tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post5473244470133133933..comments2024-03-28T11:17:35.760-05:00Comments on Althouse: Biden's "I think I probably have a much higher IQ than you do" rant ends with by a plea for a Democratic leader with oratorical powers.Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-48497391592106991912008-08-26T00:45:00.000-05:002008-08-26T00:45:00.000-05:00I am shocked that nobody who has commented has not...I am shocked that nobody who has commented has noted that this particular "brilliant" moment by Biden was actually what caused him to drop out of the race early.<BR/><BR/>He told 4 lies in about as many seconds about his academic record. Top half of his class? He finished 76 of 85.Demidoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15788176923089765710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-60841964137450234062008-08-25T09:12:00.000-05:002008-08-25T09:12:00.000-05:00Marxism is only truly dangerous in repressive soci...<I>Marxism is only truly dangerous in repressive societies.</I> <BR/><BR/>You are correct in that wouldn't easily be accepted by America. We have a two party system - blessed be divided government. <BR/><BR/>Pre Sacco and Vanzetti, Chicago was a hotbed of anarchism with its <A HREF="http://www.publichistory.org/reviews/View_Review.asp?DBID=63" REL="nofollow">Haymarket riots of 1886-87</A> resulting in 4 hanged anarchists. <BR/><BR/>As you point out <I>creeping Marxism</I> is a constant concern. In his quest for power we have seen Obama consistently modify his position on taxes, the war, foreign affairs, energy.<BR/><BR/>But who knows what events will drive people to accept the 'wisdom' of Washington and its never ending desire to central plan. <BR/><BR/>During the depression of the '30's the FDR administration had many enamored of the Soviet model. One has to wonder if WW2 had not occur what would have been the full direction of economic policy.bearbeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04770545814913465196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-2775896071214071802008-08-25T03:37:00.000-05:002008-08-25T03:37:00.000-05:00Liberals believe in individual freedom; most of th...<I>Liberals believe in individual freedom; most of the people calling themselves "liberals" do not.</I><BR/><BR/>Echo. I've been lurking on TalkLeft last week. Even known loyalists are "reminded" by admins to avoid certain criticisms of Dem candidates, to use Obama instead of BHO, to retract an unguarded statement or be banned from posting. <BR/><BR/>Of all the blogs in all the world, you'd think the one where you could freely express your thoughts would be a liberal one. But that word doesn't mean what it used to.Fenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16734571593963330215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-50034316557959447652008-08-25T03:31:00.000-05:002008-08-25T03:31:00.000-05:00Which Chavez? Hugo Chavez.Certainly Ayers' politic...Which Chavez? <BR/><BR/>Hugo Chavez.<BR/><BR/><I>Certainly Ayers' politics remain unapologetically authoritarian. He recently traveled to Venezuela - only the most recent of several such trips - and delivered a speech in front of Hugo Chavez in which he spoke of education as the "motor force of revolution" and his interest in "overcom[ing] the failings of capitalist education" and said he thought Chavez was creating "something truly new and deeply humane." He closed his speech by mouthing typical slogans of the authoritarian left: "Viva Mission Sucre! Viva Presidente Chavez! Viva La Revolucion Bolivariana! Hasta La Victoria Siempre!"</I><BR/><BR/>http://globallabor.blogspot.com/2008/04/who-sent-obama.html<BR/><BR/>The Che posters make sense now.Fenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16734571593963330215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67554153064775660642008-08-25T03:09:00.000-05:002008-08-25T03:09:00.000-05:00I think that still remains as a useful dividing li...<I>I think that still remains as a useful dividing line between liberals and leftists.</I><BR/><BR/>Personally I use the term "left-wing" (or "leftist") because the word "liberal" is so inappropriate. Liberals believe in individual freedom; most of the people calling themselves "liberals" do not.Revenanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11374515200055384226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-59049074120618664902008-08-25T03:07:00.000-05:002008-08-25T03:07:00.000-05:00Do you think Dan Quayle was an up and comer when G...<I>Do you think Dan Quayle was an up and comer when GHW picked him?