As I was tending the garden my mind pondered the two diaries posted last night on Alan Grayson and the so-called truth of progressive realpolitik.
Muse...muse...you fickle tease, what's that I hear..........."and now, will the real Obama please stand up?"
Well, what to make of such a mess? I mean, does he or doesn't he... (or does only his hairdresser know for sure)?
It's a shame Rodney King is not a dKos diarist, because I am sure of what he would say at such a time...
What emerged from the ether follows after the break....
But seriously folks, the bottom line is not who Obama is or isn't, or whether he is a certified political ju-jitsu master or complicit...it's about how real change happens in America or any other nation.
The only thing I know of that really scares the bejeebers out of the political class and causes any type of social change to happen that is counter to the vested interests of the power structure is widespread social dissent. Look at Egypt, Syria, and Israel. Or even America in the 60s.
So don't exclusively blame Obama, or the tea-baggers, or Michelle Bachmann, or the Koch brothers. It might also help to take a look in the mirror and ask, do I have what it takes to leave my comfort zone and stand up for those who have no voice? Not an easy question to answer...in my experience.
What would that protest look like? Ghandi and MLK have given us examples of a pattern of large-scale protest that has been time-tested. Creative, collaborative, collective effort.
Rosa Parks showed us how individual action also has power to make a positive difference, in totally unforeseen and unanticipated ways. Participate in what you see happening around you, what is right before you, actively, and with uncompromising integrity.
Just for the record, I suppose that I have come to the conclusion that Obama is a product of our current system and a believer in the ability of our current system to self-correct itself. Would he be "more progressive" if he had cover from the left...who knows? But also, for the record, I have for the most part not followed politics with any real passion or interest until the last decade. I've also been wrong a lot in my life.
Most of my politically savvy friends who have been really passionately active since the 70s believe otherwise...they clearly believe that Obama is a tool of Wall Street put into office to dismantle the last vestiges of the New Deal.
WHO CARES?
We are different in our analytical process...BUT...I believe we are united in what we are striving for.