Accolades from around the world

I am pleased to announce that I am getting accolades from around the world from the most important, and the only important, Marxist leaders from around the world.

Bruce Bostick is still suffering post-convention depression syndrome as he is fatigued from ferreting out the Stalinist agents still among us and the nay-sayers.

Let me just say that there are rumors abounding on the Internet that we have censored some things.

It is true the KKE statement was shortened down a bit before being read to convention goers but the intent was to edit for brevity and not to exclude pertinent content.

The KKE statement was deleted as posted by some loony leftist from the PW web site but not as a result of my orders. My orders were to edit for brevity and clarity. Those dam Greeks just aren't very clear in what they say so I asked Erwin Marquit to make the KKE more understandable for our very special American audience. What happened is Erin experienced a bout of "Fat Fingers." There was no relapse into revisionism. After all, we all loved Gus.

Some people are complaining they don't know fully what went on at our convention. Here all everyone really needs to know:

1. I delivered the main report which continues to draw widespread accolades from across the globe.

2. I drank a lot of beer and got drunk and then I told better jokes.

I don't understand why people refused to show up for the convention and now complain they don't know what went on.

We had a completely open convention having invited everyone to come on out for all the fun.

I don't understand the low turn-out. Usually free beer brings a full crowd.

Still wondering if our name is the same? Keep wondering. We will inform the world in due time.

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA

I did not ban the message from KKE

Comrades,

I do not like to take measures like this during our historic national convention but events have turned ugly.

I am being accused of banning and censoring things. I would never do such a thing. I am a Democrat.

There is a small group out in the cow pastures of Minnesota hell-bent on trying to discredit me and they are trying to turn this into a major set-back for our Party.

They are all concerned this message from the KKE was not distributed in a timely manner to members and delegates.

Well, members and delegates should not feel slighted in any way because I didn't even distribute this to most other members of the National Board or to most of the National Committee.

There are suggestions I should have included this letter from KKE in my Main Report. No way; let all the C-Span listeners have to put up with such nonsense? I had to talk about important issues while addressing the Nation. I made a brilliant speech. You saw it. Everyone interrupted me on cue with wild applause. I received the rehearsed standing ovation.

Democracy smocracy. Let's get on with our convention so we can gavel it quickly to a close.

Yes, Jarvis; what is it?

No. No. I meant to give you the message and it slipped my mind.

Yes, Scottie?

No, I didn't keep you in the dark. Had I given you this message what would you have done with it?

Make copies, Scottie? We don't even have a photocopy machine for you to use.

Yes, Mr. Bostick; what is it?

Sam, I am a union leader why didn't you give me a copy as a courtesy?

Bruce, I tried to give you a copy so you could ferret out the Soviet agents but you were so out of it. Did they up your Prozac dosage during your last stay in the Bellvue mental ward for the chronically depressed?

Look; I'm not going to stand here all day answering your idiotic questions about some message from Greece that didn't get distributed. I have an important basketball game to watch so I have some statistics to share with the delegates.

Here is the letter go ahead and read it if you don't have anything better to do but no one is to take the letter out of my office.

Oh, I should mention that at our 2015 Convention we are going to have a big surprise for the 60 National Convention delegates. The leader of the democratic people's movement will be addressing us.

Yes, Mr. Margolis; what is it?

Sam, can I be on the National Board?

No, Dan, you can not be on the National Board. It is bad enough we have to tolerate you heading up the New York District but except for John Case you are the only one stupid enough to do the job the way we want it done.

Ok, here comes a question of substance finally. Hi there Erwin how's it going?

Just peachy keen Sam. I have some thoughts about this letter from Greece. My dialectical understanding in the reading of this message is that someone is trying to insinuate we may not be very good Marxist-Leninists. I think you should just tell the Greeks what you told us in my back yard in St. Paul the day you almost choked on one of my Wal-mart hamburgers.

Mr. Marquit, I thought you had memory problems?

No, Sam, not that I recall.

Well, Mr. Marquit, how is it you forgot how to tie your shoes but you remember what I said at your back-yard fundraiser for the PWW so well where we took in $45.00?

Sam, I thought we took in $15.00.

No. Mr. Marquit, it was $45.00.

Ok, Sam; whatever you say. Now I forgot what I was going to say about this message. Oh, yes. Sam; you said you never liked the term "Marxism-Leninism." I hope you haven't changed your mind.

Erwin; don't you ever know when to stop your rambling?

Sam, why don't you just tell the Greeks what you told us. Save the postage and just send them the message in a bottle.

Ok, folks. I got to clear you all out of here.

Someone tell Peter Molenaar to pop a few Viagra and come on in here and help me find ESPN on this damn thing. Have Mark Froemke bring us all a beer he doesn't have to dring the entire case by himself. Come on Bruce, pop a few more Prozac and sit here on my lap while we watch the game.

Come on. Everyone out of my office. I can only handle a few of you weirdos at a time.

Yes, Joelle.

Sam. Are we going to kick those Minnesotans out in the cow pastures out of the Party?

Joelle, where have you been the last ten years?

Well, hello Mr. Marder; how are you? Have you learned to keep your big mouth shut? Yapping all over the place I won't splurge for your U.S. Peace Council leaflets! Come on in. I'll write you a check. Will $5.00 cover what you need?

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA



Communist Party of Greece - [13.05.2010] Message to the National Committee of CP, USA

Communist Party USA,
National Committee,
New York
Athens, Thursday, 13 May 2010

Dear comrades

We would like to thank you for the information regarding your 29th party convention and to extend our greetings to the delegates. Our parties have met in the past in common struggles for workers’ rights, in the struggle against anti-communism, for the defense of socialism and the Soviet Union, for the unity of the communist movement on the basis of our revolutionary principles and traditions.

We are following as closely as we can the developments in the USA, the escalation of the aggression of US imperialism which lately has become quite obvious. The US is striving to respond to the trend of losing ground within the framework of the imperialist system by inciting regional tensions and conflicts, so that it can take advantage of its political and military supremacy in order to safeguard its interests and maintain its spheres of influence.

In Greece, the working class and the popular strata are facing a barbaric attack, on the pretext of the economic crisis; an attack which has been jointly unleashed by the social democratic PASOK government, the EU and the IMF, with the assistance of the conservative ND party and the open support of the nationalist LAOS party.

The remarkable resistance presented by the labor and popular movement is spearheaded by KKE which continually strives to reveal the real cause of the crisis, the sharpening of the basic contradictions of capitalism. Without the consistent exposure of the compromised and discredited in the eyes of the workers trade union leaderships of GSEE and ADEDY (the national confederations of the private and public sector respectively), without the decisive contribution of PAME (All Workers’ Militant Front), the national trade union front comprised of class oriented Federations, trade unions, labor centers and trade unionists, the labor movement in our country would have been disarmed, unprepared, and unable to fight back.

KKE calls upon the working class, the self-employed, the poor farmers, and the youth to engage in even stronger, more massive and organized actions in order to stave off the onslaught and pave the way for a different path of development. There can be no way other than the nationalization of the monopolies. The working class must take possession of the concentrated means of production and mobilize them with central planning and popular participation. This presupposes a struggle aiming for people’s power, for socialism-communism.

The fightback against anti-communism, the adamant defense of the historical contribution of the Soviet Union and socialist construction in the 20th century, of the identity and revolutionary traditions of the communist movement, take on particular importance today.

As long as the crisis of the international communist movement persists, as long as the situation does not improve and retreats from ideological and theoretical principles are not resolutely confronted, as long as the front against opportunist views that hinder the formation of a single revolutionary strategy against imperialism does not become strengthened, the situation will harbor the danger of an even greater backslide.

The existence of strong Communist Parties steadfast to the principles of Marxism-Leninism and proletarian internationalism, with a revolutionary program for the overthrow of the rule of monopolies, for building socialism - communism, is the foremost demand of our times.

We look forward to learning the conclusions and the resolutions of your convention.

With comradely greetings

The Central Committee of KKE

e-mail: cpg@int.kke.gr

CPUSA National Convention Delegates: Welcome to the Big Apple

I want to extend a hearty welcome to all 150 delegates pouring into New York City to attend our National Convention.

Tens of thousands more will be viewing those portions of the convention we deem appropriate via the Internet.

Here is what a typical convention delegate looks like:



Notice the Obama hat this labor leader so proudly wears... no Marx or Lenin buttons pinned to it.

Facial hair is groomed fully unlike Karl Marx.

We must take pride in being the chosen and specially selected participants to the CPUSA National Convention while walking the streets of New York City or engaged in vigorous and lively debate or just getting drunk and weird.

All anti-depressant drugs and Viagra have been banned from the premises. Bruce Bostick and Peter Molenaar be forewarned.

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA

Scott Marshall sets up Stewart Acuff Fan Club on FaceBook

We on the National Board would like to take this opportunity to thank Scott Marshall for creating the Stewart Acuff Fan Club on FaceBook.

Here is the link:

http://www.facebook.com/richard.a.levins#!/group.php?gid=124517169369&ref=ts

We want to be careful no one finds out that a member of the National Board of the CPUSA set up this facebook page.

