Althouse: At the Pulpit Café...

April 27, 2010

At the Pulpit Café...

... sermonize and harmonize.

82 comments:

Scott said...: I feel like a Haiku...

God Bless Chris Christie!
He grabbed the teachers' unions
and kicked their asses.; 4/27/10, 10:27 AM
Scott said...: My morning coffee:
Without it, I spell for shit.
eyem hookd on fonics.; 4/27/10, 10:32 AM
Scott said...: chew and chew and chew
grape gumballs taste lovely, and
turn my tongue purple; 4/27/10, 10:35 AM
Scott said...: My horoscope said
I needed to change my job.
(No need to help, boss.); 4/27/10, 10:38 AM
Scott said...: I loved meeting friends
at the Bad Waitress diner.
Growing old's not bad.; 4/27/10, 10:40 AM
Scott said...: My partner's hip-hop
got him a record contract.
Why is he still broke?; 4/27/10, 10:42 AM
Scott said...: Above my work space
an accoustical ceiling
hides wires and devils.; 4/27/10, 10:46 AM
Scott said...: Boredom and panic
characterize politics
and flying airplane; 4/27/10, 10:48 AM
Scott said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/27/10, 10:48 AM
Scott said...: Boredom and panic
characterize politics
and flying airplanes; 4/27/10, 10:50 AM
Scott said...: Sometimes blogs are known
for the giant ego trips
of the commenters. :)

(I'm done.)

wv: dilato -- 1. diliatory gelato; 2. prescription-only gelato that makes you dialate.; 4/27/10, 10:53 AM
Unknown said...: Nice mix of image and connotation.

Very perceptive.; 4/27/10, 10:56 AM
Original Mike said...: You do know Jack.; 4/27/10, 10:57 AM
KCFleming said...: I am curious mellow.; 4/27/10, 10:59 AM
Scott said...: Thanks much edutcher!

I took a weekend class at NYU on speed fiction. The instructor would hold up a picture or postcard for 20 seconds or so. Then the class would write a short story about what they saw -- in five minutes.

It's a great way of loosening up the mental muscles for creative thinking. So I tried a little speed haiku. It's fun!; 4/27/10, 11:00 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: "... sermonize and harmonize."

That's my calling.

Riddle me this. I keep hearing that the Tea Partiers are outraged by the behavior of Wall Street and the bailouts of same (which President Bush began with TARP).

So, where are all the Tea Party rallies in support of financial industry reform? The current bill will end bailouts and require the industry to pay into their own bailout fund.

We've seen some stunning abuses from the like of Goldman Sachs (corporate home to Bush Treasury Secy Paulson) and Citigroup (Dem-allied Rubin).

Hmmmmm...? Can't we just agree to end the abuses of Wall Street? Where are the Tea Party buses and rallies?; 4/27/10, 11:01 AM
Scott said...: Comments written by
insufferable weenies
are best left alone.; 4/27/10, 11:08 AM
Scott said...: Hear the trolls talking?
They never make any sense,
and they don't know it.; 4/27/10, 11:14 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: Another riddle:

Conservatives tell us they just want "freedom" and many say they are libertarians.

But now they have passed a law in Arizona that means people of Latino descent will be stopped more by police who demand they "show their papers." The police can be sued if local citizens think they are not doing this adequately.

Many people say Arizona is actually becoming a real police state, effectively singling out one race of people for apprehension and questioning.

Criticisms from conservative leaders are nearly (perhaps wholly) non-existent.

It's fair to point out there's a contradiction here. You can't make a plausible claim to be in favor of freedom while supporting police state tactics.; 4/27/10, 11:15 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: If you can't respond
with a logical answer
There's always the smears; 4/27/10, 11:16 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: Scott:

"Thanks much edutcher!"

I think he was referring to the play on the image of the Jack in the Pulpit. Which was praise well-placed for a fine job.; 4/27/10, 11:18 AM
Scott said...: Making comments to
promote your stupid causes
shows how lame you are.; 4/27/10, 11:18 AM
Scott said...: I'm not going to chat
with someone having the brains
of a rectal wart.; 4/27/10, 11:23 AM
MamaM said...: Every now and then AlphaL shows the tiniest bit of humanity before resorting to script.

