"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler
by Smitty
One CPAC item I would have liked to attended, but missed, was Steve Poizner, California gubernatorial candidate.
The panel “Saving Freedom from the California Model” sounds like a good forum for a fellow who’s started two successful Silicon Valley outfits.
Today I’m down the table from the lady at Uncoverage.net, who sounds like a one-woman wrecking crew with a passion for seeing Democratic Party electoral debris.
by Smitty
Tom McLaughlin is a new add to our blogroll. I had to get slightly personal in shooting the interview, as it was conducted adjacent the Red State reception.
Tom attended Pamela Geller’s “Freedom Defense Initiative” event today, which I managed not to attend. As a history teacher, he gives great blog.
by Smitty (INTRODUCTION)
The man spoke quickly, clearly, dispassionately, at the limit of what the recorder could write, thankful for previous experience with shorthand.
The Japanese man began to struggle, but the chair had a leg up on him. The struggle was brief.
The others in the room were now resigned to their fates. Hope had died with the Japanese man. It occurred to me that I may be rewarded for doing this writing by being allowed to keep my life. That life flashed before me, and the fragility of it all, the vanity of the material pursuits, suddenly hit me.
No, there wasn’t any hope. The speaker now ventured into a financiala note about CTHULHU.
“The genius of the financial aspects of our program is the way we employ complexity itself as a tool.
We’re increasingly under attack from slowly awakening numbers of the proletariat that the Information Age has not had the desired leveling effect on society.
Things are still far more hierarchial than technically necessary. Also, goverments continue to staff up, as opposed to automate.
Our minions
…whom we once upon a time advised should be distracted from State occupations by representatives receptions, observances of etiquette, entertainments, were only a screen for our rule. The accounts of favourite courtiers who replaced them in the sphere of affairs were drawn up for them by our agents, and every time gave satisfaction to short-sighted minds by promises that in the future economies and improvements were foreseen…
Economies from what? From new taxes? — were questions that might have been but were not asked by those who read our accounts and projects…
You know to what they have been brought by this carelessness, to what pitch of financial disorder they have arrived, notwithstanding the astonishing industry of their peoples…”
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by Smitty
Filming Stacy talking to a full-on American hero was a privilege.
by Smitty
Rep. Mike Pence dropped by Blogger Row at CPAC. Erick Erickson of RedState was gracious enough to officiate, and allow me to ask an informal questions of Mike Pence at Blogger’s Row, CPAC.
Mike first expressed gratitude for the service that everyone in the room provides for freedom. He asserted that freedom of the press is essential for the free flow of information to the American people. Pence noted was the first blogging member of Congress.
He then took questions.
Alex,Race4 2012
Q. Are you running 2012?
A. No plans.
1. He does intend to serve Eastern Indiana and
2. Return American Congress to American People.
Focus is a challenge. It is currently halftime in the locker room. The need is to put our heads down and fight for common sense.
Adam, Race4 2012
Q. What to say to those taking on established Congressman
A. Never bad when people become involved.
There was another question that Stacy filmed, then I come in at 1:23
Here is a link to the Rep. Paul Ryan plan to which my question referred.
The Flemish Menace stopped by directly after that to ask me about blogging, and the tone of CPAC. That was quite a bit of fun. If any of our readers in the old country find out they used the footage, let us know.
by Smitty (h/t Power Line)
Paul at Power Line links George Will’s latest Real Clear Politics column, where he musters only the most grudging recognition for Sarah Palin.
Last night at the CPAC Presidential banquet, George Will was in top form attacking the Left, and the concept of making the American people dependent on the government. George commences at 17:17.
So it is with some dismay that one views Will tacitly perpetuating the problem of dependency. Will, for all of his erudition, knowledge of conservative history, and excellent rhetorical skill, seems to be in denial about the root causes of the current crisis.
He nearly manages to take conservatives to task for the decisions of the previous administration, but he seems to think that Sound Historical Conservative Perspective will win the day. Just usher in a few names that he has vetted for you, and all will be well.
Mr. Will, where is your attack on the Federal Reserve, sir? Where is your criticism of Republicans who’ve abetted the statist foe by perpetuating entitlements, sir? Where is your defense of the 10th Amendment?
One cannot tell whether the object to Governor Palin is the thin résumé, or the fact that she has not sat beneath the tutelage of the Correct People.
However, those Correct People have be the string section that fiddled away while the national debt grew.
Of course, the cynical possibility exists that Mr. Will and company (John Batchelor, Rick Moran) are calculating that the chief thing they can do to enhance Governor Palin’s popularity is to hammer her in print as often as possible.
No, Mr. Will is too genuine for such head-fakery. But if I could ask the gentleman just one question in his über-wisdom, it would be just exactly what sort of résumé he thinks would be ‘acceptable’, given the cratered nature of the American Treasury. Mr. Will: nobody is qualified to roll-back 100 years of Socialist and condescending elitist idiocy.
by Smitty (INTRODUCTION)
His complexion was slightly darker than olive, his eyes hinting at epicanthic folds, his slightly broad nose and generous lips seeming to mention Africa, his straight black hair from anywhere.
The Japanese at the back of the room spoke in clear tones: “When is there a break in this? People here need relief.”
The others at the table turned to look at the man, then back to the speaker. The speaker paused briefly. The Japanese man tried to get up, but his chair, which had been made of frozen snakes, was no longer quite so frozen. The arms and legs of the chair encircled his limbs, and a snake from the back wrapped his head. And squeezed.
He had his relief.
“If we do not permit any independent dabbling in the political we shall on the other hand encourage every kind of report or petition with proposals for the government to examine into all kinds of projects for the amelioration of the condition of the people; this will reveal to us the defects or else the fantasies of our subjects…”
We do understand that actual liberty is the highest goal of any.
CTHULHU’s goals are dedicated to replacing the ‘best’ not just with the ‘good enough’ compromise but rather the truly marginal product.
Among the hallmarks of our minions will be the capacity for verbal legerdemain such that the truly awful will be sold as superior. We don’t just want the victim to be swindled and then efficiently disposing of themselves; we want them to be genuinely happy about the arrangement.
This is a crucial point, and bears repetition: we are here to take what is desirable by the reasonable, and give instead twice as much dreck.
There can be loss leaders, as when an entitlement is allowed to run as mandated for a couple of decades. Our shenanigans will kick in, and that entitlement seed will always, ALLWAYS grow into a variation on the theme of the Ponzi scheme.
Ponzi was truly a great servant of ours, one who could have grown into a threat…”
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by Smitty
Stacy McCain interviews Randy Altschuler of New York’s 1st Congressional District. Randy is a businessman seeking to save the country in general, and New York in particular, from doctrinaire liberalism.
This blog wishes good fortune on Randy’s efforts.