Mr Clientelle, your fiction and anti Kennedy propaganda above is just out of it for this "good old boy" from the South, but another "good old boy" by the name of Fidel Castro, whom some of you Yankee "progressives" claim was the victim of Kennedy plots to have Castro assassinated, and who has a much higher opinion of him than that he has of Tricky Dick, and has said same to a British Cuba solidarity group I'm in. We Southerners have to stick together, including Hugo Chavez while I'm on the subject. Some of Yankees just got things all wrong about John F Kennedy, and that Includes Gore Vidal.

I knew Jack Kennedy and he was no Jack Kennedy. He was a rich guy who inherited his money and ethics from a dishonest father. He had a wife who married for money and spent most of her time re-decorating the White House, acquiring designer clothes. He was a guy who intensified the secretive US assault on Vietnam and almost got us into a nuclear war over Cuba.

Camelot was a nauseating myth that never enchanted me as I went without food in the projects. People seem to want royalty. They need to get over it. This is supposed to be a democracy.

I hope Obama is not as bad as Kennedy was.

Publishing "The City and the Pillar" under his own name, rather than availing himself of a pseudonym or veiling his meaning, in 1948 was not the act of a "famous bullshitter"; with some moderate concessions, Vidal could have parlayed his talent and connections into James Michener-like proportions in the service of the national myths. He didn't do so, even when the right was attacking the Kennedys with a vituperation that dwarfed their later obsession with the Clintons.

Instead, Vidal busted the legends of the libertarian Jefferson and the equality-loving Lincoln in his historical novels; he was reffering to the US as an "empire" at a time when all the media had begun to sing the praises of global capitalism and neocon ideology.

This is not someone who falls for vacuous rhetoric or the inflated icons sold him by corporate campaigns.

Vidal is a fantastic writer, a marvelous bull shitter actually. He's written some great books that sold like hot cakes and he's rich and famous. So he supports Obama now and that must mean Obama is the man, because a rich and famous bullshitter says so. ___Wow, I'm impressed.

OK, sometimes I use a little hyperbole even regarding myself, but that's a trait that shoved Yanks' booties from the get go, and I reserve the right to use hyperbole as much as any other Yank regardlesss of race, color, creed, national origin, part of the country anybody comes from or any damn thing else. "Get up everybody and dance. . ." "We are family. . ."

Now I do agree with Gore Vidal about Barak Obama being a decent sort of fellow and far better as a choice than Ms 3 AM and it's time to nuke somebody right now. But I was never taken in by the damn Klantons. That one execution of that retarded black kid in 1992 set me damn straight on that gang.

Damn all that false modesty, ya'll!

I like Barak Obama, but all this trashing of the Kennedys, especially John, is pure personal hatred on Gore Vidal's part, and I don't have the least use for it. It just shows some "progressive" intellectuals can be just as narrow minded as they claim others, unlike myself. but only one can be the greatest journalist in the USA at the time he was writing, and that just has to be myself, ya'll! OK, let's hear for this boy, ya'll This is that Whitney Houston moment, ya'll, just get everybody and applaud!

Obama's call for a united racially blind USA
hahahahahahahaha...idiot. You sir...are an idiot. Obama isn't even against torture. LOL

Following those remarks, the Illinois senator clarified that he was not comparing U.S. soldiers to Pol Pot (search), Nazis or Soviet guards, but was "attributing this form of interrogation to repressive regimes such as those that I note.

"If this indeed occurred, it does not represent American values. It does not represent what our country stands for, it is not the sort of conduct we would ever condone ... and that is the point I was making. Now, sadly, we have a situation here where some in the right-wing media have said that I have been insulting men and women in uniform. Nothing could be further from truth,"
Dick Durbin on Guantanamo

...we have a tendency to demonize and jump on and make mockery of each other across the aisle, and that is particularly pronounced when we make mistakes. Each and every one of us is going to make a mistake once in a while…and what we hope is that our track record of service, the scope of how we've operated and interacted with people, will override whatever particular mistake we make.
Barack Obama on Durbin's "mistake"

My campaign poster is
Obama, the best of a bad lot.

"That was brilliant.

His prediction that Kerry would win in 04 was not."

A brief reminder: the 2004 election was stolen. See "Uncounted" as well as the Conyers report on Ohio.

As for Vidal's trashing the Kennedys, he comes from the old Anglo ruling class, and to him the Kennedys always remained shanty Irish Catholics who got above their station.

Thank you Mcneil May,

I would hope the others above have the courage to read it as you have, although too long but difficult to reduce.

The USA has some very serious problem that involves helping the rest of the world understand that they are not alone with the problems we all face. They must know once again and understand the people of the USA care!. Obama has alluded to that issue recently. But he most important issue of all-I say to itsaNaziWorldOrder- and any of the others who doubt Obama- for the first time I think in the annals of recent history or memory, the young people are involved with the democratic process. They believe in what this country could become and I with all my remaining breath will help them to do it, because I too refuse to give up on hope and what could become the global dream!

