Reconcile This: Lessons From The Latest Legislative Debacle

Reconcile This: Lessons From The Latest Legislative Debacle

Jim Kavanagh

newsakmi.com

So the Biden administration has achieved passage of, and signed into law, its Infrastructure Bill, and its Reconciliation/Social Spending Bill, dubbed Build Back Better (BBB), has passed the House and is awaiting decision by the Senate. Watching this process play out over the past months has demonstrated, in a way that could not be more definitive, a couple of core truths about the prospects for achieving social policies that could provide socio-economic security and justice for working-class—most—Americans, let alone any kind of transformative, lasting change in socio-economic structures.

 

The Outer Limits

The first of those truths, which left-socialists have long understood and many more sincerely concerned progressives are finding inescapable, is that the necessary social policies will never be achieved through the extant two-party system and the normal legislative process. This is so, it is becoming hard not to acknowledge, because that process and those two parties—the Democrats (including their “progressive” squaddies and their “socialist” auxiliary) at least as much as the Republicans—are institutionally designed to be obstacles to any such reform. They are representatives of the donor caste, not of their ostensible popular constituencies.

Danger to Society: Against Vaccine Passports

Danger to Society: Against Vaccine Passports

Jim Kavanagh

The Dictatorship of the Virus

We are in the midst of a radical restructuring of American society that involves imposing a regime of comprehensive discrimination, segregation, and social control not seen since the dismantling of Jim Crow.

To be clear, my central concern here is the policy of vaccine passports. Whatever one thinks many of the other issues involved here– lockdowns, masks, etc.—forcing people to inject a novel pharmaceutical into their bodies is something of an entirely different order of intrusion.

The first thing is to recognize that this is what vaccine passports and mandates of the kind Bill De Blasio (in New York) and Joe Biden (nationally) are doing. It is not a matter of some temporary, minor inconvenience to a few people that can be waived off as no-big-deal. “If you want to participate in our society fully, you've got to get vaccinated” is an extraordinary, radically divisive directive.

It is telling millions of Americans, for whom our Dear Leader’s “patience is wearing thin”—including me and >70% of black Americans—that they are going to be thrown out of work, school, and social life unless they agree to surrender their bodily integrity and right of informed consent, and submit to being injected with a pharmaceutical treatment of a kind that has never been used widely on humans before, that induces their bodies to produce a toxic protein, that has unknown medium- and long-term effects, that does not prevent them from getting or spreading the targeted disease, and that’s going to have to be re-administered every 5 months.

This will change our lives and transform society. Not just the lives of the unvaccinated, who will be thrown out of normal society, be refused probation, and lose their kids, but all of our lives—starting with the friends, loved ones, and workmates of the unvaccinated, who will have to leave them behind. If you are unvaccinated, you will not be able to go to a restaurant, a movie, a museum, or a political meeting with your friends. You and your vaccinated friends will be subject to constant demands for proof of your extraordinary eligibility to exercise what should be normal and unquestionable social rights.

Playing the Field: A Critique of the DiMaggio Paradigm

Playing the Field: A Critique of the DiMaggio Paradigm

Jim Kavanagh

Anthony DiMaggio, in his recent polemic on Counterpunch, Rise of the Right: How the Vaudeville Left Fuels White Supremacy, asserts that

there is a heavily corporatized, nominally left segment of the punditry…who are mainstreaming and popularizing Republican talking points…mainstream[ing] the idea of a left-right political alliance in the U.S… populariz[ing] noxious reactionary propaganda… and normalizing rightwing views, bigotry, and neofascistic politics. These are not individuals that any thoughtful leftist – whether one who advocates for liberal reform, progressive transformation, or socialism – should entertain. 

DiMaggio’s “vaudeville” lineup includes “Jimmy Dore, Glenn Greenwald, Matt Taibbi, Joe Rogan, Caitlin Johnstone, and Krystal Ball, among others.” (I’ll call them the Left-Fielders, because it will economize words, and I like cute analogies, too, and they’re way out there.) According to DiMaggio all these players have, “for all intents and purposes, thrown their lot in” with the “neofascistic Trumpian movement.” They have "driven Democratic voters toward the Republican Party," they "send Democratic voters to the right in general elections," and they are, DiMaggio constantly asserts, “normalizing white supremacy and the right’s neofascistic politics.” 

