Political Ideas

By David Swanson

Michael Waldman, former Bill Clinton speech writer and current director of the Brennan Center, has a new book called “A Return to Common Sense: 7 Bold Ways to Revitalize Our Democracy.” He intends “Common Sense” as a reference to Tom Paine, but after reading the book it takes on another meaning, namely rehearsal of the ideas any slightly left of center Democratic partisan would have been expected to espouse.

Don’t get me wrong. I like a lot of ideas read more

The Bilderberg Group brings together these representatives of corporate and financial and military power, to meet in secret without any interference from YOU. This year’s meeting will be held on June 5-8, 2008, at the Westfields Marriott hotel at 14750 Conference Center Drive near Dulles International Airport in Chantilly, Virginia, which is handily located read more

By David Swanson

Former Republican Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee on Tuesday evening called George W. Bush the worst president in U.S. history and the occupation of Iraq the worst foreign tragedy in U.S. history. Chafee said Bush deserved to be impeached.

Chafee served in the U.S. Senate from 1999 to 2006 and credits his defeat in 2006 – as do most analysts – to his membership in the party of Bush and Cheney. In 2003 Chafee was the only Republican senator to vote against authorization read more

By David Swanson

Rep. Robert Wexler (Dem., Florida) has written a book, soon to be released, that is as different from most congress members’ books as Wexler is from most congress members. He’s titled it “Fire-Breathing Liberal: How I Learned to Survive (and Thrive) in the Contact Sport of Congress.” Wexler is depicted on the cover with the Capitol in the background and his fists in the air.

Wexler is a fighter and a liberal, and – yes – one CAN be both. read more

By David Swanson

The Republican Party as a national mainstream organization began with Abraham Lincoln and ended with Lincoln Chafee. Before and after those Lincolns, the party was not something that most Americans could relate to, was not something that many people could imagine offered any sort of benefit to all people as opposed to particular types of people.

Former U.S. Senator from Rhode Island Lincoln Chafee served in Washington, D.C., from 1999 to 2006. He was the only Republican Senator read more

By David Swanson

“Jacked: How ‘Conservatives’ Are Picking Your Pocket (Whether You Voted for Them or Not)” is a short book by Nomi Prins that makes an excellent education for those remaining Americans who still do not understand that right-wing politicians take from those who work and give to those who live in luxury off the sweat of others.

At the end of World War II, corporations paid half the cost of the federal government. They now pay 7 percent, and many of them pay read more

read more

By David Swanson

A friend is drafting a proposal for the first 100 days of a new administration. I sketched out a dream scenario below. What do you think?

Day 1: Renounce wars of aggression and apologize to the world for those in the past. Anounce the complete withdrawal from Iraq over the next 6 months.

Day 2: Announce the complete withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Day 3: Commit to ending the U.S. military occupation of nations around the world and present a plan for closing read more