Althouse: In the Gray Morning Café...

September 22, 2009

In the Gray Morning Café...

... I haven't got too much to say. You?

123 comments:

Henry said...: Not much. I haven't even figured out what to post on Facebook yet.; 9/22/09, 9:21 AM
AllenS said...: We finally got some rain last night and this morning. It is very light, in fact it's not really rain, but drizzle. We need more, a lot more.; 9/22/09, 9:24 AM
MadisonMan said...: Happy Autumnal Equinox!; 9/22/09, 9:25 AM
Kyle said...: I think the best part of Fall is Pumpkin flavored coffee.; 9/22/09, 9:25 AM
bagoh20 said...: Nope, nothing here. It's my birthday and I'm overwhelmed to be alive and healthy. It a beautiful world.; 9/22/09, 9:30 AM
Jason (the commenter) said...: Ron is home from the hospital! Yay!; 9/22/09, 9:38 AM
Bissage said...: I’ve been trying to figure out if some benevolent cosmic force (God?) is trying to communicate with us through patterns of coincidence.

Case in point: Althouse posts “I haven't got too much to say. You?” This reminds me, instantly, of Michael Feldman. And it turns out he’s coming to Madison to do his show.

What does it all mean?

I haven’t a clue.; 9/22/09, 9:38 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Fall is in the air here. My favorite time of year!!!

Crisp cool mornings (45) and warm afternoons.(93) My tomato plants are really producing now and we have tons of Roma, Yellow and Beefsteaks. Hope we don't get a sudden cold snap. If we do I guess I'll make and can green salsa. My wild plum jam turned out fabulous, if I do say so myself /pats on back

The cat feels winter coming and is now, after a summer of totally ignoring us, decided to become affectionate. I know it is just a self serving trick so we will let sleep at the foot of the bed.

VW cabela. ...Wow.. guess it's time to buy some hunting gear.

Happy birthday bagoh20!!; 9/22/09, 9:38 AM
Bissage said...: Congratulations to bagoh20 and to Ron, as well.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!; 9/22/09, 9:39 AM
SteveR said...: "... I haven't got too much to say. You?"

Don't ask the President.; 9/22/09, 9:40 AM
Chennaul said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/22/09, 9:42 AM
Henry said...: Happy Birthday b20.

As the President continues to pretend that health care reform is free, I've been thinking about Shakespeare's take on equivocation:

Porter:
Here's a knocking indeed! If a man were porter of Hell Gate, he should have old turning the key. (Knock.) Knock, knock, knock! Who's there, i' the name of Beelzebub? Here's a farmer, that hang'd himself on th' expectation of plenty. Come in time! Have napkins enow about you; here you'll sweat for't. (Knock.) Knock, knock! Who's there, in the other devil's name? Faith, here's an equivocator, that could swear in both the scales against either scale, who committed treason enough for God's sake, yet could not equivocate to heaven. O, come in, equivocator...

http://www.clicknotes.com/macbeth/T23.html#1; 9/22/09, 9:42 AM
Chennaul said...: McChrystal is prepared to resign if Obma drags his feet-something like that haven't read it all yet.

Speaking of which I am trying to slog through the COMISAF assessment that was leaked to Woodward-it's linked -hell here is the link-

COMISAF Assessment

what is really maddening is that now that I have read some of that at the link, it is readily apparent that Obama has not read it much less prioritized it.

I wish I could tell someone at the JCS to title it-ObamaCare for the Stan or something-put his name on it, make them own it-so that they read it -or give a damn.

At NRO the rumbling from the military is that they want Obama to decide so that they can either make their arguments or adapt to the sudden change in demands.

Now-it's bad-

from the report I'm gathering that McChrystal is saying that the window of oppurtunity to win is rapidly closing and there are three or four things gravely affecting that-

#1) Which is really aggravating-

McChrystal is reporting that resources promised to the previous Commander-McKiernan-that has had the proper check offs from this Congress has not arrived on scene.

#2)McChrystal wants to beef up so that the transition to Afghanistan forces which is precarious yet of paramount importance to the whole area Pakistan, etc-will be more efficient and go more smoothly.

#3) The age old fear of a lack of commitment on our part is getting us a reserved response from the Afghanis but perhaps more importantly-and this is only alluded to-I'm the one making the linkage-it looks like we are getting a lot of co-operation from India lately-but if they see us willing out-their interest in the area could change to a less benign sort -right now they are providing funding.

#4)One of the terrorist groups in the region that might be one of the most sophisticated-because of the way they do their "annual review" McChrystal wants to be prepared for that and getting ready for that and set up before winter is of primary importance.; 9/22/09, 9:46 AM
Chennaul said...: Feel the grayness and graveness of winter coming on....; 9/22/09, 9:48 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Boola boola

Why don't you post the Beatles birthday song for Bago!

wv = torrid= what this blog is not so far today :); 9/22/09, 9:55 AM
Chennaul said...: bagoh20-

Happy Birthday-

gheez I do need to pull up and outta my funk...; 9/22/09, 9:57 AM
Chennaul said...: AJ-
torrid was yesterday.; 9/22/09, 9:58 AM
Anonymous said...: The untold story of the 2008 election was how the Democrats raised enough money to be competitive.

