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Lotterdammerung

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Here, from the online version of the American Prospect magazine, a little early — but it’s never too early for hope in bleak times — University of Texas economist James Galbraith’s four reasons “to give thanks” as we approach the new year. On Senator Lott, our mainstream press has gone from deafening silence to unreadable glut in the space of a week. Galbraith shows what a few, choice, fierce comments can do on the same subject. And to hold out just a tad more hope, if that’s what it is, for a bit of Republican unraveling in 2003, here’s a paragraph from a Todd Gitlin letter the New York Times printed this morning, a simple reminder that the surface of Republican racism has barely been scratched. Tom

“Lest the Republicans think they can easily purge
themselves by dumping Mr. Lott as Senate majority leader,
let them look long and hard at the rest of their top
command. In the same Southern Partisan magazine that Mr.
Lott graced with a 1984 interview, Attorney General John
Ashcroft as recently as 1998 called Confederate leaders
“patriots,” lauded the pro-Confederate Missouri Civil War
“government in exile,” and raved about states’ rights – the
old mask for racism. Wink wink.”

Lötterdämmerung
Four reasons for liberals to give thanks — or at least not despair completely — this holiday season.

By James K. Galbraith
An American Prospect Magazine Web Exclusive

December 17, 2002

Think of it: If God had made Strom Thurmond just six weeks older, the Senate would still be under Democratic control.

It’s enough to shake one’s faith — and mine was none too strong to begin with. But then it became apparent that the Almighty was, as usual, one step ahead. He had devised a divinely devious plan.

First He induced Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to blackmail President George W. Bush. Lott evidently did this by threatening to resign his Senate seat if forced to abdicate the leadership. Because Mississippi has a Democratic governor, this would have put the Senate back at 50-to-50 and the Democrats within one defection of control. The device worked, of course. Bush rebuked Lott but stopped short of pushing him overboard.

James K. Galbraith teaches at the University of Texas at Austin.

To read more Galbraith click here

Lötterdämmerung
Four reasons for liberals to give thanks — or at least not despair completely — this holiday season.

By James K. Galbraith
An American Prospect Magazine Web Exclusive

December 17, 2002

Think of it: If God had made Strom Thurmond just six weeks older, the Senate would still be under Democratic control.

It’s enough to shake one’s faith — and mine was none too strong to begin with. But then it became apparent that the Almighty was, as usual, one step ahead. He had devised a divinely devious plan.

First He induced Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to blackmail President George W. Bush. Lott evidently did this by threatening to resign his Senate seat if forced to abdicate the leadership. Because Mississippi has a Democratic governor, this would have put the Senate back at 50-to-50 and the Democrats within one defection of control. The device worked, of course. Bush rebuked Lott but stopped short of pushing him overboard.

James K. Galbraith teaches at the University of Texas at Austin.

To read more Galbraith click here