Whew! Hell of an indictment. 

I reject it. I reject the idea that any thoughtful leftist and socialist (as I consider myself) should accept the charge that these pundits are responsible for “normalizing” the “neofascistic Trumpian movement.” Frankly, I think it’s ridiculous, and can’t survive any fair-minded perusal of the entirety of their work. 

Critical Hour Discussion of Ben & Jerry's Leaving Occupied Territories (7/29/2021)

China Names Diplomatic Veteran Qin Gang as New Ambassador; US Steps Up Airstrikes on Afghanistan 

My segment starts at ~1:03:30

Listen to "China Names Diplomatic Veteran Qin Gang as New Ambassador; US Steps Up Airstrikes on Afghanistan" on Spreaker.

The Critical Hour is a daily 60 minute hard hitting news analysis and talk radio program hosted by Dr. Wilmer Leon and Garland Nixon. The mainstream news outlets play it safe by parroting the perspectives of their corporate benefactors. The Critical Hour uses clear, cutting edge insight and analysis to examine national and international issues impacting the global village in which we live. Those who are truly interested in understanding what is going on in the world, why and especially who is behind it turn to The Critical Hour for rhetoric free analysis and commentary.

Political Misfits Discussion on Democrats' Distractions over Policies (7/27/2021)

 Daniel Hale Sentencing; Chevron and the Donziger Verdict; January 6th Hearing

My segment starts at ~55:00
Listen to "Daniel Hale Sentencing; Chevron and the Donziger Verdict; January 6th Hearing" on Spreaker.

Political Misfits brings you news, politics and culture ‒ without the red and blue treatment. We aim to facilitate constructive conversations that take new looks at the stories and topics that mean a lot to us, including corporate misconduct, anti-war efforts, climate change, political hypocrisy, poverty, pop culture, electoral politics and much, much more. Airs Monday through Friday from 12-2 p.m. EST with hosts Bob Schlehuber and Michelle Witte.

Critical Hour Discussion of Biden's Town Hall (7/22/2021)

Biden Town Hall; Taliban Insurgents Control About Half of Afghanistan's District Centers

On this edition of The Critical Hour, Dr. Wilmer Leon discusses Biden's town hall, his false hope of bipartisanship and the messaging that makes a mockery of confronting vaccine disinformation.

Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.net and CounterPunch, joins us to talk about President Joe Biden's participation in yesterday's town hall meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio. Biden claimed vaccines prevent people from getting Covid as positive test results are popping up amongst vaccinated Democratic staff.

My segment is the first 14 minutes.

Listen to "Biden Town Hall; Taliban Insurgents Control About Half of Afghanistan's District Centers" on Spreaker.

The Critical Hour is a daily 60 minute hard hitting news analysis and talk radio program hosted by Dr. Wilmer Leon. The mainstream news outlets play it safe by parroting the perspectives of their corporate benefactors. The Critical Hour uses clear, cutting edge insight and analysis to examine national and international issues impacting the global village in which we live. Those who are truly interested in understanding what is going on in the world, why and especially who is behind it turn to The Critical Hour for rhetoric free analysis and commentary.

Press TV Discussion of Israeli Home Demolitions & Ethnic Cleansing (7/11/2021)

UN: 421 Palestinian homes demolished in 2021 

http://www.urmedium.com/c/presstv/82510

Critical Hour Discussion of Assange Case in Historical Context (7/6/2021)

 Russia Nuclear Negotiator says US Must "Stop Hitting 3 Birds With 1 Stone."

My segment starts at ~56:47

Listen to "Russia Nuclear Negotiator says US Must "Stop Hitting 3 Birds With 1 Stone."" on Spreaker.

[My related articles: Avoiding Assange and Swedish Sex Pistol Aimed at Assange]

Michael Springmann, former American diplomat and political analyst, joins us to discuss the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the fact that some parties want to "hit three birds with one stone." The Russian ambassador to international organizations in Vienna tweeted, “In the context of #ViennaTalks some analysts and officials advocate for addressing new topics such as regional security and missiles. An attempt to hit 3 birds with 1 stone. Unrealistic and counterproductive. The agreed goal of the talks is just to restore the original #JCPOA.”