There was an extensive amount of financial fraud involved and both the Clinton and Obama campaigns were committing election law crimes - with the active assistance of foreign governments and individuals.

But they're smart, and Obama is from Chicago. And every mafia Don knows that the first thing you do after you order someone whacked is to murder the assassin you hired as the hit man. This insulates you from him. He can't ever testify against you if he's dead.

That's exactly what's going on with the Democrats' Iran money man today.

If you want to know why the United States is not moving against Iran's nuclear installations, and why the United States is not allowing Israel to move against Iran, then you'd probably wonder why someone from Iran was so interested in funding the election campaigns of two Democrat presidential candidates.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32964617/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Tehran's man in Washington is icing the hit man.; 9/22/09, 9:59 AM
ricpic said...: Mauve morning that will not lift,
Resisting bright sunlight as if to say --
Allowance given to dream and sift
On this the Scots call a sof' sof' day.; 9/22/09, 9:59 AM
Anonymous said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/22/09, 10:00 AM
Anonymous said...: Good to hear about Ron.

It's on the edge of Autumn here in New England, the best place for the best season on the planet.

Unfortunately, it lasts about 2 weeks. Then it's time for Winter, which seems to go on here for about 7 months. Speaking of which, here are the well-known Medieval sentiments on the subject by Ezra Pound:

Winter is icumen in,
Lhude sing Goddamm,
Raineth drop and staineth slop,
And how the wind doth ramm!
Sing: Goddamm.
Skiddeth bus and sloppeth us,
An ague hath my ham.
Freezeth river, turneth liver,
Damm you; Sing: Goddamm.
Goddamm, Goddamm, 'tis why I am, Goddamm,
So 'gainst the winter's balm.
Sing goddamm, damm, sing goddamm,
Sing goddamm, sing goddamm, DAMM; 9/22/09, 10:03 AM
Chennaul said...: Oh Gawd d%#$&^@

Here is Hillary-

Clinton's comments in an interview with PBS television late Monday came amid reports that the Pentagon has asked General Stanley McChrystal, the top commander in Afghanistan, to delay a request for more troops.
In the interview, Clinton expressed "respect" for McChrystal's assessment that the United States would likely lose the war in Afghanistan within a year without more US forces.
"But I can only tell you there are other assessments from very expert military analysts who have worked in counter-insurgencies that are the exact opposite," she said.

YOU TERDS OF THE BASS!

McChrystal was YOUR pick!

Your Dem majority Congress appoved him as the COMISAF.; 9/22/09, 10:03 AM
traditionalguy said...: When the coming winter of our discontent is over we will have seen a big push by Obama to re-make our economy under a World Economic Order he plans to start. Meanwhile the Marxism spouting Tyrants for Life demanding to own everything "for the poor people" will roll over Central America starting with the placement of Zelaya back into Honduras by Comrade Obama. And the Jewish State will be told by B Hussein Obama to agree to all Arab demands, or else they can only expect the level of help that Poland now expects from us. No wonder Obama wants to see a State News monopoly so no one will find out what he is doing, and everyone will only see his smiling face 24/7. It is strange that today British news papers tell us more about what is happening to American Government policies than our own newspapers are free to tell us.; 9/22/09, 10:04 AM
Shanna said...: The cat feels winter coming and is now, after a summer of totally ignoring us, decided to become affectionate.

So mine is not the only one who does that?

Happy bday and congrats!

(can't believe you got cabela, dbq. Somebody knows it's hunting season.); 9/22/09, 10:07 AM
kristinintexas said...: I miss fall. I just moved to Texas from West Michigan, so my brain is telling me it's time to get out the sweaters, but my body points out that it still feels like the middle of summer.

I miss the chill in the air, the smell of the leaves, the rush of the wind in the trees, and of course the beautiful colors. Fall hasn't gotten quite that far yet where I'm from, but I miss the inevitability of it. As much as I hated the snow once we got to late January, February and March, I always liked the changing of seasons.

But ask me again in February. I might be singing a different tune.; 9/22/09, 10:08 AM
Chennaul said...: Get this Hillary-if the JCS sent that assessment forward to the damn President it was fully vetted and every damn general in the place with full knowledge has had a chance to sign off and has been heard out by Gates..

Hillary can try to pit them against each other-I hope she FAILS.

So I'm either a sexist, racist-or unAmerican.; 9/22/09, 10:09 AM
Anonymous said...: "what is really maddening is that now that I have read some of that at the link, it is readily apparent that Obama has not read it much less prioritized it."

You're dreaming.
How much of the 1000+ pages of the stimulus bill did BO read?
How much of the 1000+ pages of the Cap and Tax bill did BO read?
How much of any of the Healthscare
plans has he read?
Remember his beach reading list for this summer? Do you think he read any of them?
He's not going to read this report either....ever.
I don't think he reads anything except newspaper clippings.; 9/22/09, 10:12 AM
chickelit said...: I bring fresh showers for the thirsting flowers,
From the seas and the streams;
I bear light shade for the leaves when laid
In their noonday dreams.
From my wings are shaken the dews that waken
The sweet buds every one,
When rocked to rest on their mother's breast,
As she dances about the sun.
I wield the flail of the lashing hail,
And whiten the green plains under,
And then again I dissolve it in rain,
And laugh as I pass in thunder.

