This little item is an alarm bell.
...According to Edmunds.com, about 32% of all vehicles traded in on a new vehicle through September this year were “upside down.”...That negative equity averaged $4,832. In short, add $5K to the price of that next vehicle being purchased....
There's more, and here's where it gets interesting:
...The result? The monthly payment on a new vehicle loan is $505 — the highest level ever, Edmunds notes.
That higher-than-ever payment is because the average new auto loan was $29,880 in the second quarter of this year,...The average new car loan is for 68 months, but subprime borrowers are
getting loans averaging 72 months, or six years. And longer terms are
becoming more and more popular. According to Experian, extended loans,
ranging from 73 to 84 months, accounted for more than a quarter of all
new vehicle loans in 2015.....
IOW, buyers are making the assumption that their "coverage" (income/debt) will be just fine for up to seven years--and lenders are perfectly happy to agree.
But those "lenders" are not Banks. They are investors who have purchased 'bundles' of car loans.
Just like the 'investors' who bought bundles of mortgages back in the early-to-mid 2000's. Remember??
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Still Waiting, Wiggy
Several days back Wiggy published an item in which he VERY carefully stated that Bannon gave 'racists' a platform at Breitbart--but did not say directly that Bannon is a racist.
Of course.
I called Wiggy on it.
He has yet to come up with names of racists who write for Breitbart. I don't know what else 'giving a platform' could possibly mean, although the NYTimes-circumlocution game he played in his original post might provide a clue.
Why do we bring this up?
...Breitbart has been condemned for featuring racist, sexist and anti-Semitic content....AP, quoted at PowerLine.
What does PowerLine have to say about that AP slander?
...Really? Condemned by whom? For what? The AP ritually recites these allegations against the site without citing any evidence whatsoever. The claims are false, if not ridiculous. But readers who rely on America’s daily newspapers won’t know this....
Nor readers of Wiggy's blog, we should add.
Of course.
I called Wiggy on it.
He has yet to come up with names of racists who write for Breitbart. I don't know what else 'giving a platform' could possibly mean, although the NYTimes-circumlocution game he played in his original post might provide a clue.
Why do we bring this up?
...Breitbart has been condemned for featuring racist, sexist and anti-Semitic content....AP, quoted at PowerLine.
What does PowerLine have to say about that AP slander?
...Really? Condemned by whom? For what? The AP ritually recites these allegations against the site without citing any evidence whatsoever. The claims are false, if not ridiculous. But readers who rely on America’s daily newspapers won’t know this....
Nor readers of Wiggy's blog, we should add.
Monday, November 28, 2016
U-Verse Mourns the Loss of Castro
U-verse, the ATT cable outlet, is apparently in mourning for the loss of Castro, who designed their network TO FAIL DURING THE PACKERS GAME.
IDIOTS
IDIOTS
The Green Tactic: Void Wisconsin's Vote
To the great surprise of many, both (R) and (D), Wisconsin's popular vote went to the Republican candidate this year.
That didn't sit well with the Progressives of the Green hue nor Blue. (Whether Stein is a stalking horse for Hildebeeste or not is irrelevant, although the Party of Moore, Baldwin, Doyle and Chisholm announced that it will be 'involved.')
Anyhoooo.....
At first, the scheme seemed to have the aim of tossing foo-foo dust in the air, thus making it seem that the vote was .......illicit....... or something. But now it's clear: that's not the only game here.
They want a HAND recount, which will take a long, long, time. Maybe even enough time to prevent certification of Wisconsin's electors--which should happen by December 13th. The Left is hoping that Wisconsin (and Michigan, and Pennsylvania) cannot make that happen.
If the certifications are not timely, neither candidate will win 270; thus the election is tossed into Congress. Trump will emerge as the victor, of course, with a solid (R) majority in the House. (Pence will be nominated by the Senate in a separate vote.)
THEN the Left will claim that "It's Political" and continue their campaign against Trump.
If you thought listening to that howling bitch during the campaign was torture, having another four years of it is probably not what you want for Christmas. But you may get it!!
That didn't sit well with the Progressives of the Green hue nor Blue. (Whether Stein is a stalking horse for Hildebeeste or not is irrelevant, although the Party of Moore, Baldwin, Doyle and Chisholm announced that it will be 'involved.')
Anyhoooo.....
At first, the scheme seemed to have the aim of tossing foo-foo dust in the air, thus making it seem that the vote was .......illicit....... or something. But now it's clear: that's not the only game here.
They want a HAND recount, which will take a long, long, time. Maybe even enough time to prevent certification of Wisconsin's electors--which should happen by December 13th. The Left is hoping that Wisconsin (and Michigan, and Pennsylvania) cannot make that happen.
If the certifications are not timely, neither candidate will win 270; thus the election is tossed into Congress. Trump will emerge as the victor, of course, with a solid (R) majority in the House. (Pence will be nominated by the Senate in a separate vote.)
THEN the Left will claim that "It's Political" and continue their campaign against Trump.
If you thought listening to that howling bitch during the campaign was torture, having another four years of it is probably not what you want for Christmas. But you may get it!!
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Rorate Coeli
We begin Advent.
This is a wonderful little Chant Advent hymn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f06qdhO_sEY
It helps to know Latin, of course. But the music itself will put the message across; it's a plea! Here's the translation of the chorus:
Drop down, ye heavens from above
and let the skies pour down righteousness.
Note how the verses have a 'minor' tonality; they describe the earthly condition--desolate, ruined, but with hopeful anticipation of salvation. Fitting for the season, and for the human condition as a whole.
This is a wonderful little Chant Advent hymn:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f06qdhO_sEY
It helps to know Latin, of course. But the music itself will put the message across; it's a plea! Here's the translation of the chorus:
Drop down, ye heavens from above
and let the skies pour down righteousness.
Note how the verses have a 'minor' tonality; they describe the earthly condition--desolate, ruined, but with hopeful anticipation of salvation. Fitting for the season, and for the human condition as a whole.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
Oppose Big Gummint or Hillary?? You're a Russian Dupe!
When I said that the Empire will strike back, I wasn't kidding.
The WaPo, which views itself as the all-seeing/all-knowing/all-wise teller of tales of Mordor on the Potomac, and which is a key part of the Empire's MSM division, lets us know that the Russians made Trump the President-Elect.
Because, you know, the Russians planted in your dim little minds the proposition that there's something rotten in D.C.
It wasn't Washington's continuous funding of Baby Murder, Inc. Nope. It wasn't Washington's two-faced bend-over to the Chamber of Commerce's illegal immigrant scheming. Nope. It wasn't the most ridiculous SCOTUS decisions--that a "fee" is a "tax"--or that Johnny can marry Albert. Nope. It wasn't bailing out GM and Chrysler, not to mention thousands of fat and pasty-faced bankers. Nope.
It was the Russians.
Further, it was the Russians that made up the story about Hillary's health (not those silly pictures of her collapsing into her van). It was the Russians that hacked Podesta's emails. It was the Russians that made up stories which 'embarrassed' Hillary.
Sure.
Buried deep in the story is the real reason the WaPo ran this piece:
...Putin, a former KGB officer, announced his desire to “break the Anglo-Saxon monopoly on the global information streams” during a 2013 visit to the broadcast center for RT, formerly known as Russia Today....
That is to say, the Russkis intend to take away the WaPo/NYSlimes/SeeBSNBCCNNABC monopoly on propaganda.
So the MSM Empire is striking back.
Too bad that they have no remaining cred, eh?
(UPDATE): The list of "Putin News" sources is found here.)
The WaPo, which views itself as the all-seeing/all-knowing/all-wise teller of tales of Mordor on the Potomac, and which is a key part of the Empire's MSM division, lets us know that the Russians made Trump the President-Elect.
Because, you know, the Russians planted in your dim little minds the proposition that there's something rotten in D.C.
It wasn't Washington's continuous funding of Baby Murder, Inc. Nope. It wasn't Washington's two-faced bend-over to the Chamber of Commerce's illegal immigrant scheming. Nope. It wasn't the most ridiculous SCOTUS decisions--that a "fee" is a "tax"--or that Johnny can marry Albert. Nope. It wasn't bailing out GM and Chrysler, not to mention thousands of fat and pasty-faced bankers. Nope.
It was the Russians.
Further, it was the Russians that made up the story about Hillary's health (not those silly pictures of her collapsing into her van). It was the Russians that hacked Podesta's emails. It was the Russians that made up stories which 'embarrassed' Hillary.
Sure.
Buried deep in the story is the real reason the WaPo ran this piece:
...Putin, a former KGB officer, announced his desire to “break the Anglo-Saxon monopoly on the global information streams” during a 2013 visit to the broadcast center for RT, formerly known as Russia Today....
That is to say, the Russkis intend to take away the WaPo/NYSlimes/SeeBSNBCCNNABC monopoly on propaganda.
So the MSM Empire is striking back.
Too bad that they have no remaining cred, eh?
(UPDATE): The list of "Putin News" sources is found here.)
Robin Vos Unchained!
So Robin Vos granted an interview.
...I have a few priorities. I would like to continue to increase our investment in education, especially public schools and universities. I would like to find a long-term solution for funding road repairs and maintenance. And I would like to make sure that we continue to make our state a place where families can find good-paying jobs that provide benefits....
Vos doesn't mention that the public-school "investment" means giving away laptop computers to every HS student in the State. For good reason: that would be a revolting development, in the best sense of the term 'revolt.'
...many of our schools are in steady or declining enrollment, we have to continue to look at our education system, which really has been based on funding pupils. If we are in declining enrollment, that’s going to cause problems in the long run...
Interesting observation. Should Wisconsin fund 'education' based on buildings? Teachers? School buses? Square mileage?
"Declining enrollment" is--by the way--localized. Oconomowoc has exactly the opposite problem and passed a large referendum based on increased enrollment. Business solves the problem of "declining enrollment" (read: less consumers-of-the-product) by layoffs and sale of assets such as buildings and grounds. Is that impossible for school districts?
Get the popcorn. This should be interesting.
...I have a few priorities. I would like to continue to increase our investment in education, especially public schools and universities. I would like to find a long-term solution for funding road repairs and maintenance. And I would like to make sure that we continue to make our state a place where families can find good-paying jobs that provide benefits....
Vos doesn't mention that the public-school "investment" means giving away laptop computers to every HS student in the State. For good reason: that would be a revolting development, in the best sense of the term 'revolt.'
...many of our schools are in steady or declining enrollment, we have to continue to look at our education system, which really has been based on funding pupils. If we are in declining enrollment, that’s going to cause problems in the long run...
Interesting observation. Should Wisconsin fund 'education' based on buildings? Teachers? School buses? Square mileage?
"Declining enrollment" is--by the way--localized. Oconomowoc has exactly the opposite problem and passed a large referendum based on increased enrollment. Business solves the problem of "declining enrollment" (read: less consumers-of-the-product) by layoffs and sale of assets such as buildings and grounds. Is that impossible for school districts?
Get the popcorn. This should be interesting.
Think There's More to This Story?
We've come to expect this sort of 'journalism'.
One suspects that there is more to this story. We'll see after the investigation is complete, instead of NOT complete.
One suspects that there is more to this story. We'll see after the investigation is complete, instead of NOT complete.
The Moonbat Contradiction
For the record, according to THIS moonbat, it's perfectly licit and morally correct to refuse business from those who are politically different.
As HotAir points out, that's not the experience of the cake-bakers or pizza-makers.
So 'patriotism' is invested solely in the Left.
Just so you know.....
As HotAir points out, that's not the experience of the cake-bakers or pizza-makers.
So 'patriotism' is invested solely in the Left.
Just so you know.....
Cui Bono? NOT Jill Stein!
It appears that Jill Stein, who captured a stunning 1.1% of the Wisconsin vote, has raised $2 million to force a recount in this State.
ZeroHedge and I are thinking on the same track.
...Jill Stein's effort to raise money for recounts in WI, PA and MI is obviously being done on behalf of the Hillary Clinton campaign. It's a very clever approach (we would expect nothing less) as it allows Hillary to maintain the high road as the gracious loser while allowing someone else to play the bad guy...typical Clinton politics really....
Maybe Jill will find another 3 or 4 Stein votes. But she won't find 28,000 more Clinton votes. So we have another $2 million to add to Walker's surplus!!
ZeroHedge and I are thinking on the same track.
...Jill Stein's effort to raise money for recounts in WI, PA and MI is obviously being done on behalf of the Hillary Clinton campaign. It's a very clever approach (we would expect nothing less) as it allows Hillary to maintain the high road as the gracious loser while allowing someone else to play the bad guy...typical Clinton politics really....
Maybe Jill will find another 3 or 4 Stein votes. But she won't find 28,000 more Clinton votes. So we have another $2 million to add to Walker's surplus!!
"Workplace Accident" for North Dakota Terrorist
You've seen the pix before; usually, the victim of a "workplace accident" is a Muhammedan Jihadi whose bomb-in-process detonated a bit too early, leaving the Jihadist at room temperature in several hundred pieces.
