When Republicans win congressional seats that they should, as they did in November, that isn’t a Red Wave. Saying that doesn’t minimize the danger of right wing, anti-democratic Republican control of the House (and large swathes of the country for that matter.) But it is to say that the balance of forces didn’t shift in a qualitative/decisive way in their favor.

Had the outcome been different, that is, had the GOP taken control of the Senate out of Democratic hands as well secured a bigger majority in the House, it would be fair to speak of a Red Wave and a qualitative turn in the balance of forces toward right wing authoritarian, even fascist rule of the country. But that didn’t happen.

Thus the ground on which the anti-Maga coalition fights for democracy, equality, and social progress and against an anti-democratic authoritarian takeover, while less favorable for sure, isn’t one in which at every turn Democrats are in a hasty and steep retreat. Nor is it out of the question to think that they could win back lost ground in two years when voters once again cast their ballots.

Only a few weeks into the new Congress should be enough to remind us how important it was that Democrats won the Senate. Imagine if Republicans won both chambers! And while the Democratic loss of the House could have been avoided, especially if the anti-MAGA coalition in New York had performed better, the actions of the Republican majority in the House might come back to bite them as the most extreme members of its caucus – and there are a lot of them –play Russian roulette with government solvency, the economy, and people’s lives in the months ahead

In an election newsletter, Sochie Nnaemeka, NY Working Families Director, writes “In this past election, we saw the impact of this overlap and coordination in the Hudson Valley, with strong field energy and progressive momentum behind WFP-endorsed Assembly candidate Sarahana Shrestha helping to fuel Pat Ryan’s successful election bid to Congress.”

Actually, having lived in Kingston, I believe Pat Ryan’s successful bid for Congress, not once, but twice, fueled and brought Sarahana Shrestha across the finish line, not the other way around. Ryan is a very popular, well respected political leader in the Hudson Valley. Prior to running for Congress, he was the county executive of Ulster County. including at the height of the Covid pandemic. And in that capacity he performed his responsibilities skillfully and in close consultation with county residents.

Am I making a big deal out of nothing? I don’t think so. An understanding of the relationship between the left and others in the anti-MAGA coalition is crucial at this conjuncture. It isn’t a one way street or zero sum game. To the contrary, it should be cooperative and mutually reinforcing as well as contested. Dynamic not static. Rooted in concrete conditions, not abstractions and past experience. And the strenghening and unity of the movement as a whole should figure as an overarching task of the social justice movement.

As an old comrade of mine loved to say, if it only took the left to change the world, we would have done it a long time ago.

Don’t let the past, remind us what of we are not now … Listening to CSN and CSNY … Great Harmonies/Great Songs

Putin reportedly said in a recent meeting with Turkey’s president that he is open to a serious dialogue with representatives of Ukraine “under the condition that the Kiev authorities meet the clear demands that have been repeatedly laid out and recognize the new territorial realities.”

This isn’t a basis for negotiations, but surrender on the part of the Ukrainians. Why would they enter into negotiations on this condition? And yet, many on the left seem unaware of or simply ignore Putin’s bargaining posture, while insisting that the Ukrainians agree to talks with the Russians.