http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/ Grassroots action for a safer, more just world Mon, 13 Feb 2012 23:37:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-32 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:23:55 +0000 http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-32 Joan: You are thinking much more clearly than so many peace activists in the post election euphoria. This kind of realism is desperately needed.

]]> http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-33 Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:41:07 +0000 http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-33 As peace activists we need to “Stay Standing”. Electing Obama or congressional progressives does not change policy. The change happens when we alter our political response to events…like sending more troops into Afghanistan and maintaining Robert Gates as the Secretary of Defense. What should our response be? What action should we take?
Too many folks think that objecting to Gates or Afghanistan is being somehow “disloyal” to Obama.
We need to get over that and make our voice heard in the new administration or even, now, to the Bush administration. George W is sending the troops in because Gates (and the generals) asked him to. Obama needs to ask Gates for his plan on standing down in Iraq (the “agreement” is subject to broad interpretations) and what our plan for Afghansistan is to avoid another Iraq there.
We need to ask everyone committed to peace to “Keep Standing” and keep making our vocies heard.

]]> http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-34 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:36:30 +0000 http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-34 Could you please draw up a letter for Obama that many could sign regarding this very interesting information about Robert Gates.I suspect Obama has his plate full with the economy and wants Gates to provide continuity until he can address the wars.I’m hopeful that Obama will maintain his vision though his ideas on Afganistan disturb me. Sincerely, Fran Dayan

]]> http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-35 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:55:28 +0000 http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-35 Back when Bill Clinton became President, we heard the same refrain we hear about Obama today: ‘he tacked to the right to get elected, but he’ll be a liberal once he’s in office.’
Guess what: on almost every foreign policy decision of the day, Clinton maintained George H.W. Bush’s foreign policy (e.g. Iraq, repatriating Haitian refugees in violation of international law, etc.). Many liberals gave Clinton a free pass and as a result, he was was pulled even further and further to the right throughout his presidency.
I do think Obama is more in line with progressive values; however, he is a perfect example of a politician who will govern according to the feedback he receives from people.
If he only hears from conservatives, he will be pulled to the right and little will change in foreign policy from the Bush/Cheney era, other than the rhetoric.
If he hears more from liberals and progressives, though, he will govern more progressively, and he will perceive that he has the political cover to do so.
The neo-conservatives and fundamentalists were single-minded in their focus in 2000.
They got their candidate elected and didn’t stop there.
They had just gotten started. And then they chose to use the political currency of 9-11 to ‘run the table’ and transform the American government.
We have upon us another potential major political moment: the current economic crisis. Now is the moment when progressives can seize the day and run the table, themselves, to profoundly transform America in a way we could have only imagined, over the past 28 years.
That will only happen if we do not become silent, if we do not ensure that the only loud voices Barrack Obama hears are those of Republicans.
If you want Barrack Obama to be as good of a president as you hope he will be in your most secret and wildest dreams, then you need to be even more vocal about your opinions… so he can be.

]]> http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-36 Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:35:37 +0000 http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-36 No peace group should ever give Obama the benefit of the doubt after this. We need to fight Obama as hard as we fought Bush.

]]> http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-37 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:25:25 +0000 http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-37 Receive $130 Paid to You Immediately
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]]> http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-38 Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:30:25 +0000 http://blog.peaceactionwest.org/2008/11/25/of-robert-gates-and-organizing-in-the-obama-era/#comment-38 It seems as if Obama is backing off from many of his platform promises. Maybe he is going to be just another liar in an empty suit. Not really much of a surprise….He is a politician, so here we go again.

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