</I><BR/><BR/>Yes, he was. According to Wikipedia, he:<BR/><BR/>- In 1976, beat the 8-term Democratic incumbent in to win election to the House of Representatives<BR/><BR/>- In 1978, was relected in a record-setting landslide<BR/><BR/>- In 1980, beat the three-term Democratic incumbent to win his Senate seat<BR/><BR/>- In 1986, was re-elected in another record-setting landslide, even as the rest of the Republican Party lost Senate seats.<BR/><BR/>Prior to the media deciding he was an idiot, Quayle was considered an extremely promising Republican politician. That's one reason Bush picked him for VP.Revenanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11374515200055384226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-77400460132673120462008-08-25T02:56:00.000-05:002008-08-25T02:56:00.000-05:00"All Leftist ideologues around the world share ant..."All Leftist ideologues around the world share anti-Americanism in common"<BR/><BR/>Now we are getting somewhere, as our definitions are starting to converge.<BR/><BR/>I agree that leftism embodies anti-Americanism. Why? Because America most successfully embodies capitalism. <BR/><BR/>I think that still remains as a useful dividing line between liberals and leftists. The former is not necessarily Marxist and is not necessarily anti-American. The latter will be both, because America is the driving force of capitalism in the world.EnigmatiCorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00596092527748619763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-19534701011398040522008-08-25T00:19:00.000-05:002008-08-25T00:19:00.000-05:00Well, I've tried to read the rest of the thread, b...Well, I've tried to read the rest of the thread, but forgive me if I don't reply tonight guys. <BR/><BR/>Just came back from watching "Death Race", which apart from the usual anti-corporate, anti-police themes (see "Wanted") was as good an action film as a stupid car race film can be. <BR/><BR/>Night!<BR/>Victoriavbspurshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992013640447117624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-49654697163506392842008-08-25T00:11:00.000-05:002008-08-25T00:11:00.000-05:00Ask Ayers. Why did the Weather Underground feel th...<I>Ask Ayers. Why did the Weather Underground feel they needed to exist? What separated them from the liberal left-of-center Democrats?</I><BR/><BR/>The separation came via the counter-culture. One important component missing from American leftism (liberalism, using your exact wording) was anti-Americanism.<BR/><BR/>All Leftist ideologues around the world share anti-Americanism in common.<BR/><BR/>Until the 1960s, it was possible for a liberal to love his country, and predominate in his/her Party.<BR/><BR/>Three things changed that: the McCarthy hearings. The Civil Rights movement. And Vietnam.<BR/><BR/>The fissures of a society turned a generation from minority expression into, well, if not the majority, at least one which more readily accepted that the US was deeply flawed (in their view).<BR/><BR/>People forget that the 1880s-1900s brought extreme Leftists as immigrants to the US. Emma Goldman, Alexander Berkman, Leon Czolgosz (McKinley's assassin). Trotsky emigrated for a while to NYC.<BR/><BR/>Italian anarchists, Spanish anti-monarchists, Russian Bolsheviks, every stripe of violent Leftist came to America. <BR/><BR/>But their children were the Greatest Generation.<BR/><BR/>That's why I don't fear Marxism and "Marxists" in America.<BR/><BR/>The foundation of this country is too strong, and there are too many of us who would happily give our lives to assure its continuance.<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>Victoriavbspurshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992013640447117624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-66443409587191689542008-08-24T23:18:00.000-05:002008-08-24T23:18:00.000-05:00FLS asked:"How is wealth allocated now? "...FLS asked:<BR/>"How is wealth allocated now? "<BR/><BR/>I'd say the most predictive factors are planning & preparation (make good decisions), individual effort, brains, some luck and good fortune, innate abilities, personal hustle and positive outlook.<BR/><BR/>Then the guvmint takes a big chunk out of the wealthiest among us and redistributes to others.<BR/><BR/>FYI - I suspect you really did not want anyone to answer you.I'm Full of Souphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241724007440718575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-89460387840074941852008-08-24T21:00:00.000-05:002008-08-24T21:00:00.000-05:00Now, let's focus on McCain.If he chooses Jindal, t...<I>Now, let's focus on McCain.