Democracy Now: Noam Chomsky Talks About Obama Selections

[Hissyspit]

Run time: 05:08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dabmw-MSnuU   Posted on YouTube: November 29, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 29, 2008 By DU Member: Hissyspit Views on DU: 6178

 

[ananda]

1. Appointing these guys is like..

.. appointing Osama bin Laden to run
the war on terror.

Here he's talking about the Brand
Obama economic team.

He's also filling his admin with hawks
and people who voted for that very bad
bankruptcy bill.

As to Obama's website, Chomsky laments
its lack of detailed info, saying that
he wants to keep the outsiders ignorant
and out of the loop.

That would be all of us.

[judasdisney]

2. Chomsky won't acknowledge the existence of False Flags. He's irrelevant.

Case closed.

[BunkerHill24]

6. Frankly Sheryl, I have much trust on foreign policy on Mr. Chomsky than Mrs Clinton

[Mr Rabble]

14. Sorry, that happens to be totally inaccurate.

He has specifically spoken about the Northwoods documents as well as the Tonkin incident.

You really should try to research some of this stuff before posting.

[tomp]

16. could you say more, please? nt

[DutchLiberal]

38. Another character assassination to protect the image of Barack Obama...

Who will be thrown under the bus next for daring to criticize him?

Noam Chomsky is irrelevant? Man, if you can't acknowledge how intelligent, well informed and well spoken this man is, YOU'RE irrelevant.

[Xipe Totec]

3. You do realize, of course, that every member of the house, senate

former member of any administration, or ranking member of the Democratic Party is, by definition, an insider?

So, pray tell, who would you appoint to serve in Obama's cabinet, who is not an insider, and with what credentials?

[L0oniX]

4. Since when is it a requirement to have been in the house or senate in order to serve?

There are plenty of smart and wise people who are not in any office. If ones experience is their involvement as a Washington insider, that does not mean they are qualified. It only means that they know how to get elected and stay that way. I would add that there are historians, scientists and professors who should be able to be qualified.

[glinda]

5. If you don't know how things are run or who is who

with what motives, then it is harder to get things done. I would rather have a team that understands the past then one who will always live in the past. I like Biden and have heard him give some incredible speeches on the floor against the war and for the environment. I think Obama is both a moderate as well as swings liberal on some things that matter. My hope is that the people he hires will follow his orders and know HOW to carry them out successfully. And with outside scholars also working with them then maybe just maybe things will change.

[RBInMaine]

7. Good post ! You've got it right ! Clinton and Carter brought in "outsiders" and both had shitty

starts. Clinton brought in old Arkansas cronies that SUCKED ! Carter did some of the same and too many people who just didn't know Washington. Look, yes we need to work on reforming Washington, and Obama WILL. BUT, it is GOVERNMENT. It is a SYSTEM for better or worse. Being an "insider" and having Washington experience is not the problem. Corporate lobbying IS the problem, WAY too much fat and corporate campaign financing, etc. ARE the problems and those are the things that they need to continue to continue to clean up, and Obama will, over time. It won't change over night. Obama needs experienced who know something about how the system works because he needs to be able to hit the ground running hard in January. Chomsky can make sense, but he always criticizes, offers few real solutions, and never seems to think anything at all is good with government. As much criticism as I have of the govt., I can also recognize some of the good things it does at all levels. I went to college on the GI bill. There's one thing.

[jhrobbins]

8. You wrote the following about Mr. Chomsky...

Chomsky can make sense, but he always criticizes, offers few real solutions, and never seems to think anything at all is good with government.

I have always liked him, but you are right on about his approach. He is always hyper critical - I have rarely heard him say anything positive about anyone in office. His solutions would be fine in an ideal world, but we don't have anything approaching that. It will take a long time to turn this 'ship' of state around, but I believe Obama is going to do his damndest(sp).
It's always easy to criticize, but much harder to do the real work - I for one, would rather walk on fire than to take on what Obama is facing and I think we should give him a chance before we start cutting him down.

[heliarc]

25. Criticism is what is needed.

Approaching the appointments by examining the records of our incoming cabinet members is fair and important given our hope for change and the significant challenges that lie ahead. There needs to be pressure put on our new administration, and I'm pretty certain that Obama will respond well to pressure that we place on him, if we are informed and respond with criticism on a regular basis.

[jhrobbins]

53. You are preaching to the choir about criticism, but I think there is a

culture of criticism in this country and in DU, that is essentially criticism for criticism's sake. Now I know there will be howls against this, but I see that often once a goal is reached, there begins the criticism against that goal before there is time to assess the progress of the process. I don't think there are any glaring negatives in the Obama cabinet, but I bet that Chomsky would find fault with almost every one of them. He is an idealist (and we need them desperately), but he is generally intractable about his opinions.

