I wrote an essay for The Unz Assessment final Might about why I supported Robert F. Kennedy Jr for president. I additionally defined my causes for backing Kennedy in an interview with Kevin Barrett on the time, and even in a foolish tune that I wrote. I’ve ready this follow-up essay to elucidate why I nonetheless assist Kennedy, regardless of my disappointment with a few of his marketing campaign developments.
Though I plan to vote for Kennedy in November, assuming that the fascists who management Illinois even enable him on the poll, I additionally assist the candidacy of Cornel West, of “Actually Anyone Else,” and of another challenger to the evil two-party system. That corrupt dysfunctional system must be destroyed, although the totally propagandized American inhabitants makes that troublesome process fairly rattling inconceivable. It may be inconceivable, but it surely’s actually well worth the easy effort of going to the voting sales space and casting a vote for an impartial or third-party candidate. Nobody ought to ever vote for any Republican or any Democrat anymore!
Articulate and clever
Kennedy has articulated America’s most significant issue—the corrupt fascistic merger of presidency and company energy—extra clearly and extra intelligently than another political or public determine. I’m unsure what he would have the ability to do to repair this downside, ought to he one way or the other miraculously get elected within the rigged system that we have now, however no less than he understands the issue. Nobody else within the political enviornment appears to.
He has additionally demonstrated that he clearly understands the intense downside of the military-industrial complicated and the countless wars of the American Empire. He has spoken out significantly forcefully towards U.S. involvement within the Ukraine struggle, in addition to in regards to the U.S. frightening of that struggle. I feel he would rapidly put an finish to that horrific struggle and the horrible waste of U.S. cash there, and he can be more likely than another potential president to keep away from additional imperialistic army adventures and silly makes an attempt at empire constructing.
Improper on Gaza
That stated, I’ve been very dissatisfied by Kennedy’s obvious assist for Israel’s colonialist genocide marketing campaign towards Palestinians in Gaza. Cornel West, to his credit score, is the one candidate who has spoken out towards this obvious-for-the-whole-world-to-see genocide.
So, that’s an enormous downside with Kennedy—and 99 % of different American politicians. Sadly, American politicians think about it essential to cater to the rich and influential Zionists so as to have any hope of getting elected. That’s simply the disgusting actuality of American politics. I actually was not woke up to this downside till the continuing Gaza state of affairs worsened to the purpose of lastly shaking me out of the propaganda brainwashing during which I had lengthy been misplaced. Studying Rashid Khalidi’s The Hundred Years’ Battle on Palestine additional educated me.
Kennedy is flawed on Israel and Gaza. However I feel he’s proper on nearly every part else. I’m not going to reject a candidate as a result of I disagree—even strongly disagree—with him on one problem. Plus, he’s a sensible man with an open thoughts, and I’ve hopes that he’ll finally modify his place on Gaza by listening to and studying from individuals like Douglas Macgregor and Scott Ritter.
Proper about quite a lot of issues
Kennedy is correct about quite a lot of issues. He’s proper about vaccines and the evils of the pharmaceutical trade. He’s proper in regards to the corruption of drugs and science. He’s proper about trying into the causes of worsening continual illnesses. He’s proper about toxins in our surroundings and the necessity for higher setting and nature protections. He’s proper in regards to the land and cultural rights of American Indians. He’s proper about the necessity to battle the censorship and propaganda of the media and Huge Tech. He’s proper in regards to the declining center class and the grasping irresponsible actions of Wall Road and the Fed. He’s proper about making an attempt to encourage and restore some hope amongst disillusioned younger individuals. He’s proper about making an attempt to cease all of the ugly hatred and anger and making an attempt to convey individuals collectively over some frequent primary respectable values.
I’m not loopy about his choice of Nicole Shanahan as his operating mate. However I actually don’t know a lot about her, apart from the smears that the mainstream media and different detractors are actually portray her with. I hoped that he would possibly decide another person, like Tulsi Gabbard or Rand Paul, however I assume that such high-profile political figures didn’t wish to hitch a experience with a in all probability shedding marketing campaign and spoil their relationship with a possible new Trump presidency.
I like the truth that Shanahan is younger, energetic, and clearly clever. These traits, in addition to her wealth, must be helpful to Kennedy’s marketing campaign. I like her confirmed pursuits within the setting, well being, and legal justice. She will surely make a greater president than Kamala would (or Pence would have). However then, any sentient, fairly sensible individual would in all probability make a greater president than most any skilled politician today. So, I want her luck on the marketing campaign path. She gave a fairly good speech on the VP announcement, although she wants to manage the (comprehensible contemplating the circumstances) nervous laughter.
Can Kennedy truly win?
I feel Kennedy’s solely hope of profitable is that if he can get on a televised debate stage with Biden and Trump. The marked variations in intelligence, in straightforwardness, and in consciousness of vital points would turn out to be manifestly apparent to all viewers! However I doubt if both Trump or Biden will wish to expose their very own weaknesses and psychological declines in any debates. Or, in the event that they do have a debate, they in all probability gained’t let Kennedy in.
