Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA | 67 comments (67 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (4.00 / 2)

I'm not sure why the Anger left is so angry with Obama - is he not trying to do more or less what he campaigned on? I can understand their opposition, but not their disappointment or "anger"..

I'm also not sure what the search figures reveal. All I know about Valerie Jarrett is that she's an old friend of Obama's from Chicago who is now a senior advisor and part of his kitchen cabinet - whereas Rahm, as the White House Chief of staff, is perhaps the second most powerful person in the administration - with a large say in appointments, control of access to the President, and, crucially, control of congressional strategy - which makes him the central figure in the current health reforms debate. I'm not therefore surprised he gets mentioned more and I don't necessarily see this as evidence of an anti-Semitic agenda.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Tue Dec 15th, 2009 at 07:05:53 PM EST

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (none / 1)

I don't see an anti-semitic agenda as much as a lazy politics which falls into familiar patterns. CoS is not a policy job, it's a operational job. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/26/magazine/26jarrett-t.html Hilda Solis is the most active Department of Labor head in 40 years - the business press covers her a lot because what she is doing is so important.

by rootless2 on Tue Dec 15th, 2009 at 07:20:53 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Chie of Staff should be an operational (4.00 / 2)

job but the present occupant, given his history and his propensity to open his characteristically undiplomatic mouth in advancing his faction's interests over those of other Democratic party factions (in particular the one you are implicitly criticizing here) does in fact polticize it.

Reason number one that it was a dumb appointment.

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Sun Dec 20th, 2009 at 05:45:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (4.00 / 2)

ahem

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Tue Dec 15th, 2009 at 08:26:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (none / 0)

Frank Schnittger:

Valerie Jarrett is that she's an old friend of Obama's from Chicago who is now a senior advisor and part of his kitchen cabinet

Is that not consistent with your quotes? I have no doubt she is, and has been for a long time, a member of Obama's inner circle, but at the moment, particularly with health care centre stage, Rahm's position is more pivotal within the administration, and I am not surprised he is getting more airtime both on blogs and in the MSM.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 07:42:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (none / 1)

Valerie Jarrett is that she's an old friend of Obama's from Chicago

This description is an inadequate answer to the question, Who is Valerie Jarrett? This person is a life quite apart from Mr Obama. And one's examination of that person's life history, modus operandi and political achievements, precedes any characterization construed from "friendship" with Mr Obama or her familiarity with "his kitchen" appliances.

So. Beside a fifth-degree connection, I selected and read those articles to which the pull-quotes are linked in order to entice readings from ET subscribers. Have you read? Are you the least curious to learn more about who is Valerie Jarrett?

I should think so, if you care to substantiate this claim: "Rahm's position is more pivotal within the administration" than Valerie Jarrett, sous chef.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 08:25:54 AM EST
[ Parent ]

curiousity (4.00 / 2)

I read the quotes, and they didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Perhaps I undersold my prior knowledge, but I think you are also misconstruing the intent of my comments. I was simply responding to the apparent implication in the Diary (which the diarist has since clarified) that Rahm's prominence in the "Anger Left" blogosphere was due to anti-Semitism rather than an objective analysis of the importance of his role. With the health care debate currently so centre stage, I do not find it surprising even if there may be some undercurrents of anti-Semitism, conspiracy theories or type casting in their somewhere.

If you feel Valerie's role deserves greater prominence and exposition, please write a diary about her and I will be happy to read it. I only wish more USians would display a similar sympathetic curiosity about Irish or other politics around the world.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 08:55:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: curiousity (none / 0)

You read the quotes.

But I asked you a simple question. Did you read the stories to which the pull-quotes are linked? There is detailed, factual information in the stories which obviate any need for my "exposition" of Ms Jarrett's biography, persona, or appointed rôle, director, Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, in a "diary".

I resurrected the ET search results in response to this statement.

The actually powerful figures who surround the President, such as Valerie Jarret, are ignored - not surprising that a black woman disappears from view.

I'll not read for you. I'll not package an opinion. That is your responsibility and judgement.

And don't group me with "USians". I click through all the links provided by innerboobz writers including yours.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 09:59:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: curiousity (none / 0)

Cat:

I resurrected the ET search results in response to this statement.
The actually powerful figures who surround the President, such as Valerie Jarret, are ignored - not surprising that a black woman disappears from view.

I didn't make the comment you reference, and don't know if the authors contention - that there may be sexist/racist implications behind her omission is correct. I don't read the World Socialist Website. Perhaps you may wish to scold me for that as well?

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 10:29:05 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: curiousity (4.00 / 2)

I don't think this subthread is going in a productive direction.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 10:37:19 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: curiousity (none / 0)

Incorrect. Message received.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 11:23:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: curiousity (none / 1)

I understand you have a point you're trying to communicate, but when it gets to the point of

I'll not read for you. I'll not package an opinion. That is your responsibility and judgement.
And don't group me with "USians". I click through all the links provided by innerboobz writers including yours.

answered by

I don't read the World Socialist Website. Perhaps you may wish to scold me for that as well?

as well as the parallel replies to this maybe it's best to argue another day.

En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 11:31:36 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: curiousity (4.00 / 2)

otay.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 03:09:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (4.00 / 3)

Is being part of a presidents kitchen cabinet an insult?

I assume Frank referred to:

Kitchen Cabinet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In colloquial use, "kitchen cabinet" refers to any group of trusted friends and associates, particularly in reference to a President's or presidential candidate's closest unofficial advisers. Clark Clifford was considered a member of the kitchen cabinet for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson before he was appointed Secretary of Defense. Robert Kennedy was uniquely considered to be a kitchen cabinet member as well as a Cabinet member while he was his brother's Attorney General.

