Palin-tology and Prophesy

This seems to be a time of prophesy from Nostradamus to the Mayans. The Middle East has dueling prophesies with the Apocalypse from the old testament and the various writings loved by Achmedinijaad.

Here is Palin's prophesy from the OED:

palingenesis \pal-in-JEN-uh-sis\, noun:

1. Rebirth; regeneration.
2. In biology, embryonic development that reproduces the ancestral features of the species.
3. Baptism in the Christian faith.
4. The doctrine of transmigration of souls.

We're more interested in rebirth, regeneration--particularly economic rather than the transmigration of souls. Not to say we are opposed to the transmigration of souls......

Scott Brown

Scott Brown wins in Massachusetts: Does it mean anything? Has something significant come out of the state of Lexington and Concord or will he just play Ken to Palin's evil Barbie in the press? Clearly the democrats are alarmed; Jim Webb is taking moral lessons from it. But the government cares little for the opinions of the public, whether through ideological certainty or simple arrogant disdain, so why would the election make a difference? It does imply more voter integrity than I expected; that itself may be important. But the train may have left here. The damage to the economy, the impact on the producers in the society, the disillusion that will likely follow, the decline in reward--then in living standards, the obvious government incompetence and its inexplicable tangle with financial interests, the suspicion that Obama may be more interested in ideological fulfillment than the nation's well being---all will contribute to an economic and psychological unwinding that will not end well. The distance that has grown between the government and the governed is now greater than the separation between church and state. The uplifting lesson the Brown election may give is that the victims seem to care.

Palin-tology

Why Palin? Because Angelina won't run.
All of the anxious prophesies of analysts, economists and Tocqueville are coming true: democracies destroy themselves with selfishness, stupidity and demagoguery. But mostly selfishness as citizens and special interests use the democratic system to protect or better themselves. This is personified in the finance /banking industry where the direction and aims of a few in power no longer parallel the aims of the country but are actually counter to them. And Obama is the worst because he knows the truth. He was elected with the hope he would bring fundamental change to the system and, rather than trying to reconstruct the economy for its long term betterment, he chose instead to fill political obligations, reward backers and allow the decline of the economy to continue apace because, in his heart (I think), he believes it deserves it. At a time in history where he could have been a significant leader, even a revolutionary one, he brought in the same economic leadership from the same system that needed reformed. Then he began--or, better, deferred to the Congress to begin--a reconstruction of the health care system to what end I have no ideas nor have I heard anyone explain. One thing about it is certain: It will be hugely expensive, expensive to an economy that even now borrows to pay its bills.
On this collapsing stage where pompous politicians posture and their entertainment handmaidens review, Palin is seen as unworthy, unqualified, uneducated and offensively ambitious as if the incompetent actors over the last years are not. The truth of Palin is that she - like Angelina (my choice for Ambassador to the U.N.), Serena Williams (my choice for Secretary of Defense) and Danika Patrick (who sounds too dumb to do anything but should be able to be Secretary of Transportation)-is an accomplished woman in her chosen sphere, has a certain amount of animal magnetism and couldn't possibly be worse.

Palin and the election

Palin was in town last night. I'm beginning to feel some real sympathy for her. This woman is not a professional politician. She ended up governor of a big state by a series of circumstances and, by all accounts, is an attractive and compelling woman. Is she an expert on the Middle East? No. Is Biden? No. Is she as goofy as Biden? No. Is Barney Frank a guy you would put in charge of anything? No, not even a male prostitution ring. But I think the savagery she has inspired means something: I think people I dislike are afraid of her and that interests me. And they--that is the republicans, the democrats and the press--have been cruel to her. The republicans have thrown her to the wolves because it doesn't matter; she attracts a voter she will not alienate under any circumstances. The democrats hate her because she makes women and abortion complicated, and the press hates her because the democrats do and she is popular with a group they disdain. That stunt on CNN was unforgivable. The cruelty is unforgivable. It is beyond anything I imagined people in the public space would do.
That said, I really dislike the two presidential candidates and hope that whoever wins has enough judgment and humility to pick good advisers and listen to them. This period of time is too important to us to have such uncertainty in our leaders (although I must admit Obama acts the part). At any rate, I am done with this election; I'm voting for Palin. I know she won't win but she needs a friend.