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POPSHillary's Own Sexism
Although there is a lot of talk about sexism, and how it is to blame for Hillary's defeat, I think people are barking up the wrong tree. Obama never campaigned against Hillary on the basis that as a woman she would be "unelectable" because conservative "swing voters" would never elect a woman. On the other hand, she did make that case against Obama on account of his race. In fact, nobody ever questioned Hillary's ability to lead the country, as a woman or otherwise. The should have: her foreign policy is scary and ignorant. But the most sexist person in the race was Hillary herself. Her campaign, with the pant-suits and tough guy attitude (especially on Iran) seemed to reflect her own belief that if a woman was going to win, she had to convince people that she was "one of the guys." I think almost anyone who would vote for Obama would also vote for a woman - if it was the right woman. What I'm not willing to do is vote for any woman simply for the sake of making history.
4
POPSSmall Claims Court for Countries It's interesting how well the international system works when people aren't busy sabotaging it. Malaysia and Singapore just settled this international dispute in court, and everyone seems happy. I think the main reason that countries such as the US or China don't support international courts and authorities is because they don't want to be held responsible for the transgressions they know they've committed. You have to admit, America has come to demand a certain kind of exceptionalism, placing ourselves above the law by virtue of our own self-aggrandizement. Restoring America's international reputation will begin with ending this repugnant double standard that we hold for ourselves and the rest of the world.
5
POPSThe Way the Race Card Plays... For all the (disturbing) talk about how being black is bad for the Democratic party, nobody seems to be noticing that it also has its good sides. I mean, people worry about Obama's abilty to capture the working class white vote, but why doesn't anyone worry about Hillary's (rapidly diminishing) ability to capture the black vote? After all, by campaigning on the idea that a black man can't represent America, isn't she destroying her ability to get the black vote? (Not to mention white votes, like mine, that are really frightened by that kind of rhetoric?) What I love about an Obama McCain election is that it scrambles the map. Some blue states would definitely prefer McCain, while some red states are certainly leaning towards Obama. At last, we have a chance to break down America's polarization.
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POPSThe Verdict on Bush's Reganomics: Guilty as Charged There were those who were critical of Bush's economic policies, who said it would lead to disaster. We were dismissed as not understanding economics. We were accused of being anti-business. Well, a few years later, whaddya know... One of the central tenants of the resurgent Republican Revolution, among the GOP leadership ascendant in the mid-to-late nineties, was the idea that Regan's "trickle-down" economics worked, and that lowering taxes on the rich and encouraging rapacious spending would somehow develop an economy despite nagging social problems in the lower strata. This "well, I guess I feel rich..." approach was a lie everyone wanted to believe, because they didn't want the party to end. Now, though, even before Bush's term is over, we see a stunning economic crisis, for which he has no one to blame but himself, and which was clearly created, gift-wrapped, and delivered with flowers by the GOP's bizarre and destructively delusional view on economics.
4
POPSDemocracy Saves America's Reputation The great thing about America is not that we are a perfect country, but that we are always a redeemable one. We have a certain mercurial charm (not to mention idiosyncratic way of doing things) that somehow manages to bring us back from the brink. The world will never truly hate us, because we can and do change. And somehow, America has a knack for putting its best foot forward at just the right crucial moment. Roger Cohen, also, is a shining example of editorial journalism in an age of glib semi-literate rants. He takes in the whole world, and manages to make sense of it, noticing all the right details.
9
POPSLosing Hearts and Minds; Empowering Extremism Before anyone asks why we aren't winning the War on Terror yet, consider these sad headlines. All around the world, reasonable people are being dragged into the slipstream of extremism. The cause is blatant moral bankruptcy. Greed, corruption and exploitation, fortified behind the twin bastions of ignorance and righteousness, are discrediting the institutions that are instrumental in overcoming extremism, intolerance, and global violence. Particularly America remains the store house of the world's hopes and dreams. We are not merely a nation but an ideal, and we must live up to our promise. Obama and McCain are both men of admirable morals and transparent character. Meanwhile, as Hillary obfuscates over her finances, we must realize she lacks the moral authority needed to restore America's international credibility. Being Righteous is not nearly as important as being Right.
7
POPSCanada Apologizes for Saying America Tortures Prisoners Somebody sounds like they are afraid of getting water-boarded! Seriously, does this sound like a valid way of conducting foreign policy? America is doomed by our intolerance of criticism. No matter how many pictures are published of Americans torturing prisoners, America still expects everyone to look the other way. Kinda weird. Hopefully our next president won't be so bizarre when it comes to flaunting our morals while at the same time proclaiming them.
