Tom Hayden's Blog, page 40

Beginning Again

President Barack Obama’s triumph was, in the first place, one of brilliant organizational execution built on the changing demographics of America. Obama never lost sight of his community organizing lessons, nor the harder ones of Chicago politics. His volunteers, looking at fewer numbers and less enthusiasm, turned themselves into a relentless machine. David Axelrod and David Plouffe kept the focus of resources on the battleground states while the Republicans, torn by a long primary war, were left behind vying for crucial electoral votes.

On Election Day

One great thing about elections is the opportunity for people to get out of their comfort zones and engage "strangers" at their doors. For example, a spirited cadre of LGBT voters have contacted 250,000 Maine voters at the door on behalf of a marriage equality referendum. That's participatory democracy up close and personal, asking strangers to support your right to marriage. It's inspiring and worth remembering at a time of vast corruption and cynicism in our political culture.

Storm Breaks the Silence on Global Warming

The crashing seas and winds are the ecological equivalents of the 2008 Wall Street shaking, shaking the foundations of US politics and the relative silence about climate change.

Majority of Americans are Anti-Black, Anti-Latino

Slightly over fifty percent of Americans have prejudiced attitudes towards African-Americans and Latinos, up about four percent since the 2008 election of Barack Obama. The findings are according to an Associated Press survey conducted with researchers from Stanford University, the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago.

Personal Statement: Fifty years later, still making a statement

Few Ann Arbor residents know that The Statement, the Daily’s weekly news magazine, is named in memory of the Port Huron Statement, drafted by myself as the founding document of Students for a Democratic Society 50 years ago.

Obama Asks Congress to “Rein In” the President's War Powers

In an opening for the peace movement and human rights advocates, President Obama is inviting Congress to draft legislation to “rein in” the executive war-making powers of the presidency, including his own White House. Congressional leaders are mulling over a possible response, proposing revisions in the War Powers Act, even before the November 6 election. Obama seems to be taking seriously that his clandestine drone attacks, targeted assassination policies, military tribunals and detentions, cyber warfare, and Libyan intervention face significant constitutional questions and may violate the War Powers Act.

Remember and Thank George McGovern

The Democratic Party leadership, and political historians in general, do not look kindly on losers. Having been successful for most of their lives, but having fallen short of the presidency, leaves the losers in a permanent purgatory of derision, like B-movie actors. It is depressing for them, and a loss of valuable lessons for the rest of us, except of course for the most American of lessons: Win! As Leo Durocher said, “Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you an idiot.”

The Democrats and historians threw George McGovern under the bus. Now it is time for his resurrection, in a search for history’s lessons.

Russell Means, Truth-Teller

Russell Means, who died on Tuesday, kept a place here in Santa Monica in recent years, with his wife Pearl. Once my wife Barbara and I took our son Liam for a visit to meet this man we described as having fought a real war against the government. Still in good health those few years ago, Russell took great interest in our 10-year-old, as he did with all youth trying to understand the actual history of our country.

The New York Times Finally Calls for Afghan Withdrawal

America’s flagship newspaper, the New York Times , called Sunday for the US to leave Afghanistan “on a schedule dictated only by the security of the troops.” The editorial was the first in a national publication to call for rapid withdrawal during more than ten years of war.

Romney Should Listen to Grover Norquist… About Afghanistan

If Mitt Romney wants to complete his journey to the moderate middle tonight, he should reject the militarist neo-conservatives in favor of Grover Norquist’s advice to simply get out of Afghanistan.