Books reviews, current events, and other musings

Molly Ivins has endorsed Howard Dean as President, as Medley and lots of other people have mentioned. Not that anyone cares, but I'd decide to follow suit. At a visceral level, Dean has been my favorite candidate from the beginning. Still, I've been dragging my feet on endorsing him, not wanting to base my decision on a vague gut reaction or blog peer pressure.

Dennis Kucinich is the candidate whose views I agree with the most. However, he has no chance of winning the nomination, and he'd do worse in a general election than any of the other white candidates. Many of Howard Dean's beliefs are appealing, such as his opposition to the war, support of civil unions, and desire to re-regulate businesses. However, except for pseudo-Republican Joe Lieberman, policy differences don't make any of the major candidates stand out.

Electability is a major consideration. George Bush's Presidency is the worst thing to happen to the US since the Vietnam War, and it's vital that he be defeated in 2004. However, predicting a candidate's chances is a black art, and, as far as I can tell, Dean's omens are mixed. Overall, I suspect that his chances of beating Bush are at least as good as anyone else's.

He's had amazing successes thus far, rising from a "what's he thinking?" longshot to the frontrunner before a single person has voted. Dean has enthusiastic grass-roots support, more than any Democratic candidate I can remember. By tapping into anger towards Bush, he'll inspire many Democrats to vote. His campaign is innovative, his fundraising abilities are impressive, and, unlike most Democrats, he responds strongly to Republican criticism.

On the other hand, Republicans are exhibiting a pathological animosity towards Dean, reminiscent of their Clinton hatred, which will inspire greater Republican contributions and turnout. Dean is perceived as liberal, more so than he actually is, possibly driving away moderate voters. Republicans will transform his adamant statements and objections to Bush's policies into a caricature of Dean as a negative, angry, unstable person who's not fit to govern.

So, in light of all that, why am I supporting Dean? It boils down to a visceral gut reaction that transcends policy papers and experience. Dean shares my concerns about the problems facing America: the unjustified war in Iraq, the massive budget deficit, people lacking health care, etc. He expresses the urgency in turning around a country that is going in the wrong direction, led by a terrible President. The other candidates make similar claims, but their uninspiring rhetoric and meek actions in Congress cast doubt on their follow-through.

Howard Dean is the first Presidential hopeful in my adult life who I can enthusiastically support and who I fully trust with leadership of this country. He possesses the values and abilities that a first-rate President needs.

posted by Julian at 11:05PM

It's pretty funny what Google finds when you search for a miserable failure (from Eschaton).

posted by Julian at 10:15PM

In Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about Security in an Uncertain World, computer security expert Bruce Schneier illustrates how to think about security issues in real-world domains such as home security, business security, and terrorism. He emphasizes five factors to consider when evaluating a possible security solution: the assets being protected, the risks to those assets, how well the solution mitigates the risk, other risks that the solution may introduce, and trade-offs that arise when implementing the solution. Schneier provides a framework for tackling security issues, along with specific examples applying those ideas. For example, he argues that most airport security measures following 9/11 were "security theater" that doesn't actually improve security significantly, though they might reduce anxiety among travelers. Though much of Beyond Fear seems like common sense, Schneier has many worthwhile ideas to convey.

Richard Pells's Not Like Us: How Europeans Have Loved, Hated and Transformed American Culture Since World War II is reasonable, though not spectacular. Some of the material is rather dry, such as the growth of American Studies programs in European universities. US efforts to promote its virtues to Europeans, as a cultural component of the Cold War, were more interesting. Pells describe the misconceptions that America and Europe has about each other, and how various influences spread both directions across the Atlantic. The effects of American mass culture, especially movies and television, are the most compelling portion of the book. Pells differentiates the variety of European responses to America, based on nationality, class, political leanings, and individual personalities. Not Like Us contains a wealth of information, sometimes including a bit too much detail for my taste.

posted by Julian at 1:20PM