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One of the points I see Dean making that I haven’t seen mentioned is the payback-for-Watergate angle. I was surprised that these people were still pursuing this. But after a little further thought about Liddy and Colson and that crew? I have no doubt.

I don’t doubt that Dean has a bit of a personal axe to grind here. But I think he’s got a lot more ground to stand on than his opponents. He’s one of the few that has/had a conscience, although he’s too gentlemanly to make the point directly. He was bought in to the scheme at first; he knew, to his credit, when it was time to fess up.

Yes, he is a convicted felon. None of the Watergate folks were ever pardoned that I know. I suspect he might be of two minds about a proffered pardon. I think he’s made his peace. I doubt that throwing “felon” in his face would make him back off one bit when offering testimony before a Congressional committee. Conscience.

His observations on Liddy, Colson and others and the sort of formative process going on in the ’90s I found very illuminating. Liddy could care less. Colson has found Jesus and been “forgiven”. Neither has changed a bit. There are plenty of others apparently who feel the same sense of wounded pride and vengefulness. No conscience – which is the point.

I think the analysis which makes up the bulk of the book is spot-on. This is a man unafraid of science and comfortable in pondering and using it. Upon stumbling across an area of study he was obviously unfamiliar with, he has the intellectual curiousity and ability to review it, judge it and find that it helps him answer questions he has been grappling with in his own field of study.

Goldwater. Is he spinning in his grave? No doubt in my mind. He was spinning before he left, God bless him. I find myself contemplating, way-lefty that I am, reading Conscience of a Conservative. Goldwater is the man who, when asked about gays in the military, stated, “Who the hell cares?” I’m sure I’ll find plenty I don’t agree with, but I suspect I’ll find things I can agree with. This is America, after all.

I can live with Conservatives like that. And like Mr. Dean. Thank you, sir, for an astoundingly apropos and well-produced primer on what the hell is going on with our country.

The only complaint I have is this. Like Thomas Frank’s excellent What’s the Matter With Kansas? and any number of other recent books and magazine and blog articles, it’s mighty short on solutions.

It’s a vital challenge.

Re: Wilber — you know, I think Wilber’s question isn’t about Wilber. He’s had a continuous string of circumstances that have forced him to let go of the physical. Perhaps the question is less what/who is Wilber, but what is I-I, and how will it go on without whatever he brings as the physical being currently known as Wilber. At least that’s what it looks like from here.

Jamison — yes, a pathology; I think we’ve seen a lot of texts over the last 5 years that have beat around the bush (so to speak), including Bush on the Couch. But none have so lucidly tied up all the loose ends into one framework.

What I deeply appreciate and believe could work is that which integral psychologist Ken Wilber espouses in his community, Integral Institute: Let the next words out of your mouth be from your Highest Self as you understand it. We have never really challenged the right to walk the walk, to be that better person and culture they claim they are. We have not challenged ourselves to be our own higher selves, in challenging them.

I think it could work; it’s part of that shift from a autocratic/authoritarian-distant father and an ineffectual nurturing mother, to a universal parent who is firm in expectations yet understanding of the gap between current capacity and future ability.

I used to be a stockbroker and all I saw was Fear and Greed….sometimes it just comes down to these 2 motivators. The ‘04 Election used Fear on the women and Greed on the men.

If the Dems were smart, they would start scaring the ever loving piss out of Americans!

Hate, fear, and greed are all the Republican party sells now. Every issue they offer three versions of it to convince you they are right. Immigration is a great example, they have the straight hate message. Then they have they are all criminals message and they are going to hurt you. Then they have the they are going to take your job message.

Orangejumpsuit, moi aussi from Honolulu! Born in St. Francis hospital, lived on Wiley Street until I was four, when we went to SF. Went back for the first time year before last. Sheesh. In my time it was a sleepy, non-touristy town.

Yeah, but no more. The price of progress, eh? So you are a Nuuanu girl. Lovely area though a bit moist.

This has been an awesome thread, but quiet now, so a few stragglers are allowed to reminisce. There are a fair number of fdl’ers from Hawaii, as I notice from some of the names and comments. There is also someone who calls him/herself Kewalo.

Being Buddhist, Wilber understands karma. This will help him approach the next phase of his spiritual growth. Right now, he needs to ask, “Who is Ken Wilber?” (As we all do about ourself.)