Happens in the US, too. Right in North Dakota, where the usual bunch of Communists and hangers-on (useful idiots) are protesting a petroleum pipeline.
...It was after the female was pulled away from the site of the explosion that Wilansky was brought back to protest medics, with her allies claiming that a police “concussion grenade” injured her....Logic suggests that Sophia Wilansky may have been the female authorities saw wounded in the explosion of a propane canister-based improvised explosive device (IED).
That canister was supposed to roll over to the police line and blow up a couple of cops.
Well. She will be the first jihadi named "Wilansky".
Happens in the US, too. Right in North Dakota, where the usual bunch of Communists and hangers-on (useful idiots) are protesting a petroleum pipeline.
...It was after the female was pulled away from the site of the explosion that Wilansky was brought back to protest medics, with her allies claiming that a police “concussion grenade” injured her....Logic suggests that Sophia Wilansky may have been the female authorities saw wounded in the explosion of a propane canister-based improvised explosive device (IED).
That canister was supposed to roll over to the police line and blow up a couple of cops.
Well. She will be the first jihadi named "Wilansky".
Half the Truth (or Less) From Ed Flynn
The police chief of Milwaukee got kudos from us for identifying the progenitors of the Sherman Park riots as "Communists from Chicago."
But not everything Flynn says is worthy of respect. Take, for example, his half-truth about the Wisconsin Concealed Carry law.
....Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn sees a connection between the law’s 2011 enactment and his city’s spike in gun violence. And he notes the reason there’s no evidence is that police are prohibited from looking at their own data on the subject or revealing it to the public.
“What we’re seeing are more guns on the streets,” the chief told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. “I can tell you anecdotally we’re seeing a number of shootings involving concealed carry permit holders — many of whom have extensive criminal records — but I’m not allowed to tell you how many or whom, because the law has been carefully written to prevent analysis of that information.”...
What Flynn does NOT say is this: people can lie on their CC applications. We know that the WI DOJ can revoke a permit based on a conviction, and we know that they can deny it if there is an 'extensive criminal record' on file in Wisconsin. But DOJ cannot deny a license if the applicant LIES (and gets away with it.)
By the way, the entire "news" story was created so that the extreme anti-self-defense outfit deceptively titled "Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort" could gain access to CC permit files. Note the mention of Jeri Bonavia.
Good luck, Jeri and Ed. Nothing's going to change. Here's why:
“The story kind of is that there is no story,” Attorney General Brad Schimel said. “I’m not aware of evidence of statistical significance that there are people who gain a permit who are committing crime with guns … and there’s not a lot of evidence of people using guns to protect themselves or others.”
Yup.
But not everything Flynn says is worthy of respect. Take, for example, his half-truth about the Wisconsin Concealed Carry law.
....Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn sees a connection between the law’s 2011 enactment and his city’s spike in gun violence. And he notes the reason there’s no evidence is that police are prohibited from looking at their own data on the subject or revealing it to the public.
“What we’re seeing are more guns on the streets,” the chief told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. “I can tell you anecdotally we’re seeing a number of shootings involving concealed carry permit holders — many of whom have extensive criminal records — but I’m not allowed to tell you how many or whom, because the law has been carefully written to prevent analysis of that information.”...
What Flynn does NOT say is this: people can lie on their CC applications. We know that the WI DOJ can revoke a permit based on a conviction, and we know that they can deny it if there is an 'extensive criminal record' on file in Wisconsin. But DOJ cannot deny a license if the applicant LIES (and gets away with it.)
By the way, the entire "news" story was created so that the extreme anti-self-defense outfit deceptively titled "Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort" could gain access to CC permit files. Note the mention of Jeri Bonavia.
Good luck, Jeri and Ed. Nothing's going to change. Here's why:
“The story kind of is that there is no story,” Attorney General Brad Schimel said. “I’m not aware of evidence of statistical significance that there are people who gain a permit who are committing crime with guns … and there’s not a lot of evidence of people using guns to protect themselves or others.”
Yup.
Democrats Looking for "Conflict of Interest"?
Yah, that's really a laugh-line. The party which ran the most corrupt candidate since Harding is trying to find "conflict of interest" in a guy who doesn't even have a Gummint position--yet.
The (D) folks should ask Hillary for her Handbook of Corrupt Practices. It will be easier to find corruption if you follow the instructions of a master. Get a signed copy while they're available!!
The (D) folks should ask Hillary for her Handbook of Corrupt Practices. It will be easier to find corruption if you follow the instructions of a master. Get a signed copy while they're available!!
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
So, Wiggy, Is Bannon a Racist?
There's a bunch of "R" word being tossed about, mostly because of this "Alt-Right" thing.
Clearly, there are racists on the Right. (And the Left, but....)
So. Read through this offering from Wigderson and tell me: is he calling Bannon a racist? Or is he using the NYTimes' stylebook, cleverly inserting the term proximate to Bannon's name...?
Hmmmmm?
Clearly, there are racists on the Right. (And the Left, but....)
So. Read through this offering from Wigderson and tell me: is he calling Bannon a racist? Or is he using the NYTimes' stylebook, cleverly inserting the term proximate to Bannon's name...?
Hmmmmm?
NY Gov. Cuomo Going Down?
This item has a lot--repeat, a LOT--of implications, nicely drawn out at HotAir.
...Bharara has made his case to a grand jury and been given the green light to take eight top aides and associates of Governor Andrew Cuomo to trial on charges of corruption. (New York Observer)...
Umnnhhhh....so? Cuomo's Gummint is corrupt? And the sun rises in the East, right?
The point is that Bharara is a-political. He prosecutes Bad Guys (and Bad Babes) on both sides of the aisle. New York State is full of them. In fact, one of the Bad Babes lives in that State.
...Bharara is the guy who is currently going after Anthony Weiner… an investigation which produced all sorts of interesting information. And in August he announced that he was investigating corruption at the New York offices of the Clinton Foundation.
As I said at the time, this isn’t the sort of investigation which was going to be wrapped up in a matter of weeks. These things take time. The FBI may have thrown in the towel on going after Hillary Clinton. Even Donald Trump may be making noises about not needing to “lock her up.” But out there in New York City Preet Bharara is still grinding away at his job. And if he has the Clintons in his sights, don’t expect him to simply go away because the election is over. Preet Bharara is the honey badger of corruption investigations and he is not afraid to do his job....
This may well explain The Donald's decision not to put Hillary in the Graybar Hotel through Sessions. He won't have to.
...Bharara has made his case to a grand jury and been given the green light to take eight top aides and associates of Governor Andrew Cuomo to trial on charges of corruption. (New York Observer)...
Umnnhhhh....so? Cuomo's Gummint is corrupt? And the sun rises in the East, right?
The point is that Bharara is a-political. He prosecutes Bad Guys (and Bad Babes) on both sides of the aisle. New York State is full of them. In fact, one of the Bad Babes lives in that State.
...Bharara is the guy who is currently going after Anthony Weiner… an investigation which produced all sorts of interesting information. And in August he announced that he was investigating corruption at the New York offices of the Clinton Foundation.
As I said at the time, this isn’t the sort of investigation which was going to be wrapped up in a matter of weeks. These things take time. The FBI may have thrown in the towel on going after Hillary Clinton. Even Donald Trump may be making noises about not needing to “lock her up.” But out there in New York City Preet Bharara is still grinding away at his job. And if he has the Clintons in his sights, don’t expect him to simply go away because the election is over. Preet Bharara is the honey badger of corruption investigations and he is not afraid to do his job....
This may well explain The Donald's decision not to put Hillary in the Graybar Hotel through Sessions. He won't have to.
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
The Establishment: Donald Trump (!!)
Awwww. Isn't he a nice fellow??
...Donald Trump is supposedly not going to pursue any prosecution of Secretary Hillary Clinton over her email transgressions or even the pay to play activities of the Clinton Global Initiative....
(That story is not confirmed by The Donald--yet.)
So. Which Espionage Act sections may WE blatantly and knowingly violate? How much of the US' patrimony may WE sell for our own 401(k)'s??
Curious minds want to know, Donald.
If that bint is not prosecuted, Donald, then another MAGA movement should start today.
...Donald Trump is supposedly not going to pursue any prosecution of Secretary Hillary Clinton over her email transgressions or even the pay to play activities of the Clinton Global Initiative....
(That story is not confirmed by The Donald--yet.)
So. Which Espionage Act sections may WE blatantly and knowingly violate? How much of the US' patrimony may WE sell for our own 401(k)'s??
Curious minds want to know, Donald.
If that bint is not prosecuted, Donald, then another MAGA movement should start today.
Owen: Zing, Zam, Zoom!
Owen is on top of his game today.
That "budget shortfall" advertised by the MSM? It's Tony Evers, whole and entire.
While you're there, note that the "conservative" Governor and Legislature cannot bring themselves to reduce State spending. Boehner-Cantorism lives!
Finally, Nebraska stops the looting of its citizens with a simple law: the cops can't steal your stuff unless you're actually proven guilty of a crime. Blue tears flowing.
That "budget shortfall" advertised by the MSM? It's Tony Evers, whole and entire.
While you're there, note that the "conservative" Governor and Legislature cannot bring themselves to reduce State spending. Boehner-Cantorism lives!
Finally, Nebraska stops the looting of its citizens with a simple law: the cops can't steal your stuff unless you're actually proven guilty of a crime. Blue tears flowing.
Voces de la Frontera, Again
It seems that whenever one finds troublesome "marching" and "protesting," one finds Voces de la Frontera someplace near the scene.
Sure enough, good ol' Voces is connected to SorosMoney through another outfit which is an anti-Trump noisemaker. Something about 'sanctuary' for 'students.'
Whatever.
Sure enough, good ol' Voces is connected to SorosMoney through another outfit which is an anti-Trump noisemaker. Something about 'sanctuary' for 'students.'
Whatever.
Saturday, November 19, 2016
Sloppy, Lazy, "Journalism": Trump/Racist Claims
Some facts of note:
...[Compared to Romney] Trump made gains among blacks. He made gains among Latinos. He made gains among Asians. The only major racial group where he didn’t get a gain of greater than 5% was white people. I want to repeat that: the group where Trump’s message resonated least over what we would predict from a generic Republican was the white population.
Nor was there some surge in white turnout. I don’t think we have official numbers yet, but by eyeballing what data we have it looks very much like whites turned out in equal or lesser numbers this year than in 2012, 2008, and so on....
Aside from wearing their diaper pins, what is the MSM schlump to do??
...[Compared to Romney] Trump made gains among blacks. He made gains among Latinos. He made gains among Asians. The only major racial group where he didn’t get a gain of greater than 5% was white people. I want to repeat that: the group where Trump’s message resonated least over what we would predict from a generic Republican was the white population.
Nor was there some surge in white turnout. I don’t think we have official numbers yet, but by eyeballing what data we have it looks very much like whites turned out in equal or lesser numbers this year than in 2012, 2008, and so on....
Aside from wearing their diaper pins, what is the MSM schlump to do??
Truth Hurts
Heh.
And by the way: theaters are not good for those who free slaves. You can ask Mike Pence.
HT: PowerLine
And by the way: theaters are not good for those who free slaves. You can ask Mike Pence.
HT: PowerLine
Death by Tariff? No.
Tonelson has been studying economics for longer than many "economists" have been alive. Here he dismantles the "China will kill the US" fabrications pumped by the Establishment/Chamber-of-Commerce twits.
He begins with the fabulism propagated by state-run media (ChiCom in this instance):
“A batch of Boeing orders will be replaced by Airbus. U.S. auto and iPhone sales in China will suffer a setback, and U.S. soybean and maize imports will be halted. China can also limit the number of Chinese students studying in the U.S.”
Uh-huh.
....if the Chinese newspaper writers really are reflecting their political leaders’ views, then their grip on reality is totally gone. For example, will the United States really be the only country that suffers if iPhone sales in the PRC are limited? Last I checked, nearly all these devices were assembled in China, where Apple and especially subcontractors are mass employers. Further, the Chinese content of manufactured goods across-the-board keeps rising, so Chinese workers across long domestic supply chains would be hit as well....
He mentions the "Chinese students" threat, too. Since a large number of Chinese 'students' are actually spies, perhaps that's a feature, not a bug.
Finally:
...More important, let’s not forget the broader economic context. Although it’s down some since 2015, China is still on course to run a nearly $350 billion trade surplus with the United States this year. And not only is trade more crucial to China’s growth than it is to America’s (and more important than official figures indicate), but that growth in turn is vital to China’s stability – and to the personal fortunes of its dictators and oligarchs. So could we please stop with the claims that these same Chinese leaders are going to launch a commercial attack on its top customer on net by far?...
Not if you are the WSJ, NYT, or any of the other state-run media (US versions.)
He begins with the fabulism propagated by state-run media (ChiCom in this instance):
“A batch of Boeing orders will be replaced by Airbus. U.S. auto and iPhone sales in China will suffer a setback, and U.S. soybean and maize imports will be halted. China can also limit the number of Chinese students studying in the U.S.”
