The announcement of a presidential campaign by Professor Cornel West is unwelcome. (By the way, it’s one “L.”) The outcome is potentially disastrous. There is no upside. Stopping Trump is the priority. West is a brilliant man, even a great man, but his head for politics is lacking. One bit of evidence was his behavior when he had the opportunity to weigh in on Democratic Party platform deliberations in 2016. Subsequently he endorsed Green Party candidate Jill Stein. That’s a big no-no. If you accept a seat at the table, you don’t take your ball and go home when you don’t get what you want.
"I’m second to nobody in my distaste for Hillary Clinton, but voting for her in November of 2016 was the political imperative for anyone in their right mind."
Not quite. I also voted Green in 2016, so I don't have a Hillary vote on my conscience. But I reside in Illinois, and thus was absolutely certain that my vote wouldn't have any effect on my state's electoral. BTW, I don't know Cornel West's legal residence in 2016, but it almost certainly was MA or NY or NJ, so your remark is probably nonsense about him as well.
We'll have to disagree, on both counts. My view is the greatest possible D vote in 2016 was vital. And I doubt West's state of residence will have any bearing on his vote next year.
"I had great respect for you as a multifaceted public figure. But now you are poised to facilitate the return to power of the would-be dictator and coup architect.
"UO Law School Dean Derrick Bell said in an interview in the Clinton Street Quarterly, and repeated to me in person (waiting in the line at Eugene's Butte to Butte road race), that America would only change when white people suffered as much as black people already had. ("As if that will ever happen," as Dr. J_______ B_______ muttered to me.) I wonder if that's your plan, by way of facilitating the return to power of the fascist narcisist.
"That ploy NEVER works. The way to change is to show that things can be better by making things better. Joe Biden has achieved more in this vein than any president since Lyndon Johnson, who was so beneficial that he turned the powers in an entire reactionary region against his party. Don't go down the malign path of helping more malignity."
I remember an older thirty party modus operandi, in which state activists maintained party status on the ballot but the candidates focused on public education rather than defeating reasonable Democratic candidates.
I don't entirely disagree. In 2020 I voted, reluctantly, for Biden, since I had concluded from 2016 that we needed an overwhelming popular vote, in addition to an Electoral College victory.
I agree with Sawicky that defeating Trump and the Republicans is a priority, but as Democratic pundits have argued since Nader ran in 2000 he raises the false flag of spoiler. Cornel West will be a splendid candidate for the Green Party, of which I am a member, because of his critique of Wall Street Imperialist Democrats and of course the fascist agenda of Trump and Republicans. Cornel West should outline the consequences of how people vote, depending on their state with respect to its votes in the Electoral College. Rather than telling people how to vote, respect their choices and emphasize the imperative of defeating Trump and Republicans. This will maximize the building of an independent anti-imperialist party and strengthen the chances of defeating Trump and Republicans in 2024.
In addition, this kind of "vote like I tell you to do" turns people off, rather show respect for the vo\er and share your analysis of the consequences regarding the Electoral College vote depending on the state the voter lives in. If Nader. hadn't run in 2000, Gore would likely got fewer national votes and Elecloral College votes too, since he energized a lot of youthful voters who ended up voting for Gore. No case that Jill Stein was a spoiler in 2016 since most of her voters in the swing states would have stayed home rather than vote for Clinton. Please stop pontificating, rather show respect.
Hi David. I voted for Nader twice, in 1996 and 2000, so I have some sympathy for the logic. Cornel is a great messenger, among other virtues. I would have liked to see him in the primary, educating the masses. Marianne Williamson might be good for this. Unfortunately, the Nov election could be close enough for a West/Green Party ticket to adversely affect the outcome. Another Trump term would be a disaster, after which we could forget about any chance of an "anti-imperialist party." I don't think it's a false flag to point this out.
The Greens have had decades to put something together but seem to have nothing now except the opportunity to capitalize on the fame of someone else.