Americans can be and are a much better people than their leaders have shown the world. For the first time Obama is suggesting the changes I have written above. The future belongs to the young and it will be they who must take up the mantle of true change which Obama offers and later in the primary all the others echoed! They young want to make this country what all of us here once hoped it would be, like Gore Vidal. So many of us who write here are disappointed, but for those who like what Rev. Wright said, and took it for the right he has to be bitter and critical about the past, I agree. he simply says many of things that Dr. Martin Luther King spoke to. Michelle Obama, now being attacked for referring obliquely to American racism, which still exists is typical by white racist America that refuses to look in the mirror although it is cracking.

I was raised in a ghetto with Afro-Americans and I lived first hand their lives and experiences. I could escape because I was white, while many of my friends ended in penitentiary or dead! . I think there is more than a point to what Wright said, the kindness he has exhibited, shows for those who want to see. I have witnessed and experienced the black churches.

Obama's call for a united racially blind USA will build America and the world's respect once again, and a new recognition and respect for America will come about if Obama is not too controlled by the Democratic party. This is what is possible to be gained and he will grow to the greatness of what the office can give the people of the USA will again be gained.

Now is the time for the political process to build a true democracy free from the special interests that have torn America down and built the military up at the expense of the entire world. There is a place for the US military but it is not killing people but saving and protecting them as the Chinese military ARE DOING NOW!

Gore Videal is too smart and witty to ignore and too politically incorrect to be seriously tolerated by mainstream America. May he have a long life poking pins of his brilliance into the blimp-like egos of lesser men and women and the oportunity to pee on the grave sites of his many detractors in order to water the flowers around them.

I actually agree with continually amused. Where has waiting for your "betters" ever helped the black man in America? I think MLK's "I have a dream" speech was probably the most self destructive thing that could have ever happened to blacks in America. It made Whitey feel good and turned blacks into hopeless beggars. Malcolm X and Jerimiah Wright have it correct. F#$k White America and focus on self sufficiency. Copy the success of Korean and Chinese communities. Do all your business in the community...open your own banks...control and staff your local police departments...etc. Take control of your local community...take money in...don't spend it outside the community. Blacks would do better listening to Jerimiah Wright's sermons than voting for Obama. The "walking hand and hand" liberals are the worst racists of all. They believe blacks need a handout to be successful. No...blacks need to stop being manipulated and stand up for themselves. MLK was coming around too...that is why he came out against the Vietnam war...Cockburn implied in an article that it was probably the reason he is dead...and also noted

In contrast to Hutton, the Panthers and above all Malcolm X, slain in 1965, white liberal opinion, resentments at the disloyalty of the Riverside Church speech conveniently forgotten, has hailed King as a man who chose to work within the system and who furthermore failed to make any significant dent on business as usual. In his last years King was haunted by a sense of failure. Amid a failed organizing campaign in Chicago he was booed at a mass meeting there and, as he lay sleepless that night he wrote later that he knew why: "I had urged them [his fellow blacks ] to have faith in America and in white society They were now booing because they felt were unable to deliver on our promises They were now hostile because they were watching the dream they had so readily accepted turn into a nightmare." As the radical journalist Andrew Kopkind wrote shortly after King's assassination, "That he failed to change the system that brutalizes his race is a profound relief to the white majority. As a reward they have now elevated his minor successes into major triumphs."

I love Gore Vidal, but he overuses labelling and issuing broad judgments that are dubious at best:
"Timothy McVeigh was a brilliant, misunderstood kid."
"Martin Luther King, Jr. was among our best demagogues."
" Bobby Kennedy was a phony little Torquemada".
It reminds me of the rhetorical question a German woman had in response to Bush, Jr's pronouncements. "What gives him the authority to judge who is good and who is evil?" The same applies to Gore Vidal and the rest of us as well.

Ike Kay
What a great and accurate post!
OBAMA 08

No need to fear what Americans of African ancestry will do if the nomination is stolen from Obama. We know we are outgunned and that rioting in the streets is not an effective strategy against an oppressive government. This country could benefit from a revolution, but how can you have a revolution when such a vast majority believe in their oppressors? The truth is nearly impossible to find, being hidden under an avalanche of propaganda, and similar fallacious, illogical rhetoric. For example, this past Sunday George Will said "Americans are asking themselves who is Barack Obama". Now, George knew what he was doing by making that statement. He was sending a message to all who regard him as a source of valid information, that Barack H. Obama, US Senator of Illinois, University of Chicago Constitutional Law Professor, Harvard Law School graduate, Candidate for the Office of the President of the United States is a man who they should not trust because they don't know who he really is. If George is correct and people are asking that question about Senator Obama. It is simply because they have been listening to George and his kind much too long. When it comes to revolutions, the people will have to personally change before they can begin to effectively change a government.