We now have two excellent books to promote our social democratic outlook:

The New New Deal by Amy Dean and Getting American Back To Work by Stewart Acuff and Richard Levins.

I'm going to tip our hat a little because we have two more FaceBook "Fan Pages" under construction---

The Bruce "the Depressed" Bostick Fan Page and the John "the Lonesome Hobo" Case Fan Page.

Let's have a big round of applause for Scott Marshall... another bigger, brighter truck is in order.

Scottie, what do you say you give your old truck to the "lonesome hobo."

Good job guys.

Sam Webb
Chair, CPUSA

A round of applause for John Case

I want to thank John Case, our Party's brilliant economist.

John has had to turn his attention to working with Bruce Bostick to out Stalinist agents from our Party.

Bruce is suffering severe depression from his laborious work.

Bruce needs to purchase another bottle of medication because John Case ran out of his and the two have started sharing.

The National Board has not been able to work on other problems because we are trying some trial and error adjustments to see if we can't get both Bruce Bostick and John Case on the same meds and save a little money in the process.

John is capable of solving most economic problems for the the Obama Administration if his meds are tweaked appropriately while Bruce Bostick is suffering severe complications of a neural disorder brought on by the stress of unemployment.

We have been experimenting with electro shock treatments on both of these very talented and brilliant members of our important staff. I could not make most of my brilliant decisions without input from Bruce Bostick and John Case.

John almost lost his balance and fell under a subway the other day claiming the increased dosage that I recommended caused him to think he was walking sideways.

I am assigning Jarvis and Scott Marshall to make sure they both get back to the room they share at Bellevue while they are both out on day passes until our upcoming convention.

Will will keep Bruce downstairs by the door as a spotter for any signs of arrival from the Minnesota and Jersey Problems.

No one from either CPC will be admitted to the convention.

As we tweak the meds for Bruce Bostick and John Case, I would ask everyone to bear with us as their electrodes may not be in complete sync and proper firing order.

Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA

This insolence will not continue!

Our National Board issued this statement initially in secrecy to protect Keeran and Kenny. Now our statement is being published all over the Internet. If this is not bad enough, Keeran and Kenny have become insolent and disobedient by publishing a response they had no right to publish without getting permission from me. They try to make our most important body out to be fools and liars. I restate our position here and I am providing a copy of the Keeran/Kenny "response;" we simply cannot and will not tolerate this kind of insolence.

I hereby order all discussion of this issue to cease except what the National Board has to say on this matter. I am instructing Keeran and Kenny to cease and desist in their activities of undermining the work of our National Board. I will be setting Bruce Bostic to work on this problem which I designate the Jersey Problem. I am hereby ordering the Communist Party of Canada to end all work with Keeran and Kenny. No more discussion of this book in Canada. I put my foot down here and now. This is it.

The nerve of Keeran and Kenny; they address their letter to "Dear;" I expect letters to me to be addressed "Chairman Sam Webb."

I send letters "Dear Sue" or "Dear Elana;" did I spell her name correctly? Well, If I didn't I will hear about it from Keeran or Kenny. I would never address a letter as "Dear Joe." I insist on respect.

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA

CPUSA National Board Criticizes Authors Keeran, Kenny for Canada Visit:



Recently, Roger Keeran and Thomas Kenny, co-authors of the internationally regarded Socialism Betrayed: Behind the Collapse of the Soviet Union, visited the Communist Party of Canada's convention to discuss their work. The CPUSA National Board calls this a "violation of democratic centralism". Some of us here at WR feel that the Board is applying that principle selectively, particularly since forces we regard as social democratic in the Party are given free reign to say and do what they like, including attend meetings of social democratic organizations.

Read the National Board attack as well as Kenny and Keeran's response below:

Dear National Committee Member,

It has been brought to our attention that Roger Keeran and Thomas Kenny (pen name), both members of our Party, were invited to and participated in the recent convention of the Communist Party of Canada. Neither the Canadian Party nor Keeran and Kenny consulted with us; we only learned about it after the fact.

We discussed this matter in the Board and agreed to send a letter to our Canadian comrades expressing our strong feeling that this was an inappropriate action by a fraternal party. (letter is attached)

As for Keeran and Kenny, their presence at that meeting was a violation of Party procedure and democracy. Keeran even spoke in a plenary session. Ostensibly his subject was the book on the Soviet Union he wrote with Kenny some years ago, but in fact, he used the opportunity to describe his differences with our Party’s policies and program in a very dismissive and sarcastic manner. He justifies this because he wasn't an official spokesperson (just a ‘concerned member’), but that disclaimer doesn't give him or Kenny the right to slander our Party at the convention of another party.

Below is a brief summary of Keeran’s presentation
--Two main issues in the U.S. are the fight for health care and EFCA. We look to Canada for examples of what we need in U.S. just as during Civil War, U.S. abolitionists looked north to Canada as the terminus for the Underground Railroad. And judging by the discussion at this convention, I think American Communists again need to look north for inspiration.
--Since the collapse of the USSR there has been a lot of vacillation and retreat among communist parties on some key issues and theoretical perspectives, including in our party.
--It is true the the CPUSA supported Obama in the election and supports him now. The reasons should be clear, right? With Bush we had a president who started wars in the Middle East and now we have a president who escalates them. With Bush we had a president who started warrant-less wiretaps, extraordinary rendition, and waterboarding. Now we have a president who uses warrant-less wiretaps, extraordinary rendition, but not waterboarding. Before with Bush we had a president whose administration was filled with Wall St. profiteers, Robert Gates, Summers, Bernanke, and Dick Cheney. Now we have a president whose administration is filled with Wall St. profiteers, Robert Gates, Summers, Bernanke, but not Dick Cheney.
--Despite all of this change you can believe in, there are still some Communists south of the border who believe that President Obama is secretly a member of the CPUSA.

He then went on to talk for a few minutes about the main theses of their book, and when he finished, received a standing ovation.

Neither Keeran nor Kenney play a major role in the work of our Party. We are concerned not only about the misrepresentations of our positions at the Canadian convention -- more troubling is that they are in touch a handful of Party members who disagree with the Party’s democratically adopted positions, actively campaign against those positions in a factional way, and thereby, cause disunity and division.

This activity dates back to our last convention, where the same handful of people failed to convince the delegates to oppose the new party program, which was then adopted by an overwhelming majority. And ironically, since this group frequently declares its allegiance to democratic centralism (and criticizes the Party’s leadership for insufficient discipline), they have since continued their campaign against the Party's program and policies.

Specifically, they interfere in the work of districts other than their own; they have their own website whose mission is to attack our Party's policies and leadership; they call members around the country in hopes of peeling them off; they make no effort to recruit or build the press. Many of them are deep underground and write using psuedonyms, while again, criticizing the Party and its leadership for inadequate militancy, public presence, and independent role.

We had some hesitation about sending a letter about this now. We don't want to cast a pall over the preconvention discussion or the convention. Given the complexity of the moment, we need to collectively assess our work and policies and bring everything in line with current realities. Moreover, we have to find better ways to build the Party and press.

So far the discussion is going along well and we should do everything we can to encourage it. No one should hesitate to express their views, but they should do so within our collectives and, as much as possible, do so based on actual experience.
Unfortunately, the incessant criticism and campaign against the Party by this handful can hobble the discussion because comrades who don’t agree on one or another issue don’t want to express that, for fear of giving ammunition to this factional group. That is understandable, but we should all resist letting this happen.

We are not suggesting any immediate action to respond to this provocative action by Keeran and Kenny, or to the other individuals. However, there have to be some limits, but that is for another discussion at a later time.

Over the next few months of the preconvention period, we should continue our involvement in the struggle for jobs, build the Party, YCL, and online press, while organizing a rich give-and-take discussion.

We have much to be proud of and much to do. We can be confident in our Party. Let's have a great convention!

Comradely,

The National Board
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear Sam, Jarvis, and National Board Members,

Several members of the National Committee have forwarded a letter sent by the National Board (NB) criticizing us for attending the recent convention of the Communist Party of Canada (CPC). Though the letter singles us out for rebuke and impugns our motives and character, the NB did not send the letter to us. We protest this way of operating. It is both undemocratic and uncomradely. Moreover, the NB letter ignores some facts and distorts others.

1. The letter was the product of a NB meeting that included many non-members of the NB, including C. J. Atkins, an American student in Toronto, who like us was a guest at the convention. We, however, were not invited to participate in the NB meeting.

2. The letter ignores the context of our attendance, namely that the Canadian Communist Party, like other Communist Parties, invited us to speak on our book. The letter does not give the title of the book, SOCIALISM BETRAYED: BEHIND THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION, nor does it mention that International Publishers(IP)published the book in 2004 after the NB voted in favor of its publication over the objections of Sam Webb. It does not mention that Communist Party publications in Ireland, England, Australia, Germany, and Canada have favorably reviewed the book, that Communists have translated and published the book into Bulgarian, Russian, Farsi, Turkish, Portuguese, Greek (in part), and French and Spanish (in process), and that the authors had previously been invited by the Greek CP (2007) and Portuguese CP(2008) to speak on the book, and did so without objection. The NB letter says that our presence at the Canadian convention was a “violation of Party procedure,” but they do not make clear what procedure they are talking about. Before speaking on their books, does every IP author get the NB’s approval?

