tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post1798225310705686494..comments2024-03-28T16:08:29.578-04:00Comments on Sardonicky: Anesthetizing OutrageKaren Garciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15612731479365562803noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-80898886115600666502017-07-08T13:08:52.760-04:002017-07-08T13:08:52.760-04:00In addition to Trump's ceaseless distractions ...In addition to Trump's ceaseless distractions keeping a majority of Americans from ever becoming "mindful" about the key issues of global warming, money, war, healthcare and civil rights, there's another issue: the blurring of causation for who was responsible for allowing a rich, bigoted and ignorant jerk, someone who ignores those issues, to take over the Executive Branch. Who really lost the White House?<br /><br />Despite the prevailing myth, it was not the uneducated working class from the sticks and the Rust Belt who put a clown on top of the American heap; it was the well-off families (usually with college diplomas) who earned over $75,000 per year who swelled the vote for Trump.<br /><br />The lower classes, a big chunk of the once-upon-a-time Democratic base, stayed home in sufficient numbers to allow a Trump win by default; or, if they were still of a mind to stick with the Democrats, they were turned away in large numbers through weakly-countered voter suppression.<br />http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/blaming_working_class_for_trump_is_myth_that_suits_ruling_class_20170707<br /><br />In addition to Paul Street's update on who really elected Trump, this thought. Instead of taking the cabinet post of Secretary of State in 2008, Hillary should have insisted on becoming the Attorney General. In that office, focused on domestic matters and inside party issues, she might have done more to secure her eventual takeover of the presidency.<br /><br />She could have stopped the hemorrhage of Democratically-held elected offices, local and national, that totaled around 1,000 by the end of Obama's term as the head of the party, a traditional responsibility he coolly neglected. Hillary, focused on homeland issues and the party, to include galloping gerrymandering, might have become more sympathetic to the problems and needs of average Americans––as well as of the party.<br /><br />As AG she might never have come around to the view that 50% of the population of poor and near poor were "deplorables." It matters whether you visit slum housing or foreign embassies. As Secretary of State, she was blinded by the glitter of the rich at home and abroad. In the end, the low-income voters who stayed home, the moneyed classes who read the faux-populist Trump right, and the accumulating distortions of Republican-controlled redistricting resulted in Hillary's being crowned as the most deplorable of the two deplorables available.Jay–Ottawahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360356126450612113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-5325042073635354692017-07-08T06:06:29.163-04:002017-07-08T06:06:29.163-04:00I stopped watching TV 40 years ago. I am NOT part...I stopped watching TV 40 years ago. I am NOT part of "...TV-addicted" amerika. And I am "au courant" as they say. All one has to do is READ and read the bold black screaming headlines on the internet to stay abreast of things (are we allowed now to say or write that?!) Clueless It Seemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17360106724005651931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-62187216410468721752017-07-07T22:51:03.177-04:002017-07-07T22:51:03.177-04:00https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-son-hunter-dis...https://www.wsj.com/articles/bidens-son-hunter-discharged-from-navy-reserve-after-failing-cocaine-test-1413499657stranger in a strange landnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-77713867342742918182017-07-07T22:16:38.196-04:002017-07-07T22:16:38.196-04:00@Jamie
Could you elaborate a bit on why Biden’s s...@Jamie<br /><br />Could you elaborate a bit on why Biden’s son is “sleazy”? I don’t have a dog in this fight, just curious as I’d always thought the Biden’s a pretty good bunch, but that’s based on a fairly superficial rendering as I have never delved into the subject in any depth.<br /><br />Thanks. I’m not a regular, here but i’ll check back.darwinslapdognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-41878246976209693472017-07-04T23:45:04.759-04:002017-07-04T23:45:04.759-04:00Wendell Berry is a "real conservative"? ...Wendell Berry is a "real conservative"? That's news to me. I doubt he voted for Reagan, Bush father or son, or Trump. You should have heard Berry in the old days denounce the Vietnam War. He's one hell of an ecologist, not a denier of global warming. And I doubt he loves the disparities brought on by cowboy capitalism. But if he really is a real conservative, in that case I wish every liberal or lefty to be as conservative as Wendell Berry.Jay–Ottawahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360356126450612113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-27533502868026761142017-07-04T23:36:41.056-04:002017-07-04T23:36:41.056-04:00Happy Fourth of July, America, whatever that means...Happy Fourth of July, America, whatever that means to you.