COLLECTIVE MADNESS
“Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."
On some things. And on some things he's completely wrong. Die-hard supporters generally accentuate the nuttiness and reflect poorly on him (not a shot at Trish). As a politician he's principled, which is somewhat rare, but principles can also be either good or bad, depending on their substance and the context.
ReplyDeleteIn a parliamentary system I'd stick him on a portfolio for something that he's entirely right on, like individual rights or federalism, but in an all or nothing presidential system, I'd be scared shitless to give him the whole thing. Maybe a decent protest vote, but I'd be hardpressed to throw my vote away in such an environment as there is today.
ReplyDelete"I'd be hardpressed to throw my vote away in such an environment as there is today."
ReplyDeletePrincipled protest is never a throwaway, cutler. Bite your tongue.
Cops Trumped in Baja
ReplyDeleteAlBobAl has all the answers and my total commitment:
ReplyDeleteTake a moment and let the dream soak in:
Two Maintenance Free Hybrids, and
NO Flat Tires!
Scaled Composites involved in Mojave airport explosion
ReplyDeleteScaled Composites, the company that built and flew SpaceshipOne, is involved in a large explosion that killed two people and critically injured four at Mojave Air and Space Port, according to the Kern County Fire Department
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Northrop Grumman to buy Scaled Composites
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ReplyDelete"Principled protest is never a throwaway, cutler. Bite your tongue."
ReplyDeleteNever - so don't bother the browbeating nonsense.
If a protest vote doesn't move the dialogue or is misinterpreted by a misguided political class, I'd consider it wasted. Regardless of whether I would personally get joy from 'not selling out' to practicality.
Me personally, I'm registering (R) to vote for Ron Paul in the primaries, then I'll switch back to Independent.
ReplyDeleteThe DNC is harmful. I can never vote for them. Ever. Unless Zell Miller takes over the party.
The RNC is getting there, and they need to be woken up. Paul won't get the nod, but a message sent to the elitists that limited government means a lot to some of us would be nice.
Reading the Giuliani energy plan post earlier in the day made me cringe. Energy independence is to be modeled after our socialist space program. Whoopee.
Now there's some fresh thinking. %|
It sounds like Mr. Paul is trying to talk out of both sides of his mouth in regard to what he told the student about further "investigations" into 9-11.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a good day, if I'm able to get Dougal totally committed.
ReplyDelete"If a protest vote doesn't move the dialogue or is misinterpreted by a misguided political class, I'd consider it wasted."
ReplyDeleteThe ideologically execrable Ralph Nader said in response to a frank critique of his potential role as Democratic Party spoiler back in 2000 that it is not his job to get anyone else elected.
And it is not mine.
Up until now, I've only been able to get him committed on weak ends.
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of boring everyone--
ReplyDeleteMoscow, Id. AP--A free legal aid clinic at the U of I Law School is helping those who face deportation or other immigration proceedings, but not without criticism.
The immigration component was added to the law school's long standing Tribal Clinic in 2000, said Monic Schurtman, the clinic's supervising attorney.
"In 2000, it was obvious to me that there was a huge jump in the immigrant population," she said. "I help people because it's just part of who I am, and my personal history." (She is a daughter of Jewish immigrants from the Nazis. "Two, it's my grounding in human rights law."
But Robert Vasquez, the former Canyon County commissioner and congressional candidate, said the operation of the clinic is nothing short of a crime. (Vasquez is a legal immigrant who left a leg in Vietnam, fighting for what was then not his country, the USA.)
"Federal law states that anyone who aids and abets an illegal alien in remaining in the US is committing a felony" he said.
Schurtman laughed out loud when she heard that Vasquez thinks her clinic is illegal.
"That's really funny, what we try to do is assist our clients in a well-established legal system to remain in the US' she said.
For Vasquez the issue is black and white. "If they are a legal alien, and they have committed a crime, and they have been convicted, then their legal status is revoked and they're deported. If they are an illegal alien, they deserve no representation, they should be apprehended and deported. How difficult is that to understand?" he asked.
He added that law schools that offer free aid(not to the taxpayer) TO THOSE WITH QUESTIONABLE IMMIGRATION STATUS ARE IN EFFECT AIDING AND ABETTING AN ACT OF SEDITION THAT SUBVERTS THE COUNTRY. "WHY ARE THEY NOT TEACHING HOW TO ENFORCE THE LAW AND TO DEPORT THESE PEOPLE?"
(Get this)"People are people are people are people. Borders are artificial. People are not" she responded.
"I think it's something that people have to start dealing with.(agree to that) As capital is allowed to move without borders, you're going to have an increasing number of people who move as if borders didn't exist" she said.
That's the news from our law school here, folks. Just come on in, on the taxpayers nickel, and you'll get the aid you need 'from our well established legal system.'
I go now to join Doug and the others who have mercifully been totally committed.
ReplyDeleteAlBobber's Song
ReplyDelete"I give away other people's money because it is just who I, a liberal/socialist, am.
ReplyDeletePlus, I get other people's money in payment for who I am, so I'll be damned if I'll let Constitutional Law get in my way."
"The ideologically execrable Ralph Nader said in response to a frank critique of his potential role as Democratic Party spoiler back in 2000 that it is not his job to get anyone else elected.
ReplyDeleteAnd it is not mine."
Congratulations.