All I can say is some of the postings these people should read some of Gore Vidals books before posting anything more on the man or subject
DREAMING WAR ( blood for oil and the cheney bush junta)
PERPETUAL WAR FOR PERPETUAL PEACE ( how we got to be so hated)
THE LAST EMPIRE ( essays 1992-2000)
Are a few I have in my home library

Mr Vidal's thoughts on JFK reminded me of this (from Wikipedia):There was much criticism of Quayle after the campaign's televised vice-presidential debate, in which he compared his amount of Congressional experience to that of John F. Kennedy when he was running for president. Democratic candidate Lloyd Bentsen said in rebuttal, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy," to which a noticeably surprised and unprepared Quayle replied, "That was really uncalled for, Senator," as both applause and boos were heard from the debate audience.
Who knew that Bensten was actually paying Quayle a compliment!

People need to give Continually Amused a break. At least Continually Amused is being honest. As for Gore Vidal, while I am not thrilled that he has jumped on the Corporate Obama bandwagon, I still respect him. I would respect Obama more if he wouldn't run away from Hamas, Iran or Reverend Wright. What the hell's wrong with Hamas anyways? I thought they were democratically elected to serve the Palestinian people? As for Iran, who the hell is the US to tell them that they can't defend themselves the way they see fit. And Reverend Wright was right!

continually amused,

"Can anybody out there inform me, a "person of color", what exactly Barack Obama will change and do?"

Provide excellent cover for the military/corporate program (CIA and MI6 sponsored) of genocide in Africa as well as the increased imprisonment of those especially of color who have been selected to become part of the 'new' prison slave labor in this country...

And many more programs (genocidal) that will primarily target 'persons of color'!

Something tells me that some dirt revealing the role of many secret services in the 'child wars' is about to come to light… and, new bio-terror weapons that target certain races may be launched… Barack standing there camouflaging and/or in defense of these programs… well, that's the way it is done… because, he would never allow, blah, blah, blah… to 'people of color'

Rich people are not the same as poor people. And powerful and influential people have no use for the downtrodden except to use them. Black, white, brown, yellow, red… the elite is never interested in the troubles of the poor except to increase them!

"During the Clinton administration, Vidal admired Bill's understanding of the poor and of black people."

Really !! So Bill understood the poor ? I suppose thats why he did his darned best to get rid of helping the neediest of the lot ... unemployed, uneducated single moms on shit street, just so he could score points with his fuckbuddy Gingrich.

Talk about being an elitist ! I heard him speak many times on Amy Goodmans show and he definitely comes off as a pompous old prick who 'feels' for lesser mortals like us.

You have hit the nail squarely ~Muscle boy~. Perfectly.

I think Hillary entered this contest because she thought herself the better candidate to serve as president.

This constant pecking nonsense that she doesn't have the right to fight for her beliefs to the end is what is insane. Mind you, I think Gore Vidal is a national and world treasure but I worry about this hole process I see unfolding.

We have teams of people at CNN and MSNBC who have fully supported every aspect of the truly psychopathic Bush administration, twisting every truth and telling every lie. Suddenly both day and night they have tried to blow-up Hillary Clinton in her tracks and seem to be full on in support of Obama. Strange very strange. I had a Republicon now turned independent friend of mine(mind you he is a rare person and is wholly against the Bush administration) show me an email he received which listed out just some of the attacks the Republicons would be launching against Obama. Something tells me what CNN and the rest of the neocon-defense-industrial-complex psychopaths are up to is positioning the race so that McCain ends up winning.

And at this point I'm not all that certain Obama is the magical hero he seems to be. He said he'd go for an increased usage of Blackwater in Iraq... and I'm not so sure the health care program is anywhere near what we need. But I do know that Hillary has every right and should be given every right to finish her race.

And I do hope whichever of the two wins the other will become the vice president and that their respective positions and desires be made fully part of the race against evil I think we must win. I don't think we'll survive another George Bush or anything like him. It's just too important.

What a sorry article and then quite a few sorry blogs. It should not make one bit of difference if Obama is half white, half black, all black, or all white, red, or yellow, taupe or brown. We are all humans and we are all the same. The dfferences are our moral values, our intellect and common sense, our honesty,, inner decency, sobriety and our souls.

The old "Sage, Gore Vidal, is as ~Rebel Farmer~ noted so well, just another human, who offers his personal and as evidenced, very biased opinions. There is no meat there, just rhetoric, "Obama is a great orator and leader". Yes indeed he is a great orator, the best Ihave ever heard, __ but a leader? We'll see. Robert Browning's ~Pied Piper~ was a great leader, the younger generation followed him to oblivion.

