Good to see you are still out there sparking. You must be limbering up for the big Dem event in Denver? Lots of interesting things coming up!
Hey, Schalk. Yes, very interesting indeed. Obama will probably tell us who is vp is Wednesday or Thursday, and then its off to Denver. This is going to tell us a lot about who he is. Biden? Bayh? Kaine? I think Hillary's out of it . . . If you ask me, his choice is Bayh. Not only would he put Indiana in play and help in Michigan and Ohio--the biggest battlegrounds in the whole affair--but he would unify the party vertically; he would unify the Green and Orange Democrats, Bayh having been chairman of the DLC for awhile. I really don't know whether Bayh is Orangish or Tealish, however. Don't know too much about him other than that is a fine looking and smooth politician and a DLC centrist.
Biden seems to be the front runner, Biden who said about Obama during the primaries:
“I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy,” he said. “I mean, that’s a storybook, man.”
I don't know that we can have a vp who says things like that, and Biden says goofy things like that from time to time. I think he's okay, a good man--but something less than presidential. At least, the two would make a funny looking pair. He's okay, they're okay, but . . .
Kaine is pro-choice. I don't think they were ever very serious about those three Virgians, Webb, Kaine, and Warner. I think they just want to pour some kuntu into Virginians, make them feel really important, so they come out on election day for Obama.
I think Obama would be taking a great chance in picking Biden. Picking Bayh, a staunch Clinton supporter, would unify the party in more ways than one--but Obama may want to get in scot free, with someone more deeply loyal to him than the Clintons.
By the way, what's the role of Michelle in all this?
Denver - the Tibet of the US. I am concerned about the altitude. The air is thin and rarified. Will this sap the Party?
Well, if it's good for Ken it can't be too bad for the Democrats, huh? Obama may have averted a scene from disgruntled Hillary fans, but I think there will be some protesting none the less. I wonder if Bill's going to look happy . . .
The Democrats hold their convention in Denver, in a real swing state, in a state that could turn the election--and the Republicans hold their convention in Minneapolis, a state that's voted Republican 4 times in the last hundred years, the only state never to vote for Ronald Reagan, possibly the most liberal state in the union. Even if McCain does pick Tim Pawlenty, governor of Minnesota, as his vp, which seems to be a good possibility, I don't think they'll win Minnesota. It just doesn't give me much faith in that party that they would do this, the only state never to vote for RR and we're coming off of 8 years of G.W. . . .
My official stance on the Integral journey is - let us reclaim the lower gaps and fill them in before we head to the stars. Like Tetris. You build high by filling in the foundations completely. Not by stacking rectangles on their ends.
This makes sense--but how? How would that athlete, for example go about this. I know the ILP route, but how? Which? Where? Etc. What really works?
I loved your bit about the shops, and I actually am going to attempt to employ your expertise in that regard soon. Keep an eye on your private message box . . .
I've been watching the Olympics daily. One of the things that makes me feel good is that NBC has been doing a very nice job of addressing high and positive themes. There is a very fresh and wholesome spirit that is pervading their coverage of the games.
Right, and I think Costas must get a good deal of the credit for that. A good-hearted, well-rounded, boomer, and he has a good hara, too, yes? The other day I was watching and he gave a short preamble about how they didn't make too much of the medal count there because it really wasn't what the games were about and then they showed for a split second to give us the information and then they were off to something else. Very tasteful, I think. Costas does a great job, I think, yes?
Phelps--a great swimmer. You're right: the greatest Olympian swimmer, makes no sense to call him "the greatest Olympian ever" or the "greatest athlete ever." I love the Olympics. There's nothing like it, and these are good games, too. The Chinese, at least those not in jail or being suppressed, are enjoying it immensely and putting a lot of good chi into it. And into their athletes. Why are they winning so many golds?
And the swimming is second to none in Olympics sports. I especially like the relays, and this one was absolutely incredible.
That said, I am a bit disappointed in the quality of the intellects that are given mikes and asked to dialogue with the athletes or comment on the sporting competitions.
Oh yes, they make me cringe. Especially when they harm the kuntu of the athletes. I haven't seen that happen too badly yet myself these Olympics, but it usually does. You know what's funny? All the Americans who are crushed when they get a Silver medal. They are crushed, defeated--failures for the rest of their life! This is crazy . . .
I was very into the Phelps saga, have been anticipating it since Athens, but the moment it was over I felt nothing, really nothing. Partially because so much of the emphasis was on him, even though he couldn't have done it without amazing performances by his teammates. And the other thing is the moment it was over it wasn't about swimming anymore it was about money. He will make 50 million a year now. He deserves it if any athlete his age deserves it, but it still it leaves me feeling empty, like the CEO who pays himself 200 million a year. Winner take all . . .
Oh, Bernie, wow, I didn't make that connection at all, followed both things vaguely, from afar. He was hospitalized 12 days after Obama chastised him in public. I am sure there was a connection. Dead two weeks after that. That was a big night for him and after that--shame. National shame, shame in the city. I think that will take the air of out a person's sails. It's amazing how some people take that kind of thing, public figures, politicians, but some people are of a different type. They weren't made for that. Hmmmm . . . Obama's beem criticized in the past for blaming others when he or his campaign screws up--wasn't his advance team, his campaign staff as much to blame or more than Bernie? He just got up and gave his act, right?
Well, did you see the Saddleback forum? I didn't. I started to watch a replay but then stopped. How did it go?
mm