Dealing With The Christian Right

As every politically aware person knows, the Christian Right, embodied by such groups as The Christian Coalition, has gained an alarming amount of power within the Republican Party. But do progressives understand what these individuals believe about the world, let alone how to deal with this growing movement? Recently someone brought to my attention an excellent Dissident Voice article describing the ranks of Christian fundamentalists populating America's heartland.

The author recounts the difficulty of being a liberal deep in the bastion of Christian conservativsm, and he highlights the alarming cultural and political divide in the U.S. This theme seems to be a persisten tone as of late, as Alternet features an article on Thomas Frank's new book What's The Matter With Kansas. Both of these articles are truly a wake-up call for a left that is completely out of touch with conservatives Christians. It is absolutely imperative that we study this movement and develop ways to combat its adherents dangerously cult-like thinking. In addition, faith communities with progressive values must work together to start a dialogue about religion and politics, demonstrating that the Right do not have a monopoly on values.

Daily Quote: 8/23/04

We are already fighting World War III, and I am sorry to say we are winning. It is the war against the earth"
-Raymond Dasmann

Swift Boat Veterans For Lies

Remember the humorously named "Swiftboat Veterans For Truth?" Well surprise, surprise-it turns out they were actually rather untruthful. The Washington Post reports that recently obtained military records prove that Kerry came under enemy fire, thus discrediting the version of events offered by Larry Thurlow, one of Kerry's prime accusers.

This does not surprise me one bit. This group was merely a thinly veiled partisan organization out to smear Kerry's honorable military service. It is disgusting that a group of veterans with a political axe to grind would attack one of their own in a dishonest manner. Not only that, but Thurlow is actually profiting from the episode through a best-selling book. Apparently Americans like swallowing bullshit by the mouthful. They have the right to keep feeding on the lies and deception, but personally I'm not buying.

Daily Quote: 8/18/04

"If you tremble at every injustice then you are a
comrade of mine."

- Che Guevara.

GOP Congressman Calls War "A Mistake"

Rep. Doug Bereuter, a retiring Republican congressman from Nebraska, has criticized the Iraq war as "a dangerous, costly mess." Bereuter, a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and vice chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, believes there is no quick way for U.S. forces to exit Iraq. He also cites intelligence failures and damage to the U.S.'s reputation around the world as reasons for his position.

I give Bereuter a great deal of credit for going against the administration and his party on this issue. While he originally supported the war, he has the courage to call the war a mistake and admit that his own position was flawed. It is too bad more Republicans will not make similar moves, but it is not surprising that they would put political considerations above all else. The Congressman deserves credit for acting in a non-partisan way on this issue. Other congressmen, both Republicans and Democrats, can learn from this action. Politicians toe the party line far too often at the risk of failing to vote their consciences.

Daily Quote: 8/17/04

"It's easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them."

-Adlai Stevenson

FBI Harasses RNC Protesters

FBI counterterrorism officials have been reportedly interviewing activists who plan to protest at the Republican National Convention in New York City. In addition, agents are making unannounced visit's to people's homes, monitoring meetings and web sites, and even subpoenaing individuals in some cases. The actions aim to prevent possible violence at the event, which takes place August 30-September 2.

While officials have every right to investigate those they legitimately believe may cause violence, their actions seem borderline illegal. They have developed lists of potentially dangerous individuals without any clear evidence of wrongdoing. These pre-emptive strikes intimidate protestors from exercising their First Amendment rights, even though the majority of those targeted are peaceful in nature. Just because someone is part of an anti-war group does not mean they are likely to perpetrate violence. Officials are walking a fine line here between preserving security and violating demonstrators' constitutional rights. Why is this operation being considered a "counterterrorism" operation when agents have no evidence that these individuals are planning to do anything but protest? Acting on a credible threat is one thing, but harassing individuals who have done nothing but exercise their political freedoms is quite another.

Daily Quote: 8/16/04

"In an age of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
-George Orwell, 1984

Activist Groups Sue NYC

The National Council of Arab Americans (NCA) and the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism) have filed a lawsuit in New Yorkto obtain a permit for a August 28 rally for civil rights in Central Park. United For Peace And Justice has also filed suit, demanding the right to assemble in Central Park August 29 and to march past Madison Square Garden, the site of the Republican National Convention. The city has denied the permit requests and asked that the protestors demonstrate along the West Side Highway. Mayor Michael Bloomberg cited concerns over security and potential damage to the park's grass.