Alphahaiku

Sermonize? Not quite
Harmonize? Rarely ever
Drone on off point? Yes!

Oh, Scott, while I was composing you got there ahead of me...but it's Alpha who stunning me today. I didn't know he could be ORIGINAL!!!; 4/27/10, 11:28 AM
Joe said...: Ah AL, strikes:

So to oppose more bail-outs of the politically connected, Lear-Jet Liberals is now Freedom and a law authorizing the enforcement of a a legal act, asking for Identification is now opposing freedom, got it.

Thanx man; 4/27/10, 11:35 AM
TMink said...: "So, where are all the Tea Party rallies in support of financial industry reform?"

You need to come to a Tea Party. EVERY Tea Party event is about financial reform. Financial mismanagement, waste, and over-spending is the womb of the movement.

Now we do not support the crap our current administration is using to pay off their supporters and increase an already bloated federal government.

But we were for reform before this administration took office. Do not confuse bloated political posturing with reform.

Oh, sorry, I forgot who I was talking to.

Carry on.

Trey; 4/27/10, 11:39 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: TMink, that's a lot of talk but you are basically putting a poison pill in there saying you support financial reform but nothing that would be supported buy the majority party.

So you want the Republican version? OK. What have you got?

And where are the TP big money boys with their buses and tours now? Where is the TP leadership?

Here is how public policy works: You don't change jack but talking among yourselves. There needs to be some external indication of your support. A rally, a statement, a web page, SOMETHING.

What have you got?; 4/27/10, 11:43 AM
MamaM said...: On the whole edutcher tends to reveal a broader and more graceful character than Alphaliberal.

While I won't pretend to read edutcher's mind, I can imagine his comments on image, connotation and perception covering photo and haiku.; 4/27/10, 11:45 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: Joe gets himself all mixed up and fails to address the restrictions on freedom and liberty by the new Arizona law.

Financial reform is about freedom. It's about being freed from the predations of Wall Street.

I know, I know. conservatives care more about the liberties of Wall Street. the victims of Wall Street? Whiners!

The Arizona law targets Latinos. Period. It means they have to carry documentation. In the words of Linda Greenhouse:

"Wasn't the system of internal passports one of the most distasteful features of life in the Soviet Union and apartheid-era South Africa?"

Arizona = Police state; 4/27/10, 11:49 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: MamaM's haiku

Got nothing to say
Even attacks lack substance
Mama got bile; 4/27/10, 11:52 AM
Stogie said...: I like Scott's Haikus. As I recall, they must have 17 syllables, no more and no less. Here's my pathetic attempt:

The Leaves green and unfolding, nature grows lush even in Wisconsin.; 4/27/10, 11:52 AM
Anonymous said...: God Bless Chris Christie!
He grabbed the teachers' unions
and kicked their asses.

At least he didn't eat them.

Peter; 4/27/10, 11:55 AM
traditionalguy said...: Politics makes strange bedfellows. Tea Party politics is even stranger. The Death Panels was their real issue, and no one would let them speak about it. Financial reform is only a hard money versus soft money issue best left to Bankers.; 4/27/10, 11:56 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: Alphaliberal
At Althouse seeks dialog
But cons lack respect; 4/27/10, 11:57 AM
MamaM said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/27/10, 11:57 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: How were they stopped from talking about "death panels?"

So, we should leave the financial reform to the banksters? That's like leaving criminal law to the criminals.; 4/27/10, 11:58 AM
Stogie said...: Alphaliberal, your arguments are all based on false premises and are in fact, strawman arguments. You sit up fallacious "facts" and argue from them as if they were true.

"Financial reform" is just another attempt by the Obama Administration to increase its control over the private sector. The financial meltdown was caused, not by Wall Street misdeeds, NOT by a lack of federal regulations and oversight, but by government interference in the economy, i.e., forcing banks and mortgage companies to give "subprime" loans to minorities or be sued for "racism." This caused the real estate bubble and the ensuring meltdown. You can read all about it in Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" or Thomas Wood's "Meltdown."