Obama is a tool of the Neo-Cons, that's well proven by his voting record as a US Senator and who donates to him ___ and the press and media have given him a free ride so far. There is little wonder of that, since the media is owned by GE and other giant corporations who have Obama in their pockets. They want those planned nuclear power plants and if either Obama or McCain is our next president, they will surely have them.

Do any here believe Obama actually recieved his campaign funding from small donations from the grass root level? He has recieved over $134 million reported so far, from giant corporations hidden under the phoney term __"bundeled" __ donations.

That's alright, all of the candidates recieved money from the same donaters, but Obama recieved the most by far. McCain got less than one million from them in fact. But Obama denies taking such actual PAC "bundeled" money. ___Why? ___What other important facts has he mis-lead with? This link explains it fully.

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/contrib.asp?id=n000096388&cycle=2008

the constitution is a GOOD document, democracy, as in peaceful revolutions and changes in power structures through peaceful elections, the right to representations, are GOOD PRINCIPLES.

vote for who would stand on these principles. RON PAUL

its not about winning or loosing, ben franklin said the greatest minds speak of ideas, the good minds remember events, the small minds speak of people...

and i add...

the smaller minds speak only of themselves...

THERE ARE GOOD AND BAD IDEAS. when it comes to the systems that manage our United States way of life. the country is just an idea - what kind of idea should it be and who should we elect to stand up for it? who knows?

elections arent won on election day.... ill repeat again. elections arent won on election day... and good teams dont try to win basketball games... they try to play GOOD BASKETBALL.
good football temas dont try to WIN GAMES... they try to play GOOD FOOTBALL... anybody picking this up?

Oh Contiually (Un)Amused,

One more thing, I did not for one second say anything about any "US" at all.

I did not lump you in with any greater and/or larger group. I spoke to you specifically and directly in the singular form - I said "YOU" were being a fool.

Don't try to spin everything into a race argument when there isn't any.

Nuff said.

From the article,"In his view Barack Obama has won; and if the nomination is taken away from him 'I fear what our black population may do. There has never been a revolution of blacks-yet'".

I like much of Vidal's writings and enjoy listening to him but I thought that was an odd statement to make. Then I read through the comments, yipes, maybe he's right. Continually amused (continually annoyed?), the self proclaimed "person of color", seems to indicate that "his brothers hate you people". I guess that means, according to continually annoyed, that people of color hate white people. So maybe Vidal's implication is more right on than I thought? I just don't see it however.

The irony is that cont. amused seems to despise Obama. So if Obama loses the nomination and Vidal is correct that a race revolt occurs because of it, whose side you gonna be on continually?

Constantly (UN)Amused,

I really have no idea where you are coming from.

I didn't speak to anything even remotely as intense as your reaction would have one think...
I am sorry that you are so 'reactive' as you are.
I wouldn't even want to think of your reaction if I took the time to dig deep for a comment, which I didn't.

Personally, I feel that it greatly detracts from any credibility you might have as a human being - when you show yourself to be as combative as you appear to be over virtually nothing.

A truly wise and powerful person would not expend the effort to go off as much as you have over a couple off-hand remarks.

Like I said before: Lay down.

Then go out there and deal with your troubles, but don't lay them upon us. We can't make it okay for you - you gotta go out there and work it out for yourself, buddy.

Peace.

BTW:
1)you have NO IDEA who I am at all,
and
2) Don't bother 'chasing my white ass' all over this site, I do not comment enough to make it worth your while, believe me.

kelmer sez: "His prediction that Kerry would win in 04 was not (brilliant)."

When he said 'win', perhaps Vidal was speaking of the vote, and not the office.

A longer excellent interview with Vidal is available here on the Democracy Now web site:

http://www.democracynow.org/2008/5/14/legendary_author_gore_vidal_on_the

ticonderoga: 11:30pm post

Excellent post!

Here is why I think Vidal is full of shit on this one

"There has been a lot of discussion within progressive circles recently about whether Barack Obama's candidacy poses a real threat to the political establishment. Of course, he has won the hearts and minds of the grass roots liberal and progressive communities, but can a person who has advisers like former national security advisors Zbigniew Brzezinski and Anthony Lake, former assistant secretary of state Susan Rice, and former navy secretary Richard Danzig really be that much of a revolutionary? I use this excerpt from Wolves, to remind us that the threat isn't necessarily the candidate, but the flow of political reformist insurgents they bring into the party apparatus."

Obama is a NWO puppet just as are Hitlery and Mcbombbomb

There's more:
http://www.wolvesbook.com/

Continually amused, how do you know you're the only black person on this site? Also, you don't know anyone here at all, seeing's how we're just a bunch of entities typing away on our keyboards? Do you really know us all well enough to react to us with such hatred? And you know what? None of us said anything that was even remotely insulting to you.

Kalia, what does Gore Vidal's sexual orientation have to do with whether what he says about Obama is valid or not?

