Althouse: Essence of Drudge.

January 4, 2013

Essence of Drudge.

Is that a form of argument?

100 comments:

Unknown said...: Yes and it's very effective.; 1/4/13, 8:00 AM
rhhardin said...: Obama doesn't worry about collapse.; 1/4/13, 8:02 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Where's Obama again?; 1/4/13, 8:06 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Obama. He's kind of an asshole.; 1/4/13, 8:07 AM
Yu-Ain Gonnano said...: Argument, perhaps not.

Mockery, definitely.

But sometimes, that's the ultimate answer to Kings.; 1/4/13, 8:10 AM
Anonymous said...: The Prez is no Mark Cunningham. He needs a board. A soft board. It's a shame he never picked up the career and relationship destroying sport of surfing.; 1/4/13, 8:11 AM
Nonapod said...: Honestly I hope he spends more time doing frivolous things and less time attempting to do this POTUS gig. I wish Obama would just take an extended vacation for the next 4 years.; 1/4/13, 8:21 AM
Brian Brown said...: He's just out doing what cornball brothers do!; 1/4/13, 8:32 AM
Kchiker said...: It is an argument but that argument is a lie. Unemployment is not "up" to 7.8%. It is unchanged in the last month and down in the medium term.; 1/4/13, 8:33 AM
the wolf said...: I wish Obama would just take an extended vacation for the next 4 years.

Even at $7 million a pop, it's a lot cheaper than having him in Washington.; 1/4/13, 8:34 AM
Jim said...: Drudge is today's Thomas Nast, working in today's medium.; 1/4/13, 8:34 AM
mark said...: @Ann "Is that a form of argument?"

He is mocking the President. And is mockery an argument form? I suppose it is more of an anti-argument form.

You don't argue the other's positions, you just point out that they are an idiot. And therefore all their actions, opinions, and ideas are just those of an idiot. No need to argue about them.

Mockery is a very powerful tool. Look at how well it worked for liberals against President Bush. He was mocked everywhere from kids cartoons to plays to practically every TV show.

And if you use university math classes as a rough measure of intelligence then Bush was more intelligent then Obama.; 1/4/13, 8:35 AM
Bob said...: Well if Obama doesn't like the visuals he should change them. But I doubt it, as its good to be King. We can all eat cake.; 1/4/13, 8:44 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/4/13, 8:46 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Althouse - did you notice yesterday where Drudge had a fat them going down the center of his site? A super fat guy loses 600 lbs then there was a pic of Christie then a blurb about the ginoromous $16 Trillion debt etc. it was so obvious even I noticed it.; 1/4/13, 8:48 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Obama is now blaming his massive debt and spending on Republicans. This from a party that passed a trillion dollar tax hike ObamaCare on party line vote without a single Republican vote, in the middle of the night.

The R's haven't had leverage or enough power to do anything since 2006. All the House budgets have been shot down by Harry Reid's senate. So naturally, Obama blames. That is, after all, what he does best. Blame, tax and ruin... Then run off and play golf.; 1/4/13, 8:49 AM
MayBee said...: Once again, we have to pay double the cost of AF1 for the Obamas to go on vacation. Them there, him back, him there, and next (presumably) all of them back.

While we are asking people to pay more in taxes.
I bet he spent several middle class families' yearly tax bills just making his trip back here to discuss how important it is to save the middle class taxpayers.

The President and his family need a travel budget.; 1/4/13, 8:51 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: Why can't the Obama's pay for their own damn vacation?; 1/4/13, 8:54 AM
jd said...: Hahaha.

It's great seeing the president chill out after a crazy month of news up to our eyeballs, and the commenters on this blog just HATE him for it.

This "argument" only works on conservatives that hate Obama.

