Party platform

Running against Farage one finds a range of candidates, including Howling Laud Hope of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party. Count Binface et al are likely going to be ephemeral, so I will preserve the OMRLP's platform for posterity.

I like "Social Media will be taken down one day a week for a 'Remember when we used to talk' Day"

Divisions

I wasn't familiar with how the Sri Lanka Tamil vs Sinhal rivalry developed. The author blames a few politicians, and points to parallels ancient (Nike riots) and modern.

Russia collusion

I gather that evidence is coming to light that the Russia Collusion claim was known to be a hoax even before the old FBI probe.

That surprises me--I'd have expected more thorough document destruction. That it was a hoax was a no-brainer.

Finding money spent by Russia to stir up mischief seems pretty trivial--on two fronts. Trying to make trouble for the US has been a foreign policy objective for the Russian/Soviets for a century. And the sums announced were trivial too, compared to the amount the parties and supporters were already putting in.

And the notion that the Russians would prefer Trump to Hillary didn't pass the smell test. Governments run on money, and the bulk of Russian hard currency money came and comes from hydrocarbon sales, with arms sales coming up distant second. Hillary was committed to ending and preventing fracking, which would have boosted hydrocarbon prices and Russian revenue and Putin's power. She was predictable.

Making up stories about political opponents has a long history, though getting government collusion in the project seems innovative. Though, on consideration, it sounds like some of what I've been listening to in Byzantine history.

How trustworthy?

I'm not persuaded that Ghislaine Maxwell's testimony, whatever it may be, will be accurate or relevant. If files have been suppressed by both Dem and Rep governments for perhaps even legitimate "reasons of state," what is there to verify her named names (assuming she does)? Who's to contradict her if she has a vendetta or two, or if she's been given a list of safe targets?

"Name the other witches."

Assassination try

I was afraid this would happen. (and glad Trump wasn't killed!) The relentless demonization of Trump, and other politicians as well, logically leads to this kind of action. You don't negotiate with demons.

I was expecting a leftist loon of the usual stripe, the kind nobody wants to be around, stimulated to save the world by killing the demon. I wasn't expecting one of the brownshirts to be the attempted assassin. I expect to hear of very careful failure to analyze the funding for Antifa.

UPDATE: To be clear: I suspect he acted alone without his colleagues knowing, but logically you should investigate his associates as well, and I think that investigation would reveal that prominent figures are associated with the organization--and that therefore an investigation of Antifa will not be thorough.

UPDATE: The initial ID seems to have been wrong, and loon is probably the correct category. Fortunately.

Study war no more?

" I think our current generation in Washington has hardly any experience in war and, yes, there is an urge to be close to violence."

I think that hits part of the situation. It certainly ties in with David's thoughts about victory: "Do not slay them, or my people will forget". Our elites, unaccustomed to war, have nonsensical notions about what matters, and an urge to get involved despite their ignorance.

I think "an urge to be close to violence" includes "an urge to prove yourself in an important struggle." If there is no existential or even merely important struggle at hand, you'll find or imagine one. We need to be needed; need to be important. We'll exaggerate the threat (words=violence!) until we matter--or until life hits us with a clue-by-four.

Still true

"All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies." John Arbuthnot (thanks to Anecdotal Evidence)

When a child is king

I've a picture of small armies fighting on behalf of rival candidates for the throne--both of whom are little boys.

When incapacitated or even dead candidates win elections, it gets clearer that the candidate is only the emblem of the team.

Even for a candidate with all of his faculties, the job of senator or president is too huge for one man to wrap his mind around. He needs a group to help him, instruct him, direct him.

Unless my eyes decieve me there are three kinds of arrangements: where the candidate manages his own staff and organization, where the candidate inherits the system (Yes Minister?), and where the organization anoints the candidate.

Who is part of the package you vote for/fight for? Who is Fetterman's regent? Who is the power behind the WhiteHouse teleprompter? this month.

Loose lips

I watched one of the Reagan/Mondale debates, and I couldn't believe what I heard come from Reagan's lips about the Shah of Iran and what we owed him: "he did our bidding."

