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."

Monday, November 23, 2009


61 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Yeah, it's getting tiresome.

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  3. National Geo has some amazing local coverage of news in Texas on the day of Kennedy's assasination.

    Previously unseen video shows the window in the book depository before Kennedy passed.

    If you look closely, you can see a shadowy figure that looks suspiciously like comrade al-Bob Al lurking there, preparing to murder the President.

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  4. "What a good country or a good squirrel should be doing is stashing away nuts for the winter. The United States is not only not saving nuts, it’s eating the ones left over from the last winter.”
    WILLIAM H. GROSS
    "

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  5. More anti-gay, religious-motivated crimes reported
    By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer Devlin Barrett, Associated Press Writer 30 mins ago

    WASHINGTON – New FBI data show a sharp increase in hate crimes based on anti-gay or religious bias.

    Overall, the number of reported hate crimes increased about 2 percent from last year. These same figures show a nearly 11 percent increase in hate crimes based on sexual orientation, and a nearly 9 percent increase in hate crimes based on religion. The largest category, racially-motivated hate crimes, fell less than 1 percent.

    The increases may be party due to more law enforcement agencies reporting hate crimes data to the FBI: 2,145 agencies in 2008, compared to 2,025 agencies the year before. In total, there were 7,783 hate crimes reported to the FBI last year, and seven murders were categorized as hate crimes.

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  6. Good to know only 7 murders were motivated by hate in the entire country.
    Most probably motivated by love and compassion.

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  7. Who came up with the reference, "hate crime?"

    I think a better reference would be "I am tired of your victim mentality BS crime."

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  8. *All* Murderees should be accorded victim status, IMHO.

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  9. bob wrote:

    "She didn't want to go to the police"

    How come? Is she not concerned that the guy is still free to rape others?

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  10. I'm not talking anymore about it Ash.

    I shouldn't have brought it up in the first place.

    I've been too open about my life.

    Some girls in her position just want to go to bed, and forget about it.

    She gets fucked against her will by some drunken bastard, and you want to criticize her.

    That's the kind of guy you are.

    Kindly drop the subject now. It's over.

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  11. Yeah, I got the bastard. I was hiding between the science, and history books, al-Doug. Then I made my escape, and they picked up some doofus named Oswald.

    I got clean away.

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  12. Ruby's still on your ass.
    Them Joos don't quit.
    Jack Ruby was born Jacob Rubenstein to Joseph Rubenstein (1871–1958) and Fannie Turek Rutkowski (or Rokowsky), both Polish-born, Orthodox Jews, in Chicago, on April 25, 1911.

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  13. I want to be polite here, and share opinions.

    It's gets tough to do though, when your every action is criticized by somebody or other.

    Maybe I'll go back to posting as anon.

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  15. Rat and mini-Rat, Bob.

    Mr. Potato-Head chimes in.

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  16. Thanks for that Quirk.

    By the way, I think I may have made a sour comment about one of your posts, long ago, when I may have misread what you were saying.

    I can't remember now, it was so long ago.

    Anyway, if I did, I want to apologize now.

    I always like to read what you write.

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  17. So, I think, I'm going to vote for anal sex barbie.

    This way, I'll know what to get everyone for Christmas.

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  18. Sorry, Whit, you didn't get my morbid joke. It had nothing to do with anything said on this thread. No, disrespect intended.

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  19. Rumors about gun confiscations. Angry protests replete with Nazi comparisons. A resurgent militia movement. Distrust toward the government fueled by paranoia and conspiracy theories. These are among the crosscurrents of anger and hostility that are contributing to “a toxic atmosphere of rage in America,” according to ADL.

    "Rage Grows in America: Anti-Government Conspiracies" examines the groups and individuals behind this upsurge in anti-government anxiety, from the "birthers" who claim the president is not an actual citizen of the U.S., to militia groups fearful that the government plans to forcibly disarm American citizens, to those who suggest that the health-care reform movement is akin to the Nazi policies that led to the Holocaust.

    The ADL goes on to list other ways that some of US have participated in anti-American activities:

    The ADL report looks at various sources of anti-government anger, including:

    · Conspiracy Theories: One of the most disturbing trends in the rise of anti-government sentiment has been the resurrection and proliferation of conspiracy theories alleging dark, violent designs on the part of the federal government to "declare martial law" and end democratic government, to confiscate firearms from American citizens and to build hundreds of concentration camps to house "dissidents." These theories have spread far and wide on social-networking sites.

