Any aspiring historians out there?

I've long had in mind two books, but realize that I'm unlikely to start - let alone finish - either:

50 years of revolution: Columbus, Luther, and Copernicus
The Jewish Century: Marx, Freud, and Einstein

Each has the advantage of focusing on a short period of time, with three central figures.

I've imagined these projects as both books and mini-series.
I am unlikely to complete either.

Please, someone - accept my gift!

Have a nice day.

Taking a page from W/Rove's playbook...

The suggestion that follows is wholly unethical - at least, if you believe that policy and politics are not coextensive... but it'd be so much fun!

Assuming the Major Party Candidate Who Isn't McCain wins the Presidency, and assuming that during this election cycle some Republican operatives somewhere in the country will resort to Rovian 'robo-calls' or other dirty tricks...

Have the new Attorney General (a loyal Democrat) initiate RICO prosecutions against the RNC. It shouldn't be that hard to put together a case against RNC as a "corrupt organization"... W has left a fairly easy-to-follow trail. Just put the Republicans out of business.

Yes - this stinks of politically-motivated prosecution... but W led the way!

Okay. I got that out of my system.
I'll now return to my saner self: politics and policy are NOT coextensive. I really do want to preserve the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law!

... but, still...

"Teach both sides"

This post is prompted by my brief mention of Gov Palin's published views on the role of creationism in public school science classes, which I understand to be something like, "Don't mandate the teaching of creationism, but allow debate." Here's the info I have:

VP Candidate Palin Supports Teaching Creationism
Posted on: August 29, 2008 1:02 PM, by Matthew C. Nisbet

In running for Governor of Alaska in 2006, GOP VP candidate Sarah Palin said she supported teaching alternatives to evolution. When asked during an election debate, she said:

"Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."

She later attempted to clarify her statement by saying in an interview:

"I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state's required curriculum.

Allow debate? That sounds reasonable.

A suggestion: Let's allow debate on the Ptolemaic system in science classes... you know, the sun and everything else in the universe revolves around the earth! Why not? "Teach both sides!" The Copernican system was presented by Copernicus himself simply as a hypothesis that made the math easier!

Debate tip: whenever someone suggests "teaching both sides" in the context of the place of evolution in public school science classes, earnestly suggest that the same logic be applied to astronomy: teach both sides - let the Ptolemaic system be taught as well! Let the students decide.

I note that ALL our direct sensory experience supports the Ptolemaic theory, and has been encoded in our daily language: the sun rises and sets. We do not topple over with the earth spinning away below our feet.
The stars do look to be revolving nightly around our poles.
I note further that Columbus & Luther both lived in a Ptolemaic universe, and still managed to initiate profound revolutions in our understanding of the earth and our relationship with G-d.

Have a nice day.

"They made me do it!" (directed at myself!)

A number of family, friends, & acquaintances, aware of my volunteer activities for NM1, have asked me what I think of McCain's VP choice. The assumption is that since I'm involved in a local Congressional campaign I naturally pay attention to Prez Politics.

Truth is, till just a few minutes ago, I'd paid no attention to McCain's VP choice. A fellow Heinrich volunteer brought it up in conversation Friday, when we were putting address labels on envelopes. That was the extent of my knowledge.

Now? I've hit the news sites & progressive blogs, and find it difficult to avoid learning something about Gov. Palin (R-AK).

Pro-Life
Thinks creationism oughta be a debate option in public school science classes
Being Gov of Alaska - closest state to Russia - gives her foreign-policy cred
Currently embroiled in abuse-of-power scandal

My impression? She'll be a wonderful help to McCain in getting the hard-core conservative base out to vote... all 30% of 'em. Seems to me that leaves 70% of the electorate for the Major Party Candidate Who Isn't McCain.

Good choice, John!

Maybe it's not really all that bad!

Stocks jump on better-than-expected GDP, jobs data

Me?

I've mixed emotions.

My sane, rational self celebrates this news. [I remind folks: I really do have a vested interest in the stock market, and the economy at large. Good times ahead are, objectively, good news to me.]

... on the other hand, my politically-biased self hopes for the economy to be in full meltdown come November. "It's the economy, stupid!"

Have a nice day.

What catches my eye...

Senior Iraqi official suspected of militia links
By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer
Thu Aug 28, 2008
BAGHDAD - A senior official in Nouri al-Maliki's government was in custody Thursday suspected of ties to Iranian-backed Shiite militias and plotting a June bombing that killed 10 people, including four Americans, Iraqi authorities said.

Okay - that lead paragraph from AP was sufficiently inflammatory... but what caught my eye was the next paragraph:

The arrest of Ali al-Lami — taken Wednesday as he left a plane arriving from Lebanon — reinforced suspicions about Tehran's influence within the Shiite-led Iraqi government and could open wider probes into Shiite networks, including possible links to Lebanon's Hezbollah.
[emphasis added]

Ah! Hezbollah again is featured prominently in an AP story! (Recall: the AP is none too diligent about sources. They question only Iraqi & American officials when reporting on, e.g., al Sadr's intentions!)

For newer readers, I've been watching for Hezbollah references for quite some time now. These play a rather visible role in my Grand Conspiracy Theory. Hezbollah is a convenient non-state actor on which to blame a late-October terrorist attack, providing the excuse for W and his minions to cancel the elections (probably more like, "Postpone the elections"... indefinitely), and assume pure dictatorial powers.

Yes, I am delusional.

Stop the madness.

Ordinarily, I'd dismiss this...

Putin: US orchestrated conflict in Georgia

As noted in title, ordinarily I'd dismiss this as Russian posturing... but what catches my eye is this:

... a contention the White House dismissed as "patently false."

Yes, I'm to the point with W and his minions that, if they immediately and reflexively denounce an accusation as "patently false", I'm rather willing to give the accusation credence!

As one commenter has noted:

"Remember all those signing statements & presidential directives Bush signed over the last 8 years? --a few of them were about a NATIONAL EMERGENCY where Bush suspends the Constitution, declares martial law and suspends the elections. I think WAR with Russia would qualify. They didn't spend 8 years pulling all this off-the-radar stuff - creating an imperial presidency - just to walk away..."

Is it possible we goaded Georgia into South Ossetia?

With Cheney at the helm, I'm reluctant to dismiss this possibility out of hand!

... though it does seem rather far from November!

Stop the madness!