Now for Something Completely Different?
Sorry for the Monty Python allusion, but the last few days have been so politically rediculous it seemed appropriate. And now we seem set to repeat the exercise, not as farce but as tragedy, to reverse another famous formulation. The Washington Post reports:
House Democratic and Republican leaders vowed to go back into negotiations to devise [...]
The First Presidential Debate
My single insight is that when McCain responds to a question, he responds from the position of the isolated ego — “I did such & such. . .” — whereas Obama responds as a member of a group — “we must do. . . such & such.” McCain wants to be president because it will [...]
How to Read a Poem*
Instructions: Begin, in so far as it’s possible, without preconceptions and do not rush to make a judgment about whether you like or dislike a poem, or whether it’s good or bad; most of all, do not dismiss mysteries or difficulties as weird or incomprehensible (at least) until you have worked through the steps [...]
Mandarin
As the institutions of the empire crumbled, I spent a glorious fall morning in the northern provinces tending my bonsai. The smaller of the two pommegranits has survived a bout with fungus & is doing well. I have trimmed the rosmarys’ summer growth to reveal the sinuous structure of their branches. The ficus & the [...]
Mixed Blessings
So I’m sitting around at home this morning looking out on the kind of beautiful fall morning that would usually pull me outdoors. My favorite yard chores are autumn yard chores. But I’m sitting inside because I picked up a head cold & sore throat at school. Colleges are viral breeding grounds. I just don’t [...]
Sarah Palin & Censorship
Perhaps the list I posted below is a hoax, but as I said in my correction, Palin’s ideology is just fine with banning books. I grew up among Palin’s people, I know them. They are intolerant, aggrived, and deeply anti-intellectual. And homophobic. Now it appers that, while the particular list may have been made up, [...]
Reginal Shepherd: 1963 - 2008
The poet Reginal Shepherd has died after a heroic battal against cnacer during which he continued to write poems and weblong entries. I only met him once. Both on the page & in person, his commitment to honesty, clarity, & beauty are what I will remember. He was, truly, one of the makers. [See also [...]
Fred Clark on John McCain, Friend of NAMBLA
John McCain is a friend of child molesters. He wants to make it harder for parents and the police to protect children from sexual predators.
Kevin Drum on John McCain
What does a McCain presidency hold in store? Kevin Drum has a vision of the future & it isn’t pretty. Here’s the middle of his post, but you should read the rest:
John McCain has obviously decided that he can’t win a straight-up fight, so he’s decided instead to wage a battle of character assassination, relentless [...]
Josh Marshall on McCain / Palin
Most people who come by this space probably also read Josh Marshall’s TPM, but if you don’t, then please read this post about John McCain. I wonder if Nancy Pelosi will “take impeachment off the table” when it turns out that Vice President Palin has lied to the grand jury investigating Troopergate, as she inevitably [...]
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