The case for optimism. Also, the case for pessimism.

This is a good, brisk read. In it, the author makes the case that the reality behind Trump's artifice is perhaps what Trump believes Fiorello LaGuardia would have done as President. He identifies the ways in which the culture of the GOP would have to change to accomodate this new vision.

You can come to your own conclusions as to whether the GOP can become a workerist party. American Conservatism was forged as basically a sort of cultural anticommunism. It reached it's zenith in 1979 and hasn't produced an original thought since. The 20th century has a strong grip on the GOP, which has proceded unreconciled to the fact that the west long ago emerged victorius from the Cold War. Their devotion to Christian voting blocks is premised on Soviet state-enforced atheism and continues on as a narrative about the US left. Their devotion to deregulation, global trade, the finance sector, etc., is gripped upon as if their interests were imperiled by the Democratic party when in fact the Democrat party has been captured by these interests. The conservatarian sneers at things like public transportation and forebodes that class-collaborationist public-private coordination toward national greatness are, along with liking dogs and being vegan, are capital-H Hitler stuff.

Progressives are, at the moment, gripped in their own ideological illusions, but this is their time for that. The Republican party is now the one with all the chips. It is entirely up to them to correctly read the message tied to the brick that the people of these United States just threw through Washington DC's window. And there's every reason to lack faith that they will.

It's also possible that Trump is not Fiorello LaGuardia and in fact is Hitler. We don't know. We won't know for at least six months. We just have to hope. 

Why Don't I?

Document 001 4-14-2015

 On a murky, moonlit evening in the Florida Everglades We meet the hulking Man-Thing who guards a secret threshold. As a slow and silent ship through the mire he draws Toward anyone who may approach the Nexus. Other times, he only remains still. For days.

The Nexus of All Realities in the Florida Everglades Has been known to magicians and mystics, alien visitors from all dimensions, ghosts, gods and gods greater than gods For ages and eons and across all Realms. Yet unseen to the naked eye of the unwitting one who draws near it, and so an unfailing, unfeeling sentry stands guard.

Eyes like beetles' backs set behind a massive carcass of rotting swamp and marsh black with the essence of centuries of dead things It knows only to go when a heartbeat stirs the muck and touch whoever is there. A being not prepared for the the presence of this Man-Thing is not prepared to approach the Nexus. the Man-Thing's touch burns anyone with a heart wracked with fear. The Nexus will not sustain a coward.

It's through he or it we first meet Howard.

DOC001 9/14/16

THE EVERGLADES...

A swamp glimmers and glurps in inky moonlight. A form moves through the muck. The Man Thing's red, inscrutable eyes blaze in the moonlight. 

JENNIFER: ...but Master Dak'him, is the Man Thing man or beast? 

DAK'HIM: He is Neither. 

A YOUNG COUPLE SERVICING A STALLED VEHICLE UPON THE ROAD RUNNING BESIDE THE SWAMP. 

DAK'HIM: He only knows the emotions of others. Perhaps he only knows his purpose. His purpose is to guard a very special place: the Nexus Of All Realities. With his hands. 

WE SEE NOW THAT THE MAN THING IS APPROACHING IN THE DEEP, MURKY SWAMP BESIDE THE ROAD. 

DDAK'HIM: His awful hands. He is drawn by his purpose to mortal souls, and if he senses fear in them, they burn in the grip of his awful hands. This is how he protects the Nexus. The Nexus Of All Realities is no place for one who fears death. 

DAK'HIM'S LAIR. JENNIFER GESTURES TOWARD A SWIRLING PORTAL...

JENNIFER: Through there? But what of the other rifts? Won't the Man Thing attack your champions? 

DAK'HIM: Attack? No. He will fight beside us. I've cast a spell upon these dice. The spell will draw the rifts to only the most fearless of those standing where the realities converge. You must stay. I go now to battle Thog. 

EVERGLADES: A RIFT APPEARS SOMEWHERE AMONG THE BANYONS. BESIDE THE ROAD, THE APPROACHING MAN THING IS SEEN BY THE COUPLE AT THE STALLED CAR. THE GIRL SCREEMS IN TERROR, BUT THE MAN THING SLOWS HIS APPROACH AND TURNS AWAY TO PERSUE ANOTHER SOUL. 

DEEPER WITHIN THE SWAMP WE SEE ANOTHER RIFT GLOW AND EXTINGUISH IN THE DISTANCE. WE SEE THEN THE MAN THING'S RELENTLESS TRUDGE FROM A HIGH PERCH. THEN, FROM A DISTANCE, WE SEE KORREK, WHO HAD COME THROUGH THE FIRST RIFT, LEAP UPON MAN THING AND THE TWO DO BATTLE.