Obama: Bringing Foreign Policy back to the people
Mon Jan 07, 2008 at 10:25:19 PM PDT
One issue that had really been bothering me lately, as a result of the critique of the Foreign Policy community in Washington that has been presented here, is making sure that the American people get involved in the foreign policy process. It always struck me as very elitist for politicians assume that ordinary Americans have nothing to contribute on matters of foreign policy. The rationale that has always been given is the need to present a united, bipartisan front before the world at large, but bipartisanship in foreign policy making has never been a given in American history and certainly does not exist today, at least at the party level (see here).
We need a Progressive Foreign Policy, NOW
Sun Jan 06, 2008 at 10:49:53 PM PDT
As a student of international relations, over the weekend I read with interest this post from Paul Rosenberg over at Open Left. In it, he expands upon the points made by Allan Nairn and Kelley Beaucar Vlahos on Amy Goodman’s radio show. The most critical point made was that in the people to whom these candidates are listening for foreign policy advice are not well grounded in Progressive thought. As Paul Rosenberg eloquently puts it:
For all the talk we hear about "values" in politics, the gap between American values and American foreign policy continues to be absolutely stunning. And the truly incredible part is that it's precisely this very same gap that's responsible for our foreign policy being such an unmitigated disaster.
Pogo wasn't kidding: We have met the enemy, and he is us.
For all the talk about "change" this election, when it comes to foreign policy, there is little to be found from any candidate.
Could recount at least undermine the so-called mandate?
Mon Nov 15, 2004 at 04:51:27 PM PDT
It is very likely that after the Ohio recount is completed that the vote total will be much closer than it is at current moment. There is a small chance that Kerry will win, but there's an excellent chance that the vote differential will dip below 50 or 40 thousand. I know that it wont affect the way that Bush will attempt to rule, but could it undermine his claim that he has a "mandate" from the people in the eyes of the average American and from moderate Democrats? I think it will tarnish his win a good amount, assuming he remains president and Kerry falls short. If somehow it narrows to 10,000 or less, then I'm almost certain that this will be the case. Am I naive in thinking the public will view him with less of a mandate and too optimistic about the American public or am I right to have faith about the ability of the American public to see through Bush's crap?
My first canvassing experience Today 10/30/04
Sat Oct 30, 2004 at 08:03:30 PM PDT
I'm 16 and today I canvassed for the first time for Kerry in downtown Chicago! I know that I can't vote, but I wanted to help re-defeat Bush and to support the Kerry-Edwards ticket. First, myself and a group of other eager voulenteers met up at the Kerry-Edwards office on 57 W. Grand where we were sent off with flyers, buttons and stickers to hand out to passers-by at Navy Pier.
We walked over and passed stickers and buttons outside for about an hour and a half before going inside. Withing 10 minutes of us going inside, we were told by security that it was illegal to pass out campaign literature on Navy Pier.
New ABC Poll shows Kerry +3 in OH
Tue Oct 19, 2004 at 03:01:30 PM PDT
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=178949
Kerry up 50-47 over Bush.
It's pretty clear that the main issue in Ohio is Jobs and the economy as this poll shows. Jobs is about as big of an issue of Iraq and Terrorism combined because the situation of the economy in Ohio. More and more polls show that Kerry is going to win Ohio and if he does, it will be pretty difficult for Bush to surmount unless absolutely everything else breaks his way, which is about as likely as Gallup's likely voter model being accurate.
Electoral Analysis: Kerry's job not too difficult
Sat Oct 16, 2004 at 10:36:43 AM PDT
I hope I'm not being too repetitive with this diary or stating the obvious as this is my first diary entry, but I wanted to give my take on the electoral race. Kerry's job is much easier than what I had first thought. They biggest key to this election is that Kerry has to hold all of the states that Gore won in 2000, but if he loses Wisconsin or Iowa (note: not both), it isn't the end of the world. Bush won both Florida and Ohio in 2000, therefore if Kerry wins either one of them without losing Wisconsin, then the election is over and Kerry will win. The problem is that most polls have suggested that Wisconsin will go red. That being said, if we lose Wisconsin, hold Iowa and pick up either Ohio or Florida, then the election is over. Knowing all of the problems with Florida that are inevitable this year, I'd like to see Kerry just pick up Ohio and be over with it. If the Republicans lose Wisconsin, Kerry is the next president of the United States. I guess one of my points is that people in the Chicagoland area need to go up to Wisconsin if they can and help out Kerry in the state.