So NO, we aren't going to clamor for more governmental (read: Democrat) interference in the economy that your side has already WRECKED. Buy a clue, Alphaliberal.; 4/27/10, 12:05 PM
MamaM said...: Alphaliberal
Who knew he was capable
Of Creative Thought?

Fast on your feet today AlphaL! Rarely if ever do you incite genuine laughter from me.

The No-shun=Notion post is wide open. Maybe there'd be more respect there.; 4/27/10, 12:06 PM
Trooper York said...: Tunes from hip hop mo's
yield little dough,
don't you know.; 4/27/10, 12:10 PM
Stogie said...: Alphaliberal is selling the same bovine excrement on the new Arizona immigration law, that it is somehow "racist," targets hispanics, is corrosive of freedom, etc. Wrong on all counts, Alpha. Try actually reading the new law.

Police cannot pull someone over or ask for their i.d. without cause, and their skin color isn't one of them. That's clear in the law.

Police can (and should) arrest illegals when, checking their i.d. for other reasons, they become aware that the detainee is in the country illegally.

Arizona is right on the firing line of Mexican drug wars, and the crime carried out by illegals, not to mention having their hospitals go broke, their schools inundated with kids whose parents pay no taxes, their city and state services overwhelmed.

The new Arizona law only requires law enforcement officers to enforce federal laws already on the books.

If any of that is wrong, I'll eat my lighted cigar. Of course, to a liberal like you, there is no situation that can't be distorted beyond all recognition in support of your dubious political goals.; 4/27/10, 12:11 PM
Trooper York said...: If show dogs have papers
without inducing vapors
why not landscapers?; 4/27/10, 12:14 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Hi, Stogie.

Talk about strawman arguments! Once again conservatives have created a "blame the government" response for a major problem.

I have yet to see conservatives accept that big corporations can do wrong. No, it all must be governments fault - somehow.

Can you find anyone from outside the conservative punditocracy who thinks Wall Street is just a victim of the government?

Did the government force them into derivatives? Into inflating the real estate bubble in commercial real estate? It's a flimsy and specious argument that is only believed by partisans.

Right now, as we speak, Goldman Sachs is getting grilled in hearings in the Senate. I was watching for a while and saw several Republican Senators giving them a hard time.

But you think they did no wrong? Is that right?; 4/27/10, 12:15 PM
Original Mike said...: "In the words of Linda Greenhouse:

"Wasn't the system of internal passports one of the most distasteful features of life in the Soviet Union and apartheid-era South Africa."

Difference being, of course, that one policy stems from a government attempt to control their citizens and the other from a government attempt to control NON-citizens.

Other than that, they're completely the same thing.; 4/27/10, 12:23 PM
Anonymous said...: If congress was serious about 'financial reform' they'd start by nuking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Everything else is posturing; 4/27/10, 12:29 PM
Joe said...: "Wasn't the system of internal passports one of the most distasteful features of life in the Soviet

and the fact that an "internal passport" was DENIED TO SOVIET/SA citizens on the basis of race or being a PEASANT is horrid....

THIS INTERNAL PASSPORT is to show you are legally here at all!?!?

As someone said, beyond that simple difference yuo're correct they are EXACTLY the same....

Oh and Alpha the police can ALWAYS stop you and ask for identification, unless Terry V. Ohio has been over-turned.; 4/27/10, 12:40 PM
Scott said...: @Stogie,

Just got back from lunch. In grade school, the teacher said they had to be in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables. But who really knows if that's the way the Japanese do it. She couldn't speak Japanese, and I can't either.

Here's your poem, edited:

In fragrant green pools,
They unfold by the curbside;
Wisconsin lushes.

wv: dedist. And most grateful.; 4/27/10, 12:41 PM
Scott said...: @Yorkie:

Tunes from hip hop mo's
yield little dough,
don't you know.

Yeah, but

He is really good!
Bone Intell can be booked at
sonicbids.com; 4/27/10, 12:47 PM
Scott said...: MamaM, your hope
of talking sense to a pig
just annoys the pig

:); 4/27/10, 1:01 PM
LonewackoDotCom said...: LindaGreenhouse commented on AZ's new law, and... she wasn't even looking at the bill as it was signed into law.

