Some political crisis links (10.15.2008)

Relying upon new polling data, the New York Times reports that the McCain campaign's recent smear operation has hurt their own candidate in the polls. It is worth recalling that the race card maneuver also failed to help the Clintons defeat Obama. Let America wait for the election before patting itself on the back.

On the other hand, E.J. Dionne asks:

Are we witnessing the re-emergence of the far right as a power in American politics? Has John McCain, inadvertently perhaps, become the midwife of a new movement built around fear, xenophobia, racism and anger?

Sadly enough, this reactionary movement has been waiting for its moment to arrive for the last four decades. It has long been an entrenched component of the New Right consensus. And its time to shine seems to be at hand now that the GOP consensus is collapsing.

Chris Hedges, a student of this mostly demotic political culture, assesses the situation and warns that "It is no longer our economy but our democracy that is in peril." He continues:

This is a defining moment in American history. The next few weeks and months will see us stabilize and weather this crisis or descend into a terrifying dystopia. I place no hope in Obama or the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is a pathetic example of liberal, bourgeois impotence, hypocrisy and complacency. It has been bought off. I will vote, if only as a form of protest against our corporate state and an homage to [Karl] Polanyi's brilliance, for Ralph Nader. I would like to offer hope, but it is more important to be a realist. No ethic or act of resistance is worth anything if it is not based on the real. And the real, I am afraid, does not look good.

Sadly but unsurprisingly, CNN (AP) reports that the economic crisis has already consumed some Americans. It may be that the dystopian moment has already arrived:

Across the country, authorities are becoming concerned that the nation's financial woes could turn increasingly violent, and they are urging people to get help. In some places, mental-health hot lines are jammed, counseling services are in high demand and domestic-violence shelters are full.

John Dolan offers "been there, done that" advice to those who fall through the cracks. Antidepressants are essential, given his experience.

Update (10.15.2008)

Democracy Now addresses the election fraud 'controversy' here.

Brad Blog addresses the 'controversy' here and here.