The handwringing over at RedState.com is really fun to watch right now. This post is classic. And there's quite a little spat that breaks out in the comments. It gets to be a real hoot about 1/3 of the way down when the poster (Neil Stevens) gets into it with a reader AKA'd as eastbaylarry.
It could be interesting - especially so if Erick Erickson continues what looks like an attempt to widen the Republicans' appeal (I assume to attract the ever-elusive Independent Voter), while at the some time narrowing the party's identity by chasing out The Birthers and The Nullifiers, etc.
Monday, March 22, 2010
David Frum
The guy pretzles himself in a big way. From his blog.
This is a guy who's done his share of throwing fuel on the partisan fire - going as far towards the logical extreme as anybody else - and here he is saying, "Gosh, why's everybody so pissed off all the time?"
But just when I think he's gonna say something reasonable (like, maybe this won't be so bad - maybe we should wait and see), he goes back over the top and jumps straight into Blame-The-Media-No-Matter-What mode. Except, now, he's blaming the Conservative Bias of The Media(?) WTF? I'm having a hard time remembering the last time I heard any of these guys even acknowledge the existence of Conservative Media.
I’ve been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to us. Yes it mobilizes supporters – but by mobilizing them with hysterical accusations and pseudo-information, overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead. The real leaders are on TV and radio, and they have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say – but what is equally true – is that he also wants Republicans to fail. If Republicans succeed – if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office – Rush’s listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less, and hear fewer ads for Sleepnumber beds.
This is a guy who's done his share of throwing fuel on the partisan fire - going as far towards the logical extreme as anybody else - and here he is saying, "Gosh, why's everybody so pissed off all the time?"
But just when I think he's gonna say something reasonable (like, maybe this won't be so bad - maybe we should wait and see), he goes back over the top and jumps straight into Blame-The-Media-No-Matter-What mode. Except, now, he's blaming the Conservative Bias of The Media(?) WTF? I'm having a hard time remembering the last time I heard any of these guys even acknowledge the existence of Conservative Media.
I’ve been on a soapbox for months now about the harm that our overheated talk is doing to us. Yes it mobilizes supporters – but by mobilizing them with hysterical accusations and pseudo-information, overheated talk has made it impossible for representatives to represent and elected leaders to lead. The real leaders are on TV and radio, and they have very different imperatives from people in government. Talk radio thrives on confrontation and recrimination. When Rush Limbaugh said that he wanted President Obama to fail, he was intelligently explaining his own interests. What he omitted to say – but what is equally true – is that he also wants Republicans to fail. If Republicans succeed – if they govern successfully in office and negotiate attractive compromises out of office – Rush’s listeners get less angry. And if they are less angry, they listen to the radio less, and hear fewer ads for Sleepnumber beds.
I'd sure like to see somebody pick up on this. It's just possible we're seeing a Bill Buckley moment here.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Break Free
The more we spend on oil, the more money the bad guys get to spend on attacking us.
If you oppose efforts to move away from fossil fuels (ie: clean energy legislation, carbon tax/cap-and-trade, etc), then you're supporting a status quo that makes it more probable that we will be attacked.
If we take more steps that dry up some more of their sources of funding (like NOT sending so much money to the Saudis), then assholes like al-Qaeda get fewer dollars they can use to buy things to blow shit up. Get it?
If you oppose efforts to move away from fossil fuels (ie: clean energy legislation, carbon tax/cap-and-trade, etc), then you're supporting a status quo that makes it more probable that we will be attacked.
If we take more steps that dry up some more of their sources of funding (like NOT sending so much money to the Saudis), then assholes like al-Qaeda get fewer dollars they can use to buy things to blow shit up. Get it?
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Happy Vernal Equinox, Everybody!
Just a great tune for any random Saturday, but on a day when the year seems to teeter between falling back into winter or stumbling forward into spring, there's a nice bitter sweet vibe to this.
