Althouse: At the Saturday Night Cafe...

September 1, 2018

At the Saturday Night Cafe...

... talk your way to Sunday.

63 comments:

Jaq said...: I was watching the “Freakonomics” movie, and they compared the overthrow of the communists in Eastern Europe to a crime wave, and said it was because Rumania outlawed abortion.

I lost a lot of respect for that guy after watching that.; 9/1/18, 9:19 PM
jerpod said...: Incredible! An SNL skit that skewers progs. And it’s funny. The times, they may be changing?

https://youtu.be/yfCCwEf_J5A

And it’s Saturday night, even!; 9/1/18, 9:20 PM
Ralph L said...: Is there more McCainathon tomorrow? Sometimes I'm glad I don't have cable.; 9/1/18, 9:23 PM
Bates said...: Is Trump racist? Traditional racist or progressive definition of racism?; 9/1/18, 9:24 PM
Amexpat said...: For Ennio Morricone fans: The Danish Broadcasting Corporation has done brilliant renditions of his film scores. My favorite is Sergio Leone's " The Good, Bad and the Ugly" with the wonderful, whistling, "Wah-Wah" woman and a conductor who is very easy on the eyes.

Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkM71JPHfjk

The "Once upon the West" rendition is also very good:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efdswXXjnBA; 9/1/18, 9:30 PM
Ralph L said...: Jerpod, it amazes me that the audience laughed. They must be well trained and not the knee-jerkers I assumed.

Someone at SNL must have read Saki's Tobermory.; 9/1/18, 9:37 PM
Andrew said...: I'm hoping that the McCain funeral has inadvertently accomplished what the Wellstone funeral did years ago. Namely, a backlash from disgusted average citizens who vote to punish the elites.; 9/1/18, 9:37 PM
steve uhr said...: Andrew. Most average Americans thought McCain's funeral was disgusting? You sure have your finger on the pulse of America.; 9/1/18, 9:46 PM
Big Mike said...: @steve uhr, he does. He does.; 9/1/18, 9:51 PM
Big Mike said...: It sometimes amazes me that people still watch SNL.; 9/1/18, 9:52 PM
stephen cooper said...: steve ...andrew is right, whether you know it or not.

Millions of Americans suffered profoundly in the wake of the decisions of the rich Kennedys and of the insane Lyndon Johnson, and to a lesser extent of Nixon, to have our sons go to Vietnam to get shot at by people who wanted to kill Americans, without rules of engagement that would have allowed our sons to actually win that war, which they could easily have done, if the Kennedys and Johnsons had been decent leaders. Think about it.

Rather than make absolutely certain that the funeral of McCain remembered those Americans,i.e., the victims of the Kennedys and Johnson and, to a lesser extent, of Nixon, the rich clueless relatives and rich clueless friends of McCain produced a spectacle of hate for Americans who support the guy - Trump - admittedly, not a vet, but I am a vet and I am willing to say that I have no problem with people who are not vets respecting vets - anyway, one or more of McCain's chosen speakers disgraced themselves with their contempt for the guy who supports those of us who served. And who got shot at, while the rich Kennedys and the rich Johnsons, and to a lesser extent, rich Nixon, more or less enjoyed life.

steve uhr, do you really think that the funeral orations were made by people who really cared about those who died for this country, and are you really willing to join them in their sad unpatriotic insults for Trump, the best friend the vets have had since Reagan? And, if you are, do you realize that Obama and the Clintons still are too rich to want people like you (and me) at their cocktail parties?; 9/1/18, 10:01 PM
RBE said...: Has Lazlo returned?; 9/1/18, 10:02 PM
jerpod said...: Big Mike: “It sometimes amazes me that people still watch SNL.“

Agreed. I was searching for something else and happened to see that. I assumed
it was from the show tonight... but that hasn’t aired yet (10 pm central). Not sure why I
viewed that clip. But I was very pleasantly surprised.

Haven’t sat through a full SNL in about 20 years.; 9/1/18, 10:06 PM
narciso said...: It's as convoluted as the first mission impossible film

https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/09/01/comical-propaganda-nyt-now-claiming-fbi-was-trying-to-flip-oleg-deripaska/; 9/1/18, 10:07 PM
Ralph L said...: The SNL clip was March 2017.; 9/1/18, 10:16 PM
WK said...: Glad that college football is back.; 9/1/18, 10:16 PM
jerpod said...: Ralph L: The SNL clip was March 2017.