Julie Varughese, solidarity network coordinator for Black Alliance for Peace, joins us to discuss Afghanistan. Over 1,000 Afghan soldiers fled into Tajikistan yesterday as Taliban insurgents marched into northern Afghanistan.

Scott Ritter, former UN weapon inspector in Iraq, joins us to discuss the US Air Force awarding a $2 billion contract to develop the Pentagon's new air-launched nuclear cruise missile. The missile, named the Long Range Stand Off weapon (LRSO), is expected to be completed in February 2027.

Karen Spring, a Honduras-based human rights defender, researcher and coordinator for the Honduras Solidarity Network, joins us to discuss the Berta Caceres murder trial. According to a report in The Guardian, the Tegucigalpa high court found David Castillo Mejia, a Honduran businessman and former military intelligence officer, guilty for the March 2016 murder of indigenous environmental activist Berta Caceres.

Jim Kavanagh, writer at thepolemicist.com and CounterPunch, joins us to talk about Julian Assange. Today, Consortium News began a six-part series on Julian Assange and the Espionage Act, prefacing that "the United States has found ways to deny the rights of a free press when it is politically expedient to do so."

Press TV Discussion of US's Afghanistan Defeat & Withdrawal (7/4/2021)

Taliban says all foreign troops must leave Afghanistan by deadline

The Taliban say all foreign forces must withdraw from Afghanistan by a September deadline announced by NATO. In an interview with BBC, Taliban spokesman, Suhail Shaheen warned that any foreign troops left in Afghanistan after the deadline will be at risk as occupiers. Reports say one-thousand mainly US troops could remain on the ground to protect diplomatic missions and Kabul's international airport. Under a deal with the Taliban last year, the US and its NATO allies agreed to withdraw all their troops from the war-torn country. Violence has recently been on the rise in the central Asian nation with the Taliban having intensified attacks to capture key cities. Afghan government forces have also killed hundreds of Taliban militants in battles across several provinces.

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Critical Hour Discussion of DOJ Leak Investigations and Ongoing Plight of Julian Assange (6/17/2021)

Biden and Putin say Talks Went Well; Senate to Vote on AUMF; Russia and China Work on Space Program

Jim Kavanagh joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Trevor Timm, the executive director of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, has penned an article on Consortium News in which he discusses the attempt by the Biden administration to criminalize news gathering in the case against Julian Assange. Also, Boris Johnson has been railing about the free media while he supports the persecution of Assange.

My segment begins at ~86:50

Listen to "Biden and Putin say Talks Went Well; Senate to Vote on AUMF; Russia and China Work on Space Program" on Spreaker.

[My related articles: Avoiding Assange and Swedish Sex Pistol Aimed at Assange]

The Critical Hour is a daily 60-minute hard-hitting news analysis and talk radio program hosted by Dr. Wilmer Leon & Garland Nixon.

Press TV Discussion of Worsening EU-Russia Relaitions (6/16/2021)

 EU believes relations with Russia will get even worse

[Related article: The Warm War: Russiamania At The Boiling Point]

Critical Hour Discussion of Reality Winner, Julian Assange, & Press Freedom (6/15/2021)

Biden/Putin Agenda Set; Biden Reveals Plans for "Domestic Extremism"; VP Flops in South America

Jim Kavanagh, author of "The American Farce Unravels: Shreds of January 6th," and writer at thepolemicist.net and Counter Punch, joins us to discuss Reality Winner. News reports say that Winner has been transferred to a halfway house and may soon have the option of home detention. Winner was arrested in 2017 and convicted of releasing classified material.

My segment begins ~89:00

Listen to "Biden/Putin Agenda Set; Biden Reveals Plans for "Domestic Extremism"; VP Flops in South America" on Spreaker.

[My related articles: Avoiding Assange and Swedish Sex Pistol Aimed at Assange] 

The Critical Hour is a daily 60-minute hard-hitting news analysis and talk radio program hosted by Dr. Wilmer Leon & Garland Nixon.

