Guardian UK: "(USA is) Leaderless on the Left"

[Bluebear]

.......But unlike the Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in his swift boat, Sheehan will not be blown off course quite so easily. The public mood in America is shifting consistently and decisively against the war and Bush's handling of it. Gallup has commissioned eight polls asking whether it was worth going to war since the beginning of the year: every time at least half have said no. For the first time, most people believe the invasion of Iraq has made the US more vulnerable to further attacks. The number of those who want all the troops withdrawn remains a minority at 33% - but that is double what it was two years ago, and still growing.

The reason Sheehan has become such a lightning rod is because that mood has found only inadequate and inconsistent expression in Congress.It has been left to her to articulate an escalating political demand that is in desperate need of political representation. This marks not only a profound dislocation between the political class and political culture but a short circuit in the democratic process. The mainstream has effectively been marginalised.

This is not particular to the US. In Britain, the view that there was a link between Iraq and the London bombings was shared by two-thirds of the population, but the handful of politicians who dared to mention it were shouted down in parliament and vilified in the press. In Germany, all the main parties support the labour market reforms that will cut welfare entitlements and reduce social protection, even though most of the population do not. But what many "centre-left" politicians regard as electoral expediency is actually becoming an electoral liability. Evidence exists that support for more radical stances is there if only they had the backbone to campaign for it....

Sadly, such examples are all too rare. Sheehan has revealed both the strength and the weakness of the left. We have a political agenda that can command considerable mainstream support; yet we do not have a political leadership willing or able to articulate those agendas. We wield political influence; we lack legislative power.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1553706,00.html

[Why Syzygy]

1. No Shit

Tell us about it. It isn't about votes any more. Ironic that's my screen name. It's time for walk-outs. Protests without end. "They" cannont accomplish ANYTHING without us. Guess they forgot about that. We need solidarity. Let's make Peace.

[NewJeffCT]

2. thanks for the link

good article.

[Darth_Kitten]

3. that makes sense

Big time. :(

[mod mom]

4. Excuse me? What about John Conyers? nt

[Tesla]

5. Conyers is the only Democrat that feels like he has

his constituents behind his ideas. Wee need to start at the local level and get our voices heard.

[mod mom]

6. He has more than his constituents, he has the progressives behind him.

[rndmprsn]

7. this line sums it up...

unfortunately

"Sadly, such examples are all too rare. Sheehan has revealed both the strength and the weakness of the left. We have a political agenda that can command considerable mainstream support; yet we do not have a political leadership willing or able to articulate those agendas. We wield political influence; we lack legislative power"