[heliarc]

55. I wouldn't call MIT professors like Noam Chomsky idealists.

His criticisms in the video are entirely to the point and very substantive. Criticism such as this is never for criticism's sake. It is to force change. That is very pragmatic and if by idealist, you mean Mr. Chomsky has ideals and he speaks out to force change and accountability on our new leader, than he would be doing the very thing that Obama requested of us. "Be the change you want to see in the world" "You are the change you've been waiting for"

I am not discounting the importance of Obama's impending presidency, or undercutting his legitimacy in any way by holding him to a higher standard. We Lefties have always had higher standards of decency, cultural sensitiviy, justice and policy. There is nothing wrong in demanding that our new cabinet rise above their own record.

But I think we agree on this We both want effective change. I don't think hearing Noam out on this is in any way detrimental to the cause.

[humbled_opinion]

32. The luxury that Obama doesn't have.

Repukes are chomping at the bit to rape Obama. Of those that I discuss politics with, 90 percent truly want his Administration to fail. Comments like,

"When Obama makes all this change to Bush policies, and subsequently, we get hit by Al-Qaida or another Radical Islamic group here on American soil it will vindicate Bush and make Obama guilty of Murder".

"What possibly can Obama say to the American People after the next attack on our shores"?

"A sad day for Americans when we are pining for the Good ol days under Bush"

When I speak to them as a moderate and ask what good does it do to wish failure for America, They say it is exactly what the Democrats did to Bush with Iraq.

Obama may be the the 21st century Lincoln because it is apparant that The Repukes mean to start another civil war.

[Butch350]

9. Name a few.

...Please

[ksimons]

13. good point - he wants gradeschoolers to come in to Washington

I can't stand listening to someone who whines endlessly like he does. If he is so 'smart', how come he hasn't figured out how to fix what is going on. Or is talk cheap?

No wait. I think I can answer that one. Talk is cheap.

[Mr Rabble]

31. Actually, he has offered solutions. Repeatedly.

If you choose to only watch the clips posted here, well then yeah, it might appear that he is simply criticizing and not offering alternatives.

IF you care to listen to his talks at length, or read any of his 40+ books, you will see that he offers solutions that not only make sense, but solutions that are also in accord with public opinion the world over.

[Greyhound]

42. "At Length" sums up the problem. He has offered solutions and strategy for

all of the issues he addresses, but he has this annoying habit of being thorough, considering consequences, and analyzing multiple options and then re-analyzing them.

So much reading/listening and not a useful sound byte to be found, just ponderous intellect. How on earth can you package a Chomsky idea that took 198 pages to lay out between the "Your kittens may well kill you" investigative report and the commercial on how to protect yourself from that "not so fresh feeling"?

[Mr Rabble]

46. LOL. I have no response for this

careful application of logic and factual analysis.

Chomsky does indeed "lack concision".

[L0oniX]

34. So you can figure out what the problem is but if you don't know how to fix it then STFU huh...

O yea that works ...everyone who doesn't have a solution has no right to see that there is a problem ...go have another cup of coffee.

[ksimons]

43. it's put-up or shut-up, and sounds like he hasn't put-up

so hopefully he'll take heed

[lostnotforgotten]

10. Rahm Emanuel - Strongest House Supporter For Bush's War

What more needs to be said.

[RollWithIt]

11. That's irrational logic... no side but your own....

No compromise. It's a rehash of the last 30 years. Yawn.

[antimatter98]

12. Like Robert Sheer's article on Truth Dig mentioned...

You could almost see the chicken feathers floating around Rubin and Summers
at that presser that announced the economic team.

And, in same article, the Citigroup bailout was put together over a recent
weekend by Paulson, Rubin, and our Treasury Secretary to-be appointed.
Clearly Obama approved of his team members working with Paulson that weekend,
and note that NOTHING was done for Main Street, only Citigroup.

Article here:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20081125_obama_chooses_wall_street_over_main_street/

We should expect a fully corporate/banking bias in Obama's cabinet and economic
team, with 'sacrifices required' for the already flattened middle class and the elderly
and the poor.

Unless we stand up to this, we will be severely disappointed as the looting of the
Treasury continues, and the worker is asked to 'sacrifice' so that the banks and
WS can pay bonuses and invest bailout $ overseas.

This is a financial coup d'etat. The political one happened in 2000.

[bertman]

15. Right on, antimatter98!!

[tomp]

17. stand up to the landslide messiah and his magic change machine?

i bet you don't believe in santa claus, either.

[empire we are]

18. Can anyone name one

Progressive on his staff, election team, transition team,
cabinet, advisers?

