Danny Schechter: Is the Hunter Being Captured by the Game?

[marmar]

Published on Sunday, March 15, 2009 by CommonDreams.org

Is the Hunter Being Captured by the Game?
How the Permanent Power Structure Is Trying to Stop Obama

by Danny Schechter


Some things don't change. Obama may be in the White House, shuffling between the safety of the center and the language of change ("changeguage?"), firm in his commitment to the doctrine of neo-prog pragmatism which all too often requires the abandonment of ideas and ideals that could offend both the right and wrong people.

He is in office, but is he in power?

The mistake that many make is to confuse the trappings of symbolic power with the exercise of real power. Truth be told, real power is exercised mostly by unchecked private interests, lobbyists and our media. They have the power to obstruct policies, stir up controversies and orchestrate pressure to kill measures they don't like. They are well-funded minority and work skillfully in the shadows and through highly paid PR practitioners.

Every politician knows that these non-elected power centers often have more power than elected decisionmakers. They know that Congress is a swamp of competing interests catering to provincial needs. Remember the debate over "earmarks" during the campaign? McCain raised it but then Obama agreed with him. What happened?

Both parties promote them. They are, apparently, a permanent part of the system. South Carolina's Lindsay Graham thunders against them until it involves money for a convention center in Myrtle Beach SC. And etc. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/15-2

[Karenina]

1. Marvellettes Musical Interlude

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hobp_tMTa0E&feature=related

[OneBlueSky]

2. this is what's been worrying me all along . . . Obama is up against . . .

the status quo, which doesn't want change and which has the power to prevent change . . . taking on the healthcare industry, the banking and finance industry, agribusiness, defense contractors and all the rest is a superhuman task that may well be beyond the reach of any individual leader . . . yet whether true change actually happens will depend on Obama's ability (and willingness) to do precisely that . . .

what it all comes down to is the class warfare that Republicans accuse Democrats of engaging in but which they themselves fomented for the past eight years . . . and the end game is simply who will win out -- the people, or the corporations? . . . given who holds the real power, the people are likely to be on the losing end unless and until some really major catastrophe shifts that power back to where it belongs . . . or until the people, through their representatives, take it back . . .

[tbyg52]

3. It's the corporations, stupid! (I keep trying to get that meme taken up... ;-> ) nt

[Two Americas]

4. very good

"Real power is exercised mostly by unchecked private interests."

In order to fight for the people, the President needs cover. That is why critics and dissidents from the Left are the key to the success of the new administration, not to mention the only hope for saving the country.

The MSM is luring people into taking a zealous and brittle form of "support" and "loyalty" - hyper-partisan, oriented around the personality of the President, and simple-minded, about on the level of sophistication of cheering on a favorite sports team. From that point of view, critics seem to be upsetting the picture, hurting the cause, because they are threatening the illusion, and so they are attacked as traitors to the cause. This is doing the dirty work of the right wingers, and ensuring that only the wealthy and powerful few will have influence on the administration. That is a threat to the recovery of the country, the long term relevance and power of the party, and the potential success of the administration. Nothing is a greater threat.


...

[bemildred]

5. Obama needs voters, is what he needs.

And Congress-persons need to be re-elected for supporting him, and un-elected for not supporting him. Then you will see change. Right now the position is not clear. If we get resounding support for Obama in 2010, things will start to move a little faster, and so on ...

[Two Americas]

6. no

Other way around. Elections are an effect, not a cause. Seeing them as a cause puts the cart before the horse, and sabotages the process.

This is a representative democracy, not an effort in sales and marketing, not a popularity contest, not a sports events where we cheer on our team.

2010 is an enormous challenge right now, and if nothing changes the Republicans will make gains.

We strongly advocate for moving to the Left > that builds public support and involvement > Democrats get elected > once elected they have a mandate to help the people and a counter-balance the power of the wealthy and powerful few > progress can be made.

That is how it works.

Seeing it the other way around - electing Democrats first and foremost, engaging in the partisan feuding as controlled and manipulated by the right wing, and then demanding loyalty to the party, is certain to fail. That is how the MSM defines and describes politics, and I think the people insisting that we see it that way are getting their ideas from the MSM.


...

[bemildred]

7. I'm sorry, I have no idea why you disagree with me.

It's certainly true that the "conservatives" are not going to give up, but it's fatuous to think that ignorant gullible voters will stop getting screwed, for that very reason.

[Two Americas]

8. heh

I don't know that I do. Sorry if I was being too argumentative.

[bemildred]

9. OK.

Gotta stick together, right?
:hi:

[Two Americas]

10. my fault

I go off on rants sometimes and don't make it clear that I am not arguing with the person I am responding to.

[bemildred]

11. Gee, I think I've done that once or twice too ... nt