Gaming The System
It's hard for me to imagine they're not teaching this in Business School now. This looks like a near-classic example of a 'turnaround' - taking a negative and selling it as a positive; or in this case, defining your competitor's action as a negative and using it to bolster your own image by portraying yourself as the underdog.
This really looks like UPS is trying to level out the playing field by lobbying for a change in regulations so that all the package delivery entities come under the same set of labor laws. But we've got this website (brownbailout.com) complete with a parody of UPS's white board guy using all the negative buzzwords - bailout, monopoly, etc - trying to whip up a little counter-frenzy against UPS's efforts. BTW: who owns brownbailout.com? Why, FedX of course.
They all talk about healthy competition and fairness, but when it comes time to nut up or shut up, they're looking for cover behind whatever politician they can get at a discount.
These people have no soul and no honor.
Xspot by Mixpo
This really looks like UPS is trying to level out the playing field by lobbying for a change in regulations so that all the package delivery entities come under the same set of labor laws. But we've got this website (brownbailout.com) complete with a parody of UPS's white board guy using all the negative buzzwords - bailout, monopoly, etc - trying to whip up a little counter-frenzy against UPS's efforts. BTW: who owns brownbailout.com? Why, FedX of course.
They all talk about healthy competition and fairness, but when it comes time to nut up or shut up, they're looking for cover behind whatever politician they can get at a discount.
These people have no soul and no honor.
Xspot by Mixpo
Friday, March 19, 2010
Majority Now
Caveat: It's a little semantic, but I've never liked the popular notion of "Majority Rules". In a democracy the majority decides the question at hand; the decision of the majority carries the day. But in a democracy, nobody 'rules' anything or anybody at any time.
Also, I think it's important to remember that we've seen some bad shit going on because of Majority Rules. Jim Crow for one example. And let's not forget that the most popular car in the world in 1971 was the Ford Pinto.
Just because you can get 51% to go along with your idea doesn't necessarily mean your idea is a good one.
That said, here's a pretty good one from Mark Fiore:
Also, I think it's important to remember that we've seen some bad shit going on because of Majority Rules. Jim Crow for one example. And let's not forget that the most popular car in the world in 1971 was the Ford Pinto.
Just because you can get 51% to go along with your idea doesn't necessarily mean your idea is a good one.
That said, here's a pretty good one from Mark Fiore:
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Who Speaks For "The Church"?
Catholic nuns urge passage of Obama's health bill
WASHINGTON — Catholic nuns are urging Congress to pass President Barack Obama's health care plan, in an unusual public break with bishops who say it would subsidize abortion.
Some 60 leaders of religious orders representing 59,000 Catholic nuns Wednesday sent lawmakers a letter urging them to pass the Senate health care bill. It contains restrictions on abortion funding that the bishops say don't go far enough.
The letter says that "despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions." The letter says the legislation also will help support pregnant women and "this is the real pro-life stance."
Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
As usual, big organizations have factions; people who aren't just gonna go along with whatever the suits decide. So the nuns are standing up and calling 'bullshit' on their leadership. Go nuns!
As usual, big organizations have factions; people who aren't just gonna go along with whatever the suits decide. So the nuns are standing up and calling 'bullshit' on their leadership. Go nuns!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Hooda Thunk It
This is Dick Armey? The guy who "oops-ed" on Barney Frank's name, calling him Barney Fag? This is that guy?
That Magnificent Bastard
Alan Grayson, in response to Sarah Palin's appearance at a Lincoln Day fund raiser in Grayson's district; when Palin told the crowd she'd like to take a few shots at Grayson, but she didn't want to say anything that her daughter Piper shouldn't hear. This is always a good way to avoid the simple truth that you're just not quick enough to come up with anything good that can then go on network TV. Or was she admitting she's really a potty-mouth?
Grayson knows a good opening when he sees it, and he shot back, saying that he was impressed she was able to fit his entire name on her hand.