1
POPSA Positive Political Process Frank Rich, in an op-ed I don't feel like clipping (too glib), declared the GOP Platform to be Dead on Arrival. I beg to differ. Although McCain had a dark period of pandering, he seems to be back to saying what he thinks, and playing clean. He's the Boy Scout of Electoral Politics, and he's got my respect. (Not something I give out often to candidates.) But the really interesting thing is that Huckabee, who was always a nice guy, seems to have become more insightful and philosophical as the campaign goes on. His observations on political process I thought were exactly what America should be. We'll put him on my "provisional respect" list. Although his last bizarre bit about the Confederate flag will probably cost him the Hootie and the Blowfish vote, I'd bet they were already going to vote for Hillary anyway. Now if only the losers like Thompson and Giuliani will take a hint: sharpen up, start thinking, or drop out.
1
POPSSinister Socialist Conspiracy Afoot in Spain You got to love Spain's conservatives. It's like they are being run by Colonel Ripper, protecting their "Purity of Essence"! "No Gays! No Girls! And no filthy Catalans! Viva Espagne! Down with Barcelona!" ;) But in the end, isn't this also what Americans fear? That some liberal will screw up our country by protecting "gays" and "working women" and "illegal immigrants"? Are we really any different? On the whole, and interesting article, though. This is a process that China has yet to go through, although I think the situations are extremely analogous.
6
POPSBush: Out of Touch, and Out of his Mind At a certain point I fail to understand what our President thinks he is doing. It would seem he is newly possessed with an urgent desire to invade Iran, regardless of the circumstances. Apparently, he doesn't understand the game he's playing. He's confirming America's stereotype as a global villain in they eyes of the rest of the world. Bush led the push to attack and isolate Iran because of their nuclear weapons program. When that allegation was firmly contradicted by our own intelligence community, he didn't miss a beat. He's going on as if the NIE never even came out, still talking about nuclear weapons as if nothing had changed. Now Iran agrees to answer questions and open up to the IAEA, as well as fulfilling other obligations to the UN. As they do, Bush keeps cheer leading for war. Doesn't he realize that he's impeaching what little credibility America has internationally?
11
POPSConflict in Iran: Symbiosis between Bush and Ahmadinejad I've stitched together three very interesting articles over the last week, which become much more interesting when you read them in sequence. Look carefully at what is happening. If there is anything that lays bare the role of the Bush Administration's jingoistic belligerence in the Middle East, it is the recent conflict in the Strait of Hormuz. With the international pressure off Ahmadinejad, he starts taking heat in Iran for the shortcomings of his leadership. Without fear, his belligerent and isolationist politics lose their appeal. In order to defend his world view, and preserve the source of his power, he needs America as an enemy... So some Iranian boats play around with one of our convoys, Bush comes out with some insane saber-rattling press conference, and, Ahmadinejad is back in business, courtesy of the Bush administration. If you desire war, you need an enemy. If you need an enemy, you desire war. Bush needs Ahmadinejad. Just like Ahmadinejad needs Bush.
1
POPSKaren Hess on Food, Faith, and that "Dithering Idiot" Julia Child ...(Orgasm) I have a soft spot for cantankerous Americans with borderline personalities. Probably because I am one myself. In this regards, Karen Hess is a true blue, red-blooded American original. She called Julia Child a dithering idiot! But I think it is interesting, the characteristics of the classic American crank: Surly iconoclasm A hate for anyone up on top of the hill A pastoral nostalgia for the past A mania for the rustic and natural And a certain "messianic fervor." It is interesting that what is true of Hess' thoughts on food is also true of many other Americans on many other subjects.
0
POPSB-3 Shearling Bomber Jacket This is the coat I wore in Manchuria last year. From the same company that makes them for the US government since before WWII. Union made in America. And they've got tall sizes, so it fits my arms without the body being a tent!
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POPSExcellent Advice on Middle East Diplomacy Although I disagree philosophically with Bush's conception of the international community and America's role in it, I do not believe that is the reason for Bush's diplomatic failure over the last 6 years. Instead, rather than ideology being the problem, I believe that methodology has been the most serrious impediment. If they can learn to swallow their pride when necessary and follow these three guidelines, we may see genuine progress in the middle east for the first time in nearly a decade.
0
POPSRedwing Work Boot Good for casual walking, although casual walking for me includes desert, tundra, and non-technical rock climbing. I wear these out at the speed of about one pair per year, which is better than most boots. Mildew quickly in the rain. Worth paying the extra to get the Vibram Sole. Don't like their no-slip sole. I actually find it quite slippery, and way too flexible. Beautiful, hardy leather. Union made in America. Fortunately comes in narrow sizes, which makes a big difference for arch support, especially for tall guys like me.
