Good Bye and Good Luck

Two greatest patriots, libertarians and idealists of our time stepped down from their podiums last week.

Washington D.C., Nov 14, 2012, Representative Ron Paul delivered his farewell speech to the Congress, in which he asked penetrating questions such as: Why Congress voluntarily bend over to the executive branch? Why alternations of the ruling party does not carry any policy changes? Why big corporations were bailed out in 2008, while middle class left loosing families and jobs? Why so many officials believe in making fortune out of printing money? Why so many people agree government and politicians can provide protection without sacrificing freedom? Why people never realize war destroys wealth and freedom? Why so little attention on the kill list made by the President, even when American citizens have been included in it? How come patriotism equates to loyalty to the government, rather than to the principle of liberty and people?

A 37-question edition:
1. Why are sick people who use medical marijuana put in prison?
2. Why does the federal government restrict the drinking of raw milk?
3. Why can’t Americans manufacturer rope and other products from hemp?
4. Why are Americans not allowed to use gold and silver as legal tender as mandated by the Constitution?
5. Why is Germany concerned enough to consider repatriating their gold held by the FED for her in New York?
6. Is it that the trust in the U.S. and dollar supremacy beginning to wane?
7. Why do our political leaders believe it’s unnecessary to thoroughly audit our own gold?
8. Why can’t Americans decide which type of light bulbs they can buy?
9. Why is the TSA permitted to abuse the rights of any American traveling by air?
10. Why should there be mandatory sentences—even up to life for crimes without victims—as our drug laws require?
11. Why have we allowed the federal government to regulate commodes in our homes?
12. Why is it political suicide for anyone to criticize AIPAC ?
13. Why haven’t we given up on the drug war since it’s an obvious failure and violates the people’s rights?
14. Has nobody noticed that the authorities can’t even keep drugs out of the prisons?
15. How can making our entire society a prison solve the problem?
16. Why do we sacrifice so much getting needlessly involved in border disputes and civil strife around the world and ignore the root cause of the most deadly border in the world-the one between Mexico and the US?
17. Why does Congress willingly give up its prerogatives to the Executive Branch?
18. Why does changing the party in power never change policy?
19. Could it be that the views of both parties are essentially the same?
20. Why did the big banks, the large corporations, and foreign banks and foreign central banks get bailed out in 2008 and the middle class lost their jobs and their homes?
21. Why do so many in the government and the federal officials believe that creating money out of thin air creates wealth?
22. Why do so many accept the deeply flawed principle that government bureaucrats and politicians can protect us from ourselves without totally destroying the principle of liberty?
23. Why can’t people understand that war always destroys wealth and liberty?
24. Why is there so little concern for the Executive Order that gives the President authority to establish a “kill list,” including American citizens, of those targeted for assassination?
25. Why is patriotism thought to be blind loyalty to the government and the politicians who run it, rather than loyalty to the principles of liberty and support for the people?
26. Why is it is claimed that if people won’t or can’t take care of their own needs, that people in government can do it for them?
27. Why did we ever give the government a safe haven for initiating violence against the people?
28. Why do some members defend free markets, but not civil liberties?
29. Why do some members defend civil liberties but not free markets?
30. Aren’t they the same?
31. Why don’t more defend both economic liberty and personal liberty?
32. Why are there not more individuals who seek to intellectually influence others to bring about positive changes than those who seek power to force others to obey their commands?
33. Why does the use of religion to support a social gospel and preemptive wars, both of which requires authoritarians to use violence, or the threat of violence, go unchallenged?
34. Why do we allow the government and the Federal Reserve to disseminate false information dealing with both economic and foreign policy?
35. Why is democracy held in such high esteem when it’s the enemy of the minority and makes all rights relative to the dictates of the majority?
36. Why should anyone be surprised that Congress has no credibility, since there’s such a disconnect between what politicians say and what they do?
37. Is there any explanation for all the deception, the unhappiness, the fear of the future, the loss of confidence in our leaders, the distrust, the anger and frustration?

