Steve Kelman on Politics, Culture, and Life, 11.8.2021

Steve Kelman, Harvard Kennedy School prof, moderate Dem, pro free speech/anti cancel culture, pro tax rich, pro-Israel. Research improving gov performance, China interest. Blog reprints Facebook posts

Will D’s and R’s support 2024 results if their side loses

CNN reports a survey that 86% of Democrats say they will accept the results of theCNN reports next presidential election if their side loses, but only 33% of Republicans would. This is truly horrifying.

Colin Powell autobiography

Just bought Colin Powell's autobiography on Amazon after a rec from a Facebook friend. There are 369 reviews on Amazon. The AVERAGE rating is 5.0! Never seen something like this before. Won't arrive for three weeks, looks like maybe Miami reading.

Chinese political prisoners dying in jail

Human Rights Watch, in calling for the release of citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, imprisoned after the beginning of the covid epidemic in Wuhan, China, notes a significant number of recent cases, of which the most famous was the death of Nobel Prize winner Liu Xiaobo in prison, where political prisoners died in prison, in some cases shortly after being jailed.

Joe Manchin literally points a gun at climate change bill

Evan Osnos recounts in his book that in his campaign for Senate, Joe Manchin showed himself carrying a gun and shooting it at a copy of proposed climate change legislation.

Chinese prof: don’t put my name on LinkedIn

A Chinese professor connected with me a while ago on LinkedIn. This is one of the few Western websites available to Chinese, though LinkedIn has now announced they are withdrawing from China. He frequently has been liking my posts. I had started tagging him on some posts that include criticisms of the Chinese government. He just wrote me: "Sincerely thanks for knowing you and sharing your thought here. But, I am not a politician guy and it would be not a good thing that posts my name with your political incline about our government. So would you please not post my name on your posters in the future? Thanks a lot." Told him of course I would respect his wishes. Sad.

Taiwanese-American mayor candidate speaks Spanish at election rallies – this is America!

Michelle Wu, the mayor candidate who is Taiwanese American, often spoke Spanish at campaign rallies.

Chinese official media: they love Xi Jinping

In case you hadn't noticed it, here's a description of Xi Jinping in China hard-hitting journalistic outlet China Daily:

"Xi Jinping, the man who leads CPC on new journey

Since being elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in November 2012, Xi has been seen as a man of determination and action, a man of profound thoughts and feelings, a man who inherited a legacy but dares to innovate, and a man who has forward-looking vision and is committed to working tirelessly."

Firsts for new Boston mayor

The new mayor Boston, Michelle Wu, is the first woman, first person of color, first mother, and the youngest in a century. She also breaks a long Boston tradition of Boston mayors having been born in Boston. A long time observer of voting patterns in Boston noted "she was able to rise above that tribal identity politics and turf warfare."

Bloodcurdling China Daily editorial on Taiwan

Bloodcurdling editorial in China Daily: "Reunification (=annexation of Taiwan) will be by force if necessary whether US supports secessionists or not."