I had an appointment with Dr. Jacobsen yesterday and I’m scheduled to go back in to hospital on Monday for the last round of chemo. Right now I’m at home still recuperating from the previous round – the methotrexate left my mouth somewhat messed up but it seems to be getting better. Not sure if my lassitude can be blamed on the methotrexate as well, but I’ve been doing a lot of sleeping as well, rather than write in my blog.

I gather that the Shrub is going to be talking about healthcare in his upcoming state-of-the-union address. He doesn’t have a lot of credibility left in my book after the hash his administration has made of the prescription drug benefit, but perhaps he can spark the debate on where the US thinks its headed with healthcare.

I’m following the results of the Palestinian Authority (PA) election with interest. Will the White House now stop praising the virtues of “democracy”? As I see it, democracy has never been something that the US should waste its time promoting. It’s a system of government that sometimes leads to good government and sometimes doesn’t. As Stephen Maturin is made to say in POB’s “The Wine Dark Sea,” “…he doubted that the policy that put Socrates to death and left Athens prostrate was the highest expression of human wisdom.”

Palestine needs to evolve towards an open society. Right now the things I think Palestine has to figure out, is:

• Did Hamas’s election give them a mandate to apply Shari’a law. I doubt it.
• Should Hamas continue to refuse to recognize Israel. Of course not. They need to come up with some accommodation here.
• Should Hamas disarm – not practical yet. That would assume that they actually have control over the weapons.
• Can Fatah form a loyal opposition?

I can’t see but that Israel has any choice but to continue to negotiate with the PA. It may well be, however, that they negotiate indirectly for the time being.