<br /><br />After the desertification of Leftland over decades under Democratic Party faux liberals, we may be excused for casting sheep's eyes at the rich meadows of conservatism.<br /><br />The terms liberal and conservative, 'left' and 'right' no longer mean so much, not even in old Europe. There are no tight definitions. Look how the right in the US is fighting among themselves even while they hold power. On the left timeless issues of the masses are, for some factions, of no more consequence than the concerns of a minority steeped in identity politics.<br /><br />We can read every day about how both sides, left and right, fight among themselves. On some issues of identity politics not even His Certitude, Chris Hedges, can make up his mind. This week, on the subject of what it means to be female, to include a lot of space devolted to the imponderables of the trans wars, Hedges let two views within the women's 'left' take over his column with their best shots. Tough call for sure on that trans issue...which affects at most perhaps thousands. Instead of fitting square pegs into round bathrooms, why don't we make every public bathroom small and private. No more 'his' and 'hers." Such reconstruction might be cheaper and will save us from a lot more distraction so we can get back to basics.<br />http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_battle_over_what_it_means_to_be_female_20170702<br /><br />Elsewhere, classicist Mary Beard takes us through the subject of "Women in Power" (subject of another internecine war within the left, as well as between the left and the right) since Agamemnon was first performed in 458 BC right down to today in the update of Trump as Perseus holding up the detached head of Hillary as Medusa.<br />https://www.lrb.co.uk/v39/n06/mary-beard/women-in-power<br /><br />Today is the Fourth of July. Aaron Copland's "A Lincoln Portrait" is almost inescapable if you listen to classical music stations like Performance Today. Yup, there it was again today. If you're not familiar with Copland's composition with Lincoln passages interspersed with the music, you can find it here at 40:45 minutes of Hour 1.<br />https://www.yourclassical.org/programs/performance-today/episodes/2017/07/04<br /><br />I find there, in a commonplace Lincoln passage, a better definition of the "sides" we choose to adhere to in the economic, political and social wars we cannot escape. This is how Lincoln drew the dividing line or marked the poles. In its simplicity and clarity, it tells us better where we stand today on the central issues affecting billions of people.<br /><br />In his book about the Gettysburg Address, Gary Wills reminds us that Lincoln's inspiration was always the Declaration of Independence as distinct from the Constitution, although Lincoln pursued a very bloody war to uphold that Constitution. Much of the establishment's emphasis on the Fourth today will celebrate in a subtle way the values expressed in the Constitution more than the words and follow through demanded by the Declaration of Independence. <br /><br />To which pole do you gravitate without exception in Lincoln's great divide below or between the Constitution and the Declaration?<br /> <br />"It is the eternal struggle between two principles, right and wrong, throughout the world. It is the same spirit that says 'you toil and work and earn bread, and I'll eat it.' No matter in what shape it comes, whether from the mouth of a king who seeks to bestride the people of his own nation, and live by the fruit of their labor, or from one race of men as an apology for enslaving another race, it is the same tyrannical principle."<br /><br />"As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."Jay–Ottawahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10360356126450612113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-21761594554675515702017-07-04T18:03:23.059-04:002017-07-04T18:03:23.059-04:00Is Bethany Kozma a radical feminist? Are the narro...Is Bethany Kozma a radical feminist? Are the narrow views she espouses in the daily signal article she wrote compatible with radical feminism? She comes across as an uptight overpriveledged square in the thick of a ludicrous scenario that only overpriveledged hyper-pc elites will ever encounter: <br /><br /><i>I actually had to withdraw my daughter from her Fairfax County public elementary school over concerns for her personal safety and privacy. Her former school is currently allowing a biological boy to use the girls’ facilities, without any parental notification.</i><br /><br />My synthesis is that yes, the so-called liberal line is to push the bathroom rights BS real hard at the expense of silly little issues like healthcare for the hoi pilloi (as Karen has written about). <br /><br />And if radical feminists are finding themselves aligning with real conservatives like, say, Wendell Berry, then I say power to 'em. <br /><br />But if we're talking about 'conservative' in the context of USAID (CIA) and other adventures of the PNAC gang, well, then, I guess I'm just not sure what we're talking about. stranger in a strange landnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-18295884240383009282017-07-04T17:22:54.457-04:002017-07-04T17:22:54.457-04:00@stranger: to answer your first question, No.
