few weeks ago, Lieberman prided himself on being the president's leading Democratic ally in touting the war. After his defeat, Democrats will show more backbone in challenging the current disastrous course and more Republicans will look for ways to distance themselves from the president. Lamont's victory was propelled by a rising tide of progressive energy-activists who are tired of losing elections to the right and disgusted with cautious politicians who duck and cover rather than stand and fight. Until a few weeks ago, Lieberman exemplified those Democrats who establish their "independence" by pushing off the causes of their own party and embracing the right's agenda. His voters didn't abandon him; he abandoned them long ago. After his defeat, incumbents in both parties may begin to listen more closely to their voters and less avidly to their donors. Lamont's victory was fueled by a new generation coming into politics with a passion-and organizing over the Web. Over the past year, the Washington establishment has scorned them as extreme and mocked them for failing to win anything. After Tuesday, there will be no more "bring em on" challenges issued to the bloggers. Most important, Lamont represents a new moral center in American politics - a challenge to the failed status quo and a demand for a new direction that a growing majority of Americans are searching for. Bring an end to the disastrous occupation in Iraq and bring the troops home with honor. Change priorities to invest in our schools, in universal pre-kindergarten, in modern infrastructure. Champion affordable national health care for all. These are not issues from the "edges of our politics," as Lieberman suggests, but ideas whose time has come. Lieberman, in a classic sore-loser posture, refuses to accept the verdict of the voters. The man who spent the last weeks of his campaign boasting that he was a good Democrat now announces he'll form his own party and denounces partisan politics. The man who last week said he had gotten the message and would go to Washington to challenge the president's policies now says he'll go to Washington to make common cause with Republicans to "get things done." But his brand of "getting things done" is exactly what Americans are turning against. He joined with the president in championing the war in Iraq-got that done. He joined with Republicans and corporate lobbies in passing corporate trade deals that have destroyed American manufacturing and undermined wages in America-got that done. He joined with conservatives in championing the privatization of Social Security-at least he was blocked there. He joined with CEOs in defending off the books, stock options that gave CEOs a multimillion-dollar personal incentive to cook the books and raid pension funds-got that done. He doesn't get it. The problem isn't that things aren't getting done-the problem is that the things he was helped to produce are weakening this country abroad and undermining workers and middle-class families at home. Lieberman's sore loser campaign will be well financed by the corporate lobbies he has served. Since he has no new ideas to offer, he'll run a nasty negative campaign of personal vilification against Lamont, trying to smear him before voters have a chance hear what Lamont has to say. And that race will be a test for every Democratic leader. Will they come to support Lamont and the new energy, the new ideas, the new moral center that he represents? Or will they offer nominal support but stay away, refusing to challenge Lieberman's low-road campaign? Their reactions will be a true measure of who is ready to fight for a new direction for this country and who is not. *** Aug. 12 National March in Los Angeles Defend the People of Palestine and Lebanon! Stop the U.S.-Israeli War! WHEN: Saturday, August 12, 1 pm WHERE: Olympic & Broadway, downtown Los Angeles On Saturday, August 12, thousands of people will take to the streets of Los Angeles to defend the Palestinian and Lebanese people against the U.S.-Israeli war. The LA protest will take place in coordination with marches in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco. In LA, we'll gather at 1 pm at the corner of Olympic and Broadway in downtown and march up Broadway with signs, banners and hundreds of Palestinian, Lebanese and Iraqi flags. Near the federal building there will be a rally with speakers from the Arab and Muslim community, progressive leaders, music by Palestinian hip-hop group, The Philistines and more. Invite your families, friends, coworkers and everyone you know. This is the chance to make your voice heard for justice, peace and against the war. Carpools are coming from Riverside, Ventura, Orange County, the Inland Empire, Long Beach, Santa Barbara and more. Stand with the Arab people and demand an end to the U.S.-Israeli war. Let's work hard to make the Los Angeles demonstration as big and successful as possible! Defend the People of Palestine and Lebanon! Stop the U.S.-Israeli war! >From Iraq to Lebanon to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime! Stop U.S. Aid to Israel! Support the Palestinian People's Right to Return! Money for Jobs and Education, Not for War and Occupation! Aug. 12 protests initiated by National Council of Arab Americans (NCA), Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, Free Palestine Alliance, Palestinian American Women's Association. Co-sponsored by Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, Muslim Student Association-West, El-Bireh Palestine Society, Al-Watan, Al-Alam Al-Arabi, Palestine Aid Society, Students for Justice in Palestine-UCLA, Middle Eastern Student Society-CSUF, Al-Bireh Society, Qaqish Family Society, Arab Student Union-UC Riverside, Union of Palestinian American Women, Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines, National Lawyers Guild, Latino Movement USA, Party for Socialism and Liberation, Korean Americans for Peace, Global Women's Strike, Women in Black, Riverside Area Peace and Justice Action, International Socialist Organization and many more. For more info call 323-464-1636 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ### --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! 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