3. The main distortion of the letter is the portrayal of my (Keeran’s) opening remarks, which were meant to be gracious and humorous, as if they were the whole thing. The letter says that the talk was only “ostensibly” on the book, but that really I (Keeran) spoke as a ”concerned member,” and devoted only “a few minutes” to the book. This is totally misleading. Before speaking, I met with Miguel Figueroa, Chair of the CPC, who indicated the parts of the book the convention would find the most relevant. Figueroa introduced me as the author of the book, and I spoke (as an author not a “concerned member”) for twenty minutes about the book.

4. The letter’s summary of my (Keeran’s) welcoming remarks, apparently comes from C.J. Atkins, who seems to have attended the convention for the sole purpose of taking notes and reporting to the NB. In my opening remarks, I thanked the CPC for the invitation, asked how many delegates had read the book, praised the headway that Canadians have made on two issues of concern to the American working class (health care and employee free choice), and congratulated them on their convention. I said that though we supported Obama’s election, President Obama has not brought much change in which we can believe with regard to wars in the Middle East, violations of
human rights and civil liberties, and the domination of policy by finance capital. The letter mangles (in fact, inverts) my punch line which was “that some of us remain doubtful that Obama is a secret member of the CP.”

5. The letter then makes a series of vague and defamatory statements beginning with: “Neither Keeran nor Kenney [sic] play a major part in the work of our Party.” One of us (Keeran) has been a member of the Party for thirty years, and a member of the Jersey City Club for twenty-five years. He wrote a previous book on Communists and auto workers published by International Publishers, served on the now defunct history commission, and served on the Board of the now defunct Reference Center for Marxist Studies. He has participated in all activity of the Jersey City Club, among other things: distributing the PWW, serving as club chair, participating in the Jersey City Peace Council and its peace demonstrations, and canvassing for our own candidates (Lee Barile and John Rummel) and for the Democrats (Kerry, Obama, and most recently Corzine). Though this Jimmy Higgins work may not make him a “major” player in the party, it does make him as active as most members in the district. The other of us (Kenny), who likewise would not claim a “major” status, has nonetheless been a party member for twenty-three years, has held senior staff positions in the labor movement for twenty years, serves as his club’s education director and a member of the Economic Commission, and writes for the paper, including an article in the current issue of the PW.

6. Finally, the Sunday before the NB issued this attack, I (Keeran) participated in a District discussion of the main convention document, which I sharply criticized for focusing on Democrats and Republicans while marginalizing class struggle. I criticized the way the document fails to make a class analysis of the Obama administration and ignores facts about imperialism abroad and the capitalist crisis at home.Isaiditignores: Obama’s escalation of the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the building of more military bases in Colombia and the Middle East,the expansion of the military budget, the increased exploitation of the working class during the past thirty years of record breaking profits and flat wages, and the increased inequality between workers and capitalists, now greater than at any time since 1927. Moreover, I said the main convention document ignores the way the Obama administration’s response to the crisis favored the bailout of finance capital over help for the working class by a factor of 100 to 1. I said it neglects the fact that finance capital gave more campaign contributions to Obama than to McCain and more to the Democrats than to the Republicans. Whether the NB attack on Kenny and Keeran is the result of my criticism or mere coincidence, it is nonetheless disingenuous for the NB to declare that “we don’t want to cast a pall over the preconvention discussion.” This is precisely what the letter does. Moreover, it is preposterous for the NB to declare that criticism like mine rather than threatening letters like theirs “can hobble the discussion.”

7. For the sake of fairness, we ask the National Committee to reject the NB letter as an inappropriate way to handle political disagreements and an alleged violation of party procedure, and we ask the NB to circulate this response to the same list that received their letter.

Sincerely,

Roger Keeran
Thomas Kenny

My little sweetie...

I want to call to your attention the fantastic job my little sweetheart has done... Sue should have been a movie starlet:

http://networkedblogs.com/1YBF9

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, (for a little while longer) CPUSA

Irene Folstrom: Politician and Lover

We supported Irene Folstrom along with the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association the last time she ran. I sent my sweet little Sue up to northern Minnesota to do a feature story for the People's Weekly World on this pretty little lady at the time.

We like a candidate that plans well in advance who has this kind of high profile image linked to sex. Sex smells in the media and sex should produce votes. This is the new politics of the 21st Century I have been talking about.

We will work with Mark Froemke, a member of the CPUSA National Committee and a big-wheel in the MNDFL about seeing what we can do to get her nominated like we did with Collin Peterson when Froemke nominated him even though he was registered to vote in North Dakota; slick, real slick operator that Mark is. I'll get on the horn to our friend Shar Knutson at the MN AFL-CIO so she can get things moving from her end and then I'll hook up with our friend John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. Senator Folstrom has a nice ring to it. Maybe we can get in touch with Tiger to do a couple of photo shoots with her as the two of them go skinny-dipping in Cass Lake. I'm going to be talking to our friend up in Red Lake, too; Buck should have some ideas. Maybe if his son and brother are out in time for the election they will pitch in and do a little campaigning. I would like to see us put out a nice hard-copy special edition devoted to the Folstrom campaign. Irene rises to many challenges and no doubt Tiger rose, too. God, look at that woman.

Hey, Erwin, what do you say we get the Marquits to convince Irene to do a little modeling in that skimpy neon lingerie? She could stand in the window at your little boutique. That should get some good publicity.



I have to get in touch with Michael Meuers; I'm sure he already has his fingers in this stuff.

I have been thinking. Maybe we should be considering a Nagin-Folstrom slate for the 2012 Election if Barack chooses to keep selling insurance policies which seems to be a lucrative job for him. They both have the kind of sweet smiles voters love. You can just see the honesty and integrity in their smiles and the twinkle in their eyes providing the kind of air of confidence voters hump to.

Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA




Published March 28 2010





Folstrom rises to many challenges
Irene Folstrom thrives on competition. From her days as a stellar athlete at Cass Lake-Bena High School, to her failed attempt at state Senate in 2006, she moves from one challenge to another.


By: Brad Swenson, Bemidji Pioneer

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100017308

Receiving international attention recently as Tiger Woods’ college sweetheart, Irene Folstrom of Bemidji has since her unsuccessful 2006 state Senate run been writing a book about her life and struggles as an American Indian role model, and is planning a 2012 campaign for a state Legislature office. Pioneer Photo/Brad Swenson Irene Folstrom thrives on competition. From her days as a stellar athlete at Cass Lake-Bena High School, to her failed attempt at state Senate in 2006, she moves from one challenge to another.

Most recently it’s been the revelation that she was Tiger Woods’ college sweetheart, and that she rises to his defense as a “loyal, dedicated and self-controlled” fellow Stanford student and boyfriend.

This morning, she’s scheduled to appear on the CBS Early Show for yet another media interview, all stemming from an article she wrote for Sports Illustrated to help put context to Woods’ battle with infidelity.

Folstrom says she and other friends from Stanford held a conference call “and decided somebody needs to say something, because it was just ridiculous.”

Woods’ Thanksgiving night crash and ensuing discovery of many extramarital affairs demanded that someone who knew him step forward in his defense, Folstrom said last week in an interview.

“No one was speaking out, and I guess I became the sacrificial lamb because I probably knew him the best,” she said.

It led to scores of interviews and television appearances that still continue today. “My family is very humble … but it’s just one small chapter in my life. It’s not my whole life. It was very maddening for a while and overwhelming.”

Folstrom, who ran for state Senate in 2006 and mayor of Bemidji in 2008, says she dealt well with being a public figure. “Being in the national media was just crazy, having my face splashed all over on national TV and national magazines.”

And it will be a chapter in her book. Folstrom said she’s nearing completion on a book and is in negotiation currently for publishing rights. It will detail her life, and the challenges that she faced.

She’s titled it “Phoenix,” to symbolize a rise from the ashes, which she said she’s done in recent years after a number of downfalls.

“Through the last couple of years, I’ve grown a lot stronger and I think that age has helped me a lot,” said Folstrom, 35. “I was 30, 31 when I ran for Senate. Even five years can give you a lot more insight and wisdom.”

She’s now a single mother of two boys, Victor, 7, and Max, 5, having divorced her physician husband, a member of a Southwest tribe. Folstrom is a Leech Lake Band member.

She suffered from a deep depression after losing the 2006 DFL endorsement to Mary Olson, coupled with her divorce. She won’t say how deep the depression was — “Read my book” — but it was a time that obviously provided a crossroads.

“I had a lot of help, but that’s in my book,” she said. “My mom has been there, we talk two-three times a day, which was amazing to me since we had a pretty estranged relationship for a long time.”

