Clipmarks | ouyangwulong's 'democracy' clips

Inexperienced Republican vs. Inexperienced Democrat

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:38:42 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: So I've been having a lot of heated discussions on exactly how important it is for a candidate to be experienced. My view is: not at all. Knowledge matters. Belief matters. Judgment matters. But experience in Washington is a minus for me.

Hopefully, now, this will put the experience debate to bed. Shame on Barbra Boxer for making the same argument against Palin that she dismisses against Obama!

Both tickets are a good mix of experience and freshness. If Democrats want to take on Palin, they should have enough wherewithal to criticize her political positions, just like Republicans should stop whining about manufactured personal issues with Obama and get to the meat of why they don't like him: the issues.

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Several of Mr. McCain’s outside advisers reacted with bewilderment to the selection of Ms. Palin, and one said that it would undercut one of Mr. McCain’s central criticisms of Senator Obama — that he is too inexperienced to be commander in chief.

Senator Barbara Boxer, a California Democrat, dismissed Ms. Palin’s appeal to female voters.

“The vice president is a heartbeat away from becoming President, so to choose someone with not one hour’s worth of experience on national issues is a dangerous choice,” she said in a statement.

“Governor Palin is a very bright leader who will bring a fresh perspective to a ticket that already has the experience and judgment necessary to lead our country from day one,” said Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate Republican leader.

Tags: palin, obama, mccain, experience, democrat, republican, idiots, democracy, talking points

Democracy Saves America's Reputation

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:21:40 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: The great thing about America is not that we are a perfect country, but that we are always a redeemable one.

We have a certain mercurial charm (not to mention idiosyncratic way of doing things) that somehow manages to bring us back from the brink.

The world will never truly hate us, because we can and do change. And somehow, America has a knack for putting its best foot forward at just the right crucial moment.

Roger Cohen, also, is a shining example of editorial journalism in an age of glib semi-literate rants. He takes in the whole world, and manages to make sense of it, noticing all the right details.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Roger Cohen: Europe blue, Asia red

By Roger Cohen

Published: April 9, 2008

Europe's America is blue-state America. The rest is a discomfiting blur of churches, cowboys and electric chairs.

But in Asia, there's a different view.

At a deeper level, they've felt comfortable enough with a United States playing power politics, while that strut-your-stuff style has appalled consensus-driven Europeans.

I don't mean the Iraq invasion pleased Asians. It didn't. But China and India rising see the world more in terms of classic balance-of-power equations, driven by the might and self-interest of nations, than through the post-sovereign European prism of international institution-building and soft power.

Democracy at work is riveting. In Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain, America has produced three remarkable candidates. It's not surprising that a recent BBC World Service global survey showed positive views of the United States increasing for the first time in years.

Tags: america, democracy, asia, europe, international, relations, roger cohen

Taiwan's Interesting Democracy

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:03:33 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: A democracy, you say?
One where the people are concerned about the appearance of impropriety, you say?
Impossible, I say, impossible!

But it's true! And it's in Taiwan. They actually raise valid concerns about conflicts of interest in high government officials - before the corruption scandal, not after!

How come we never thought of that?

This blows a giant hole in the "Asian Values" argument, that dictatorship and corruption are inherent elements of "The Asian Mind" that cannot be changed. (Go suck on that one, Lee Kuan Yew!)

But seriously, given the track record of the current Taiwanese first-lady, I would say it's better that Chow keeps her job, because this way she won't have to embezzle from the government when she wants to buy new earrings!

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Taiwan's prospective first lady sets example

the public was focused not on how Ma would tackle the economy or relations with China - but whether his wife, Chow Mei-ching, should quit her job.

Analysts debated on the air whether Chow should keep working at the bank, where she has worked for more than 20 years and is now director of the legal affairs

working might pose a conflict of interest for Chow: "As a director, she must negotiate what's best for the bank, but that's not necessarily what's best for the country."

Chow would be the first Taiwanese first lady to hold a job, something that is also rare in Asia or other parts of the world. Chow's predecessors did not, including Wu Shu-chen, the wife of the current president, Chen Shui-bian

Wu is better known for her penchant for expensive jewelry and her indictment in an embezzlement scandal involving a discretionary presidential fund

Tags: taiwan, democracy, lee kuan yew, asian values, corruption, kmt, wu shuchen, chen shuibian

In Defense of Caucusing

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 02:17:50 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: I am disappointed that nobody is making the obvious counterpoint to all of Hillary's sour grapes over the caucuses.

