Riding the Crest of the Wave.

[whoneedstickets]

"There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda… You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning...

"And that, I think, was the handle — that sense of inevitable victory over the forces of Old and Evil. Not in any mean or military sense; we didn't need that. Our energy would simply prevail. There was no point in fighting — on our side or theirs. We had all the momentum; we were riding the crest of a high and beautiful wave…

"So now, less than five years later, you can go up on a steep hill in Las Vegas and look West, and with the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark — that place where the wave broke and rolled back."

— Hunter S. Thompson, "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", 1971


A great quote, and one of the most poignant observations by one of the era's most insightful political writers. It reminds us that political movements ebb and flow, crest and recede and that even the most irresistible force can lose momentum. The signs today are clearly pointing toward a rising liberal tide as the conservative movement enters its death throes (beware the wounded beast!). The questions I have for DUers are: When did the conservative wave crest? From whence did it originate and where did it break and roll back? What can we learn from Thompson's message?

If I had the courage perhaps I'd try to channel the good Doctor and write a bit of Hunter-esque prose. I'd like to hear yours.

[rwenos]

1. "The Bats are Bad Tonight"

Your quotation from one of the great books of the late 1960's could not be more apt. The Red Shark, the bats, the adrenochrome, the water-testing in Lake Mead. Ah, yes, Hunter Thompson, with Ralph Steadman's drawings. Poor Hunter had to do the Hemingway thing, in the end.

In answer to your question, the high water mark of the Bushies was just after the 2004 election "win." They KNEW they'd screwed the electorate again, and that now Georgie was Emperor for four years. Rove was laughing at the Democratic gnashing of teeth in Ohio. In quick succession thereafter (as we NOW know), the purging of the US Attorneys, the Valerie Plame outing. All a pattern and practice of intimidation. Is it any wonder most of the lifers in the CIA simply retired out? (They had to be thinking "Fuck this. I'm retiring on pension, and heading for the private sector to make some MONEY.")

THAT was the moment "White Rabbit" climaxed, not for Oscar the 300-pound Samoan attorney, but for America.

[IChing]

2. LOL -bravo

on your HST rant

We miss him, he was one the true souls of America

Fuck you, fuck this guy, you are full of shit
and this why,
and he nailed it most of time,
it is still taking America to catch up.

He knew 911 for what it was.

I miss him
met him,
but his spirt is alive
on the web.