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."
John Edwards Indicted by a Grand Jury - Can a Weekend Start Better than That?
ReplyDeleteSure....
Rat being indicted by a Grand Jury for either crimes against humanity for deaths in central america or Rat being indicted by a Grand Jury for impersonation of Military veteran.
Or, Wio forgetting his password.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThen I could be like Selah/Ms T/Teresa and numerous facades...
ReplyDeleteFace it. Me forgetting my password is lame.
How about Obama's long form certificate of live birth was exposed as a fake?
Or ANOTHER great Sarah Palin's STAND WITH Israel speech...
Yep that's it!
Sarah is a BIG fan of Israel...
That Mrs Palin is an inept politico, but a marvelous, if little watched reality TV subject.
ReplyDeleteHer reality show, unlike Mr Trump's, was not renewed. Though there seems to a lot of reality TV centered upon Alaska.
Now, Mrs Palin, she is just another migrating snow bird.
The latest PPP Poll puts Palin tied with Romney (among Republicans,) Nationally, and leading him in Iowa.
ReplyDeleteYou may not like her, Rat. And, you may have valid reasons.
But, "Inept" at Politics?
I don't know.
Shipping with the Enemy: Israeli Firm Deals with Iran
ReplyDeleteBy Karl Vick / Jerusalem
Israeli billionaires breaking the sanctions regime against Iran, under the approval and auspices of the Israeli government.
"It looks ridiculous when Israel demands that the world impose sanctions on Iran when its own economic giants make deals with a country that is making a determined, fanatical effort to destroy it," wrote Aryeh Eldad ...
Lawbreakers abound, both in US and Israeli politics.
ReplyDeleteBirds of a feather, flocking together?
At politics, you better believe she is inept, rufus.
ReplyDeleteAt reality TV, she is a pro.
The two are not one and the same.
Levin took issue with much of the common criticisms of Palin, particularly those concerning whether or not she can win the 2012 election and how she left her governorship post early, which is normal for presidential candidates, Levin says.
ReplyDelete“So what is it? What’s the problem?” he said. “She’s solid on social issues. She’s solid on fiscal issues. She’s solid against these subsidies against big companies – in other words, she is not a corporatist. She’s not a crony or a believer in that. She’s solid on taxes and spending. I’m just confused. She’s solid on Israel. She’s solid on the military. She’s solid with respect to our allies. Is there some big issue that’s disqualifying? What – because the liberals don’t like her? …
“I’m getting sick and tired, as I said yesterday, last week and I’ve said over the months – I’m getting sick and tired of these smears by Krauthammer against her,” Levin said. “He’s a thoroughly decent man, I understand, but he doesn’t seem very decent in this regard and I don’t know why. He’s certainly owes us a column or a better explanation, doesn’t he? He wants to influence the outcome.”
So What? What is it?
A politico cannot be "solid" on spending and "solid" on the military, rufus.
ReplyDeleteShe is another pawn of the Military Industrial Complex, leaving large chunks of the Federal budget, "off the table".
Another false prophet of corporate crony conservatism.
I think that Mrs Palin will be running for public office, in her new home State of Arizona.
ReplyDeleteShe could do well with the electorate, here.
Mrs Palin and Mr Trump providing the most entertainment value to the political viewer, this season.
ReplyDeleteThe professional television personalities are driving the bus.
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ReplyDeleteThat Mrs Palin is an inept politico...
I kinda disagree. I don't disagree that she is inept in the jobs required of a politican. Nor that she is a politico (or at least that she is a reality TV celebrity posing as a politico). However, by putting the words inept politico together one gets the impression that she is worse than the rest.
She is a walking, talking cartoon. But then, which politico isn't? The more you see of these guys (gals?) the more you realize they are all the same in different ways. I never was impressed with Chris Christie but I kind of was with Marco Rubio until I saw a speech he gave at Ave Maria U. The more you see htese guys the less you like them.
Is it politics that corrupts them or is it them that corrupts politics? Hard to say. The result is the same.
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ReplyDeleteSo What? What is it?
She never let's facts get in the way of a good sound bite.
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Rat, you must have missed my comment a couple of days ago. Palin is laying the groundwork for coming out for withdrawal from Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong; I don't agree with some of her positions, but I have doubts that she will actually try to govern as "conservative" as she campaigns. She left a $12 Billion Surplus in Alaska, and actually cut the budget during a "boom."
I might be imagining things, but I'm picking up pretty good vibes from her.
I voted for Ronnie Raygun the first time even though it was, definitely, against my financial advantage.