<BR/><BR/>If he chooses Jindal, the analogy will be Bush 41 selecting Dan Quayle.</I><BR/><BR/>Do you think Dan Quayle was an up and comer when GHW picked him? I think Jindal is very much on the fast track. The closest analog to a VP Jindal I can think of would be Theodore Roosevelt.<BR/><BR/><I>Ayers's remarks to Chavez that the US public education system is the best tool to bring Change![tm] called Marxism.</I><BR/><BR/>Which Chavez? <BR/><BR/>But if public education succeeds at teaching Marxism the same way it's succeeded at teaching reading and math, Capitalism is safe.<BR/><BR/><I> [Obama] wants to redistribute wealth.</I><BR/><BR/>How is wealth allocated now?former law studenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15196697206046544350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-24185371067508680602008-08-24T19:29:00.000-05:002008-08-24T19:29:00.000-05:00"What is the point of Sacco and Vanzetti, if you h..."What is the point of Sacco and Vanzetti, if you have FDR and John Lewis as examples of successful, non-anarchic native leftism?"<BR/><BR/>Ask Ayers. Why did the Weather Underground feel they needed to exist? What separated them from the liberal left-of-center Democrats?<BR/><BR/>More importantly, why are they in Obama's orbit?<BR/><BR/>"Tell me if I lost you with my rhetoric. :)"<BR/><BR/>Not at all. I find the turn of the century politics to be fascinating, from McKinley and Bryan through Roosevelt and Taft, and the battles on the far left between the communists and the anarchists.EnigmatiCorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00596092527748619763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-64120174860350788702008-08-24T19:25:00.000-05:002008-08-24T19:25:00.000-05:00Reader Iam, too bad that the Du Ponts won't be sec...Reader Iam, too bad that the Du Ponts won't be secretly pulling the strings on Biden. I'd rather hoped that the Marxist of sorts would be running with a corporate stooge.<BR/><BR/>That would be fun, the wry looks we could have seen!<BR/><BR/>Now we're into Althusser (who claimed he had never actually read Marx but was just faking it), and we're into neck-wringing sociopaths, etc.<BR/><BR/>Oh, my heavens. My heavens.Kirby Olsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05952289700191142943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-11763169256633584342008-08-24T19:23:00.000-05:002008-08-24T19:23:00.000-05:00Victoria,"Let me say that I was using "Leftist" as...Victoria,<BR/><BR/>"Let me say that I was using "Leftist" as a general rubric for all those left of centre, as we know that to mean in the post-modern age. This includes liberals, although not classic liberals, obviously.<BR/><BR/>Now, as to your question."<BR/><BR/>No need to go further than that (although I'll consider what you wrote after it) because the part I quoted answered everything-- you were using 'leftist' the way I use liberal.<BR/><BR/>To me, leftist has a much more severe and negative connotation than left-of-center. A leftist, in my vernacular, is more akin to a radical of the left. <BR/><BR/>American Democrats are left of center, but not leftist (IMO). Ayers is leftist. Where Obama fits, I am not sure (and my lack of certainty is a big reason, along with my sense of his absolute phoniness, why I will not vote his way).EnigmatiCorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00596092527748619763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-73814367469258722532008-08-24T18:10:00.000-05:002008-08-24T18:10:00.000-05:00Victoria, I'll have to actually think on that for ...Victoria, I'll have to actually think on that for a bit. <BR/><BR/>My suspicion comes from Obama's political alliance with Ayers re public education, and Ayers's remarks to Chavez that the US public education system is the best tool to bring Change![tm] called Marxism.Fenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16734571593963330215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-27489744618488972162008-08-24T17:36:00.000-05:002008-08-24T17:36:00.000-05:00He is Marxist in philosophy and he is an emotional...He is Marxist in philosophy and he is an emotional authoritarian. He wants to redistribute wealth. He wants a global tax on US taxpayers. He wants mandatory public service. He wants us to speak Spanish. He thinks that we are ignorant and not good enough.<BR/><BR/>He surrogate has said:<BR/><BR/><I>"He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism ... that you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones. That you push yourselves to be better. And that you engage. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual, uninvolved, uninformed."