    ...

    Town Hall Meeting Disruptions: In the summer of 2009 a variety of anti-government protests and disruptions occurred at town hall meetings organized by senators and representatives across the country to discuss health-care reform. These events became a fertile ground for anti-Obama protests and stunts, with some individuals angrily launching verbal attacks against the president and other office holders. Some protestors compared the administration and its proposed health care reform policies to those of Nazi Germany.

    The Tea Parties: At these events and later sequels organized by conservative groups and grassroots activists, anti-government sentiments and conspiracy theories proliferated, with a common theme being that Obama had "stolen" the country from Americans.

    · Media Influence: Some segments of the mainstream media have played a surprisingly active role in generating anti-government sentiment. Though a number of media figures and commentators have taken part, the media personality who has played the most active role has been radio and television host Glenn Beck, who along with many of his guests have made a habit of demonizing the Obama administration and promoting conspiracy theories about it.


    Now you all may not want to hear it, but when the White House took after FOX News is was above the fold news, when the ADL does the same in concert with the Obama Administration, it is of questionable relevance just who the ADL is.

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  20. So, the "government," and their supporters (ADL) are afraid. That's the Good news.

    When the Government is afraid of the people: That's LIBERTY.

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  21. I thought I was just "Anti-Communist."

    Now, it turns out I'm "Anti-Black," and "Anti-Semitic."

    Damn. I'm just getting plumb awful.

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  22. I wish people would start to go after the Lutherans, and leave the Jews alone for awhile.

    After all, we've a very nasty past, and have killed Catholics, Jews, and a few Muslims, too.

    Our past is worse than anything I can nail on the Jews.

    There's about as many Lutherans as Jews in our country.

    Hit on me, for a while.

    Then I'd have the experience of being hit on just because of what I happened to be born to be.

    Even though I don't happen to take hardy any of Lutheran doctrine seriously anymore, certainly not justification by faith alone, or predestination.

    Mat told me one time "Bob, yuz a Jew"

    I was proud of that.

    I'd like to be called a black, or a Catholic, or a redneck, by some of the other good posters here, sometime.

    If done in an honorable and friendly spirit.

    I'd be proud of that, too.

    I might like to be called someone's lover, too.

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  23. Mom: Son in coma heard everything for 23 years
    By RAF CASERT, Associated Press Writter Raf Casert, Associated Press Writter 18 mins ago

    BRUSSELS – A man who emerged from what doctors thought was a vegetative state says he was fully conscious for 23 years but could not respond because he was paralyzed, his mother said Monday.

    Rom Houben, 46, had a car crash in 1983 and doctors thought he had sunk into a coma. His family continued to believe their son was conscious and sought further medical advice.

    Professor Steven Laureys of Belgium's Coma Science Group realized that the diagnosis was wrong and taught Houben how to communicate through a special keyboard, said Dr. Audrey Vanhaudenhuyse, who is on Laureys' team.

    Rom used the device to tell a reporter for the German magazine Der Spiegel that: "I screamed but there was nothing to hear."

    Belgian doctors who treated him early on said that Rom had gone from a coma into a vegetative condition.

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  24. I like MLD. She's stirred things up around here.

    Things were getting a little boring, same old subjects, kind of weak, and dry. She brings some strong stuff up, into the moist.

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  25. Bobal: There's about as many Lutherans as Jews in our country. Hit on me, for a while.

    Martin Luther Weight Loss Plan: Diet of Wurms

    "To be a Christian, you must pluck out the eye of reason." - M. Luther

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  26. Well, gosh darn it, Bob, I be liken you, too.

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  27. Interesting, Whit. My aunt was in a coma, after her car accident. A little over 30 days, if I recall aright.

    I happened to be there when she woke up. It was just like a light bulb going on.

    She said "Why Bob! then fell into a sleep, which was nothing like the coma.

    I knew then she was going to make it.

    The doctors had told us that if they don't wake up after about a month, there's not much else to do.

    She lived another thirty years, but never drove a car again.

    Her sister died in the crash, which was into a concrete retaining wall, at the bottom of a hill.

    We think the carburator linkage got stuck, somehow.

    She couldn't recall how it happened.