Folstrom was raised by her aunt and uncle, as her mother “had her own issues going on. I had a lot of anger and resentment, but we got over that. Now, she’s my best friend.”

She says she “absolutely have my imperfections and my faults. Phoenix means rising from the ashes, and it’s sort of ironic in a sense, because even though I rose from the ashes, I definitely had a dark period in my life, about two years ago.”

She’s picked herself back up again “and I feel stronger than ever, and just really want to get message across to those who feel sometimes that they are maybe despondent and they feel like nothing is going their way, but you can always pick yourself back up again.”

Folstrom calls her book both autobiographical and inspirational.

“It’s hard for me, especially as an athlete, to lose,” she said. “When I lost the Senate race, it was a really dark period, because I worked really hard. … My message in my writing is just that regardless of whatever we think is a failure your life only makes you stronger in the end.”

On the positive side, Folstrom has served Leech Lake as a role model, from being a Miss Cass Lake to earning a law degree from Cornell and working four years on national legislative issues for the National Congress of American Indians.

She hasn’t taken the bar exam in Minnesota, so she isn’t a practicing attorney, but she really doesn’t want to be one. Currently she serves as a consultant grant writer.

“I probably will never practice law,” she says, adding she did start studying for the bar exam but quit. “Why am I doing this, I’m a writer now.”

And she’s still a politician. She announced that in 2012 she will seek office — but which office is still up in the air. Her race of choice would be the Senate 4 seat held by Democrat Olson, but Folstrom says she will not run against her.

The two have become fast friends, and a letter from Folstrom was read at last weekend’s Senate 4 endorsing convention, asking delegates to support a second term for Olson.

“I truly believe that public service is one of the best things somebody can do,” Folstrom said. “You don’t get paid very much … there’s not really much to gain from public service personally, but I just truly believe that it’s important for those of us, especially someone with my background who has pretty much seen it all — seen poverty, seen wealth, I’ve lived in both worlds.”

Folstrom talks about serving the public, but doesn’t narrow her focus to just American Indian issues.

“I do not think that an American Indian, because they are running for a certain seat, deserves that seat,” she said. “When you are elected, you have to represent all the people and all of your constituents, not only a percentage of perhaps the people that you come from.”

If elected, “I will do my best to advocate for American Indian people, of course, but I believe it is not something that we are entitled to because of our race,” she said. “It is something we have to earn.”

Supported in the past by the national Indigenous Democratic Network, Folstrom says a number of confidants are pushing her to run for a statewide constitutional office in 2014.

“There are some offices we have talked about me seeking,” Folstrom said, not disclosing which offices.

“When I came home and had to become a role model again, it was very difficult at first, but I embrace that now,” Folstrom said, adding that she plans on moving to Cass Lake. “I’m just really doing my best to work on myself and garner more strength so that I can be a good role model, especially for our youth.”

Important alert

As we approach the National Convention we see the need to step up ideological security.

We are re-issuing this important statement since we have not been able to bring the Minnesota Problem under control:

All Points Bulletin

Action Alert...Action Alert...Action Alert...Action Alert...Action Alert

Calling all 234 CPUSA members to action.

CPUSA Statement

Issues concerning recent emails/statements by Alan Maki

The Communist Party, USA is taking the unusual step of issuing this statement because of a barrage of recent emails and public statements by Alan Maki. Many have received emails from Alan Maki attacking a broad range of progressive activists. In many he represents himself as a member of the Communist Party, USA.

Alan Maki is not a member of nor does he reflect the views of the Communist Party, USA. He was dropped from membership three years ago because of his attacks on progressives. He continues to target elected officials, union leaders, and other leaders in the broader mass movements for social change.

The Communist Party believes the only path to social and economic justice is through the struggle for unity. We are deeply involved in efforts to organize the broadest possible coalitions against the Bush administration and its policies. The policies of the Communist Party have long been premised on working to unite all who struggle for democracy, peace and justice.

We need to be aware that this person continues to promote mistrust in our leader, President Barack Obama, jeopardizing our efforts for a progressive capitalist led movement that will carry us into the future.

I have proposed special methods be undertaken to root out the last vestiges of Marxism-Leninism in our Party.

Sam Webb

Chair, National Board, CPUSA

Tiger's college girlfriend speaks out

As many of you know, basketball is my thing.

I am coming to appreciate golf.

I am enamored with Tiger Woods and kind of jealous.

We supported Irene Folstrom when she ran for Minnesota State Senator. I sent my Sue out to Minnesota to do the story. I am so proud we got got to interview Irene Folstrom long before Golf magazine. This putts us right up there with the big swingers and long strokers of the golfing world.

We should do a little networking here and put Irene in touch with Erwin Marquit to see if we can't get Irene fitted with some neon pink lingerie. We could put her on the cover of the PW along with a photo of Irene and Tiger playing on the beach.

I like Irene's statement here that she isn't doing any of this for money.

Irene has many friends just like her who are principled people who do things for other motives besides money. One example of someone who has mentored Irene Folstrom after her fling with Tiger is John McCarthy of the Minnesota Indian Gaming Association. Here is a man who has committed his entire life to helping Indians and has found it impossible to shun all the money they insist on showering him with. So much of John McCarthy can be seen in Irene Folstrom. Both work together hoping they will not receive any financial rewards for their efforts in promoting the Indian Gaming Industry. No matter how hard they try they just can't manage to avoid reaping monetary gain.

Both Irene Folstrom and John McCarthy share a loyalty to Indian people in supporting so many good causes like the Minnesota Democratic Farmer-Labor Party.

Irene Folstrom is so kind and caring she even made a huge campaign contribution to her opponent Mary Olson another great humanitarian who supports so many Native causes.

I have some thoughts bouncing around my head about Irene Folstrom and Tiger Woods.

There are questions swirling about how Irene is so confident Tiger was faithful to her. She sniffed. Thank you for allowing me to answer one of the most important questions of the day.

Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA



By Irene Folstrom

Published: March 03, 2010





Folstrom is an advocate for Native American causes.


Tiger Woods was my boyfriend for a year and a half while we were both undergraduates at Stanford. I've never spoken to the press about him; I'm not coming forward now for money or to advance any pathetic showbiz aspirations, but merely to stick up for a friend. I haven't seen Tiger since the late ’90s, but I know who he is at his core because we were together during some of his most formative years. He was so human and cared so much about other people and the world around him. This may surprise some people, but Tiger was a great boyfriend.


I have so many fond memories of our time together. At that age Tiger had an amazing metabolism so we spent a lot of time eating. Our favorite restaurant was a Chinese joint in Mountain View; the guys there must have been golf fans because they always gave us free desserts, which was a big deal to us.


I walked many golf courses watching Tiger play, sometimes with his mother, Tida. I grew up on an Indian reservation in Minnesota, and I think Tida accepted me so readily because Tiger and I shared many of the same values. Earl and I talked a lot about politics and national affairs, and Earl often made me laugh so hard, my stomach muscles cramped. He loved to tease Tiger and me about our puppy love.


During our Southern California road trips Tiger and I spent a lot of time at the beach. We would steal a bottle of whiskey from Earl or I’d use my fake ID to buy a jug of wine, and we’d hang out and dream about the future. Tiger was very driven to be a great golfer, but he also talked a lot about wanting to make a larger contribution to society. Settling down was not a priority; Earl had drilled into Tiger that he should wait until his 30s to get married.


Our relationship ended when Tiger turned pro after his sophomore year. Becoming the first person in my family to earn a college degree was so important to me that I wasn’t willing to give up my studies to follow him. Like everyone else, I was shocked by the revelations about his infidelities. The Tiger I knew was loyal, devoted and self-­controlled. I’m not naive, but I can say with certainty that he was faithful during the time we dated. The speculation that he's being treated for sex addiction is surprising because we enjoyed a normal sexual relationship.


I don’t have any insight into how he led such a double life. I will say that Tiger had an ability to shut things out and compartmentalize his emotions. Even back then he felt enormous pressure to be Tiger Woods. Maybe this was his form of escape.

Obviously Tiger has made some big mistakes, but he’s apologized and seems to be trying to heal himself and his family. I hope the public will forgive him because he deserves a second chance. He’s a good person with a caring heart.

Eight Rough and Random Thoughts on Socialism

I am going to write a complete book based on my rough and random thoughts which circulate in my head like exploding stars launched into new galaxies.

My goal is to become a deep thinker where my brain functions at the outer limits of the twilight zone challenging the brilliance of Herbert Marcuse.

Some of my thinking comes directly from the new modern Moscow best demonstrated at this web site courtesy of Erwin Marquit's FaceBook page where I find many things to tantalize my brain and torture my head:

http://www.deborahmarquit.com/love.asp

As you can see, the new Marxism is both stimulating and scintillating; typical of what brings orgasmic relief.

Mark old buddy; what are you looking at there?

The new Russia is providing us with new thinking. We all wondered what Erwin Marquit was studying so thoroughly is the Soviet bloc.

I encourage you to check out Erwin Marquit's FaceBook page which will float through cyber-space for an eternity long after he leaves his worldly space.