Uh-huh.
....if the Chinese newspaper writers really are reflecting their political leaders’ views, then their grip on reality is totally gone. For example, will the United States really be the only country that suffers if iPhone sales in the PRC are limited? Last I checked, nearly all these devices were assembled in China, where Apple and especially subcontractors are mass employers. Further, the Chinese content of manufactured goods across-the-board keeps rising, so Chinese workers across long domestic supply chains would be hit as well....
He mentions the "Chinese students" threat, too. Since a large number of Chinese 'students' are actually spies, perhaps that's a feature, not a bug.
Finally:
...More important, let’s not forget the broader economic context. Although it’s down some since 2015, China is still on course to run a nearly $350 billion trade surplus with the United States this year. And not only is trade more crucial to China’s growth than it is to America’s (and more important than official figures indicate), but that growth in turn is vital to China’s stability – and to the personal fortunes of its dictators and oligarchs. So could we please stop with the claims that these same Chinese leaders are going to launch a commercial attack on its top customer on net by far?...
Not if you are the WSJ, NYT, or any of the other state-run media (US versions.)
How About "Screw the ADL!!", Governor?
Over the last few decades, the Jewish Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has morphed from a civil rights organization into a fetid leftist swampthing.
So when NPR, another fetid leftist swampthing, asks Gov. Walker and Senator RoJo a question, basing that question on something ADL said, the proper answer is "Screw the ADL!"
There. That's easy, no?
So when NPR, another fetid leftist swampthing, asks Gov. Walker and Senator RoJo a question, basing that question on something ADL said, the proper answer is "Screw the ADL!"
There. That's easy, no?
Friday, November 18, 2016
Did We Mention the Communists?
Yes, in fact, we DID mention the Commies--just yesterday!
Aaaaaaaaaaannnnnnd they're back!
A Marxist, a Venezuelan diplomat and an illegal alien headlined a meeting of organizers of the Trump resistance as they announced their plan to shut down Chicago on Saturday and Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day....
...CHICAGO ANSWER organizers, Stephanie and Mika, co-chaired the evening and Mika said he was also an organizer with the Party for Socialist and Liberation, a radical Marxist group and a frequent partner of ANSWER....
ANSWER is the successor to ACORN. ACORN was such an embarrassment--it was so radical and corrupt--that even Obozo agreed to cut off its Federal money.
It would be unfortunate if the Chicago Police tactical squad's armored vehicles ran over these vermin.
Aaaaaaaaaaannnnnnd they're back!
A Marxist, a Venezuelan diplomat and an illegal alien headlined a meeting of organizers of the Trump resistance as they announced their plan to shut down Chicago on Saturday and Washington, D.C. on Inauguration Day....
...CHICAGO ANSWER organizers, Stephanie and Mika, co-chaired the evening and Mika said he was also an organizer with the Party for Socialist and Liberation, a radical Marxist group and a frequent partner of ANSWER....
ANSWER is the successor to ACORN. ACORN was such an embarrassment--it was so radical and corrupt--that even Obozo agreed to cut off its Federal money.
It would be unfortunate if the Chicago Police tactical squad's armored vehicles ran over these vermin.
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Is Wiggy Clutching His Pearls?
Wigderson mutters and grumbles about Bannon. Maybe Wiggy knows something that nobody else (including Paul Ryan) knows. And maybe not.
But hey: it's a NYTimes-sorta essay; pearls are clutched, gasping is heard, but there's really no "there" there.
Perhaps Wiggy will produce some "there."
We'll wait. Meantime, a bit of pertinent wisdom from Grim:
...evidence that tends to confirm a theory is not what we really want in science: no theory can ever be confirmed, after all. What we're really looking for is ways to collect evidence that would disprove a theory....
Pipe. Smoke. Put.
But hey: it's a NYTimes-sorta essay; pearls are clutched, gasping is heard, but there's really no "there" there.
Perhaps Wiggy will produce some "there."
We'll wait. Meantime, a bit of pertinent wisdom from Grim:
...evidence that tends to confirm a theory is not what we really want in science: no theory can ever be confirmed, after all. What we're really looking for is ways to collect evidence that would disprove a theory....
Pipe. Smoke. Put.
More Communists. Just Co-Incidence, of Course
For a long time I thought that the Communist Party in the USA (CPUSA) consisted of maybe a few thousand gerontologically-challenged arm-wavers who would soon follow Kruschev into the dust, holding hard-cover, worn-out copies of The Communist Manifesto.
The first sign that I was wrong? Barack Obama, who is not gerontologically challenged, but is a Communist. Yes, yes, yes, I know. That's something Polite Society Folks just do not say out loud, or in pixels. Screw that. He's a f*&^%g Commie.
After the realization that there is something radically (heh) wrong with Barry, other anecdotal stuff began to pile up, and as Jack Ryan says, "There is no such thing as co-incidence." The first was the Milwaukee Riots of this summer; the Milwaukee police chief ID'd the provacateurs as "communists from Chicago." (It is NOT a co-incidence that Comrade Barry was a Chicago provacateur.)
Now the C-word comes up again: Police in Austin, Texas have released the identities and mugshots of six communists who participated in weekend demonstrations near the state capitol building in response to the election of Donald Trump as president.
The Commies are a giant toilet-bowl of Not Good. They have nothing in common with a rightly-ordered society, no matter the addled prattle of a white-hatted Jesuit in Rome. In fact, the goal of the Commies is to destroy--root and branch--any right order AND whatever happens to surround it, especially the Catholic Church.
There should be a special place for them, with lots of razor-wire, on an island several hundred miles from the USA. Note: I did not include "food and water" in that specification.
The first sign that I was wrong? Barack Obama, who is not gerontologically challenged, but is a Communist. Yes, yes, yes, I know. That's something Polite Society Folks just do not say out loud, or in pixels. Screw that. He's a f*&^%g Commie.
After the realization that there is something radically (heh) wrong with Barry, other anecdotal stuff began to pile up, and as Jack Ryan says, "There is no such thing as co-incidence." The first was the Milwaukee Riots of this summer; the Milwaukee police chief ID'd the provacateurs as "communists from Chicago." (It is NOT a co-incidence that Comrade Barry was a Chicago provacateur.)
Now the C-word comes up again: Police in Austin, Texas have released the identities and mugshots of six communists who participated in weekend demonstrations near the state capitol building in response to the election of Donald Trump as president.
The Commies are a giant toilet-bowl of Not Good. They have nothing in common with a rightly-ordered society, no matter the addled prattle of a white-hatted Jesuit in Rome. In fact, the goal of the Commies is to destroy--root and branch--any right order AND whatever happens to surround it, especially the Catholic Church.
There should be a special place for them, with lots of razor-wire, on an island several hundred miles from the USA. Note: I did not include "food and water" in that specification.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
The Empire Will Not Go Quietly
McCaughey is right. The Donald is about to meet The Immovable Object.
You may have bet against him in the primaries and the Big Race and lost. But betting against The Empire? Hmmmmm.
Donald Trump’s triumph over Hillary Clinton presages an even bigger battle ahead against the heart of the Democratic establishment: the federal workforce. This army of bureaucrats — almost 3 million strong — gave Clinton a large majority of their votes and over 90 percent of their campaign contributions.
Expect federal workers and their union bosses to use every trick in the book to block Trump’s reform agenda....
They've started. Look to the smear-and-destroy stories filling the pages of the Usual Suspects.
...Will Trump, a newcomer to Washington, succeed where other presidents have failed? Possibly. He’s shown he gets his money’s worth. After all, he defeated spendthrift Clinton with less than a quarter of the campaign staff and half the spending.
But federal employees will scramble to stay on the gravy train. They earn a whopping $123,160 a year on average — about a third more than private-sector employees — get over a month’s paid vacation and don’t lose sleep over getting fired. Hard to call them civil “servants.” ...
Maybe an earthquake will detach D.C. and send it into the Atlantic, so there's hope.
You may have bet against him in the primaries and the Big Race and lost. But betting against The Empire? Hmmmmm.
Donald Trump’s triumph over Hillary Clinton presages an even bigger battle ahead against the heart of the Democratic establishment: the federal workforce. This army of bureaucrats — almost 3 million strong — gave Clinton a large majority of their votes and over 90 percent of their campaign contributions.
Expect federal workers and their union bosses to use every trick in the book to block Trump’s reform agenda....
They've started. Look to the smear-and-destroy stories filling the pages of the Usual Suspects.
...Will Trump, a newcomer to Washington, succeed where other presidents have failed? Possibly. He’s shown he gets his money’s worth. After all, he defeated spendthrift Clinton with less than a quarter of the campaign staff and half the spending.
But federal employees will scramble to stay on the gravy train. They earn a whopping $123,160 a year on average — about a third more than private-sector employees — get over a month’s paid vacation and don’t lose sleep over getting fired. Hard to call them civil “servants.” ...
Maybe an earthquake will detach D.C. and send it into the Atlantic, so there's hope.
The Seminary Revealed
You can read between the lines here. This is about the XYZ seminary--and Bp. X. All you need to know is this: the home-state of the priest-author.
...When officials from a Midwest diocese screened me for entry into the diocesan program, they spoke in code. The team, headed by an auxiliary bishop, wanted to know about my “view of women.” They knew – and I knew – the phrase is a dog whistle (as we say nowadays) for “ordination of women.” I didn’t take the bait. I responded that I would “work for the salvation of the souls of women every bit as hard as I would for men.”
The highly-sensitive-to-women’s-needs bishop said, “The committee would like to know your view of women’s ordination.” I knew the preferred response, but couldn’t say it: “The Church’s discipline does not permit the ordination of women today, but it may take place sometime in the future.” My actual response, to their dismay, demonstrated my theological inflexibility: “That wouldn’t be right, would it? What does the Church teach?”
The seminary admissions interview was similarly surreal....
Things have changed in XYZ since those very, very dark days, we pray.
...Evelyn Waugh once observed, “It is better to be narrow-minded than to have no mind, to hold limited and rigid principles than none at all. That is the danger which faces so many people today – to have no considered opinions on any subject, to put up with what is wasteful and harmful with the excuse that there is ‘good in everything’ – which in most cases means inability to distinguish between good and bad.”...
IIRC, St. Paul had some good things to say about 'rigidity,' too. But St. Paul was not a Jesuit.
...When officials from a Midwest diocese screened me for entry into the diocesan program, they spoke in code. The team, headed by an auxiliary bishop, wanted to know about my “view of women.” They knew – and I knew – the phrase is a dog whistle (as we say nowadays) for “ordination of women.” I didn’t take the bait. I responded that I would “work for the salvation of the souls of women every bit as hard as I would for men.”
The highly-sensitive-to-women’s-needs bishop said, “The committee would like to know your view of women’s ordination.” I knew the preferred response, but couldn’t say it: “The Church’s discipline does not permit the ordination of women today, but it may take place sometime in the future.” My actual response, to their dismay, demonstrated my theological inflexibility: “That wouldn’t be right, would it? What does the Church teach?”
The seminary admissions interview was similarly surreal....
Things have changed in XYZ since those very, very dark days, we pray.
...Evelyn Waugh once observed, “It is better to be narrow-minded than to have no mind, to hold limited and rigid principles than none at all. That is the danger which faces so many people today – to have no considered opinions on any subject, to put up with what is wasteful and harmful with the excuse that there is ‘good in everything’ – which in most cases means inability to distinguish between good and bad.”...
IIRC, St. Paul had some good things to say about 'rigidity,' too. But St. Paul was not a Jesuit.
This Bishop is Wrong
In what is now becoming a civil war in the Catholic church, at least one Bishop is just plain wrong (assuming that his remarks are correctly reported.)
Amoris Laetitia opens a new door that goes beyond Familiaris Consortio and does away with unnecessarily harsh requirements from the Catholic Church with regard to chastity, according to a recent presentation on the Apostolic Exhortation by Bishop Marcello Semeraro in Spain....
(Significant is the fact that this address was delivered at a Jebby university, no?)
...Regarding the regulation for Catholics who have entered a second civil union after a prior sacramental marriage (and civil divorce) to live as brother and sister in order to receive the sacraments, Bishop Semeraro qualified: “What would it mean that people who have children live as brother and sister? The step forward of Amoris Laetitia, with respect to Familiaris Consortio, is that they [the civilly remarried] can express their affection in their situation, and this is where the accompaniment and guidance of the spiritual director would enter into play.” He added with more clarity: “It is not a brother and sister relationship but a conjugal relationship. They are people who have children and have responsibilities in their relationship.” He claimed to support his interpretation with earlier Church magisterial teaching: “Gaudium et spes says that spouses who abstain from marital relations endanger their relationship and may commit infidelities.”...
That is--without a doubt--the clearest piece of backwards logic I have ever seen from a Bishop, or anyone else, for that matter. He claims that an adulterous relationship demands sexual 'expression' according to Familiaris--or expressed the other way around, that Famliaris requires conjugal relations even in an adulterous relationship.
