A group of Americans led by Ralph Nader will be in Washington, D.C. rallying behind a call to Bush-Cheney to resign. This will happen Friday, May 23, 2008, noon.
Resignation is perhaps too kind of a word. What the world needs now is removal from office after prosecution for war crimes or crimes against humanity. We need accountability for the utter disdain for international law and the U.S. Constitution.
Yet, this event is nonetheless necesary and to be applauded especially when compared to other candidates' campaign rallies.
Obama turned out tens of thousands in a recent rally in Portland, Oregon. But for what?
While it will only turn out hundreds instead of the thousands or tens of thousands Clinton or Obama are turning out at rallies, those hundreds will be in tune with the political and social realities of the time.
Obama said this was the most spectacular rally of the campaign but what made it spectacular? Or was it just another rally for undefined hope and change?
What are Obama supporters doing to organize to take this country in a new direction? Just electing a Democrat isn't going to fix much.
It changes the R next to our current president to a D. It may mean our president is now black instead of white. It may mean we get an "outsider."
But, George W. Bush campaigned with the mantra that he was an "outsider."
He argued that his "lack of experience" was an asset. Hasn't Obama with his ad hominem attacks on Rumsfeld and Cheney been citing his "inexperience" as an asset too?
So, what are these Obama supporters at rallies and other Democrats doing for real change?
Why aren't they in the streets? Why aren't they politically and socially organizing in larger numbers? Why are they agreeing to be civic adolescents and just give their power away in November and wait until four years later they get a chance to do it again?
We don't need Obama raliies that affirm people's belief that one politician has the answers. We need Nader rallies that empower people to take charge in a broken, corrupt, and rigged system.
We need bold, creative, and unconventional action. These times are getting tough and they will only get tougher.
All conventional wisdom and normal electioneering must be thrown out the window.