*ps, I do remember, on the day of the Sandy Hook shooting, drudge-superfan Ann althouse ignored the wall-to-wall photos on drudge of terrorized children. Probably because on this blog she was out of the gates with her "it's the media's fault for making these shooters," and "America shouldn't pay attention to twenty kids being murdered because years ago my parents saw an explosion once" arguments. Just interesting how fantastic Drudge is for Althouse when she thinks it's cute ("how cute is my analysis of the photos?--discuss in the comments") and convenient ("I barely work anyways, you want me to make my own arguments thoughtfully when I can just link to drudge? What am I, a law professor who gets paid tons of $$$ with the expectation that I'll produce thoughtful scholarship? I'm a TENURED law professor."); 1/4/13, 9:00 AM
KCFleming said...: Not insecure, Obama loves his sinecure.; 1/4/13, 9:01 AM
rhhardin said...: The payroll tax unfreeze is good, contrary to the rightwing gloat.

The payroll tax is a flat tax, and makes the overall tax rates less steeply progressive.

It would be even better if the percentage were raised and the upper limit removed; and then eliminate the income tax entirely.

Let people vote on taxes that they themselves have to pay, and you might get some stability in government.; 1/4/13, 9:01 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Maybee- in addition, I kinda suspect Michele and the girls left earlier for Hawaii than Barack did [he went around 12/23] so you may need to add that extra flight expense to the tally.; 1/4/13, 9:04 AM
KCFleming said...: rhhardin:

I think the gloat is because the right believes that only when people experience taxes that they themselves have to pay will it affect their voting.

This is a rare example thereof, yet the left thought they were sticking it to someone else.; 1/4/13, 9:08 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: I don't HATE Obama. I hate corruption, cronyism, ineptitude and economic maleficence.; 1/4/13, 9:09 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: I don't hate Obama. I hate how he spends our money.; 1/4/13, 9:11 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: Well if Obama doesn't like the visuals he should change them. But I doubt it, as its good to be King. We can all eat cake.

I think that this is correct. The President appears more interested in playing more golf than actually doing much about running the country, pulling us out of the recession, getting the deficit out of control, etc.

George W. Bush gave up golf after we went to war partially for just this reasons - that pictures of him golfing while military he sent to war were dying, would not make good optics. Obama doesn't care. He won't be running again, and he was reelected despite both a record number of rounds of golf for a President and an almost historic recession (greatly lengthened by his actions and inactions). So, why should he care?; 1/4/13, 9:15 AM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The problem I have with the way the left does business with taxation is that they hike taxes and raise rates and we are all assured by the left's hack media that... "Yay the democrats just cut your taxes!"
When in fact they did no such thing.; 1/4/13, 9:16 AM
KCFleming said...: Palladian should make an Essence of Drudge Perfume.; 1/4/13, 9:19 AM
Anonymous said...: When he gets back stateside, they'll be plenty of opportunities for immigration reform, gun control, and the chance to engineer the perfect single-mother.

Maybe we can turn those empty Solyndra and Abound plants into something useful, like "the Federal Bureau of Land Management West" and fill them with a bunch of people he promised something to who don't know anything about land management.

Dream big, people.; 1/4/13, 9:29 AM
Anonymous said...: JD-Or maybe all the reasonable people who aren't conservatives, nor particularly ideological, who realize the damage that Obama's spending is doing to the economy.

You know, despite all the snark, there might actually be reasons, experience, knowledge and principled objection.; 1/4/13, 9:31 AM
Anonymous said...: I wish Barry O a healthful and relaxing vacation, reminiscing upon the days of choom and just how to build a government that will work for the people, and make a stronger middle-class.

If there's a way to make America prosper by taxing everyone more, punishing welath-creation, spending money we don't have, picking winners and losers, finding cronies and crushing people who want to make more for themselves, then....by God...

Barry's going to find it.; 1/4/13, 9:42 AM
edutcher said...: More like Essence of Zero.

If that montage doesn't scream, "Hey, I really am white", I don't know what does.; 1/4/13, 9:48 AM
CatherineM said...: The Daily Beast says, "As President Obama finally enjoys his Hawaiian vacation, some pundits are up in arms about his handling of the fiscal-cliff deal. Stop whining and leave the president alone, writes The Daily Beast’s Michael Tomasky."

Poor guy. Let him enjoy his vacation. If he was giving me my fair share, I would be in Hawaii on a luxury estate with an Ocean view too.; 1/4/13, 9:56 AM
machine said...: No President may ever be photographed eating ice cream.