Stunning. And wrong.
Amoris Laetitia opens a new door that goes beyond Familiaris Consortio and does away with unnecessarily harsh requirements from the Catholic Church with regard to chastity, according to a recent presentation on the Apostolic Exhortation by Bishop Marcello Semeraro in Spain....
(Significant is the fact that this address was delivered at a Jebby university, no?)
...Regarding the regulation for Catholics who have entered a second civil union after a prior sacramental marriage (and civil divorce) to live as brother and sister in order to receive the sacraments, Bishop Semeraro qualified: “What would it mean that people who have children live as brother and sister? The step forward of Amoris Laetitia, with respect to Familiaris Consortio, is that they [the civilly remarried] can express their affection in their situation, and this is where the accompaniment and guidance of the spiritual director would enter into play.” He added with more clarity: “It is not a brother and sister relationship but a conjugal relationship. They are people who have children and have responsibilities in their relationship.” He claimed to support his interpretation with earlier Church magisterial teaching: “Gaudium et spes says that spouses who abstain from marital relations endanger their relationship and may commit infidelities.”...
That is--without a doubt--the clearest piece of backwards logic I have ever seen from a Bishop, or anyone else, for that matter. He claims that an adulterous relationship demands sexual 'expression' according to Familiaris--or expressed the other way around, that Famliaris requires conjugal relations even in an adulterous relationship.
Stunning. And wrong.
Bucks' Lefty Owners: Diaper-Pin Babies
This comes as no surprise. The Bucks' hard-left ownership is joining the caterwauling diaper-pin college student/Hollywood crybaby crowd.
Nice of the local taxpayers to provide for them, ain'a?
Nice of the local taxpayers to provide for them, ain'a?
The "Real" Steve Bannon? Try "Catholic"!!
Seems that the hot thing to do is to revile Steve Bannon as a racist and anti-Semite.
Well, then. How about reading what Bannon actually SAYS--and where he SAID it?
If you're Catholic, you'll see some very familiar terminology. If you're a Christian, you will be pleasantly surprised. If, on the other hand, you're a committed secularist, you'll see the same terminology and your head will explode. If you're a Communist you will go to "hate" mode immediately. (The latter two categories explain the MSM's revulsion for this guy.)
Finally, if you are AltRight, you go bonkers because Bannon uses the term "Judaeo-Christian." Suck it up, buttercups. He's right and you're wrong.
...That capitalism [which won WWII] really generated tremendous wealth. And that wealth was really distributed among a middle class, a rising middle class, people who come from really working-class environments and created what we really call a Pax Americana. It was many, many years and decades of peace. And I believe we’ve come partly offtrack in the years since the fall of the Soviet Union and we’re starting now in the 21st century, which I believe, strongly, is a crisis both of our church, a crisis of our faith, a crisis of the West, a crisis of capitalism....
He transitions to the conflicts now apparent in the West, both external (ISIS) and internal (governance).
...I think that you’re seeing three kinds of converging tendencies: One is a form of capitalism that is taken [...] from the underlying spiritual and moral foundations of Christianity and, really, Judeo-Christian belief....
....But there’s a strand of capitalism today — two strands of it, that are very disturbing.
One is state-sponsored capitalism. And that’s the capitalism you see in China and Russia. I believe it’s what Holy Father [Pope Francis] has seen for most of his life in places like Argentina, where you have this kind of crony capitalism...The second form of capitalism that I feel is almost as disturbing, is what I call the Ayn Rand or the Objectivist School of libertarian capitalism....is quite different when you really look at it to what I call the “enlightened capitalism” of the Judeo-Christian West. It is a capitalism that really looks to make people commodities, and to objectify people, and to use them almost — as many of the precepts of Marx — and that is a form of capitalism, particularly to a younger generation [that] they’re really finding quite attractive. And if they don’t see another alternative, it’s going to be an alternative that they gravitate to under this kind of rubric of “personal freedom.”
Kinda puts Bannon in a whole new light.
More at the link.
UPDATE: Sykes, still auditioning for MSLSD (and perhaps his old life as a Lefty) swallows the MSM's take on Bannon whole, then regurgitates it. Of course, Charlie is not a "journalist."
Well, then. How about reading what Bannon actually SAYS--and where he SAID it?
If you're Catholic, you'll see some very familiar terminology. If you're a Christian, you will be pleasantly surprised. If, on the other hand, you're a committed secularist, you'll see the same terminology and your head will explode. If you're a Communist you will go to "hate" mode immediately. (The latter two categories explain the MSM's revulsion for this guy.)
Finally, if you are AltRight, you go bonkers because Bannon uses the term "Judaeo-Christian." Suck it up, buttercups. He's right and you're wrong.
...That capitalism [which won WWII] really generated tremendous wealth. And that wealth was really distributed among a middle class, a rising middle class, people who come from really working-class environments and created what we really call a Pax Americana. It was many, many years and decades of peace. And I believe we’ve come partly offtrack in the years since the fall of the Soviet Union and we’re starting now in the 21st century, which I believe, strongly, is a crisis both of our church, a crisis of our faith, a crisis of the West, a crisis of capitalism....
He transitions to the conflicts now apparent in the West, both external (ISIS) and internal (governance).
...I think that you’re seeing three kinds of converging tendencies: One is a form of capitalism that is taken [...] from the underlying spiritual and moral foundations of Christianity and, really, Judeo-Christian belief....
....But there’s a strand of capitalism today — two strands of it, that are very disturbing.
One is state-sponsored capitalism. And that’s the capitalism you see in China and Russia. I believe it’s what Holy Father [Pope Francis] has seen for most of his life in places like Argentina, where you have this kind of crony capitalism...The second form of capitalism that I feel is almost as disturbing, is what I call the Ayn Rand or the Objectivist School of libertarian capitalism....is quite different when you really look at it to what I call the “enlightened capitalism” of the Judeo-Christian West. It is a capitalism that really looks to make people commodities, and to objectify people, and to use them almost — as many of the precepts of Marx — and that is a form of capitalism, particularly to a younger generation [that] they’re really finding quite attractive. And if they don’t see another alternative, it’s going to be an alternative that they gravitate to under this kind of rubric of “personal freedom.”
Kinda puts Bannon in a whole new light.
More at the link.
UPDATE: Sykes, still auditioning for MSLSD (and perhaps his old life as a Lefty) swallows the MSM's take on Bannon whole, then regurgitates it. Of course, Charlie is not a "journalist."
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Mike Rogers? Good Riddance
Apparently Mike Rogers, ex-GOP Congress-slime, was dumped from the Trump transition team.
Good.
This is "Lightbulb Mike"--the man most responsible for eliminating the incandescent bulbs around your home.
Screw that twit.
Good.
This is "Lightbulb Mike"--the man most responsible for eliminating the incandescent bulbs around your home.
Screw that twit.
Owen Is Right, Ya'Know: Pubbies Acting Stupid
Excerpt from an Owen essay on the election:
...Why would state legislators want to
undermine the bargain of Act 10 by increasing state spending on K-12?
To the citizens in districts that just decided to increase their own
taxes and spending with a referendum, state lawmakers would be layering
even more burden on them to pay for more spending in districts that did
not ask for it. For those of us citizens who live in districts that are
trying to control our district’s spending, lawmakers would be telling us
that our fiscal restraint is not appreciated by forcing us to pay for
more spending for which we did not ask.
In order to continue to allow Act
10 to work, legislators must restrain state spending on K-12 and let
local voters raise their own taxes if they so choose. If they decide to
increase state K-12 spending on top of the $804 million just approved by
the taxpayers, Wisconsin will never bring its tax burden in line with
the rest of the country.
State Republicans have earned
increasing majorities thanks to their steadfast advancement of
conservative policies. Now is not the time to go wobbly.
That phrase, "local control" comes to mind. Do the (R) Poobahs really think that Madison-centric rule is some sort of Golden Rule? If so, then just turn over the education budget to Tony Evers. May as well go all the way!
What Is "Conservatism"? Why Buckley-Bush-ism Failed
Penetrating essay here from Z on the topic of 'conservatism.' (Can't really go wrong when you start with a reference Oakeshott.)
...the traditional American conservatism...[ ].. is, in fact, an attitude or a temperament. It is a set of preferences that Michael Oakeshott spelled out a million years ago in his essay On Being Conservative. “To be conservative is to be disposed to think and behave in certain manners; it is to prefer certain kinds of conduct and certain conditions of human circumstances to others; it is to be disposed to make certain kinds of choices.” In other words, conservatism is a disposition....
Z claims that 'a disposition' is NOT identical to 'policy,' which, of course, is true. Policy based on 'conservatism' is necessarily short-lived, for policy is created in a 'time zone'--and as times move on, time-bound policy must either vanish or change.
For example: it was US policy that democratic-like governments would be implanted in states we defeated in WWII, specifically Germany and Japan. It worked. But that policy failed, miserably, in the Middle East after the defeat of Saddam. Continuing that 'policy'--even though by a distinctly non-conservative (Obama)--continues the failure, spectacularly. The US public, which is naturally 'conservative', saw that policy failure, and voted against it this year.
Z gives another example:
...In the Cold War, business friendly taxes and regulation, along with a muscular defense policy make perfect sense as a rebuttal to the dominant Progressive ideology. Once the Cold War ended, the justifications for Buckley-style conservatism ended. It became a body with no soul to animate it....
Conservatism grasps reality: the human race is fallen, and ideology cannot repair it.
...Inevitably, an ideology demands that the adherent accept things that are in direct contradiction with observable reality. That’s both the attraction and the defect of ideology. Those with a conservative temperament were always going to be skeptical of the projects championed by the Official Right....
We would add that such skepticism extends to projects championed by the Official Left, as Hillary found to her chagrin.
Hmmmmm.
...the traditional American conservatism...[ ].. is, in fact, an attitude or a temperament. It is a set of preferences that Michael Oakeshott spelled out a million years ago in his essay On Being Conservative. “To be conservative is to be disposed to think and behave in certain manners; it is to prefer certain kinds of conduct and certain conditions of human circumstances to others; it is to be disposed to make certain kinds of choices.” In other words, conservatism is a disposition....
Z claims that 'a disposition' is NOT identical to 'policy,' which, of course, is true. Policy based on 'conservatism' is necessarily short-lived, for policy is created in a 'time zone'--and as times move on, time-bound policy must either vanish or change.
For example: it was US policy that democratic-like governments would be implanted in states we defeated in WWII, specifically Germany and Japan. It worked. But that policy failed, miserably, in the Middle East after the defeat of Saddam. Continuing that 'policy'--even though by a distinctly non-conservative (Obama)--continues the failure, spectacularly. The US public, which is naturally 'conservative', saw that policy failure, and voted against it this year.
Z gives another example:
...In the Cold War, business friendly taxes and regulation, along with a muscular defense policy make perfect sense as a rebuttal to the dominant Progressive ideology. Once the Cold War ended, the justifications for Buckley-style conservatism ended. It became a body with no soul to animate it....
Conservatism grasps reality: the human race is fallen, and ideology cannot repair it.
...Inevitably, an ideology demands that the adherent accept things that are in direct contradiction with observable reality. That’s both the attraction and the defect of ideology. Those with a conservative temperament were always going to be skeptical of the projects championed by the Official Right....
We would add that such skepticism extends to projects championed by the Official Left, as Hillary found to her chagrin.
Hmmmmm.
Monday, November 14, 2016
Ricardo's Fanciful Fallacy
Need just one more reason to reject Ricardo's "free trade" fallacy?
How about this one:
...[Ricardo's] argument might sound convincing, until you ask a simple question: “So how do you turn a wine press into a spinning jenny?”. Answer? You don’t.
Ricardo’s model assumed that you could produce wine or cloth with only labour, but of course you can’t. You need machines as well, and machinery is specific to each industry. The essential machinery for making wine can’t be used to make anything else, if its use becomes unprofitable. It is either scrapped, sold at a large loss, or shipped overseas. Ditto a spinning jenny, or a steel mill: if making steel becomes unprofitable, the capital involved in its production is effectively destroyed....Forbes quoted at VoxPopuli
Plenty more at the link. As to 'destroyed,' look no further than Janesville's GM plant. Or Kenosha's AMC/Chrysler plant(s). Not to mention the tens of thousands of lives.
How about this one:
...[Ricardo's] argument might sound convincing, until you ask a simple question: “So how do you turn a wine press into a spinning jenny?”. Answer? You don’t.
Ricardo’s model assumed that you could produce wine or cloth with only labour, but of course you can’t. You need machines as well, and machinery is specific to each industry. The essential machinery for making wine can’t be used to make anything else, if its use becomes unprofitable. It is either scrapped, sold at a large loss, or shipped overseas. Ditto a spinning jenny, or a steel mill: if making steel becomes unprofitable, the capital involved in its production is effectively destroyed....Forbes quoted at VoxPopuli
Plenty more at the link. As to 'destroyed,' look no further than Janesville's GM plant. Or Kenosha's AMC/Chrysler plant(s). Not to mention the tens of thousands of lives.