Even if it's true, you never ever say something like that. It gives the "client"'s subjects reason to complain, and puts him in a position where he has to do something counter to our interests just to prove he isn't a puppet. It weakens him and weakens us. I thought it a breathtakingly stupid thing to say. The next day I mentioned it, and was surprised that nobody else noticed.

I don't know if anybody pays any mind to what Biden says, but he's not the only one in DC talking about "regime change" and "getting rid of Putin." The world would probably be a slightly better place with Putin cultivating his garden, from above or below--though his replacements might be little improvement.

But how does someone distinguish between a wish and a commitment? And if regime change in Russia is a commitment, what options do we have that don't flirt with war?

Quite a lot of politicians can't shut up--they have to show how wonderful they are no matter how many people die.

Can we require that before they can be put on the ballot, would-be candidates must survive a six-month retreat with the Trappists without bursting?

The Trappists would complain...

Flash mob attacks

Flash mob robberies are getting popular lately.

A lot of it has been jewelry, clothing, and electronics, but not all. I think it safe to assert that this isn't for personal use--someone is fencing these; somebody who could plausibly own/resell. And it isn't too huge a stretch to suspect that these coordinated robberies are lined up by the same entities that do the fencing.

The way was paved to make this easier: laws were changed to make theft more profitable and DA's put in who don't prosecute. (In Chicago some aldermen that don't even bother to hide their connections with organized crime--street gangs.)

But I think these robberies will start to die down. There's good money to be made in the protection racket. I have no idea who the kingpins are, but I think I know who their allies are.

Poro

is alive and well. From a 1965 article: "They are frequently responsible for tribal education, regulate sexual conduct, supervise political and economic affairs, and operate various social services, including entertainment and recreation as well as medical treatment." (Preserve us from their medical treatment, though.)

From FrontPageAfrica:

James Kolleh, candidate of the opposition People's Unification Party (PUP), a leading contender and the only candidate who is a non-member of the Poro tradition, seems to have gotten the worst of the campaign, which features allegations that he's a non-Poro member and shouldn't be elected as represenative.

Traditional leaders have reportedly tried to lure Kolleh into the tradition by establishing "Bush Schools" in all of the major towns in the district, a move that has prevented him from meeting residents of those towns.

Some traditional leaders, FrontPageAfrica has gathered, have reportedly attempted kidnapping Kolleh at night in Blameyea Town under the pretense of endorsing his represenative bid, but their plans reportedly failed after Kolleh received a hint by residents of the area.

Perhaps that seems obscure. If there's a Bush School in the town, they can kidnap him and initiate him by force.

"Rep. Cole ridiculed Kolleh for not joining the Poro prior to his represenative ambition, calling him a "new born baby". "Every member of the Bong Legislative Caucus is a member of the Poro."" Since you aren't considered a man until you've been initiated, the insult makes sense.

Politics gets complicated sometimes

---

I had never heard this claim of its origin before: From View of Sierra Leone by Frederick Migeod:

Colonel Warren was probably only initiated into the first stage, and being obliged to take the oath of secrecy any details of interest, if any, died with him. In any case without a very perfect knowledge of the Mende language, it would be impossible for him to learn much. Further, a certain length of time is necessary for the initiation, and a sojourn under conditions no European could long maintain. Circumcision must have been already performed. Nevertheless admission to the lowest grade would make him a full Poro man ; and oracles have always been workable, and yet do not yield their secrets even if they have any.

When he was initiated he received the name if Nyandebo (=Nyande-mo, fine-man) so I was informed.

Warren gives the account of the beginning of Poro as follows ; " The Mende claim to be the originators (of Poro) and there is a tradition to the effect that it was brought about by the death of the first Mende chief. Tliis chief had the reputation of being very powerful, and, on his death, his principal attendants, fearing that when his death was made known to his people there would be trouble in the country and a general split up of the Mende tribe, decided that they would keep his death secret. It. so happened that the chief had an impediment which made him talk through his nose, so a suitable person had to be found to personate him. When the person was found he was sworn on the chief's corpse and other medicines that he would not reveal the secret. So effective was this, that others were gradually told the secret and likewise sworn."

The Poro is both a secret national council and a school for the youth of the tribe. The former assembles as requisite, and a chief may invoke the assistance of the Poro as it might be a national church.