Rebel Farmer, I don't know about you, but I'd rather trust a man of letters than a politician or a statesman any day, with the exception of Dennis Kucinich. After all, both Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn are men of letters. And a lot of what Vidal said in that article was true, especially when he referred to neocons and corporations in this way, "They're crooks. They're just gangsters. They are the enemy of the United States. There's no such thing as a war on terrorism. It's idiotic. There are slogans. It's advertising, which is the only art form we've invented and developed. It's lies."

SOS! Women and children read some of these articles and comments and would it be asking too much for all who show their frustration with other posters, the government, the "system" or whatever troubles you, to refrain from using vulger words? It doesn't make you tougher or angrier than anyone else posting comments on CD.

Who was tougher than Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney, or Humphry Bogart, without uttering one curse word.

This unreserved endorsement on behalf of Obama from a notorious homosexual who once claimed that he was sexually aroused by the sight of JFK's behind will only compound the situation. Obama himself has been accused of having homosexual relations with the Rev. Wright by some in the black religious community.

Gore continues -- delivers truth straight to the gut!

The rich want Mini-Bush, the PWT* want Billiary, only smart people want Obama. What chance does he have? (*Poor White Trash)

Does anyone read these LONG uninformative posts? I don't!! If you are that long winded get your own blog for your rants! You lost me after the first sentence!

But I could listen to Barack speak all day.....

Can we put the daggers away now kids? Jeez.....

continually amused,

Sounds as though you are never amused. And, your posts are no more than 'foaming at the mouth' racist rantings, which are just as 'low life'' as those of any white racist.

"intelligent black people who can strive and fight and succeed without big fucking Whitey giving us a handout?"

How do you reconcile this statement with you condemnation of Senator Obama. And, why don't you enlighten us as to your wondrous and "nobody gave me anything; I did it all by myself" accomplishments.

And guess what? You have no idea as to the color of my skin.

It is about time that someone has had the courage to describe the Kennedy's for what they really were, and also to describe this nation for what it has become. His description of McCain can be applied to the most of the population as well. It's very sad.

Obama/Vidal '08

Vidal is a man of letters, not a statesman or an elected official. His opinions and observations must be taken in that light. He is just another citizen with an opinion. And a rich one at that.

And he lost me on the Bill Clinton thing.......

I believe that kittyladyoregon was being sarcastic, not racist. If she were talking about Hillary, she probably would have said something to the effect that only the gender in the WH would change. It's clear that the humor was lost to some. Lighten up a little.....Please.....

At 82, Gore Vidal has reached an enviable position: he is an influential man of letters, a political activist, a scion of the New World aristocracy and a friend of the powerful and famous, including the Clintons.

The article's premise is defunct. We built an empire on that premise, an evil empire. We're fueling the wrong side of human nature. Let's forget about fame, power, aristocracy, influence, and envy of those who "fall down" into such zero-sum pursuits. Hierarchy is catastrophic. Hierarchy is now fully discredited. The better way is clear - equity for all. Is Gore Vidal teaching the world to fish? No. Gore Vidal is cultivating his private plantation. If you don't like the 90% of the problems in this world creating by elitism, then please stop supporting elitism.

Hey continually Amused - lay down.
I thought your original question was a bit off-the-wall, but now with your reply to Kitty, you are merely being a fool - and have shown your cards.

We cannot help you, you have to get your own life and you have to make it work for yourself.

You can do it.

Obama for Pres 08!!!

Dear Gore Vidal you do us a great service with your editorial. I offer the readers an additional glimpse of reality, as many may know.
In the present Congress and in the blogs most people avoid reality and don't really deal with the issues head on. Most are still looking for the magic technological bullet that will save the American economy so the USA can continue on the way it's going with ever more growth and ever more and greater GDP as the bankers, advise. Even some scientists think we can continue this way of life unchanged if we just, ease little bit on energy consumption and wait until we figure it out. The unreality of the political landscape is exposed by our elder statesman, Mr.Vidal but there are so many issues to be-dealt with before Obama makes it to the presidency.

But there really there is not any quick fix. I am a filmmaker and have worked on the environmental change-issues since 1978 so I have a fair amount of experience to speak. While LED light bulbs are good and 40 MPG for cars is better, it is not the 80-MPG, necessary! Also, refitting for all existing cars rather than exporting them to the developing world presently being done. The developed world continues to export the problem from the USA to other countries as if we don't share this world with other people.

It was GE that killed the electric car not long ago who in Congress complained about that? Special interests were behind that decision and now the US auto industry is rushing to catch up ten years later. Whether health care, big business, environment, energy alternatives, toxicity in the environment or any and all of these it comes down to who has the courage to talk about all of them rather than focusing on the head of a pin as major media does. Health care, Rev. Wright beaten to death why? Obfuscation of all the interrelated problems the USA must face! Fear of this and the possible legislation by a liberal government that understands that "business as usual, will kill the USA and the world.

