Taking Democracy Seriously.

The Ukraine remains in turmoil over the election results. One wonders what might have happened if we took to the streets over Florida in 2000 or Ohio now. At any rate, Lech Walesa was photographed next to Viktor A. Yushchenko, which means Putin's guy is dead meat. Walesa has some small experience at establishing democracy. We might take a page from Walesa's book rather than be counted on to remain complacent.

One of the great jokes is the notion that Ronald Raygun won the cold war. It sorta overlooks guys like Walesa who acutally had their lives on the line, who spent time in prison, who struggled who were in the streets. Or that Polish Pope. Or the people who literally tore down the wall.

We'd prefer to believe that some B grade actor who had ass/elbow discrimination problems and was busy spending this country into a hole actually had a plan about freeing Eastern Europe. Empty suit, just the way the Repugs like their leaders.

Raygun was a storyteller and to call him the "great communicator" is only to demonstrate how we've let political speech degenerate in this country. We had a president who made up stories after his wife consulted astrologers and to refer to him as anything great is to make a mockery of politics.

Then again, we have a president who makes a mockery of politics now. Maybe we were better off under the loveable goofball than gods anointed one.