</I><BR/><BR/>I can hardly wait for the re-education centers to be set up.bearbeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04770545814913465196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-75785455478194720722008-08-24T17:24:00.000-05:002008-08-24T17:24:00.000-05:00Chaîne JacquesGâteau au fromage marxiste de chocol...Chaîne Jacques<BR/><BR/>Gâteau au fromage marxiste de chocolat.<BR/><BR/>Marxist chocolate cheesecake. I just sent <A HREF="http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff231/bour3/chocolate_cheescake.jpg" REL="nofollow">these photo instructions</A> out on my Marxist mailing list to my Party's operatives. Such obedient little onions. I mean, minions.<BR/><BR/>Veuillez me pardonner.Chip Ahoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12597726289890879627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-58773847147775209692008-08-24T17:21:00.000-05:002008-08-24T17:21:00.000-05:00A liberal doesn't a leftist make and a liberal doe...<I>A liberal doesn't a leftist make and a liberal doesn't a Marxist make are two comments I would agree with right away. But can you give me an example of a leftist that isn't a Marxist, or tell me what a leftist that isn't a Marxist would believe?</I><BR/><BR/>I know where you are getting at, but first, let me say that I was using "Leftist" as a general rubric for all those left of centre, as we know that to mean in the post-modern age. This includes liberals, although not classic liberals, obviously.<BR/><BR/>Now, as to your question.<BR/><BR/>I just mentioned Louis Althusser in another thread. We can still use him in this thread, to highlight what I mean.<BR/><BR/>An excerpt from his Wiki entry about this:<BR/><BR/><I>Althusser conceives of society as an interconnected collection of these wholes – economic practice, ideological practice and politico-legal practice – which together make up one complex whole (social formation). In his view all levels and practices are dependent on each other. <BR/><BR/>For example, amongst the relations of production of capitalist societies are the buying and selling of labour power by capitalists and workers. These relations are part of economic practice, but can only exist within the context of a legal system which establishes individual agents as buyers and sellers; furthermore, the arrangement must be maintained by political and ideological means. <BR/><BR/>From this it can be seen that aspects of economic practice depend on the superstructure and vice versa. For him this was the moment of reproduction and constituted the important role of the superstructure.</I><BR/><BR/>Marxists concentrate on the superstructures, rather than individuality of people and nations.<BR/><BR/>That's why post-feudal societies are much more likely to be left of centre, because they understand their history through the superstructure, through narrow governance, through divisive social classes, rather than the USA has been, because this is not a post-feudal society.<BR/><BR/>Or foundations are populist, and therefore Leftist in expression.<BR/><BR/>Americans speak the language of the common man.<BR/><BR/>What is the point of Sacco and Vanzetti, if you have FDR and John Lewis as examples of successful, non-anarchic native leftism?<BR/><BR/>Tell me if I lost you with my rhetoric. :)<BR/><BR/>I can talk about this all day, but I'm off to the gym. Yes, even on Sunday!<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>Victoriavbspurshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992013640447117624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-63108486305052447392008-08-24T17:03:00.000-05:002008-08-24T17:03:00.000-05:00"But a Leftist doesn't a Marxist make."Interesting..."But a Leftist doesn't a Marxist make."<BR/><BR/>Interesting comment, with which I think I disagree. But I'd like to hear more before I say that I do.<BR/><BR/><I>A liberal doesn't a leftist make</I> and <I>a liberal doesn't a Marxist make</I> are two comments I would agree with right away. But can you give me an example of a leftist that isn't a Marxist, or tell me what a leftist that isn't a Marxist would believe?EnigmatiCorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00596092527748619763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-29058409504523366252008-08-24T16:39:00.000-05:002008-08-24T16:39:00.000-05:00Careful. Obama is a Marxist, not just an empty sui...<I>Careful. Obama is a Marxist, not just an empty suit. As such, he should be opposed by every method available in a lawful society.</I><BR/><BR/>Fen, you know I often agree with you, but not this time, my friend.