As I see it, caucuses represent one of the best functions of democracy. Why? Because it entails community dialog. I think more voting should be done like this.

If I vote privately, I don't have to think about what I'm doing, or its repercussions on the community, and I don't need to justify my decision. As a result, voting by ballot often becomes a selfish, isolated and disconnected experience.

In a caucus you discuss your position with your friends and neighbors and, drawing on that communal wisdom, reach a consensus.

Imagine if all voting were conducted this way? We would be a much more conscientious nation as a whole.

However, this is specifically ill-suited to Hillary's "I'm right, to hell with you" vision of leadership. Perhaps she is losing caucuses because it is hard to justify voting for her.

Anyway, Democracy always works better with free pizza!

Clip Source: thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com

While she has appeared strong in public, and vowing to push on through to the next set of primaries in Pennsylvania in elsewhere, she seemed to repeat a lament she had made through earlier losses in saying that she favored primaries over caucuses. (We know, her rival Senator Obama does better at caucuses.)

“When the dust clears on this campaign, we have to ask some hard questions about what is the best way to maximize the turnout of people who want to participate in picking the next president,” Mrs. Clinton said. “And I started saying months ago that it bothers me that if you have a limited window of time, if they’re out of town, if they’re in the military,
they’re disenfranchised.

“We have to ask some hard questions. But for now we’re going to play by the rules that we have and play to the best of our ability.”

If Texas doesn’t go her way, you can expect to hear more of that complaint.

Tags: election, hillary, obama, caucus, isolation, democracy, society

A Misunderstanding of Democracy

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 04:38:00 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: Mr. Dobson clearly misunderstands democracy, typical of many of his clique of evangelical conservatives.

Our country is governed by the consent of the people, which also means by the consensus of those representing the people.

It is not mere mob rule, and slim majorities cannot and should not be allowed to determine important policies. Just as the peculiar religious convictions of a vocal few should not over-ride the will of the majority of Americans, no matter how sanctimonious their proponents.

Our system of checks and balances, though complicated and at times frustrating, is what keeps our nation from descending into a dictatorship of the proletariat.

It is sad that his nuanced and praiseworthy understanding of this principle may cost John McCain votes, but on the other hand, who wants votes from the likes of Dobson to begin with?

A Message for Dobson: If you don't like democracy, then leave America! (You aren't helping anyway!)

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Conservative Distrust of McCain Lingers Over ’05 Deal on Judges

WASHINGTON — Back in 2005, Senator John McCain of Arizona and fellow members of the so-called Gang of 14 were hailed as heroes in some quarters when they fashioned an unusual pact that averted a Senate vote on banning filibusters against judicial nominees.

Now Mr. McCain’s central role in that effort, which cleared the way for confirmation of some conservative jurists, is cited as one reason for lingering distrust of him among many conservatives.

some continue to believe the agreement undermined the Republican leadership at the precise moment the party was about to eliminate the ability to use procedural tactics to block judges.

James C. Dobson, an influential conservative leader, noted Mr. McCain’s role in the bipartisan Gang of 14 in his announcement that he could not support the lawmaker as the Republican nominee under any circumstances.

Tags: dobson, fundamentalism, republican, democracy, anti-democracy, john mccain

How to Win the War on Terror

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 16:11:52 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: This is the perfect evidence of what many people, myself included, have been saying all along.

A muscular foreign policy approach only empowers extremists and terrorists. It gives them justification; it gives people reason to believe them.

Why has democracy failed to take hold in Iraq? Why do the extreemists still control the country? Could it be directly linked to the US military presence that empowers the extremists? After all, in a time of war it is the most radical elements that are able to shout down the voices of reason.

This also shows why an invasion of Iran, or military action against the country would be idiocy, and possibly suicide. When faced with an outside enemy, the Iranians are no different from Americans: they will unite to defend their country. If we attack Iran, the Iranians will unite against us, and we will only empower the most brutal element of society.