As a matter of fact, some fans filed a petition on the White House site asking President Obama to respond. The petition has garnered 5,711 signatures in 2 days, 19,289 short of the 25,000 threshold which in theory warrant an official response.

Beijing, China, the same day on Nov 14, 2012. The once-a-decade power transition was accomplished 'successfully' with the concluding of the 18th National Convention of Chinese Communist Party. The 'next generation' leaders, represented by Party boss Xi Jinping and future premier Li Keqiang become the top party officials replacing Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao.

Hu Jintao made a last contribution, maybe the first and real contribution to Chinese political system by not extending his term as the command-in-chief. When Hu visited a Japanese elementary school classroom in 2008, an eight-year old asked him, 'why do you want to be China's President?' Hu replied, 'I don't want to be the president, Chinese people want me to be the President.' Retrospectively thinking, perhaps Hu was indeed being sincere at that moment.

China's true lost was Mr. Wen Jiabao, the only voice for people's liberty and freedom in the 800 million strong political force ruling China. In the past two years, Wen had publicly asked for political reform. Many times he was shut out by propaganda department, and many times he had to take chances to talk about it with foreign news agencies when he was en route visiting other countries.

As the top government official, Wen's last ten years, in a sense, is an edition of Ron Paul after winning the presidential campaign. By disguising his true color and blending in among his colleagues, Wen raised to the top of the executive branch in China as the premier.

While Ron Paul had been by and large ignored by the Democrats and buried by the Republicans as a Congressman, Premier Wen had been distanced and suppressed by his colleagues in the politburo. For most part of his two terms, Wen was seen as a fire fighter, rushing to every disasters and accidents. Even as an coordinator of rescue and relief, Wen did not have much authority. During the Sichuan Earthquake, PLA officers refused to send it troops to the disaster area. Wen was over heard threatening a top brass in the phone, 'you are fed by the people, use your conscious.'

With his limited authority, Wen abolished a long lasting ordinance which allowed police to detain anyone out of his hometown without proper permission.

Instead of questions, Wen left with alarming warnings to the ruling communist party. 'Without political reform, there would be no future but peril', and a vow, 'I will push the political reform, until my last breadth.'

Wen suffered a blown to his face when New York Times published a lengthy investigation on the wealth controlled by Wen's family and friends. The article showed an astonishing $2.7 billion fortune amassed by his close connections. Although NYT claimed the article was the result of years of journalism, Voice of America as well as a few other western news agencies revealed that shortly after Wen fired a Maoist leader Bo Xilai, all western media in Beijing received packages with same information from mysterious sources. Some of the information presented is difficult to verify, while some turned out as poorly disguised smear campaigns. The author of the author, David Barboza explained he obtained his sources from public inquiry. It may sounds plausible to westerners, but for anyone familiar with Chinese politics, that is nothing but flat lie.

Wen responded with a statement from oversea lawyers, the first ever when a top communist officials bring legal system into a political turmoil. Wen also requested a formal investigation on his financial status.

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away", as said by General MacArthur. Nevertheless, the legend of Paul and Wen will keep inspiring people across the globe in the years to come.

Wen's Voice Cut Off

China's Premier Wen Jiabao was giving an opening remark at the EU-China summit in Brussels. After a long list of achievements reached in his ten years tenure as China's premier, Wen stressed his disappointment over two issues: lifting arms embargo and nonrecognition of fully-fledged market economy status. While Wen was still speaking, the live feed was cut abruptly before he could finish the sentence.

A diplomat who attended the meeting said the request came from China.

It's interesting to learn someone in the Chinese delegation could order speech of Wen, the Prime Minister and No. 3 in CCP, to be cut off. It's also interesting to speculate how did the organizer recognize and accommodate the request to mute the top Chinese official at the meeting.

As the lonely minority among his peers, Wen was always muted on sensitive talks in China. Wen also use his oversea trips to talk about his visions on political reform.

Professor Tian Xie of University of South Carolina Aiken commented that Wen probably wanted to use his last EU-China summit to advocate for importance and urgency of political reforms. The two issues would have been a good talk point for that.

