In my last few articles about Berkeley city council, I have described a certain structural corruption that emerges from an inherently anti-democratic dimension of representationism. In particular, the articles refer to council’s denial of protection of its constituencies with respect to affordable housing and homelessness. And they describe how council has hidden behind crises of its own making in order to foster a process of gentrification by which a few people will get rich while destroying neighborhoods, creating massive dislocation of residents. -more-

While there’s still time, let’s consider the possibilities for President Barack Obama’s constitutionally guaranteed nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court. Everybody’s favorite senator, Elizabeth Warren, frames the decision perfectly:

"The sudden death of Justice Scalia creates an immediate vacancy on the most important court in the United States.

"Senator McConnell is right that the American people should have a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice. In fact, they did — when President Obama won the 2012 election by five million votes.

"Article II Section 2 of the Constitution says the President of the United States nominates justices to the Supreme Court, with the advice and consent of the Senate. I can't find a clause that says "...except when there's a year left in the term of a Democratic President."

"Senate Republicans took an oath just like Senate Democrats did. Abandoning the duties they swore to uphold would threaten both the Constitution and our democracy itself. It would also prove that all the Republican talk about loving the Constitution is just that — empty talk."

This effectively demolishes the crocodile tears coming from those Senate Republicans. Now the only question is who the nominee should be.

I have a modest proposal.

If the Republicans continue to whine about being asked to advise and consent to President Obama’s choice, there is an alternative.

There’s one outstanding candidate who will be available soon:Barack Obama.

That’s right, an extremely well-qualified guy who will be out of a job soon. Among other things, he’s a member of an under-represented minority: Protestants.

He’s still pretty young and very healthy, so he’s likely to be around long enough to make a difference.

But can he appoint himself? That’s never happened, but we’d probably have to ask Senator/Professor Warren if it’s okay.

Here’s another alternative. If the Republicans continue on their snarky obstructionist path, in about eleven months Obama will be turning the presidency over to a successor, though until November we won’t know who the successor would be.

But between now and next January he could be absolutely sure of who the successor is, and it could be someone he could rely on to appoint him to the Supreme Court seat in which he would unquestionably shine.

If he resigned sometime, even as late as January 2017, under the Constitution he would be succeeded by Joe Biden, a great guy who’s always wanted to be president. Then President Biden would be free to appoint ex-President Obama to the Supreme Court. -more-

Much of the debate focused on Marco Rubio’s verbal software malfunction where he was caught repeatedly reciting the same talking points about President Obama. In a race to the bottom, Trump aced all his contenders promising to bring back the hideous practice of torture and ‘much worse’. Cruz attempting some bizarre legal jujitsu claimed that waterboarding was not torture. President Obama shares some of the blame for giving the Bush cartel a free pass for condoning torture practices. 86 prisoners have been cleared for release but are still languishing in Guantanamo’s dungeons. This is a dark stain on America’s sense of justice and a massive recruitment for Al-Qaida, ISIS and other affiliates. It is ironic that all the tough talk (torture, carpet bombing) comes from a group of morally bankrupt Republicans who have never experienced the horrors of war. -more-

What a wonderful popular victory in New Hampshire! Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton by 20 percent. Bernie picked up 13 delegates, and Hillary won 9 delegates based on the primary vote.

But unfortunately, that's not the whole story because it ignores the immensely important role of super delegates. In case you are unfamiliar with who super delegates are, they are insiders in the Democratic Party who serve on the National Democratic Committee and are also current and former public officials. Like other delegates, the super delegates will vote on presidential candidates at the National Democratic Party convention in July. But unlike other delegates, super delegates are free to vote for whoever they want regardless of voter preference. These delegates make up at least 20 percent of all delegates. -more-

The inhabitants of our small village are looking for answers. They wonder why when walking down Shattuck out of every doorway peer a pair of eyes set in a haggard face. Why they ask themselves is rent so high and crime rate spiraling out of control? Sitting at their kitchen table, bills spread out in front of them confused that taxes are becoming a worrisome burden. Village elders forced to decide whether to pay for prescriptions or rent. Food has already become a non-consideration. Monday through Friday lunch at the senior center. Hoping to get lucky and hit the Trader Joe's lottery so they have a scrap of bread to eat during the weekend. A homeless wheelchair-bound man sits not in a rocking chair on the porch but in Constitution Square. Rain beats down on his hollow chest as he struggles vainly to get up the hill towards emergency shelter. A vulnerable homeless woman wonders why this is happening to her as threadbare clothes are torn from her frail body to suffer once again hours if not days of physical abuse. -more-

Over the past year, left and center-left parties have taken control of two European countries and hold the balance of power in a third. Elections in Greece, Portugal and Spain saw rightwing parties take a beating and tens of millions of voters reject the economic austerity policies of the European Union (EU).

