tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post5493207352162774862..comments2024-03-28T21:41:52.558-04:00Comments on The Elephant Bar: Playing that Funky Music.Deuce ☂http://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-39510470140387190572008-02-16T05:34:00.000-05:002008-02-16T05:34:00.000-05:00Good thread.Good thread.Deuce ☂https://www.blogger.com/profile/13472858446242700869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-21612190525807950982008-02-16T03:12:00.000-05:002008-02-16T03:12:00.000-05:00Cutler, you'd a made a great farmer. The land don'...Cutler, you'd a made a great farmer. <I>The land don't talk back.</I><BR/><BR/>niteaginBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-68608085076668456732008-02-16T03:03:00.000-05:002008-02-16T03:03:00.000-05:00"Those that benefited from kingship had 'political..."Those that benefited from kingship had 'political scientists' in their day that came up with the theory of the 'divine right of kings'. Well worked out too, given one or two presumptions."<BR/><BR/>Hehe...I'm going to tip my hand now, but I've always compared it to the million monkeys on a typewriter rule. If you stick a bunch of academics in a room they could come up with an academic "case" using "objective" "evidence" to "prove" just about anything, given enough fancy words and prior crap to lean on. Bullshit piled upon bullshit piled upon bullshit. Kinda like the Iraqi WMD dossier....<BR/><BR/>Before you know it you have an entire "field" built upon nothing but academic literature proving how the world should work, according to a bunch of often likeminded intellectuals. And they've got footnotes to prove it.<BR/><BR/>Basic assumptions and premises are pounded into your head. Everyone works from them, either because they've never really thought otherwise or because it is simply the easiest place to begin making your case. Accepting the premise is intellectually easier than going against decades of bullshit piled upon bullshit.<BR/><BR/>It gets tiring. I can understand the appeal of studying something straightforward like economics or mathematics.Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089498195545182330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-63560058553597353802008-02-16T02:49:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:49:00.000-05:00What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.I wish yo...<I>What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.</I><BR/><BR/>I wish you'd tell that to my back, which aches all the time from when I popped it in my last years farming. It feels like it's killing me sometimes:(<BR/><BR/>grrniteBobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-78693648526584089932008-02-16T02:34:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:34:00.000-05:00(makes you stronger)(makes you stronger)trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139410627244875589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-19203027562574978942008-02-16T02:33:00.001-05:002008-02-16T02:33:00.001-05:00Karl Marx was a political scientist, to put the te...Karl Marx was a political scientist, to put the term in perspective.<BR/><BR/>Those that benefited from kingship had 'political scientists' in their day that came up with the theory of the 'divine right of kings'. Well worked out too, given one or two presumptions.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-41259858624714317232008-02-16T02:33:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:33:00.000-05:00We joke about it. But it's true.We joke about it. But it's true.trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139410627244875589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-39345137342041096542008-02-16T02:29:00.001-05:002008-02-16T02:29:00.001-05:00What doesn't kill you, cutler...What doesn't kill you, cutler...trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139410627244875589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-52554454501140044092008-02-16T02:29:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:29:00.000-05:00My other classes are a freaking breeze...i.e., arm...My other classes are a freaking breeze...i.e., armor and AT doctrine...psst, easy.Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089498195545182330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-79207826388964687712008-02-16T02:28:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:28:00.000-05:00I often post stuff I don't personally fully believ...I often post stuff I don't personally fully believe. My ol' unca jerry was a liberal, and he wasn't nuts. He could tell a good story, and liked a martini, too.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-2443287102261698192008-02-16T02:27:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:27:00.000-05:00So-so. I'm cobbling together a Research Design now...So-so. I'm cobbling together a Research Design now. It's the equivalent of a small completing thesis, 40-60 pages or so, so it'll be going for a while.<BR/><BR/>I just want to graduate (and hold onto my honors), but the professor's speaking as if she expects a magnum opus. She's also a hardcore 'political scientist,' something I really don't even believe in. She's also a heavy leftist, so I basically have to watch myself in class more than I've had to do in a long time, since college.