Erwin has taught us that thinking with two heads is better than one.

Sue, would you like to hold this thought?

I will let Peter Molenaar continue from here. Peter will explain why we need to replace t-shirts emblazoned with hammer and sickles with these new looks. Everything must be new.

Sam Webb
Oh, my; oh my. Looking at this web site I forgot my position.




Eight Rough and Random Thoughts on Socialism
By Sam Webb

(1) Socialism has its material roots in the inability of capitalism to solve humanity’s problems. Working people gravitate toward a radical critique of society out of necessity, out of a sense that the existing arrangements of society (people don’t necessarily call it capitalism) fail to fulfill their material and spiritual needs. It is no coincidence that around the time of the economic meltdown last fall, public opinion polls showed growing support for socialism.

I think this gravitation towards radical change is closely connected to the end of an era in which U.S. capitalism was relatively stable and provided reasonable economic security on the one hand and to the beginning of a new era – of uncertainty, instability, economic crises, and, not least, political possibility on the other.

Economic crises alone, however, do not prepare the soil for revolutionary change, though they’re important. The soil is prepared via the cumulative impact of a series of crises (economic, political, social, and moral), taking place over time, which erode people’s confidence in capitalism’s capacity to meet humanity’s needs and sustain life on our planet.

(2) Our vision of socialism is a work in progress. It is shaped by new economic conditions, new technologies (the internet) new dangers and challenges (global warming), new sensibilities (the desire for democracy) and new social forces (new social movements) as well the actual experience of countries trying to build socialism – positive and negative.

At the end of his life, Engels wrote (this was one of a series of letters Engels wrote to friends to undo a dogmatic interpretation of historical materialism on the part of young Marxists of his time), “To my mind, the ‘so called socialist society’ is not anything immutable. Like all social formations, it should be conceived in a state of flux and change.”

We should take this to heart. Our socialist vision should have a contemporary and dynamic feel; it should be rooted in today’s conditions.

Some will say that this means revising or throwing out Marxism’s principles and methodology. While that could be a danger, in my view the greater danger is to think that Marxism can stand still, rest self-satisfied, and repeat old formulas in the face of new developments and experience. Such “Marxism” is empty of meaning and irrelevant on the U.S. political scene.

Our task, therefore, is to further develop Marxism in a dialectical and historical spirit, with an eye to bringing everything in line with current realities, trends, and sensibilities. Such a critical posture means modifying and updating our concepts – of socialism, strategy, tactics, and more – in line with today’s realities.

(3) In the 20th century the Soviet Union became the universal model of socialism. This universalization came at a price – it narrowed down our ability to think creatively and ‘outside the box.’

Although we always noted the more favorable factors for socialism in our country (no encirclement by hostile powers, high level of economic development, democratic traditions, etc.), in many ways, we still clung to the Soviet model.

Such an approach can’t be laid on the doorstep of Marx or Lenin. Lenin on more than one occasion objected strongly to the idea of a universal path to and model of socialism. He insisted that socialism and the socialist road would vary from country to country.

Unfortunately, we failed to fully digest his views, in part because the Soviet Union was the first land of socialism and decisive in Hitler’s defeat in World War II, and in part because we had too rigid an understanding of Marxism and its laws (tendencies) of development.

The events in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in the late 1980s, however, compelled us to reexamine the notion of a universal socialist model. While further study is necessary, one thing is clear: there are no universal models and socialism in one or another country will succeed to the degree that it bears a deep imprint of that country’s history, politics, economics, customs, and culture.

If it has a “foreign” feel, people will reject it. Even where our vision includes general features that mirror other socialist societies (for example, public ownership of the means of production), these will be modified in the concrete process of constructing a new society.

Both successful and unsuccessful socialist revolutions offer lessons, but in no case can those experiences be uncritically imported into our context.

(4) The transition to socialism will mark an end to one stage of struggle and the beginning of a new one. In this stage, the struggle is to qualitatively expand and deepen economic security, working class and people’s democracy and unity, egalitarian relations (not leveling) in every sphere of life, and human freedom in both a collective and individual sense.

I don’t frame the matter in this way to replace the more traditional notion, in which the transition to socialism is distinguished by a revolutionary shift of class power from the capitalist class to the working class and democratic movement. What I want to do is to correct a one-sidedness in our thinking.

A transfer in class power – which will more likely be a series of contested moments during which qualitative changes in power relations in favor of the working class and its allies take place rather than “the great revolutionary/to the barricades day” – is absolutely necessary, but it is not a sufficient condition for a successful transition to and consolidation of socialism.

In fact, a singular emphasis on the question of class power (a means), at the expense of social processes and social aims (economic improvement in people’s lives, working class and people’s democracy, rough equality, and freedom and solidarity), can lead – did lead – to distortions in socialist societies.

Thus aims and processes have to be organically integrated into and accented at every phase of socialism’s development.

(5) Socialism’s essence isn’t reducible to property/ownership relations and across-the-board socialization. Although those are the structural foundations of socialist society, by themselves they don’t constitute socialism.

To put it differently, property/ownership relations and socialization of the means of production create only the possibility for a socialist society. But it fully develops only to the degree that working people exchange alienation and powerlessness for engagement, empowerment and full democratic participation.

In my view, working class initiative and a sense of real ownership of social property, a transformed socialist state, and society are as much the sinew of socialism as are legal ownership of the economy, structures of representation and power, and socialization. The latter without the former leaves socialism stillborn, while the former without the latter is idealism.

Lenin wrote,
“… socialism cannot be reduced to economics alone. A foundation – socialist production – is essential for the abolition of national oppression (in our context racial and national oppression), but this foundation must also carry a democratically organized state, a democratic army, etc. By transforming capitalism into socialism the proletariat (working class sw) creates the possibility of abolishing national oppression; the possibility becomes reality “only” – “only!” – with the establishment of full democracy in all spheres.” (my italics sw).

Note the weight that Lenin attaches to democracy in socialist society and working class initiative. Do we share his view? To a degree, but I would argue that a re-centering of the working class and people’s democracy at the core of our socialist vision is a necessary corrective.

(6) While the political leadership of communist, socialist and left parties and social movements is vital, in the past, our understanding of our leading role came close to substituting ourselves for the wide-ranging participation and leadership of masses of people and for a vibrant public space in which these same people gather, compare ideas, and take action.

Obviously, if this is so, we should go back to the drawing board. I did and this is what I came up with. Our role in coalition with a broader left will be to deepen our connections to the main organizations of working people, to find timely solutions to pressing problems (transformation and democratization of the state, reorganization of the economy, undoing centuries of inequality, resetting our international relations, global warming and more), to utilize a creative and critical Marxism to analyze concrete developments, to struggle for unity – working class, multi-racial, all people’s, and so forth, and to convey in everything we do a complete confidence in the creative capacities and desires of millions of people building a new society.

This last element latter was missing in some of the socialist countries of the 20th century, in no small part because the communists fell victim to a siege mentality, arising from encirclement and cold and hot war. As a result, there was a tendency to “circle the wagons” and turn the working class into a passive, and increasingly jaded observer of socialism, especially when the deeds and performance of communists didn’t match their ideals and ideological claims.

(7) The process of radical change is inevitably very messy; pure forms are only found in textbooks. Think of the major turning points in our nation’s history – every one was complex and contradictory, from the war for independence, to the Civil War, the Depression, the Civil Rights movement, and more.

The struggle for socialism will be complex too, and will bring a broad and diverse coalition with varied outlooks and interests into motion. And while we fight for the leadership of the multi-racial, multi-national working class in the coalition and for its deep imprint on the political process, we also search for strategic and tactical alliances. At times this dual task will cause tensions, sometimes strongly felt ones, but the resolution of these tensions is condition for radical change.

(8) The economic model of 21st century socialism should give priority to sustainability, not growth without limits. Socialist production can’t be narrowly focused on inputs and outputs, nor should purely quantitative criteria be used to measure efficiency and determine economic goals. New socialist production (and consumption) models are imperative. Both must economize on natural resources and protect the planet and its various ecological systems. The future of living things that inhabit this earth could depend on it.

That said, we cannot wait for socialism to address the dangers of climate change and environmental degradation. That must be done now. We are approaching tipping points which if reached will give global warming a momentum that human actions will have little or no control over.

Standing in the way, as you would guess, is right wing extremism and powerful global corporations – energy, military, and otherwise. And only a broad movement of the working class in close alliance with the African American, Mexican American and other oppressed peoples, women, youth, seniors other social movements, and some sections of business – big and small stands a ghost’s chance of defeating this entrenched and powerful political bloc and, in doing so, open a road to socialism.

CPUSA National Committee Member Mark Froemke works with Al Franken.

"The Democratic Party has been a real bonanza for our recruiting. We bring people from the Democratic Party into the Communist Party. Comrade Al Franken has been a pillar of support."

Mark Froemke
National Committee Member, CPUSA and candidate for National Board.