Sunday, November 13, 2016
All in All, The Donald Is What We Expected
He loves him some TV time. And he's a twitidiot.
...Trump also balked when asked whether he’d carry out his campaign pledge to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton.
He said Clinton “did some bad things” and that he’s “going to think about it” — but that he is more eager to focus on health care, immigration and other policy matters.
“I don’t want to hurt them,” Trump said of the Clintons, noting he’d spoken to both Hillary and Bill Clinton since his victory. “They’re good people. I don’t want to hurt them.
And after all, What Difference--at This Point In Time--Does It Make??, eh, Donald?
Here he does a Scott Walker impersonation:
...Trump said he’s “fine” with same-sex marriage remaining legal across the country, and wouldn’t appoint Supreme Court judges with the goal of reversing that ruling.
“It’s irrelevant because it was already settled. It’s law. It was settled in the Supreme Court. I mean it’s done,” Trump said....
And finally, he does a Hildebeeste!!
...he favors ditching the Electoral College and handing the presidency to the winner of the popular vote. “I’m not going to change my mind just because I won. But I would rather see it where you went with simple votes. you know, you get 100 million votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes and you win....
Fortunately, he'll get bored with the job in a year or so.
...Trump also balked when asked whether he’d carry out his campaign pledge to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Clinton.
He said Clinton “did some bad things” and that he’s “going to think about it” — but that he is more eager to focus on health care, immigration and other policy matters.
“I don’t want to hurt them,” Trump said of the Clintons, noting he’d spoken to both Hillary and Bill Clinton since his victory. “They’re good people. I don’t want to hurt them.
And after all, What Difference--at This Point In Time--Does It Make??, eh, Donald?
Here he does a Scott Walker impersonation:
...Trump said he’s “fine” with same-sex marriage remaining legal across the country, and wouldn’t appoint Supreme Court judges with the goal of reversing that ruling.
“It’s irrelevant because it was already settled. It’s law. It was settled in the Supreme Court. I mean it’s done,” Trump said....
And finally, he does a Hildebeeste!!
...he favors ditching the Electoral College and handing the presidency to the winner of the popular vote. “I’m not going to change my mind just because I won. But I would rather see it where you went with simple votes. you know, you get 100 million votes and somebody else gets 90 million votes and you win....
Fortunately, he'll get bored with the job in a year or so.
Chicago Deserves This
Interesting little video here of the buses which brought the 'spontaneous' demonstrators to Chicago.
A LOT of those buses are from Wisconsin: Badger, Miller, Lamers.
Nice to see the reverse-flow of sewage--from here to there instead of the opposite--eh??
A LOT of those buses are from Wisconsin: Badger, Miller, Lamers.
Nice to see the reverse-flow of sewage--from here to there instead of the opposite--eh??
Saturday, November 12, 2016
The Empire Will Strike Back
The Donald should have a food-taster. But even if he avoids the conventional challenges--not to exclude Polonium-10--he will have Congress to deal with. And they have their ways....
“I’m going to make another prediction,” he said. “This one is not based on a system; it’s just my gut. They don’t want Trump as president, because they can’t control him. He’s unpredictable. They’d love to have Pence — an absolutely down-the-line, conservative, controllable Republican. And I’m quite certain Trump will give someone grounds for impeachment, either by doing something that endangers national security or because it helps his pocketbook.” --quoted at RedState
Granted, RedState is no friend of The Donald. But I happen to agree with that assessment.
The Empire will not be mocked.
“I’m going to make another prediction,” he said. “This one is not based on a system; it’s just my gut. They don’t want Trump as president, because they can’t control him. He’s unpredictable. They’d love to have Pence — an absolutely down-the-line, conservative, controllable Republican. And I’m quite certain Trump will give someone grounds for impeachment, either by doing something that endangers national security or because it helps his pocketbook.” --quoted at RedState
Granted, RedState is no friend of The Donald. But I happen to agree with that assessment.
The Empire will not be mocked.
The BEST Reason To Repeal Dodd-Frank
If you need only one reason--the best reason--to repeal Dodd-Frank, here it is:
"I wouldn't want regulation to be repealed in total," --Blankfein, Chairman, Goldman Sachs
Blankfein has the US Gummint doing the heavy lifting for him.
"More intense regulatory and technology requirements have raised the barriers to entry higher than at any other time in modern history," Blankfein said in 2015. "This is an expensive business to be in, if you don't have the market share in scale. Consider the numerous business exits that have been announced by our peers as they reassessed their competitive positioning and relative returns."
The other big guys feel the same way. Jamie Dimon has praised Dodd-Frank for widening JP Morgan's "moat."
Maybe Blankfein and Dimon should be tossed into that 'moat.'
"I wouldn't want regulation to be repealed in total," --Blankfein, Chairman, Goldman Sachs
Blankfein has the US Gummint doing the heavy lifting for him.
"More intense regulatory and technology requirements have raised the barriers to entry higher than at any other time in modern history," Blankfein said in 2015. "This is an expensive business to be in, if you don't have the market share in scale. Consider the numerous business exits that have been announced by our peers as they reassessed their competitive positioning and relative returns."
The other big guys feel the same way. Jamie Dimon has praised Dodd-Frank for widening JP Morgan's "moat."
Maybe Blankfein and Dimon should be tossed into that 'moat.'
Friday, November 11, 2016
Reince, You BS Artist!
This is funny:
...Reince Priebus is running around saying it was the GOP data operations that got the Trump vote out on Tuesday. He was on the radio claiming that his team “knew what people ate for lunch, when they went to work and how they voted in the past” so they could target these voters and get them to the polls. He made it sound like they had studied all of us since birth so they could maximize their vote....
In the 10 days before the election, I got two political texts. Both from the (D) Party.
What did I have for lunch last Friday, Reince?
...Reince Priebus is running around saying it was the GOP data operations that got the Trump vote out on Tuesday. He was on the radio claiming that his team “knew what people ate for lunch, when they went to work and how they voted in the past” so they could target these voters and get them to the polls. He made it sound like they had studied all of us since birth so they could maximize their vote....
In the 10 days before the election, I got two political texts. Both from the (D) Party.
What did I have for lunch last Friday, Reince?
Between the Lines, the Election Meant Little
While this is Bloomberg--a distinctly left-ish 'news' source--you will get the idea quickly from just this one paragraph:
...President-elect Donald Trump could sign legislation proposed by Republicans that would put the agency under Congress’s thumb. Lawmakers could also overturn specific CFPB regulations, including one loathed by the industry that made it easier for consumers to sue their banks....
Note well: it's not "abolish" the agency; it's 'keep it, but under Congress' thumb.'
The CFPB is unnecessary and redundant, so it should be shitcanned. But Congress, on both sided of the aisle, want a redundant and unnecessary pile of expensive bureaucrats working for them in D.C. Increases their power, increases their ability to raise campaign funds...and on, and on.
Nothing really changed, eh?
...President-elect Donald Trump could sign legislation proposed by Republicans that would put the agency under Congress’s thumb. Lawmakers could also overturn specific CFPB regulations, including one loathed by the industry that made it easier for consumers to sue their banks....
Note well: it's not "abolish" the agency; it's 'keep it, but under Congress' thumb.'
The CFPB is unnecessary and redundant, so it should be shitcanned. But Congress, on both sided of the aisle, want a redundant and unnecessary pile of expensive bureaucrats working for them in D.C. Increases their power, increases their ability to raise campaign funds...and on, and on.
Nothing really changed, eh?
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Yawn....
The Soros money is being spent.
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in downtown Milwaukee, and disrupted traffic Thursday night, November 10th -- voicing their concerns about the election -- upset with the fact that Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States....
Let 'em wander around down in Barrett-Town. Let 'em block the entrances of the BMO/Harris center and reduce the revenues of the Bucks (and their far-left ownership team.)
Don't care. Too bad, so sad. Stay out of high-speed traffic, kiddies....
Hundreds of protesters took to the streets in downtown Milwaukee, and disrupted traffic Thursday night, November 10th -- voicing their concerns about the election -- upset with the fact that Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States....
Let 'em wander around down in Barrett-Town. Let 'em block the entrances of the BMO/Harris center and reduce the revenues of the Bucks (and their far-left ownership team.)
Don't care. Too bad, so sad. Stay out of high-speed traffic, kiddies....
Fantasy Inauguration Day
Z-blogman's prediction for Inauguration Day:
...In January, Donald Trump will enter the Imperial Capital in a four horse chariot, wearing a laurel crown and painted toga. Behind him, in chains and rags, will be the members of NeverTrump. The great enemy of the people and the threat to the republic, Hillary Clinton, will be displayed in a wheeled cage so the citizens can throw rotten vegetables at her. After the festivals, the proscription lists will be posted around the city and the NeverTrump loons will be thrown into a pit....
Think the MSM will cover that?
...In January, Donald Trump will enter the Imperial Capital in a four horse chariot, wearing a laurel crown and painted toga. Behind him, in chains and rags, will be the members of NeverTrump. The great enemy of the people and the threat to the republic, Hillary Clinton, will be displayed in a wheeled cage so the citizens can throw rotten vegetables at her. After the festivals, the proscription lists will be posted around the city and the NeverTrump loons will be thrown into a pit....
Think the MSM will cover that?
Hannan on "Populism"
This is worth reading--for the #NeverTrump crowd AND for the Leftoids--who have something in common: their utter hatred of "populism"
For what it’s worth, I think only the second of
these assertions is wholly fair. But I can see why a gap has opened up
between government and governed, between the paese legale and the paese reale, between the smirking classes and the working classes. Into this gap have sprung populists of every hue...
Hannan sees the EU as a far more significant threat to Ordinary Europeans than the US Government is to Ordinary Americans, by the way. But, in either case, "populism" is not necessarily the pariah that the #NeverTrump/Communist Left" would want you to believe it is.
The
vilest slur in Brussels, the insult to end all insults, is “populist.”
Eurocrats spit it out, rather in the manner of a teenager at a party who
mistakenly takes a swig from a beer can that was being used as an
ashtray. Yet, monstrous as the word is in a Eurocrat’s vocabulary, he is
surprisingly vague about its meaning.
The one thing that he unequivocally understands
populism to signify is “something that other people like, but I don’t.”
Thus, calling for a referendum is populist. Accepting the result of a
referendum is populist. Free speech for Eurosceptics is populist. Tax
cuts are populist. Cutting waste is populist....
Umnnhh humnnnhhh.. In fact, it's a rather delicate balance.
...My point is that populism is not intrinsically a bad thing. It may be
either positive or negative according to context. The essential feature
of all populist movements is their belief that an elite is governing in
its own interests rather than that of the general population. To make an
obvious point, the validity of the populist argument depends on the
extent to which that assessment is accurate....
Some populist movements rely on scapegoating, on attributing every
misfortune to a privileged or powerful minority. These are the ugly
movements, the ones that offer anger and division rather than solutions.
“Are you poor? Are your children jobless? It’s not your fault! It’s all
the fault of international financiers/powerful foreigners/Jews/the one
percent!”...
Such populist movements depend on what we might call a piece of faulty
circuitry in the human brain: a tendency to see patterns where none
exist....
It is fair to state that the AltRight bunch is playing in the above sandbox to an uncomfortable degree.
[William Jennings] Bryan set the tone for every populist insurgency that was to follow in
the democratic world. Misfortune was not a part of the human condition;
it happened because someone somewhere was being selfish....
Here he presents the 'other side':
...Equally, though, let’s not pretend that oligarchy
is unknown in democracies. Many polities, from the Roman Republic
onwards, have retained the outward forms of representative government
while being captured by cliques. The Roman precedent was, indeed,
vividly in the minds of America’s Founding Fathers and informed many of
the checks they put in place to prevent a similar decline in the United
States.
Those checks worked. Unlike, say, the
near-contemporary French Republic, the American Republic did not follow
Rome into autocratic rule. But, even in an open democracy, there is a
natural tendency for people in power to rig the rules in their own
favor, to give themselves an institutional advantage....
Yes.
...Established political parties passing laws that
make it harder for newcomers to challenge them; big corporations using
the regulatory regime to erect barriers to entry; public-sector workers
ensuring that the system favors producers over consumers; mega-banks
persuading politicians to bail them out with taxpayers’ money—all these
are, in their ways, examples of oligarchy. And all of them are intrinsic
to modern politics, because human beings are naturally self-interested.
To the extent that they trigger a populist backlash, that backlash
might be considered a proportionate and necessary antibody.
To put it another way, a measure of populism is
inherent in any democratic system. The intensity and validity of the
phenomenon depend upon circumstances....
Ahh. That "delicate balance" thing!