Defying Chinese Media Deliver Stenographic Messages

The entire Chinese media 'exploded' after the bullet train accident on 7/23/2011. Even the central TV network weighed in to question the handling of the accident. Premier Wen Jiabao arrived the scene and told the rail system to 'tell the truth'.

However, one day later, the Central Propaganda Department ordered no more reporting on the accident. The accident and any related topics were banned from the Internet as well as traditional media.

A few newspaper defied by continuing cover the disaster, while most of them had to retreat. Thousands of reporters and editors uploaded their 'original edition' of newspaper to the Internet in protest.

Some paper gave in, but in protest, replaced the entire issue of newspaper with advertisement, and advertisement only. Some paper tried to send steganographic message that smart readers would recognize, such as the 'New Beijing' daily's first page story: 'Seven days of continuing rain, two warnings in a day'.

The 'seven days' refereed to seven days after the 7/23 train disaster. The 'first seven days' is also a period while the dead were mourned in Chinese culture. The 'two warnings in a day' referred to the two gagging orders in a day sent from the Central Propaganda Department.

The insubordinate actions cost many their jobs, including a CCTV producer.

Wen Jiabao: Rail Ministry Must Tell the Truth

Premier Wen got to the scene of the bullet train accident. Wen held a press conference after visiting the hospitals and talking to survivors and their families. Wen said he had been on bed for 11 days because of an illness, which was the reason he did not come earlier.

When asked on the handling of the accident, Wen stated he called the Rail Minister immediately. We stressed he only said two words on the phone to the Minister, which were'save life' and not even one word beyond that. Wen said the Rail Ministry must tell the truth of the disaster.

People at the scene accused the officials did not assist passenger to leave the train after the accident. Further, they charged officials harshly called off the rescue operation within a few hours. It is wide spread that carriages were pushed down the 60 feet bridge with people inside. Later, many bodies and a couple of live persons were found in the pushed-down carriage, as well as on the ground nearby. TV reporting from the scene also showed heavy equipment were used to smash the 6 carriages on the ground, without checking whether there were still passengers inside. Later, many bodies were found whose heads and limbs were cut off by construction equipment.

TV programs from the scene also showed carriages were then decomposed into pieces and buried in big holes dug at the scene. Reporters questioned why they had to be smashed to pieces. The Rail Minister stated the action was to prevent advanced sensitive technology fell into wrong hands. The spokesperson of the Rail Ministry stated the action was to use the carriages to pave road.

The news conference was not allowed to be broadcasting on-air in mainland China. However, many reporters posted the questions and Wen's answers in real time on micro-blogs.

Reporters came with many questions. Specifically, they wanted to know which official called off the rescue hours after the disaster, and which official order the train to be smashed and buried hours after the accident took place. They also wanted to know the real death toll. Beijing still insisted on the number 35, while it is obvious the number should be between around two hundreds. Three carriages plunged 60 feet with full load of 80 passenger each according to ticketing. In addition, one entire carriage was wiped out during the collision. The carriage looked like a post card with floor and ceiling ironed together. Nobody would survive.

勒克儿:凌晨3点，刚写完博客，再发一条微博睡觉去鸟：小时候，奇迹是一个柔软的奶瓶，三聚氰氨在里面，良心在外面；长大了，奇迹是一座燃烧的礼堂，孩子在里面，领导在外面；再后来，奇迹是一辆着火的大巴，人在里面，救生锤在外面；现在，奇迹是一节血迹班驳的车厢，你在里面，铲车在外面。

While Wen took a break, more than 20 reporters at the scene shouted together to demand the Rail Ministry to answer questions directly, because unlike Wen who just got up from his sick bed, the Rail Ministry had answers to all questions. However, neither Wen nor the Rail Minister responded to the demand, but wrapped up the news conference and left.

Combing through each word said by Wen, reporters realized Wen only promised to investigate the accident itself, but did not even brush on the clear demand to investigate the handling after the accident by Vice Premier Mr. Zhang Dejiang, the top CCP official at the scene.

