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Enough Is Enough: A Post-Election Political Divorce

Posted 09/30 |

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Great article, Mark. My only quibble is with calling Michael Moore a lefty. He’s really the guy that Tom Lehrer said was “doing well by doing good.” He’s nothing but a conservative (supported Wesley Clark) who’s getting rich off the people who think they are leftists.

Posted by Gregory Stricherz from Minneapolis, MN on 09/30 at 11:18 AM

I honestly think Moore had a little bit of an ulterior, artistic motive for supporting Clinton-machine-backed Clark...While he makes mistakes, no one has done so much to make at least the broad-left argument about imperialism to the broad population than Moore, as of late...he needs to start leading his followers farther and he can… And while some argue that he leaves things out, he leaves all questions open to the right answers.

Posted by j cummings from on 09/30 at 01:15 PM

Excellent article, Mark. I hope you don’t mind I excepted it with a link back.

Posted by Diane Warth from on 09/30 at 05:01 PM

Not sure what happened to the ‘r’ in ‘excerpted’, registration jitters aside.

Thanks again.

Posted by Diane Warth from on 09/30 at 05:19 PM

Michael Moore certainly is the odd one out, the soft doughy one, in the group of lefty ABBers I listed in the article. As Jordy says, he’s brought some issues important to the Left to a wider American audience. But Gregory probably is right to question my inclusion of Moore in the list, especially given his endorsement of Wesley Clark and his cheerleading for Kerry. As Mickey Z. has noted in several articles, Michael Moore could have used his celebrity and access to a wide audience to shine a light on the ruling elite in Washington who have an interest in maintaining U.S. imperialism, instead of becoming a flack for the Democrats. Thanks, Diane. The article excerpt looks good on Karmalised. Sorry about the registration jitters.

Posted by Mark Hand from on 09/30 at 09:40 PM

Your idea though is great. I think a libertarian left party would bring in the left and the libertarians...There are probably some sticky issues that would need to be worked out. But I am sure that the commonalities honestly outweigh the differences. For example, the left who would join this party - like myself - would gladly compromise on gun control...The key is to bring in the “multitude” of Americans who are apolitical, but united against war.

Posted by j cummings from on 09/30 at 11:26 PM

I agree with Jordy sticking up for Michael Moore. He leaves a lot to be desired, but no one can doubt his contribution. I’m on the fence with him now, hoping he’ll turn more radical. Supporting Wesley Clark was a glaring error, but nobody’s perfect.

The Libertarians have a lot of great ideas. I particularly agree with their stand on drug policy. But I think their laissez faire approach to the environment and economics is dangerous. They would have to allow to a greater roll for true democratic government before I could subscribe to most of their slate of issues. I’m not so sure on the gun issue. Just as I don’t think the Second Amendment is clear that it means wide availability of handguns.

Posted by Tracy McLellan from on 10/01 at 06:22 PM

Obviously the present system is flawed and a revolution of sorts is required to replace it. A revolution requires solidarity. One upshot of the support by the “lefty all-stars” for the duopoly (or as Mickey Z correctly points out—monopoly) system is to have seemingly drived a wedge in a progressive movement.

Posted by kim from on 10/02 at 06:08 AM

Myles-- I agree it’s highly unlikely that we’ll ever get Nation and Z Magazine Democrats to end their abusive relationship with the Democratic Party. And you raise a good point about the Dems and Repubs representing a dwindling number of eligible voters. I haven’t read anything by these lefty ABBers articulating their long-term goals. Are they going to continue supporting the Democrats after the 2004 election or are they going to work for positive change? If getting people to join existing alternative parties eventually ends the duopoly, I’m all for it. But when so many Greens—not you, of course—this year will be voting for John Kerry and not their own candidate, it makes one wonder if the Green Party is worth supporting in the long-term. Good luck with the rest of your city council campaign.

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