You want to hear about health care? The advance of environmentally based health problems by a toxic environment and air related pandemics is what we are looking at in the next few years with rising global temperatures. The candidates are discussing universal health care for the USA alone? That is sort of like a sentence fragment! Try that on for the globe and all the sicknesses the policies of the USA have caused, five percent of the world's population the USA produces seventy three percent of global toxicity. You wonder where cancer comes from?

The people of the USA have been so ill informed as to what a change would really do and mean to this country and the change in leadership, they have forgotten that no one could be worse than George Bush . . . No one not even the dog catcher, at least the dog catcher has compassion for animals!

The real problem is not Obama elected president; the major problem is the media forces him to divert the discussion of the important issues to the back burner to become elected. Thus forcing him to put his emphasis on the wrong problem at the wrong time. The problem is getting him to address a credible platform of ideas.

There is not enough time to have the issues most pressing avoided, like the environment and those really important issues before the congress, like children's and senior's health care!

The issue of this election will affect the environment, economy and the future of the USA as no others. Yet if more than 50% of eligible voters cast their votes it will be a miracle because of regressive US election laws. It is compulsory for every one to vote in Australia. None of the candidates are really talking on the major points of the environment in association with the economy or health care and reform election laws. But that will not happen soon enough and look to Obama being defeated by the Electoral College if he does receive the nomination, which cannot be stopped!

The environmental news coming out is not new but it is very grave and keeps being pushed to more urgency as new research comes to light. If any one reading this comment cares to look at the website of NASA, the research papers of James Hansen in particular that were published long before Gore was on the scene and many since, they would understand that we really cannot deal with much more than one degree to two and half degrees Fahrenheit of warming at its maximum to ward off the most serious effects of industrial societies pollution and to offset this growing catastrophe.

At about two and half degrees warming which is presently in the pipeline we will be dealing with about 550 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere, a rate actually above the tipping point of one and half
Degrees warming. This is the absolute figure to avoid the major positive feedback loops that are starting and scheduled to kick in by 2020 or earlier if nothing is done quickly. Positive feedback is starting now with Methane now being released on the tundra into the atmosphere a four times addition to greenhouse gasses and causing the poles and glaciers to melt more rapidly, or has no one noticed?

The below scenario excerpted from the climate articles here on common dreams tell us clearly without rapid change runaway climate change and their feedback loops are in reach within 10 to 30 years if nothing is done rapidly. The positive feedback loops will melt the remainder of the glaciers and perhaps dump Greenland into the sea as well. Also, the melting of additional ice-shelf's at the poles. That means perhaps a 3 to 30 foot ocean rise by the end of this century, but the process is beginning now and in 20 years or less without rapid change in economic direction the human race will reach a point of no return. The so-called news and other media continue to bend the information toward the global economic agenda thus minimizing its importance. India for example is less concerned about climate change than they are about economic production thanks to the G8, although their neighbor Bangladesh is slipping into the sea. Still in India, there are several moves in the direction of smaller is better concepts of reality.

There will be sufficient human displacement of people on this planet to bring American citizens into a nightmare scenario that makes the present Mexican border problem a walk in the park. What about the transfer of health risks as a result of this problem? Not to mention water and food related issues and the economy, always the economy.

Yet is seems the political discussion rests on the complete list of talking points in isolation, such as Clinton's health package and its cost, rather than what is really at stake which is human survival. These folks on the stage wanting to be president rarely talk to the complete interrelated package of all these issues and more. The media reduces the public debate to its most simplistic level and all here are arguing about one issue or another rather than the entire package, which a true leader must address. The media keeps the public dumbed-down for obvious reasons they represent the money people. As a result we become unable to talk about moving radically to deal with climate change the first and major issue, which affects all other issues and is completely related to economic change.

The world does not have (much later) before a more aggressive approach to all the issues beginning with climate change now! Remember New Orleans? Within next10 to 20 years is where it all hangs. If nothing is done very soon it will mark the beginning of the end for the human race. Those appear to be the facts and no technology will stop runaway climate change once it begins, indeed if we look at the melting poles the worst case is much more apparent than formerly believed . . .it has already begun!!

Perhaps it might be too late now, according to James Lovelock, in his view it has begun. James Hansen at NASA makes a very compelling case for the time frame for action within the time in office of the next president of the USA and so does the UN. I think anyone who really wishes to be informed should go to the websites of these people mentioned here or the IPCC. It is technical information but worth taking the time to inform yourself. The answer is to start working quickly for change and vote for those candidates who speak of change and another direction and who represent ideas rather than special interests.

For example the best work would be to defeat the pro-business Clintons and elect Obama or possibly a joint ticket with a man who is active for the environment and know how to move politically. Gore will not accept the VP spot but would be a good director of the EPA or environment CZAR. While we know they have an outside chance of winning the election as a result of the Electoral College, they are the best possibility for change.