In...@stranger: to answer your first question, No. <br /><br />In response to your remaining questions, it appears I triggered some strong feelings, but I don't feel it is my job to lead you along the path of the understanding you desire.<br /><br />The link offered was optional, should anyone care to learn more. My knowledge of the subject has grown over many years, and along the way, I have recognized when people are open to expanding their understanding, and when I am likely to be expending much more energy than is worth my time.<br /><br />Have a nice day.Elizabeth -- Marysvillenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-21003113478558635212017-07-04T17:00:10.978-04:002017-07-04T17:00:10.978-04:00@elizabeth: "Radical feminists are finding co...@elizabeth: "Radical feminists are finding common ground with many conservatives, although for different reasons, in some cases. The liberal sphere conflates being pro-woman and child as being transphobic." <br /><br />Interesting, care to expand on / synthesize either of those assertions here - or do we have to read the truthdig article and the linked writings by a Bush admin DHS alum to extrapolate what you might mean? <br /><br />I'd be curious, even, to hear some defining of your terms. Conservative as in neo-con full spectrum dominance death mongers? Liberal as in 'we're capitalists, that's just how it is' free market globalist death mongers? Transphobic as in not enthrall to the ID politics divide and conquer bullshit proffered by the faux opposition party? Pro-woman and child as in pro-marry and-reproduce breeder consumerist pyramid scheme until the world collapses? <br /><br />*Whew* Just askin'stranger in a strange landnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-74129599595674564292017-07-04T15:53:48.112-04:002017-07-04T15:53:48.112-04:00I am seeing a similar thing, annenigma. For instan...I am seeing a similar thing, annenigma. For instance...<br /><br />Truthdig's recent headlines regarding Bethany Kozma being "another unfit to serve" Trump appointee to the "role of senior adviser for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)."<br /><br />They conveniently included a link to her writings, which supposedly serve to show how awful she is. Personally, I don't care for the fact that she served in the Bush administration and worked for DHS, per the Truthdig article, but her three writings were very well done, especially the third one. Radical feminists are finding common ground with many conservatives, although for different reasons, in some cases. The liberal sphere conflates being pro-woman and child as being transphobic.<br /><br />Here is the link provided by Truthdig: http://dailysignal.com/author/bethany-kozma/, for anyone who is interested.<br /><br />Yes, these are such strange times.Elizabeth -- Marysvillenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-22949418925497172932017-07-04T14:44:52.721-04:002017-07-04T14:44:52.721-04:00@annenigma: Hmmm... browsed through a few of the c...@annenigma: Hmmm... browsed through a few of the current offerings on americanconservative - not really impressed. <br /><br />An article by the editor posited that if/when the American people choose to expel Trump from office (as if the American people have any choice in any of this nonsense!) the country will swing to leftist socialism. If only!<br /><br />And a kinda expose'-ish piece about Gulf monarchies clownish 'governance' of their lazy entitled populations seemed to end up as an 'Iran = Bad' memo, somehow. <br /><br />And the article titled "Is America Still a Nation?" by one Patrick J. Buchanan reminded me of an old Jon Stewart quip: "Why don't you just grow the mustache, Pat?"stranger in a strange landnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-76631754585154385452017-07-04T07:47:03.343-04:002017-07-04T07:47:03.343-04:00Today - yes the 4th of July - is my dead brother&#...Today - yes the 4th of July - is my dead brother's birthday. He would have been 62 today. He died at 44. Me? I stopped watching TV more than 40 years ago (missed out on lots of amerikan popular kultur) and since there's no "acceptible use" policy on the 'net (which there was in the early days before domains).<br /><br />Great read. Tell it like it is Ms. Garcia.Clueless It Seemshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17360106724005651931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-24117223473617677252017-07-03T15:54:56.752-04:002017-07-03T15:54:56.752-04:00Off-topic, but check out 'The American Conserv...Off-topic, but check out 'The American Conservative'. Here are a few comments about it from the learned folks at Naked Capitalism. (Jerry-Lynn Scofield is one of the NC 'Links' contributors) <br /><br />HBE<br />July 3, 2017 at 8:34 am<br /><br />I find it ironic that the American Conservative often expresses more left leaning sentiment than any liberal publication (think the Atlantic, Huffpo, etc.)