The Cloud-Percy Bysshe Shelley; 9/22/09, 10:12 AM
William said...: I know very little of central Asian geopolitics, However, if I were a schoolteacher in a girls' school or a police chief in a small town, I would not take heart from Obama's words. I would quit my job or try to make a seperate peace with the local Taliban.....Whatever your position on the merits of Obama's health care plan, it is fair to say that he has not done a very good job selling it. Republicans should not take heart from his clumsiness. We need a persuasive talker to make the argument for staying in A-stan. His words ripple in the draft caused by the opening of the exit door. Many people will die if we stay in A-stan but many more will die if we leave precipitously.; 9/22/09, 10:12 AM
former law student said...: By making her Secretary of State, Obama gave Hillary the chance to show that she's Presidential timber -- unfortunately she is not. No savvy leader would torpedo the man in charge, especially not offhand like that. She is a nerd approaching Asperger's in lack of self-awareness. She needs to be behind the scenes, not in a leadership role.; 9/22/09, 10:16 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: The only thing I have to say is that poison ivy sucks. I'm taking massive doses of prednisone because the right side of my face looks like Quasimodo and no that's not an improvement.; 9/22/09, 10:16 AM
Darcy said...: Happy birthday, bagoh20!

Very happy to hear that Ron is home, too.

Not such a gray day after all...; 9/22/09, 10:16 AM
former law student said...: HD -- sorry to hear that but hard to believe you rubbed your face up against poison ivy. Did someone try to burn it?; 9/22/09, 10:19 AM
Darcy said...: Oh, Hoosier Daddy! I'm sorry to hear that. My son has that kind of allergy to it, and it's just awful.

Hope it clears up soon, but I know it takes a while. :(; 9/22/09, 10:19 AM
Chennaul said...: William-

I'm losing it..

Anyways---

One of the best people I have ever known-a colonel retiring-crap anyways a lot of them headed for the exits early when Obama won.

This particular guy-he was a fast tracker , had went to all of the right military schools on pace with his year group or even ahead..sometimes...
So I asked him-are you going to do defense contracting-what?

And he said-

"I'll teach, I'll wash dishes but I'm getting as far away from it as I can. There is no way in hell I want to preside over anything or have anything to do with what they are going to ask me to do."

I thought it was a little extreme at the time-and my guys they got right back in it.; 9/22/09, 10:22 AM
bagoh20 said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/22/09, 10:24 AM
Chennaul said...: former law student-

Hey-thanks for getting it. Yep-your analysis is spot on.; 9/22/09, 10:26 AM
ricpic said...: leaves of three let it be

a rhyme to memorize; 9/22/09, 10:26 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Happy B-day Bag. Mine is Friday and I only remembered that because I get an email notice from Rock Bottom brewery reminding me to come in for my complimentary birthday pint.; 9/22/09, 10:26 AM
bagoh20 said...: Thanks all.

War is a terrible choice. America nearly always has good and valid goals in it's wars. To choose war, and then not accomplish our goal when we are able, is the ultimate failure. To go to war for good ends unachievable any other way, is in my mind, the highest calling a man can get. It requires the acceptance of total sacrifice for others often unknown, to whom they own no debt or allegiance.

When leaders, safe in their normal lives, ask men to make these sacrifices, but are unwilling to sacrifice anything of their own and then choose to let those men fail through neglect or weakness, they have lost all right to lead anyone in any endeavor.

The leaders of this country have an unalloyed obligation to respect those men and women fighting by either winning decisively or withdrawing decisively. To allow our bravest citizens to be slowly sacrificed to weakness, indecision, and the political careers of people our country could live without is devoid of reason, let alone honor.

The idea that this nation which has done many far more difficult things, cannot stabilize a country with no true military against us, is an indictment of our character and leadership not our ability or that of our military.

What is to blame if, with a complete and state-of-the-art toolbox, you cannot build a house. Your fathers build far greater things with a fraction of those tools. They simply decided it would be done.

If we are not up to it, then we should accept our failure at home and not sacrifice our nation's reserve of character and bravery over there for politics here.; 9/22/09, 10:29 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Oh, Hoosier Daddy! I'm sorry to hear that. My son has that kind of allergy to it, and it's just awful.

Well in my whole life I never got it before and I've camped and hunted and never once got poison ivy or poison oak.

FLS, well I asked the doc the same thing and he said all you have to do is scratch it and then touch another part of your body and that will probably get infected too. Hell I even have it on my ears and back of my neck.

Actually I was helping Mrs. Hoosier weed the flowers and plants we have on the side of our house. We put in some river rock as bedding last year and I suspect there must have been some ivy seeds in the rock cause this is a first for me. Mrs. Hoosier has some on her but I clearly got the brunt of it.

Lesson for me is never help her with yardwork again.; 9/22/09, 10:32 AM
ricpic said...: Obama's a demon possessed by revenge,
Determined to drag us back to Stonehenge.; 9/22/09, 10:34 AM
TosaGuy said...: Bagoh20.