3
POPSAmerica's Faustian Dilemma: At What Price Hegemony? The author seems to think that we have no choice, that we must embrace corruption and bribery in dealing with dictators like Nazarbayev in Khazakstan in order to get the oil we crave. But we do have a choice. We could give up being the most powerful country in the world, couldn't we? At what point do we say that the pursuit of power isn't worth it? What values are so sacrosanct that we wouldn't compromise them for mere economic and political gain? Why does America have to be number one anyway? All the things I love best about my country have very little to do with our incessant drive to dominate the global community. In fact, I wouldn't mind it if we let someone else take over for a bit. I'm sick of all this chest pounding and dick measuring.
9
POPSMarvelous Mysteries of Cartography As a huge fan of Martin Waldseemuller, I'm glad to see his work in the news. Cartography used to be a really cool job, requiering research and interviews, and a healthy dose of speculation. The great thing is that history is so much more complex than the writing of it, and this map is a perfect example of that. Maps were very cloak and dagger stuff back in their day. Although the story comes down that Columbus discovered America and Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean. But a clever sleuth could have figured out that there must have been something dividing the eastern coast of China from the eastern coast of the new continent. Also, there is the very sexy possibility that other unknown explorers had already made forays into the Pacific before Balboa got the credit. I think its great when history starts to sound like an Arturo Perez Reverte novel!
3
POPSThe Boy Scouts vs. America Some of the finnest boy scouts I ever knew also happened to be gay. They never came on to me, or shirked their duties. They aren't the dainty queens you see on queer eye for the striaght guy. What exactly is it that the BSA means when it says "Homosexuality would be inconsistent with the values they want to communicate with their leaders"? The only values I see he are hate, intollerance, ignorance and fear. I've done a lot of wilderness surival, and a lot of very serrious outdoors high adventure, both with the boy scouts and without. If there's one thing I know for sure: you can't survive in the mountains with your head up your own ass.
6
POPSGay Tourism in Buenos Aries: Fabuous! Actually, now that they put it that way, I guess it does make sense. I mean, if your city is famous for dancing and swarthy, mustachioed, meat-eating men, well, honestly, gay tourism does sound like your best bet. I'm still cracking up over this picture. I can imagine the photographer saying "Okay, now I want you to all look really really gay! ... No! no! no! Not gay enough! You, in the back, unbutton your shirt, and the rest of you, elbows in, wrists out! There you go! Perfect!"
34
POPSWhy America Will Survive George W. Bush Otto von Bismarck saw how American blunders led to American power and allegedly said that God has a special providence for drunks, fools, and the United States of America. Walter Russell Mead (of the Council on Foreign Relations) puts Bush's 8-year stint in the White House into proper perspective. America's foreign policy has been short-sighted and often self-defeating from the get-go, alternately collaborative, passive, and interventionist. And, yet, miraculously, we always come out ahead. With the unstoppable rise of a global capitalist economy, Mead makes the case that America, for all its past and current faults, will continue to be the inevitable leader of this new international buoyancy. Not even our latest mistakes (unprecedented though they may be) can derail such a powerful incentive that is the modern American world trade system. Which means, more than ever, we're literally all in this together.
8
POPSUnique Spanish-Creole Language Surviving in South America The only surviving Spanish-Creole language persists in a small town in the jungles of Columbia. Palenquero shows a unique history of interaction between societies, coming together across language barriers and blending together to create a vibrant culture combining the new world with the old, black and white, The Indians of the Caribbean with the cultures of Africa and Europe. A language is the story of the people who speak it. We can learn much to help our society by understanding the pluralism of Creole languages and communities.
6
POPSThe Changing Face of Liberalism This does seem to raise an interesting issue of the re-definition of political boundaries. Liberalism has increasingly become a concern about individual rights, while conservativism has become defined by its embattled defenses of Christian Fundamentalism and corporate agendas. The libertarian / authoritarian dichotomy is becoming increasingly important in the conflicts polarizing our country, and this will have a very interesting effect as each party searches for its new identity in the wake of these disastrous last few years.
13
POPSIntelligence vs. Fundamentalism Isn't this the way it has always been? Blind faith, fundamentally incompatible with, and diametrically opposed to intelligence? But we shouldn't confuse faith with indoctrination. We should draw a distinction between the blind faith of fundamentalism and the true faith of personal realization. After all, doesn't faith come from experience? Although it is personal and subjective, it is ultimately a judgment of the things we have seen in the world and the conflicts we have felt in our hearts? Doesn't faith spring from exploration? Isn't it confirmed by its challenges? Farris and others in the home-school movement think of enforced ignorance as protective, but isn't it actually a weakness? They think rigid ideological conformity can help Christianity "capture America" (wow, a nation that is already over 80% Christian, that should be tough!) But are they helping it or hurting it? Who do they resemble the closest? Thomas Aquinas or the Spanish Inquisition?
