Mainstreaming Socialism

It is a testament to the effect progressive influence has had on the current Democratic Party to hear longtime establishment apologist and regular MSNBC commentator Lawerence O'Donnell sing the praises of the contribution American socialists have made to the quality of life in this country. In response to the latest vilification of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, O'Donnell reminded his viewers that the eight hour work day along with the 40 hour work week were products of the efforts of thousands of early American socialists (Eugene Debs being a notable 20th century example although not specifically mentioned by O'Donnell). He went on to make note of the formation and popularity of such socialist programs as Social Security and Medicare and the specific contribution of FDR's Secretary of Labor, Francis Perkins, in the enactment of the former while noting the historical roots of the latter.

O'Donnell's declarations represent an abrupt change of attitude from at least this sector of the Democratic mainstream. It was only a few short months ago that O'Donnell was attempting to minimalize AOC's historic defeat of 20 year incumbent and party kingpin, Joseph Crowley, and, in so doing, hope to marginalize her accomplishment. In the ensuing months, O'Donnell has apparently come to realize the very real depth of appeal that current socialist ideas and programs enjoy among an ever growing majority of Americans. As alluded to by O'Donnell, socialism, its ideas and benefits, have been an essential part of the American societal fabric throughout much of our history although not always identified by name. We might add to this list the very publicly financed and proudly American institutions of the National Park Service; the vast and largely well functioning system of highways, roads, and bridges; the much lauded and often revered US military; our police and fire service; a network of public libraries; a public educational system at once filled with promise and in need of even greater attention and the promise of the restoration of fully finance higher education to compete on the world stage with other industrialized nations of the world. In the light of these existing socialistic realities, the introduction of the Green New Deal as proposed by Bernie Sanders, Ms Ocasio-Cortez and scores of other members of Congress appear not as outlying concepts but rather ideas consistent with ongoing and successful programs with which we are all well accustomed and familiar. These ideas echo a rich and vibrant heritage forged throughout our history by the efforts, sacrifices, and vision of the likes of Mr. Debs, Samuel Gompers, social activist Dorothy Day, the great Paul Robson, our would-be Vice President Henry Wallace, and the legendary vision of Martin Luther King. They and thousands of other American socialist forefathers must look upon the current iteration of those who strive for the full and authentic expression of democracy with pride and hope for the fulfillment of a dream once conceived and still yet to be fully realized.

Of course, there exists now, as then, a formidable opposition to this movement...a very well organized and financed effort to maintain the status quo of wealth disparity and the preservation of a system that protects the 1% of elites...American oligarchs dedicated not to the common good but rather to the perpetuation and continuance of their narrow, myopic, and destructive vision based upon greed and self aggrandizement. They are currently represented by the familiar Koch Brothers, the Waltons, Robert Mercer, and Leo Leonard and the Federalist Society just to cite a few notable examples. They will do their best to demonize the harbingers of change in the upcoming election cycle now already upon us with vile insult, misinformation, and outright defamation in an attempt preserve a hold on an unjust system increasingly viewed with disfavor. When mainstream representatives like Lawrence O'Donnell begin to accept the need for real change and link this need with reference to the heritage of past struggle and the existence of ongoing successful programs that benefit the many, we may look forward to a future where a consensus will be achieved to turn the tide and enjoy a day when, in the words of Mr. Dylan, 'the sun will respect every face on the deck; the hour when the ship comes in!' The ship is indeed on the horizon.

A Matter Of Constitutional Duty

The Mueller report and today's statement indicate a clear referral to Congress to fulfill its constitutional duty in lieu of Mueller's inability (given DOJ's constraints) to prosecute a sitting president. As Elizabeth Warren has been advocating, it's time to act upon principle rather than political expediency and proceed according to the dictates of the law. That said, it will also be a powerfully useful thing to have Mueller give detailed public testimony to the relevant findings as they relate to Russia influence/interference in the election of '16 and the 10 instances of obstruction of justice by Trump as outlined in Part Two of his report.

Memorial Day

A solemn day of remembrance on behalf of all human beings, military and civilian alike, who have been victimized by the obscenity of war.

How Low Can You Go?

Publishing a doctored video which distorts Nancy Pelosi's halting speech pattern is akin to what a middle school bully might do to someone displaying a slightly different way of speaking in order to humiliate the recipient of the taunt. In so doing the bully invariably reveals himself to be the weak, insecure coward that his action underscores. This serves to affirm the fact that one doesn't hit rock bottom until they stop digging. Apparently, Trump and Giuliani have no intention of putting the shovels away any time soon.

Trump's Attemped Assault On The First Amendment

Trump's 'justice' department has handed down multiple counts of espionage against Wikileaks's publisher Julian Assange, the first time in American history that a disseminator of truthful information regarding military or governmental wrongdoing has been prosecuted for what has been common journalistic practice since the inception of our country.
This radically repressive step was presaged during the Bush/Chaney years with the prosecution and subsequent conviction of whistleblowers Thomas Drake and John Kiriakou (just to name two) who exposed respectively unwarranted surveillance of private citizens and CIA torture programs. Instead of reversing this trend, the Obama Administration greatly accelerated the practice of demonizing journalists and their sources by invoking the arcane 1917 Espionage Act more times than all prior administrations combined in an effort to suppress independent journalism by directly punishing sources of information thereby sending a chilling message to those attempting to inform the American people of the transgressions of their government.
With the indictment of Julian Assange, the Current Occupant has now expanded this practice of assaulting the first amendment  by actually making it a crime for publishers to expose malfeasance, corruption, wrongdoing, and international criminality by issuing stories based upon leaked classified material. In so doing, the Trump Administration is attempting to silence serious journalism as we have know it throughout our history. Taken to its logical conclusion, under this practice, the only permissible leaks of classified information will be those emanating from the government itself. Government controlled information is a central element to totalitarian rule where a free press is seen as antithetical to the interests of the state. Today's announcement moves us one step closer to this dark vision of America. The Fourth Estate is essential to our survival as a free nation; the prosecution of news agencies must be opposed with all the energy we, as a free people, can summon.
As a cruel and obscene irony, the attempt to make illegal the free dissemination of information grotesquely coincides with confirmed reports of Trump's serious contemplation of issuing pardons to accused war criminals, Edward Gallagher and Matt Golsteyn (as well as a former Blackwater mercenary).
As Dylan observed some time ago: 'it's not dark yet, but it's getting there'!