As long as we fight against them, they will fight against us. When we stop fighting, progress begin

Clip Source: www.iht.com

A rift is emerging between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

There are numerous possible reasons for Ahmadinejad's loss of support, but analysts here all point to one overriding factor: the U.S. National Intelligence Report last month, which said that Iran suspended its nuclear weapons program in 2003 in response to international pressure. The report sharply decreased the threat of a military strike against Iran

"Now that Iran is not under the threat of a military attack, all contradictions within the establishment are surfacing," said Saeed Leylaz, an economic and political analyst. "The biggest mistake that Americans have constantly made toward Iran was adopting radical approaches, which provided the ground for radicals in the country to take control."

Tags: war on terror, terrorists, iran, nuclear weapons, ayatollah, ahmadinejad, bush, peace

The Cost of the Iraq War: A Pundit's Guilt

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 04:40:58 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: This is a stark moment of humanity for Christopher Hitchens, who I must admit, is not always a lovable character.

He has had to soberly (or, maybe not soberly!) face the consequences of his punditry.

Political opinions do not exist in a vacuum. These are not simply ideas we are talking about. This nation is overwhelmed with flippant armchair strategists on both sides who have no real understanding of what is actually going on.

The Iraq War isn't a failure of American ideals, it is a disaster of well-meaning ignorance.

Clip Source: www.vanityfair.com

A Death in the Family

The attached item turned out to be a very well-written story by Teresa Watanabe of the Los Angeles Times. It described the death, in Mosul, Iraq, of a young soldier from Irvine, California, named Mark Jennings Daily, and the unusual degree of emotion that his community was undergoing as a consequence.

when I saw the following:

"Somewhere along the way, he changed his mind. His family says there was no epiphany. Writings by author and columnist Christopher Hitchens on the moral case for war deeply influenced him … "

I don't exaggerate by much when I say that I froze.

I feverishly clicked on all the links from the article and found myself on Lieutenant Daily's MySpace site

And there, at the top of the page, was a link to a passage from one of my articles, in which I poured scorn on those who were neutral about the battle for Iraq … I don't remember ever feeling, in every allowable sense of the word, quite so hollow.

Tags: iraq, failure, bush, ignorance, islam, democracy, freedom, war, christopher hitchens

Bourgeois Democracy and Working Class Despair

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 10:22:40 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: www.edstrong.blog-city.com

Many of these pickup-truck driving young men,
at least in my experience,
are increasingly depressed,
bored, angry, and frightened
They use their fair share of psychiatric drugs
as well as alcohol and dope
to take the edge off of their pain

Privileged prick plays at being blue-collar in his pick-up

The "growth jobs" in Ohio and throughout
most of America are cashiers,
janitors, clerks, servers, and security guards
Meanwhile, the "growth diversions" to the pain
and boredom of low-paying, meaningless work are
(in addition to alcohol and psychotropic drugs)
casinos, lotteries, and all-you-can-eat troughs

The problem with today’s democracy, and with the dominant view of democracy in our society, is that it is far too limited.

The capitalist class can live with political democracy, with the election of parliaments and governments, because the decisive levers of power do not lie there.

Tags: democracy

Interesting turn of events at climate talks

Sat, 15 Dec 2007 16:20:16 GMT

clipped by: egoldstein
clipper's remarks: There are way too many facts and statistics that i'm too ignorant to understand, so i really can't weigh in on what specifically should happen here. But i do hope and believe that the world is getting much smarter about the energy we consume and it's affects on the environment.

I definitely believe that the first third of the 21st century will be the energy revolution. New sources of power that are renewable, clean and more efficient. And new means to distribute that power via a brand new, state of the art, power grid.

What was done for telecommunications at the end of the 20th century now needs to be done for the power industry.

Clip Source: www.cnn.com

The head of the U.S. delegation -- Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky -- was booed Saturday afternoon when she announced that the United States was rejecting the plan as then written because they were "not prepared to accept this formulation." She said developing countries needed to carry more of the responsibility.

While rhetoric at such conferences is often just words, a short speech by a delegate from the small developing country of Papua New Guinea appeared to carry weight with the Americans. The delegate challenged the United States to "either lead, follow or get out of the way."

Just five minutes later, when it appeared the conference was on the brink of collapse, Dobriansky took to the floor again to announce the United States was willing to accept the arrangement. Applause erupted in the hall and a relative level of success for the conference appeared certain.

Tags: alternative energy, climate, power, oil

Hugo Chavez walks the walk.