But we all know business interests will prevail with Clinton capturing the vote and a pro-business vote is a vote against the environment. No one running on the Democratic side could be worse than Bush and the pro- special interest group which is why the "Dream Team" would be absolute failure for change. Gore Vidal knows that as well. The business interests control the environmental agenda and most candidates. If they are not defeated we all perish along with globalization and the so-called "free market system" free to enrich the few at the expense of the many and the world.

The republicans will continue the work of burying the planet, as will pro-business democratic candidates most of whom have been bought, whether by health interests or anything else concerning big money. The facts concerning climate science, is what is important. What the environmental facts really suggest is economic depression in the West in the near term. But if we are really serious about saving the planet (no one wants to hear that if they are connected to big money) it means voting for economic and environmental legislation limiting pollution and green house gasses . . . that is change!

The environment, water, energy production these are the real issues of this election campaign but no one would dares mention them in association with change in economic direction for fear of defeat. A redirection and a retooling of the global economy and of America is in order and that is not a popular issue on Wall street or people invested in Wall Street, the 401k . . .most everyone in one way or another.

We have to change rapidly and move to a none-stop production of environmental invention and energy alternatives for the western world and developing nations rapidly. It also means rapid technology- transfer for the developing world without delay; this may save us some time. A cut of 80% of the carbon emissions within the next 10 years is in order and it must be done beginning now and well on the way before 2012 the next date for Kyoto. Kyoto is a western world fabrication to tell us we can keep polluting while where trying to find a way to deal with this crisis economically.

A change of the present direction of economic production and fast move in a different direction economically is required by anyone that can think and put simple figures in context of this crisis. The world is waiting for this move by the Americans and watch the dollar rise rapidly against other currencies once this plan would be announced if ever. This is why this upcoming election is so critical and the results of it will determine whether the human race survives . . .. It is that critical!

An additional 3 degrees to four degrees Fahrenheit is three more degrees greater than this climate and its creatures can sustain or endure without collapse!! This quoted from the recent UN assertions here in Common dreams and from accurate information by scientist's not political organization: "a temperature rise of between 5.4 and 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit (3 and 4 degrees Celsius) would displace
340 million people through flooding, droughts would diminish farm output, and retreating glaciers would cut off drinking water from as many as 1.8 billion people, the report says." this is an understatement
and conservative.

The above report is economically associated and conservative as well as misleading!!! Forget this idea of 5.4 to 7.2 Fahrenheit of warming that is the Martian landscape because it allows for the runaway positive feedbacks to take hold. Whomever believes this world can sustain this degree of warming is either working for the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, or is gathering this information from the laboratory at EXXON Mobile or its publicists!! ??????

The masses? Unless you have not heard, these are the people above who are worrying where their next bag of groceries comes from and the money to pay the rent and where to find the money to fill up their gas tanks the very basis for the problem a vicious circle! They really don't give a damn about the environmental issues. . And have no time for thinking about 10 to 20 years from today that has no realty attached to it for most Americans or the rest of the four and half billion people on this Earth in the same situation.

Or, for the rest of the population working for and controlled by big business and big money . . .that is what this election is really about and if one thinks about the complexity of all these interrelated issues we know that we cannot beat the odds business will win. That means the future for humanity is limited even for the one percent that has everything.

As Gore Vidal agrees, elect Obama he is not funded by big business for this election, as is Hillary Clinton. We still live on beautiful planet for a short time limited to the next two generations in the future, unless we fix the problems quickly. While it is painful for the average American to pay the high-energy costs, they are a blessing for the environment and the children. It will force the USA to deal with reality and change its energy footprint and move away from hydrocarbons and toxic energy production. This may give the world a chance to save humanity!

IKE

Vidal has never been a great political analyst his mind dominated by fixations with celebrity; and Obama is a celebrity.

It's true that JFK never was a good president, neither will be Obama.

And if Obama were denied the nomination, I can guarantee you blacks will not revolt. They didn't revolt when King was killed, and he was actual leader, not an empty suit.

No, if Obama does not get the nomination, folks will just lose some interest in the entertainment aspect of the process, never having really been involved in politics in a meaningful way in the first place.

What Vidal fails to mention is that Obama is just another in a long line of corporate, neo liberal, imperialist Democrats. He has no real new ideas for change and doesn't even embrace any of the old ideas for change that would work but Dems have never tried (single payer, fair trade, reducing the war budget, etc.).

Hey Continually Amused: Obama will change the color of the man in the White House.

After listening to Amy Goodman interviewing Vidal last week when he explained how he'd always been part of the elite class my respect for his opinion slipped a little .

I hold people like Howard Zinn in a much higher bracket when it comes to his convictions to create a better world.