Hannan sees 1) the Iraq War; 2) the bank-bailout; and 3) the Mass Immigration as the trigger(s) which began the successful Trump Revolt. Personally, I think that the Queer "Marriage", same-sex bathroom mandates, and ridiculous "global warming" bullshit regulations added fuel to the fire; but even more influential were the McConnell/Boehner cave-ins and the imbroglios of Hillary which seemed to go un-remarked by most of the Establishment (and yes, I'm looking at the Senate and House.)
...Put it all together and what do people see? A
political class that will send boys to die in distant lands on the basis
of, at best, a half-truth; that taxes the poor to bail out the rich;
and that supports an immigration policy designed for big business at the
expense of ordinary people.
Hannan sees the EU as a far more significant threat to Ordinary Europeans than the US Government is to Ordinary Americans, by the way. But, in either case, "populism" is not necessarily the pariah that the #NeverTrump/Communist Left" would want you to believe it is.
Is Comey a LOT Smarter Than We Think?
James Comey of the FBI famously (infamously??) announced, twice, that Hillary's emails were being investigated.
He also announced, twice, that "there was nothing to see here, move along".
Now, then. If you want to REALLY piss off the 'basket of despicables', make it look like someone is getting a big, big, big favor. And make sure they're pissed off just before Election Day.
So. Is Comey a lot smarter than he's letting on? I mean, you don't seriously think that HE thinks she's 'innocent,' do you??
He also announced, twice, that "there was nothing to see here, move along".
Now, then. If you want to REALLY piss off the 'basket of despicables', make it look like someone is getting a big, big, big favor. And make sure they're pissed off just before Election Day.
So. Is Comey a lot smarter than he's letting on? I mean, you don't seriously think that HE thinks she's 'innocent,' do you??
OK, Donald. Lock Her Up!
No doubt Obozo will try to issue pardons to the Hildebeeste for all the crimes she committed.
But there's a problem: she's committed far more crimes than he can list and pardon.
Lock her up. That will be a very useful signal to the rest of the grifters.
But there's a problem: she's committed far more crimes than he can list and pardon.
Lock her up. That will be a very useful signal to the rest of the grifters.
Wednesday, November 09, 2016
Remember After the '12 Election....
Remember how, after the '12 election, the disaffected Romney supporters streamed into the streets, smashing windows, lighting fires, and stopping traffic all around the country?
Remember that?
Yah. I don't, either.
Remember that?
Yah. I don't, either.
Is Red China Firing the First Shot at Trump?
We all know...sorta..that the economy in Red China is rocky. The rulers over there are good at playing with numbers so it's not crystal clear--but it's bad over there. That said, the ChiComs are cashing in a helluvalot of US Treasuries:
...something changed today, when in a violent move starting around the time of the Trump election was guaranteed after midnight, the offshore Yuan, the CNH, has been a one way street of non-stop selling, indicative however, of much more than just the relative strength of the dollar. In fact, as the chart below shows, the selling in the Yuan appears to be closely correlated to today's unprecedented liquidation in US Treasurys [sic]...
What does that matter to Trump?
Simple. Dumping Treasuries increases the interest rate on those instruments. If the US is paying a higher interest rate on its debt--which it MUST do--that interest-paid number cannot be applied to other expenditures. And at $20Trillion in debt (Obozo's gift to us, the bastard), a half-a-point here or there makes a really, really, really big difference in the budget.
And Trump inherits that.
...something changed today, when in a violent move starting around the time of the Trump election was guaranteed after midnight, the offshore Yuan, the CNH, has been a one way street of non-stop selling, indicative however, of much more than just the relative strength of the dollar. In fact, as the chart below shows, the selling in the Yuan appears to be closely correlated to today's unprecedented liquidation in US Treasurys [sic]...
What does that matter to Trump?
Simple. Dumping Treasuries increases the interest rate on those instruments. If the US is paying a higher interest rate on its debt--which it MUST do--that interest-paid number cannot be applied to other expenditures. And at $20Trillion in debt (Obozo's gift to us, the bastard), a half-a-point here or there makes a really, really, really big difference in the budget.
And Trump inherits that.
Feingold: A Loser, and a Whiny Little Snot, Too
Althouse noticed:
I wrote "gracious" based on hearing this clip: "We as Americans have to do the best we can to heal the pain in this country and get people to come together. I would urge you to be as restrained as you can be as the next steps occur." But on listening to the entire clip, I'm noticing that Feingold doesn't congratulate Ron Johnson. He doesn't say the name Ron Johnson or even refer to his opponent. He only mentions the "outcome" and his own failure "to get the job done."
Yes, Russ, you failed. Twice in 6+ years. Move on, preferably out of this State.
I wrote "gracious" based on hearing this clip: "We as Americans have to do the best we can to heal the pain in this country and get people to come together. I would urge you to be as restrained as you can be as the next steps occur." But on listening to the entire clip, I'm noticing that Feingold doesn't congratulate Ron Johnson. He doesn't say the name Ron Johnson or even refer to his opponent. He only mentions the "outcome" and his own failure "to get the job done."
Yes, Russ, you failed. Twice in 6+ years. Move on, preferably out of this State.
Pat Caddell, Again
I've mentioned this guy a dozen times in the last year. Saw him in Milwaukee about 25 years ago; at the time he appeared to be a 'common sense Democrat.' Those are near-extinct now, but Caddell's still going.
You'll see why when you read his observations, which (by the way) fit with those of Angelo Codevilla. You should not be surprised, folks.
For more than two years the American people, in a great majority, from left to right, have been in revolt against the political class and the financial elites in America. ...
...the analysts, the pollsters and most importantly the commentariat of the political class have never understood, and in fact are psychologically incapable of understanding what is happening...
Now comes the really important stuff.
...Several years ago, I began, with my colleagues at Armada, an ongoing, in-depth research project on what has become known as the “Candidate Smith” project...What we learned in our in-depth research was as astonishing as it was unexpected....
...The conventional wisdom that America is absolutely divided into warring tribes is a tired falsehood. Overall, in the attitude structure of the American people, the elements of this new paradigm are commonly shared by upwards of 80 percent of the population...
And what 'elements' are those? Glad you asked!!
...First, the American people believe that the country is not only on the wrong track but almost 70 percent say that America is in actual decline...
...[Second].... In Armada’s polling we found that a majority of Americans believe that they are better off than their parents were. But a great majority says that THEIR children will be worse off than they themselves are today. This is the crisis of the American Dream...
...Third, when asked whether or not everyone in America plays by the same rules to get ahead or are there different rules for well-connected and people with money, a staggering 84 percent of voters picked the latter....
Lots more at the link, of course. But here's the pull-quote that's MOST interesting:
...Despite everything we are told day and night – that political battle in America is between Democrats and Republicans – two thirds of the American people believe that the battle lines are drawn between mainstream America and its ruling Political Class. THIS is the battle of 2016 and beyond....
Yup.
HT: Grim
You'll see why when you read his observations, which (by the way) fit with those of Angelo Codevilla. You should not be surprised, folks.
For more than two years the American people, in a great majority, from left to right, have been in revolt against the political class and the financial elites in America. ...
...the analysts, the pollsters and most importantly the commentariat of the political class have never understood, and in fact are psychologically incapable of understanding what is happening...
Now comes the really important stuff.
...Several years ago, I began, with my colleagues at Armada, an ongoing, in-depth research project on what has become known as the “Candidate Smith” project...What we learned in our in-depth research was as astonishing as it was unexpected....
...The conventional wisdom that America is absolutely divided into warring tribes is a tired falsehood. Overall, in the attitude structure of the American people, the elements of this new paradigm are commonly shared by upwards of 80 percent of the population...
And what 'elements' are those? Glad you asked!!
...First, the American people believe that the country is not only on the wrong track but almost 70 percent say that America is in actual decline...
...[Second].... In Armada’s polling we found that a majority of Americans believe that they are better off than their parents were. But a great majority says that THEIR children will be worse off than they themselves are today. This is the crisis of the American Dream...
...Third, when asked whether or not everyone in America plays by the same rules to get ahead or are there different rules for well-connected and people with money, a staggering 84 percent of voters picked the latter....
Lots more at the link, of course. But here's the pull-quote that's MOST interesting:
...Despite everything we are told day and night – that political battle in America is between Democrats and Republicans – two thirds of the American people believe that the battle lines are drawn between mainstream America and its ruling Political Class. THIS is the battle of 2016 and beyond....
Yup.
HT: Grim
A Few Election Observations
Random stuff...
Saw about 30-40 minutes of FoxNews coverage. Me-Again Kelly is really a self-absorbed bitch.
Left the teevee to check out the usual interweb spots; behold! VoxDay called the election around 7:30 last night--I saw that and told the fam. They didn't believe me.
Beginning last week, I mentioned to anyone who asked (and some who did not ask) that "TREND MATTERS!!" It did, although I was as surprised as anyone about Trump winning Wisconsin, breaking a 32-year drought for Pubbie Presidentials. So--once again, with feeling: "TREND MATTERS!!!!"
The MSM obviously needs revenue. The race was over by 9:30-10:00 Central, but they refused to call the obvious. And refused. And refused--until they hit the revenue goals, I suppose.
The shouting will begin this morning on the Sykes show. Some will argue that Trump dragged RoJo over the finish line; others will argue that RoJo dragged Trump. I know what Charlie's going to say: Evan McMuffin was responsible for the Trump win. Or something like that.
The Hag couldn't appear last night because she was packing for her trip to a country which does not have an extradition treaty with the USA. Bill will not know where she is, and Abedin will be in Federal custody.
Saw about 30-40 minutes of FoxNews coverage. Me-Again Kelly is really a self-absorbed bitch.
Left the teevee to check out the usual interweb spots; behold! VoxDay called the election around 7:30 last night--I saw that and told the fam. They didn't believe me.
Beginning last week, I mentioned to anyone who asked (and some who did not ask) that "TREND MATTERS!!" It did, although I was as surprised as anyone about Trump winning Wisconsin, breaking a 32-year drought for Pubbie Presidentials. So--once again, with feeling: "TREND MATTERS!!!!"
The MSM obviously needs revenue. The race was over by 9:30-10:00 Central, but they refused to call the obvious. And refused. And refused--until they hit the revenue goals, I suppose.
The shouting will begin this morning on the Sykes show. Some will argue that Trump dragged RoJo over the finish line; others will argue that RoJo dragged Trump. I know what Charlie's going to say: Evan McMuffin was responsible for the Trump win. Or something like that.
The Hag couldn't appear last night because she was packing for her trip to a country which does not have an extradition treaty with the USA. Bill will not know where she is, and Abedin will be in Federal custody.
Ding, Dong, the Witch Is Dead
To make your day even better, here are a couple of Clintonistas' reactions.
...“It is surreal,” said one government employee who gave her first name Margarita, a beer in front of her.
She says she fears a new era in America — not just in terms of politics, but also from those who voted for the 70-year-old Trump.
“Our lives are not safe — as queer women, as brown women,” she told AFP, struggling to put her feelings into words.
Many spoke about what they felt was total ignorance among Trump supporters.
“I think these people probably flunked out of school — they don’t know history, they don’t understand the world,” said Elmy Bermejo, who traveled to the Big Apple from San Francisco for the occasion....
...Next to Stengel, 25-year-old Yanni Trittas, a local elected official, said: “They’re people who hold on to racism and xenophobia,” an intolerance that stems from what he said the Republican Party had “ensured by underinvesting in education.”....
They are free to leave for a More Enlightened Country, of course.
Lots more whining and crying!!
...“It is surreal,” said one government employee who gave her first name Margarita, a beer in front of her.
She says she fears a new era in America — not just in terms of politics, but also from those who voted for the 70-year-old Trump.
“Our lives are not safe — as queer women, as brown women,” she told AFP, struggling to put her feelings into words.
Many spoke about what they felt was total ignorance among Trump supporters.
“I think these people probably flunked out of school — they don’t know history, they don’t understand the world,” said Elmy Bermejo, who traveled to the Big Apple from San Francisco for the occasion....
...Next to Stengel, 25-year-old Yanni Trittas, a local elected official, said: “They’re people who hold on to racism and xenophobia,” an intolerance that stems from what he said the Republican Party had “ensured by underinvesting in education.”....
They are free to leave for a More Enlightened Country, of course.
Lots more whining and crying!!
Monday, November 07, 2016
The Fox6 Lie About Comey/Clinton Statement
As of this hour, the Fox6 (Milwaukee) web-page is lying about what the FBI's Comey said yesterday.
Fox6: "...FBI Director Says Clinton Email Investigation Is Over."
Wrong, turkeys.
...Mr. Comey's latest letter refers only to Hillary Clinton in her capacity as 'former Secretary of State' and her handling of classified e-mails. That's only one of five separate investigations currently under way that involve her. He says nothing about the FBI's 'very high priority' investigation into the Clinton Foundation; or that into Anthony Weiner (which necessarily must involve his wife, Huma Abedin, Hillary's closest aide); into alleged corruption involving the Clinton Foundation; and into whether Virginia governor (and Clinton confidante) Terry McAuliffe, and Tony Podesta, brother of John Podesta (former head of the Clinton Foundation), broke laws concerning foreign donations. (It was recently revealed that McAuliffe's PAC helped to secure donations totalling well over half a million dollars to the political campaign of the wife of the FBI official responsible for investigating the Clinton e-mail scandal.)...
