From the other side, Republicans will strike a populist, anti-government pose in the hopes of leading the growing discontent with Obama and Democrat-dominated beltway politics. Like Reagan’s populist “Sagebrush rebellion,” corporate reactionaries will try to channel populist anger toward renewed militarism and against labor, minorities (especially immigrants & Muslims), and all efforts to protect the environment. Only a substantial, progressive mass movement–independent of the Democratic party–will have any chance of defending any gains made under Obama’s administration while offering a clear left alternative to reactionary populism.

But this is precisely where we’re so weak. Offering a clear left alternative requires a genuine presence in American politics. But we lack a substantial mass base; we lack organizational strength; we lack political strategy; and we lack ideological vision.

During the 60s, the civil rights and Black power movements had a base in the Black church & the ghettos (with some support from liberal white churches, students, & labor); the anti-war movement had a base on college campuses that developed a wider following over time; the women’s movement developed a following (especially among younger, middle class women); and rank-and-file activity gave some unions significant clout (until they were hit hard as capital ran away to the South & the Third World). Here in California, the UFW formed the base of a loose labor, student, immigrant, Chicano alliance.

By in large, this power base dissolved, divided, and came unglued in the 80s, while the Right extended its base into the suburbs and within the churches of the evangelical movement. The material basis for this reversal of fortune requires far more attention & analysis than it has received. But I think it is clear that currently–in the midst of deep economic & political crises–neither the left nor the right has been able to channel popular anger in a cohesive political direction with any independence from the 2 major political parties.

The right has seriously discredited itself by supporting the war in Iraq and neo-liberalism; the left has benefited from the right’s recent failures and the popularity of the Obama campaign, but this support appears broad BUT SHALLOW to me. I wonder how we plan to use the Obama phenomenon to deepen the base for progressive politics in America? The anti-capitalist left lacks a cohesive organizational presence in American politics and clearly articulated progressive vision & program. How do we overcome these weaknesses in the current political environment?

Without a focus on building an independent presence in American politics I think progressives run the risk of finding ourselves up against a resurgent right-wing populism in the not-too-distant future, with no plan for how to stem this tide or redirect it against decaying capitalism and the corrupt, two-party, corporate duopoly over American political life. We need to work on our ORGANIZATION, our STRATEGY, our MESSAGE, and our OUTREACH to the American people. If we fail to do this, I fear for the future.

While talking with someone else about the current state this was mentioned:

The left will form distinct from Obama. Obama at this point should be treated more as what he actually is: A brand. This is smart because it’s both realistically assessing the situation–but has many tactical advantages as well.

1. We don’t have to waste time trying to convince any of the tens of millions of people that voted for him why he’s bad.

2. We can play the positive insinuations of his brand to our advantage. Leave out the parts we don’t like.

3. This leaves the trajectory for movement building intact in its incipient form and removed from having to worry about falling in line with the corporate democrats and creates the maneuverability for the left to act like it is doing Obama a favor at all times by independently advancing a platform.