This is an article by Distinguished Prof. John Brenkman of CUNY (GC and Baruch). Here, he articulates the ways in which Edelman’s negative turn in “No Future” is appealing as an argument but which in the end lacks foundation in critical social and political theory. Frenchman deftly weaves Edelman’s argument through its own foundations in Lacan as well as through contemporary theories of the political realm (e.g. Habermas) to articulate the ways in which psychoanalysis cannot in this instance operate as foundation for politics. Brenkman generously sums up the article by articulating the polysemy of the argument but noting that not all meanings are valid in relation to established theory.