[Catamount]

19. We ARE the progressives and...

if you're at all interested...you should sign up and continue the work that was begun before the elections even started. I have filled out many forms and have given my opinions to the ongoing campaigns--designed to involve all of us in his decision making. Common cause, Moveon.org are just a couple of other groups keeping the progressive involvement going, and I'm sure there are many more.
Write your concerns directly to the Obama organization and see what happens.
Like some of the responders to Chomsky's devastating dissertation--I felt betrayed at first--by Obama, but we have all second guessed him before, and he did all the right things then--so let's trust him now to do so again.
Perhaps his theory is to let the people who fucked us over to clean up their own mess, just as my mom always told me to clean up mine. It might be an old fashioned way of thinking, but it might just work.

[ZRB]

23. Couldn't agree more

Obama's campaign was so successful because it inspired regular people to get active and organize. Obama's campaign didn't just consist of political staffers. In fact, millions of people WERE his staff. So why should that change now? Just look at change.gov, and how he is asking for people's input. If we want Obama to enact progressive policies then we MUST stay involved, and pester the shit out him until he does the right thing--which I believe he will. It is your way of thinking, Catamount, which helped put this guy in office. And by the way, can we at least give him a chance to GOVERN first before we rip him to shreds? I know we're suffering from complaint/cynicism withdrawal but come on...

[Catamount]

24. Thanks ZRB.....

We do think alike on some occasions...I seem to remember.
This is a time of great and scary--but also wonderful changes---it really is up to the people like never before...not just here in the US but all around the world.
:toast:

[ZRB]

26. I've always enjoyed your posts, Catamount

The times may be scary but not quite as much as they were when Bush "won" in 2004. Things will get better if the "Obama spirit" stays alive, as you say not just in the US but throughout the world.

[Shiver]

29. One progressive? Okay.

Melody Barnes, chosen to serve as Director of the Domestic Policy Council.

[napoleon_in_rags]

20. Chomsky on football:

"And player #77 is known for his brutish tackles. Player #82 caused an injury in the last game when he tackled a halfback. It was so brutal. Johnson throws passes so hard they often knock the wind out of wide receivers. Terribly brutal. That fullback once put a man out of the game..."

He goes on and on about how brutal football is. At some point you'd think he'd just acknowledge that the game is played that way, and start commenting on the game itself, but he doesn't. I have the utmost respect for him, but we get the point: football is brutal. Politics is ugly. Existing power bases are constantly courted. So now what?

[leftchick]

21. excellent!

I never get tired of listening to him. Thanks!

[mackerel]

22. Whoever mentioned the Citigroup deal

(which btw had to have a separate deal because they don't meet TARP specs. They have less than 30% of their money in the U.S.)

Anyway I thought I would share this with everyone given the current market conditions on real estate. For those of you who purchased your home at the peak of the market, there is hope in negotiating your mortgage to current market value to prevent foreclosure.

The program is called HOPE and it is an alliance between lenders and FHA (HUD); HOWEVER your lender has to be a participating member. Even if your lender doesn't show up on the list of approved lenders, go directly to your lenders website for more current information of their status.

Here is the link: http://www.hopenow.com/

Hope this helps some of you.

[Baby Snooks]

39. Shame the appraisers won't do the same...

Many ran into trouble because the appraisals on their homes went up as the market went up as more and more people bought. Their problem wasn't the mortgage. It was the taxes. If municipalities are faced with having to adjust the appraisals to "market value" the municipalities of course will have huge shortfalls in their tax-based income. So of course the municipalities are not going to make the adjustments.

More to the mortgage crisis than just the mortgages. As for Alan Greenspan and his "neo-con artist" economic policy more and more are wondering if he is really the Devil. He certainly unleashed Hell.

Ten years ago everyone thought they were in Heaven. The economy was good, people were able to afford homes, fortunes were being made in companies like Enron by both investors and employees. The problem was companies like Enron were borrowing money faster than they could spend it. And still are. With a little help from Congress.

Ten years ago the "zero-down" and "financed closing costs" phenomenon began. The latter resulting in higher appraisals which the appraisal districts loved along with the realtors. In some areas, prices jumped $25,000. Or $50,000. Or in New York and California $1,000,000.

And four years ago this administration "bailed-out" the real estate and mortgage industries by promoting homes for everyone. Leave no child behind. And leave no homebuyer behind.

Smart people were not only selling their stocks a year ago they were selling their homes. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. And in this case, was.

[Monk06]

27. I have lost all respect for Chomski. He's a leftist obscurantist hiding behind a phoney anarchist

moniker. It's fine to claim to be an anarchist
while collecting a fat pension cheque from MIT and
an equally fat stipend as an Emeritus Professor.

He is like Habermas and a thousand other 'leftist'
professors, he never lost a single paycheck in his
entire life.

[DutchLiberal]

40. So because he has an income, he's not credible??

Er....