That is a fantastic post and as a (part-time) soldier I could not agree with it more.

Happy birthday!; 9/22/09, 10:34 AM
rhhardin said...: Grey morning but activity outside, I guess somebody replacing a driveway.; 9/22/09, 10:38 AM
Darcy said...: That was beautiful, bagoh20. Thank you for saying all of that.; 9/22/09, 10:42 AM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Obama's a demon possessed by revenge,

Determined to drag us back to Stonehenge.

I have been thinking of starting a druid character on World of Warcraft......; 9/22/09, 10:42 AM
Scott said...: I am bored with politics, and so bored with my job that I hope they lay me off. The only thing that keeps me from throwing myself off the Brooklyn Bridge is reruns of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Tonight I will be helping my boyfriend record another rap for a demo that the prez of A Major Label requested he complete by the end of October. He has a very good mixtape on his website. Even so, I hope that either he signs a recording contract or just get a job flipping burgers someplace. I love him and he loves me but he's a lot more expensive to maintain than a dog.; 9/22/09, 10:43 AM
MadisonMan said...: Hoosier, I hope the poison ivy clears up soon. I got it a lot as a teen and I react horribly to it.

I hate poison ivy.; 9/22/09, 10:47 AM
Der Hahn said...: I have to think that most of the Democrats who accepted Cabinet positions thought that they were going to be part of The. Most. Effective. Administration. Evah.

After the election they have not just majorities in the House and Senate, but filibuster-proof ones able to crush the GOP rearguard like a bug. Likeable energetic young President with the speaking ability to sell ice cream to Eskimos.

Camelot not just reborn, but better than the dream.

It looks like their appointments were more the Chicago Way of getting rid of an potential internal opposition. Put them in a position of responsibility, cut them off at the knees with a gazillion czars, envoys, and White House special assistants, then leave'em to twist in the wind.

---

Kyle, you forgot pumpkin blizzards at DQ and shakes at McD's.

vw - shillyt. What you use to cook bacon and sheggs.; 9/22/09, 10:47 AM
Darcy said...: Pumpkin egg nog, pumpkin ice cream...

Mmm...pumpkin.; 9/22/09, 10:49 AM
Bissage said...: My condolences to Hoosier Daddy.

You don’t need my advice, especially since you’re getting medical attention, but I can say this: Based on my own personal experience, the weeping gets to be amusing, after a while. And soon -- very soon -- a hot shower will become a magical experience.

Take care.

wv = haluf. Poison ivy is a haluf a rash!; 9/22/09, 10:57 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: It's gray here too but I like it. Balcony plants are all, WTF? Poor little things are taking hardly any water at all.

Cubed chicken and mushrooms with polenta.; 9/22/09, 11:03 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Happy Birthday bagoh20. Or is it now bagoh21?; 9/22/09, 11:13 AM
Meade said...: Here's what I'd like to see happen:

For the sake of his country, Biden resigns.

Obama could then choose David Petraeus to replace Biden before Obama, himself, resigns.

As president, it would constitute Obama's best and most patriotic decision.; 9/22/09, 11:13 AM
AllenS said...: Happy birthday, bagoh20. Are you now going to have to change the 20 part of your name?

Hope everything is going good for you, Ron.; 9/22/09, 11:18 AM
jayne_cobb said...: The weather sucks here in PIttsburgh.

Nothing but a cold, cold, rain.

wv: thing; 9/22/09, 11:22 AM
Anonymous said...: So I'm either a sexist, racist-or unAmerican.

Either!? ;); 9/22/09, 11:22 AM
bagoh20 said...: Here in LA, we got a heat wave starting today, should hit 100 downtown and 90 here at the beach. Hope no new fires start. Last few weeks have destroyed half of my favorite local hiking spots in the mountains. It's natural for the forest to burn, although now days they are usually arson and too frequent. The forest always recovers with the rebirth of fresh new green. Only problem is it takes far too long for my human time line.

The forest rangers have opened up most of our hang gliding access, so we can begin flying over the mountains again. We have been instructed to avoid flying over the burned out areas. I'm not sure why - they can't burn again...yet.; 9/22/09, 11:22 AM
David said...: Energy Secretary Chu does not think much of the intelligence of the American people. Here's what he had to say:

“The American public…just like your teenage kids, aren’t acting in a way that they should act. The American public has to really understand in their core how important this issue [climate change] is.”; 9/22/09, 11:25 AM
kate said...: i like the petraeus idea with a slight twist...

biden resigns and obama chooses petraeus. obama resigns petraeus becomes president *and chooses rudy as veep*

sigh.; 9/22/09, 11:25 AM
Darcy said...: Sounds like a great plan, Meade.

This guy isn't going anywhere, though. I mean, even in any pragmatic sense as far as his policies go. His ego is too big, I'm afraid.; 9/22/09, 11:26 AM
Darcy said...: Oh, that's even better, kate!

Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!

WV: humpila (Er...); 9/22/09, 11:28 AM
lucid said...: All the talk of poison ivy and of nothing much to say somehow reminds me of my first outdoor sexual adventure as a young man with a wonderful woman on a warm summer night--turned out we were in a patch of poison ivy.