"I look forward to an honest debate with Governor Palin on the issues, in the unlikely event that she ever learns anything about them," Grayson said. His campaign added that "[s]cientists are studying Sarah Palin's travel between Alaska and Florida carefully. They hope to learn more about the flight patterns of that elusive migratory species, the wild Alaskan dingbat."
Grayson knows a good opening when he sees it, and he shot back, saying that he was impressed she was able to fit his entire name on her hand.
"I look forward to an honest debate with Governor Palin on the issues, in the unlikely event that she ever learns anything about them," Grayson said. His campaign added that "[s]cientists are studying Sarah Palin's travel between Alaska and Florida carefully. They hope to learn more about the flight patterns of that elusive migratory species, the wild Alaskan dingbat."
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Climate Change
Here on the east coast, we're just coming out of a tough winter. And of course, some folks have had lots of fun ridiculing Al Gore because of it. (the guy practically invites abuse - it would be rude to deny him) Anyway, aside from the Politics of Schtoopid, there's an attitude here that seems to get people thinking a) whatever is happening here is happening everywhere; and b) whatever is happening here is all that matters, because the East Coast of the USA is the center of the universe and everybody secretly wishes they were us.
In the meantime, some interesting things were actually taking place up there in Canuckistan. Here's that story.
In the meantime, some interesting things were actually taking place up there in Canuckistan. Here's that story.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Smartly Sexy
If there's anything hotter than a smart chick being smart, it hasn't been discovered yet. Wouldn't it be nice if we got this kind of programming on TV instead of crap like Judge Judy and Jersey Shore?
God And Country
The 9th Circuit Court in San Francisco says the phrase "under God" in the pledge of allegiance is OK because it's a patriotic thing and not a religious thing. Fine. But the ruling itself is a nice bit of hair-splitting - aimed at mollifying both sides rather than trying to get to a point of Settled Law - and so it's mostly bullshit.
I'm conservative, so I think first and foremost, that there's no way I'm going to hold myself liable to taking a Loyalty Oath.
Second, even if I go along with this crap, I much prefer the original.
Third, I have no allegiance for bed sheets or underwear or upholstery, so I intend never to pledge my allegiance to a flag. The ideal itself is what's important - not the symbol.
Finally, if I ever feel the need, I'll recite my own version:
"I pledge allegiance to The United States of America. One nation; indivisible; with liberty and justice for all."
I'm conservative, so I think first and foremost, that there's no way I'm going to hold myself liable to taking a Loyalty Oath.
Second, even if I go along with this crap, I much prefer the original.
Third, I have no allegiance for bed sheets or underwear or upholstery, so I intend never to pledge my allegiance to a flag. The ideal itself is what's important - not the symbol.
Finally, if I ever feel the need, I'll recite my own version:
"I pledge allegiance to The United States of America. One nation; indivisible; with liberty and justice for all."
Sunday, March 14, 2010
The Cost Of "Living"
"Healthcare Reform" right now is all about "reforming" the way we do the insurance part of it. I've been thinking the process has to deal with 2 main parts - the cost of insurance, and the cost of care itself. Now I think we're looking at breaking it down a little further and directing the effort first at getting as many people covered as possible, and then taking another look at what it all costs so we can start trying to figure out ways to push down on those costs.
Here's a look at what's been happening to the premiums we pay if we get insurance thru our employers:
Quote For The Day
The Mustache of Understanding gets one right.
“Message from America to the Israeli government: Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And right now, you’re driving drunk. You think you can embarrass your only true ally in the world, to satisfy some domestic political need, with no consequences? You have lost total contact with reality. Call us when you’re serious. We need to focus on building our country.” Tom Friedman - NYT
“Message from America to the Israeli government: Friends don’t let friends drive drunk. And right now, you’re driving drunk. You think you can embarrass your only true ally in the world, to satisfy some domestic political need, with no consequences? You have lost total contact with reality. Call us when you’re serious. We need to focus on building our country.” Tom Friedman - NYT
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
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