Another factor that is helping to push Obama and the DP to the right, is the possibility, if not the likelihood of a GOP split, with that party splitting between the more traditional conservatives and right-wing populists associated with the tea-partiers. If the GOP splits, much of the party might be absorbed into the DP, leaving what is left of the GOP to the tea party types. It remains to be seen whether the GOP fragments, but clearly the hope of it splitting is helping to propel the Democrats further to the right, not that they have needed much help in that regard.
Jim Farmelant http://independent.academia.edu/JimFarmelant ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Carrol Cox <cb...@ilstu.edu> To: Forum for the discussion of theoretical issues raised by Karl Marxand the thinkers he inspired <marxism-thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu> Subject: Re: [Marxism-Thaxis] *The Professional* Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:08:51 -0600 > The Nation > February 1, 2010 edition > > *The Professional* > > By Eric Foner > > The first year may not be the best way to judge a president. After one year > in office, Abraham Lincoln still insisted that slavery would not become a > target of the Union war effort, Franklin D. Roosevelt had yet to address the > need for social insurance in the wake of the Great Depression and John F. > Kennedy viewed the civil rights movement as an annoying distraction. If we > admire them today, it is mostly for what happened during the rest of their > presidencies. Well, I'm not among the "we" who admire them today. My admiration is reserved for the people in the radical movments that _forced_ these men to reluctantly push forward watered-down versions of what was actually needed. FDR's sponsoring Social Security is archetypal here. What led hm to do that? Well there was the agitation for the Townsend Plan, which would have been _real_ retirement program, not the weak imitation that SS is. And the growing poularity of that plan would have been qutie a spur for FDR's Social Security. And that was in a larger context, which first emerged in the Bonus Marchers and the Hoovervilles of the early '30s, and was represented as well by Long's agitation for sharing the wealth. and the growth of the CPUSA of course, though it as a factor was weakened by its popular front subordination to the DP/Dixiecrats. As long as left liberals continue to support Obama there is not a chance of his moving "to the left" or supporting, even in a shit-eating way, left programs. He IS a conservative; he is NOT meely courting conservative opinion. He supports the Conservative Cause in principle -- he believes in it and will fight for it. Carrol _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis ____________________________________________________________ Search Marketing Click for free info on using seach engines to expand your business. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/c?cp=DbXNJG2hzRwaz0kOjLsbYgAAJ1AP8ttsZd_TbiVxkZxsC3mBAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARBwAAAAA= _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@lists.econ.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