First we had the DNC protestors in Boston confined to a "free-speech zone" that amounted to a fenced in pen. Now concerns for grass are eroding free speech. Why is it that citizens who choose to mobilize for political reasons are discriminated against and looked down upon in this country? While the occasional protestor may damage property, the vast majority of activists are peaceful and law-abiding individuals who want nothing more than to voice their opinions, and society needs to do everything possible to preserve that sacred right. Most protestors should be respected, not villified, for exercising their constitutional rights.

Daily Quote: 8/12/04

"There is no more fundamental axiom of American freedom than the familiar statement: In a free country we punish men for crimes they commit but never for the opinions they have."

-Harry S. Truman, 1950

Toronto Star Criticizes Kerry on Iraq

An editorial in The Toronto Star criticizes Kerry for his position on Iraq:

"But Kerry comes off looking like "Bush lite" on Iraq, rather than as a candidate with better values and a sounder program. He seems weak. Muddled. Has he learned nothing from a slew of American investigations that have exposed the sloppiness of U.S. intelligence and the shabbiness of the rationale for war?

This is a letdown for American voters who yearn for a real alternative, and a healthier direction. It is not good news for the world, either."

I know what you're all thinking-why in the world do I care what a Canadian newspaper thinks of John Kerry? In short, world opinion about U.S. policies matter. If Canada, our northern neighbor and ally, has doubts about our policies, other countries undoubtedly have much stronger concerns. The rest of the world is hoping Kerry will unseat Bush, but it is important for Kerry to distinguish himself based on his own credentials and vision, rather than simply serving as the "anyone but Bush" candidate.

I am still supporting Kerry, and I urge you to do the same. But Kerry will need to provide a clearer explanation for his vote on Iraq and his beliefs on the use of military force.

Daily Quote: 8/11/04

News is what someone wants to suppress. Everything else is advertising.
-Rubin Frank (former NBC news President)

Spinning the Economy

There has been a great deal of talk about Friday's disappointing job numbers as well as the economic situation. Interestingly, Reuters reports that U.S. Productivity Stronger Than Expected while the AP's headline reads a bit differently: Productivity Posts Slowest Rise Since 2002. Both stories refer to the same economic statistics, yet the headlines give the reader a vastly different impression. This just reinforces the fact that one must use caution in interpreting news, particularly politically-sensitive stories such as economic reports.

Speaking of economic spin, Paul Krugman sheds some light on the issue of Bush's spinning of economic numbers. He adeptly points out that Bush constantly talks of the economic growth occurring under his administration, citing his tax cuts as a great stimulus. Yet Bush fails to ever mention the hemmorhaging of 1.1 million jobs during his administration. If this trend continues, it would make him the first president since Hoover to preside over a net loss of jobs.

It is interesting to note that while the president tries to take credit for the alleged positive effects of his tax cuts, he also tries to distance himself from economic numbers that don't make him look very good. My personal belief is that business cycles are fixed to a degree, and that presidents only have so much influence over the direction of the economy. Yet if one tries to take credit for putative positive economic growth, one must also be willing to take responsibility for hard economic times as well.

Daily Quote: 8/10/04

There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.
-Henry David Thoreau

Terror Alerts Politically Motivated?

I just received an email about an interesting timeline showing correlations between terror alerts and political events unfavorable to the Bush administration. I am not sure exactly what I make it at the moment, as I need to study it a little more closely, but I will try posting some commentary on it in the next day or two.

I agree with the author of the blog in that some of the threats were legitimate, but that we need to very skeptical of the regime's actions. Fear is a powerful motivator, and people tend to "huddle under the umbrella of power" in such times, as Noam Chomsky so eloquently described it. It is certainly in the best interest of the administration to have the American people on their toes and constantly fearing a new enemy so we will be less critical of our government at home.

Daily Quote: 8/9/04

It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds.

-Samuel Adams

Bush Blasted On Iraq

In today's NYT, Paul Krugman points out how the media is downplaying the situation in Iraq, even though the US has actually suffered MORE casualties since the late June handover of sovereignty. In another NYT opinion piece, Bob Herbert criticizes Bush's "failure of leadership" and compares his lack of truth about the war to Nixon and Johnson's mistruths about Vietnam.