ReplyDeleteI might vote for Palin even though she stands against two things I'm strongly in favor of - Health Care Reform, and Ethanol.
I'm going to be looking for any signs that she's leaving herself a little "wiggle room."
Two groups saw a Decrease in their unemployment numbers.
ReplyDelete1) Teenagers (-0.7%)
2) High School grads - No College (0.2%)
In other words: McDonalds was hiring.
In fact, McDonalds Did account for half of the jobs added.
This is bad.
Really freakin' bad.
Mrs Palin is no worse than the rest, but no better either.
ReplyDeleteShe is a reality TV star playing at being a politician. She is doing a marvelous job of it, no doubt of that.
If she were to gain the Republican nomination, she'd fair little better than Mr Goldwater, while worse than the "Maverick" who lost in an Electoral College slap down.
Arizona plays well as a base in the GOP nomination process. The general election, that's another kettle of fish, entirely.
ReplyDeleteThe candidates were out of step with the electorate, on election day.
Neither of the Arizona based candidates faring well, in the Electoral College.
Mrs Palin could become a Senator, even Governor, in a Statewide contest, here in Arizona. To reach the White House, to square the circle she's in, there is no way.
The United States is providing hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign aid to countries that it borrows billions from, according to a report by Congress's research arm.
ReplyDeleteThe Congressional Research Service released a report last month, a copy of which Fox News exclusively obtained, showing that in fiscal year 2010, the latest year that data was available, the U.S. handed out a total of $1.4 billion to 16 foreign countries that held at least $10 billion in Treasury securities, including China ($27.2 million), Brazil ($25 million), Russia ($71.5 million), India ($126.6 million), Mexico ($316.7 million) and Egypt ($255.7 million).
China is the largest holder of U.S. Treasury bonds with $1.1 trillion as of March, according to the Treasury Department. Brazil held $193.5 billion, Russia had $127.8 billion, India owned $39.8 billion, Mexico held $28.1 billion and Egypt had $15.3 billion.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/06/02/us-offers-foreign-aid-to-countries-holding-billions-in-treasury-securities/#ixzz1OGBnjLTO
Well, let's review the bidding, shall we? The guy that I should be supporting (and, that I might end up supporting)
ReplyDelete1) drew up the model for Obamacare, and, defended the "Mandates" in the last electora go-round,
2) Came out the other day in favor of ethanol subsidies,
3) and annouced, today, that he believes in Global Warming.
Meanwhile, Sarah Palin has coffee this morning with Kelly Ayotte, the new Senator from New Hampshire who Palin endorsed early in the "Primary" when Ayotte was behind.
The little "clambake," yesterday evening? John Sununu, and some other NH heavy hitters.
Nikki Hailey (S Carolina Governor who palin stood behind when everyone else was bailing) called Palin, and said, "Come on down, why dont'cha?" "Why yes," said Sarah, "I think I will."
Will you go talk to Gov Branstad in Iowa, Sarah, they asked? "Why sure," said Sarah, "I was one of his *Earliest Supporters.* I'll be sure to go talk to him."
And, let us not forget, Rubio (Fl, need I say more?) was 30 points behind in the R. Primary when Sarah Palin endorsed him.
Ineptitude, your name is Palin.
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ReplyDeleteOnce again we are treated to the post hoc fallacy.
As I recall, a good percentage of those she endorsed failed to get elected. In fact, I think that octupus that was picking the World Cup winners got a higher percentage.
Not to mention factors such as the Tea Party or the overall public's dissatisfaction with the way the country was going under the Dems.
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You missed my point, Q. With the exception of Branstad, all of those people were "Behind in Their Primaries" when she got behind them.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I'm pretty much agnostic about the whole affair, but I think it's interesting the way, I believe, a lot of people are "misunderestimating" her.
ReplyDeleteHere's a good example (you'd think they'd learn after awhile.)
ReplyDeleteFrom Gateway Pundit:
In fact, as pointed out at Conservatives4Palin, Revere did in fact tell the British that the colonial militias, who had been alerted, were waiting for them. Here is the original historical text written by Revere (spelling in original, bold added):
I observed a Wood at a Small distance, & made for that. When I got there, out Started Six officers, on Horse back,and orderd me to dismount;-one of them, who appeared to have the command, examined me, where I came from,& what my Name Was? I told him. it was Revere, he asked if it was Paul? I told him yes He asked me if I was an express? I answered in the afirmative. He demanded what time I left Boston? I told him; and aded, that their troops had catched aground in passing the River, and that There would be five hundred Americans there in a short time, for I had alarmed the Country all the way up. He imediately rode towards those who stoppd us, when all five of them came down upon a full gallop; one of them, whom I afterwards found to be Major Mitchel, of the 5th Regiment, Clapped his pistol to my head, called me by name, & told me he was going to ask me some questions, & if I did not give him true answers, he would blow my brains out. He then asked me similar questions to those above. He then orderd me to mount my Horse, after searching me for arms
Palin's short statement on the video was less than clear; that sometimes happens but the part of the statement which has people screaming -- that Revere warned the British that the colonial militias were waiting -- appears to be true.
