Wretched liberty, by Martin Davies. www.daviesart.com

To end the week, rays of hope for warriors against the neo-cons. Webdiarist Philip Gomes reports on the recent election results in Ontario, then a Washington Post report on the psychology of the campaign style of anti-war Democrats US presidential candidate Howard Dean.

 

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Philip Gomes in Redfern

The recent election results in Ontario, Canada might serve as an interesting template for the Labour Party. The voters overwhelmingly rejected eight years of reactionary conservatism based on the American model; Canada more than any other country feels the weight of American interests and ideology.

The interesting thing about the election was the collective reasoning of the Ontario voter in rejecting the Tories. They wanted a return to public funding of the Health and Education systems. The decline in Government and social services was created a ‘tipping point’, according to my brother Nicholas, who lives in Toronto.

I believe that Canada can serve as a bellweather of sorts for Australia. Because of our shared historical context, there is much we can learn from each other. The following articles will give interested Webdiarists a broader understanding of the thinking in Canada. Just substitute Liberals with Labor, NDP with Greens/Democrats and Tories with Liberals. I also believe this stands in bright contrast to the celebrity election in California. My brother wrote:

You must have heard that the Tories (our Liberals) were completely swept out of power. Unfortunately the NDP (Democrats/Greens) lost official party status as well, which is a shame because Howard Hampton was the best performing of the three candidates. Everyone was scared of a split left vote and just wanted to see the Tories out of office before they did any more damage, so like me they voted Liberal (our Labor).

Now I wish I did vote according to my conscience because I would have preferred to see a minority Liberal government with NDP opposition. But who knew? The main point of this election was to get the Tories out and mission accomplished – overwhelmingly.

You heard people talking a lot about the Tory Republican style. Up here people do see how twisted the US now is. We see them as backward and ignorant and as a result there is a resurgence in Canadian values – the Canadian system.

Even The Economist seems to think Canada is getting very cool with our “liberal” tendencies. The magazine did however criticise our tax structure and low military spending. On the former, Canadians don’t want to see an increase in personal taxes but neither do we want a decrease at the expense of social services – the Liberals won on that platform alone.

The Liberals also brought up the fact that the Tory’s failed to collect $400 million in corporate taxes, and average Canadians are questioning why it is that the middle class carries the tax burden while corporations fly free. People are figuring out via US politics that neo-con tax cuts really benefit the corporations and the rich.

As for Canada’s low military spending, one reporter summed it up with this; “We don’t need to spend on the military because we don’t piss off anyone.”

See the Toronto Star: Liberal majority a victory for hope and Voters weary of Common Sense Revolution

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Dean pitches voter power

Democratic presidential hopeful inspires, injects psychology into politics

By Laura Blumenfeld/Washington Post

PORTSMOUTH, N.H: The candidate walked into a party with shaving nicks on his neck, uneven fingernails and wrinkles from a hanger creasing his suit at the knees. He has been known to stuff pretzels into his pockets.

“He’s short,” said Teresa Pierce, 40.

“Reminds me of someone my mother might date,” muttered Denise Mallett, 33.

Yet half an hour later, as Howard Dean finished his stump speech, Pierce stood up, joining the crowd in a hooting ovation.

The Democratic presidential hopeful had moved her, she said, made her feel like recruiting friends to vote for him. As she reached for Dean’s hand, her eyes lit up. “He inspired me,” she said.

How? What did Dean do to enchant Pierce and stir up thousands of avid supporters?

Despite the buzz surrounding retired Gen. Wesley Clark’s late entry into the campaign, and mounting attacks from some of his other eight rivals, Dean has raised the most money and leads the polls in New Hampshire and Iowa.

Conventional wisdom credits Dean’s Bush-bashing and his stoking of Democratic anger. But to follow Dean on the stump is to see something more subtle at work.

Political therapy

While the other candidates focus on their humble roots or heroic feats, Dean inverts the telescope: He talks about the voters.

He tells them they’re OK. Instead of trying to get them to love him, he tells them to love themselves. A doctor by training, he injects psychology into politics.