Grand Forks Herald: EGF analyzes Franken’s jobs plan

Posted in News Clips on February 11th, 2010

Sen. Al Franken’s plan for creating employment — fashionably nicknamed Cash for Jobs — came to East Grand Forks on Thursday.

Some praised it while others thought it was a clunker compared with other government options to stimulate the economy.

The first-term Democratic U.S. senator proposes a wage subsidy similar to one used in Minnesota in the 1980s that returned 7,400 workers to jobs. The subsidy, good for up to a year, would amount to half of the wages, with a maximum subsidy of $12 per hour.

A second part of Franken’s plan would create jobs that would make public buildings more energy efficient. Both components would use money returned from the bank bailout.

Henry Tweten, an East Grand Forks City Council member and Democratic leader, said the government should create jobs by adding infrastructure such as the building of the interstate highway system in the 1950s. Specifically, he suggested U.S. Highway 2 be improved to four lanes all the way to Duluth; it has some two-lane gaps now.

In addition to construction jobs, it would create more Canadian traffic, revitalize the Iron Range and make the highway safer, Tweten said.

“Nothing worked better than jobs when we went through the Great Depression,” he said.

Economic times are tougher locally than they seem, AFL-CIO local representative Mark Froemke said, because North Dakota and Minnesota residents rank high for having more than one job. “People should need only one 40-hour job,” he said.

Barry Wilfahrt, president of The Chamber of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks, agreed that this area hasn’t been completely immune to the recession. In the last year, he said, Polk and Grand Forks counties have combined for 1,600 fewer jobs than a year ago and taxable sales in Grand Forks have gone up a meager 1.5 percent.

Wilfahrt wasn’t critical of the program, but cautioned that “whenever Congress does something, it affects the cost of doing business. I say to give things time to work, times for free enterprise to adjust, before throwing another fix out there. I’d suggest more steady as she goes and not so much change so fast.”

The Communist Party is in full agreement with the Chamber of Commerce. We want steady but sure progress, too. We may be looking at joining forces with the Chamber. This would be my idea of coalition building. We like to proceed with caution.

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA

I need your help

We are having trouble coming up with people to pack our hall for the National Convention.

What I would like to propose we do is hire people to attend our convention.

If you happen to see anyone who could use a few bucks find out where they live so we can pick them up.

I would like to have plenty of applause for my main political report.

Try not to hire people who will fall asleep. We want to show audience enthusiasm.

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board, CPUSA

Mix up in medications paralyzes CPUSA leadership

Comrades,

I feel the time has come for me to issue a public statement about why our work has been set back.

Agents have been hard at work.

Medications for two of our primary leaders were switched.

Bruce Bostick was given an extra large dosage of Peter Molenaar's Viagra.

Peter Molenaar was given a whopping big dossage of Bruce Bostick's anti-depressant medication.

I don't feel it necessary to go into all the details but given Bruce's proclivity to over do things and Peter Molenaar already suffering severe self-pity it is not hard to imagine our difficulties.

Since both Bruce Bostick and Peter Molenaar share their medications with most of the National Board our entire National Board has been confined for obvious reasons.

Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA

Obama took his first directive from Tom Hayden

I think this says it all.

We need to wait until Obama moves and then we will join in with him.

We don't want to start before everyone else is ready to move. Lets let OFA go first.

Besides if we are getting involved with Obama's movements no one will know if we are involved or not.

This works out good for us because we don't have to do very much. If things don't pan out we can tell everyone what they should have done.

If we get criticized for not doing anything we can say we tried to push Obama along the right path.

This is a win-win situation for the Obama Presidency and for us.

Obama did what Tom Hayden advised him to do. Tom Hayden carries a lot of clout with the Obama Administration. We want to hitch our cart to his horse.

Sue is correct in her assessment.

Now we just have to wait and hope.

Given time I think we are going to be seeing big changes. Seeing sea changes.

With Obama leading the democratic peoples movement for change we are going to see some real action. This is a President of and for the people. Obama will be with us when it comes time to take to the streets. For now we want to remain low key.

Sue, if you hear any more news from Tom Hayden let us know. Have the Progressives Rising added you to their list yet. Your name on that list of progressives for Obama is our way to finesse our way into this whole shebang without putting our name on the marquee.

Let's circulate this e-mail on the sly so we don't raise any alarms.

We want people to know that Obama is taking his direction from Tom Hayden. He is a very impressive tactician and strategist. Look what he has done for the left in the last forty years. He got us to the point where we have our man in the White House. The left is finally in a position of power.

Imagine. Just imagine if we had an entire House and Senate filled with Obama clones. Just imagine. John Lenin is with us. Oh God; thank you oh lord. We have made it. We are home. Our work here on earth is done. Its a new day.

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Barack Hussein Obama.

Come on, all of you stand and take a bow. Give yourself much deserved applause.

Tom Hayden and Organizing for America can take it from here.

Its time for another vacation for me.

Sue, you mind the store until we get back.



--- On Thu, 1/28/10, Susan Webb wrote:


From: Susan Webb
Subject: [progressivesforobama] Re:Tom Hayden: What Obama Must Do -- And Cannot
To: progressivesforobama@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 5:11 PM



Seems to me he did pretty much what Hayden recommended. The key thing is, will Obama's folks prioritize activating and building Organizing for America for real now, and will we all get involved in that and also support/get involved/build on the labor movement's grassroots organizing, its grassroots coalition organizing via Jobs for America Now, etc.

Sue Webb


Sue, baby, do you think by the time we get back you can have our name changed? The "C.P." keeps giving us trouble. What do you think about dropping the C.P.? We could just call ourselves the U.S.A. Maybe be creative and try to use some colors like red, white and blue. We are slipping that new logo in little by little getting rid of that damn hammer and sickle. Everyone likes the half circle and the star. If we get challenged we can say the half circle is what is left of the sickle. Maybe just put U.S.A. inside the star.

Thanks for the nice turn out for the National Board meeting. First time we have had four people to a meeting in a long time.

Kamran Heis and Kamran Heis, Junior thanks for joining us here today. You bys know how to get a job done. Our new web site is as silent as can be. Let's try and keep it that way.

Bruce Bostick is still in Bellevue. We should send him a get well card.

They had to turn up the juice and give him more shock treatment to get those agents out of his head. They scratched the hell out of his left ear. I don't know where Bruce picked up those agents. Someplace along the way in his travels. He has that big sign on his truck he sticks out like a sore thumb. Then he gets to rubbing his chin, twitching his eyes, poking his nose then scratching his balls and picking his butt. He could have picked up agents anyplace along the way. They will give him another jolt tomorrow up their in Bellevue.

Yes, Jarvis?

Sam, is where is Bruce Bostick? Is Bellevue a racetrack where the jockeys use some kind of electric prods?

No Jarvis, Bellevue is a special place where they put people who are pre-occupied with agents.

Ok, let's head out for a coffee. How does that sound?

Yes Jarvis?

Sam, are we going to send Bruce Bostick a new Party card or wait until we get the name changed and finalized because that might help Bruce out of his depression.

Sue, you want to tidy the place up a little while we are out? We never know when the big guy might drop by. He dropped in on the Republicans we could be next.


Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA


__._,_.___

Bruce Bostick and mental illness

Comrades,

I have called this special meeting to clarify all the rumors about a great leader of our Party and a very special asset to my important work of transforming our Party at this historic juncture during this epochal moment of great transition to President Barack Obama's "Wonderful World Society," a great labor leader and all around leader of the democratic people's movements---

Bruce Bostick has been one of the mainstays and a pillar of support for our President, Barack Obama.

You have all read on the AFL-CIO blog the posting by our dear friend and Comrade, Tula Connell.

Bruce used this friendly interview with Comrade Tula to explain the circumstances surrounding his recent emotional stress and mental illness resulting in his inability to function in his capacity as a leader of the United Steelworkers Union. Bruce has undergone electric-shock therapy and is presently medicated.

Let me assure you that I have complete confidence in Bruce Bostick and his ability to lead our Party.

Bruce's depression and mental illness is not something we want to put on our masthead but we don't want to duck this problem either. We are fully behind full rights for people with these kinds of problems brought on in their struggles against the Minnesota Problem.

Let me tell you, Comrades; in my struggles against the Minnesota Problem my head has been spinning more than once. My head is screwed on straight now as you can see from my excellent video presentation that was lively and spirited where I took on all comers. I held my own after popping a few Prozacs.

Bruce, share those pills with the rest of the National Board members. You got a big bottle full there. That's it, pass the bottle around.

Jarvis, pop a handful. Scottie, Scottie, don't make a pig of yourself leave a few for others.

There, are we all mellowing out now? This is better. We can put the Minnesota Problem behind us for a few hours.

Take it easy. Read the People's World. Post a few comments in support of my articles.

While you are feeling good read the economic analysis by John Case. Don't read a lot or it will bring you back down into depression. We don't need Tula blabbing to the entire world that none of us can hold down jobs because of our depression.

When you see Bruce moping and looking for agents, please give the teddy bear a big hug; you too, Erica--- give the big guy nice big hugs.