I've learned something new today, about Paul Revere.
Me, too. I didn't know all that.
But, Sarah did.
Remember the big brouhaha about "party like it 1773?"
ReplyDeleteThe libs went nuts about how ignorant she was; not realizing that she was referring to "The Boston Tea Party" which took place in, of course, 1773.
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ReplyDeleteI've learned something new today, about Paul Revere.
Me, too. I didn't know all that.
But, Sarah did.
You've obviously missed my point. I would never call Palin on her knowledge or lack thereof of colonial history trivia. It's not important to me at all.
What I do call her on is her lack of knowledge on things important to the electorate this year and next. Mainly the economy and jobs.
A Few Recent Examples
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Q, this is a joke, right?
ReplyDeleteSarah is absolutely spot-on in what she's saying.
Okay, that one instance where part of the amount Is a "loan guarantee" Which you, and I both know, we could very well end up having to make good on, is a slight misstatement, but, come on,
To claim that a loan-forgivement isn't a "Gift" is ludicrous. The rest of it is just leftie nonsense. This isn't like you at all.
Just like Fox's big "scoop," today about us giving China $27 Million in Foreign Aid while they're buying $1.2 Trillion in our Bonds - Palin was talking about it weeks ago.
ReplyDeleteLike I said, I probably won't even end up supporting her, but, damn, you've Got to give the gal her due.
Sarah is saying, "We're borrowing money to give it to other countries."
ReplyDeleteThis guy is saying she's a doofus because, . . . . well, actually, maybe we're giving "Our" Revenues to those other countries, and then borrowing money for the expenses that would have been paid for from "Those Revenues?"
And, you think that is a reasonable statement? really?
And, it's okay to give money to Egypt because they're going to buy some airplanes from Lester Crown? Really?
ReplyDeleteWhat if I don't own any stock in Lester Crown's company?
Then I get the note for another $3 Billion borrowed from China to give to Israel so they can buy some F-15 from McDonnell Douglas (because we can't have the Egyptians having better planes than the Israelis, can we?)
Is Sarah Palin the last sane person left in America?
Then, I sign another note for $7 Billion for Pakistan (and, no leftie sonofabitch in the world can pretend to know where That money goes) because if I don't they might become friendly with Iran?
ReplyDeleteThe Pakistan? The one that's been harboring the entire Al Queda leadership, and fighting us in Afghanistan for years?
They might become friendly with Iran? How many of the 9 - 11 guys were from Iran?
Or, do they mean they might "do business" with Iran, like GE, and half the other Fortune 500 Companies.
What utter Bullshit.
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ReplyDeleteQ, this is a joke, right?
Sarah is absolutely spot-on in what she's saying...
I wish I was that funny.
Previously, you said you would think about voting for Palin. I said nothing. That would be your decision and I could care less.
However, you now say that out of that article she had one slight misstatement and the rest is all "leftie" nonsense.
Good lord Rufus, get your head screwed on straight. In addition to her slight mistatement her "facts" are wrong on SS, the oil drillig moritorium, the doubling of the national debt, and using her own numbers she is off on the cost of the oil moritorium by multiple factors of ten.
She talks in sound bites. The actual numbers? As they say in France, n'importante.
The people who follow her care little about facts.
Sarah says she is for 'mom and apple pie' and they call that policy.
She shows she knows about colonial history trivia and they call her a genius.
She gives the MSM a hard time and they say she is politically astute.
Sarah is saying, "We're borrowing money to give it to other countries."
You like the others hear what you want to hear from her and ignore the fact that they are mere sound bites, that if you look at some of the details she cites they don't make sense.
She is a celebrity, a talking head throwing out sound bites for the faithful to pick up.
I am against us being in Afghanistan. I am against us being in Iraq and Libya. I am against giving Egypt additional funds. Does that make me a reasonable candidate for president?
No. Because the biggest problems facing this country right now are the housing crisis, the economy, and jobs and I haven't a clue as to the best way to solve them. Neither does Palin. She merely offers superficial bullshit.