“I liked it when he said the election wasn’t about him, it was about us,” Pierce said. “He’s empowering me.”

This is the intended effect, the candidate said in an interview. “People feel horribly disempowered by George Bush,” he said.

“I’m about trying to give them control back. This is not just a campaign,’ it’s a movement to empower ordinary people. I don’t say, Elect me.’ ”

Instead, Dean says the election is in their hands. Delivering a series of exhortations, he’ll turn a garden party into political group therapy:

“Stop being ashamed.”

“Stand up and say what you think.”

“You ought to be proud.”

“The power to change this country is in your hands.”

“You have the power.”

“You have the power.”

Managed anger

Yes, there is anger. But it is tightly managed. “It’s raw energy, an energy I know could be channeled,” Dean said. “It’s similar in a patient relationship, helping them channel their energy into something better for them. ”

Which, notably, has fed a river of campaign contributions. As of last week, Dean had raised $14.3 million, surpassing the $10.3 million President Bill Clinton raised in the third quarter of 1995.

On his Web site, DeanForAmerica.com, he said: “Time will tell whether the special interests and the Bush administration have underestimated me. But I know in my heart that they have underestimated you.”

Don’t get mad, he urges; get even. It has been a recurrent theme in insurgent campaigns, but Dean’s has capitalized on the Internet, where those who feel alienated can instantly connect: “The power is in your hands – contribute!”

Frustrations grow

Perhaps one reason Dean connects so well with supporters is that on a gut level, he feels the way they do – frustrated.

The former Vermont governor said he decided to run for president while fuming over a newspaper article about Bush: “I said, am I going to do something about it, or shut up? Given the choice, I’d rather talk.”

Like Dean, Andrew Fairbanks, 45, seethed when he read about Bush.

“Oh, God, he was yelling at the TV news, yelling at me,” said his wife, Kim Fairbanks, 36. “I said, Andrew, you need to go find other people who feel like you do, you need to channel the energy positively.’ ”

One day he heard a radio interview with Dean.

“The anger evaporated,” Andrew said.

“Dean makes you feel like you matter,” Kim said.

As the couple talked, Dean stood at a nearby podium, talking to several hundred people gathered under the stars outside a house in Milford.

Contrary to popular depictions, he didn’t flail his arms or rant. His expression wasn’t angry; it merely threatened anger. He described Bush’s handling of the economy and Iraq as losing policies.

“Now I’m going to tell you how to win,” Dean said, with clinical precision. “The way to beat Bush is we stand up and be proud of who we are.”

Unconventional approach

If the emotional leitmotif of Clinton’s campaigns was empathy – “I feel your pain” – Dean’s is empowerment – “We’ll fix your pain.”

“The power to take this country back is in your hands,” Dean said to the crowd. “Not mine.”

Dean’s appeal is not based on traditional political charisma. His presence isn’t commanding. He isn’t a backslapper, or a world-class speaker. His smile looks more like a baring of teeth. Asked how he relaxes, he said he mows the lawn and does his taxes.

Yet at a recent New York rally, women cried, “I want to have your baby!” His supporters are so passionate they have organized themselves in areas where no campaign infrastructure exists, calling themselves Dean Heads, Deanie Boppers and Deanie Babies.

“Most politicians treat voters like consumers,” said Karen Hicks, Dean’s New Hampshire state director. “Dean treats people like participants.”

He does that, in part, by debating those who come to see him. While some politicians pander, Dean seems to go out of his way to disagree with audience members.

At a fund-raiser for the abortion rights group NARAL in Manchester, he declared, “I have a number of supporters in my campaign who are pro-life, and we have to respect them.”

At a labor union picnic, his style won praise from people who knew little about his policies.

“I don’t even know his background, but I get sincerity from him,” said Rusty Goodwin, 68.

Doris Bauters, 69, said, “Dean’s a regular working guy, just like us.”

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Webdiary’s Harry Heidelberg wrote about the Dean vibe on August 4 in Will Howard beat Bush?