UPDATED 8/19/2016.
Fingers crossed reality turns out as predicted for MA:
Why am I hoping for a good soaking rain you ask?
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Summer break for The Weekly Digest. It’ll be back in two weeks.
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Kaine is the perfect VP choice if you view this election as between traditional (mostly northern and urban) liberals and traditional (mostly southern) conservatives. But Kaine adds nothing to the ticket if you view this election as between anti-establishment outsiders who have been on the losing end of the economy, and establishment insiders who comprise the powerful and privileged. In fact, because Kaine is a big supporter of the Trans Pacific Partnership and of Wall Street, he’ll make it harder to lure Bernie supporters to Hillary.
[Ed.: Three guesses as to how I view this election.
Dumpster Fire 2016: Survive ‘Til 2024. Unfortunately, 2020 won’t be any better because even if HRC boots it during her first term few within party will have the guts to back a primary challenge.Sure, I’ve been on the winning end so far but it doesn’t take much imagination to see how I could end up on the losing end.][Ed.: Late addition – more from Reich.]
In anticipation of Clinton selecting Tim Kaine as her running mate the NY Times writes “Tim Kaine Seems Likely for Hillary Clinton’s No. 2, but Liberals Balk“. Ya don’t say? Actually, they do, “Clinton Faces Pressure to Pick VP Who Is Tough on Trade, Wall Street“. So much for that. (The Mad Biologist had something to say about this.)
Clinton also comments on Trump’s selection of Indiana Governor Mike Pence as his running mate:
Mrs. Clinton has called Mr. Pence the “most extreme pick in a generation,” highlighting his positions against same-sex marriage and abortion rights and his support for prayer in the schools.
Labor issues? Fiscal policy? Trade policy? Environmental policy? Military adventurism? I guess those don’t rate.
Some music instead:
And pawpaws. (I plan to plant two or three next year.) And Daniel Larison on James Stavridis.
Not your typical popsicle. They’re savory rather than sweet. Ingredients:
The Answer
Then what is the answer? Not to be deluded by dreams.
To know that great civilisations have broken down into violence,
and their tyrants come, many times before.
When open violence appears, to avoid it with honor or choose
the least ugly faction; these evils are essential.
To keep one’s own integrity, be merciful and uncorrupted
and not wish for evil; and not be duped
By dreams of universal justice or happiness. These dreams will
not be fulfilled.
To know this, and know that however ugly the parts appear
the whole remains beautiful. A severed hand
Is an ugly thing and man dissevered from the earth and stars
and his history … for contemplation or in fact …
Often appears atrociously ugly. Integrity is wholeness,
the greatest beauty is
Organic wholeness, the wholeness of life and things, the divine beauty
of the universe. Love that, not man
Apart from that, or else you will share man’s pitiful confusions,
or drown in despair when his days darken.
Robinson Jeffers, 1935
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