Unconscionable...; 1/4/13, 9:57 AM
Michael Haz said...: King Putt.; 1/4/13, 10:00 AM
Aridog said...: $16.432 Trillion is ALREADY over the debt ceiling of $16.394 Trillion.

We used to call that "game, set, match."

Inept Turbo-Tax Master Timmy the Get manages by delaying acknowledgement of intra-governmental debt such as that between Social Security and Treasury. In short, we are now operating like a college kid who pays off Master Card with his Visa, the reverses the routine the next month.

Tell me, now that the ceiling has been breeched who can do one damn thing about it? Money is already spent, and the ceiling ceases to exist by default.; 1/4/13, 10:02 AM
Elliott A said...: If I were prez and I could take a fancy vacation in Hawaii, I would do it. Regardless of your feelings for or against the prez, he doesn't have the ability to do the little things we all do to relax. So a vacation such as this is warranted. Everybody needs to recharge their batteries.; 1/4/13, 10:10 AM
machine said...: All Presidents shall work at least 16 hours a day, every day, and may not exercise nor seek to enjoy any moment until all problems are solved. All problems.; 1/4/13, 10:14 AM
Seeing Red said...: Barry has Camp David.

Good thing the left can't complain about optics anymore.; 1/4/13, 10:29 AM
mccullough said...: Out of touch plutocrat.; 1/4/13, 10:32 AM
mccullough said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 1/4/13, 10:33 AM
Seeing Red said...: What may really be interesting is how much we have in the bank.; 1/4/13, 10:34 AM
Hagar said...: Name a president that has treated the presidency with the arrogant extravagance of this one.; 1/4/13, 10:35 AM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: I'm just glad there's no picture of Obama banging his wife.; 1/4/13, 10:45 AM
Brian Brown said...: jd said...
*ps, I do remember, on the day of the Sandy Hook shooting, drudge-superfan Ann althouse ignored the wall-to-wall photos on drudge of terrorized children

Hey, since you're like so super-duper concerned about gun death deaths, remember how upset you were about Fast & Furious?

Remember your utter outrage about Ambassador Stevens' death?

Me too!

Idiot.; 1/4/13, 10:47 AM
Seeing Red said...: If you think unemployment is 7.8, I got a real nice bridge to give to you.; 1/4/13, 10:48 AM
garage mahal said...: Where were you when ___________ happened????

Shut up!!!!!; 1/4/13, 10:53 AM
machine said...: The President must either be working to solve all problems or moving shrubbery around the ranch.

That is all.; 1/4/13, 10:56 AM
Levi Starks said...: The unemployment rate actually jumped among the black community last month, the president's biggest support group. But it's all good since congress just voted to fund extended unemployment benefits.
To me it doesn't make sense, but from the standpoint of the black community I guess it does. Their culture has learned to accept the reality that as a group they can never expect to be successful, Instead they allow a limited number of surrogates to enjoy ultimate success. Rap stars, athletes, movie stars, and of course the President. Obama is the ultimate surrogate of black success. When Obama spends public money in such an open an blatant way, his supporters bask in a glory that they could otherwise never enjoy.
He's doing it for them, not for himself. it's a responsibility. and he takes it seriously.; 1/4/13, 11:05 AM
mccullough said...: Levi,

One of the silver linings of the election was that 20% of black men ages 18-30 voted for Romney.; 1/4/13, 11:08 AM
sakredkow said...: It's not a credible argument. You might attempt to make a credible argument but I wouldn't expect Drudge to do that.

It's no more than a whistle for wingers. It's very popular to them and helps his ad count I'm sure. But if you're looking for an argument, wrong place. This is for kiddies.; 1/4/13, 11:10 AM
Seeing Red said...: The Drudge Report is supposed to make credible arguments?

I wasn't aware he writes anything he links to.

Is this a new standard?; 1/4/13, 11:14 AM
Sam L. said...: A genius piece of work!; 1/4/13, 11:21 AM
Winefred said...: Drudge is such a naughty boy! (scroll down his page, and he re-assesses the pricetag of the President's back-and-forth to the 57th state) Isn't it amazing that the Sun King can't even master the business of 'optics'? Let them eat poi.; 1/4/13, 11:27 AM
Larry J said...: Obama does far less damage to the country when he's on vacation or playing golf than when he's playing president. He should play a lot more golf.; 1/4/13, 11:27 AM
Hagar said...: Obama does understand the business of 'optics' quite well, I think. It's deliberate, and probably plays well with a section of his constituency, but may well leave a sour taste with many other previously faithful Democrats.