Mr. Zhang received a B.S. from North Korea.

Wen Jiabao Cried Speaking to Chinese Diplomats in Japan

Permier Wen Jiabao was seen wiping tears while speaking to diplomats at Chinese embassy in Japan. Wen revealed that it was his personal decision to visit the earthquake-tsunami-nuclear hit Fukushima area. Wen explained the rational of his visit, and signed he might not be able to come to Japan again.

Some read the speech a sign of Wen being increasingly isolated at the top level of power in China. One thing for sure, once Wen retired from his post, he would not be able to go outside China. There has been no precedence of former top leaders being allowed to go overseas after they departed offices.

Child Eat, Mom Watch

Premier Wen Jiabao went online to chat with Netizens for the third time in three years. Regarding the rising grocery price, Wen told a story on a tour in Zhejiang Province last year. At a luncheonette attached to a supermarket, Wen saw a mom and a child who bought only one meal. The child was eating, and the mom was watching the child eating on the saide. Wen asked the woman how many children did she have. The woman started crying. She said this was the only child she had. She said her husband just passed away because of cancer. She only hoped she could keep the child with her in the city she was working as a migrate worker. Local officials accompanying Wen granted the child permission to attend school.

China still has hope, as long as someone higher up who is still of seeing and feeling the suffering of people.

Scholars Warn Collapse May be Sudden and Unforeseeable

Premier Wen has been chanting for political reform in an unusual high intensity. He publicly spoke about the sensitive issue 6 times in 3 months, and used phrases such as, '.. dead end', and '..won't give up until my last breath'. By all means, he sounds not only deadly serious, but also alarmingly urgent.

Finally, the ruling communist party responded with an editorial of the People's Daily. The article titled '..steadily push forward political reform', while the contents basically removed any doubts that such reform could be remotely possible under the Party's rule. It insisted the Party's firm leadership is absolutely essential, and threatened any political reform to be unpatriotic.

Scholars liken the situation to that at the end of the Qing Dynasty. While the people, echoed by some senior officials, demand political reform, the imperial government blandly refused. A couple of years later, Qing collapsed suddenly in 1911. Since 1840, the Qing had survived western invasion and mass rebellion. When it collapsed in 1911, it was enjoying a rather uneventful period.

Diplomatic Issues

1. China and Japan 'normalized' their relationship in 1972. However, "Japan never apologized for the suffering of Chinese (300 million Chinese killed) during the Japanese invasion and occupancy", as complained by many Chinese. Former Japanese Prime Minister Tanaka Takuei (1972-1974) recalled he expressed 'being puzzled "困惑"' by what Japanese did to Chinese when he signed the 'normalization treaty' in Beijing. Tanaka argued the Kanji characters 'being puzzled' has a deeper meaning of 'not agreeing'.

2. Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi Junichiro (2001-2006) is known for his family roots which are entangled with the past glory of imperial army, and unapologizing attitude on Japanese's aggressions during the WWII. Unsurprisingly he was not popular among Asian neighbors, particularly China and Korea. For a while, China suspended talks with him. During an international meeting, Koizumi suddenly showed great interest in Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's pen, and asked for a look. The two talked briefly, and the incident was considered a breakthrough in Sino-Japan relations.

3. The Sino-Japan relationship was once again frozen after the incident of Japan detaining a Chinese fishing boat captain near the Diaoyu Islands, which is controlled by Japan while claimed by both mainland China and Taiwan. In retaliation, China announced a suspension of bilateral communication of minister level and above. When the senior officials of both countries were attending an international conference, Prime Minister Kan Naoto (2010- ) caught up with Chinese Premier Wen in the hallway, and chatted for 20 minutes. According to reporting of Japanese news media, the incident was 'executed in the manner of' while Wen walked out of the meeting room, Kan walked "in high speed in same direction" and caught up with Wen. It is assumed Wen slowed down. Japanese coverage varied on the account whether Kan walked in big steps or small steps, but agreed on the 'high speed' part.

