Galloway, International ANSWER and the lesser evil

[ulysses]

How many times has the American left been told, in recent memory, that we have to support the lesser evil lest the greater evil win?

I'm wondering how many folks who've said that now oppose George Galloway, even though his testimony before the US Senate constitutes the most stinging rebuke to Bush's illegal war in Iraq to date, because he mourns the Soviet Union.

I'm wondering how many folks who've said that we have to support the lesser evil opposed the anti-war rallies organized by International ANSWER because of the full manner of evil things they're accused of backing, even though those rallies were pretty much the only things going.

Me, I may not agree with Galloway or with ANSWER on every point, but I can support the good that they do, especially when no one else is stepping up. I'm just sayin'.

[mike_c]

1. and I'm just agreeing with you, wholeheartedly....

Galloway handed Norm Coleman his hat, well shat in. That alone wins my respect. And I've marched with International ANSWER when there was no one else organizing marches against the invasion of Iraq, and that gains my respect, too. I've noted that although some have criticized ANSWER, few have stepped forward with alternatives. So I'll keep marching with ANSWER as long as they keep taking to the street, and proudly, too.

[ulysses]

3. see, that makes you evil, though.

;-) :hi:

[mike_c]

7. that, and I hate freedom, blame america first...

...and steadfastly refuse the plug-in Kool-Aid.

[ulysses]

8. take the blue pill.

;-)

[not systems]

2. Between reds and fascist imperialists, I have no problem...

with reds.

I would much rather march with ANSWER than sit at home
waiting for the Clintons or Kerry or Joe Lieberman to
take a stand against imperialism and occupation.

Out of Iraq now!

300 billion dollars down a rat hole and shovel into
the pockets of war profiters and corrupt AEI junior
neo-con resume stuffer in Iraq.

[ulysses]

5. a good way to put it.

:thumbsup: I like that.

[wtmusic]

4. yep

I guess we can all conjure up our own little ideal candidate or org that says and does all the "right" things.

Both Galloway and ANSWER do so many right things and do them with so much courage they've got my allegiance.

[ulysses]

6. heh!

I guess we can all conjure up our own little ideal candidate or org that says and does all the "right" things.

Dear god, how many times did I hear that from centrists regarding Nader? :D

[silverweb]

9. Hear, hear!

:toast:

That "all or nothing" attitude is something that really irks me. It's as though some of us expect our representatives, leaders, and allies to be 100% correct and perfect in every conceivable area -- or they're just not good enough.

People are people. They're human. They don't always express themselves perfectly and they can't please everyone. They may hold differing views on various subjects. They have off days, get irritable, and sometimes feel overwhelmed. But they're still there out on the front lines, which is more than most of us computer jockeys can say.

When yesterday's brave man is applauded for speaking truth to power, today he's cut down and minimized because someone decides he's just not good enough. I find that kind of attitude juvenile and extremely self defeating. It's one of the things that really hurts us in our attempts to gain any ground because we're doing the reTHUGs' hatchet work for them.

We certainly don't have to agree about everything all the time, but a little unity when it counts and a lot less bickering about relatively minor matters would really be nice to see more often.

:rant:

Okay, end of rant. Thanks for bringing this up, ulysses.

:hi:

[ulysses]

10. you're more than welcome.

It's a double-edged sword. If any of them are awake at this hour and in the mood, I expect a centrist or two to swoop down here and point out my hypocrisy as I point out theirs. We can cross that bridge later, should we even come to it.

I think it's an interesting point...

[silverweb]

11. Oh, I'm quite sure someone will swoop in to take a swipe at you.

That's a given.

Enjoy!

I can't engage. It's bad for my mood and my blood pressure.

:D

[LightningFlash]

12. The system is broken....

To me all I see now is broken, rigged, voting machines everywhere. If someone who truly would do the good of the country would step up and ask to be president, I'd follow right after them.

[The Magistrate]

13. Well Said, Sir!

Neither Mr. Galloway nor ANSWER rank too high on my own list of favorites, but there is no doubt they rank as "the lesser evil" in regard to the imperial efforts of our current regime. Further, Mr. Galloway's Senate appearance was indeed rum fun, and something U.S. Senators ought to be subjected to on a daily basis....

"Whether I die on the gallows, Sir, or of a loathesome disease, depends upon whether I should embrace your principles or your mistress."

[Vladimir]

14. Heh, good point

well made.

[markus]

15. The Trotskyists and organizing

If you try to do anything like ANSWER, the Trotskyists parties will step up and work harder than anyone else and ultimatley end up running the damn thing. Its a fundamental matter of party organization.

You have to choose between kicking them out (and then they will come anyway) or accepting a cadre of hard working folks to make common cause about the war or what have you.

I don't think there are too many people in the US who still worry about a communist bugaboo. The real issue is what other issues will the ultra-left drag into the events, and the tone that results.

It's a midly dangerous dilema either way you choose to resolve it.

Working with an umbrella/front group like ANSWER is much less risky than embracing too closely someone like Galloway, who is a telegenic individual with plenty of baggage to be trotted out on our semi-official media.

My feeling is you can't avoid alliance like ANSWER, but Galloway has to be treated with extra caution.