Letters to the Editor
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As long as we're talking about takin' in to the streets
There are many ways in which demonstrations, i.e. people making their physical bodies noisily visible in support or protest, can be more effective than "the pen," especially the electronic pen. Bush has been effectively shielded from protest because a) his handlers determine what he sees and reads and b) the crowds that have tried to confront him, to tell him how intensely they disagree with him have been too small, have been manageable by some pretty Mickey-Mouse techniques. No Chicago 1968 needed. Yes, if large crowds had showed up everywhere Bush showed up and refused to disperse or be silent, we might live in a different world today than we do.
Does anyone disagree with this, even Glenn?
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Che
What I ask of Glenn is that he resist the urge to dismiss out of hand the human tendency to take more direct action when they see a threat to their lives, liberty, family, etc.
But Che - I am NOT doing this and never do. I am not dismissing it at all, let alone out of hand. Street marches are not WHAT I CHOOSE TO DO. It is not what I think is the most effective means.
But I NEVER go out of my way to find people who are doing what you describe and start writing about how what they are doing is pointless, meaningless, ineffective, etc. I have never written a word about any of that in any post I have written. The ONLY time I address it at all is when someone comes here in comments and starts saying that what we're doing here is pointless, meaningless, irrelevant because only a Street Protest or more (Revolution) can have an effect. Only then do I engage that issue by explaining why I think that's off-base.
If people want to march in the street by the hundreds of thousands or millions, go right ahead. If I thought it would work or if I saw evidence that it was, I would change my mind, encourage it, join in. But I don't believe that. Nonetheless, I do NOT seek to dissuade others from doing it. The only time I speak about it at all is when people come here - where I do what I do -- to proclaim it irrelevant because only Street Marches work.
That's what I mean in the above comment - if someone wants to come here and say that the work I do and the work others here do is irrelevant because all is doomed, they are free to. But they are not free to remain immune from the same kinds of criticism they are voicing.
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My recommendation
My recommendation to President Bush: put in John Yoo as recess appointment for AG. Big FU to congressional democrats.
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Jesus why do liberals have to eat their young?
Big 'Lefty' Bloggers? LOL. Keep your eye on the ball...Glenn is not the bad guy.
One thing I don't understand about some liberals is the need to claim the high ground and castigate everyone around them for not being holy enough.
There are some lefy blogs that are not really my thing but people who are only 95% right instead of 100% right are not the problem and attacking them is self-defeating.
Glenn doesn't think protesting in the streets is effective - who gives a shit? It's quite obvious that Glenn is in the top 1% or so of effective liberals so whatever he is doing is working pretty well.
I'm not saying don't criticize, but keep the bigger picture in mind please. Keep minor squabbles minor squabbles.
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Why?
"Senate Democrats must commit themselves to blocking any and all nominees until Bush nominates someone whose independence and integrity are beyond reproach."
Really? Why? They rolled over for 2 SCOTUS appointments, they rolled over for defunding the war, then they rolled over for vastly increased executive snooping powers. If the democrats then choose to fight over Gonzales' replacement, what will that prove besides their hypocrisy?
Are you advocating that the dems behave like a loudmouthed impotent drunk who only starts screaming "let me at him" once he has two friends are holding him back?
You are usually a perceptive writer, Mr Greenwald, but I'm afraid you've been sipping the koolaid in this instance.
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Wake me up somebody
I just witnessed a Ron Pauliac, Che, Greenwald, Nebuchadnezzar sandwich. Is that even edible?
Nowhere, I repeat, nowhere outside of a Douglas Adams or Robert Anton Wilson novel would you find an exchange of dialogue(?) like that.
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Food
"I just witnessed a Ron Pauliac, Che, Greenwald, Nebuchadnezzar sandwich. Is that even edible?"
Yeah, but it needs more garlic.
I suppose I'll never get Glenn to loan me that money now.
Sheesh.
Sorry, Mona, I tried.
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@Mr. Versen
Why?
"Senate Democrats must commit themselves to blocking any and all nominees until Bush nominates someone whose independence and integrity are beyond reproach."-GG
Really? Why?
You are usually a perceptive writer, Mr Greenwald, but I'm afraid you've been sipping the koolaid in this instance.
-- Jonathan Versen
I'm getting the impression that some commenters think it would be impressive - just for the sake of of being impressive - to disagree or call out Glenn Greenwald.
Mr. Versen's post is meaningless. There is nothing to reply to in it.
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@ Glenn (and others)
If people want to march in the street by the hundreds of thousands or millions, go right ahead. If I thought it would work or if I saw evidence that it was, I would change my mind, encourage it, join in.
If five million people converged on DC with pitchforks and torches, I think there would be an effect. Would it "work"? Maybe, maybe not. But would it grab attention? Surely. There is some evidence that massive demonstrations do have a significant effect, not just from our own Vietnam era, but also from places like the former Soviet republics (even Russia), and Serbia.
But here I'll agree with Glenn: Without more work upfront (or some particularly egregious and horrific act [although I'm starting to get hard-pressed to think of what it would take]), it's not going to happen; most of the U.S. public is too busy, too distracted, too worried about just everyday things, to engage in such, even if they might be supportive of doing such as a general proposition if they thought it would help). Compounding the problem of raising interest in activist activities is the slow drip-drip-drip of excesses and criminality; we're becoming so inured to the "next foot" dropping that we seldom step back and see the full picture of how far they've marched. For this, we need to spread the word, and in support of Glenn and the other electronic torch-bearers, they are starting to make an impact and a difference (see, e.g., O'Hanlon's interview with Glenn, and Zelikow's reply in the last post). But "to each according to their ability...." Whatever you think works, do it. At least we agree on the seriousness of the challenge.
Cheers,