Premier Wen's Political Reform

Premier Wen Jiabao told CNN when attending conferences in New York City that he would keep pushing for political reform, and weather any stormy resistances till his death.

Although Wen is known of using elegance of Chinese classics, he summarized his goals in four simple phrases: he wants Chinese people could

1. live in dignity and be happy;
   
2. feel safe;
   
3. a society fill with justice;
   
4. full of confidence to the future;
   

Among all Communists officials, 80 millions of them, Wen looks to be a lonely advocate to his ideas. Many accused him of not having acted more boldly, but there is so much you can do as one of the 80 millions leadership class. Instead of criticizing wen's inaction, each Chinese should think of how to help out.

Lament of the Premier

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told college students, 'do real work, don't be officials'. The No. 3 ranking official has been screaming his desperation recently, parting way from his colleagues in the Party in public.

The Organizational Deputy Minister of the CCP, Mr. Wang Taifeng, recently put the total number of CCP members as 77.995 million by the end of 2009, with a net gain of 2.065 million over the previous year.

Chinese Premier Sat in Classes in Middle School

Premier Wen Jiabao sat in classroom through five classes at a Beijing Middle School in September. This week, he authored a paper on education. The paper is based on his classroom observations, and covers a broad range of topics, including pedagogical methods and scientific discussions.

Some critics sensed the incident a signal that Wen had been kept out of loop in the power circle. With nothing else to do, Wen went back to middle school. Actually, Wen was able to pick up a theoretical mistake in the Geography textbook.

In Chinese government architecture, Wen is the head of the central government. In the Party ladder, Wen is No. 3 or No. 4 (behind Hu Jintao, (Jiang Zeming,) Wu Bangguo.

Welcome Mr. Wu Bangguo

The No. 2 person in the power architecture in Communist China, under President Hu Jintao but above Premier Wen Jiabao, Mr. Wu Bangguo will visit the US.

The Seagull obtained two solicitation letters from different oversea Chinese organizations for volunteers to stand on side of road Wu's motorcade would pass. One offered $25 per head, the other offers two meal vouchers each. Both would provide transportation. The reimbursement schedule set by the Chinese embassy is a vivid reflection of Mr. Wu's political positioning, amazingly. Mr. Hu was priced at $50, while Mr. Wen $5.

One Man's Death

The general manager of Tonghua Steel Company was beaten to death by angry workers after threatening to fire the entire workforce, 30,000 workers. Workers held on the plant until the provincial government announced Jianlong would not take over Tonghua Steel through television broadcasting.

Chen Guojun was appointed by the private Jianlong Group of Hebei Province. Jianlong's Chiar is son of General Liu Huaqing, deputy Chair of the CCP's central military committee. The CCP's Party boss is Wang Min, nephew of former president Jiang Zemin. With Wang's help, Liu was able to obtain Tonghua, a Top 500 (No. 244 overall in year 2008, No. 128 in manufacturing and No. 195 in taxation) enterprise of China with little investment. Liu rose to Top 10 richest Chinese in 2008 by obtaining state owned enterprises at little or zero cost.

None of the 9 people politico members visited Urumqi after the riot killed 197 innocent civilians, mostly ethic Chinese by Uyghurs. However, Premier Wen Jiabao immediately flew to Tonghua to examine the situation after Chen's death. A general manager with a powerful background weighs heavier than 197 civilians.

Sunshine Act, The Premier Had a Dream

Premier Wen Jiabao stated that he would want to see the enacting of a Sunshine Act when he chatted with Chinese Netizens. A Feb 19 article published in the People's Daily mentioned a Sunshine Act had been formally sitting in the legislature pipeline since 1994. However, communist officials opposed the measure. To be precise, 97% of government officials are against the act. This is the only official number we know on this subject.

Throwing A Wrong Shoe

A British man threw his heavy shoe to the visiting Chinese premier Wen Jiabao during his public speech. The copycat action was not a refection of courage, but a call for growing up.

