TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE FALL OF THE BERLIN WALL:

Francis Fukuyama's “the end of history” is so deliciously counter-intuitive, it deserves some sort of award for advertising and copy-writing for whoever came up with it, whether Fukuyama himself or his editor, book designer or marketer.

If it means "the disappearance of any enduring, existential threat to liberal democracy and free-market capitalism" (since I have not read the book) it sounds like it is at the other end of the spectrum from Mao's response to Kissinger when the latter asked what he thought of the French Revolution: "It is too early to tell."

While I am not enough of a seer, or lack the intellectual strength, or hubris as you will, to play academic "what-if" parlor games, one thought did strike me when I was visiting China in 2003 at the height of Dubya-Rove rule in the US. And that is that China had the model for Rove's then dream for a permanent Republican Party majority for all eternity, was it?

The Chinese model is One Political Party and Unbridled Capitalist Economy with Kickbacks to Said Political Party. I don't know if it falls within the Fukuyaman human-society-in-amber-for-all-perpetuity model but it was working well, and there was little of Liberal Democracy that I noticed there. And the party was "Communist". Ah, irony.

It brings to mind Ralph Nader explaining to his father he was working to establish a Third Party, and the old codger shot back that he would be happy to see a Second. Ah, Dads.

baseball is like modern dance - an arena of men running around in tights.

The Dems posted losses this week and the results are fascinating. Not so much on the Republican side which is basically how to get enough zombies off their couches to vote for the Rich. But fascinating for what is means for the Democrats and for the US in general.

To me, one aspect is that the results once again indicate the destruction of and the inability of the Dems to resurrect the alliance of youth, middle-to-low-incomes, ethnic and sexual minorities, women, labor, greens and immigrants that is the natural base of the Democrats.

In choosing between Obama and Hillary, the Dems chose a reassuring billboard ad over a bulkier, balkier resume. This effectively replaced the traditional alliance with a Weberian charismatic leadership model that is traditionally associated with less developed countries, but with an American flavor of messianic religiosity. Therefore Larry Sabato makes a good point when he asks if the 08 victory came with the turnout of Obamacrats who cared little about the Democrat party. Their cult is an American one, worshipping at the altar of Youth, Laptops and the Cool.

In America, for better or for worse, Obama has become the new black.

This right-wing assault on Obama's heathcare has got to be stopped.

Astroturf can only be countered by grassroots action.

Too bad Obama can’t go to his supporters who got him elected because he’s betrayed their idealism enough times already.

So Obama should and ask Bill, Hil and Howard to go to the Obamans and set up the meetings and a cyber campaign. Al would be good too. It would be a good political education for them.

Brush aside Rahm - this issue is too important.

Beth and I on our way to Hogwarts.

The policeman was a racist. Knowing the law, he tricked Gates into stepping outside so he COULD arrest him. He INTENDED to arrest Gates and set him up. So one cannot say Gates was arrested for “disorderly conduct”.

According the LA Times:



According to his police report, Sgt. James Crowley said the professor was "yelling very loud" and "accusing me of being a racist."

Complaining that the "acoustics of the kitchen" made it difficult to communicate, the officer said he "told Gates that I would speak with him outside."

Once on the front porch, the officer arrested Gates for being loud and abusive in the presence of several neighbors who had gathered on the sidewalk.>

Re: STANLEY FISH: GOD TALK 2, NYT 2009

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/god-talk-part-2/

As an atheist, I do not deny the existence of God. Reason tells me God exists.

There is a God(s) because we have created it. It describes and expresses a need that many human beings and societies have. Bertram Russell thought it a crutch. Sometimes when i am anxious, I read my horoscope. So I can relate.

God is a metaphor, as Joseph Campbell said. To me it is an abstract noun, like good.

I do not need God (one, or with just many arms) in my striving to be a good person. Nor do I need God to define what good is. What is morality but high intelligence? asked Julian Huxley. Reason is enough - and weighted with less cultural baggage.

I do not see the conflict between God/Belief and Science/Reason.