Chris Floyd: This is no ordinary election. It's emergency surgery

[enough]

Chris Floyd makes the case for the crucial need to vote for Kerry, even in full knowledge of the many ways in which he represents the same interests as Bush.

He also quotes Chomsky making the same point.

http://www.tmtmetropolis.ru/stories/2004/02/20/120.html

snip>

Kerry is the quintessential "safe pair of hands," with a solid record of hauling heavy lumber for elite interests -- especially elite media interests. His new prominence -- helped in no small part by kid-gloves media coverage while his opponents were raked with withering fire -- made it safe to give Bush a little bruising. For the mandarins, it's a win-win situation: Replacing one multimillionaire Skull-and-Bones Yalie aristocrat with another is not likely to upset too many profitable applecarts or usher in a more egalitarian society.

snip>

Noam Chomsky, an old-style patriot bitterly scorned across the political spectrum for his dogged insistence that the United States live up to its own ideals, put the case well in a recent interview: "The current incumbents may do severe, perhaps irreparable, damage if given another hold on power. In a very powerful state, small differences may translate into very substantial effects on the victims, at home and abroad. It is no favor to those who are suffering, and may face much worse ahead, to overlook these facts.


snip>

Kerry might be a rusty knife, but the life of a patient in extremis takes precedence over questions of hygiene. When the worst is past, then judge the knife -- discard it if necessary -- and get on with the work of restoring the Republic.

[Capt_Nemo]

1. Brilliant article!

[blm]

2. Floyd obviously doesn't KNOW Kerry's actual record AGAINST corporatists

and their corrupt government partners.

Questions for Floyd and those who think Kerry is more of the same:

Can you explain how someone you THINK is a corporatist receives the HIGHEST ratings on the environment?

Can you explain how someone you THINK is a corporatist helped craft the Kyoto Protocol for 10 years?

Can you explain how someone you THINK is a corporatist receives a lifetime prolabor rating of 91%?

Can you explain why someone you THINK is a corporatist would write and support legislation that regularly favored SMALL business needs over corporate powers?

Can you explain how someone you THINK is a corporatist wrote banking laws that would close the offshore banking loopholes?

Can you explain how someone who advocated public financing of campaigns since 1985, wrote the public financing bill with Wellstone and plans to push it through as president, and never took a dime from corporate pacs in any of his Senate races is now suddenly someone you THINK is "beholden" to corporations? 

[AngryYoungMan]

4. Yeah, but give him a break; he's ABB and we need more of that

eom

[blm]

5. I appreciate that he's ABB, but, journalists have a responsibility

to base their pieces on facts and not humor those on the left who have the wrong impression about Kerry to begin with. Most here at DU, even, have no idea that Kerry's overall ratings from the most liberal organizations are higher than even Dennis Kucinich's or even Ted Kennedy.

[sadiesworld]

3. I believe the media's favorable treatment of Kerry

was about stopping Clark. Notice how the gloves came off within 24 hours of Clark's leaving the race. I do feel Kerry is the best remaining candidate, perhaps the only viable one. ABB.

[tom_paine]

6. I agree completely. Clark challenegd the "Matrix"

and that couldn't be tolerated.

The same goes for Dean.

[damnraddem]

7. Yeah, it's ABB.

And we have a chance -- if Kerry doesn't wreck it.