Wen is probably the only saint in the Communism Chinese government. In his short, slim, and fast ailing figure, he was seen in places only Mother Teresa would be seen, where his people needs him the most, often, the most dangerous and exhausting places in the world.

Unlike Iraqi reporter who cursed the command in chief of the occupation army with risk of torture and life, the clown trying to hit a respectable old man at comfort of a university campus demonstrated the lack of courage and abundance of cowardness.

Throwing shoes at their guest only solidifies stereotyping of islander's blind ignorance. From a bystander's perspective, the Brits will always be crawling under the moral bar before they could face up what they have been doing since The Opium War.

An Artistic Rendition of A Historic Moment

On the right is an artistic rendition of a historic moment when the Chinese President Hu Jintao met Premier Wen Jiabao at a Sichuan airport. Wen had been working non-stop for a week in the devastated disaster area on rescue and relief operations.

In the picture captured by a Xinhua News Agency reporter Ju Peng, the encounter looks like an emperor greets his general on a victory triumph. In the officially released oil painting, however, Wen looks like an old servant facing his master. One question is which edition is closer to the truth, but it is overshadowed by the fact that self-censorship is working any where, any time.

Heros

• Chengdu Residents. They care, they help and they are positive as they always are.
  
• Military Forces including local defense forces and militarized police forces. From top brasses down to ordinary soldiers risked their lives racing time to save people.
  
• Premier Wen Jiabao, the best Premier in 30 years.
  

Wen Jiabao's Tears

Premier Wen Jiabao is a typical example of a communism leader who grows up from the lowest class. His parents live an extreme low profile in a poor neighborhood of Tianjin. They have been known to their neighbors as nice old people, not many were aware of that Wen had been a senior Party official. Wen is very sympathetic towards the pains and daily struggle for living of the lower classes, and he never hesitates to show the emotion whenever he heard of the misfortunes of people. Whenever Wen is mentioned in a conversation, the first thing people think of him will be his tears. He cried for migration workers, cried for poor kids. However, after 5 years of seeing his tears on TV, and reading about his tears in newspaper every month, if not every week, people start to ask, when will he stop crying and start doing his job as a premier?

For more than 10 years, hundreds of thousands school age kids were kidnapped from roadside, store front and playground to be thrown in many private brick factories in Shanxi province. They were sold from one broker to another, until finally they found themselves modern slaves confined in the factories that are guarded by dogs. They were allowed to eat 15 minutes per meal, and work 16 hours per day. When they get injured, they are told to place earth to their wounds. If they can't keep up with the hard work, they are beaten and sometimes buried alive. Even so, the life in a brick slavery is rosy compared to those kids who were sent to mine slavery. Many live in underground caves forever, until there's no more to mine, and the slave master will simply explode the entrance and bury all the secrets. Their age? from 8 to 13.

Parents of 400 kids ask for help. A brave reporter, Mr. Fu Zhenzhong of Henan TV is outraged, and determined to help. He made 21 special reports after trips to Shanxi. 20 were aired, and the last was censored, and banned. Not only local government and police in Shanxi didn't give any assistance, but they touted, threatened and intimidated the reporter and the parents who were looking for their kids. In one instance, a child was saved from a slave factory, only to be sold by the local government to another slave master. The local government even stripped the child of the 300 RMB ($75) before sold him again for another $80. It's not until the online community was outraged that the central government step in. However, the real irony just starts.

The top inspector Tian Chengping sent by the central government was Shanxi's Party boss only two years ago. It was under his rein that evil slavery was fostered and protected. Whatever could people expect out of such a comedy led by clowns? They central government's propaganda arm claim they found some contract violations. Not even one single official is charged or even 'investigated'. It's merely a dispute over contracts (or lack of contracts). That's all.

What happened to the law enforcement officer (Mr. Shang Guangze of Yongji city) who sold the child rescued by the reporter from one slave camp, and caught on tape that aired to millions of houses? He was reprimanded and scolded for 2 levels of salary, roughly $4 per month. Nobody knows the fate of that child today.