Press TV Discussion of Prospects for New Israeli Government (5/31/2021)

 Hamas: New Israeli PM will not change Hamas stance

Apartheid Does Not Have the Right To Defend Itself, Or To Exist

 Apartheid Does Not Have the Right To Defend Itself, Or To Exist

Jim Kavanagh

Twitter/IsraelArabic

With its latest attack on Gaza—on the families it drove from their homes in what is now Israeli territory—Israel is surpassing itself in viciousness. As of today, Israel has killed 212 Gazans, including at least 61 children and 36 women. It is “obliterate[ing] multiple generations of families” in the middle of the night—at least 21 members of the al-Qawlaq family, from 6 months to 90 years old. It is pulverizing residential towers and media offices, and bombing “civic infrastructure, businesses and the main roads leading to the city’s al-Shifa hospital.” Destroying the roads is an instructive example of Israel’s gratuitous, and clever, cruelty: It of course prevents ambulances and medics from moving where they’re needed; it also blocks the families who are fleeing to the hospitals for safety from the sudden explosion of their homes. But, We didn’t bomb the hospital!

Given all of Israel’s precision weapons and careful advance planning, this is not an accident, nor was the killing of at least two key senior medical staff in one night—reminiscent of the one day, during the Great March of Return protest in 2018, when Israeli snipers, who claimed to “know where every bullet landed,” just happened to wound and kill 18 paramedics. It’s a plan to increase the suffering and chaos.

A powerful state only does these things to people it despises and fears.

Press TV Discussion of Israeli Attack on Gaza and Ongoing Colonial Violence (5/14/2021)

 Israel launches numerous deadly strikes on besieged Gaza Strip

Related articles: Sacrificing Gaza: The Great March of Zionist Hypocrisy, Gaza Calling: It’s the Colonialism, Stupid!, Zionism In The Light of Jerusalem

Statement to Al Mayadeen (Lebanese TV) About Israeli Attack on Gaza (5/12/2021)

 “Zionist Narrative is losing Its Legitimacy”

Jim Kavanagh, Editor of The Polemicist, says that we are witnessing new outrageous crimes by the Israeli government on the behalf of the Zionist settler-colonial project it represents.

Related articles: Sacrificing Gaza: The Great March of Zionist Hypocrisy, Gaza Calling: It’s the Colonialism, Stupid!, Zionism In The Light of Jerusalem

Press TV Discussion of Announced Beginning of Afghan Withdrawal (4-25-2021)

 US launches first steps to withdraw troops from Afghanistan: Top US commander

Press TV Discussion on Biden's Afghan Troop Withdrawal Announcement (4/15/2021)

I was on Press TV discussing Biden's Afghan withdrawal plan, quoting the great American philosopher: "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Biden to withdraw all US troops from Afghanistan by September 11

My Press TV Discussion of Threat of War in Ukraine/Donbass (4/4/2021)

My discussion of new threats of war in Ukraine, following Ukrainian President Zelensky's order to re-take Crimea.

Ukraine says joint military drills with NATO to begin in a few months

The American Farce Unravels: Shreds of January 6th

 

Crazy House in Dalat, Vietnam/boodhua

The storming of the Capitol on January 6^th by Trump supporters was an acceleration in the unraveling of the American political regime and the fantastic ideology that sustains it. Unfortunately, the likeliest result, in the short term at least, is that the regime will knit itself a tighter coat of control, with the help, sadly, of a large number of professed “progressives” who are rushing to bolster an imperial center that cannot, and should not, hold.

This event, which featured a cast of costumed characters that turned the Capitol into the Mos Eisley Cantina for a couple of hours, was the culmination of five years of farcical politics increasingly unhinged from the ability to think reasonably about, let alone effectively address, the real dangers and injustices accumulating in our country and the world, The groundwork of that was decades of the Fox vs. CNN/MSNBC universe of mutually-assured ideological degradation.

Third Discussion with Charles Dunaway on His Wider View Radio Podcast (1/25/2021)

This is an almost hour-long conversation I had with Jim Kavanagh on January 24, 2021.  We talk about the storming of Congress, populism of the left and right, keeping the pitchforks away, and various other topics. 

Press TV Discussion of Trump's Second Impeachment Vote (1/14/2021)

My appearance on Press TV as Trump's second impeachment vote concludes. (I come in ~12:30)

US House of Representatives reaches enough votes to impeach Trump