So he’s merely a sock-puppet condemned to obey orders from ageing Clinton cronies?

Obama’s tragedy might be that he presides over things that no-one can do anything about.

I see, so he hasn’t taken the oath of office yet, but already the apologetics begin.

One can’t controle or teleprompt the unfolding of history, events or economic downturns, and so I think that Obama’s total inability to improvise, to play it by ear and to do so in a convincing manner, will mean his supporters are in for a some very early, very nasty and very embarassing surprises.

OK, then, take the second part of my argument– that Israel is fighting a death-loving, reactionary, fascistic, antisemitic organization that represses trade unions, openly advocates for the extermination of Jews and the creation of a worldwide Islamist caliphate. Surely a struggle against such an organization is leftwing.

Don’t think so.

Though they came out of the official communist movement – which explains why ‘Harry’ always hated them. He was a proper twentysomething tankie back in the day – they’d probably position themselves nowadays as Leninists rather than Stalinist, Trotskyists of Marxist-Conradites.

Anyway, the latest Socialist Standard is a much better front cover:

Swinging gauchistes

But I would say that. I’m programmed that way.

I don’t get your point, VP. Wasn’t the Spanish Civil War– the great leftwing cause of the last century– about defending democracy against fascists (at least at the beginning)? Perhaps there are others willing to defend democracy these days, but does that exempt the Left from doing so?

Maybe Obama isn’t actually driving the bus. Maybe he’s just the bus conductor. I think his team will do most of the ‘running of the country’ with Obama being the delivery mechanism.

His team are powerful enough to say No to Obama and fight him over it but I suspect Obama won’t do to much to fight against the opinions of those who have experience.

Obama’s tragedy might be that he presides over things that no-one can do anything about.

And his election was probably the last manifestation of the ‘irrational exhuberence’ that characterised the Bush era. I’ve been listening to the guy for nearly a year now and still can’t figure out what his platform is.

His fall will be just as quick as his rise.

He’s the political version of a pop-culture fad.

Like the twist or the macarena

You’re a smart dude, Volt. What’s it been? Five years now? :D

Yes, anyone can use “defending democracy”. The question is, whose democracy do you want to defend? Hamas democracy or Israeli democracy?