don't believe the hype

Still no new show this week but there are plenty of things to talk about. Coming fresh off the election of Barack Obama, anti-fascist mobilization and unity of anti-dictatorial political forces is the mandate leading up to and continuing past the inauguration. Although dire predictions in the face of overwhelming euphoria are seen as jaded, optimism mustn't cloud judgment and personal belief cannot be viewed as analogous with reality.

As this election is heralded as the "new John Kennedy", a phrase I picked up on nearly 2 years ago when the Obama hype-machine was in its infancy, unfavorable similarities can be found between the rise of these two candidates.

CRAFTED LIVES: Both Obama and JFK have had their entire adolescent and adult lives crafted FOR them. Through the finest academic institutions to the highest political seats.

POLITICAL INSOLVENCY: Neither one of these candidates are/were strong politicians prior to their elections, rather were able to be installed through a combination of good fortunes and, of course, good connections.

ELECTIONS BASED ON HYPE/APPEARANCE: The youthfulness and modernity of both Obama and JFK were crucial in their elections, and while seemingly representing a rejection to previous administrations, were merely adapted continuations of policy. (JFK/Eisenhower and Bush/Obama).

MEDIA HYPE: Both JFK and Obama experienced the good fortune of being heavily favored by the mainstream establishment media. JFK had Henry Luce (Time and Life) through his father, whose media blitz portrayed JFK as modern but still tough of Communism. Obama has...well, everyone.

BOTH SEEN AS 'CHANGE': The election of JFK, always praised and exalted by those of the time as a great victory for...something, is seldom remembered through the lenses of the support for CIA overthrows (Bay of Pigs) and the incomprehensible blundering of South-East Asian conflicts, which makes Iraq look favorable by comparison. And while Obama has yet to initiate any foreign policy decisions, his own statements have indicated that he will follow a similar path regarding the support towards covert overthrow of "non-cooperative" nations (namely, Pakistan). And 2 years down the line, following this pattern who knows what kind of conflict we will be embroiled in. Liberating Africa? Fighting Russia? Maybe.

CONCERTED BETRAYAL OF BASE: Both the democratic primary victory by both JFK and Obama represent a concerted move away from far-left support, which carried them to the general election. JFK, who drafted leftist heroes to stand behind him in "Roosevelt-dominated" areas, quickly removed them from prominence and influence following the election of 1960, as his deference to Cold War policy, a major issue to the left, was seen to be endorsed by his cabinet choices. Obama, similarly, relied on the mass-movement support of the disenchanted left (simply drawn from being an alternative to Bush) to carry him to primary victory, followed by a move to the right during the general election. His supporters have been sold out regarding FISA ruling, NAFTA support even in the face of mounting unemployment and the bailout of corrupt financial institutions (who bankrolled his entire campaign), and that's just the last 4 months! More recently, the appointment of Rohm Emmanuel and his advisers like Wesley Clark, Richard Hollbrooke et.al have revealed Obama's hawkish tendencies.

THE CONTINUATION OF MILITRY DOCTRINE: This is perhaps most important, and something I cannot harp upon enough, the election of Barack Obama DOES NOT automatically mean a change in military tactics or operations. Military doctrine is crafted far in advance of deployment and is NOT beholden to the whims of whoever inhabits the White House. While influence can be exerted, programs challenged and funding cut, the nature of the military/presidential relationship is not conducive to massive overhauls of military systems. Future Combat Systems will continue (and be expanded), massive research and development for new military hardware will continue, biological warfare research will continue, massive surveillance will continue. In Obama's promises of utopia, did he ever once mention the desire to eliminate the despotic measures of the Bush administration? No, just how to change social and environmental programs. Did he even mention the desire to cut funding to the military to prevent future wars? No, increase the budget for research and development, more laser weapons! Did he ever mention a desire to change American foreign policy of imperialism, reinvigorated by the War on Terror? No, we stay in Iraq and we might need to go into Pakistan to stop Al-Queda.

This is in direct comparison to JFK. While his "policies", rhetoric and (some) staff decisions seemed to represent a concerted move away from the Truman/Eisenhower Cold War reactionism, upon election the Soviet hard-line continued and soon enough Cold War-based MILITARY INFLUENCE, was able to manipulate foreign policy through cooked reports which acted to not only continue, but to expand and update "containment", "domino theory" and the military theory of 1946-1959.

While more could be said on Obama's preference towards social policing, austere economic sacrifice and forced environmental deference, these are purely machinations of the post-modern nature of this election.

Disappointment is going to be key adjective over the next 4 years, as imperialist, war-mongering actions continue, economic conditions decline and the prospect of "change" becomes less and less likely.