Clinton tied up the main runway at LAX for two hours to get his hair cut once, but then never did anything like that again.; 1/4/13, 11:38 AM
Rusty said...: phx said...
It's not a credible argument. You might attempt to make a credible argument but I wouldn't expect Drudge to do that.

It's no more than a whistle for wingers. It's very popular to them and helps his ad count I'm sure. But if you're looking for an argument, wrong place. This is for kiddies

Of course it is. Pointing out the hypocrisy of our betters is always childish.
I hope you are personally sacrificing some of your comfort so that others can benefit. I know I am.; 1/4/13, 11:39 AM
sakredkow said...: Pointing out the hypocrisy of our betters is always childish.

Yeah, and you're another one who doesn't know how to make an argument. As I said, strictly for kiddies.; 1/4/13, 11:42 AM
Unknown said...: Oh how the left hates to be judged by their own standards.
Hypocrisy is a rich vein for the opposition to mine.
If you live by the sword you die by the sword.
How many times do we have to go through this?; 1/4/13, 11:44 AM
Rabel said...: Kchiker wrote:

"It is an argument but that argument is a lie. Unemployment is not "up" to 7.8%. It is unchanged in the last month and down in the medium term."

It's "unchanged" because they revised the previous month from 7.7 to 7.8. It's almost like they are manipulating the numbers to generate the most positive spin.

But, Kchiker, I'm curious as to whether your news source made note of the revision.; 1/4/13, 11:48 AM
Anonymous said...: Yeah, and you're another one who doesn't know how to make an argument. As I said, strictly for kiddies.

phx: You are somewhat better than shiloh and garage, whose comments are almost entirely one-line snarks and tu quoques, but not much.; 1/4/13, 11:54 AM
ricpic said...: The Drudge pictorial makes it abundantly clear that the only thing Obama the Grifter is dead serious about is his own pleasure...on our dime.; 1/4/13, 11:55 AM
sakredkow said...: creeley23: How would I have ever come to the conclusion that you are a credible arbiter? Help me out here.; 1/4/13, 11:57 AM
sakredkow said...: Creeley23 is a little better than AprilApple and Jay, but not much.; 1/4/13, 11:58 AM
Levi Starks said...: mccullough said...
Levi,

One of the silver linings of the election was that 20% of black men ages 18-30 voted for Romney.

I would find it encouraging if that were in fact correct,
But reports that Romney received zero votes at 40 Philly precincts makes me skeptical.; 1/4/13, 12:06 PM
Brian Brown said...: phx said...
Yeah, and you're another one who doesn't know how to make an argument. As I said, strictly for kiddies.

Coming from the abject imbecile who doesn't own a gun, admits to not being at all curious about guns, but proclaims more gun control policies are needed.

You can't make this type of stupid up, folks.; 1/4/13, 12:20 PM
Brian Brown said...: By the way, I love watching the silly leftists on DU and Twitter wonder why their take home pay is smaller this week.

Why, it is almost as if they didn't realize Obama was a lying charlatan or something.; 1/4/13, 12:22 PM
Cinderellastory said...: The President has been mailing it in for over 4 years, so what else is new?; 1/4/13, 12:28 PM
Seeing Red said...: LOLOL Via Vodkapundit regarding California:

...But the report found that tax revenues were below estimates nearly across the board, as total “year-to-date revenues are $936 million below the initial forecast....”

Vodka's title is California Taxes Its Way to Prosperity!; 1/4/13, 12:36 PM
Rusty said...: hx said...
Pointing out the hypocrisy of our betters is always childish.

Yeah, and you're another one who doesn't know how to make an argument. As I said, strictly for kiddies.

