Progressives Anonymous Posted by Suzanne Nossel

I agree with everything Derek says, and have tried to deal with some of these questions in two past articles:  Battle Hymn of the Democrats and Smart Power.  I don't have answers, but some of things we ought to think about are:

We need to convey toughness not just in what we say but in how we say it - as this Administration has shown repeatedly, when it comes to national security being forceful but wrong often goes over better than being nuanced but right.   Whether we like it or not, this truth needs to influence what we say and who we choose to say it.

We should not lose sight of the core principles that have fueled every foreign policy success progressives can claim during the 20th century.  Though some don't like the term, I think of these ideals broadly as "liberal internationalism" - promoting human rights, democracy, free trade, economic development, etc.   That conservatives have coopted and distorted these ideas does not mean we should just hand them over, criticizing the promotion of liberty as "too ambitious" and a diversion from core Amerian interests.   Stepped up container inspections and a bigger army are both critical, but they are not the unifying backbone for a clear alternative to conservative policies.

Say what you want about George Lakoff, we still have a lot of hard work to do on framing.   When people ask about the core principles of a progressive foreign policy, the answer cannot be a stronger UN, or indeed anything with the clunker "multilateralism" in it.  I don't pretend to have the answer here - we need to keep throwing things out until something sticks.   

To get the ball rolling, how about "democratic consolidation."  The idea would be to draw a contrast to the fragmented, transitory conservative approach - shifting emphasis from one hotspot to the next; relying on ephemeral coalitions of the willing; lacking the staying power to deliver on the long-term work of solidifying democracy; sowing divisions among should-be allies; undercutting institutions that promote the global rule of law.  Consolidation would be the opposite:  shoring up democracies in all stages of development; strengthening international institutions that can help spread democracy and its necessary corrolaries like economic development; isolating and squeezing the remaining anti-democratic outposts around the world.   This may not be the right formulation, but we ought to be looking hard to find what is.

Comments

[Alex Urevick-Ackelsberg]

Framing is a great concept, but it's meaningless if we can't find candidates who embody those frames. (http://draftzinni.blogspot.com/2005/03/draft-zinni-for-us-senate-pennsylvania.html )

The other danger here is that we'll get more Democrats like Joe Biden, who attempt to out Con the Neo-Cons (i.e. Bush was right to invade Iraq, but he did it in the wrong way- EH! Wrong!- sorry Joe, do not pass go, do not collect $200 dollars, do not attempt to run for President) and who sell out our soldiers to MBNA or any other corporate client.

[Robin Grant]

I'm not saying you're wrong to say that, but what if the core principles of a progressive foreign policy are a stronger UN, multilateralism etc...

[owen]

"That conservatives have coopted and distorted (human rights, democracy...) does not mean we should just hand them over"

Roger that. We should be saying "Finally! A Republican who at least says he will put human rights and democracy first."

Everytime Bush gives a speech about democracy or human rights, liberals should declare victory, congratulate him, and say that now all we need to do is make him start matching his rhetoric with actions.

[William Neuhauser]

I don't have a two-word catch-phrase, but perhaps we build back to that from articulating our core values and principles in national security.

I believe you have to tackle the security and the military component of security head on or it will not resonate with America outside a snug little group.

It seems to me that our goal is to "activate" in people their core values that call for strength, but in many ways not just military: in an array of areas of leadership. At the same time, we should have an approach the reinforces the core progressive "brand" of assuring freedom of opportunity -- sharing fairly in growing prosperity.

The background story is that great changes have been happening in the global economny and it will continue to change.  This has been disruptive to American's lives and prosperity as well as to others around the world.  Only America can provide the world leadership to re-invent a more just and vibrant global economy and we need to show a plan to do it.

"The paradox is that terrorism arises to a significant degree from the world’s inability to solve the problems generated by current policies governing globalization.  Yet the “war on terrorism” over-shadows any serious attempt at getting at the inequities that give rise to terrorism.  This has produced a very strange state of affairs, one that increasingly is characterized by a gathering of the darkness rather than any meaningful illumination of our global challenges." (Final Report, The Commission On Globalisation)

In other words, one of the key ways we attack the roots of terrorism is by Leading A Just and Vibrant Global Economy.

Without a strong and secure America, all other things are hard to accomplish.  This is one reason why conservatives use the fear of terrorism to provide a sense of insecurity: so that people will place everything else (we believe in) in a secondary position.  By emphasizing military power and claiming resoluteness to use it plays into the "strict father" metaphor that defines the those focused on dominating (and often punishing) people, groups and countries.

We have to address the "today's threats" in order to have credibility with and thus have our principles resonate with, most Americans.  If we can't even acknowledge this big issue, we may not get their ear on any other topic.

Because the topic of security is in the conservative base principles, this must be addressed directly, and yet we must clearly distinguish ourselves from them.

We may distinguish ourselves from them in part by disarming their claim.  We might do this by showing that all Americans are united against this threat (ie, the conservatives don't have a special claim here), but then also show how we are different because we will attack the roots of the problem.

In somehwat Lakoffian terms, we need to describe what we do in terms of the primary values in this area of strength and of safety & protection, but also build on our values of fairness and cooperation while providing opportunity for prosperity.

A general statement of our principles might be:

A strong and secure America is essential to all things that we wish to accomplish.

All Americans are united behind our conviction to track down terrorists where they are, but we are also going to attack the roots of terrorism around the world. 