<BR/><BR/>Marxism is only truly dangerous in repressive societies. <BR/><BR/>In a free society, like we have in the West, from France to Italy to the US, Marxism doesn't make a dent. You know why? Because the implementation of its precepts are EVIL, and the results are DUMB. People see that. <BR/><BR/>Marxists tear out their hair trying to find ways to figure out why they can't make poor people see "the light". They use their flawlessly argued logic, which they are carefully taught, and still nothing.<BR/><BR/>Now, it doesn't mean we can't be on guard for Marxist creep, including creeps who are Marxists (heh).<BR/><BR/>But that's not Obama. He's not even close to being a real Marxist, though like every academic, he hasn't escaped the tentacles of political indoctrination at University.<BR/><BR/>You can say he just hides it better, than, say, Ward Churchill -- and that could be true.<BR/><BR/>But a Leftist doesn't a Marxist make.<BR/><BR/>No. Obama just has emotional issues, unresolved as they are because both parents died before making peace with them in his later adulthood. Bush had many of these issues, but he's been blessed with two parents still living in their 80s, who loved him unconditionally.<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>Victoriavbspurshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992013640447117624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-26688637599131601632008-08-24T16:37:00.000-05:002008-08-24T16:37:00.000-05:00"Hard to claim that as "post-racial", unless you a..."Hard to claim that as "post-racial", unless you are saying that it is blacks voting almost exclusively by race and skin color means they have gone "post-racial" by only voting for blacks claiming to be post-racial."<BR/><BR/>I didn't claim that would be post-racial.<BR/><BR/>I said that, if we are lucky, in such a case the ones nominated would be more authentically post-racial in their aspirations than Obama.<BR/><BR/>Do you feel lucky, punk?EnigmatiCorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00596092527748619763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-31636513476322353492008-08-24T16:28:00.001-05:002008-08-24T16:28:00.001-05:00reader-I went to your blog-it looks good. Yet anot...reader-<BR/><BR/>I went to your blog-it looks good. Yet another addiction.<BR/><BR/>I smoke a lotta blog.<BR/><BR/>I need to find a twelve step program...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-4894138931115261322008-08-24T16:28:00.000-05:002008-08-24T16:28:00.000-05:00Is Martha Stewart, a convicted felon, even eligibl...<I>Is Martha Stewart, a convicted felon, even eligible to vote? </I><BR/><BR/>As an ex-Clerk of a polling station, I can tell you they are -- if they apply for voting rights re-instatement.<BR/><BR/>Tangential anecdote:<BR/><BR/>Every election day, this same black chap (a very polite guy, wearing a mechanic's uni) came to vote, and every time I had to tell him, "you're not on the register. Did you apply for re-instatement?" "Ma'am, that happened years ago. I was a kid. I'm a changed man now. Why aren't you letting me vote?". He looked genuinely aggrieved, and I couldn't make him understand it wasn't my doing.<BR/><BR/>But I had this conversation 5 times with the guy.<BR/><BR/>The 2004 Presidential Election was absolute murder for convicted felons wanting to vote (no pun intended). I was accused of every form of racism you can imagine, because <I>I</I> wasn't letting them vote.<BR/><BR/>So, it all depends if Stewart's voting rights have been re-instated.<BR/><BR/>What gets me is that famous people, of any political party feel they have to go on record, and tell the rest of the world how to vote.<BR/><BR/>Who the hell do they think they are?<BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>Victoriavbspurshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00992013640447117624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-85327633466853669712008-08-24T15:33:00.000-05:002008-08-24T15:33:00.000-05:00Reader:That was a funny contrast "I should have ca...Reader:<BR/><BR/>That was a funny contrast "I should have called on your wife". Thanks for the tip to the blog post. <BR/><BR/>And thanks also for clarifying Frank's role. I first thought he was a reporter when I saw Biden's response yesterday.I'm Full of Souphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00241724007440718575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-30348097420539084842008-08-24T14:59:00.000-05:002008-08-24T14:59:00.000-05:00Thanks, Madawaskan; I updated with thanks.Thanks, Madawaskan; I updated with thanks.reader_iamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17352836883752091339noreply@blogger.com