    We made some initial moves to possibly sue Chrysler, having an automotive engineer from Texas come out and look at the car.

    He found some red fingernail polish on the linkage, which he said seemed to indicate it had been recycled at the factory.

    But, we didn't have much of a legal case, my aunt couldn't remember what happened.

    So, we let it drop.

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  28. Miss T., Luther was kind of a strange guy. On the one hand, he was a brave man, and did stand up for what he believed, on the other, he took out against the Catholics, Jews, Muslims too, many people don't know this, and, many people don't know this, he took out after the peasants.

    On the third hand, after he got married, he was a good father to some of the children his wife adopted. I think she adopted some destitute and abandoned kids. Had some of his own too, I think.

    Martin Luther Weight Loss Plan: Diet of Wurms


    heh, I'll keep that in mind, and tell it to my pastor, who has a good sense of humor.

    When I move back to Moscow, I'm going to start attending the church again, even though I don't buy the theology.

    I just feel the need for some music, and the companionship.

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  29. Bob, are you just getting senile, or were you always "slow."

    NO ONE has been picking on the "Jews." ADL published a ludicrous statement, and we commented on it.

    There's not a political analyst in the world that would tell you that the Democratic Party isn't Heavily influenced by Jewish money, and support.

    Bob, FACTS Are Not Defamation. Displeasure at having my tax money go to "settlements" in the West Bank is NOT Hatred of Joos.

    Try to Keep Up.

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  30. liken

    lichen

    Just a thought that popped into my mind, because of the same sound.

    Lichen, which grows on rocks, or tree trunks, was a symbol in Roethke for the grip life has on what seems to us many times an abyss of nonbeing.

    He used it as a symbol for the toughness of life, stuggling higher.

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  31. I don't know about the argument about the ADL, Ruf. I haven't followed it.

    What I believe is we should be supporting Israel, for many reasons.

    If the Democratic Party is run by the Jews, I don't understand why they aren't supporting their kin, back in the old country.

    Doesn't make any sense to me.

    I may well be getting senile. After all, I dream of women I don't even know.

    Is this senility?

    Or late onset virility?

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  32. Displeasure at my tax money going to fanatics in Gaza--

    but, I'm dropping the subject, we'
    ve been over it so many times.

    Let's talk about hiking, or mountain climbing, or old cars, pickup trucks, the latest sale at Wal-Mart.

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  33. Bob, keep dreaming it's the only thing keeping you sane. If not these guys will run you right to the state hospital.

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  34. Bob, NOBODY said the Democratic Party is "RUN" by Jews. The fact is that Jewish Money is very "influential" in the Democratic Party. They are A player. You could say, "a Strong player." Just the way it is.

    First off, Israel is Not the "Old" Country. In fact, it's a fairly "recent" country. The Dems (like most Republicans) support Israel pretty well. They get frustrated with the Israelis (as do many people) in regards to the settlement issue.

    As for your "new-found" libido, I don't know. Don't they have a "cat-house" in Moscow?

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  35. "We are such stuff, as dreams are made upon, and our little life is rounded with a sleep" our bard

    "There is a dream dreaming us" A Kalahari Bushman

    "The Chinese sage Chuang-tzu dreamt he was a butterfly and on waking wondered if he had then been a man dreaming, or might not now be a butterfly, dreaming it was a man."

    "That we come to this earth to live is untrue. We come but to sleep, to dream"

    "La Vida Es Sueno" Life Is A Dream
    Calderon

    "We are hyperdimensional beings of some sort, and we cast a shadow into materiality, and that shadow is our body."

    "We are giants mired in time." Proust

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  36. That looks like a beautiful place, Melody.

    We have some frat houses, but no cat houses in Moscow now, Ruf. There were a couple in the very early days.

    The last working cat house in the area I know about was up at Orofino.

    Actually got broke in there myself, as did most of my high school mates.

    The women were really pretty nice, and friendly.

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  37. Rufus, Lars Larsen, who broadcasts from Portland, Oregon, mentioned today about that very same SNL skit you posted, about the Chinese wanting their money back.

    If I understood him correctly, in the Chinese language, properly translated, there was some real stiff sexual reference.

    As I don't know Chinese, I can't really confirm this.

    However, the jist of the dialogue seemed to have something to do with "FUCK YOU".

