Authors@Google: Eric Alterman

In "KABUKI DEMOCRACY", Eric Alterman argues that while the Obama
presidency has undoubtedly been a disappointment from a progressive
point of view, its failures aren't due to a collapse of his political
imagination, or to strategic errors during his first year of
governance. Rather, the political system suffers from a series of
structural bottlenecks that encourage transformative change while
standing in the way of its progressive counterpart.

Expanding on this thesis, KABUKI DEMOCRACY: The System v. Barack Obama
deconstructs all aspects of the political system—from lobbying to the
Supreme Court to the failure of the press to the prominence of anti-
government ideology—to reveal how structural impediments have blocked
Obama from carrying out his democratic mandate. Alterman offers a
clear game plan for potential change, expounding on his belief that
"with regard to almost every single one of our problems, we need
better, smarter organizing at every level and a willingness on the
part of liberals and leftists to work with what remains of the center
to begin the process of reforms that are a beginning, rather than an
endpoint in the process of societal transformation."

Blending incisive political analysis with a clear agenda for change,
KABUKI DEMOCRACY cuts through the false promise offered by the
transformative politics of hope, arguing that real reform will only
come when accompanied by resurgent civic engagement.

Eric Alterman is an American historian, journalist, author, media
critic, blogger, and educator. His political weblog named Altercation
was hosted by MSNBC.com from 2002 until 2006, moved to Media Matters
for America until December 2008, and is now hosted by The Nation. He
earned a B.A. in History and Government from Cornell University, an
M.A. in International Relations from Yale University, and a Ph.D. in
U.S. History from Stanford University.

• Category

  News & Politics

[mikedd56]

What a lame & unoriginal comment. Nothing but a simple minded argument. First of all has there been a single president that hasnt sent troops into battle at some point, Obama included. Its part of the job as president you dumbshit. Second is he supposed to tell his secretary to hold his calls while he fights the war himself. Third in Bush's case every single soldier VOLUNTEERED. It is their job & they are pretty well compensated.

[Zach Calles]

Hmm... Bush was SUPER confrontational. He sent a bunch of OTHER people to war. How brave of him.

[whoo689]

2012 Obamabots are fucking HILARIOUS! Yes, the Republicans are TERRIBLE, and I would never support them over Obama, either, but for the love of GOD.. Is he REALLY the only 'progressive' choice we have or should support in 2012??? What about REAL progressives? Why can't we send Obama a fucking message that we're not gonna put up with his sellouts anymore?

Now it looks like he's actually gonna ACCEPT the disastrous "Grand Bargain." *facepalm*

[whoo689]

any better, mind you. Hell, I voted for NADER in '08 ;)

[whoo689]

No... Stop making excuses for Obama's bullshit! Obama is WEAK AND INEFFECTUAL and perhaps even a little naive. He seems to HATE most political confrontation, and he backs down as long as the position he takes publicly will somehow 'help' him politically or "make me look bipartisan." The guy's a JOKE as a president!

Maybe we should've LISTENED to all those people who said putting a guy who's only been a Senator for 4 years into the WH isn't such a good idea? Not that McCain would be

[ExZonie]

We do not have a democracy. The Founders were terrified of us ever having a so-called "democracy." We have a Constitutional Republic, period.

[billy fatbowe]

...I though this was authors@ the polittbeureau...

[endtyrany]

Our system is broken. I don't like Obama but i don't dislike him either. He made promises, that no man could have kept. The president is just a public relations mogul, with a designation as commander and chief but it's the bankers, corporations & aristocracy that decides whats going to be made law. What the media's going to spin to keep people divided, who to blame for the problems of the world. Things will never change, as long as the Majority of people in the world, wait for someone else to!

[TheCOOLbigGOV]

I meant stop thinking and do. Not 'do something'.

[TheCOOLbigGOV]

Do you think the crazy right ever stopped to ask themselves how to take democracy more seriously. They just do it. Stop thinking and do something, you stupid geek!