The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Please, Get Your Vagina Off My TV!

Posted on | September 19, 2012 | 24 Comments

You know the ads I’m talking about: Lawyers seeking clients for a class-action lawsuit involving . . . um, gynecological problems:

Don’t get me wrong, ladies: I am pro-vagina and pro-health. If you’ve had some kind of problem with a “mesh implant,” I support your right to sue whoever you want to sue. But I don’t ever want to hear about this problem from a TV ad while I’m trying to watch the news.

Category: Health Care

My Ill-Gotten Gains

Posted on | September 19, 2012 | 30 Comments

“How he affords his Italian suits and his diamond-studded walking stick, his Ferraris, the enormous gems that glitter on his fingers, or the caviar, I will never know. Neither is it any of my business. I will never forget motoring up the cedar-lined drive to his manse overlooking the Shenandoah, and wondering how he could have purchased that stately domain on a blogger’s salary — and with all those children. The missus greeted me politely in the foyer before whisking me to the gallery, where were gathered notables from government and media corporate bigwigs, all enjoying his excellent armagnac whilst McCain regaled them with tales of high hobnobbery. The dinner was sumptuous, and I omit detailing it only for brevity’s sake. Later, he bested me deftly at his regulation snooker table in the billiard room, and offered me a fine Cubano from a box given him by Leon Panetta, and showed me his library, populated top to bottom with leather-bound first editions of classics in various languages, not only of Europe. We sat on the veranda and conversed on lofty themes, before I retired to my room, put up by the sweetly attired maidservants, whose decolletage I shall never forget. . . .”

Category: Dan Collins

Why Liberals Hate You

Posted on | September 19, 2012 | 113 Comments

Rare is the day when I have cause to express gratitude to Matt Yglesias, but his expression of the statist view could not be clearer:

 

 

Could we write a 10,000-word essay on the crypto-totalitarian assumptions of this statement? Sure we could. But why bother, when Iowahawk does it in 140-characters or less?

 

 

The temptation to teach a political philosophy class here is strong, but must be resisted. Let us merely assume, therefore, that our readers are familiar with those conservative thinkers who scoff at the “state of nature” in which too many philosphers have based their deluded egalitarian theories. There was never any such “state of nature.”

Government began with the family, and its authority was developed in other such organic institutions which the state did nothing to create, but which the state is obligated to defend. The state should be the servant of its citizens and not the master, and there is no “democratic” right that permits the state to defraud citizens of their property for the benefit of any special interest or political constituency. But as I say, I’m resisting the temptation to teach a class. Let’s keep it to Tweets.

 

 

At this very moment, the state’s wife is trying to get the state’s children out of the state’s beds, but they’re not going to the state’s schools to get the state’s education. The state may tax us to provide such schools, but the state cannot compel our children to attend them — at least, not yet. Matt Yglesias would probably say that my wife and I are stealing these children from the state.

UPDATE: William J. Hoge wonders, “What are they teaching kids these days?” Ah, but Yglesias was magna cum laude at Harvard.

The absolute disconnect between the statist idolatry of Yglesias and any real sense of history is not, I think, accidental.

“To live for the moment is the prevailing passion— to live for yourself, not for your predecessors or posterity. We are fast losing the sense of historical continuity, the sense of belonging to a succession of generations originating in the past and stretching into the future.”
—Christopher Lasch, The Culture of Narcissism (1979)

This is what the the statism of Yglesias neglects, “the sense of belonging” to something more permanent than a peer group, a social clique or a self-chosen political category. Yglesias is profoundly alienated from America, unable to relate to or empathize with the Founders or their vision, and thinks it “false consciousness” (or ignorant adherence to a “myth”) if others do.

Patriotism the decadent likes of Yglesias cannot comprehend, except insofar as they can redefine America to fit their philosophy, and then command your allegiance to their creation.

Nor is it an accident that such shallow self-regarding elitists contemptuously dismiss religion as another ignorant myth, because God and God’s laws must be overthrown if their own authority to dictate to others — performing the role of Platonic archons — is to be recognized without challenge. Their possession of elite credentials would otherwise be devalued, and they would be unjustly deprived of that which they most crave, an unquestioned status of superiority over others.

Their egalitarian theory is thus exposed as dishonest hypocrisy: While they are willing to redistribute the property of others, they cling with jealous ferocity to that which they most fanatically crave, namely their own prestige and privileges.

Our humility in thinking ourselves no better than our ancestors — my great-grandfather was entirely illiterate, as perhaps were your own forebears — is incomprehensible to intellectuals, who confuse their skill at articulation with wisdom and virtue. Hayek examined this confusion in “The Intellectuals and Socialism,” as did Thomas Sowell in The Vision of the Anointed. Once you understand that a man might be fluent and persuasive while yet being foolish and vicious, then you are less likely to be dazzled or deceived by the elite credentials and wordy pretensions of such impudent intellectual bullies as Matthew Yglesias.