Oh. I think I made my point rather well.; 1/4/13, 12:41 PM
Dan Hossley said...: I think it's called reporting.; 1/4/13, 12:57 PM
Dan Hossley said...: I believe it's called "reporting".; 1/4/13, 12:57 PM
Alex said...: garage is offended that Drudge isn't showing worship to this Godbama. But when the media was lampooning President Bush that was A-OK!; 1/4/13, 1:03 PM
Darleen said...: Obama the Grifter is dead serious about is his own pleasure...on our dime.

ricpic

If you believe Obama considers the dime to actually belong to us, then you haven't been paying attention.; 1/4/13, 1:13 PM
mccullough said...: It's better than an argument. It's a portrait. It conveys and lingers.; 1/4/13, 1:16 PM
Aaron said...: Unemployment is getting "better" on the backs of the discouraged worker.; 1/4/13, 1:22 PM
Larry J said...: I would find it encouraging if that were in fact correct,
But reports that Romney received zero votes at 40 Philly precincts makes me skeptical.

While not impossible, that result seems statistically unlikely. Out of all those thousands of votes, not a single one voted for Romney even in error?; 1/4/13, 1:29 PM
Levi Starks said...: "While not impossible, that result seems statistically unlikely. Out of all those thousands of votes, not a single one voted for Romney even in error?"

Oh I agree, But if you were one of the 20% of black males who lived in one of those precincts wouldn't you be asking questions?; 1/4/13, 1:45 PM
Amartel said...: Lefties always bring up HATE. Oh, the conservatives HATE the president. This is projection. It's second nature to lefties to hate. Maybe first nature. They wouldn't leave Bush in peace on his relatively (by today's standards) modest vacations, clearing brush and riding his bike. No, they trailed down to Crawford and camped out to be near the object of their hatred. Wah. If any conservatives actually camped out in Hawaii to show hatred for Obama, like the progs did to Bush, there would be endless non-stop boo-hooing about psychotics and assassinations and religious nuts, etc. etc. Meanwhile, Bush is the only one that actually gets grenades (and shoes) chucked at him, and then it's a big (hateful) joke. Haha.

I don't hate Obama or envy him his vacation. If he was actually working, I'd say fine, $20 mill, go for it, we've got it albeit on credit. I wouldn't even care about his playtime activities if he wasn't stinking up the joint so very badly. And Drudgetaposition photojournalism is a good argument. Counters all the Obama celebrity boyfriend in the MSM. Also, no sign of Obamoobs so far this year so there's that to be thankful for.; 1/4/13, 2:02 PM
Alex said...: Leftists are born haters or made into ones by the public education system.; 1/4/13, 2:04 PM
Rusty said...: Alex said...
garage is offended that Drudge isn't showing worship to this Godbama. But when the media was lampooning President Bush that was A-OK!

Conservatives are always wrong.

A little OT.
Calpers The California Public Employees Retirement Something or other is suing the city of San Bernadino for back pension payments to the tune of 5 million dollars. San Bernadino filed for chapter 9 bankruptcy protection earlier this year and stopped making pension payments for city employees.
I wonder where Sanberdoo is going to find the money.; 1/4/13, 2:07 PM
Pragmatist said...: Can do the same thing to any politician. Bush spent a lot of time off while Americans were dying abroad. So what. But Drudge has never been fair or balanced. Just a tool.; 1/4/13, 2:16 PM
I Callahan said...: Can do the same thing to any politician. Bush spent a lot of time off while Americans were dying abroad. So what. But Drudge has never been fair or balanced. Just a tool.

No, actually, he didn't. But nice try.; 1/4/13, 2:29 PM
Known Unknown said...: One of the silver linings of the election was that 20% of cornball brothers ages 18-30 voted for Romney.

FIFY.; 1/4/13, 2:32 PM
chickelit said...: phx said...
Creeley23 is a little better than AprilApple and Jay, but not much.

phx is a little better than harrogate and somefeller, but not much.

I think I'm getting the hang of this.; 1/4/13, 3:48 PM
chickelit said...: Elliott A said...
If I were prez and I could take a fancy vacation in Hawaii, I would do it. Regardless of your feelings for or against the prez, he doesn't have the ability to do the little things we all do to relax. So a vacation such as this is warranted. Everybody needs to recharge their batteries.

I think it's called "conspicuous consumption" according to Thorstein Veblen.; 1/4/13, 3:51 PM
Darleen said...: Rusty

City of San Berdo has been lying on its published budgets for years and the mutual backscratching & nudge nudge wink wink between politicians & public unions (fire/cops) has caught up.