People have learned not to trust politicians even as they speak into your eyes. When people watch Wen spoke with his tears, people thought they could trust in the tears. Although Wen Jiabao is very likable and cute, but people need a premier who acts upon people's need, not just crying over it.

Chen Liangyu in Big Trouble

Chen Liangyu, the Party Chief of Shanghai was removed from all positions as Xinhua News announced today. This is viewed a result of political struggle between Hu Jintao-Wen Jiabao and the Gang of Shanghai, of which Jiang Zemin being the big boss. However, literally everyone in China applauded for the swift action by Hu. Some people even recall the joy after removing the 'Gang of Four' in 1976.

Following is from Zuo Zhijian's blog. Zuo made his name as the hero journalist who uncovered the HYSIS scandal.

早晨10点不到，我和pippa各收到短信一条。pippa的短信说，陈良宇出事了。我的短信说，“贺国强今到沪开会，换马。传沪一号昨中在京规。”

虽然有两条消息，但起初还是不太相信。9月23日晚，陈良宇还在万体馆观看黄金联赛。刘翔在家乡父老面前后发制人，以惊人的爆发力令人惊叹地勇夺冠军。体育馆一定是万人欢呼，陈良宇在那一刻应该是真正享受着执掌这个中国最大城市的荣耀。但是谁又能想到，次日，陈就将从中国政坛消失了呢。

然后赶到办公室，开始求证，问上海市新闻办，答曰正在求证。看来不完全是空穴来风了。中午12：03分，凤凰网挂出简单一则消息。我看到时已是 12：33分左右。在办公室大叫一声，把地址传给了同事，未几，全办公室都知道了。大家都很高兴。然后马上联想到房价，大家都认为应该要下跌，因为陈良宇和相关官员在楼市有利益集团，这次反腐败可能能够击溃这个利益集团，让宏观调控真正起到实效。

给新华社的朋友发消息，问新华社什么时候发稿，因为新华社发了稿之后我们才有可能报道，否则，擅自报道中央政治局委员出事，是严重不守纪律。新华社的哥们说，这事得总社定。不过同事已收到消息，说今天新华社一定会发消息。

这时候一个大学同学用手机联系我，说他听说陈出事了，我说我知道了，凤凰网已经报道了。但对新华社会不会这么快公布消息还不能确定。

将信将疑之间，有人告诉我，新华社已经发消息了。果然12：58：03，新华网发布了10年来最有价值的新闻，陈良宇被立案检查。又过了一阵，有消息说，CCTV也报道了。在网上打开CCTV的视频，发现是下午一点的整点新闻，照念了新华网的稿子，同事们全围了过来。但24号立案调查，次日中午就公布消息，显示这次的信息发布，非常迅速。新闻通稿中，又提到“中共中央政治局昨日（9月24日）召开会议，审议了中共中央纪律检查委员会《关于陈良宇同志有关问题初核情况的报告》。”这句话可能是强调中央在按程序办事，淡化政治斗争的说法。

很快就在baidu的新闻搜索中搜索到了关于对上海楼市的影响。很明显，是看空上海楼市。所以大家都很高兴，毕竟我们这些记者也是上海高房价的受害者。而新华社、CCTV既然已经发稿，那么我们也就有可能做跟踪报道。

要做跟踪报道，最正常的逻辑无疑是调查陈良宇落马的原因，新华网的通稿里写的很详细了。陈涉嫌四宗罪，这四宗罪，其实我们都有报道过，材料还在，只是以前没有点陈良宇的名字而已。

具体来说：

1、涉及上海市劳动和社会保障局违规使用社保资金。这一点很好理解，因为之前采访过程中，不只一个人说祝均一是替罪羊，动用那么多亿的社保资金都是要经上级批准的。但这一点，还需要进一步调查。

2、为一些不法企业主谋取利益。这一点也很清楚，张荣坤收购上海路桥股份时，闯了不少红灯，但他写的“情况说明”把陈良宇写进去了，说2002年3 月26日那次签约是陈出席的。另外张收购上海路桥，最终还是上海市政府批的，这一点市长很难说没有责任。另外一个不法企业主则是周正毅。周正毅农信社旧案显示，周一笔贷款被硬搞成坏帐了事。周最终只获刑3年，甚至至今不引渡香港，这在国际上的影响相当不好。