<BR/><BR/>Altogether a miserable experience.Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089498195545182330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-41408581685358567432008-02-16T02:25:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:25:00.000-05:00As long as they're conservatives.As long as they're conservatives.trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139410627244875589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-63284821724449912342008-02-16T02:22:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:22:00.000-05:00The thing is, bob, that conservatives have a love-...The thing is, bob, that conservatives have a love-hate relationship with individual sovereignty. And there's really not much to be done about that.trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139410627244875589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-63082014924690870142008-02-16T02:07:00.001-05:002008-02-16T02:07:00.001-05:00Hillary and Obama are both nuts---WASHINGTON – Jus...Hillary and Obama are both nuts---<BR/><BR/>WASHINGTON – Just when liberals thought it was safe to start identifying themselves as such, an acclaimed, veteran psychiatrist is making the case that the ideology motivating them is actually a mental disorder.<BR/><BR/>"Based on strikingly irrational beliefs and emotions, modern liberals relentlessly undermine the most important principles on which our freedoms were founded," says Dr. Lyle Rossiter, author of the new book, "The Liberal Mind: The Psychological Causes of Political Madness." "Like spoiled, angry children, they rebel against the normal responsibilities of adulthood and demand that a parental government meet their needs from cradle to grave."<BR/><BR/>While political activists on the other side of the spectrum have made similar observations, Rossiter boasts professional credentials and a life virtually free of activism and links to "the vast right-wing conspiracy."<BR/><BR/>For more than 35 years he has diagnosed and treated more than 1,500 patients as a board-certified clinical psychiatrist and examined more than 2,700 civil and criminal cases as a board-certified forensic psychiatrist. He received his medical and psychiatric training at the University of Chicago.<BR/><BR/>Rossiter says the kind of liberalism being displayed by the two major candidates for the Democratic Party presidential nomination can only be understood as a psychological disorder.<BR/><BR/>"A social scientist who understands human nature will not dismiss the vital roles of free choice, voluntary cooperation and moral integrity – as liberals do," he says. "A political leader who understands human nature will not ignore individual differences in talent, drive, personal appeal and work ethic, and then try to impose economic and social equality on the population – as liberals do. And a legislator who understands human nature will not create an environment of rules which over-regulates and over-taxes the nation's citizens, corrupts their character and reduces them to wards of the state – as liberals do."<BR/><BR/>Dr. Rossiter says the liberal agenda preys on weakness and feelings of inferiority in the population by:<BR/><BR/>creating and reinforcing perceptions of victimization; <BR/>satisfying infantile claims to entitlement, indulgence and compensation;<BR/><BR/>augmenting primitive feelings of envy;<BR/><BR/>rejecting the sovereignty of the individual, subordinating him to the will of the government.<BR/>"The roots of liberalism – and its associated madness – can be clearly identified by understanding how children develop from infancy to adulthood and how distorted development produces the irrational beliefs of the liberal mind," he says. "When the modern liberal mind whines about imaginary victims, rages against imaginary villains and seeks above all else to run the lives of persons competent to run their own lives, the neurosis of the liberal mind becomes painfully obvious."Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-12354032714489010222008-02-16T02:07:00.000-05:002008-02-16T02:07:00.000-05:00How'd the paper come out, cutler?How'd the paper come out, cutler?trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139410627244875589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-48496561026701953682008-02-16T01:44:00.000-05:002008-02-16T01:44:00.000-05:00Off-topic, but fitting:"In April 2006, then Britis...Off-topic, but fitting:<BR/><BR/>"In April 2006, then British Defense Secretary said that he hoped that his country’s forces could deploy [to Southern Afghanistan] 'without firing a shot.'”Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089498195545182330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-67915150450349026922008-02-16T00:18:00.000-05:002008-02-16T00:18:00.000-05:00And how much of a responsibility is it for the cur...And how much of a responsibility is it for the current President to maintain continuity of governence?<BR/><BR/>In Colombia, Pakistan, Israel or the United States.<BR/><BR/>In the US the President has abdicated on that responsibility, as in Colombia.<BR/><BR/>If the succession fails, if the continuity of Policy fails, then so does the currently serving President.<BR/><BR/>If Bush or Uribe, Putin or Blair do not influence their successsion and the policies going forward, they failed their primary mission.