HUH?

Now he criticizes one of our own for a change, and now he's suddenly irrelevant? It was ok when he did it to Bush, but now he should just shut up?

[Monk06]

47. No it is not the fact that he has money. He promotes a form of anarchosyndicalism

which sees the world in terms of class struggle
but unlike marxism it makes no broad historical
claims or predictions. It is mere a strategic
orientation.

If the world can be understood in terms of class
warfare then Chomski, being solidly haute bourgeois,
is not in a very good position to give advice to the
hoy paloi

[DutchLiberal]

48. Why not? It's not as if he is the one depriving lower income classes...

of what they should rightfully receive. He is even pleading their case. I don't understand why you would want to silence him. That would be one voice less for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.

[Monk06]

51. I'm not trying to silence Chomski. I'm just saying I think he's a romantic

anti-capitalist. The same with Habermas,Adorno
and Horkheimer. Generally speaking academics are
too disengaged politically to be very effective IMO.

[DutchLiberal]

54. How are you planning to ever take political action without...

having a thorough debate about the pro's and con's of any given situation/idea first?

[ksimons]

45. LOL - love your analysis

money talks!

[cooolandrew]

28. When Randi Rhodes says you can trust Obama's fanancial advisor I go with her hit rate for accuaracy.

Not to say Noam isn't a brilliant man but I am not feeling overly cynical at this point just highly optimistic.

[Mr Rabble]

36. You trust Randi Rhoades over Noam Chomsky?

Just consider what you are saying here.

[cooolandrew]

50. Randi Rhodes maybe controversial but she has been time after time, right. Noam does know his history...

but there is a lot of speculation what Barack's picks mean time will only tell if they are right or wrong. To say I favor Rhodes opinion on this occasion isn't dismissing the man's knowledge as a whole, I'm not particularly the smartest person around but not that stupid either to suggest that.

[Photovoltaic]

30. The Double Standard

The current criticism of Barrack Obama highlights the double standard between the two parties, a positive double standard. The Republicans do not think twice about their leaders, mindlessly agreeing with whatever decisions and policies. The Democrats obviously expect a great deal out of Mister Obama, and we are not the slightest bit worried about expressing this.
I urge my fellow Obama supporters to entertain criticism. It isn't just our right to question our leaders; it's our duty. Obama's team looks hawkish and poor in judgment. This does not mean that paradigm shifts and proper leadership won't put their talents to use. But it DOES mean we should analyze and criticize whenever we deem fit.
The Republican party is a lame duck at the moment, the strings of the chimera pulling apart. We may have to be our own opposition party for a while. But more importantly, we must not give up our role as faithful truth-seekers. We are no party's sheep.

[humbled_opinion]

33. Nicely put

However, after Jan 20th there is a certain expectation that we (the base) have regarding President Obama. The Right is chomping at the bit to rape him for any "anti-Bush" decision that he makes i.e., We fully expect Obama to undo hundreds of Bush executive orders, restore our privacy rights, close torture and detainment facilities like Gitmo and extract us from Iraq as well as hold hearings of accountability on the failed Bush Administration.

The right fully intends to cry DANGER at every stroke of Obama's pen. The fear is that if we are somehow attacked by Radicals whether Al-Qaida or not the right will use it as a catalyst to destroy Obama.

People have actually said to me ask yourself this question. When Obama makes all this change to Bush Policy, What possibly can he say to the American People, if radical terrorists attack us again on our soil?

The answer to that hypothetical scenario is bleak because of the way the media and talk radio operate in this country.

[Dawgs]

35. "the only actions"? How about reversing the stock market collapse?

Chomsky's bias is really showing in this video.

[clspector]

37. The one thing no one has mentioned in this thread

is that *Obama* is the one who's going to be setting the agenda for this administration. I don't see him abdicating his positions to suit his staff. My guess is "serving at the pleasure of the president" is going to mean, "get on board or get out of the way." Does anyone here see Obama as anyone's lapdog?

And given how utterly fucked the government has become because of the Bush administration, I'm guessing that anyone who understands the workings of effective government is going to brought on-board. If for no other reason than to get the government working properly again.

Could we at least let the guy get sworn in as president and see what he actually does before we make up our minds?

[mt13]

41. hear hear!

1.20.09 cannot come soon enough.

[ksimons]

44. exactly! judging this SO prematurely shows he is not a thinking man, in spite of his 'books'

hundreds of people have written hundreds of book
DOING something is what changes the world

talk is very cheap, written or otherwise

let's see what Obama does before we listen to fools judging Obama before he takes real action

[DutchLiberal]

49. Yeah, reading and thinking is for fags and pussies!

Ann, is that you?

[Nostalgic]

52. I think Chomsky has described himself has an anarchist before.