I have no argument with that . The point I was after is not whether Kerry is a progressive, but that I don't think that we're going to have a draft with the support of a Dem administration any more than with the support of a Repug - and as I see it, subject to correction by anyone here, the tactical, class-based reasons therefor. Is that not a relevant subject for discussion here?
Ralph ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Perelman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 5:47 PM Subject: Re: dems, etc > a week or so ago, Jim D. made the point with which I agree that some of the Democrats > differ from the Republicans in that they take a larger time horizon. Also, they can > represent different factions. Historically, the Democrats favored Savings and Loans; > the Republicans, banks. > > But what do we have to gain by debating whether John Kerry is a real progressive or > not? I think we are all agreed on the answer. I don't think anybody's mind would be > changed whether it makes sense to support Anyone But Bush or not. > > On Fri, Feb 20, 2004 at 05:34:05PM -1000, Ralph Johansen wrote: > > But my question is based on the assumption that Kerry plainly represents the > > same class interests as Bush, and Nixon, and that with the atrophy of the > > Dems' 'prole' support, as the DLC Dems as exemplified by Kerry and Lieberman > > as well as Gephardt, move ever rightward (not so to the same extent in > > Nixon's time), and as the working class constituent base of the party > > weakens, the Dems in power won't give it legs either. because they are as > > afraid of the consequences of a draft for their middle class supporters as > > are the Repugs. I assume that's what's motivating Conyers, at any rate, and > > most likely Rangel - that support will be tepid from the outset, or will > > quickly evaporate or shortly produce an unpleasant reaction - and put the > > contenders in an untenable position in their efforts to expand the military. > > And Kerry has declared his support for Israel as well, in reaching for the > > pro-Israeli vote, where there must be some thoughts about the tactical > > efficacy of a draft. Kerry obviously supports with every breath the imperial > > project, but I doubt at any rate that he could sustain support for the > > draft. We shall maybe see. (Who will speak to the motivations of good ol' > > boy Ernest Hollings in introducing the apparently identical companion draft > > bill in the Senate? An anomaly?) > > > > Ralph > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Yoshie Furuhashi" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 4:33 PM > > Subject: Re: dems, etc > > > > > > > >Right on, Ralph. If the chickenhawks want an empire, let them be > > > >ready to send their own kids to battle for it. Lest we forget, it > > > >was Nixon who got rid of the draft in favour of the "all" (poor > > > >prole) volunteer military. > > > > > > You see, that's why I think it will take a Democratic president to > > > reinstate the draft. A Republican president won't be able to inspire > > > such a response. > > > -- > > > Yoshie snip