<br /><br />And I place the quality of many of the articles near the Jacobin/Baffler level.<br /><br />Strange times indeed.<br />Reply ↓ <br /><br /> Arizona Slim<br /> July 3, 2017 at 9:02 am<br /><br /> Count me as another admirer of American Conservative. Never thought I would say that.<br /> Reply ↓ <br /> <br /> Jerri-Lynn Scofield<br /> July 3, 2017 at 10:51 am<br /><br /> Me neither– but when I find myself compiling Links, I almost always find at least one or more must-read pieces there. Strange times indeed.<br /> Reply ↓ <br /><br />http://www.theamericanconservative.com/annenigmanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-11392177957662060802017-07-03T13:29:24.391-04:002017-07-03T13:29:24.391-04:00As a Marxist, I love what Trump is doing to the co...As a Marxist, I love what Trump is doing to the corporate media. It really exposes their hypocrisy and sense of privilege. They can call Trump Hitler, sponsor plays showing him executed, make videos chopping off his head ... yet when he clinically describes a journalist, he is somehow the devil:<br /><br />"She was bleeding badly from a face-lift."<br /><br />If liberals want to paint Trump as fascist, they will need to start discussing material facts, like when Obama actually armed Nazi groups in the Ukraine:<br /><br />https://consortiumnews.com/2015/06/12/u-s-house-admits-nazi-role-in-ukraine/<br /><br />And then put Joe Biden's sleazy son, Hunter, on the board of the largest gas company there:<br /><br />https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/05/14/hunter-bidens-new-job-at-a-ukrainian-gas-company-is-a-problem-for-u-s-soft-power/<br />Jamienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-74102912398245018512017-07-03T09:14:42.272-04:002017-07-03T09:14:42.272-04:00During the 'campaign' CBS chief Les Moonve...During the 'campaign' CBS chief Les Moonves said of the election: "It may not be good for America, but it's damn good for CBS" - referring to all the dark money blowing around in the advertising 'marketplace.' Media corporations, like virtually every other bloated institution sitting on our heads, serve Mammon, not you. As Karen points out - you're not even a valued customer, you're the main course ("To Serve Man"). <br /><br />Or as Frank Zappa put it: "They just takes care of Number One. And Number One ain't you. You ain't even Number Two."stranger in a strange landnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-69936598063268392522017-07-03T07:41:56.040-04:002017-07-03T07:41:56.040-04:00As Zee says, never wrestle with a pig. But if com...As Zee says, never wrestle with a pig. But if commentators are going to wrestle anyway, they need to be more understanding of the Trump psyche. Perhaps to try saying:<br /><br />"Where is the wall Trump promised? Where is the funding?"<br /><br />or<br /><br />"These tweets show that Trump has become part of the swamp instead of draining it."<br /><br />voice-in-wildernessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-58240885280121193772017-07-02T18:51:51.747-04:002017-07-02T18:51:51.747-04:00Trump is indeed a pig.
But there is an old sayi...Trump is indeed a pig. <br /><br />But there is an old saying of uncertain origin that says: <i> Never wrestle with a pig. You get dirty and the pig enjoys it. </i><br /><br />Our Fake News Networks seem unable to recall this adage, and just keep getting dirtier and dirtier.Zeenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-974773076690597683.post-35733603402475574642017-07-02T16:33:48.781-04:002017-07-02T16:33:48.781-04:00Hi, thank you for spelling this out for us. The st...Hi, thank you for spelling this out for us. The state of our journalism is abysmal, coinciding with the arrival of Fake News as a legitimate player at the info table. We get the government we deserve. We get the news we deserve, having deprived ourselves as a nation of the ability to discern real from unreal.<br /><br />CNN is a perfect example of the extension of Naomi Klein's cautionary work of the dangers of logo worship. CNN is a tool with its Wolf Breaking News Blitzer and General Barbara Starr, a Pentagon spokesperson permanently on loan to the network. They do all of us a disservice whether from their obsequious dependence on all things marketing to their flowery selectiveness to what they cover. They are often indeed fake news in that they chose not to cover what really matters.<br /><br />Keep these articles coming. I'm a new fan.<br /><br />Thanks, Steve SmithSteve Smithnoreply@blogger.com