If not old, at least familiar. (R 18, 20 4th floor)

[demolition]

When one first hears Mao's comment about revolutions and dinner parties, it seems a a statement so obvious it could only be profound to crazy foreigners in strange lands - but today, on the eve of potential, possible, probable revolution, I am not being incited along with the masses or fading into the milieu (though admittedly I will be in a few

Comments

[chromal]

Ah, politics. Though revolution provides a scenic backdrop to thinking about our US political climate, is it really an apt description of the US political scene? Can it be? Perhaps, in some quarters.

Though tangential, I'm reminded of our early conversations-- late night (or were they daytime-- I can't quite recall) exchanges over instant message and why, ultimately, they stopped; my inability to place blind faith or respect in a man because he held the title 'Commander in Chief,' your criticism of my view on the matter. I was baffled and confused why somebody who had otherwise won my respect could endorse such a perverse administration.

It is such with me, though-- I actually feel some degree of pity for those who approve of today's US President, as though I think their divergent view is the result of some damage or shortcoming. Today I feel more than vindicated that my judgment of the man in was accurate back in 2000, I can't help but wonder whether or not your own views have changed in the intervening years.

[demolition]

It is so difficult for me, right now, to make a judgment on US politics, because I'm used to a bad guy and a good guy, and as much one candidate or the other may seem a bad guy in US politics, the problem is not to judge between good and bad, but rather good and better. For clarity's sake, I didn't endorse the administration, but rather the notion that the Commander in Chief deserves some measure of respect for holding the position, and I am so happy to live in a country where such is still the case. I hear people talk about revolution in the US, and it scares me. Too much contentment perhaps breeds discontent, and perhaps for the better - but I am scared, by seeing what could be, to experience the loss of what we have. I wish, for more reasons than this, that every American could live in Ukraine for a year or two, but right now I know that the exit polls, according to Channel 5, show that Yushchenko, who a man on TV just said in Ukrainian represents the Democratic strength of Ukraine, is between -4 and +6 in the exit polls,

[chromal]

That is certainly a different light from which to view things... Though I don't think it's blowing things out of proportion to say that maintaining an democracy with a rational and open administration-- a leadership that will be more concerned with whether or not they are making the best decision than whether or not they can spin the policy they made in a dark room in a favorable light if the omit certain facts and embellish others to the public and to other government representatives. . .

Ah well, the character of the next four years will be more clear tomorrow, or in the likely event of another electoral crisis, before Christmas.

[demolition]

And all I can say yet is, but what story is it? And was it told before?

More tomorrow. Now, to the streets once again.

[rahnle]

How are you holding up over there? What do things look like on the ground? And are you ok?

swords

[jwaltman]

So it occured to me that I'm in need of a photo with a sled.