The doctor tried not to laugh. You can't buy Calamine lotion by the gallon.; 9/22/09, 11:29 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Haha, Meade is even more of a hardcore wingnut than the rest of us!

Yeah Ron welcome back!

wv = vatimunt; 9/22/09, 11:32 AM
AllenS said...: I had poison ivy once. It was evident looking at my wrists and arms. What became evident, was that I must have taken a pee.; 9/22/09, 11:32 AM
bagoh20 said...: "Or is it now bagoh21?"

Hardly,
I was lucky to get through the first time, but I would still like to give it a run again.

Actually "bagoh20" was a typo I'm now stuck with. It was supposed to be "bagoh2o", an obscure Star Trek reference. I'm not a trekie, but was a fan about 40 years ago.

jayne_cobb,
I'm originally from Butler, just north of Pittsburgh. I moved to LA at 22, specifically because of the western PA weather. That's beautiful country this time of year, rain or not, but winter is coming and you have my condolences in advance.; 9/22/09, 11:37 AM
traditionalguy said...: Meade's call for "patriotism" from Obama raises the question from whence Obama feels his Patria comes. Patria is the Fatherhood from whence one confidently expects to recieve their protection and their inheritance. He has always gotten those feelings from the Marxist Establishment in Academia and from the peaceful religion of Mohammed, and from a hybred of those two under the machinations of the Daley Machine in Chicago, and finally from George Soros. I want Obama to first convert to being a traditional American Patriot before he begins sacrificing himself and all of us for his Patria.; 9/22/09, 11:38 AM
former law student said...: Reading a book written before all this "czar" business came up, I ran across a reference to LBJ's "poverty czar." That was Sargent Shriver, whom LBJ appointed to be director of the Office for Economic Opportunity.

So Presidential czars go back some 40+ years. In compliance with the Constitution, however, Shriver was confirmed by the Senate.; 9/22/09, 11:42 AM
former law student said...: finally from George Soros

huh? Obama's primary supporters in the early days were members of traditionally philanthropic Chicago Jewish families, such as the Crowns and the Pritzkers.; 9/22/09, 11:45 AM
Beth said...: Even better idea: someone Republicans like a lot runs for office, and you guys vote him or her in.; 9/22/09, 11:47 AM
chickelit said...: and finally from George Soros.

Yes. More media attention and focus on Soros please. That man is the single biggest threat to our way of life as we know it. He's keeping a low profile these days too it seems.; 9/22/09, 11:48 AM
Darcy said...: That's too hard, Beth! ;-); 9/22/09, 11:49 AM
David said...: I like the Patraeus idea too, but unfortunately he's going to have to run for office like everyone else.; 9/22/09, 11:50 AM
Mikio said...: To: Ignorance is Bliss (from thread "Limbaugh May Be Deaf But..." which I'm curiously blocked from somehow. Sorry for the intrusion, folks.)
pt.1
Maybe what we have here, is a failure to communicate...

Okay, you might be right. I understood your point but was so busy hammering away at mine I probably failed to acknowledge yours. So yes, I understand what you’re saying about Limbaugh’s beef with Obama and affirmative action being about discrimination specifically, and I agree, it’s a valid reason to be opposed to it. On top of that, it’s indeed non-bigoted.

However, and I acknowledge that that may well be one solid reason behind Limbaugh’s ire over Obama and affirmative action, I’m arguing there’s at least one more reason behind the connection he made and it IS bigoted -- namely, the reason I’ve been hammering away at.

Now while you may not think he’s seeing this in terms of black and white (people, literally), I contend he is. I don’t mean in a sharp dividing line kind of way, but more of a fuzzy one separating lots of common preconceptions and prejudices. And this is revealed by his history, his occupation, and indeed those two shrill, angry comments about Obama.

I already laid out what I still think are logical steps connecting those two specific thoughts of his (Obama only won because he’s black; he’s an affirmative action candidate) to an attitude about blacks in general -- now let me sew it up with one final part it just occurred to me was always there in my reasoning but perhaps needs to be expressed here to fill in gaps from your perspective. And this has to do with his occupation.

As a right-wing talk show host, one might say the right-wing talk show host, Limbaugh’s entire job consists of arguing how bad the left-wing are. His livelihood, his fame, his riches, have come from bashing them day in and day out. It’s his raison d’etre. He’s been at it for so many years, I have no doubt it has physically altered the synapses in his brain to think in very black and white terms.

In Limbaugh’s head:
Left/Liberal/Democrat = wrong, bad, evil, sad, stupid, black, moocher, thief, liar, etc.
Right/Conservative/Republican = right, good, righteous, happy, smart, white, provider, upstanding citizen, truthteller, etc.; 9/22/09, 11:57 AM
Mikio said...: pt.2
See what I’m saying? So when Limbaugh krazy glues Obama to affirmative action, he’s not making a dry aside to amuse himself and his fans; no, this to him is combining one wrong, bad, evil, etc. thing with another wrong, bad, evil, etc. thing from the massive warehouse of negativity in the section of his brain devoted to liberals, and making the two combust thereby setting off fire alarms inside millions of dittoheads nationwide whose brains he’s altered to be like his. This red meat meme of Obama-got-the-job-because-he’s-black! is chum to the Great White bigots. For your average right-winger, there’s nothing intellectually nuanced about affirmative action. It’s just wrong. It’s a Liberal failed prescription (“evil” is the adjective you used, interestingly) to cure white bias in America that he and his right-leaning brethren would rather have seen kept as the status quo. In short: he has excessively negative associations with blacks since they vote predominantly Dem (psst, the Enemy) and these are reinforced daily by what he does for a living.

