Fidel Castro just turned 90 two days ago — no longer as we remember him, ever youthful, ever vigorous. What did he have that fascinated so many of us for so long, that let him dominate Cuba and from that small base to shake the whole world? And threatening to do more than just shake it, in October 1962. Like him or hate him, you have to acknowledge that his was a personality hard to resist, even by those among us who should have known better.

[A prediction made in November 2000, Bush v. Gore and Florida recount]: Even if [George W.] Bush is installed as our next president, the struggle will continue among the corporate leaders for control of the executive committee of the ruling class. And the New Economy people will demand some participation (and very likely will succeed in making their own candidate our next president, in 2004). [Nov. 2017 correction: No, it didn’t happen in 2004, but in 2008, in part for the reasons I anticipated.]