Granted, local-yokel TV headline editors are largely un-informed twenty-somethings, especially if they're working the Sunday afternoon shift. But Ted Perry read the damn story, and Ted (who claims to be 'neutral') is not twenty-something, nor is he a virgin to the nooz-biz.
S'pose?...........nah. Fox6 wouldn't do that, would they??
Fox6: "...FBI Director Says Clinton Email Investigation Is Over."
Wrong, turkeys.
...Mr. Comey's latest letter refers only to Hillary Clinton in her capacity as 'former Secretary of State' and her handling of classified e-mails. That's only one of five separate investigations currently under way that involve her. He says nothing about the FBI's 'very high priority' investigation into the Clinton Foundation; or that into Anthony Weiner (which necessarily must involve his wife, Huma Abedin, Hillary's closest aide); into alleged corruption involving the Clinton Foundation; and into whether Virginia governor (and Clinton confidante) Terry McAuliffe, and Tony Podesta, brother of John Podesta (former head of the Clinton Foundation), broke laws concerning foreign donations. (It was recently revealed that McAuliffe's PAC helped to secure donations totalling well over half a million dollars to the political campaign of the wife of the FBI official responsible for investigating the Clinton e-mail scandal.)...
Granted, local-yokel TV headline editors are largely un-informed twenty-somethings, especially if they're working the Sunday afternoon shift. But Ted Perry read the damn story, and Ted (who claims to be 'neutral') is not twenty-something, nor is he a virgin to the nooz-biz.
S'pose?...........nah. Fox6 wouldn't do that, would they??
Who Is Archbishop Wester?
It appears that some Archbishop in New Mexico has a serious case of the Quavers.
...That a Catholic priest in Santa Fe would issue guidance to his flock that is consistent with the Catholic Church’s official position – that abortion is a “moral evil” – shouldn’t come as a surprise – particularly after the presidential candidates staked out their positions in a nationally televised debate.
What perhaps is surprising is the archdiocese’s reaction to Father Larry Brito’s display of a sign on the side of the St. Anne Parish church proclaiming “Vote Catholic, Vote Pro-Life” and a letter to his parishioners urging them not to “vote in representatives into office who are ‘Pro-Abortion’ or as they sheepishly call themselves ‘Pro-Choice.’ ”...
The reaction?
...The archbishop wrote that while emotions are running high as the election nears, “these emotions do not give us license to endorse or denounce a candidate because of his or her position on a given issue.”...
S'pose the Bishop needs a course in remedial reading? Do you see the name of ANY candidate in the text of that priest's sign? I don't either.
The Quavers are contagious. Pray for your Bishop(s).
...That a Catholic priest in Santa Fe would issue guidance to his flock that is consistent with the Catholic Church’s official position – that abortion is a “moral evil” – shouldn’t come as a surprise – particularly after the presidential candidates staked out their positions in a nationally televised debate.
What perhaps is surprising is the archdiocese’s reaction to Father Larry Brito’s display of a sign on the side of the St. Anne Parish church proclaiming “Vote Catholic, Vote Pro-Life” and a letter to his parishioners urging them not to “vote in representatives into office who are ‘Pro-Abortion’ or as they sheepishly call themselves ‘Pro-Choice.’ ”...
The reaction?
...The archbishop wrote that while emotions are running high as the election nears, “these emotions do not give us license to endorse or denounce a candidate because of his or her position on a given issue.”...
S'pose the Bishop needs a course in remedial reading? Do you see the name of ANY candidate in the text of that priest's sign? I don't either.
The Quavers are contagious. Pray for your Bishop(s).
Clintons Will Sell Anything for $$$
We are reminded that the Bill Clinton administration was prelude to the Hillary Secretary of State scam.
The common element? Taking foreign money and in return, selling out the US. Bill arranged for the Chinese communists to get a load of nuclear-weapon technology. Hillary arranged favors for various Arab states.
And then she steals the furniture from the White House and State Department.
The common element? Taking foreign money and in return, selling out the US. Bill arranged for the Chinese communists to get a load of nuclear-weapon technology. Hillary arranged favors for various Arab states.
And then she steals the furniture from the White House and State Department.
Sunday, November 06, 2016
Enemies of the Republic
Yah, these people are embedded and--so far--doing well at undermining the integrity of the Gummint.
...Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, Assistant Attorney General Peter [Kadzik], Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin, and Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell...Remember those names. There may be a test.
Here's a question: where are these cretins going to live after their little self-protection racket breaks down? Secret Service doesn't have responsibility for them, ya'know. And if Hillary does manage to slither her way into the Oval Office, they will always live under the threat of Arkancide. They know too much.
Of course, most real Americans don't want this sort of trash living in their own neighborhood, either. Shunning is far too gentle a treatment for traitors to the Republic; they know it and so do we.
HT: Thinker
...Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, Assistant Attorney General Peter [Kadzik], Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin, and Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell...Remember those names. There may be a test.
Here's a question: where are these cretins going to live after their little self-protection racket breaks down? Secret Service doesn't have responsibility for them, ya'know. And if Hillary does manage to slither her way into the Oval Office, they will always live under the threat of Arkancide. They know too much.
Of course, most real Americans don't want this sort of trash living in their own neighborhood, either. Shunning is far too gentle a treatment for traitors to the Republic; they know it and so do we.
HT: Thinker
Voting in Wisconsin
Owen is a far more informed political-science guy than I am, mostly because he hangs out with the right crowd.
Last week, he mentioned that he's voting 3rd Party as a means of salving his conscience; he cannot possibly vote for the Hildebeeste (nor can any right-thinking American); but he cannot hold his nose hard enough to vote for Trump (a position shared by many.)
So he's going with Evan Whatshisname.
But in that column he also mentioned a fact which is noteworthy and significant: Wisconsin is likely to go (D) in the Presidential. That's backed by a lot of history, folks. Read it and weep.
So. What Owen DID do is give a free pass to voters who want to stick it to the (R) Establishment: voting Trump is not likely to move Wisconsin into the (R) column (thus preserving the #NeverTrump people's wishes), but at the same time, voting Trump will send a message to the Establishment: "Screw You!!"
Tempting, eh?
As to the down-ballot: RoJo is seriously flawed as a conservative. He has utterly failed to throw a monkey-wrench into any of the Obozo schemes and plots, and he simply gave up as a conservative voice and vote after only one year as a Senator. However, Johnson is a reasonably honest guy, which makes him the only real choice compared to the slimeball do-nothing wacko-bird Feingold--who scores "zero" on any test of integrity or morals.
Those are the only races which matter. All the rest are fore-ordained by history with the possible exception of the race in the Fox Valley congressional--but the (R) up there looks like a good bet against just another hack (D).
Last week, he mentioned that he's voting 3rd Party as a means of salving his conscience; he cannot possibly vote for the Hildebeeste (nor can any right-thinking American); but he cannot hold his nose hard enough to vote for Trump (a position shared by many.)
So he's going with Evan Whatshisname.
But in that column he also mentioned a fact which is noteworthy and significant: Wisconsin is likely to go (D) in the Presidential. That's backed by a lot of history, folks. Read it and weep.
So. What Owen DID do is give a free pass to voters who want to stick it to the (R) Establishment: voting Trump is not likely to move Wisconsin into the (R) column (thus preserving the #NeverTrump people's wishes), but at the same time, voting Trump will send a message to the Establishment: "Screw You!!"
Tempting, eh?
As to the down-ballot: RoJo is seriously flawed as a conservative. He has utterly failed to throw a monkey-wrench into any of the Obozo schemes and plots, and he simply gave up as a conservative voice and vote after only one year as a Senator. However, Johnson is a reasonably honest guy, which makes him the only real choice compared to the slimeball do-nothing wacko-bird Feingold--who scores "zero" on any test of integrity or morals.
Those are the only races which matter. All the rest are fore-ordained by history with the possible exception of the race in the Fox Valley congressional--but the (R) up there looks like a good bet against just another hack (D).
Yes, "Official Conservatism" Is Embarrassed
From the Zblog, where he talks about (largely) the Pundit Group of "Official Conservatism":
...The people at the core of NeverTrump are the same people who sold us neo-conservatism in the Bush years. What is happening now is a delayed reaction to the massive failures under George W. Bush. Trump made his mark in the primary by humiliating Jeb Bush and that was not an accident. Trump is the repudiation of Bush and the neo-cons.
There’s another bit here too. The Official Right™ has defined itself to the Left by who it hates. Purging people from their ranks has been an integral part of how modern conservatives define their thing. Naturally, when challenged, they fall back on the old ways. The trouble is all their name calling and threats have been met with jeers and laughter. They lost all of their moral authority so they can no longer simply scold the dissenters into silence.
Finally, there’s the creeping realization that their brand of conservatism is all hat and no cattle. Their moral preening and appeals to as yet undefined principles are just postures. In the end, their thing was just a jobs program for people unable to do productive work...
The Pundit "Conservatives" actually have little to fret about were Trump to succeed, as they'll have something to write and yammer about for at least a few years; so it ain't just money, is it? Their fear, instead, is that Trumpism is, more or less, a far more persuasive version of the TEA Party, which was co-opted after only a year of being a genuinely populist movement. Trump has captured a LOT of the Reagan Democrat crowd which has little use for the lace-pantied, proper-English George Will/Jonah Goldberg bunch. So while their jobs are secure, their influence will nose-dive.
Odd, that; for Trump is a liberal with a foul mouth and horrible self-control problems. In fact, were it not for his self-control issues, his monumental ego would be overmatched by those of Schumer and McConnell, in a heartbeat.
It will not be over and done by November 9th; not by a long shot. No matter who wins, the other one will not go quiet into the night.
Ugh.
...The people at the core of NeverTrump are the same people who sold us neo-conservatism in the Bush years. What is happening now is a delayed reaction to the massive failures under George W. Bush. Trump made his mark in the primary by humiliating Jeb Bush and that was not an accident. Trump is the repudiation of Bush and the neo-cons.
There’s another bit here too. The Official Right™ has defined itself to the Left by who it hates. Purging people from their ranks has been an integral part of how modern conservatives define their thing. Naturally, when challenged, they fall back on the old ways. The trouble is all their name calling and threats have been met with jeers and laughter. They lost all of their moral authority so they can no longer simply scold the dissenters into silence.
Finally, there’s the creeping realization that their brand of conservatism is all hat and no cattle. Their moral preening and appeals to as yet undefined principles are just postures. In the end, their thing was just a jobs program for people unable to do productive work...
The Pundit "Conservatives" actually have little to fret about were Trump to succeed, as they'll have something to write and yammer about for at least a few years; so it ain't just money, is it? Their fear, instead, is that Trumpism is, more or less, a far more persuasive version of the TEA Party, which was co-opted after only a year of being a genuinely populist movement. Trump has captured a LOT of the Reagan Democrat crowd which has little use for the lace-pantied, proper-English George Will/Jonah Goldberg bunch. So while their jobs are secure, their influence will nose-dive.
Odd, that; for Trump is a liberal with a foul mouth and horrible self-control problems. In fact, were it not for his self-control issues, his monumental ego would be overmatched by those of Schumer and McConnell, in a heartbeat.
It will not be over and done by November 9th; not by a long shot. No matter who wins, the other one will not go quiet into the night.
Ugh.
Saturday, November 05, 2016
Thursday, November 03, 2016
Shocked? Lynch's Deputy Shut Down FBI
It appears that Loretta Lynch's "man" on the scene tried to shut down the FBI's investigation of the Corrupto-Clinton Foundation.
AND 'senior' FBI officials tried to do the same.
However, actual US patriots in the FBI continued to investigate. And they have the goods on the old hag, her serial-rapist husband, and the daughter. This would tend to confirm the story we referenced here yesterday.
There is hope, although it is tenuous.
To Charlie Sykes, this is all "prosecutorial misconduct."
AND 'senior' FBI officials tried to do the same.
However, actual US patriots in the FBI continued to investigate. And they have the goods on the old hag, her serial-rapist husband, and the daughter. This would tend to confirm the story we referenced here yesterday.
There is hope, although it is tenuous.
To Charlie Sykes, this is all "prosecutorial misconduct."
Wednesday, November 02, 2016
A Counter-Coup to the (D) Riggers?
Interesting little item here. Apparently the author has been around the Gummint.
...You are now witnessing a new type of American Revolution. The Clintons and Podesta initiated a silent coup to undermine the USG through corruption and co-optation of the elite political leaders. In turn, they were met by the by the silent counter-coup of our civilian/military Intelligence community. In the age of the internet, brave American warriors are everywhere. They monitor any internal/external attempts to undermine this great republic....
That would explain the timing of the release of the Marc Rich investigation files, which was not required by any court order.
