Another endorsement for Obama.

It warmed up for one day in Wuxi, but it has now returned to late winter coolness.  Today, it is raining.

The King of Wuxi lent us a highchair.  Now or eventually, Tony will be able to sit with us as we have supper.

Tony is using a stroller and is making his first attempts at crawling.  In both activities, for now, he goes backwards.  When he crawls, he pushes his face against the surface of the bed.

I went with the King to the Austrailian pub last evening.  There was a good crowd there last night.  Asking the King why he seems to prefer Ronnie's, he told me he likes the fact that it is open in the afternoons.

This backward flying birds of Austrailia's Lord Howe Island do so during mating rituals or so my quick look-up on the Internet tells me.

I already have told you of the King of Wuxi's cynical, from my point of view, endorsement of Barack Obama for U.S. president.  But now I meet another serious political observer of U.S. politics predicting and endorsing a Barack Obama victory this fall.

Barack, to paraphrase this man who comes from California U.S.A., will be able to unite people to rise above partisanship to solve all of America's problems.  This mantra of unity and bi-partisanship is as false a political prayer or slogan as I have heard in a long time.  On what basis, will Barack unite Americans?  Will he make them all Christians?  Will he make them all Atheists?  Will he make them all believers in government's power to solve all human's problems?  Will he turn libertarians into big government liberal democrats?  Will he find a way to make all opposition shut up like only a good dictator can?  Will he find the true third way that hasn't been tried yet?  Will he stop all Americans from taking drugs or getting drunk?  I don't think so.

He might do better to get Americans to appreciate what they have and to get the many, who don't seem to, to understand that democracy is about compromises and debates.  To have no debates, no partisanship, no heated discussions about governing is to invite dictatorship.  To never make voters aware of the trade-offs each policy proposal he makes is to promise them the earth and the air.  To always tell them that their circumstances make them victims and that he can make their lives better is to create a population of forever victims.

Barack is a lot of hot air.  Anything specific he says about policy has already been tried and resulted in the cynicism that everyone has about the political process.

This columnist thinks Barack will turn America into Canada.  America taking up curling, three down football and having to listen to Gordon Lightfoot all the time?  I don't think so.  I really hope Barack does not win.

Ten poems to memorize in school.  I always read Kipling's If to the Toner.