That's a simple fact that should be harped on over and over.; 4/27/10, 1:15 PM
Hagar said...: As I understand it, the "reform" that is most needed is repeal of the previous "reforms," i.e. the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act and the enabling acts for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

I do not want these people to be in charge of any "reforms" of anything; they will bollix things up worse, not better.; 4/27/10, 1:27 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Well, imagine that. Republicans stop Wall Street reforms. Wall Street opens up the money spigots.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal.

quid pro quo.; 4/27/10, 1:31 PM
knox said...: Sermonize ... okay. How about this: If you own an airplane, don't incessantly refer to it as your "bird." You might think it sounds cool ... it doesn't. I learned that last weekend at a wedding; we ended up sitting at a table with this salesman guy who kept going on about his "bird."

I also sat next to a girl who wouldn't make eye contact with me and acted like she was doing me a favor any time I tried to be friendly. Her husband kept talking about this BBQ he went to where the men were drinking a lot of beer. "You should have seen it!! ...." Men drinking beer. Wow.

The food was good, though.; 4/27/10, 1:32 PM
Joe said...: AL, as long as there is a "fund" involved then I'm opposed to any financial "reform"...because it simply transfers teh moral hazard onto the tax-payer.

PLUS, any fund is going to be "funded" from the investors, isn't it? There's no such thing as a tax on businesses, all such taxes are paid by owners, customoers and employees. So any "tax"/"fee"/"surcharge" is merely a tax on the investors. I'll mkae less on my retirement account, to build this fund, won't I?

And if the fund isn't sufficient then I'll pay for the bail-out of Lear-Jet Liberals, with my tax dollars...so tell me again why "freedom" and the "Tea Party Movement" are or should be in support of financial reform again?; 4/27/10, 1:33 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: As I understand it, the "reform" that is most needed is repeal of the previous "reforms," i.e. the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act and the enabling acts for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. .

Agreed on Glass-Steagall. That was a bipartisan clusterfuck.

Do not agree at all on Fannie and Freddie. They made mistakes, too, but the effort to blame them for everything that went wrong is just "blame the government" spin.

To your last point, we had regulation of Wall Street for decades without things getting to this point. We saw deregulation, via Glass-Steagall and in the S&L crisis of the 1980s make things very much worse.

Great hearings today in the Senate. Sen. Carl Levin nailed Goldman Sachs for selling a "shitty deal" (their own words) to their clients.

I eagerly anticipate seeing how cons blame the government for that one.; 4/27/10, 1:37 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Joe, that fund I referred to is created by money from the financial industry, not the taxpayers.

"Bailout of Lear-jet liberals?" Do you think these Wall Street executives, who are filling Republican campaign coffers as we speak, (see WSJ link above)are liberals?!?

Uh, no. They're not.

The reason the Tea Party crowd should support financial reform is to avoid more financial crises that cost people investments and jobs.

You're worried about a fund paid for by Wall Street companies (which pay out billions in bonuses) while ignoring the losses from the crash.; 4/27/10, 1:41 PM
Joe said...: Joe, that fund I referred to is created by money from the financial industry, not the taxpayers.

So reading comprehension is NOT a strong suit, right AL? That money “from the financial industry” that’s MY money, the money I invest in my 401(k) and my IRA, but rather than being returned to me in the form of RoI, now is a tax going to fund this “bail-out” fund. So no AL it’s not money from the financial industry it’s money from the CONSUMER!

And if it’s not enough, THEN I get to fund it via my taxes.

"Bailout of Lear-jet liberals?" Do you think these Wall Street executives, who are filling Republican campaign coffers as we speak, (see WSJ link above)are liberals?!?

Uh, no. They're not.

The FEC begs to differ….please not who got money from Goldman Sachs and their ilk, Obama and the Democrats, NOT Republicans, but thank you for playing Al.