And not:

Kitchen cabinet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kitchen cabinets are the built-in furniture installed in many kitchens for storage of food, cooking equipment, and often silverware and dishes for table service. Appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and ovens are often integrated into kitchen cabinetry. There are plenty of options for cabinets today.^[1]

Because the latter would not make any sense.

Sweden's finest (and perhaps only) collaborative, leftist e-newspaper Synapze.se

by A swedish kind of death on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 09:19:40 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (none / 0)

In Ireland the term "Kitchen Cabinet" is used synonymously with "inner circle" and denotes people who are very close to and influential with the Prime Minister/President but who are not part of the formal Cabinet of Government Ministers. It does not have any derogatory or sexist connotations. I presume Cat knew this and was just trying to be provocative. In any case I do not find this approach "entices" me to read his sources further or continue this conversation.

notes from no w here

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 10:43:08 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (none / 0)

Ms Jarrett is an employee of the US government, a public servant. Let us not dismiss that fact. Whether her status ("prominence") or her functions, regardless of the advice and consent of the senate or the "pleasure of the president" condemns the trust vest in the office that she attends is question provoked by rootless2's observation --indictment, I'd say-- of so-called left bank political analyses:

The actually powerful figures who surround the President, such as Valerie Jarret, are ignored - not surprising that a black woman disappears from view....
If you look at the articles, you'll see it's worse than that - although to be fair, Hilda Solis might be ignored because she's in the Department of Labor not because she's a latina.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 11:36:55 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (none / 0)

Because the latter would not make any sense.

Oh, it does, when speaking metaphorically of the functionality of certains persons engaged informally to act as the president's agents, ex post or <ex ante</i> and during ... meals.

Clifford is a funny (peculiar) example, a Cuisine art "food processor" perhaps.

The Nation called Truman "inept" and Walter Lippman declared Churchill's speech and Truman's obvious approval of it --the president applauded several times during its delivery-- were an "almost catastrophic blunder." Although Truman bobbed and weaved through these volleys of criticism in a style FDR would have approved, he was reassured by the polls of what American people were thinking about the Soviet Union. ....
In 1948 Henry Wallace ran for president as the candidate of the Progressive Party.

By '44 Boss Kelly, FDR appliance sine qua non, had concluded Wallace was a liability no matter how much praise the Nation and New Republic heaped on his anti-isolationist rhetoric and spectacular fights with Jesse Jones, corporate rustler. Truman was more suave.

His chief plank was a call for reconcilliation with Russia. In the campaign, all Wallace's flaws and past failures returned to haunt him. The Hearst newspapers got their hand on the Roerich letters and had them authenticated by a handwriting expert. Unable to call them foregeries, Wallace simply refused to discuss them, dismaying even his supporters in the press. He defended the Soviet seizure of Czechoslovakia in early 1948 and sent an open letter to Stalin with a six-point program for peace that the Soviet dictator accepted, all but smacking his lips over such an easy propaganda victory. ...Even his original sponsor, Eleanor Roosevelt, deserted him and declared for Truman. On election day, Wallace got 1,157,140 votes --2.37 percent of the national total-- and failed to prevent Truman's victory, the real purpose of his bizarre campaign. [Fleming, 554-555]

Clifford was in the kitch for the MIC, I think, history has concluded.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 11:07:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA (none / 1)

Frank Schnittger:

is he not trying to do more or less what he campaigned on

a lot less, imo, tho i do continue to support his being a lesser evil.

i knew his rhetoric would be hard to match in reality, but i'd kinda appreciate it if he levelled with us more about why he has backtracked on so many vital issues, such as his vociferous endorsement of a very different health care system than is emerging, for a start.

weak tea, so far, torture still continuing, and what i find really galling, his not giving up bush's executive powers, yet not using them to slice through a bunch of gordian knots first.

even a simple ' i really thought i was going to be able to do more, but i decided staying alive was more important' would do much to help to see him as less omnipotent than the role confers, and help people hang in there with him as he makes slow, good, incremental changes, but only after stroking all the assholes who have foxed themselves into being heavy hitters, while the middle class crumbles.

or a candid admission that his speeches were calculated to please and motivate a whole bunch of hopiated followers who then could be jettisoned like ballast which is slowing him down in the business of empire. haha.

i think his approval poll numbers might be a whole lot higher if he explained the kind of forces pressuring him better, to those, like myself, who wonder if we have been mightily hoodwinked by a very classy act, but largely just an act.

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty

by melo (melometa4(at)gmail.com) on Wed Dec 16th, 2009 at 09:39:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

You inadvertently put our finger on why Obama is (4.00 / 4)

currently drawing the ire of the left in the US: Rahm Emanuel, who has declared war, on a number of occasions, on the left wing of the Democratic party (Google Duckworth/Cegelis for but one example) and is pretty much (and deservedly so) despised by that wing. I imagine the feeling is mutual, too and explains the ads attacking him from the left of late.

When Obama named him, I immediately assumed a defensive posture viz. what would come, policy-wise, and appear to be correct in that posture. It signaled that little progress would be made, and we see this in the inherited wars and Obama's reticence to finally do the right thing and withdraw US troops. We see this on economic and fiscal policy, which is essentially are "more of same," money for bankers and little for everyone else, with even the much vaunted stimulus package wasted on the sorts of tax cuts the right-wing cherish while real stimulus measures such as aid to states was stripped out. We see this on bankrutpcy "reform" We see this on various civil rights issues (e.g torture, illegal detention, gay rights to name a few examples) as well as authoritarian creep (embrace of Bush's executive-branch prerogatives).

And, of course, we see Rahm's fat fingers all over healthcare "reform".

The Hun is always either at your throat or at your feet. Winston Churchill

by r------ on Sun Dec 20th, 2009 at 05:30:18 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Ideology of the Anger Left in the USA | 67 comments (67 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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