You know, the way I feel now I am confident we have this Minnesota Problem whipped.

Yes, Jarvis, what is it?

Sam, you might want to check out what's being blogged here before you start getting overly confident. We might have to put off changing the Party name at the upcoming convention.

Can someone get me Kamran Heiss or Kamran Heiss, Junior on the secure phone... looks like we are going to need another hand.

Somebody, somebody; let's get a little help over here picking Bostick up off the floor. Take anything he might hurt himself or us with away from him... keyboards, pens, pencils, paper.

Jarvis! Jarvis! no, no... let him keep the razor blades.

What next?

Where would this Party be without me to keep all you nut-cases under control.

Make sure no one talks to Tula Connell about the mental illnesses anymore. At least don't tell her you can't work because the Minnesota Problem drove you crazy.

Tula let Bruce off easy this time. She kind of didn't tell the entire story. On the other hand she told enough about the Bruce Bostick story for people to figure out what Bruce meant by saying he had all kinds of emotional problems.

Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA

Sleepless nights and dreams of serenity

I have had many sleepless nights thinking through the logistics of our problem.

We want to get rid of this god awful name of CPUSA which is hindering our work. There is nothing I would better like to be doing then getting out among the middle class intellectuals and hobnobbing with the labor elite. I just can't do it with this albatross hanging around my neck. Once we get our name changed we can call a press conference to announce it. This will put us in good standing with the struggle by press conference crowd.

Yes, Jarvis; what now?

Sam, are we going to increase dues now or wait until after the convention when we have our new name?

Please Jarvis, I was trying to save the good news until after the convention.

For so long we have been trapped by this crude thinking being called Marxism-Leninism the result of uneducated workers thinking they can develop an ideology justified by a bunch of ultra-leftists thinking they can just take power whenever they feel like it even when they are not prepared.

We must go through many intricate stages to get to where we want to go. I'm not sure we want our objective to be socialism. Perhaps we do maybe we don't. There are many complexities to consider.

As Jarvis has pointed out there will be someone even better than Barack Obama after him.

Alright, I know that is hard to believe now as our beloved President Obama has demonstrated his sincere concern for the Haitian people. Humanitarianism just doesn't get any better. The marines have landed--- not with guns blazing, but concealed or shouldered. Imperialism has mellowed and has learned to become more people friendly.

Now let me mention our strategy as we move closer to convention. As all of you know I have not been able to contain the Minnesota Problem. We are trying a little different tact to see if we can't do better.

I have assigned Dan Margolis to go under-cover using the trekkie like name of Kamran Heiss. Dan's assignment is to convince all those using the Internet that one man and one man alone is responsible for all of our problems. We are claiming a united Party with our unity being disrupted by this one bad boy behind anything we don't agree with. People suck up these kind of excuses.

We have been quite successful in containing the ultra-right. Now we must contain the ultra-left.

Today I issue the order for all 230 members of the CPUSA to go after the leader of the pack of these ultra-leftists.

I have assigned Comrade Rick Nagin to quickly come up with a new name for our organization.

I have assigned Bruce Bostick to route out all remaining Stalinist agents.

Yes, Bruce?

Sam, I thought we were going to say that there is only one person causing all the problems.

Bruce, thank you for reminding me of my change in the Party line.

Yes, Bruce?

Sam; I have already exposed the one Stalinist agent. How can I expose the others if we are claiming only one person using many names is the problem. My deep understanding of dialectical thinking tells me we can not claim many people are ultra-leftists and then turn around and claim all of our problems result from one bad boy.

Bruce, I am going to study what you have said in order to determine if you are using scientific thinking.

Yes Teresa; what is it?

Sam, I am concerned that if you claim that their is but one ultra-leftists causing problems using many different names and monikers people are going to think the new PW only has one or two real readers.

Teresa, please pass me that bottle of aspirin. Why the hell did you have to throw this monkey wrench into the mix?

Yes, Scottie, what is it?

Sam, if you are so unhappy with the position of Chair; can I finally have the position?

Scottie, you are fortunate to have the position you do. Now, please, stop your whining.

Long live...

Long live....

Long live.....

Yes, long live our gallant leader Barack Obama.

Sam Webb
Chair of a dwindling CPUSA about to be revived in May by using another name.

Minneapolis Communists lead the fight for an end to foreclosures and evictions

I want to single out all of our fine clubs in the Twin Cities in Minnesota for leading the way by example in getting involved up to their eye-balls in the struggles of the working class.

This notice was placed in the on-line People's World:

http://www.peoplesworld.org/events/75

Minneapolis: On M. L. King Jr. weekend foreclose the war, not people's homes!
January 16 2010 13:00 - January 16 2010 16:00


1:00 p.m. Meet at 38th Street and Park Avenue South, Minneapolis, for protest and bannering in front of the home of Leslie Parks, Minneapolis resident fighting to save her home from foreclosure.

1:30 p.m. Travel to an indoor program at St. Joan of Arc Church, 4537 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and program starts at 1:45 p.m.

Speakers include: Mel Reeves, Community activist; Leslie Parks, Minneapolis resident fighting to save her home from foreclosure; Hip Hop from Sketch the Cataclysm; and others.

Sponsored by: the Iraq Peace Action Coalition (IPAC) and the Minnesota Coalition for a People's Bailout. Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) is a member of both coalitions.

Info: Call the Anti-War Committee, 612-379-3899; Twin Cities Peace Campaign, 612-522-1861; or WAMM, 612-827-5364.

We have been meaning to keep readers updated on this struggle for a number of months but we just haven't had the time.

I want to single out our finest members active in the fight to stop these foreclosures and evictions who are known and loved by the working class:

Professor Erwin Marquit who provided the ideological understanding for quick action.

Mark Froemke the remarkably active labor leader in the Minnesota AFL-CIO who promises to bring out Shar Knutson the President of the AFL-CIO. We can't afford to risk the arrest of Mark Froemke at this time but Mark assures me that he will be in this struggle with every bit of his spirit.

Janet Quaife who is known as the rock providing the leadership of the all-people's front led by Barack Obama.

Peter Molenaar who has earned the nickname, Viagra, among the masses.

Doris Marquit who is trying her darndest to get posters made: homes not bombs.

Harry McAllister is the leader of the pack. Harry has assured me that no stone will be left unturned and Sheriff's Deputies will have to remove him if they want to padlock this home.

We are into this struggle up to our necks for the long haul; we shall not be moved.

I want to take this opportunity to call upon all of our coalition partners in the Twin Cities who we have worked with over the years to hang in here with us until victory or the day the bank decides to make a final decision because once the bank makes its final decision this is a "done deal."

Should eviction take place we promise to work for a larger majority of Democrats in the Minnesota State legislature.

We Democrats will not sit by as bankers foreclose and evict people from their homes. No sirree. We are going to help the bankers find a way to collect insurance to cover their losses so the home can be sold at a substantially reduced price to the next buyers. It doesn't matter who lives in a home just so the home gets lived in. We aren't going to stand out in the cold too long over this issue but I want to assure everyone summer is a coming. Summer may not come quickly in Minnesota but summer will come. And when summer comes we will be looking for every opportunity to campaign for R.T. Ryback for Governor. R.T. is our coalition partner who is four-square against evicting people from their homes. R.T. can't come out and say where he stands because first we have to get him elected Minnesota's next governor. After R.T. is elected I can promise you these foreclosures and evictions will be halted. R.T. will do for Minnesota what President Obama has done for our country. Make no mistake; take it from me. Things are going to change when R.T. Ryback is elected governor.

I promise that if this eviction is carried out I will do everything in my power to gather our forces in unity for the largest press conference in Minnesota history.

I pledge our Party's full and determined support to all those who have been evicted from their homes.

I will see to it that each and every victim of foreclosure and eviction has their name permanently placed on the People's World web site.

Forward to victory!
Follow me into struggle!
Power to some of the people!
Partial victories are at hand!
In militant solidarity with Leslie Parks!
Sometimes the people will not be defeated!
Leave your buttons, leaflets, red flags and posters of Karl Marx at home!

I want to thank one other very brilliant and remarkable theorist on economics and the dialectics of tactics and strategy of middle class struggle; the one and the only very lonesome hobo, John Case. Many people in the Twin Cities do not fully appreciate the fact that John Case has shared his wisdom with the people of the Twin Cities on numerous occasions. John shared his visions about what to do about saving the St. Paul Ford Twin Cities Assembly Plant and he has put his same resourceful and creative mind to work in helping Leslie Parks save her home. As a result, we should witness similar results.

For the National Board of the CPUSA

Sam Webb
National Chair, CPUSA

Amy Dean, co-author 'A New New Deal,'

I want to remind everyone on the National Board to pick up their free plane tickets to Chicago.

Amy Dean is a dynamic speaker full of new ideas.

I understand some controversy has been raised surrounding her association with the Century Foundation. I don't know why because we are looking to becoming a partnering organization with the Century Foundation as soon as we change our name and get rid of the hammer and sickle.

Yes Jarvis, what is it?