The reason the Tea Party crowd should support financial reform is to avoid more financial crises that cost people investments and jobs.
I do, but I don’t think I support THIS reform…..simply calling it “reform” doesn’t make it reform, you know. How about this reform, when Goldman Sachs is bankrupt, we let them fail, and have their assets bought up? Or if you’re too big to fail the government turns you into a “regulated industry” with a set and regulated Return on Investment, set by law? See, then a financial firm has a choice:
1) Be too big to fail but be limited in the amount of money you can earn; OR
2) Be allowed to fail, BUT be unlimited in what you can make?

Now the above seems much more reasonable as “Financial Reform.”

You're worried about a fund paid for by Wall Street companies (which pay out billions in bonuses) while ignoring the losses from the crash.

You keep missing the point of who is REALLY paying for these bail-out funds AL. Please try harder to think this thru.; 4/27/10, 1:51 PM
Original Mike said...: I don't know enough about the bill to have an informed opinion. I do know enough of what has transpired over the last few years that the image of Dodd and Frank writing financial regulations turns my stomach.; 4/27/10, 1:53 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Bill Ayers is a real pig.; 4/27/10, 1:58 PM
TMink said...: "So you want the Republican version?"

I am not a Republican, why would I want their version?

"OK. What have you got?"

Just what you do at your house when your credit card bill gets too high.

LESS FRACKING SPENDING!

Trey; 4/27/10, 1:58 PM
Original Mike said...: How about this reform, when Goldman Sachs is bankrupt, we let them fail, and have their assets bought up? Or if you’re too big to fail the government turns you into a “regulated industry” with a set and regulated Return on Investment, set by law? See, then a financial firm has a choice:
1) Be too big to fail but be limited in the amount of money you can earn; OR
2) Be allowed to fail, BUT be unlimited in what you can make?

Yeah, I've thought this for awhile. "Too big to fail" should mean "To big to exist".; 4/27/10, 1:59 PM
TMink said...: Alpha, Goldman Sachs gave money to you guys, not to the Rs. Look it up.

Darn it, there I go appealing to facts again. Bad habit when talking to progressives.

Trey; 4/27/10, 2:01 PM
Unknown said...: The Demos and Lefties are freaking out because, if the public is really ready to put its foot down on the subject of immigration, they're toast. the black population has remained at about 14% of total, so the only way to tip the scales is to import a new impoverished slave, in this case, peon, class.

To clear up the confusion, I originally meant to praise the photo, but anyone who can make his point so many times in 17 beats deserves kudos, too.

PS Thanks for the kind words, MamaM.; 4/27/10, 2:36 PM
MamaM said...: Scott:

Your bursts of haiku
Brought insight and laughter to
This open pulpit

I'm always amazed at the power of creativity. I consider anything that can momentarily cause AlphaL to deviate from his routine to be powerful.

Pigs that troll a blog
Baiting and looking for bile
Seldom change or learn; 4/27/10, 2:54 PM
Scott said...: @MamaM:

They sneer and whine, but
they can't reach the ballot box.
(Trolls are rather small.); 4/27/10, 3:20 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Joe:

"So reading comprehension is NOT a strong suit, right AL? That money “from the financial industry” that’s MY money, the money I invest in my 401(k) and my IRA, but rather than being returned to me in the form of RoI, now is a tax going to fund this “bail-out” fund."

No, I read your post just fine and responded to this assumption on your part.

Your 401k/IRA/whatever is invested in funds. Those funds earn a return in the stock market. They cannot take money from your returns to put into this fund.

Can they increase fees? I don't know how that's addressed in the legislation. And you don't either. You insist multi-billion dollar bonuses will go untouched. Because..... you JUST KNOW IT!

You're opposed. Got it. Nothing will change that.

US politics have become deeply tribal where the most important thing to conservatives is to oppose anything from the Democrats, no matter how it helps the country.; 4/27/10, 3:31 PM
Scott said...: @edutcher

Thanks for your kind words.
Haiku's easy for a mind
that's in spin cycle. :); 4/27/10, 3:34 PM
Hagar said...: The Wall Streeters acted like Wall Streeters will; it was Congress that created the system, indeed the very same old Bulls that now are shocked, shocked! at the results and want to be in charge of the "reforms."; 4/27/10, 4:59 PM
Mick said...: Alpha said,

"But now they have passed a law in Arizona that means people of Latino descent will be stopped more by police who demand they "show their papers."

