Edwards Bows Out
Unfortunate. Because even though he was behind in the polls, he brought a level of democracy to the democratic primaries that will not be there afterwards. And stories like this continue to give me pause about Obama.
Archive for January, 2008
Gloria Steinem and Melissa Hariss-Lacewell discuss Race and Gender
In a previous post i linked to steinem’s (idiotic) piece on gender and race. Here she engages in a discussion with Melissa Harris-Lacewell about the issues on Democracy Now. Although you can read the transcript, knowing Dr. Harris-Lacewell I’d strongly urge you to listen.
Shuck and Jive vs. Bob and Weave
Note to Andrew Cuomo: This is shuck and jive: 
This is bob and weave:
Salon Article deals with Obama-Clinton argument
The recent flap over the apparent use of the southern strategy by the Clinton campaign led me to write a longer piece about the subject that appeared in Salon yesterday.Also, in the barbershop we talked about Gloria Steinem’s recent piece on the race/gender divide in this election.
The Problem with Black Politics
I’m snatching the following quote from Adolph Reed’s important work Stirrings in the Jug:
Encouraging popular participation is the only effective possibility for reinvigorating a progressive movement in black political life because people respond by organizing themselves when offered concrete visions that connect with their lives as they experience them, not to ideological abstractions or generic agendas that perfume narrow class programs. (pp. 50, 51)
Adolph’s academic work can be remarkably obtuse, and I’ve been meaning to ask him why the hell he makes his work so difficult to understand, but this volume is ESSENTIAL for anyone seeking to understand the current political context as well as the historical trajectory of black american political development. With that said, check out this story. One of the things that Reed calls for in remaking black politics is a renewed focus on representative-constituency relationships. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and a host of other folk don’t fit in here because while they may CLAIM constituents, these constituents can’t vote them out of office nor objectively examine their political behavior (because most of it occurs behind closed doors).Clyburn DOES fit this role…but why is he seeking to withhold his support in this instance? It isn’t because black people want him to make a different call. It isn’t because he thinks that one candidate may be particularly bad for black people, policy wise. It is because one of the candidates offended his historical sensibility by insulting the civil rights legacy.You’ve got to be kidding me.This is the type of thing we’ve got to get away from with the quickness. And publicly condemn those who would make such weighty decisions on such petty concerns.
Why Edwards Should Stay
If for no other reason than the candidates move to the right unless he’s in, as competitive as it is. The longer he stays the more concessions his forces can get if he leaves. Along similar lines the more competitive the race is, the better it is for the left. Because it makes it harder to take the left/liberal vote for granted. Even with “hope.”
I’d hate to be that white boy
Makes me think of the white addict Bubbles used to run with in the first few seasons of The Wire.
A Hope in Hell
CHORONZON: I am a dire world, prey-stalking, lethal prowler.MORPHEUS: I am a hunter, horse-mounted, wolf-stabbing.
CHORONZON: I am a horsefly, horse-stinging, hunter-throwing.
MORPHEUS: I am a spider, fly-consuming, eight legged.
CHORONZON: I am a snake, spider-devouring, posion-toothed.
MORPHEUS: I am an ox, snake-crushing, heavy footed.
CHORONZON: I am an anthrax, butcher, bacterium, warm-life destroying.
MORPHEUS: I am a world, space-floating, life nurturing.
CHORONZON: I am a nova, all-exploding… planet-cremating.
MORPHEUS: I am the Universe — all things encompassing, all life embracing.
CHORONZON: I am Anti-Life, the Beast of Judgement. I am the dark at the end of everything. The end of universes, gods, worlds… of everything. Sss. And what will you be then, Dreamlord?
MORPHEUS: I am hope.
……..
The above is taken from Neil Gaiman’s classic Sandman series. “A Hope in Hell” was the title of the issue.
The sequence above is the first thing that came to mind when I saw the results of the Iowa Primaries. More specifically it was the first thing I thought of when I heard that Obama won and Clinton came in THIRD.
(edited to add: I’ve got to reiterate my support for Edwards here, but hope is a powerful thing.)