<BR/><BR/>Putin has been successful, as was Mr Blair. If Uribe leaves a vacume, the legacy of his tenure will suffer. Same for Mr Bush if Obama were to be elected and he reverses current policies. Tax, fiscal or foreign.<BR/><BR/>Pakistan a continually failed State. The succession of leadership never being successful.desert rathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369546288659566961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-31037592115916463392008-02-16T00:02:00.000-05:002008-02-16T00:02:00.000-05:00Take Colombia, whit.There is no political successo...Take Colombia, whit.<BR/><BR/>There is no political successor to Uribe. He will soon reach the end of his second term. According to the constitution there can be no third. A movement may be afoot to amend the constitution. Admittedly, this is something of a sticky issue among Colombians themselves. But even if, at a current approval rating of 80 percent, Colombians overwhelmingly demonstrated in favor it, our ambassador will take him aside. <BR/><BR/>Now the next most popular guy is Chavez-lite.<BR/><BR/>Damned if they do, damned if they don't.<BR/><BR/>In Pakistan, the army and the government badly need a reprieve from the whole high profile US puppet gig. They are not likely to get it, and it may be disastrous.<BR/><BR/>The same could be said for Israel, which like any country has interests intimately of its own that we cannot pretend to have utmost in mind at any time.trishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14139410627244875589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-16975128154430853842008-02-15T23:07:00.000-05:002008-02-15T23:07:00.000-05:00Hard to call them elections when the acceptable li...Hard to call them elections when the acceptable list is made up by the mullahs.<BR/><BR/>Elections and islam don't mix, anyway. Benevolent monarch is the best they can hope for, IMHO.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-47854245579204704692008-02-15T23:04:00.000-05:002008-02-15T23:04:00.000-05:00There Will Be BloodWent to see this movie. The cur...<A HREF="http://www.google.com/movies/reviews?cid=bbe18e4b95fe99ae&fq=there+will+be+blood&sa=X&oi=showtimes&ct=reviews&cd=1" REL="nofollow">There Will Be Blood</A><BR/><BR/>Went to see this movie. The curse of oil wealth. Protagonist is a driven, humanity hating, manipulative, and towards the end, a double killer. One of the rare movies totally without any love interest. Good scenery, good acting, takes you right back to the early oil days. Guy that plays the protagonist is related somehow to C.S.Lewis, my wife says. Based on the book "Oil" by Upton Sinclair.<BR/>Gets bob's worth seeing rating.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04145155737835511824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-63541166733485556522008-02-15T23:00:00.000-05:002008-02-15T23:00:00.000-05:00One estimate is that in Iran only about 400,000 pe...One estimate is that in Iran only about 400,000 people out of 75 million are financially "making it" while the others have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. <BR/><BR/>There are shortages of gasoline and natural gas even though the government's oil revenue is $300 million per day. Inflation is a rampant 20%.<BR/><BR/>Elections are coming up soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-57372599137552467842008-02-15T22:48:00.000-05:002008-02-15T22:48:00.000-05:00No question that Syria fostered the growth and dev...No question that Syria fostered the growth and development of Hesbollah. Iran with its $300 million per day oil money funds them.<BR/><BR/>Who are they more beholden to?<BR/><BR/>"Me against my brother. Me and my brother against our cousin."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-41871285619413164672008-02-15T22:34:00.000-05:002008-02-15T22:34:00.000-05:00Whit, who do you think Hezbollah is more beholden ...Whit, who do you think Hezbollah is more beholden to, Syria and Iran, or Lebanese?Jackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10089498195545182330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-64133370573679221802008-02-15T22:18:00.000-05:002008-02-15T22:18:00.000-05:00Speaking of Pakistan, I heard something interestin...Speaking of Pakistan, I heard something interesting: An Indian General speaking about the turmoil in Pakistan said that until Pakistan gets rid of Musharraf and democratic elections occur there will be no real action against the extremists.<BR/><BR/>Also, Karachi is a city of 15 million people, 75% of which earn less than $150 per month. There is essentially no middle class there.<BR/><BR/>Food inflation is at 18.5% per month. Wheat and edible oils are in extremely short supply but this is blamed on Pakistani export policy rather than the worldwide situation. <BR/><BR/>Now the Pakistan Peoples Party says that they will work to remove Musharraf from office.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21297199.post-45622877880551701442008-02-15T22:09:00.000-05:002008-02-15T22:09:00.000-05:00Trish said:"...ostensible conservatives do not und...Trish said:<BR/>"...ostensible conservatives do not understand or take cognizance of local matters and local politics abroad."<BR/><BR/>Yes, continue, I'm listening...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com