Oh look - a changing of the guard in China:
He wasn't a revered nation-builder like Mao Zedong or a visionary like Deng Xiaoping. Lacking the revolutionary stature of the Communist Party elders who elevated him, Jiang Zemin was an unexpectedly wily politician who clung to the peak of Chinese power for 13 years. On Thursday, as expected, Jiang surrendered his position as general secretary in the inner circle of communist power, the Politburo's Standing Committee. By doing so, he launched a generational shift expected to land Vice President Hu Jintao, 59, in China's top party post Friday and in the presidency in March. ABC News.
More evidence that America is as much an aristocracy as a democracy. Forget the Bush dynasty. Both candidates for the Democratic House Minority leadership post are essentially scions of well-established political dynasties.
A reader points out:
Pelosi's father was a Congressman for a decade, then mayor of Baltimore for a dozen years while she was growing up. Her brother later was elected mayor of Baltimore. She graduated from Trinity College in Washington, DC, which was established as a finishing school for Catholic girls. Ford's father, Harold Ford, Sr., was elected to Congress from Memphis in 1974 and the youngster spent most of his time in Washington. He attended the tony St. Albans prep school on the grounds of the Episcopal National Cathedral, then went on to the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan Law School. He took over his father's seat when the elder decided not to seek reelection.
Not exactly a populist alternative, eh?
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This practice of inheriting congressional seats has always bugged me. It is the case in my congressional district, where I'm convinced most of the voters don't realize the old man has died; they just keep voting for the last name. I hope my current congressman doesn't have his sons follow in his footsteps, as they're usually in the drunk tank. *sigh*