Krugman and Herbert are right on the ball with these pieces. As usual, the corporate mainstream media is playing exactly into the White House and Pentagon's hands by taking Iraq off the front pages. The average citizen may believe that Iraq and Afghanistan are stable, free democracies where Americans are showered with praise as liberators, but the situation could not be further from the truth. US troops are overstretched and facing dangerous insurgencies in both countries. While the media may be ignoring the grim reality, skeptical citizens such as myself will not take this lying down. It is the duty of a citizen in a democracy to arm himself with information, and that is exactly what those of us in the blogosphere are doing.

Job Figures Softer Than Expected

Despite Bush's claims that the economy has rebounded, only 32,000 new jobs were created in July, far below expectations.

"It's clear that the economy is hitting a soft patch," said Richard J. DeKaser, chief economist at the National City Corporation, a bank based in Cleveland. "What we're seeing is the severe impact of high oil prices."

The July gain was the smallest gain this year, and the unemployment rate only declined to 5.5 percent. Over the last 12 months, average weekly pay has only risen 2.4 percent, compared to a 3 percent rise in inflation. In other words, the average family actually has less money to spend!

Bush can talk all he wants about the economy "turning the corner," but I say, "Show me the jobs!" Since Bush has taken over, we have lost 1.1 million net jobs, and he is the only president since Hoover to have presided over a net loss in jobs. Note to Dubya: there is no such thing as a "jobless recovery!" That term is an oxymoron, just like military intelligence. The average worker does not care if the GDP is growing-he only cares if he can put food on the table.

Daily Quote: 8/6/04

"There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people."

-Howard Zinn

Yet Another Bushism!

President George W. Bush made a rather major verbal gaffe at a ceremony for the signing of a new defense spending bill Thursday:

``Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we,'' Bush said. ``They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.''

Kerry Ads For Free?

A front-page article in The New York Times reports that outside groups are spending millions on ads for the Kerry campaign. Groups such as MoveOn, The Media Fund, and the Democratic National Committee are running spots that appear to be promoting Sen. Kerry, although the ads are not coordinated directly with the Kerry campaign. Under current campaign finance laws, 527's and other non-profit groups fall under a specific portion of the tax code that prohibits them from coordinating their activities with campaigns. Even so, these organizations craft effective ads that often have nearly identical messages to those of the campaign itself.

These new ads have been particularly important to Kerry, as he has not been able to tap into his campaign coffers after accepting his party's nomination July 29th. He, like Bush, can spend $75 in public campaign funds between his nomination and the election on November 2nd. Since Bush will receive the nomination a month later than Kerry, Kerry aides have feared that he will be outspent.

While I am all for ads benefiting the Democrats, I question whether our current campaign finance laws are truly effective. In the future, outside organizations must be more tightly regulated to cut down on the ridiculous amounts of money that flow into campaigns. Ultimately, this country needs fair and clean elections laws such as the state of Maine have. Individual contributions will undoubtedly remain for quite some time, as it will be difficult for the courts to argue against free speech laws. Yet it would benefit the system dramatically if a much greater percentage of candidates' funds came from public coffers. This would level the playing field and reduce the amount of money from corporations, Political Actions Committees (PACs), and other special interest sources.

It is also interesting to note how saturated the nation's airwaves are with political ads this election season. In the 2000 campaign, more than $6 billion was spent on political ads. Viewers often get disgusted at the frequency of the ads and tune out after a while, a fact that is clearly demonstrated by the amazing 20 times consumers must see a political ad to remember it!

I would love to hear your opinions on campaign ads, so feel free to add your two cents.

Daily Quote: 8/5/04

So I have decided to start a "Quote of the Day" feature, as I am rather obsessed with collecting quotes, and I figured I should share the wealth. Here's the first:

"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde

The Fear Continues

The New York Times reports that the heightened terror alerts for areas around New York City and Washington, DC are based onrecent intelligence information, not just Al-Qaeda surveillance that took place three years ago. Yet the Washington Post quotes a senior law enforcement official who says the warnings are based on old information. Who are we to believe?

To be fair, The Department of Homeland Security has a difficult job. Terrorists from the Al-Qaeda network may be brutal and inhumane, but they are nothing if not elusive and stealth. Yet I have to question what good these constant alerts do in protecting the population. What are we supposed to do exactly when the alert is raised to orange? Run to Home Depot and stock up on duct tape? If we are to ever win the "war on terror," we cannot let our lives be dictated by vague warnings about a bunch of shadowy terrorist networks we have not effectively infiltrated.