3、袒护有严重违纪违法问题的身边工作人员。这个关心上海社保案的人都应该知道，秦裕就是陈良宇的秘书，而且做了11年秘书。

4、利用职务上的便利为亲属谋取不正当利益。关心周正毅案的人应该知道，陈有个弟弟。但这一点也没有确凿的证据。至于陈弟弟的故事，可以日后再说。除此四点外，据说还有关于个人作风方面的事情，最后没有公布。

同事在打听最新消息，我开始把以前的材料翻了出来准备开工。中间还下楼买了一包烟，争取找点灵感。

写深度报道的人都知道，导语是最难写的，导语想好了，整个文章的架构就都清楚了。等我终于把导语写好，开始写第一段的时候，msn上领导消息来了，禁令已到。

这是一个意料之中的消息，所以虽然有点遗憾，但也没有太多怨言，这种事我见得多了。去通知合作的同事，也就停工准备歇了。这时候已经大约是下午4点了。

领导又仔细看了一下禁令，觉得也不是没有可操作的空间。也就是说，不能写陈被立案的原因了，但可以写写陈被立案前后，各方的最新动态。这其实也能够透露出当前政情的关键信息。

这是一篇短稿子，我稍微改动然后增加了一些内容后，差不多就成了。刚准备传给编辑，想起来最好给新闻中心领导再把一下关，所以就打印了一下。结果刚到领导办公室，领导笑着说，又来一禁令。这下是规定涉陈新闻一律用通稿。所以稿子彻底没戏。合作的同事已经离开了办公室，电话没人接，遂发短信通知之。良久同事回曰：靠，又被戏弄了。

收拾东西回家睡觉。期间有前同事来问，陈是否真被抓，又有一师兄说要认识一下我。出租车里，电台两次报道陈被立案的消息，司机都把音量调高。司机会怎么想呢？我想必然是拍手称快。

回家看搜房网，全是讲陈的帖子，而且全部看空上海楼市。

然后，许多人亦会关心韩正能否转正。正好前段时间外电有分析韩正可能会有机会，说明预测对了，理由是需要一个懂上海的人来管理上海，目下还找不到最合适的人选来过渡。从以往来看，韩出身团派，今次中央查案下榻之马勒别墅即为往日市团委的办公室场所，这点算有优势。但韩先生能不能转正，那就要看其修为和造化了。至于谁会被调入上海，则说法纷纭。目前可以看出，韩能否转正关键在中央态度，而中央则看民意，民意好坏则看上海楼市能降多少。

说到陈为什么被立案，外界评论仍然多关注人事斗争，但人事斗争之起因或许并非直接由利益之争而起，而是地方与中央之争。上海在宏观调控方面拖了后腿，楼市间的政商勾结导致尾大不掉，终招大祸。实际上，宏观调控之所以效果一般，最核心的原因应是地方政商利益集团的阻挠，所以若要调控，必须以反腐败清场。

又与一干记者聊起陈的案子。前同事此前有观点，认为此案将是中国民主政治的开始。我不知道他的理由，大约可能觉得胡CORE可以借此机会，以反腐之名义，在中央的强力推进下，启动政改。希望是这样，但或许很渺茫。

很多人都会想起陈希同，但愿这次上海政治集团的报应能够给大权在握者一些启示：即民主对自己也有好处，否则不透明的政治斗争伤人终伤己——尽管这种后遗症可能事隔10年才会爆发。现时胡温均为廉政之表率，对子女的管理亦很严格，应该说具备了客观条件，但当局有无此眼界或实力，尚需观察。

在新华社的通稿中，最后说到要在以胡CORE为总书记的党中央的“坚强”领导下，如何如何。坚强二字，颇不寻常。此后新华社连发数篇评论，更是值得玩味。