3
POPSDemocracy and War: From deTocqueville to Pepe Figueres I was thinking about Pepe Figueres the other day, and wondering if war was our destiny because we lacked the courage to disarm ourselves. For reference, the opening quote is from Alexis deTocqueville's Democracy In America, Book II Chapter 22 (I couldn't clip the title, but the whole book is on this website! Super cool, and useful for finding or checking that deTocqueville quote that's right on the tip of your tongue. The site also has a clever bit about how politicians have miss-attributed numerous deTocqueville quotes.)
7
POPSA Conservative Youth Culture Comming? Although my politics match my parents, left for left, sometimes I dress more conservatively than they do. They listen to Rancid and Radiohead, and worry about me when I get fed up and talk trash about raw-vegan hippies. Nothing stays the same for long. I have always wondered whether the pendulum will swing back towards the conservative, or whether we will simply become increasingly liberal, liberated and libertine? Looking back, history seems to suggest the later, and each subsequent age has been more liberated than the last... Or am I wrong? Is there in fact a cycle at work here? If so, what place and time has been as socially liberal as we are today?
5
POPSFrustrations of Immigration We should consider this: most people want to become legal immigrants to America. I think this is a legitimate desire. My ancestors did it a hundred years ago, so I certainly can't complain if people want to do the same today. What is fueling the illegal immigration? I think a large part of it is the bewildering, frustrating, inconsistent and sometimes downright schizoid US Immigration policy. What it takes to get a legitimate visa to America for many people is so confusing and seemingly hopeless that many feel it is totally futile. In China, even those applying for a tourist visa must go through an interview process which is by turns bizarre, inscrutable, humiliating and discriminatory. If we can adopt a clear, positive standard and apply it consistently, more people might think they have a legal chance at entering the country. I believe this would have a major impact on reducing illegal entries.
11
POPSImmigration / Descrimination Who among us can truly say that our ancestors would have been allowed into America by the criteria we now impose on newer immigrants? Is anyone willing to say that America would have been a better place without them?
7
POPSThe US & China: Military Diplomacy As I have argued before, I believe China's military spending is not a genuine threat, but instead an effort to be taken seriously internationally, and esspecially to impress America. At their core, they want cooperation and friendship with America, but they have a funny way of persuing it. However, the Chinese can be very responsive if you show them just a little bit of respect. They are very sensitive to gaining or losing face. John Denver visited this country once more than twenty years ago, but the Chinese were so touched that they all still know the words to "Country Road Take Me Home" by heart! I am impressed by the diplomatic restraint and good judgment that Defense Secretary Robert Gates seems to be showing on this issue. If only we could start using the same level-headed judgment on Iran and North Korea...
5
POPSBush: For Israel a Friend or Foe? In the 2000 Presidential Debates, Bush was asked what he thought about the Israeli-Palestenian conflict, and what he would do to help resolve it, and he responded kurtly "America is a Friend of Israel." Nothing more. Apparently he felt no further depth of reflection was necessary. Seven years later and I still remember the moment very clearly. He was wrong then, not just in strategy but in statement. America has not been a friend to Israel, or if it has, it has been the worst kind of friend possible: the kind of friend always pushing you to do the things you know are bad for you, but want to anyway. Funny how those kind of friends always seem to stay clean of the trouble they get you into.
8
POPSDemocracy at work: Unity in Contempt Just as Clinton galvanized the GOP into the unified organization that took back congress, and then the white house, Bush now does the same for the left. So it's time for the pendulum to swing the other way... ...and you can't even get off it, even if you get dizzy!
1
POPSCase Studies in Accountablity (Part II) For those curious as to what will happen when the Chinese government gets to the bottom of the other food poisoning scandals, just look at this guy's face. China regularly executes government officials and business leaders for serious cases corruption. Although I don't support the death penalty, it stands in stark contrast to America, where we tend to find ways to avoid accountability through political spin. It seems today that entrenched politicians and their corporate allies in America flaunt their corruption, expecting us to dismiss disasters like the miss-management of the Hurricane Katrina disaster as something we can do nothing about. Is it really true that we can't expect anything better from our government?
2
POPSOakeshott on Rationalism and Tyrany Although, needless to say, my politics follow a very different path from Oakeshott, he's still a fascinating thinker, who knew how to provoke good questions. For instance, why did mankind feel the need to create Rationalism when we already had rationality?
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