It is only one city among hundreds in CA on the bankruptcy train ... and as of today, effective taxrates for the EVIL RICH in CA is now over 50%.

It ain't pretty.; 1/4/13, 4:00 PM
mtrobertsattorney said...: I think that big wave smacking Obama alongside the head is an omen of things to come.

Economic reality is about to make an uninvited appearance in this fantasy.; 1/4/13, 4:05 PM
mtrobertsattorney said...: I think that big wave smacking Obama alongside the head is an omen of things to come.

Economic reality is about to make an uninvited appearance in this fantasy.; 1/4/13, 4:05 PM
Rusty said...: Darleen said...
Rusty

City of San Berdo has been lying on its published budgets for years and the mutual backscratching & nudge nudge wink wink between politicians & public unions (fire/cops) has caught up.

It is only one city among hundreds in CA on the bankruptcy train ... and as of today, effective taxrates for the EVIL RICH in CA is now over 50%.

It ain't pretty.

I feel for you Darleen, but I'm in Illinois and we have a similar problem. Rather than deal with it our legislature would rather talk about outlawing semiautomatic rifles and shotguns.

The coming tax revolution isn't going to be as civilized as the last one.; 1/4/13, 4:09 PM
Dante said...: Obama is helping us workers to live vicariously. It's a part of the compassion thing. We emphasize with what it must be like to live off the worker, and it makes us grateful.; 1/4/13, 5:21 PM
Aridog said...: Darleen said...

If you believe Obama considers the dime to actually belong to us, then you haven't been paying attention.

THREAD WINNER!

Best yet in my not very humble opinion. You've captured the man in 18 words. Perfect.; 1/4/13, 5:23 PM
Aridog said...: Dante...Er, uh...emphasize = empathize ?; 1/4/13, 5:26 PM
Thucydides said...: Really, why are people still using the false and misleading BLS unemployment figure, U3 was at 11.2% just before the election, so if you really want to focus people's attention start using U3 all the time, and override anyone who tries to use the BLS figure.

The millions of unemployed who are no longer looking for work do deserve to be counted in. Do your part.; 1/4/13, 9:34 PM
sakredkow said...: I think I'm getting the hang of this.

Said the thief to the joker.; 1/4/13, 9:57 PM
chickelit said...: phx said...
Said the thief to the joker.

There must out of here some way be.; 1/5/13, 12:07 AM
MayBee said...: AJ- I think you are right.

I would like to see a chart with their travel costs measured in Yearly Family Tax Bills. This would not just include their vacation expenses, but also his unnecessary photo op travel as well as the cost of flying "middle class taxpayers" to his photo ops at the White House. Those people probably had the government spend more in taxes to fly them out than they would have paid if the tax rates had gone up.

This trip is a whopper. Really? They can't all go at the same time, like real people do?; 1/5/13, 5:11 AM
Rusty said...: chickelit said...
phx said...
Said the thief to the joker.

There must out of here some way be.

Relief I can't get no.; 1/5/13, 7:39 AM
chickelit said...: @phx, chickelit, rusty:

Transposers!; 1/5/13, 8:24 AM
Aridog said...: MayBee said...

Really? They can't all go at the same time, like real people do?

You mean this kind of Real People ... you know, the kind who add personal plug statements {called "did you know") to the official White House histories of past Presidents, starting with Calvin Coolidge?

The guy who compares ending DA/DT with Truman's ending segregation in the military? Really?

The guy who commemorates notable moments in other people's history or events with photos of himself ...the one at the Vietnam Memorial Wall is my favorite, followed by the one sitting in the "Rosa Parks Bus" here (Detroit/Dearborn, MI) where he & is stooges can't even get him in to the right seat.

Reminds me of "Dear Leader": he's everywhere, doing everything, focus on him, he is the all of alls.

Oh...did I mention (again) he has usurped Congress on the Debt Ceiling...there need be no debate except for Kubuki Theater display for the masses. The Debt Ceiling was breeched early this week and "New" money is still being spent...game, set, match.; 1/5/13, 9:42 AM