Friday, October 22, 2010
The Outlook for Democrats
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Obama Presidency * Keith Richards * Bestsellers * Autumn Rains - The Forager
"To dream of one government ending doesn't mean you'll want the one that comes in its place."
---Nathan Englander, The Ministry of Special Cases
Obama and the Democrats
In politics, there are always surprises. But 11 days before mid-term elections it is obvious that Democrats are going to lose the House. Outcome about the Senate is not that certain but Democrats are on shaky ground.
About a year ago on November 9, 2009, a post under the title On the Road to 2010 read:
About a year ago on November 9, 2009, a post under the title On the Road to 2010 read:
The President can continue his policy of appeasement and take a chance on support from enough middle-of-the road voters to carry the Democrats in 2010. A rebound in the economy and improvement in the unemployment numbers would help him and could make a difference. Right now,however, things don't look rosy.
Democrats have no one to blame but themselves. President Obama lost sight of the forest for the trees. By concentrating his energy and efforts in consensus building and failing to fight back against Republican campaign to demonize Democrats, and the rising strength of "tea party" followers and their backers, he let the dark siders gain momentum until it became too late.
What a disappointment. Elated by the results of 2008 election, I remember arguing with a friend (a transplanted American in Britain) who expressed misgivings about Obama and the Democrats. But it didn't take long to see how the wind was blowing and that my friend was right. There was a sense of letdown for those who were energized by his stated positions. He forgot about his "base", not that the base would have been enough to save him from what portends to become an one-term presidency. And some of the Democratic legislators turned out to be not much different than the venal Republicans, in the pockets of lobbyists. Money rules; corruption at high levels is an undeniable fact.
Keith Richards
An article by Janet Maslin in the New York Times brought back memories of the first time I heard the song Good Golly Miss Molly, sure like to ball
Recorded in 1958, it was at a party in Calcutta in the early sixties that I heard the 45 rpm disc played on a turntable. It was noisy, smoky, and there was dancing. Music to let yourself go and we did.
Books -- Bestsellers and Others
Recently finished reading the highly acclaimed Freedom by Jonathan Franzen and cannot remember the names of the central characters! Perhaps my age and dying brain cells. Now into "The Ice Princess", the mystery by Swedish author by Camilla Läckberg. A page turner. Some books grip you in the very first pages and it is one of them.
Autumn Rains
Foggy morning
© Musafir
Rain clouds
© Musafir
Rain swept street
© Musafir
Rain drops on window pane
© Musafir
Drizzly afternoon. Rain in the forecast for the next few days. The 2009/10 season was bountiful for foragers in the San Francisco Peninsula. Yesterday, during a run through the CSM Campus I saw that some death caps (Amanita phalloids) were already emerging. A few heavy showers will hasten the growth of good, edible mushrooms. Something to look forward to.
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Dry cheerful cricket
chirping, keeps the autumn gay ...
contemptuous of frost
--Basho
chirping, keeps the autumn gay ...
contemptuous of frost
--Basho
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