[TigerLikesRooster]

I don't doubt that he made his political platform around Maoism. The trouble is that it sells in China, because of the mess ruling elites created. He reminds me of Thailand's Thaksin. He bought rural votes with his populist program, while he was reviled by city elites and educated classes, while he is corrupt to the core and amassed lots of fortune. In Bo's case, he is also a ruthless communist politician, who can unleash his own brand of repression.

China won't be getting far in political development. Either you have corrupt incestuous cabals of powerful political figures, bureaucrats, and associated businessmen, or retro red cabals like Bo, though they are equally corrupt and greedy. I am not saying that Bo is a nice guy. But, I am saying that the view that Bo is the bad guy and his opponents are good guys is not true.

People say about rosy scenario of China smoothly progressing politically. It won't be happening. Chinese drew lessons from Soviet Union's fall. So they won't be bowing out peacefully. Tension and conflict will rise among ruling elites.

The Chinese official facade that Bo is a bad guy and China will be moving forward after disposing of Bo is not the case. What awaits Chinese is QE to the n-th power to hold off eventual reckoning, which only opens the door for somebody worse than Bo.

Even without Bo, somebody with Bo's general idea will come forward. In current Chinese context, reform means "stick it to corrupt fat cats." That is how little people think and the idea of "reform" will be accordingly shaped. The reform movement will be like another reincarnated peasant uprising, which leads to Mao-like political system.

I don't root for anybody in this fight, but it is following exactly the path I projected. The accuser is no better than the accused, and ordinary Chinese appear to agree. Therein the cause for great concern by current ruling camp.

[Tainan]

TLR -
Good points all and I, for the most part, agree with you.
Bo was actually 'doing something' tha the 'people' could relate to in their everyday life. He was making a visible difference tha was interpreted as being for the better.
And since his area has a population of 30,000,000 + people, it was showing up on the Beijing radar screens.
This, coupled with the fact that his wife was skimming lots of $$$$s off of this, has created something the Chinese hate...attention.
Its a historical fact that the worst thing a "rich" Chinese can do is "look rich." This is an unforgivable sin in the eyes of the traditional Chinese. They might know the person is rich, they will envy this persons' wealth, but damn them to hell if they act "rich." It looks like Gu violated this.
Intrigues and drama are a staple of Chinese history. The locals eat this up with their morning soup.

I Love it !

[AdmSmith]

Excellent analysis!

[Leep]

In current Chinese context, reform means “stick it to corrupt fat cats.” That is how little people think and the idea of “reform” will be accordingly shaped.

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Wow, souunds kind of like BO’s platform. You know the one presently occupying our WH.