Vidal seems to play to the left /right paradigm while from my lowly position all I can clearly see is what has always been the case.

The world is made of the "haves and the have nots."

And as stated above the "haves" never have or never will stop short of anything to maintain their position.

It appears now that Kennedy was murdered (when I was 1 year old) because he was pressing hard to abolish the Federal Reserve Banking system and end U.S. involvement in other Country's (Cuba and Vietnam)affairs.

It is very disappointing when men in positions such as Vidal never make any mention of that.Of course this is very understandable for how would this elite class be maintained if the sheeple understood how things really work.

Until the brainwashed masses get their minds around that idea it will surly continue no matter which of the elites Actor in Chief is selected.

So glad that the analogy between Obama and the Kennedy's is being challenged. I totally agree (and felt at the time) that the Kennedy's (Jack and Bobby) were media productions of their own making. Obama is a leader. The two brothers were pr fabrications. I love Vidal's acid wit. We need it.

There are so many emperors running around naked in this country. Can't rely on the mass media to point out that there are no clothes. Thanks also for the perceptions of John McCain. "Maverick" indeed. "War hero" indeed.

I liked how Vidal tricked Charlton Heston into playing a homosexual character in Ben Hur with Stephen Boyd's help.
That was brilliant.

His prediction that Kerry would win in 04 was not.

I think anyone who is reading CD articles and has not yet understood that our social infrastructure is a corporate/militaristic one, and two, ruled by an elite international oligarchy, has to be an idiot.

'Presidents' do not lead, they distract the masses and render them cognitively ineffective since they are never addressing their protests to those who decide policy.

Obama will possibly deceive us better than Kennedy and like Kennedy; if he gets any funny ideas, or gets so popular that he causes fear amongst his handlers... he will be disposed.

Those are the real facts. Care to awaken?

BTW, which of these grand deceivers ('our candidates') has told you the truth of the planned destruction of the Trade Towers by our military/corporate state and how such acts have been used by the elite (throughout history) to stir up genocidal wars and further police state controls?

Exit the illusion. The price the innocent pay for your continuing dream state is death.

I thought Vidal has always been extremely critical of the Clintons? Guess not.

The US has offered more than "advertising" to the world's culture. Jazz, American architecture, not to mention a rather lengthy list of extremely great writers. Great advances in science and technology as well as other things.

But who can disagree with him on Bush and the Neocons? They all belong either in asylums or in prison. One of our hopes, I think, that is of progressives, is that Obama will be able to cut through the Neocon and far right rhetoric with his own verbal brilliance and clarity. That would only leave those fools who voted for and believed in this current mob in the first place. Can Obama surmount (without appearing like an "elitist?") that decisive edge which might give the election to McCain?

staying sane,

I likewise was taken aback at that remark about Vidal admiring Clinton for "understanding poor and black people".

But, note that it is not a quote from Vidal himself - probably a mistaken opinion of the British journalist who wrote this piece.

Surely, if Vidal ever believed this, it was only for the first few months of Clinton's administration.

Vidal is right on the mark as usual. No president in the running now is going to be anything more than a demagogue and a servant of Corporate America, the true religion of the USA.

Obama has a lot of sense for a candidate. I'm comforting myself in the (probably) vain hope that once in office he will do the right thing.

"For him, the biggest lie has always been to keep quiet; and the best life-enhancer is to provoke, unsettle, rile - in short, to make people face the truth. He remains a rarity"

-

Vidal admires Bill Clinton's understanding of the poor. Hilarious! Vidal has lost all credibility in my eyes.

Americans need to assert themselves, not expect a president to care - no one becomes president because they care.

Vidal is misleading the American people, and should go back to Italy - he's no use to ordinary Americans.

" You could beat McCain! I've never met anyone in America who has the slightest respect for him. He went to a private school and came bottom of his class. He smashed up his aeroplane and became a prisoner of war, which he is trying to parlay into 'war hero'."

In his view, McCain is "a goddamned fool. He was on television talking about mortgages, and it was quite clear he does not know what a mortgage is. His head rattles as he walks".

Vidal is entertaining and incisive as usual but one can never underestimate the intelligence of the American electorate or overestimate the criminal duplicity of the electoral system.

What a great man.

I'm glad he is willing to come out and say that the Kennedy's were not all demigods. If you agree or do not, it is a strong ethos builder to support Obama from such a different point of view.

Hillary will drop out in June though.

This is a man we should all be listening to. He's been at the top and he knows of what he speaks. But sadly, he will be marginalized and America will lose another chance to learn something about itself.
Hoa binh

Well, that's quite a powerful endorsement for Obama, depending on how many Americans actually know who Gore Vidal is. Maybe a better endorsement would have come from an actor. Nah, I'm being too cynical.

I think Vidal may have shot his own endorsement in the foot, though, with his trashing of the Kennedys.