That's only your opinion. And uh, they're illegals breaking our laws.; 4/27/10, 5:16 PM
rhhardin said...: When you're doing the final scythe swath of the acre, there's only one comfortable place to lie down.; 4/27/10, 5:28 PM
MamaM said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 4/27/10, 6:28 PM
Irene said...: @knox: Did you get the doggie? I didn't follow up from your other OT message a week or so ago. Paws still crossed here.; 4/27/10, 6:32 PM
MamaM said...: Not a sermon, but as long as the pulpit is open, and the topic for the corn smut post is about perception, I want to hold forth on Spathe, Spadix and Sexual Perceptions in regards to the Jack in the Pulpit

In the Althouse composition, the dark heart shaped spathe is radiated with spirals of light surrounding the protruding spadix (Jack), revealing a prominent shape strongly suggestive of male genitalia

In Jack in the Pulpit IV the artist's composition and use of dark and light present a darker, larger spathe and smaller spadix more clearly suggestive of female genitalia

Two different perspectives of the same plant.

A third involves the pulpit where Jack stands to present his perceptions, sexual or otherwise.; 4/27/10, 6:40 PM
MamaM said...: Dog in grass, alert
Watching, resting, peacefully
Anticipating

Rhhardin: it's a good day when I laugh twice in one post. I consider your pictures (and titles) to be another form of poetry.

There sits one fine dog
At home and in tune with life
And her master; 4/27/10, 7:59 PM
Peter Hoh said...: More proof that the Washington Post is totally in the bag for Obama.; 4/27/10, 8:12 PM
reader_iam said...: lush pulpit grinds hard
sermonizers all astride
blooming harmony; 4/28/10, 1:08 AM
reader_iam said...: (Yup, there's a pun in there, too.); 4/28/10, 1:15 AM
dick said...: AL must have missed it. The failure of the financial reform bill was a bipartisan undertaking. Sen Bennett from Nebraska voted with the Republicans which makes it bipartisan.; 4/28/10, 5:44 AM
stoqboy said...: Men in shorts: http://www.eatnineghost.com/why-bicycle-shorts-are-always-black/; 4/28/10, 6:46 AM
knox said...: Hi Irene!

Unfortunately, the rescue told us that the labradoodle wouldn't be good with small kids. (we have a 2yr old and a 4 yr old) So we have put a deposit down on a black female goldendoodle puppy. (In fact, the mom looks a lot like your avatar!)

I would rather get a pound puppy or a rescue dog, but we decided it's best to be safe while the kids are still little. And the breed is supposed to be great.

Anyway, we should be able to bring her home in early June. We can't wait! It's hard not to have a dog when you're used to having one around the house. Thanks for asking!; 4/28/10, 8:36 AM
Original Mike said...: AL said: "Great hearings today in the Senate. Sen. Carl Levin nailed Goldman Sachs for selling a "shitty deal" (their own words) to their clients.

I eagerly anticipate seeing how cons blame the government for that one."

Another view of Carl Levin's awesomeness:

John Hinderaker said: "The Senators, seemingly without exception, are embarrassingly ignorant of modern risk management techniques. They really don’t seem to understand how and why firms like Goldman Sachs hedge their exposure to various economic trends. . . . While not a single Senator distinguished himself, the most embarrassing was Carl Levin. He repeatedly misread emails and failed to understand the economics of Goldman’s transactions. . . . It didn’t appear that a single Senator understands what is involved in making a market in a security.”; 4/28/10, 8:36 AM
Irene said...: Thanks, Knox! You will be very happy with a goldendoodle. They are calmer without the lab in them!; 4/28/10, 8:54 AM
MamaM said...: More blooming amazement at reader iam's fine addition, celebrating culmination and harmony in multiple realms.

Maybe it's spring, and maybe I'm tired of politics and the feeling of despair I experience when I encounter domination, deception, dogmatism and chronic incivility in human interaction and relationship. But I've found the process revealed in this thread to be inspiring and encouraging. It reflects the very real ignition that takes place when one human's feelings, thoughts and experiences trigger another to engage in original and creative expression.; 4/28/10, 1:36 PM