With out such televised debates, the overall media blackout of Kennedy’s marketing campaign will trigger most People to both stay utterly unaware of Kennedy or to consider within the unfavorable media caricatures of him. In fact, even when he does get extra media publicity and public opinion polls finally point out that he might need an opportunity at profitable, the tip end result will rely on a free and honest election, which, evidently, is extremely uncertain.
In an fascinating essay posted on The Hill after the Shanahan announcement, former Reagan/Bush speechwriter Douglas MacKinnon appears to assume that Kennedy might need a shot. MacKinnon writes in regards to the bizarre “Alice in Wonderland” nature of this yr’s presidential race, with voters nervous about “Biden’s age, perceived cognitive points, his son Hunter’s authorized and notion issues, rising coverage failures, and a rustic and world going extra sideways by the day.” As for Trump, “it’s laborious for some voters to unsee the FBI raid on Trump’s residence in Florida, his mug shot, a number of indictments by Democratic prosecutors and district attorneys, trial dates and the better ‘lawfare’ marketing campaign being purposefully amplified by some within the media.”
MacKinnon notes that Kennedy has “a better favorability ranking than each Biden and Trump. He’s additionally the favourite of voters underneath 35 years previous, in addition to independents, and is gaining quickly amongst minorities—three constituencies that Kennedy now has an opportunity to develop considerably because of his choice yesterday of Nicole Shanahan as his operating mate.”
MacKinnon describes Shanahan as a “recreation changer,” writing that she “has a outstanding life story. She grew up on welfare, is Asian American, a lawyer, the California-based founder and president of Bia-Echo Basis—a nonprofit that points grants for points together with reproductive rights, equality, legal justice reform and the setting—is a single mom to a daughter with autism and is the previous spouse of Google cofounder Sergey Brin.”
He provides, “Apart from her entrepreneurial background, excessive vitality and intelligence, Shanahan instantly amplifies or outright fills a number of wants of the Kennedy marketing campaign. She will converse on to feminine voters, the high-tech neighborhood, younger voters, minority voters, the working poor, the disenfranchised—and dissatisfied Democrats.”
I feel probably the most fascinating a part of MacKinnon’s essay is that this paragraph:
“The road between ‘lengthy shot’ and ‘the individuals’s alternative’ is far narrower than many consider. It usually comes right down to reaching a tipping level. In however a number of weeks, the dialog can immediately swap from ‘Kennedy can’t presumably win’ to ‘I can’t consider it, however Kennedy now has an actual shot.’ Shanahan can in a short time assist flip that dialog to Kennedy’s favor.”
Trump and Biden BS
Time will inform. I’m an previous man (64) who has turn out to be more and more cynical, and typically even hateful, about my nation and about its politics over the previous a number of years. Trump was a disappointment, together with his BS in regards to the wall he by no means constructed; together with his tough-guy-posturing bombast and bluster about Russia, China, and Iran; together with his silly son-in-law and their additional fucking up of the Palestinian state of affairs; together with his horrible authoritarian phony-science Covid insurance policies; together with his countless preventing, insulting, and arguing about each form of unimportant nonsense… Now he’s in quite a few authorized messes, many which might be no less than partly of his personal making, he’s nonetheless making an attempt to speak powerful to the world, and he’s promoting Bibles with asshole has-been nation singer Lee Greenwood.
I can not stand Liz Cheney (or her struggle legal father), however she did have a nice line for Trump about his Bible peddling: “As a substitute of promoting Bibles, you must in all probability purchase one. And skim it, together with Exodus 20:14. Thou shalt not commit adultery.” That fairly properly sums up Trump’s BS and hypocrisy.
Trump is dangerous sufficient. However Biden has in all probability been the worst catastrophe in American historical past—actually probably the most reckless warmonger ever within the White Home. However that’s what occurs when the elite class rigs an election to get a dementia-ridden sock puppet in workplace in order that they’ll simply and effortlessly manipulate him to serve the wants of the government-corporate mix and American struggle machine. The one place Biden belongs is in a nursing residence drooling over his ice cream and getting his diaper modified.
Maybe there’s hope?
Trump and Biden are each completely consultant of the stinking decay and decay of American society and tradition at virtually each stage. The decay and decay are in all probability irreversible. In my previous age, I’ve principally given up. It have to be a desperately miserable state of affairs for younger People, who’ve recognized solely this rot all their lives. I, no less than, have recollections of higher, freer occasions from the Nineteen Sixties and Nineteen Seventies.
However maybe sufficient younger individuals will turn out to be impressed by the Kennedy-Shanahan ticket to exit and vote. Maybe their votes will make a distinction. Maybe the election will likely be free and honest. Maybe Kennedy and Shanahan will win. Maybe President Kennedy and Vice President Shanahan will get in workplace and enact the nice, wanted, dramatic modifications that they’re promising.
Yeah, maybe. However, then once more, maybe I ought to get my sick, delusional head examined.
