[Fwd: Swans' Release: July 19, 2004]

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://www.swans.com/
July 19, 2004 -- In this issue:

Note from the Editor:  Barbara Ehrenreich, the gray lady filling in for
Thomas Friedman at The Gray Lady, does a nice little hatchet job on
Ralph Nader in "It's Over, Ralph" (NYT, Op-Ed, July 18). She
writes, "A whole slew of candidates -- Dean, Kucinich, Sharpton,
Moseley Braun -- [preached Ralph's] vision of peace and social
justice from within the Democratic Party;" and she's "thrown [her]
mighty weight behind Dennis Kucinich, who, unnoticed by the media,
is still soldiering on the campaign trail." Ms. Ehrenreich seems to have
"unnoticed" another news of sorts (was not news for some of us):
John Kerry's campaign headed off a showdown at the Democratic
Convention by convincing Kucinich's delegates, in the name of party
unity, to give up their demands that the Party's platform include the
U.S. withdrawal from Iraq, the establishment of a Department of
Peace, a call in favor of same-sex unions and an endorsement of
Palestinians' rights. "A vision of peace and social justice," Barbara?
By November, she might as well vote for Bush...for the way DLC-
Kerry is going, out-flanking the pResident on his right, even out-
hawking him, Mr. Bush will look quite "liberal" indeed! Seriously, let's
carry on with our civil debate between Swans' ABBers and non-
ABBers: A case can and should be made for Ralph Nader, and Louis
Proyect, using Greg Bates's latest book, "Ralph's Revolt: The Case
for Joining Nader's Rebellion" and Ralph Nader's "The Good Fight,"
makes it quite clearly. Edward Herman shows the unappetizing
choices that many on the Left face and advances Ricardo Levine
Morales's "lizard strategy" -- "Elect the Flake; Evict the Snake." Eli
Beckerman, addressing his fellow Greens, calls for political creativity
as "we stand up against the patently corrupt two party system" and
"Kerry's brand of imperial patriarchy." And, Mr. Bush has problems
of his own with his conservative base, according to Frank Wycoff's
observations. Lying does not appeal to these fellows.

Confronted by "Power, greed and corruptible seed" (Bob Dylan) and
the enslaving platitudes of a Britney Spears, Phil Rockstroh offers a
"libation of fermented regret to all the raging ghosts haunting the
soulless towers of lost potential." More prosaically, Philip Greenspan
shows the "practical face [or farce!] of democracy in the land of the
free and the home of the brave," where corruption and cooperation
between the two parties reign...which brings Richard Macintosh to
resoundingly ring the alarm bell...which prompts Milo Clark, faced
with the crazy people (corporations) in charge of everything, to
mourn...

An old acquaintance recently asked what proposals one can make for
the future of the U.S. (instead of simply criticizing the "system")? 
Well, let's see: Take Manuel García and John Blunt, for instance -- both
look at the fate of the planet and our so-called "civilization." García
proposes 21 steps to transition to a post-petroleum world, and Blunt
reviews Lester Brown's "PLAN B," a plan which has very little to do
with the status quo. Oh yes, our honorable correspondent added a
small caveat: "Any proposals that have a good chance of coming to
pass..." Yeah, it's a Slam Dunk for sure!

A poem by Gerard Donnelly Smith and the Letters to the Editor
(including John Steppling's review of the past issue) close this edition.

These notes are already too long -- sorry -- but we cannot let this
opportunity pass by the wayside: Baby Bush was in Florida last week
and charged Fidel Castro that "The dictator welcomes sex tourism" [in
Cuba]. Hmm, that speech would be welcome in Nevada, would it
not? What other sins will the "dictator" be accused of by the Emperor
-- gambling and casinos, like in the time of Baptista (another great
Democrat!)...or all over the USA today? Meanwhile, call girls are
congregating in Boston and New York for another blockbuster
Convention extravaganza...

As always, please form your OWN opinion, and let your friends (and
foes) know about Swans.

                                          *****

Here are the links to all the pieces:

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/lproy17.html
The Case for Nader-Camejo
- by Louis Proyect

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/herman13.html
The Left And The Election Choices
- by Edward S. Herman

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/elib017.html
Whose Imperial Patriarchy?
- by Eli Beckerman

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/flw021.html
Bush Lied!
- by Frank Wycoff

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/procks31.html
Confronting The Towering Lies Of Empire: A Eulogy
- by Phil Rockstroh

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/pgreen46.html
Legislative Process In The US Two-Party System
- by Philip Greenspan

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/rmac25.html
Courage
- by Richard Macintosh

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgc133.html
Welcome To The Polyculture!
- by Milo Clark

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/mgarci18.html
Thirsty Invaders, Chasing Heat
- by Manuel Garcia, Jr.

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/jblunt05.html
Lester R. Brown's "Plan B: Rescuing a Planet under Stress and a
Civilization in Trouble"
- by John Blunt

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/gsmith21.html
Denial
- by Gerard Donnelly Smith

http://www.swans.com/library/art10/letter46.html
Letters to the Editor

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Swans

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