We will use all the power of our military, but also lead the rest of the world to new alliances as well: We will lead like-minded nations in the building of more effective global institutions that enhance security, protect the vulnerable, promote self-government, and improve the health and welfare of all people as well as Americans, in order to make a safer America

Our world leadership in the following areas will restore the respect required to gain greater cooperation by other countries and allies, and to serve again as a beacon to emerging democracies:

Resolve the inequities that give rise to terrorism
- economic (globalization, uneven distribution within and between countries)
- political (mid-east, undemocratic governments)
- cultural (changes due to globalization, poverty, threats to identity

Fair Trade, not just Free Trade - new rules to adapt to the fact of globalization

Respond to the big changes:
- cheap fiber,
- growing prosperous China,
- limited  energy supplies

Help all Americans succeed in the global economy (NDN)

Reduce America's chronic trade imbalance

Address problematic countries: rogue, failed, poor, undemocratic

Create a nation-building system for post-war recoveries

UN reform

New alliances for a new millenium around this issues

Secure loose nukes and other WMD fuel worldwide

Invest in renewable and bio-fuels in America to increase our energy independence and keep more dollars to invest here in America

[runescape money]

runescape money runescape gold runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape gold runescape money runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold runescape accounts buy runescape accounts runescape lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro goldrunescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money Tabula Rasa Credit
Tabula Rasa Credits Hellgate gold Hellgate London gold

[runescape money]

runescape money runescape gold runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft Power Leveling Warcraft PowerLeveling buy runescape gold buy runescape money runescape items runescape gold runescape money runescape accounts runescape gp dofus kamas buy dofus kamas Guild Wars Gold buy Guild Wars Gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold lotro gold buy lotro gold runescape money runescape power leveling runescape money runescape gold dofus kamas cheap runescape money cheap runescape gold Hellgate Palladium Hellgate London Palladium Hellgate money Tabula Rasa gold tabula rasa money lotro gold buy lotro gold Tabula Rasa Credit Tabula Rasa Credits Hellgate gold Hellgate London gold dofus kamas buy dofus kamas 血管瘤 肝血管瘤 音乐剧 北京富码电视 富码电视 富码电视台 7天酒店 7天连锁酒店 7天连锁 自清洗过滤器 过滤器 压力开关 压力传感器 流量开关 流量计 液位计 液位开关 温湿度记录仪 风速仪 可燃气体检测仪 wow power leveling wow powerleveling Warcraft PowerLeveling Warcraft Power Leveling World of Warcraft PowerLeveling World of Warcraft Power Leveling runescape power leveling runescape powerleveling
runescape money runescape gold wow power leveling 棕榈树
eve isk
eve online isk
eve isk
eve online isk

[nike shoes]

http://www.shoesorder.biz
http://www.shoesshop.biz
Nike Air Max 1 87 90 91 95 97 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ltd Tn Plus.
Nike Shox NZ OZ VC De R3 R4 R5 TL Bmw Turbo Monster Classic Testify Leaper Shoes.
Nike Air Jordan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 3.5 7.5 21.5.
Nike Jordan Retro I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXI.V III.V VII.V.
Nike Air Force 1 Mid Clear Light 25 High One Phantom, Nike Air Dunk - Nike Dunl low high mid sb.
Nike Air Rift, Nike Lebron James, Nike Free 7.0 5.0, Nike Air Foamposite Shoes.
Nike Football Shoes, Nike Kobe Shoes, Nike Shoes, Timberland Boots, Ice Cream.
Bape Star - Bape Sta, Bapestar - Bapesta Clear Low Mid High Air Logo, Prada Shoes, Gucci Shoes.
Adidas Shoes Adicolor Climacool Good Year Garnett T-Mac Stan Smith NBA Shoes Adiprene Gil Zero Superstar 35 Adidas Football shoes.
Reebok Shoes, Converse Shoes All Star Wade, Lacoste Shoes, Puma Shoes Osu Ferrari Shoes Puma Bmw Sauber.
http://www.shoesorder.biz/
http://www.shoesshop.biz/

[shoesshop]

http://www.shoesorder.biz
http://www.shoesshop.biz
Nike Air Max 1 87 90 91 95 97 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Ltd Tn Plus.
Nike Shox NZ OZ VC De R3 R4 R5 TL Bmw Turbo Monster Classic Testify Leaper Shoes.
Nike Air Jordan 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 3.5 7.5 21.5.
Nike Jordan Retro I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII XXI.V III.V VII.V.
Nike Air Force 1 Mid Clear Light 25 High One Phantom, Nike Air Dunk - Nike Dunl low high mid sb.
Nike Air Rift, Nike Lebron James, Nike Free 7.0 5.0, Nike Air Foamposite Shoes.
Nike Football Shoes, Nike Kobe Shoes, Nike Shoes, Timberland Boots, Ice Cream.
Bape Star - Bape Sta, Bapestar - Bapesta Clear Low Mid High Air Logo, Prada Shoes, Gucci Shoes.
Adidas Shoes Adicolor Climacool Good Year Garnett T-Mac Stan Smith NBA Shoes Adiprene Gil Zero Superstar 35 Adidas Football shoes.
Reebok Shoes, Converse Shoes All Star Wade, Lacoste Shoes, Puma Shoes Osu Ferrari Shoes Puma Bmw Sauber.
http://www.shoesorder.biz/
http://www.shoesshop.biz/

[goonzu gold]

I once have a lot of goonzu money in the game and i will go to buy goonzu gold to add my stock. I like the game very much and i like to earn the goonzu online gold with my friends together. I want to join the cheap goonzu gold and i can get a lot of equipment to arm myself. I like the game very much come on to join us!

[Perfect World Gold]

I hope i can get Perfect World Silver in low price.