"Don't believe it until it is officially denied"

It looks like that rule of thumb has to be modified to add "or is boasted about."

A little different take on China

David Goldman wrote about China, and his take differs from others I hear.

Western observers often attempt to draw a bright line between the good Chinese people and the nasty Chinese government. That is an unsubtle form of condescension, and wholly misguided. The character of China’s state is shaped by the ambitions of the Chinese people.

...

The emperor is not a revered demigod on the Japanese model, or an anointed sovereign claiming divine right, but simply the emperor whose job it is to prevent all the other emperors from killing each other.

...

At a closed-door conference in Beijing with senior government advisers not long ago, I asked the Chinese group if they felt nostalgic about any of their past rulers. After all, the Jews pray thrice daily for the return of King David’s dynasty. Medieval British romances call Arthur “the once and future king.” Similar tales are told about the German emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Charlemagne, and others. Folklorists call this motif the “king asleep in the mountain,” and it is encountered from Portugal to Japan—but not in China. None of the Chinese officials in attendance could name a government they would like to see return. On the contrary, the Chinese are happy to see the back of every one of their dynasties. They tolerated them when they were useful and turned on them when they became corrupt or weak, which takes a couple centuries in the best cases, and a couple of decades in the worst.

Interesting. I will probably look for the book.

I'm curious what he thinks of the man surplus there. Will they be spent in war, or colonial projects, or is the enthusiasm for China Uber Alles only skin-deep in the families with only a single child?

The US has a long history of being friendly with China (although not always Chinese immigrants), interrupted by Mao et al. I wonder how well that will survive the expansionism and influence-buying spree they've been on lately.

Politicians and mortal sin

I'm not Catholic, so there may be some subtlety I'm missing.

I gather there is some dispute in Catholic circles about giving communion to pro-abortion politicians. Some distinguish between those who vote for abortion and those who make it part of their platform, but I'm not convinced that this distinguishes much. At any rate, the argument against is that they are complicit in mortal sin and not in a state to receive communion, and the argument in favor seems to be that even though the politician might be (is) complicit in mortal sin, for pastoral reasons it is better to give them communion to keep them in the church.

I've heard darker suspicions--the kindest being that some bishops are happy enough with the other programs their politicians support that they look the other way about abortion.

There's another of the mortal sins that gets overlooked a lot: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." I don't know that going to confession is all that useful if you fully intend to go back out and keep lying about your political opponents. (I'm told that actually repenting is part of the process.)

And if I understand the moral calculus used, since the lies are intended to do serious harm to another's reputation, they're mortal and not venial.

Especially around election time, it would seem that a priest could assume, until proven otherwise, that politicians are "in a state of mortal sin" and should not recieve communion. This would apply to the partisans as well, but they're not as easy to name as the elect.

One section of that catechism, number 2477, seems to be talking of Facebook use. Or perhaps of the newspaper. Certainly of politicos...

Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:

• of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
• of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another's faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
• of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them

Interesting: 2284 and 2285 "The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor's tempter." We hear the most scandalous lies this time of year, and the temptation to rash judgment and sharing them.

Why do politicians get communion?

Yes, I know you can find some who try to keep on the straight and narrow. I wish we had more of them.

Brains

AVI has a post up about politicans and lies, which is the starting point for my notes here.

I'm told that London cab drivers have brain changes, apparently thanks to the vast spacial memorization they need. The mental exercise results in physical changes.

I wonder if politician's brains show differences from the rest of us. Successful politicians (and con artists) have to be very good at making you believe them.

For one on one persuasion I'd guess that having a very good sense of how someone is feeling would be useful in adjusting your words and tone to do the job. There were noises about "mirror neurons" a few years back; I wonder what became of that. (Empathy doesn't mean you care.) If that's real, do politicians have them in larger number than average?

A crowd sense would presumably be similar.

To really succeed you have to persuade groups with no immediate feedback. Probably it is enough to know how to punch the buttons for the average, enough to persuade 40% of the listening audience. Which may not require any brains.

I gather that imagination doesn't have a single center in the brain, so I'm not sure lying would either.