MARGARET KIMBERLEY—Comparisons have been made with McCarthyite “Red Scare” of the 1950s. But it can be argued that Russiagate is even worse. Bizarre assertions that were once consigned to the fringe right wing are now repeated on a daily basis by influential corporate media personalities and nearly all Democratic Party politicians. The most prolific Russiagate practitioner is Rachel Maddow of MSNBC. She has ridden that horse so successfully that she now has the highest rated program on cable news. But she may have reached a moment which prompted the famous question asked at the army/McCarthy hearings. “At long last have you no sense of decency?”
AMERICAN STUDIES
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‘Neo-con wine in an America First bottle’: Foreign policy analysts rail against Trump’s SOTU address
8 minutes readRT-COM—The president likely “glossed over” a withdrawal timeline because it would have been “very controversial,” Maloof suggested, adding that ultimately, Trump may even embrace his cabinet’s “neo-conservative approach to foreign policy.” While the president railed against “foolish wars” as one of the few obstacles standing in the way of the “miracle” of American economic might, Maloof —a former Pentagon official—said that Trump’s threats directed at Venezuela and Iran show that Washington’s penchant for “regime change” has not subsided.
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MICHAEL HUDSON—Maduro’s defensive move is showing other countries the need to protect themselves from becoming “another Venezuela” by finding a new safe haven and paying agent for their gold, foreign exchange reserves and foreign debt financing, away from the dollar, sterling and euro areas.
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PHILIP A. FARRUGGIO—Sanders supported the NATO (US led) carpet bombing and destruction of Libya in 2011 and our incursions into Syria… and now our banging the drums for a new Cold War with Russia. Sadly, he referred to the late Hugo Chavez, democratically elected leader of Venezuela, as a ‘Dead Dictator’! This ‘Phony Left’ still won’t come out in favor of nationalizing Big Business, especially the real culprits, the Wall Street banks! Do you ever hear these folks ditto that in regard to Big Pharma or Corporate Absentee Landlords? As far as taking on the Super Rich, new ‘Phony Left ‘ presidential candidate Sen. Warren wants to assess a whopping 2% surtax on any assets over 50 million dollars. Wow! You got to be kidding me!
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State of Fear: Trump unleashes tirade against socialism
9 minutes readPATRICK MARTIN—For its part, the Democratic response, delivered by former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, was even more embarrassing and pathetic than usual. Abrams combined a pledge to work with Trump to ensure his “success” with the Democrats’ endless manipulation of identity politics, speaking at great length not about the crisis confronting broad masses of people, but about herself.
As Trump’s blunt declaration suggests, the capitalist ruling class is not responding passively to the growing challenge from below. It is building up the police and military forces, as well as seeking to mobilize fascistic elements like those attracted to Trump’s nationalism and anti-immigrant racism.