But what can these left parties accomplish? Can they really roll back regressive taxes and restore funding for education, health and social services? Can they bypass austerity programs to jump start economies weighted down by staggering jobless numbers? Or are they trapped in a game with loaded dice and marked cards?

And, for that matter, who is the left? Socialist and social democratic parties in France and Germany have not lifted a finger to support left led anti-austerity campaigns in Greece, Spain, Ireland, or Portugal, and many of them helped institute—or went along with—neoliberal policies they now say they oppose. Established socialist parties all over Europe tend to campaign from the left, but govern from the center.

Last year’s electoral earthquakes were triggered not by the traditional socialist parties—those parties did poorly in Greece, Spain and Portugal—but by activist left parties, like Syriza in Greece, Podemos in Spain, and the Left Bloc in Portugal.

With the exception of Ireland’s Sinn Fein, all of these parties were either birthed by, or became prominent during, the financial meltdown of 2008 that plunged Europe into economic crisis. Podemos came directly out of the massive plaza demonstrations by the “Indignados” [the “Indignant Ones”] in Spain’s major cities in 2011. -more-

After Bernie Sanders’ convincing win in the New Hampshire primary, many establishment Democrats are renewing the argument that Bernie cannot win in November because he is too liberal. It doesn’t hold up. -more-

As Bernie Sanders’ chances of winning the Democratic presidential nomination have increased, so have the attacks. Hillary Clinton advocates argue he has no chance of delivering the fundamental change he touts. Nonetheless, Bernie can do it. -more-

I have viewed the YouTube video of the killing of 26-year old Mario Woods on December 2, 2015, in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood by five San Francisco police officers. The autopsy report shows that Woods suffered at least 20 bullet wounds, many of them in the back. -more-

The Berkeley Psychic Institute (unless they have changed since the last time I was there, a number of years ago) teaches students to believe that many of the emotions and other sensations in your body and mind can be attributed to outside influences. This creates a big problem for people who tend to have psychosis. When someone with psychotic tendencies believes that what happens inside has external causes, and when this becomes a basic assumption, it can create an avalanche of delusional thoughts that, in one's mind, will be accepted and believed instantly. -more-

In an All Mozart program which I attended on Saturday evening, February 6, in Berkeley’s First Congregational Church, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra offered works from diverse periods of Mozart’s all too brief life. Under the direction of conductor Nicholas McGegan, the orchestra performed the 17 year-old Mozart’s Symphony No. 27 in G Major and the 32 year-old’s Symphony No. 39 in E-flat Major. In between these symphonies, the orchestra was joined by internationally renowned early keyboard artist Kristian Bezuidenhout on fortepiano in the 29-30 year-old Mozart’s Concerto for Fortepiano No. 23 in A Major. -more-

Opens February 12 at the Landmark California

There are at least three good reasons folks should consider lining up for Michael Moore's newest documentary broadside: (1) Where to Invade Next is a very entertaining, informative and timely film, (2) The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has hobbled audience access with an R-rating, and (3) the director won't be able to promote the film as planned since he only recently emerged from an Intensive Care Unit in a New York hospital.

Where to Invade Next has already racked up a host of awards including Official Selection at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival and the New York film Festival. But the film also deserves a special trophy For Excellence in Timing.

You have to wonder whether Moore knew (before anyone else) that Bernie Sanders would be running for president in 2016. A Democratic Socialist couldn't have asked for a better film to debut in the midst of a maverick presidential campaign. -more-

Friction Quartet--Keven Rogers and Otis Harriel, violins; Taija Warbelow, viola; Doug Machiz, cello--will play Beethoven's String Quartet Optus 59 no. No. 1 (1806), String Quartet no. 1 by Andy Akiko (New York-based composer, winner of 2015 Lili Boulanger. emorial Fund) and Benjamin Britten"s String Quartet no. 2, no. 36, a tribute to Purcell with reference to Britten's opera Peter Grimes, 8 p. m. followed by a complimentary winerrr and cheese reception with an opportunity to meet the artists. Next Tuesday, February at the Berkeley City Club Ballroom, 2315 Durant Avenue near Bowditch. $30 general admisson, high school students free, post-high school students $15. 525-5211 or berkeleychsmberperform.org -more-