I still look forward to watching him act, seeing his films and hearing his jazz.

Its about the political hacks that tried to exploit him and instead wound up embarassing him, and themselves. And its about a political philosophy that has perverted and abused all the good and worthwhile that there is in Conservative thought to fan and provoke the fear and hatred of a populace that is afraid of the future and the uncertain times that lie just ahead.

The world is changing whether we like it or not, much of it is due to our mistakes, both partisan and shared, much of it is out of our control and beyond our imagining. We all played a role getting into this mess, it wasn't an alien conspiracy or a committee of traitors. But the faction that has taken over the Republican Party, the party of Eisenhower, Rockefeller, Dole, Lugar, and yes, even Goldwater and to some extent Reagan, is not concerned with curbing the excesses of the Democrats, or in adhering to moderation, thrift and traditional values. What they want to do is prepare for themselves a world where they will continue to prosper extravagantly no matter how much the rest of the nation has to suffer. They want to make sure they profit until the very end.

The new Conservatism is about exploiting the ugliest and most intolerant strains in the American character in order to enforce a hegemony of power dominated by a commercial class with no sense of civic responsibility or noblesse oblige. And they will stop at nothing to get their way.

These oligarchs and plutocrats don't want to steer the ship into calmer waters, they just want to make sure they have guaranteed seats on the lifeboats. And they'll make whatever promises they feel are necessary, to whoever is willing to listen to them, and break them as soon as its convenient.

This has nothing to do with Clint.