This way progress lies

One of the better pieces I've read at the Weekly Standard in a long time. A remarkably humane portrait of former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry from Weekly Standard columnist Matt Labash. One of the leading conservative publications brings some humanity to one of America's most notorious liberal political figures. Now that's something original.

A Rake's Progress

"When I ask a Barry staffer if her boss is spooked by the new attention, she says, 'No. He never gets spooked. We get spooked.' By the lights of longtime Barry aficionados, this latest doesn't rank very high on his scandal Richter Scale. A ward boss throwing sketchy patronage jobs to friends? It could make a Barry connoisseur very sleepy. Plus, some Barry-watchers think he might be losing a step. There wasn't even any cocaine involved.

Yet the scandal wasn't my reason for visiting hizzoner. Barry-bashing has been a near ubiquitous sport, and approaching him in order to find holes in his stories is about as sporting as taking candy from a quadriplegic preemie. Rather, I was curious to take his measure as a human being, which many forget he still is, despite the caricatures and self-parodies. For 73 years, over 40 of them in public life, Barry has kept rearing up like a plastic varmint in a Whac-a-Mole game. No matter how many times he's batted about the head with a mallet, he relentlessly reappears."

In an era obsessed with its own presumed capacity to prevent wrong-doing by withholding forgiveness and greater humanity, it is refreshing to note that some people still take the high road seriously. Even for members of the other team.

This way progress lies.

Those who think nice guys finish last are not paying very close attention

It's so funny to watch people dance around this question of power politics and force as a governing philosophy as if everything is working out just all hunky dory.

The next 100 years

Some people just can't quite get straight when the writing is on the wall.

Once we face the bullshit - most notably, for all the proponents of force as a governing philosophy and that raw power finally triumphs, that they were just wrong and that the writing is clear as day on the wall except for folks still confusing their excuses with something more honest - I think it will become clear that our future is one of devolved, decentralized power that frees up the energies of democratic citizens, inititally, and the citizens of illiberal societies, over time, to do what they do best.

To use their freedom to make the world better in a million ways never predicted by anyone, especially, with all due respect, the likes of Mr. George Friedman, here.

Those who think nice guys finish last are not paying very close attention. Sometimes we just so full of shit we can't even see past our own stink.

Liberal democracies are the strongest nations in the world for a reason, when we're not being dumbasses about it. Because they're liberal, obviously. When we're not suckin' on our thumbs out of cowardice and self-pity and whatever else passes for real strength, these days. And we are free to do that, as well. Until we figure out what a road to nowhere that is.

And that's what's great about liberal societies. We can choose whatever we want. And live with the consequences. Until we choose something different, that is.

We are a species of lovable dipshits, sometimes, I think. Forgivable dipshits, to be sure. Because what else you gonna do with us. After laughing at us falling on our asses yet one more time, that is.

Facing the bullshit

I really do think America's debates have gotten about this stupid and senseless.


Is Using A Minotaur To Gore Detainees A Form Of Torture?

Our political discussions make almost absolutely no sense, at all, anymore, these days. America has become a pale, sad, pitiful version of her former self. With everyone tripping over themselves proclaiming how small and unworthy we should be.

All in the name of progress, I suppose.

It's kind of a pathetic point in what has become a somewhat bizarre story of cowardice and self-pity masquerading as something less humiliatingly sad and weak than it is.

And the real question we need to ask ourselves is at what point are going to face the bullshit?

Because this is fucking embarrassing, at this point.