Intelligence officials unquestionably are faced with arduous tasks, and they deserve credit for their service to our country. But why should we blindly believe and obey an administration that has deceived us in the past? They botched the intelligence on WMD in Iraq and Saddam's alleged purchase of uranium from Niger, so it seems quite easy that this new intelligence could be flawed as well. It is certainly admirable that officials would like to inform the public of any threats that materialize, but even if the threats are 100% certain and credible, it remains unclear how the public is supposed to react. Unless we go about our daily business and refuse to give into fear, the terrorists will have won by getting us to compromise our freedom. Personally I intend on going to protest the Republican National Convention in New York later this month, and it does not bother me one iota that this event will supposedly be a huge terrorist target.

My DNC experience

I just returned Friday evening from a week in Boston for the Democratic National Convention-my first ever. It was truly an amazing experience, but it was very stressful and draining, as there was simply too much to do and too little time!

The speakers I saw included Sen. John Kerry, Gov. Howard Dean, Reverend Al Sharpton, President Clinton, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Joe Trippi, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Arianna Huffington, DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Ed Markey, Former DNC Chairman/President of Dean For America Steve Grossman, and many others I cannot think of at the moment. I simply do not have the time here to go into what all of them said, but I will say that Bill Clinton, Sharpton, Jackson, Trippi, and Kucinich were the most impressive.

Other than attending various trainings, rallies, and talks, I enjoyed walking around town and making lots of new contacts. There were over 1,000 young people from across the country gathered for the College Democrats of America(CDA) convention. Being a politically active young person often feels lonely, so it was quite inspiring to know there are many other people who are just as passionate as I am.

One of the recurring themes of the CDA convention was how to get more people, especially young people, involved in the political process. There are certainly no easy answers to this question, but I have some theories.

First of all, the current political climate does not get young people very excited about politics. The majority of politicians are simply dull and uninspiring, as they seem more concerned about their images than truly working for change. Washington is so obsessed with focus groups and polls that our lawmakers often do what they think will get them elected rather than what is in the best interest of their constituents. Campaign ads are overwhelmingly negative and offer more distortions and criticisms than facts. As many young people are not actively involved in our democracy, and they do not have a great deal of money, it is easy for politicians to ignore this demographic group.

Campaign finance reform certainly would not hurt voter turnout among young people. If politicians were more accountable to the people rather than corporations, youth would feel more empowered. The sad truth is that politicians often ignore America's youth and fail to address issues that matter to them. Reducing Capitol Hill's dependence on corporate dollars would give the average citizen a greater say in government.

Another obvious reason for apathy is a lack of reliable information. Campaigns flood our mailboxes and airwaves with appeals for our votes, yet they often fail to clearly state candidates' positions and records. It is surprisingly difficult for the average voter, especially the uneducated or cynical one, to obtain a factual, unbiased view of a candidate. Groups such as Project Vote Smart are trying to change this by providing voters with nonpartisan information to aid their decisions. There is certainly a long way to go in this fight, but some progress is being made.

Mandatory civics courses in high school would also go a long way toward combating apathy. Every high school graduate should have a basic knowledge of our nation's political system and should learn what local issues have a direct impact on their life. We must also work to distribute voter registration cards to every high school senior. Better yet, there should be an option to register to vote when you apply for a driver's license or conduct other business with the DMV. Making Election Day a national holiday would inevitably bump turnout up as well. If people do not have to worry about missing work, they will have fewer excuses for forgetting to hit the polls. Such a holiday would also give elections more media attention and facilitate casual political conversations among neighbors.

One of the simplest and most effective ways to improve youth involvement is to simply be active and encourage your friends to do so. If every young person registered 10 of their friends or peers, it would not be long before nearly everyone was registered. Organizations such as Rock The Vote are doing a good job making voting seem "cool" by promoting it using high-profile musicians.

The events in Boston certainly made me even more motivated to take our democracy back. While the conventions always do a good job in rallying the faithful, it is crucial that we get the passive observers involved in politics again. A country where less than 50 percent of the electorate turns out every year is hardly a true democracy. We must work to increase civic involvement so that politics is no longer a spectator sport for the average American. Then, and only then, will we be able to honestly say that we are the greatest democratic nation in the world. Our constitution is a brilliant document that gives us great potential, but we will never fulfil this potential unless we exercise our sacred rights.