Now I just want to say I don’t consider racists/bigots necessarily evil or bad. My old man’s embarrassingly bigoted, but he’s a nice guy. I’ve got an old army buddy who says “nigger” occasionally when he’s mad. It’s a cognitive flaw in my book, but not necessarily a personality disorder. Racists can be nice people oddly enough.

One final thought. I wanted to draw attention to something I noticed about your statistical analysis of how Limbaugh could think affirmative action exacerbates the situation of less-qualified blacks getting hired but not be bigoted about it.

So, for example, if 50% of the applicant pools are equal, and 25% have more qualified blacks, and 25% have more qualified whites, then affirmative action would cause a less qualified black to be hired over a more qualified white 25% of the time.

It’s curious that you said affirmative action would cause employers to draw only from the 25% pool of less-qualified blacks, but not the 25% pool of more-qualified blacks. I don’t see why this should be. Unless I’m missing something, this strikes me as cognitive dissonance on your part. You seemed to have it affixed in your head that affirmative action = less-qualified blacks taking jobs from whites. You redid my analysis to get from A to B, but with the goal of no bigotry coming out at the end, so you listed the part of more-qualified blacks I mentioned like, pshh, of course Limbaugh’s aware of it (and you). But this concept (blacks more qualified than whites?) doesn’t quite make sense at a subconscious level; it induces dissonance, so your brain simply rejected it to smooth things out as your listing them but neglecting to factor them in seems to show. And I think Limbaugh's brain does this too, as do most on the right. :); 9/22/09, 11:58 AM
miller said...: For a moment there I thought you said "David Patterson takes over as Veep," and I had to rub my eyes. Because THAT would be useful, yes.

WV: iminsows, as in "Where's Dorothy?"; 9/22/09, 11:58 AM
Meade said...: David said...
I like the Patraeus idea too, but unfortunately he's going to have to run for office like everyone else.

President Ford didn't have to run for the office.; 9/22/09, 11:59 AM
Beth said...: Since this is a say what you will thread, I want to brag:

I repaired my broken washing machine last night, after six weekends of doing laundry at the 'mat.

I rule.

Take that, Sears $129 service fee!; 9/22/09, 12:00 PM
Beth said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/22/09, 12:00 PM
traditionalguy said...: Bagoh20...Spot on about the Afghan tribal wars. To send in 60,000 of the best occupying forces we have would be making a 20 year commitment to being ambush bait to train guerillas. The Army we face is a modern reincarnation of the Apache bands in the Arizona desert in the 1880s. The ONLY way We could beat the Apaches was by denying them food, arms and other supplies and then tricking them into peace talks where we took them prisoner. But with unlimited manpower coming in nightly with help from the Pakistani Secret Service and with Iran's armaments running in there like a river, we must let them keep their Mountain lair, and at best we can keep up raiding them by drones and special ops from a few secure bases, like we have done for the past 8 years. And when Chavez, Zelaya and Obama finish their ongoing Poor Peoples Revolutions to the south of us, then we will need those 60,000 troops back in Arizona again.; 9/22/09, 12:02 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Well I'm starting to get less worried about Obama as time goes by. I mean here is a guy that was supposedly hoisted to high office with some magical mandate by the electorate with a huge Demoratic majorities in the House and Senate and the man is running off to Sunday morning talk shows, speeches to fawing 20 somethings at colleges and the Letterman show to sell his health care plan.

That pretty much tells me he's going to be fairly innefectual in the coming years, thank God.; 9/22/09, 12:03 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: President Ford didn't have to run for the office.

Yes, but he WAS in the line of succession. Patraeus is not.; 9/22/09, 12:03 PM
chickelit said...: That's awesome Beth! I love hearing DIY home repair stories.; 9/22/09, 12:04 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I rule.

Take that, Sears $129 service fee!

Yay! Go Beth!!; 9/22/09, 12:04 PM
former law student said...: President Ford didn't have to run for the office.

As House Minority Leader, at that time Ford ranked somewhere between where Nancy Pelosi and Jim Clyburn do today.

Your pick.; 9/22/09, 12:07 PM
chickelit said...: What would be spectacular right now would be a credible link between George Soros and ACORN.; 9/22/09, 12:08 PM
Darcy said...: That really is impressive, Beth. Well done!; 9/22/09, 12:08 PM
Beth said...: Credit YouTube - whatever model you own, or part you have to deal with, there's a YouTube video to be found. I watched a few showing exactly how to take the case apart; removing and replacing the lid switch was easy to figure out on its own.; 9/22/09, 12:11 PM
garage mahal said...: Rainy Day, Dream Away; 9/22/09, 12:15 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: I repaired my broken washing machine last night, after six weekends of doing laundry at the 'mat.

