Is Harvey Dent Barack Obama?

A handsome newcomer is the only hope for change, for leading Gotham away from criminal chaos.  But his dark side emerges, revealing “Two-Face,” arch-enemy of the people.

So it was with Obama, the turning point being last week’s Senate vote on FISA, the reprehensible Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.  Barack had sworn to filibuster the vote; in the end he rolled over and stuck it to the American people.

I’ve lost all interest in the guy.

And let’s not forget Hillary Clinton, who in an act of astonishing irresponsibility all but suggested that someone should shoot her opponent.  (She referred to the late campaign turning point when Robert Kennedy was assassinated, implying that anything could happen and she could still end up the Democratic nominee.)  I held my breath all day on the anniversary of the Robert Kennedy shooting (June 5), hoping Barack was hiding in a basement somewhere.

If some crazy had obliged Hillary, it would, truly, have been the end of America.  That Barack made it through the day gave me faith.  But then came FISA.

So, no Barack, no Hillary, no Democrat to bring responsibility back to America. And don’t even mention Republicans. Is there no one we can turn to?  Maybe only Batman…

And while we’re on politics… Three months before a presidential election, the press is all “Looks like we’re winning the war in Iraq.”  Can you say “Duh, surprise”? Do you remember that the press is “embedded” with the troops, meaning there is no truly independent coverage of the conflict by US media? Did you notice the Iraqi president has asked us to leave his country by a certain date, so winning and losing doesn’t mean anything anyway?  And finally, do you recall that there isn’t any “war,” that there ain’t no war unless Congress sez there is, that Congress is the only folks who can declare war, and that Congress has not declared war?

p.s. Here's another take on Barack as Harvey.

Electoral Dance

Questions from readers! (I love it.)

Q: Clinton, Obama, McCain... your take?

A: David Brooks’ New York Times column today made it clear even to a dense marketing professor like me: Clinton is selling a product, Obama is selling an experience. 

Obama is to Clinton as the Mac is to the PC, as The Body Shop is to Walgreen’s.

Thus Barak Obama is more in tune with modern times.  He’s also more likely to get young people excited about politics.  Both valuable characteristics.

I have a suspicion about Hillary.  GW Bush eviscerated checks and balances in our government, and created an imperial presidency.  Sometimes I think Hillary looks at the imperial presidency and thinks, "I want one of those."

I personally like Obama better – though Hillary thinks faster on her feet in a debate – but the real question is: Who can better defeat McCain?

I hear the reactionary Republicans are ready to throw this presidential election rather than support McCain.  They’ll let the Dems have this one.  They’ll retreat, regroup, and rebuild strength for 2012.  But we can’t count on the GOP taking a dive; we gotta make sure the Republicans get outta the White House now.

John McCain is by far the least objectionable of the Republicans.  Trouble is, he’s old, and he will choose a running mate from among younger Republicans.  His VP candidate could be one of these neocon jerks who don’t know that they’re all washed up now, and s/he may well end up President if a victorious McCain is later incapacitated.

So is Clinton or Obama better able to prevent this?  This question can be answered only be detailed, precinct-by-precinct research in districts that may swing to the Republicans.  The Clinton and Obama campaigns have (I hope) done this research, or maybe the Democratic Party has. They ain’t sayin’. I certainly don’t have access to such research, so: I’ll vote for the Dem, whoever it may be.

 

Q: What brought on the tango passion?

A: Saw it, thought it was beautiful, took the odd introductory lesson (in Portland, then in Maastricht, then in San Diego) without learning much over a span of four years.  Finally, business travels eased up; I would be in the same city for four consecutive Tuesdays!  I signed up for the 4-week beginner sequence last month.  Now I’ve graduated, and have started taking the “Salon 1” sequence.

Check out this video of Yo-Yo Ma, and see if it doesn’t do something for you

 too.

There’s another one you must see, but YouTube won’t let me embed it in this

 page.  Right-click this URL and tell your browser to open in a new window: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEe2j43X-Ms.

Like aikido, tango is a worldwide community that welcomes sincere strangers.  (I was welcomed at a tango bar in Lima last summer - here's their poster - even tho I had no skill then.) Like aikido, tango is a lifelong endeavor in which you can improve slowly and surely without end.  I love aikido and still do it, but I confess that as I get old and creaky, getting slammed into the aikido mat a couple hundred times a day is no longer my idea of a good time. So you see, there’s method in my madness.