The Errington Thompson Show 9/15/07
Posted on October 25th, 2007 by ecthompson
I thought it would be fun to review just what President Bush said in his January 2007 speech which announced the escalation. As it turns out none of the promises for decreased violence and increased Iraqi cooperation has been done. I have Matt Matten local Asheville Talk show host on WWNC. Surprisingly refreshing interview. I then follow up with my favorite Middle East expert, Brain Katulis from the Center for American Progress. We discuss the progress or lack of progress in Iraq.
You should take a look at the Wounded Warriors Project. It raises awareness for severely wounded combat U.S. combat veterans in Iraq and Afghanistan. It really puts a face on the cost of the war. Here’s a link:
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/aarwebshow
Jeff
War and peace can ONLY be effected on the MUNICIPAL level, and so can every other issue, so stop fixating on the feds!!! And why can’t I find ET’s E-mail??? I am outraged by progressive federal fixation. Where’s the outrage!
To the editor:
War and peace will not be decided in Washington or Baghdad. It will be decided on Richmond Hill, N. Louisiana Ave. and in many similar places. It will be decided by the willingness of MUNICIPAL governments to cooperate with military activities and then by the ability of municipal officials to use those records to run for higher office. When that great liberal strategist Tip O’Neil said, “all politics is local politics,” he meant it, and it is a lesson that seems to have been forgotten by the entire progressive community with the sole and lonely exception of the Mountain Express.
The presidential election is more than a year away, yet most of us focus on and know far more about the presidential candidates than about the municipal candidates whose elections are imminent, especially in the progressive community. We have issues to resolve like the dramatic opposition to stream buffers by affordable housing nonprofits like Mountain Housing Opportunities before progressives can possibly speak with a unified voice on any level of government.
Progressive change can’t just magically appear on the national scene. It must work it’s way up from the bottom. It must start with municipal government, even war and peace. There is just no way to achieve any national viability without winning on the municipal level first on any issue, which is something known even by former mayor Dennis Kucinich, and played out by the city councils of Aurora IL on abortion and NYC on Iranian relations.
-Alan Ditmore, Leicester
Alan -
thanks for your comment. I truly appreciate your thoughts.
I think that the Republicans used your plan in the 80’s. It is true that progressive ideas can’t be only see and heard at the national level. Democracy for America is a group that develops local candidates. My show and my blog support local candidates. There are several local blogs that are dedicated to local progressive issues including Scrutiny Hooligans.
Thanks for your thoughts.