They hate you most thoroughly, except you are so microscopically insignificant as to be beneath their notice, so that these would-be philosopher-kings regard you with complete contempt.

 





 

 


Category: Intellectuals

LIVE AT FIVE (CDT): 09.19.12

Posted on | September 19, 2012 | 2 Comments

— compiled by Wombat-socho


TOP NEWS
Romney Slams Obama’s Redistributionist Approach To Government

Mitt Romney at a Salt Lake City campaign event

Not backing down from remarks – counterattacking instead
Gallup says he actually has significant support from the 47%


Federal Judge Rejects Injunction Against Doc Check Provision Of Arizona Law
Other three sections of SB1070 remain blocked due to federal pre-emption


Chicago Students Return To Class Today As Strike Ends
Union delegates vote to suspend walkout after city backs down on several points



POLITICS
Middle East In Flames, Economy Sputtering, Obama Drops By Letterman Before Beyonce Bash

Obama yuks it up on Letterman

The Administration, as played by Chip Diller

Appeals Court Rules SuperPAC Donors Can Remain Secret

Ryan: Safety Net Shouldn’t Encourage Dependency

Poll Finds CT Senate Race Too Close To Call

Bill O’Reilly, Jon Stewart To Face Off In Washington Debate

Pennsylvania High Court Punts On Voter ID Bill

Farm-State Politicians Go Home Empty-Handed

Rhode Island School Bans Father-Daughter Dances As Violation Of State Law



THE ECONOMY, STUPID
Oil Continues Slide As Traders Await Inventory News; NYMEX $95.86, Brent $112.53
Euro Stocks Climb As Bank Of Japan Opts For Stimulus
More Job Cuts On Tap For American Airlines
NStar Proposes Lowering Gas Rates To 2002 Levels
Stocks Mixed As Investors Focus On Economic Woes
Deposit Flight From PIGS Banks Erodes Euro
Japan Gets Cold Feet On Nuke Abolition
US Current-Account Deficit Narrows
Intel Sets Windows 8 Tablet Event With HP, Samsung, Others
Sony Unveils Smaller, More Expensive PS3
Miracast Certification Begins As AirPlay Gets Some Serious Competition
Microsoft, RIM Ink Licensing Agreement
Windows 8 Price For System Builders To Be Roughly Equivalent To Windows 7
JetBlue To Roll Out Free In-flight WiFi Next Year



SPORTS
Steve Sabol, President Of NFL Films, Dies

Steve Sabol, 1942-2012

Son of NFL Films founder helped start NFL Network; dead of brain cancer two weeks before 70th birthday

Teagarden’s 18th Inning Single Lifts O’s Over M’s, 4-2

AEG Sale Means Hazy Future For LA Sports

Lincecum, Giants Beat Rockies 6-3; Giants’ Magic Number Now 7


Astros Lose 100th Game, Fall 4-1 To Cardinals

Doubront, BoSox Play Spoiler, Top Rays 7-5

Cabrera Gets 6 RBI As Tigers Rout A’s 12-2

Weaver Gets 100th Win As Angels Smack Rangers 11-3

Brewers Blank Free-Falling Pirates

Braves Waste Rally, Fall To Fish In 10th; Nationals Magic Number Now 10

Rainouts In NY, DC Set Up Doubleheaders With Playoff Implications



FAMOUS FOR BEING FAMOUS
Tori Spelling Hospitalized For Emergency Surgery

Tori Spelling

Surgery for complications from fourth C-section

Alexis Bellino Leaving “Real Housewives Of Orange County” After Three Seasons

Selena Gomez Flies Back Into The Arms Of Justin Bieber

Jennifer Aniston Reveals Pregnant Belly In Funny SmartWater Ad


“Fifty Shades Of Grey” Author E.L. James Talks Movie Casting

French Court Shuts Down Publication Of Duchess Kate’s Topless Pics

Adele To Design For Burberry?

Amanda Bynes Doesn’t Think She Needs Rehab Or Conservatorship



FOREIGNERS
Syrian Rebels Seize Control Of Crossing On Turkish Border
NATO Says Halt In Joint Afghan Ops Won’t Affect Strategy
PRC Marks “National Humiliation Day” With Anti-Japanese Protests
Xi Jinping Looks Healthy After Two-Week Disappearance
Singh’s Biggest Ally To Quit Coalition Over Foreign Retail, Diesel Prices
Crowd Attacks US Ambassador In Beijing
Pemex Gas Plant Explosion In Reynosa Kills 26
Kremlin Demands Halt To USAID Work In Russia



