VLVL2 (14) Ol' Raygun as president? No way, 313-314

[Paul Nightingale]

As the flashback concludes, "back in real time" is itself a flashback
from the novel's 'now'.

Born-again Mucho can read the future, predicting that Reagan will make
president; the reader knows that, in '1984', Zoyd will have realised his
error.

Reagan, the man who said of Clinton:

"This fellow they've nominated claims he's the new Thomas Jefferson.
Well let me tell you something; I knew Thomas Jefferson. He was a friend
of mine and Governor... You're no Thomas Jefferson!"

At: http://www.presidentreagan.info/speeches/quotes.cfm

However: "Check the drape of his suit and exercise caution." Like Hector
Reagan wasn't always the fool he was supposed to be; the political power
he exercised when still an actor has been recently noted (289).

Mucho the ascetic: "Best to renounce everything now, get a head start."
Another prediction, leading Zoyd to muse, "I wish it was back then, when
you were the Count". Mucho insists that, in the Information Society,
there is "too much to process ... it's what the Tube is for, [to keep us
distracted], and though it kills me to say it, it's what rock and roll
is becoming--just another way to claim our attention ..." etc.

Zoyd's earlier reference to "Harry J Anslinger [and] the Marijuana
Menace" is the kind of reasoning based on a perceived need for
exposition. Here, Mucho seems to suggest there's too much exposition.

At the end of which discussion the narrative notes, wistfully perhaps:
"It was the way people used to talk."

A reference to the benefits of hindsight, and something of an intrusion.

Cf the earlier use of an I-character: "And these acid adventures, they
came in those days and they went, some we gave away and forgot ..." etc
(285).