Although he must be taken to task for his role in, as you mentioned, homophobia, sexism, classism, and jingoistic war aspirations, I believe we must take care not to delegitimize the hope that Obama, as an African-American, the first African-American president in point of fact, engenders in many of the poorest and most oppressed in the US. I myself am looking for ways to balancing both concerns, so I know it is not easy.

But criticism alone is not going to cut it. We need a plan of action. Posturing and bloviating only makes us seem like intractable radicals on the fringes of society, with nothing substantive to offer. And I guess that was my point. I didn’t mean to imply the best critique is florid and toothless, but words alone won’t change a nation.

In response to this post: I’m personally divided on the issue of Pakistan, not because I think the US should be involved, but because while the government publically decries the increased mobilization of US-led forces, it secretly worships at the altar of American intervention.

And that is to say nothing of President Zardari, who, taking his cues from former “Prime Minister” Musharraf, openly flouts the rule of law and ruthlessly oppresses dissent through physical intimidation and legal maneuvering.

Thus, while we may argue the US should withdrawal all forces from Pakistan, I think it is a dangerous idea to imply we somehow support the Pakistani government in its lawlessness. And continually—and gleefully—inserting the epithet “Let’s Bomb Pakistan” in President Obama’s name is not only glib, it smacks of self-satisfied condescension.

But I absolutely agree that, as you’ve mentioned, it is vital the Left be allowed and stay motivated to keep critiquing the current situation, to prevent Pakistan, and our own government, from floating off into Right-Wing oblivion. For that to be possible, we need to strength of all liberals to anchor this administration in reality.

Wow. That was long. Sorry.