BLOGS & STUFF
The Looking Spoon: One Of These Offends Democrats
WyBlog: And if Muslims Kill A Few More Ambassadors, Obama Will Give Back The Blind Sheik
Valley Of The Shadow: The Three-Act Tragedy Of Obama’s Foreign Policy
Power Line: Mitt Romney, Closet Conservative
NRO Corner: The “47 Percent” Flap
Riehl World News: Some GOP Strategists All Wee-Wee’d Up Over Romney Remarks
Moe Lane: Mother Jones Caught Tampering With “Untampered” Romney Video
James Taranto: 47 Skidoo
Gateway Pundit: Obama’s Convention Bounce Hits Bottom – Carter Had Better Lead In 1980
Da Tech Guy: The WaPo, NBC, And The New Poll Math
Pat Dollard: Obama’s Approval Rating On Foreign Policy Drops 12 Points After Embassy Attacks
Breitbart: Newspaper Revenues Collapse To 1950s Levels
Weasel Zippers: Obama Says “There’s Plenty Of Blame To Spread Around” For Fiscal Mess
Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner: The EPA’s Four-Gallon Minimum Mandate
Lonely Conservative: Media Doesn’t Care About Secretary Sebelius Violating Federal Law
American Thinker: Professor Put On Leave After Requiring Students To Sign Democrat Vote Pledge

Category: Live at Five

E-Mail From Bert, the Samoan Lawyer

Posted on | September 18, 2012 | 18 Comments

Commenting on some recent events, and quite interesting:

How many of the purported Republicans and/or conservatives that have been pronouncing Romney a sure loser in the last three weeks are among those that, during the primaries, said the GOP had to nominate him because he was the only one who could win?
Of those, how many have close ties to Jeb Bush?
If Jeb ever wants to be President, Romney needs to lose this election.
As Stacy sometimes says, “I’m just askin’ . . .”
But I do think it would make a hell of an interesting blog post for someone that had time to trace it down.
-Bert

This would imply a Bushian conspiracy for dynastic revival.

Crazy? Yeah. But never trust those Bushies . . .

Category: Uncategorized

Barack Obama At Loyola In 1998: ‘I Actually Believe In Redistribution’

Posted on | September 18, 2012 | 11 Comments

by Smitty

Via Director Blue, Fox News has a bombshell:

Few points:

  • Barack sounds only a little left of center here. Either he was couching his rhetoric more carefully, or he was simple less of an ideologue 14 years ago. Probably the former.
  • His point could nearly be tolerable if “giving everybody a fair shot” really meant “equality of opportunity”. Alas, redistribution means “equality of condition”. Every time.
  • His point could nearly be tolerable if it was a purely federalist one. If Massachusetts wants to tax itself into an economic crater, that is the prerogative of the voters there. Da Tech Guy’s and Belvedere’s screams, while tragic, are just another brick in the wall.
  • His point could nearly be tolerable if subsequent history hadn’t proven him, personally, the left breast of the Venus de Milo: a stone cold boob.

Update: more at Publius Forum. And Ace notes: “Romney Now Apparently Answering Every Question About “47%” By Noting He Doesn’t Believe In Redistribution of Wealth”

Update II: American Glob, fresh from passing a million hits, links.

Category: Barack Obama

A Note on Bill Kristol’s
Arrogant and Stupid Blog Post

Posted on | September 18, 2012 | 32 Comments

In general, the whooping and hollering over a GOP presidential candidate’s gaffe is done by Democrats.

Also David Brooks and David Frum.

So it was rather shocking to see Bill Kristol come out with a blog post using the phrase “stupid and arrogant” to describe Romney’s remarks.

I like Bill Kristol.

Perhaps more importantly, my wife likes Bill Kristol. So why he would put the words “stupid and arrogant” next to Romney’s name, I don’t know, but now at least he knows how it feels.

Don’t do that again, please, sir.

Category: Election 2012, Mitt Romney

On the Romney Video: ‘The Q&A Didn’t Turn Out as Well as He Had Hoped’

Posted on | September 18, 2012 | 18 Comments

Let’s begin by nominating Jimmie Bise Jr. for the Pulitzer Prize for Humorous Understatement. That there’s funny, I don’t care who you are.

Meanwhile, in the Real 1% — the pro-Obama media — the latest furor is over a second clip from the same secret (and possibly illegally recorded) video in which Romney criticizes talk of Mideast peace based on the “two-state solution.” Ed Morrissey explains that Romney is right:

What Romney actually says is that peace isn’t possible because the Palestinians won’t accept a two-state plan as a permanent solution … a point that has been obvious ever since Yasser Arafat walked away from a carefully-crafted deal at the end of the Clinton administration and called for another intifada.  With Hamas now in the mix and their parent group Muslim Brotherhood taking control of Egypt, the Palestinians have even less incentive to accept a permanent state of Israel.

Nick Gillespie has the headline of the day:

Secret Romney Tape Means
We Can Finally Stop Talking About
Obama’s Failed Foreign & Domestic Policy! 

It’s important not to be distracted by the media’s narrative framing of events. It takes a strong mind to be able to resist their propaganda.

That’s why I Watch MSNBC So You Don’t Have To:

 

 





 


Category: Election 2012, Mitt Romney
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