Friends of mine used to complain about Democrats invoking the Supreme Court as 'blackmail' to motivate a lesser of two evils vote. We see how that turned out.
Max, I assume you’ll post this on FB, right?
I did.
100%!
"I’m second to nobody in my distaste for Hillary Clinton, but voting for her in November of 2016 was the political imperative for anyone in their right mind."
Not quite. I also voted Green in 2016, so I don't have a Hillary vote on my conscience. But I reside in Illinois, and thus was absolutely certain that my vote wouldn't have any effect on my state's electoral. BTW, I don't know Cornel West's legal residence in 2016, but it almost certainly was MA or NY or NJ, so your remark is probably nonsense about him as well.
We'll have to disagree, on both counts. My view is the greatest possible D vote in 2016 was vital. And I doubt West's state of residence will have any bearing on his vote next year.
I wrote on his Web site:
"I had great respect for you as a multifaceted public figure. But now you are poised to facilitate the return to power of the would-be dictator and coup architect.
"UO Law School Dean Derrick Bell said in an interview in the Clinton Street Quarterly, and repeated to me in person (waiting in the line at Eugene's Butte to Butte road race), that America would only change when white people suffered as much as black people already had. ("As if that will ever happen," as Dr. J_______ B_______ muttered to me.) I wonder if that's your plan, by way of facilitating the return to power of the fascist narcisist.
"That ploy NEVER works. The way to change is to show that things can be better by making things better. Joe Biden has achieved more in this vein than any president since Lyndon Johnson, who was so beneficial that he turned the powers in an entire reactionary region against his party. Don't go down the malign path of helping more malignity."
Probably a waste of good rhetoric.
I remember an older thirty party modus operandi, in which state activists maintained party status on the ballot but the candidates focused on public education rather than defeating reasonable Democratic candidates.
Next year I think we cannot afford any erosion in vote counts. The prospect of an unleashed DT in the White House is too repellant.
I don't entirely disagree. In 2020 I voted, reluctantly, for Biden, since I had concluded from 2016 that we needed an overwhelming popular vote, in addition to an Electoral College victory.
In light of whom we are dealing with, that would be my sentiment next year too.
This is what I posted on Metro DC DSA FB page:
I agree with Sawicky that defeating Trump and the Republicans is a priority, but as Democratic pundits have argued since Nader ran in 2000 he raises the false flag of spoiler. Cornel West will be a splendid candidate for the Green Party, of which I am a member, because of his critique of Wall Street Imperialist Democrats and of course the fascist agenda of Trump and Republicans. Cornel West should outline the consequences of how people vote, depending on their state with respect to its votes in the Electoral College. Rather than telling people how to vote, respect their choices and emphasize the imperative of defeating Trump and Republicans. This will maximize the building of an independent anti-imperialist party and strengthen the chances of defeating Trump and Republicans in 2024.
In addition, this kind of "vote like I tell you to do" turns people off, rather show respect for the vo\er and share your analysis of the consequences regarding the Electoral College vote depending on the state the voter lives in. If Nader. hadn't run in 2000, Gore would likely got fewer national votes and Elecloral College votes too, since he energized a lot of youthful voters who ended up voting for Gore. No case that Jill Stein was a spoiler in 2016 since most of her voters in the swing states would have stayed home rather than vote for Clinton. Please stop pontificating, rather show respect.
Hi David. I voted for Nader twice, in 1996 and 2000, so I have some sympathy for the logic. Cornel is a great messenger, among other virtues. I would have liked to see him in the primary, educating the masses. Marianne Williamson might be good for this. Unfortunately, the Nov election could be close enough for a West/Green Party ticket to adversely affect the outcome. Another Trump term would be a disaster, after which we could forget about any chance of an "anti-imperialist party." I don't think it's a false flag to point this out.
The Greens have had decades to put something together but seem to have nothing now except the opportunity to capitalize on the fame of someone else.
Friends of mine used to complain about Democrats invoking the Supreme Court as 'blackmail' to motivate a lesser of two evils vote. We see how that turned out.