Web Letters | The Nation

To John Nichols: Your most recent column is on the mark.

To John Nichols: Your most recent column is on the mark. I agree 100 percent. But I wonder why there is so little thought given to the politics of Dennis Kucinich? I have been incredibly disappointed that Kucinich has nor been invited to be a more public participant in the Obama administration. I wonder what our mutual friend the late Clarence Kailin would think about how this Congressman appears to be on the outside of the Obama plans for the future. What are your thoughts?

Web Letter

"State Races Matter. State and local governments maintain the social safety net and pay for education." Indeed, they do. However, since California's legislature is still likely to have just enough Republicans when the November 2010 dust settles to exercise the tyranny of the conservative minority on state budget and revenue matters, we need to end the antidemocratic legislative "two-thirds" rules for budget and revenue matters here, so we can start closing the tax loopholes enjoyed by corporate interests and the wealthiest Californians. The California Democracy Act will eliminate the means by which a small minority of right-wing legislators--who put the interests of corporations and the very wealthiest among us over the vast majority of those of us who call California home, who place the budgeting process into a state of gridlock year after year and who block funding for education, social services and infrastructure we all need--have done just that for more than thirty years now. Our proposition is simple, just fourteen simple words long: "All legislative actions on revenue and budget must be determined by a majority vote." To learn more about this geuinely grassroots effort (it is not backed by any special-interest money whatsoever) or--if you are registered to vote in the State of California -to sign the petition yourself, go to www.CA4Democracy.com/.

Web Letter

Excellent article. And for those concerned with high taxes, understand that taxes result from spending, i.e., giveaways and pork to the special interests that fund the elections. There is only one thing that will stop it, and that's public funding of campaigns. For $6 per taxpayer per year, it would be a bargain.

Web Letter

How can anyone propose a progressive primer for the 2010 elections and run away from the central issue of the wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq and, more fundamentally, the whole war economy?

I'm sorry, I forgot, that would seriously tarnish all of those corporate Democrats and Republicans who obediently vote for war funding, regardless of who the war president is.

If you really want to interact with those voters in the once-industrial towns and rural communities who, for economic reasons, are doing the killing and dying,you shouldn't be running from the war issue but facing it head-on.

Personally, I start with the ten key values of the Green Party, but even if you're not with me on that, genuine progressives should be able to agree on voting only for Congressional candidates that pledge and consistently act for no war funding.

Web Letter

After reading this well-thought out commentary, I am convinced that liberalism is truly a mental disorder! The election results from 1994 will look like a picnic for the Democrats when compared to the tidal wave coming this November. No one who honestly regards reality could draw any different conclusion. The people have awakened to the lie called progressivism! Our Constitution will be protected by any means necessary! The farce called Obamanism has been exposed for what it really is... and this November, change is coming for real! No more antics from Nazi (Botox) Pelosi, enough of Prince Harry Reid and the rest of the incumbent vermin.

If Scott Brown taking Teddy's seat didn't wake up the "progressives" from their self-induced delusions, then let them continue to slumber!

Obama 2012... four more years of hoax and chains for America!

Web Letter

Delusional.

Web Letter

Some points here well-made for progressives. I hope your fellow progressives/liberals will take much of it to heart. Perhaps a panel of experts for Democratic candidates would be a good way to apply your ideas. If Martha Coakley of Massachusetts, Jon Corzine of New Jersey and Cree Deeds of Virginia could be brought together to talk about their strategies and success of progressive ideas, it might encourage the Democrats to make higher taxes and regulation a key part of their campaigns. Also, passing the healthcare bill opposed by upwards of 60 percent of American citizens and being sure to support trying terrorists in our courts here on American soil would be good as well. (However, regarding the latter, the Democrat candidates should play down the "show trial" promises of AG Holder and the president that KSM and other high-level terrorists will be given the death penalty.) Spreading the ideas proffered in this column could help progressive (i.e., liberal) Democrats achieve their proper levels of representation in the US Congress--aobut 20-35 percent. Good job!

Web Letter

It might have helped this year if the Democrats might have tried to compromise with reality. In healthcare, they refused to work with the Republicans or introduce the market disciplines that might have driven down costs.

"Cap and trade" was another job-killer fantasy based on the Climate Fraud. "Crtiminalizing" the War On Terror. Etc, etc., etc.

The Democrats need to re-evaluate their issues, as the article said.

This week there were four New York special elections for Democratic legislative vacancies. Republicans won in three.

Web Letter

You're a liar, Johnny. It always was about sixty... and cramming stuff through just so Obama could look good.

Thank the Lord you and your ilk were stopped when Scott Brown became "the forty-first vote." Look, you can spin this any way you want. About the only thing you got right is, yes, the game has changed, thanks to what happened in Virginia, New Jersey and, finally, Massachusetts.

Insiders on the left and right agree that as long as the Republicans don't shoot themselves in the foot between now and November, the Democrats are going to be savaged in the midterms. All of us "idiots" and heretofore uninvolved "rubes" are going do our best to put paid to your progressive lunacy.

"It's a hard rain a-gonna fall," Johnny. Were I you, I'd wouldn't wait before heading to higher ground.