I rule.

How are you with dishwashers?

wv: cygor = Igor's second cousin.; 9/22/09, 12:17 PM
chickelit said...: Good call garage!; 9/22/09, 12:18 PM
Meade said...: Okay, you may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one... so let's do it this way:

Obama resigns.

Biden becomes President, picks Petraeus for VP.

Biden resigns. Petraeus becomes President, picks Joe Lieberman as VP.

And while I'm dreaming, let's have Nancy Pelosi resign.

Thank you.; 9/22/09, 12:19 PM
chickelit said...: @Hoosier: Dishwashers, like icemakers, mainly just clog.; 9/22/09, 12:20 PM
Triangle Man said...: The 115th Fighter Wing deployed to Iraq from Madison this morning. I hope all goes well.; 9/22/09, 12:29 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Like the seas of Earth, this wide icy expanse has settled into a mathematically precise cast that, here and there, froths and churns, not by wind but by the convulsive forces of saturnian moons. This famous adornment, impressed deep in the human mind for four centuries as a pure, two-dimensional form, has now, as if by trickery, sprung into the third dimension.
.; 9/22/09, 12:29 PM
Triangle Man said...: from the peaceful religion of Mohammed

Still with the Obama is a Muslim thing? Good grief!; 9/22/09, 12:32 PM
Anonymous said...: Beth:

Thanks for the tip!!!
I would have never guessed YouTube.; 9/22/09, 12:42 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: And while I'm dreaming, let's have Nancy Pelosi resign.

I'll go just full blown drug induced delusional fanatsy and have the entire Congress resign.

And exiled to Elbe guarded by a vicious three headed pitbull. With rabies.; 9/22/09, 12:45 PM
traditionalguy said...: Triangleman...President Obama is obviously an agnostic. But all of his experiences with a Father's authority in his life was under practitioners and/or believers in the Peaceful Religion of Mohammed, during the 1960's and 1970s when it was still a peaceful religion in Kenya and in Indonesia. Don't kid yourself. Listen to his Cairo speech, and you will hear his deep need for acceptance by Islamic leaders, unless "He Lied".; 9/22/09, 12:47 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I rule.
Take that, Sears $129 service fee!.

Nice going Beth, keeping people in the unemployment line ;(

Kidding, kidding.; 9/22/09, 12:51 PM
Triangle Man said...: was under practitioners and/or believers in the Peaceful Religion of Mohammed, during the 1960's and 1970s

I do not know his personal beliefs, but in terms of his influences, Obama went to the Punahou School from 1971 until his graduation in 1979. I would say those are some substantially formative years.; 9/22/09, 12:52 PM
Bissage said...: A Modest Proposal: a new avatar, for the ever-apt Beth!; 9/22/09, 12:57 PM
Darcy said...: Ohh..that's perfect, Bissage.; 9/22/09, 1:00 PM
ricpic said...: I repaired my broken washing machine last night...

Being a mechanical illiterate and therefore living in dread of my washing machine or dryer or both breaking down I find that really impressive, Beth. Bravo!; 9/22/09, 1:08 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Beth:

You are almost the perfect wife! Can you grab me a beer on the way to the tool shed?; 9/22/09, 1:11 PM
Anonymous said...: "A Modest Proposal: a new avatar, for the ever-apt Beth!"

But we would have to change her name to Rosie.....; 9/22/09, 1:15 PM
Shanna said...: Wow, Congrats Beth!! That's awesome.; 9/22/09, 1:19 PM
Shanna said...: @Hoosier: Dishwashers, like icemakers, mainly just clog.

So, is there a youtube video that will show me how to fix my icemaker?; 9/22/09, 1:21 PM
chickelit said...: @Shanna: Did it slowly or suddenly stop working?; 9/22/09, 1:28 PM
miller said...: Beth, congrats! It's very satisfying to fix something that initially looks beyond comprehension. Someone asked me how I learned how to fix so many things, and my answer was, "taking care of growing kids." And the realization that if I took a broken part to a hardware store, I could usually find something to replace it.

I've fixed washers (bad pumps) and dryers (broken belts), replaced car parts (alternators, belts, hoses), put in a water supply line for an icemaker, changed folding doors into sliding doors - just by looking at the thing and thinking, what could I do to fix this? The hardware store is like a shopping mall for me.

And AJ, I think you've hit upon the reason married men don't live as long as married women--women are smart enough just to think things like that.; 9/22/09, 1:28 PM
Triangle Man said...: @Shanna

Icemaker repair videos?

Probably.; 9/22/09, 1:31 PM
Shanna said...: @Shanna: Did it slowly or suddenly stop working?

Suddenly? It's been a while. I think it broke because my brother put something on the little lever mechanism that turns it on and off (which you aren't supposed to put anything on).; 9/22/09, 1:38 PM
chickelit said...: you've tried moving the lever into the "up" position?

Did he bend the wire or break it?; 9/22/09, 1:46 PM
JAL said...: 1. Happy Birthday bagh20
(Why do I think sometimes it is Bag H superscipt2 O ?)