No, we are not yet a full partner with the Century Foundation. We get a few bucks here and there from them. They are helping us find a suitable new name and new logo.

Yes, Bruce?

No, no; I'm sure Amy Dean isn't an agent. Just an agent of change.

Yes, Judith?

No, no; you aren't on the Century Foundation payroll quite yet. Well, maybe partially; I'm not that good with book keeping.

Free airline tickets round-trip for everyone. Free admission. Let's not be accused of never bringing a crowd. Bring me your bar tabs, too.

Yes, Jarvis?

Ok, hold on to all your hotel, transportation and meal receipts we will reimburse you all.

Yes, Scottie?

No, no; you won't be sent back into Minnesota for awhile that's worse than Afghanistan. Beautiful scenery but we haven't been encountering Minnesota nice.

Oh, before I forget... we have a collection jar near the elevator... I see over the last few weeks it has taken in about $23.00... let me just remind you the funds collected will be used to publish our Introduction to Marxist Economics. The Lonesome Dove is writing the book... oh, I mean the Lonesome Hobo. This will be a companion piece to Danny Rubin's fine book, "Can Capitalism Last?"

Enjoy your first class flights to the Windy City.

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board CPUSA

Chicago: People's World/Mundo Popular 22nd Annual Banquet, "Unity in action for a People's Economic Recovery"
December 6 2009 13:00 - December 6 2009 17:00


Keynote speaker Amy Dean, co-author 'A New New Deal,' & former pres. South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council.

Honoring South Austin Coalition, Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care, Carmen Cohen (Healthcare Employees Acting at Resurrection Together HEART/AFSCME), AFT Chicago ACTS (Alliance of Charter Teachers & Staff)

1 p.m. author signing, silent auction, cash bar

2 p.m. dinner & program

Cultural performances

At Parthenon Restaurant, 314 S Halsted St., tickets $40 in advance, $50 at the door.

For more info & tickets: http://peoplesworldbanquet2009.eventbrite.com

773-446-9932

Announcement: Book-a-month Book Club is back

Friends on the National Board,

It is with great pride I am announcing that our Book-a-month Book is back!

Daniel Rubin our most innovative, distinguishes and respected National Board member will be turning every heading in his best-selling book "Can Capitalism Last, A Marxist Update" into informative and useful books.

I hope everyone has noticed Danny is helping us get away from the use of the term "Marxism-Leninism."

Danny is responsible for helping us get away from the name "Communist Party."

You will note how cleverly Danny writes without writing clearly. This is an art form that has taken Danny many years to hone.

The reader does not even notice the omissions of these controversial words which have given us so damn many problems in the past. My thinking is that we can incrementally work our way towards finally expunging Marx, Engels and Lenin thereby making a complete break with old Uncle Joe. Let me tell you; the guy just isn't your typical grandfather figure. He not only loved his own grandchildren he loved the children of all workers.

Yes, Jarvis, what is it?

"Sam, we have members of our National Board who love their children and grandchildren."

Jarvis, please don't remind me of that. Every organization has its screwballs and The National Board certainly has its share.

Yes Joelle.

"Sam, do we have members on this National Board who "love" their children and grandchildren in "that" way?"

Joelle, you need not worry your pretty little brain over who is loving who and how; your job is to focus on getting Obama re-elected.

You do your thing and never mind what Danny or Bruce are doing. No one pays any attention to Bettina they won't pay any attention to what others say. If you don't like the way the National Board operates I can have Erica show you to the door.

"Sam; please. I know where the door is if I want to use it. Speaking of doors; do we need the clear glass door on the bathroom? I thought it was our intent to have the clear glass walls and a solid oak door for the bathroom. The National Board worked on this problem for almost two months before we voted. The oak door won. Why do we have a clear glass door on the bathroom?"

Joelle. I took that oak door home along with our finances for safe-keeping. Forget the oak door.

Joelle, please. Can we get back to Danny's book. We used his Marxist methodology to solve the problem of the bathroom door. As we can see, it is just like Danny has told us, non-Communist, non-Leninists often deviate here and there from decisions; this is the beauty of getting away from Marxism-Leninism. We don't have a bunch of Stalinists telling us to cover the glass bathroom walls or to replace the clear glass bathroom door. Our new National Board has used this issue of the oak bathroom door to test Danny's Marxist updates. We can now flush Marxism-Leninism and be done with Uncle Joe.

This new thinking brought forward by National Board member Danny Rubin which supplements my own analysis will help us liquidate many more publications by certain authors who shall remain nameless for the time being to avoid more controversy.

Your questions have taken up most of my allotted time... I will just distribute this excellent review of Danny Rubin's new older book. This is one of the best reviews to come across my desk.

Yes, Jarvis; what is it?

"Sam, isn't that the only book review Danny has received?"

Jarvis; please do not question me. This is the "best" book review.

Now, I have to go downstairs to use the can so this will conclude our National Board meeting.

Yes, Scottie; what is it?

"Sammy, can I use the can downstairs, too."

Dammit, Scottie... you use the can with the glass doors and walls; there is a nice magnet on the door to keep it closed.

Sam Webb
Chair, National Board


Book review: Can capitalism last?

by: John Wojcik

June 26 2009

New book by American Communist explores answers to question of our time

BOOK REVIEW

Can Capitalism Last?

By Daniel Rubin

, 2009, 196 pp, $10

“Marxism is dead. Socialism is dead. What better proof than the collapse of the Soviet Union? What better proof than the collapse of the socialist countries in Eastern Europe? What better proof than the apparent return of at least many features of capitalism in China and Vietnam? Socialism might be a nice ideal but it doesn’t work in the real world. The fact that socialism is gaining many adherents today in Latin America, Asia and other continents doesn’t really mean much. They’ll end up just like the other countries where socialism collapsed. In any case, socialism really doesn’t have any value for workers in the United States today. It has nothing to offer in their fight for a better life.” That, in short, is the essence of what capitalists today have to say about socialism.

They have very little to say, however, about how we can solve the great social problems of our time.

Communists in the United States say that the social problems of our time cannot be solved by capitalism and that socialism is, in fact, more of a necessity today than it ever was before. They also say that this makes understanding the fundamentals of Marxism from the perspective of the U.S. experience more important than ever.

Perhaps the biggest impediment to this understanding is that there has been a paucity of books by American Communist writers that lays bare the fundamentals of Marxism from the U.S. perspective. The last such attempts from other countries (Britain and the Soviet Union, for example) were made between 1950 and 1960.

All that has changed now with the publication of Daniel Rubin’s “Can Capitalism Last – a Marxist Update.” Rubin is the author of several works on Marxist theory and is a member of the national board of the Communist Party USA.

Rubin’s book examines the main aspects of Marxism and shows how critical they are to the struggles for progress we witness every day. His book manages to cover all the major aspects of Marxism in a 196-page volume along with updating some concepts. He manages to take the fundamentals of Marxism, build upon them and apply the methodology to the new developments of our day.

Hard to believe? Well, in this case, reading is believing.

The book is an excellent introduction to Marxism for newcomers to the subject. No new student of Marxism will put the book down remaining unable to answer the questions “What is Marxism?” and “How and why did it come into existence?”

For those who already profess to be Marxists, Rubin pulls together the most important subjects of Marxism in clear, simple fashion and makes major applications to U.S. circumstances. His description of the current period of history, for example, is outstanding. He shows how proper use of Marxist methodology and tools brings us to an assessment of this period as the “transnational monopoly phase of the monopoly capitalist stage of imperialism.” He updates Marxism. In so doing he considers and gives full credit to the achievements of the world Communist movement in the Soviet Union, Cuba, China and other places while also discussing the failures and inadequacies in both theory and practice during the Stalin period and in the collapse of socialist countries.

He catches everyone who has ever read a book on the fundamentals of Marxism completely off guard by turning on its head the way all other books present this subject matter.

Books on the fundamentals of Marxism almost always begin with the most general and then discuss the more particular. The typical approach is to start with the most universal of objective processes – dialectical materialism (which, by the way, he fully explains in this book), then historical materialism and then political economy. The typical such book only then goes on to the more subjective issues: identifying the forces for progress, the strategies and tactics needed to move forward and then, last, socialism and what it takes to win it.

Rubin, however, begins where most people begin. He starts with the huge social problems people face. He defines the great problems of our day and then asks and, in a systematic Marxist manner, answers questions like: Are these problems inherent in capitalism? Can they be eliminated from capitalism, or at least ameliorated while Capitalism is still in existence? If they cannot be eliminated does it mean capitalism is doomed? If so, then what will follow? Is it socialism or can it be something else? Can socialism create the conditions for solving the social problems? If so, how do we win socialism? Who has to do what for it to come about? Where does the Communist Party fit into the picture?

For the answers to these and many other questions you will have to read the book. When you finally put the book down you will be faced with making one of only two logical choices. (1) Go back to the struggle for a better world invigorated with new knowledge and energy or (2) get involved in the struggle. After all, as someone once said: “Philosophers interpret the world. The point, however, is to change it.”

jwojcik@pww.org