Years of Poems and Spirits

Heard an interesting interview on Diane Rehm show of the author Barry Werth. He wrote a book that builds an very interesting narrative that retraces today’s conservative movement back to the Watergate days. Fascinating and very engaging. Reminded me of another book, Before the Storm.

The book is “31 Days : The Crisis That Gave Us the Government We Have Today”

Some interesting things:
1. Rummy ordered a review of WMD gap b/w the U.S. and the Soviets. The review claimed that the USSR spent almost all GDP on weapons and were on track to dominate in space, and so on. The project was headed by Wolfowitz and Feith.
2. Migdal mentioned that Cheney and Rummy weren’t like what they used to be (see also NYKr’s piece on Scowcroft, on not recognizing the old Cheney). This may not be the case.
3. Cheney’s provocative stance on the power of the president may be heavily influenced by his experience during the 31 days.
4. How subtle the promise of pardon was communicated to Alexander Haig (”do what you have to do”). Even politician at critical juncture with so much at stake chose to use ambiguity. Is ambiguity the norm or the exception in public communication?
5. Extension: censorship, ambiguity, Lisa Wadeen

China’s Biggest Gamble
Can it have capitalism without democracy? A prediction.
By Henry Blodget
(Summary: we can only tell when China goes bust)

The filter at Berkman Center
Wu Hao case,

A sample reactions from China on Google censorship by BBC
(All Chinese people know that their expression is censored. We don’t need people outside continually reminding us of this. … there are so many things that Chinese people are doing. … My blog talks about internet developments and entrepreneurial activities…)

China Political Culture: Popular Protest and Political Culture in Modern China
edited by Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom and Elizabeth J. Perry
Requested.

Online entry: Political Economy:
Seymour Martin Lipset, turned from explanations of political values based on social class to those based on history and culture, which, he argued, displayed consistency throughout history. American political scientist Robert Putnam followed in this Tocquevillian tradition.

Negotiating the State: good summary of Chinese NGO

A summary article by Reuters.

Yahoo was accused of providing electronic records to Chinese authorities that led to an eight-year prison term for Li Zhi for subversion in 2003 and of helping to identify Shi Tao, who was accused of leaking state secrets abroad and jailed last year for 10 years.