2. Beth -- Congrats. Did you see the hilarious washing machine story here?

3. Meade -- ahhhhh.... Petraeus. I like the idea and have actually mused about him also. Wish I knew more about him.

4. Madawasken -- speaking of Petreaus and Hillary Clinton -- I believe it was Clinton who thoroughly and bizarrely dissed the good general publically in his report to Congress. What did you expect? These people (Obama, Clinton, Dems ...) have a death wish.

BTW -- thanks for giving us the scoop on McChrystal's report. I think your concern / point that Obama hasn't read the report is telling. THAT'S HIS JOB. NOT gabbing all over the news shows and yukking it up with Letterman. (Who is not black!!!11! Did you notice? Not even before Obama's election!!!11!!. Shhhh.....)

If he has read it and is throwing McChrystal, NATO, the JCS, the US military and Afghanistan under the bus .... Seriously -- are you who voted for him surprised? Isn't this what you wanted?

4. We are about 1000 feet from the impact of the Southeast floods. The tree nursery at the end of our road is under water. As are roads all over the place. Crest still to come.

We are fine (above flood plain).

The sun is shining in spite of the fact we were supposed to have had more rain today. Phew.

wv entesses = ent godesses; 9/22/09, 2:18 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: I do not know his personal beliefs, but in terms of his influences, Obama went to the Punahou School from 1971 until his graduation in 1979. I would say those are some substantially formative years.

Well according to one of his autobiographies, he stated he was attrached to Marxist professors and other radicals in college. They tend to eschew religion in all forms so I don't subscribe to him being a closet Muslim anymore than he's a God fearing Christian.

Few people tend to change political views from their college years and Obama hasn't demonstrated to me thus far that he is an exception to that rule.; 9/22/09, 2:20 PM
Unknown said...: Hoosier: Your predicament reminds me of a child in our family who gets a terrible "poison ivy" rash each year. None of the other kids or their parents get it. They had no poison ivy in the yard that they knew of, although that was the doc's diagnosis. What they did have, amongst the flowers and a bit up the side of the house, was a pretty plant called Virginia Creeper, which many who have no trouble with poison oak or ivy are allergic to. (Dave's Garden.com has pics of the plant and warnings from it's victims.) Hope you're rash free soon.; 9/22/09, 2:24 PM
Beth said...: AJ, man, you have your wives mixed up!

Lem - I felt guilty for about one minute, then thought about my finances and perked up.; 9/22/09, 2:24 PM
Penny said...: Happy birthday, bagh2o!

Yay for Ron escaping from his hospital bed!

No scratching that itch, Hoosier..

And Beth I am extremely impressed with your accomplishment.

Interesting how I expect that a guy will be able to fix things, and am overly impressed when a woman does. Is that sexist?; 9/22/09, 2:54 PM
Penny said...: On the subject of affirmative action..

In the early days, it really did jump start a change in management thinking, and that was a good thing. A few things went wrong over time.

First, minorities started thinking that anything that happened or didn't happen to them was because of their minority status. Similar to what we have been seeing lately with the left's views on why the right is racially biased against Obama, when really, it has nothing to do with that.

Second, attorneys convinced companies to settle the vast majority of their affirmative action cases, saying it would be cheaper to do so. Not good, because that set off an ongoing exchange of money between businesses and minorities, with attorneys as the paid middlemen in the redistribution of wealth.; 9/22/09, 3:06 PM
Shanna said...: you've tried moving the lever into the "up" position?
Gah, give me a little credit! That is of course the first, second, third...30th thing I tried :)

Did he bend the wire or break it?

It's not broken. It doesn't look bent but who knows.; 9/22/09, 3:41 PM
jaed said...: Biden becomes President, picks Petraeus for VP.

The problem with this concept is that for at least some period of time, it makes Joe Biden the president of the United States. If that phrase doesn't send chills up your spine... I mean, think of how much damage he could do even in an hour. And what with the Senate confirmation and all the accompanying hullabaloo, this could take months. Months of President Joseph Biden (shudder).

Have you no patriotism, man?

Also congrats to Beth. I've become dependent on YouTube for learning crochet stitches but I would have never thought to look there for repair techniques!; 9/22/09, 5:01 PM
bagoh20 said...: JAL said...

"1. Happy Birthday bagh20
(Why do I think sometimes it is Bag H superscipt2 O ?)"

Thanks.

Yea, I even typoed the correction of the typo. It was orignally meant to be bag o' H 2 O .

I'm super lame.; 9/22/09, 5:51 PM
JAL said...: Well conflicting edits ate my comment --

So try again -- sorry about the misspelling earlier. Half the time I don't even get then wv right.

And Beth -- YouTube rocks!

Just saw that's where you got your reapir info. I used it several months ago to guide me taking a shoe of one of the horses. Nail was infected. He was really lame and farrier wasn't available. Gave me a couple ways to do it. (More than one way to skin a cat and remove a shoe...) Great resource.

Let's see if I can get "taice" in the little box right ...

Thai ice? Like tai chi? Or tai chai?; 9/22/09, 6:03 PM