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:24:46 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: The only other politician I've seen who really does act on their beliefs was Pepe Figures in Costa Rica.

Consider this: even Paul Wellstone ran for another term!

I gotta say, Chavez must have some REALLY strong beliefs, because when you are the defacto dictator of America's largest oil-producer, it's gotta be a tough blow to have to give it all up.

Looking to the future, we'll soon see if Putin has the cojones grandes of Senor Chavez, or just the frijoles pequeñas of a petty dictator. I'm betting on the beans.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

I salute you, Hugo Chávez.

Those are words I never thought I'd write. But nor did I think it possible that a Latin American strongman, issued from the barracks, accumulating power through threats, slandering opponents as "traitors," buying support with $150 million a day in oil money, and bent on a socialist revolution, would accept a marginal electoral defeat.

No, if it came to the humiliation of a 51-to-49 percent rejection of his proposal to end term limits and undermine private property rights and centralize authority, he would surely use a controlled Election Commission to tweak the numbers for the glorious march to Venezuelan socialism.

And yet, there was a glum-looking Chávez declaring in the unadorned language no totalitarian system can abide that: "The people's decision will be upheld in respect of the basic rule of democracy: The winning option is the one that gets most votes."

Tags: chavez, democracy, real man of the week

JFK on Religious Intollerance.

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 16:13:13 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: I have heard no better explanation of the importance of freedoms such as the separation of church and state.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Today I may be the victim - but tomorrow it may be you.

Tags: religion, tollerance, kennedy, freedom, civil liberties, democracy

Oops! Yahoo! could get me tortured!

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:53:14 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: So apparently Yahoo! is named after the noise a journalist makes when the Chinese police break his arms in prison. Way to go you guys!

Serriously, I don't know how these people sleep at night.

I'll never use Yahoo mail and I don't suggest anyone else do it either. If they'll turn you over to the secret police in China, don't be surprised if they're willing to do it in your country too.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

SAN FRANCISCO: Yahoo, reeling from a growing backlash over human rights and its China operations, has settled a lawsuit that accused it of illegally helping the Chinese government jail and torture two journalists.

The two journalists and a family member sued the company earlier this year after Yahoo HK, Yahoo's wholly owned Hong Kong subsidiary, gave the Chinese authorities e-mail messages containing pro-democracy literature. The jailed journalists alleged in the lawsuit that jailers had tortured them and that Yahoo was responsible.

"While technologically and financially you are giants, morally you are pygmies," Tom Lantos, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee and a California Democrat, said at a hearing.

"They have all crossed a gray ethical line in China with their anything-for-a-buck mentality," Navarro said. "I don't believe that will change without a broader examination of the U.S.-China relationship."

Tags: yahoo, evil, torture, china, privacy

Extremists and Democracy: Pakistan, Jordan and New Hampshire

Wed, 14 Nov 2007 04:39:31 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: It's interesting to compare these perspectives from Pakistan, Jordan, and New Hampshire. The use of the word "extremism" is noteworthy. I just got back from a conference on Chinese-Middle-Eastern relations, and the diplomats from Israel, Egypt, Turkey, and Sudan all phrased their ideologies in terms of "moderates" battling "extremists."

But doesn't this raise the question: does democracy inherently empower extremism? Consider not just New Hampshire and Iowa, but the general trend in American electoral politics? The party that becomes the most radicalized, the most extreme, normally is the one that succeeds in asserting it's agenda, and the party willing to compromise gets steam-rolled. Think of the Republican Revolution in the 1990s, or the current Democratic surge, or even the New Deal!

Is it possible that democracy not only empowers extremists, but needs them in order to work? Is the centrist-democracy a myth?

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Musharraf defiant on emergency rule

ISLAMABAD: The president of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, vigorously defended his declaration of emergency rule in a 40-minute interview Tuesday, insisting that it was the best way to fight rising militancy and to ensure free and fair elections.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Rise of radicals in region slows democratization in Jordan

"We have democracy, but we don't want it to go to an extent where the radical people could rule the country," said Hakem Habahbeh

Many in the opposition accuse the government of using the fear of rising Islamism to justify autocratic rule.

Clip Source: www.iht.com

2 U.S. states' voters still not settled on favorite presidential candidates

Large majorities of Republicans in New Hampshire and Iowa said they wanted the next president to be as conservative or more conservative than President George W. Bush.

