In the Belly of the Beast.
In These Times blogs live from the Republican National Convention September 1 - 4.

It Came From the Beltway

Joe Lieberman is not a centrist.

By Brian Cook

To illustrate how human consciousness cannot be understood solely through observable behavior, cognitive scientists came up with a thought experiment known as the “zombie problem.” They defined a zombie as a mindless drone, a mere automaton, but one that behaves in ways completely indistinguishable from other sentient human beings. As philosopher Daniel Dennett put the problem rather chillingly, “Since [external… return to article

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    I know of two, interlinked, explanations for the terms “left” and “right”.

    The first is that it comes from the Estates-General as it was composed before the revolution with the representatives of the aristocracy on the right and the representatives people on the left.

    The second points out that this was the usual arrangement in any such meeting because position to the right of the monarch had higher status.

    In either case the position is that of the vast majority of the population.

    The centre is the position of the monarch: which seems to be exactly where Lieberman stands.

    On the last point: did he even hold a séance! I mean really, those responsible for September 11 are dead.

    Ok, Ok, only most of them, but I love the idea of a seance.

    Australia Posted by richard123 on Aug 15, 2006 at 5:26 AM

    oops
    it should read

    In either case the position of the left is that of the vast majority of the population.

    (Remember Colbert’s complaint about the Left-Wing bias of reality.)

    Australia Posted by richard123 on Aug 15, 2006 at 5:28 AM

    I have heard Lamont’s win described by some in the MSM as a ‘Pyrrhic victory’ for the Democrats, as it will splinter the party and thrust it into the chaotic abyss that only southern Mediterranean countries know so well. 

    This is entirely plausible.  I could definitely forsee dangerous instability from a battle royal between young-turk firebrands fighting for revolution against the old Democratic guard.  Like the DLC crowd, I too know that corporate donations would be drastically cut for a renegade party hell-bent on sustainable working-class conditions and enlightened self-interest globally, and it would not be pretty.  The donations requested from phone-calls or internet blogs would be the only tangible sources of funds, relegating the Party of FDR (a patrician!) to the mendicant level of lowly Buddhists. 

    A party in chaos indeed...Democrats can’t afford to be (d)emocrats.  But don’t buy it.  Lamont and his hypothetical ilk are far too shrewd - if we’re lucky - to get in bed with pacifist scum and anti-corporate reprobates.  As for ‘free trade’, they’ll barter every last resource and commoner in the Union for a modest boost in 4th quarter profits once the oil peaks out and profits across the board are realistically threatened.  No one with less than a well-diversified portfolio and high-altitude land in the mid-Atlantic is safe from a post-WWI German economic scenario.  And even they should be stocking up on ammo and sandbags, if they know what’s good for ‘em.  In a survivalist America, militia man trumps I-banker, and wildcat chases pedigreed dog. 

    Re international affairs: as Cook (and Billmon before him) points out, the direction of foreign policy may moderate, but it’s not going to drastically shift course. This is, after all, America.  We didn’t get where we are by rubbing clits.  We fuck ass, and we fuck hard, and we only use lube out of canny self-interest. 

    To carry the metaphor, Bushco are either too stupid or too numb to care about rupturing their own foreskins.  Even the cabals are picking up on this.  To paraphrase Jefferson, a Lamont every now and then is a good thing, and the corporatist system depends on the blood of Democrats and Republicans alike. 

    But I digress.  Lieberman has officially unofficially joined Cowboy X’s Gang O’ Rogues, and Lamont is already courting ‘moderates’ (see above article) for bigger fund-raising potential.  The players will re-adjust, and the game will go on.  That is, until it doesn’t. 

    Just don’t expect the slide to lilt upwards anytime soon.  Democracy - hell, gardening - requires that attention be paid.  And like Liza at the Cabaret, we’re still partying like it’s 1999, unaware that 2012 is just around the corner, and nobody should ever second-guess Mayan astronomy, what with all that thin air and all those mushrooms lying around…

    United States Posted by rocco on Aug 17, 2006 at 12:25 AM
    Page 1 of 1 pages

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