Recently in History Category

Unless you're Rush Limbaugh, it seems fashionable to pick Obama as the winner at this point in the very long game. Polls, pundits and the rest of the world all seemed resigned to the prospect of an Obama world to come.

While it may seem stylish and fashionable to predict an Obama win, is anybody describing the essence of the transition to come ? Probably, but I don't really care about them as much as my own blog entry, so here's a vision of November 5th, 2008 and a little beyond . . .

Given the volume of drivel about to hit the airwaves and Internets in the next three weeks, here's some of what I've picked up over the last few days from regular people . . .

One employee describes her employer's passion for Obama, but admits her own family will be writing in Ron Paul. No argument about the waste and possible Libertarian alternative works.

An otherwise Republican neighbor says the McCain support of the bailout pushed him over the edge. He's voting Barr now.

The teacher as sister-in-law says Obama's the man. Stickers and pins coming. The little retarded guy down the street who loves the Yankees says the country's not ready for a black man. Otherwise decent but redneck fellows feel the same. Sorry, but it's true. I actually deign to talk with these folks on occasion.

Another neighbor says Barr or Nader. Doesn't care, hates the two main parties. Destroying the country. I couldn't agree more and both of us suspect little will change. I mention that I'd rather have him vote for Barr as the state chair . . .

I have vowed that before I leave this planet, I am going to Iceland. So far the trip back from Copenhagen in 1990 and the shelved documentary about the Original Anarchy haven't gotten me there yet. The recent financial meltdown may. I was hoping to wait until my son turned twelve and my daughter nine in order to make the journey to my Mecca, but if the devalued krona is sinking faster than the dollar, what the hell.

Fortunately the tale of Iceland goes deeper than this financial crisis. At the top of the world is a relatively small place with few people, that has survived for centuries. From Njal's Saga to Independent People the stories of perseverance, death and struggle have created no small wonder that it would be the first to simultaneously house democracy, common law and Christianity. And while some may take pot shots at the vainglory of the past, we might all do well to watch the reactions of people raped by their own elites for trusting the global currency markets.

Remember when Hillary & Company played Captain Jack by Billy Joel just before her announcement for US Senate in 2000 ? Yeah . . that's a tough one to recall. It's such a depressing song and the campaign seemed so clueless about it.

I only caught the last 10 minutes of the national hagiographic stage to nothingness on CSPAN, so I'm not at all sure how the battery of talking heads handled it, but was Bruce Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' about change or hope ?

As eighty thousand weepy eyed conformists and collectivists determine the inevitable tone and direction of this land, so much has changed and stayed the same since I was born in 1967 I can hardly manage it anymore. Here goes anyway . . .

Mr. West speaks of us wayward anarchists as if we're conquering or occupying Romans who determine value or worth with the flick of a thumb . . . . except ours will always come down in rapacious negativism no matter any success crossing the Tiber.

What tripe indeed. I'll be the first to take my hat as a meal should the former Congressman take the ring. It would not change my perspective on the world nor the conclusions that I reach on any given day. But I have not denounced Barr or spoken ill of my former colleague on the LNC. I'd be honored to dine at the White House if the invitation was offered. But let's be real, please !