He also claims that the Wikileaks material came from FBI/CIA/military-intel personnel (who are stalwart patriots.)
Hmmmmm...... this will not be fun to watch. But it will be a good thing.
HT: War on Guns
...You are now witnessing a new type of American Revolution. The Clintons and Podesta initiated a silent coup to undermine the USG through corruption and co-optation of the elite political leaders. In turn, they were met by the by the silent counter-coup of our civilian/military Intelligence community. In the age of the internet, brave American warriors are everywhere. They monitor any internal/external attempts to undermine this great republic....
That would explain the timing of the release of the Marc Rich investigation files, which was not required by any court order.
He also claims that the Wikileaks material came from FBI/CIA/military-intel personnel (who are stalwart patriots.)
Hmmmmm...... this will not be fun to watch. But it will be a good thing.
HT: War on Guns
"Rigged"? You Bet Your Ass, and the Country's, Too.
No, the election is not 'rigged,' except in Madison, Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Chicago. But that's not the point.
The whole of Washington DC, however, is "rigged." The Old Boys' & Broads' Club(s) take care of each other very well, indeed.
On Monday we were the first to note that Podesta's friend Peter Kadzik was the DOJ representative chosen to head up a "thorough" review of the new Huma Abedin emails as revealed by a letter he wrote to Congress. Given Kadzik's personal relationship with Podesta, it seemed like a "convenient" choice for the Clinton campaign....
Oh, it was much, much, more than "convenient."
...that is the same Peter Kadzik who has proven his "impartiality" in multiple WikiLeaks emails including this newly released bombshell in which Kadzik provides a very helpful "heads up" about Hillary's email server investigation. This is what Kadzik emailed to John Podesta (via gmail) on May 19, 2015:
NOT ONLY THAT!! That email was written on his private Gmail account, not his DO"J" account.
...The hacked emails confirm that Podesta and Kadzik were in frequent contact. In one email from January, Kadzik and Podesta, who were classmates at Georgetown Law School in the 1970s, discussed plans to celebrate Podesta’s birthday. And in another sent last May, Kadzik’s son emailed Podesta asking for a job on the Clinton campaign....
So the tax-sucking slimebucket, Kadzik, will now "oversee" the investigation into the Huma emails which reportedly make the connection between the Clinton Mob and their influence-peddling through Hillary's sale of her trust as Secretary of State.
Meantime, Charlie Sykes thinks this is all just foofoodust.
HT: AOSHQ
The whole of Washington DC, however, is "rigged." The Old Boys' & Broads' Club(s) take care of each other very well, indeed.
On Monday we were the first to note that Podesta's friend Peter Kadzik was the DOJ representative chosen to head up a "thorough" review of the new Huma Abedin emails as revealed by a letter he wrote to Congress. Given Kadzik's personal relationship with Podesta, it seemed like a "convenient" choice for the Clinton campaign....
Oh, it was much, much, more than "convenient."
...that is the same Peter Kadzik who has proven his "impartiality" in multiple WikiLeaks emails including this newly released bombshell in which Kadzik provides a very helpful "heads up" about Hillary's email server investigation. This is what Kadzik emailed to John Podesta (via gmail) on May 19, 2015:
IOW, this miserable tax-taking sack of shit told HRC & Co. exactly what to worry about--so that they could construct a defense. AND he told them that they had about 8-10 months or so to figure out what to do.There is a HJC oversight hearing today where the head of our Civil Division will testify. Likely to get questions on State Department emails. Another filing in the FOIA case went in last night or will go in this am that indicates it will be awhile (2016) before the State Department posts the emails.
NOT ONLY THAT!! That email was written on his private Gmail account, not his DO"J" account.
...The hacked emails confirm that Podesta and Kadzik were in frequent contact. In one email from January, Kadzik and Podesta, who were classmates at Georgetown Law School in the 1970s, discussed plans to celebrate Podesta’s birthday. And in another sent last May, Kadzik’s son emailed Podesta asking for a job on the Clinton campaign....
So the tax-sucking slimebucket, Kadzik, will now "oversee" the investigation into the Huma emails which reportedly make the connection between the Clinton Mob and their influence-peddling through Hillary's sale of her trust as Secretary of State.
Meantime, Charlie Sykes thinks this is all just foofoodust.
HT: AOSHQ
Marquette Prof vs. Reality!
This sort of stuff at Marquette University is not surprising any more; in fact, it's not even disappointing. That's an indictment, as if MU really cared.
Administrators at Marquette University have rebuked an on-campus demonstration held on Thursday opposing the Catholic university's embrace of gender ideology.
(Not "Catholic." "Jesuit.")
Some guy named Dan Myers--a Marquette official--ranted about 'inclusion'; another MU somebody-or-something named Welburn sniveling about "respecting what we teach our students." Which raises the question: What-from-Hell DO you teach the little darlings, Herr Doktor?
Another day, another B.S., I guess.
Administrators at Marquette University have rebuked an on-campus demonstration held on Thursday opposing the Catholic university's embrace of gender ideology.
(Not "Catholic." "Jesuit.")
Some guy named Dan Myers--a Marquette official--ranted about 'inclusion'; another MU somebody-or-something named Welburn sniveling about "respecting what we teach our students." Which raises the question: What-from-Hell DO you teach the little darlings, Herr Doktor?
Another day, another B.S., I guess.
Tuesday, November 01, 2016
Sorry, Charlie, But Your Excuse Doesn't Cut It
Charlie Sykes is now interviewing for another gig--this one on MSLSD.
So, of course, his #NeverTrump card gets played. But maybe his angst got the better of his common sense. (Let's remember that Charlie famously self-portrays as a 'recovering liberal', by the way...and sometimes 'recovering' goes off-track.)
Here's a far more persuasive case FOR Comey's latest action.
...the latest reports are that Clinton hack Loretta Lynch will not allow a warrant to issue as Comey requested, so he certainly cannot publish the emails. In fact, I believe that is why Comey wrote to congress. His people doing the Weiner investigation saw enough that it was obvious there was strong evidence that contravened the FBI's prior conclusion in the Clinton email/sever investigation. They brought it to Comey and he followed protocol by going to Justice to get a warrant to review everything on the laptop. And Lynch would not give it to him. He was so appalled at the obvious contravention of the rule of law by Lynch for political ends that he did the only thing he could and wrote the letter to Congress in order to let some sunlight disinfect the rot. The action follows a long line of instances where public servants went public instead of letting people in power block the truth from coming out....quoted at RenMan
Minor side-note to Charlie: the FBI is not a 'prosecutor,' and therefore there is no 'prosecutorial misconduct.' The FBI is the cop-shop. In this particular case, however, there IS 'prosecutorial misconduct.' It is the gross misconduct of Loretta Lynch which is better described as 'felonious malfeasance.'
Got it, Charlie??
So, of course, his #NeverTrump card gets played. But maybe his angst got the better of his common sense. (Let's remember that Charlie famously self-portrays as a 'recovering liberal', by the way...and sometimes 'recovering' goes off-track.)
Here's a far more persuasive case FOR Comey's latest action.
...the latest reports are that Clinton hack Loretta Lynch will not allow a warrant to issue as Comey requested, so he certainly cannot publish the emails. In fact, I believe that is why Comey wrote to congress. His people doing the Weiner investigation saw enough that it was obvious there was strong evidence that contravened the FBI's prior conclusion in the Clinton email/sever investigation. They brought it to Comey and he followed protocol by going to Justice to get a warrant to review everything on the laptop. And Lynch would not give it to him. He was so appalled at the obvious contravention of the rule of law by Lynch for political ends that he did the only thing he could and wrote the letter to Congress in order to let some sunlight disinfect the rot. The action follows a long line of instances where public servants went public instead of letting people in power block the truth from coming out....quoted at RenMan
Minor side-note to Charlie: the FBI is not a 'prosecutor,' and therefore there is no 'prosecutorial misconduct.' The FBI is the cop-shop. In this particular case, however, there IS 'prosecutorial misconduct.' It is the gross misconduct of Loretta Lynch which is better described as 'felonious malfeasance.'
Got it, Charlie??
Dancing Around the Real Issue
Owen is a very reliable guy who knows near-all the Wisconsin players. So his brief summary of the current 'conservative' split is--given its brevity--solid stuff.
But he doesn't address the 600-lb. canary: populism.
It should be pretty clear that I despise Trump, who is not much more than an opportunist who understands McLuhan better than anyone of the 'Conventional' political class. It should also be clear that I would choose the SMOD over Clinton.
Ugh.
But what has really gotten traction for Trump is his populism--something that Conventional Conservatives and the (D) Party have totally abandoned in the last decade or so. (We should be clear: the (D) Party pays a lot of lip-service to populism, but they don't really give a damn--for them, claiming to be populist is simply a path to complete power. And true to (D) principles, they pervert the meaning of the term, anyway, making it into a giveaway scheme.)
This populist strain in the Trump campaign, however, has the Conventional Conservatives spitting mad--so much so that they have applied every epithet in the dictionary to "populism". It may as well be the Black Death.
This is where Conventional Conservatives get it wrong, as 16 of them learned to their chagrin.
There is NOTHING WRONG with defending the border, something that Conventional Conservatives have deliberately failed to rectify. There is NOTHING WRONG with limiting--or eliminating--cheap-labor 'professional' (I.T.) entry to this country, similarly deliberately frustrated by Conventional Conservatives. There is NOTHING WRONG with US citizens earning more for their labor than citizens of other countries. There is NOTHING WRONG with FAIR trade, which Conventional Conservatives have derided and (again) frustrated with "arguments" from Wally-World Econ 101. (In that regard, there is NOTHING WRONG with politics governing economics for the benefit of the polity rather than the Chamber of Commerce. Granted, there are limits--but those limits apply to BOTH sides of the equation).
And that's just the politics. We could get into the higher matters, such as morals, where Conventional Conservatives have played both sides to the middle for 30+ years, or fabricated 'crises' such as man-made 'warming/cooling', again played to benefit Conventional Conservative funding-sources but not the Polity. We could get into the Perpetual War disaster which has the backing of the Conventional Conservatives, too....)
If Conservatives want a following, they damn well better figure out who is voting, and why. Here's a clue: Ron Reagan did NOT win with just (R) voters. Neither did Trump.
UPDATE: Here's a closely-related post from Erickson on Limbaugh. Yes, it's related. Just read the damn thing.
But he doesn't address the 600-lb. canary: populism.
It should be pretty clear that I despise Trump, who is not much more than an opportunist who understands McLuhan better than anyone of the 'Conventional' political class. It should also be clear that I would choose the SMOD over Clinton.
Ugh.
But what has really gotten traction for Trump is his populism--something that Conventional Conservatives and the (D) Party have totally abandoned in the last decade or so. (We should be clear: the (D) Party pays a lot of lip-service to populism, but they don't really give a damn--for them, claiming to be populist is simply a path to complete power. And true to (D) principles, they pervert the meaning of the term, anyway, making it into a giveaway scheme.)
This populist strain in the Trump campaign, however, has the Conventional Conservatives spitting mad--so much so that they have applied every epithet in the dictionary to "populism". It may as well be the Black Death.
This is where Conventional Conservatives get it wrong, as 16 of them learned to their chagrin.
There is NOTHING WRONG with defending the border, something that Conventional Conservatives have deliberately failed to rectify. There is NOTHING WRONG with limiting--or eliminating--cheap-labor 'professional' (I.T.) entry to this country, similarly deliberately frustrated by Conventional Conservatives. There is NOTHING WRONG with US citizens earning more for their labor than citizens of other countries. There is NOTHING WRONG with FAIR trade, which Conventional Conservatives have derided and (again) frustrated with "arguments" from Wally-World Econ 101. (In that regard, there is NOTHING WRONG with politics governing economics for the benefit of the polity rather than the Chamber of Commerce. Granted, there are limits--but those limits apply to BOTH sides of the equation).
And that's just the politics. We could get into the higher matters, such as morals, where Conventional Conservatives have played both sides to the middle for 30+ years, or fabricated 'crises' such as man-made 'warming/cooling', again played to benefit Conventional Conservative funding-sources but not the Polity. We could get into the Perpetual War disaster which has the backing of the Conventional Conservatives, too....)
If Conservatives want a following, they damn well better figure out who is voting, and why. Here's a clue: Ron Reagan did NOT win with just (R) voters. Neither did Trump.
UPDATE: Here's a closely-related post from Erickson on Limbaugh. Yes, it's related. Just read the damn thing.
A Feature, Not a Bug
Headline:
More than a quarter of federal government employees would consider quitting if Donald Trump were elected president, according to a new survey.
Aaaaannnnnd so?
Here's a follow-on question: What percentage of FedGov employees will be sent to prison after Trump is elected?
More than a quarter of federal government employees would consider quitting if Donald Trump were elected president, according to a new survey.
Aaaaannnnnd so?
Here's a follow-on question: What percentage of FedGov employees will be sent to prison after Trump is elected?