By contrast, 50 percent of New Hampshire Democrats said they would not be prepared to vote for a candidate who wanted to keep troops in Iraq "longer than you would like,"

Tags: extreemism, democracy, polarization, pakistan, jordan, new hampshire

Talking Sense: An Alternative to Sanctions and Bombing

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 05:16:32 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: These days it seems most people can only think in terms of either sanctions or bombing. If we cannot bomb them, then use sanctions; if we sanctions don't work, we must bomb!

This is a horrific false dichotomy. Bombing and Sanctions are both barbaric and uncivilized. They hurt average people, and in the history of civilization, neither has proven particularly effective.

A true diplomat thinks of ways to resolve problems through helping people, not hurting them. Diplomacy appeals to humanity, rather than brute appeals to force, be they military or economic. Bernard Kouchner is the first real diplomat I've seen in a long time. Hats off to you!

This should also remind us that our plan to sanction/bomb Iran is totally futile and simply leading us down the garden path to our own destruction. Has America learned nothing from the way Bush manipulated us with Iraq? Why are people falling for the same trick again with Iran?

Clip Source: www.iht.com

French official proposes microcredit fund for Myanmar

SINGAPORE: The French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, proposed on Monday a fund to give Myanmar incentives to embrace democracy. He also urged China and Southeast Asia to put more pressure on Myanmar's ruling junta.

"We have to offer incentives. Sanctions and incentives," Kouchner said in Singapore, one stop of an Asian tour.

"I have come to Southeast Asia to tell Burma's neighbors that no progress can be made in Burma without their intervention and assistance," Kouchner wrote.

In Singapore, Kouchner also met with Ibrahim Gambari, the UN special envoy. Gambari visited Myanmar a month ago and is due to return in early November, following trips to China and Japan.

Tags: bernard kouchner, peace, myanmar, burma, sanctions

Cuban Reactions to Bush's Condemnation

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 07:23:15 GMT

clipped by: ouyangwulong
clipper's remarks: It's hard to explain how out-of-touch the Bush administration and the right-wing in general is with the rest of the world. Bush was surprised that the Cubans didn't rise up when Castro retired, and wonders why the Islamic world rejects our "democracy" (so long as you elect a pro-American buisness leader) but he never thought to ask why?

Why does he know so little about the rest of the world? Why do so many people hate the political principles he holds dear? Why has the rest of the world turned against America diplomatically under his leadership?

Time to stop lying to ourselves. Now!

Clip Source: www.iht.com

Humberto Valdez, 39, who sells sandwiches on the seaside boulevard in Havana called the Malecón, said: "The embargo has only proven damaging to the Cuban people. Because of it, we lack medicine, clothes, food. It is unfair."

Laudelina Rivas Corp, 74, said: "War! War! War! That's about all Bush wants. War against Iraq, against Afghanistan and against the Cuban people."

Tags: cuba, castro, bush

Clipmarks | ouyangwulong's 'democracy' clips

Inexperienced Republican vs. Inexperienced Democrat

Democracy Saves America's Reputation

Roger Cohen: Europe blue, Asia red

Taiwan's Interesting Democracy

Taiwan's prospective first lady sets example

In Defense of Caucusing

A Misunderstanding of Democracy

How to Win the War on Terror

The Cost of the Iraq War: A Pundit's Guilt

A Death in the Family

Bourgeois Democracy and Working Class Despair

Many of these pickup-truck driving young men, at least in my experience, are increasingly depressed, bored, angry, and frightened They use their fair share of psychiatric drugs as well as alcohol and dope to take the edge off of their pain

Interesting turn of events at climate talks

Hugo Chavez walks the walk.

JFK on Religious Intollerance.

Oops! Yahoo! could get me tortured!

Extremists and Democracy: Pakistan, Jordan and New Hampshire

Musharraf defiant on emergency rule

Rise of radicals in region slows democratization in Jordan

2 U.S. states' voters still not settled on favorite presidential candidates

Talking Sense: An Alternative to Sanctions and Bombing

French official proposes microcredit fund for Myanmar

Cuban Reactions to Bush's Condemnation

Many of these pickup-truck driving young men,
at least in my experience,
are increasingly depressed,
bored, angry, and frightened
They use their fair share of psychiatric drugs
as well as alcohol and dope
to take the edge off of their pain