Why is the right calling the shots?

[Hannah Bell]

"DEFUND EVERYTHING. Get rid of the socialist aspects of government, not just in health care, but the other entitlement areas that are driving us into insolvency." That was the response of Alaska Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller, when Fox Business News asked him what parts of the federal government he would get rid of first.

Talk like that would have marked Miller as a crackpot on the far fringes of the Republican right not that long ago. But this is what passes for mainstream discourse in U.S. politics today--the Republicans spout inflammatory lies and pander to bigotry, and the Democrats, though still in control of both the White House and Congress, retreat even more and act like there's nothing they can do about it.

The right wing claims it represents the majority of Americans. It doesn't--by any number of measures, most people in the U.S. reject the bigoted and pro-corporate policies that the right actually stands for, once its rhetoric is swept aside...But the right never faces a real challenge from inside the U.S. political system. The Democrats present themselves as the "party of the people" at election time, but their real role is to represent the corporate and political establishment. And so the instinctive attitude of party leaders, unless faced with pressure from below, is to take the moderate and non-threatening path.

This sets up a well-worn dynamic of U.S. politics: With every retreat by the Democrats, the right wing's battle cry becomes louder. NO AMOUNT OF CONCESSIONS WILL SATISFY THE RIGHT -- THEY ONLY EMBOLDEN IT TO GO FURTHER.

http://socialistworker.org/2010/09/01/the-right-calling-the-shots

[McCamy Taylor]

1. Two words---"corporate" and "media". They stole the 2000 and 2004 elections for Bush

for the promise of unlimited media mergers (which, ironically, were never delivered). They are convinced that if America goes 100% corporate fascist, they will be swimming in money. Unfortunately, the press is the very first thing that will be slashed and burned when the jack booted thugs take over once and for all.

[Sherman A1]

4. Precisely

[OffWithTheirHeads]

2. Uhh, the fascists own the media, thus, the message?

I thought it was obvious by now.

[Lasher]

3. They don't have Blue Dogs in the House, or their counterparts in the Senate

And as you pointed out, there are elected Democrats who share some of their ideologies. Sentiments inside the beltway do not coincide with those of the general population.

[fasttense]

5. Because the criminals were never prosecuted for their crimes.

If you leave a bank robber alone and let him keep what he stole, he will robb again. He will also become richer and more powerful.

The RepubliCONS have never, ever been held accountable for their crimes. So, they continue and become richer and more powerful.

Nothing will change until all the criminals are prosecuted and jailed.

[Lost4words]

11. +1, a major admin failure that will come back to hurt us

[SmileyRose]

6. I don't agree they are calling the shots.

IMHO their snit is highly visible while progressives are getting the work done. IOW - the Corporate owned media is (predictably) skewing everything toward what the Corporatists want to catapult for the day. I'm not even sure it's possible for progressives to use traditional media any more, but as of this moment, whatever steps we are taking, it's completely ineffective.

But I do not agree the perception of reality is actually the same as reality.

[TexasProgresive]

7. Since their point of view in narrow and ours is broad

It is easy for the right to stay focused. The Democratic party is truly a big tent covering many points of view. That I like but I don't know how we can frame the issues in such a way that will draw us together. It has always been this way but in earlier times we would vote. The other thing that is going against us is that the independent voters have grown so strong that our candidates have to appeal to them to get elected.

My rep is a defacto blue dog. I don't know if he calls himself that but I mean to tell you I will vote for him in November regardless. He has a chance of winning and does a better job of representing me then any r'puke. Any Dem to the left of my rep running in this district would be soundly defeated.

Robert Heinlein wrote: You can sway a thousand men by appealing to their emotions quicker than you can convince one man by logic. It doesn't have to be a prejudice about an important matter either. Zebadiah Jones from If This Goes On AKA Revolt in 2100

[WVRICK13]

8. Because The Left Lacks A Voice

If the right wants to stop entitlement programs they should start with assistance to banks and Wall Street. How they can denounce food stamps and support multi-million dollar bonuses with our tax dollars is utterly amazing. What is even more amazing is the ignorance of the American people. The poor are out front supporting the right wing politicians. They are begging to get screwed even harder the next time. When Congress flips to the right we are going to see changes that will destroy what is left of our fragile nation.

[ladjf]

9. At this point in the political cycle it seems that the louder the mouths

the more influence. nt

[blindpig]

10. k&r

[struggle4progress]

12. Yep. They own the industrial tools for mass producing consciousness