Iraq, U.S. Elections, Novel and Various Events

[tcpip]

Dr Daniel Mandel, of the history of department at the University of Melbourne, made claims that the west didn't really support Saddam. The editors of The Age had the good sense to publish my reminder to him this morning.

Iraq, as we all know in el-jay land, featured highly in the U.S. mid-term elections where the results were a thumpin' for the pro-war forces and the quagmire they have put themselves into. What is also worthy of mentioning is was also the first ever election of a self-identified socialist to the U.S. senate.

My novel, The Outcast Girl, is going well although I am a little behind in the NaNaWriMo recommended wordcount. Historical fiction does have its own difficulties, especially when one is including anthropological hermeneutics. The experience is very much making me want to take another visit to Java and Bali.

Various other events of the last week include re-presenting my talk on Open Source Economics at Linux Users Victoria on Wednesday, once again dovetailing with Jon Oxer's Pragmatic Idealism presentation. On the lagamorph front, Astaroth rabbit has lost his balls but has recovered without incident. On Saturday, caseopaya and I travelled out to the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley, specifically to visit the William Rickett's sanctuary. Appropriately Joel Wright of the NTEU gave a good presentation at the Unitarians the following day on the Stolen Wages campaign.

Comments

[cluebyfour.livejournal.com]

Good "reminder" re: the US support of Saddam. We had no problem letting Saddam play with his toys as long as it was other Iraqis dying. Only when he threatened something important to the US (namely, oil) did we suddenly feel compelled to take them away.

Anyway, I completely missed the fact that Sanders was elected to the Senate. I heard he'd won, but I thought it was just re-election to the House. It will be interesting to see how his principles play out there. Ron Paul has always been a hero to libertarians while serving in the House because of his stands against the war and pork-barrel spending and the like. But he's also largely marginalized within the GOP as the lone voice crying in the wilderness, so to speak, and now even more so since the Republicans have lost majority control.

Sanders' situation is a bit more interesting, however, since the Dems have a razor-thin majority in the Senate. His vote has a lot more weight now than it did in the House. Will he continue to stick to principles or seek compromise?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

We had no problem letting Saddam play with his toys as long as it was other Iraqis dying.

Well, and Iranians. Indeed, there was a body of opinion among conservatives at the time that wished for the war to continue as long as possible.

Ron Paul has always been a hero to libertarians while serving in the House because of his stands against the war and pork-barrel spending and the like.

I reckon Rob Paul and Bernie Sanders should caucus. Just imagine a "Libertarian Socialist" bloc!

[cluebyfour.livejournal.com]

Just imagine a "Libertarian Socialist" bloc!

LOL, imagine the screaming in the halls of Congress when they learn what "libertarian socialist" means!

However, I feel a Saunders/Paul affiliation would founder once talk turned to Social Security and healthcare. But it would be interesting enough if they just stuck to the issues they agree on.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

LOL, imagine the screaming in the halls of Congress when they learn what "libertarian socialist" means!

*nods* A political ideology that would cause so much fear they'd label it 'cultural terrorism'.


I feel a Saunders/Paul affiliation would founder once talk turned to Social Security and healthcare.

Oh, I'm pretty sure they could come to a compromise on the issue... Just call it a "Citizen's Dividend" derived from natural resource rents for example..