    I don't really know what this means.

    The way I see it, is, we are a strong enough nation to tell the Chinese to "GET FUCKED" anytime we want to.

    I just don't know if we have the political will to do it anymore.

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  38. Bob, why would we do that? The Chinese haven't done anything to us. They are one of our biggest trading partners, and they buy some of our bonds. They don't send ships over here to patrol our coast, and spy on us (as we do to them.)

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  39. And when we fought them, heads up and face to face, we did not so well.

    Hundreds of thousands of Charlie Chi-coms died, fifty plus thousand of US died and nothing much was gained by either side.

    The majority of US are still ignorant of Korean history and the normality of the Hermit Kingdom, referencing their history of two and three kingdoms on the peninsula.

    China is right where, after 100 years of US foreign policy, both governmental and civil, we want her.

    Behind and beholden, to US.

    Figure it out, the 13 trillion bucks we owe them. Why each Chinaman, man, woman and child has donated $1,000 to US.
    They hope we pay it back, with interest and uninflated dollars.

    Which, given our track record, is doubtful.

    If 3% of the whirled's population controls 20% of combined global GDPs, instead of 25%, they've only lost market share that was unsustainable, anyway.

    The real challenge will be income distribution amongst the 3%, as labor continues to lose share to automation.

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  40. Rufus, I'm just an old farmer out here, lusting for Meloddy, I don't know why we should actually do a damned thing, other than have some really good sex, fore we all die.

    The politics, and the economics, I leave up to you.

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  41. That's Melody, I got all excited.

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  42. I say this, after having read the Bible, deeply.

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  43. Uh, Rat, you dropped another one a them pesky little decimal thingies. :)

    You're right, though. Nobody wants Charlie anywhere other than where he is. You couldn't have drawn it up any better.

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  44. And, Charlie's pretty smart. He's not "really" sweating the debt thing too much. He understands that an exit from recession could put us back within spitting distance of a balanced budget in a year, or two.

    The recession has knocked about $800, or $900 Billion off of our Tax Receipts, and the various "stimulii" have added an extra $400, 0r $500 Billion to Expenditures. Add the two, together, and you're only a couple of hundred billion (maybe 1.5% of GDP) away from Balance.

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  45. The whole Bible, seems to me, is sensuousness . Even in some parts of the New Testiment, wwhat we call the New Testiment, the worst part of it.

    It's all a story of freedom, and liberation, and how is that best expressed in human life, other than in sex?

    Let us all remember Dante, and the leading upward.

    There is more to these old stories than meets the eye.

    You are here because of fucking.

    I know some of my Jewish friends will diaagree with me, and I will listen carefully to them. perhaps to be persauded.

    I will keep my point of view, however, till I'm really nailed to the mat.

    Why I think I'm right, is that mind, and biology, sex, are basic.

    Thought comes from that.

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  46. Bob, go get laid, man. Whatever it costs, do it.

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  47. Sex = leads to thought = deep thought = passion = that leads to something more.

    Passion is the beginning of something more.

    Romeo and Juliet, they knew.

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  48. And, double up on the blue pill.

    But, DON'T come back and tell us about it.

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  49. Ruf, I get laid by my good wife, couple times a week.

    I'm just trying to talk about it.

    Got to get sleep, night Ruf.

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  50. the blue pill.

    What the hell is that?

    Night, Ruf, I'll fill you in tomorrow.

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  51. Here's a thought that might put a couple of you into therapy. If the price of gas allows, Obama "Might" have a Roaring economy when he runs for reelection in 2012.

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  52. That was the target date for the full impact of the "delayed" stimulus package to be felt.

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  53. Rufus: Here's a thought that might put a couple of you into therapy. If the price of gas allows, Obama "Might" have a Roaring economy when he runs for reelection in 2012.

    BHO is giving Israel no reason to stand pat, they're gonna hit Iran, and Iran is gonna shut down the Strait of Hormuz, and oil is going to $200

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  54. They're "Crazy," Rat; but they "Ain't" Stupid. Not All of them, anyway.

    I would expect, after a recession like this, for the economy to really get going toward the middle of 2011. By 2012 we'll be lighting them seegars wit hunderd dollar bills.

    T, That could happen, too.

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  55. The only thing that could kill them would be gasoline prices. That's a possibility, but not a "given."

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