You talk about her not giving money to Egypt. You must be dreaming. Most of the money we give to Egypt comes back to us (just like that from Israel and every other country) in the form of purchases for arms and other supplies. Palin is a Republican. Do you really think she would take on the military/industrial complex. Hell, Obama's a Dem and he folded as soon as he took office.
Time for a reality check old timer. Haven't we had enough of the bullshit shovelers to last us a lifetime?
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Good lord Rufus, get your head screwed on straight. In addition to her slight mistatement her "facts" are wrong on SS, the oil drillig moritorium, the doubling of the national debt, and using her own numbers she is off on the cost of the oil moritorium by multiple factors of ten.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you'd like to, you know, give a few examples?
But, don't bother with the one where she mistakenly said 8 Billion/yr instead of 8 Million. She spent a term as head of the Oil and Gas Commission in Alaska; I think we can assume she knows the correct factor.
Well, Q, we ARE borrowing money to give to other countries. We just are.
ReplyDelete.
ReplyDeleteWell, Q, we ARE borrowing money to give to other countries. We just are..
True enough Ruf.
But very few people in this country need Sarah Palin to tell them that.
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No. Because the biggest problems facing this country right now are the housing crisis, the economy, and jobs and I haven't a clue as to the best way to solve them. Neither does Palin. She merely offers superficial bullshit.
ReplyDeleteNo, actually, she's the only Republican that has any ideas at all. She says "let's drill more oil wells, including the Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska."
That is Specific, and sensible.
She stopped, and commiserated with a fisherman in New Hampshire. Said there are too many regulations that are putting him out of business. Reagan rolled back a lot of regulations; and, it Did help business.
I mean, come'on; She's not Saint Mary, or Joan of Arc, but she's not a celebrity airhead, either.
But very few people in this country need Sarah Palin to tell them that.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure, sometimes.
Maybe, being reminded isn't such a bad thing.
Even I screwed that $8 Billion deal up; and, I haven't just completed 6 campaign stops in a day and a half, with a tired staff, and kids, and in a 100 degree heat wave.
ReplyDeleteI saw Sarah Palin, in a quieter moment, say the answer to our energy problems was "All of the Above."
ReplyDeleteThe only thing I would add would be "On Steroids."
I think she's waiting for Rick Perry. If he gets in, she gets out and supports him. If he doesn't get in, she runs.
ReplyDeleteShe's going to give him two, or three weeks. July 3rd at the latest. YMMV
Oh, I hope you had a good trip. I'll ask you about it in the morning. My eyes are killing me. G'nite.
ReplyDeleteWe're in a world of trouble.
ReplyDeleteWe had four qtrs of decent growth, unemployment fell all the way down to 8.8%, and it started looking like we might pull out of our "crisis." At least, it looked that way to some. A few of us were doubtful. Unfortunately, that "few" seems to have been correct.
By the first of the year gasoline prices started getting pretty high. By the end of Feb gasoline prices were over $3.00, heading to $3.50, and the economy started slowing. By the end of March we were heading for $4.00, and the economy was, for all intents and purposes, at a standstill.
We are now at either flat, or slightly negative growth, and have been for a couple of months. But, here's where it gets scary. Gas Prices have fallen All The Way Back to $3.75, and are showing signs of stabilizing, and possibly heading back up.
Yep, there you have it. The U.S. going into recession has managed to knock the price of gasoline down by a whole $0.25.
Gasoline prices appear to be stabilizing at a higher price than it took to send us sliding back into the mire.
We're in for a long, hard trip, Kiddos.
but the administration says its just a bump in the road kiddo.
ReplyDeleteAre the dems really going to run Obama again?
The POTUS is no worse than Pelosi and Reid, but no better either.
ReplyDeleteHe is a reality TV star/American idol contestant playing at being a politician. He is doing a marvelous job of it, no doubt of that.
His policies and stewardship of the country are a disaster however.
As I said, if it were my job to cast the deciding vote in the Republican Primary I would probably vote for Romney.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there is just something about the Press (Republican, and Liberal) coverage of Palin that irks me. I just don't like "unfairness," and for people peeing on my leg, and whispering into my ear about "how warm is the rain."
I didn't have to go to the U of Idaho Laugh Clinic the other day cause I woke up laughing at the thought that rat's wife is a Sarah Palin supporter.
ReplyDeleteThat's really funny.
So now we certainly know rat's wife is surely the better half in that peculiar arrangement.
dwr
Her support among women has been growing.
ReplyDeleteHer very weakest demographic is the over 65 crowd. Not for sure how that breaks down by sex.
ReplyDeleteHer strongest demographic, IIRC, is 18 - 29.