Hmm. Ok, blows my theory about the times changing. It was nice for a few minutes though. Back to the new season of Ozark.; 9/1/18, 10:24 PM
Ralph L said...: From People magazine:
[Meghan] McCain, who “didn’t want a traditional wedding,” chose to walk down the aisle covered with cow hides.; 9/1/18, 10:29 PM
Michael K said...: You sure have your finger on the pulse of America.

Yes. Good of you to notice it.; 9/1/18, 10:33 PM
jerpod said...: Who was covered in cowhides? The aisle or Meggy?; 9/1/18, 10:34 PM
Mike Sylwester said...: This evening I was at a relative's home, where CNN was playing. A CNN reporter was going around to some old military veterans and asking whether John McCain was a military hero and asking what they thought of someone who suggested that McCain was not a hero.; 9/1/18, 10:36 PM
Mike Sylwester said...: Every CNN producer and reporter has voted against John McCain at every opportunity.; 9/1/18, 10:38 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: burp; 9/1/18, 10:41 PM
Birkel said...: I am perplexed by the likes of steve uhr. Middle America went for Teump in large numbers. Middle America thinks D.C. is corrupt beyond measure.

Most Americans know zero Supreme Court justices and all the Kardashians. Most of them wonder why the MSM spent so much time talking about an 82 year old politician who didn’t have the grace to give up power before the inevitable death.

Most Americans cannot understand a man who would rather travel to D.C. than retire to and with the wife and kids. And the inordinate press is unbecoming, when so many remember the criticism of McCain from a mere ten years ago.; 9/1/18, 10:43 PM
Michael Fitzgerald said...: Both funerals were an orgy of tastelessness created to showcase corrupt and wicked narcissists because the democrat party configured, engineered and broadcast both events in order to embarrass the president, and to GOTV.; 9/1/18, 10:56 PM
Ralph L said...: SNL is running a McCain-hosted show tonight. I assume a rerun.; 9/1/18, 10:58 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Narciso,

That was a predictable ploy. As always, accuse the people you are conspiring with when it all goes tits up. Deripaska seems like a smart guy and realizes that Trump isn't going anywhere- the Solomon stories in The Hill were his shot across the bows of Mueller and others that it might be time to cut bait.; 9/1/18, 11:23 PM
FullMoon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/1/18, 11:29 PM
narciso said...: Well he's starve quickly, I recall Giuliani was also on snl, how did that work out.; 9/1/18, 11:44 PM
readering said...: Since Andy Williams not around to sing battle hymn of the Republic at my funeral, I'd go for Renee Fleming singing Danny Boy. Don't want Ariana Grande singing you make me feel like a natural woman for several reasons (not that she isn't as great a performer as the otherwise). The; 9/2/18, 3:13 AM
readering said...: Others.

Damn autocorrect.; 9/2/18, 3:14 AM
Lewis Wetzel said...: If you want to see how eagerly the NY Times pushes the FBI/JD line, check it out: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/01/us/politics/deripaska-ohr-steele-fbi.html
When you read between the lines, the FBI is fabricating, post facto, a narrative that attempts to explain why their spying on the Trump campaign was, well, sort of an accident. Ohr and Steele, you see, were really a dynamic duo trying to "turn" a Putin confidant. It didn't work, and gosh darn it, Trump was kind of caught up in it accidentally, mostly.

The systematic effort to win the cooperation of the oligarchs, which has not previously been revealed, does not appear to have scored any successes. And in Mr. Deripaska’s case, he told the American investigators that he disagreed with their theories about Russian organized crime and Kremlin collusion in the campaign, a person familiar with the exchanges said. The person added that Mr. Deripaska even notified the Kremlin about the American efforts to cultivate him.
But the fallout from the efforts is now rippling through American politics and has helped fuel Mr. Trump’s campaign to discredit the investigation into whether he coordinated with Russia in its interference in the election.

See, Ohr and Steele weren't conspiring to use government intelligence to dig up dirt for Hillary and the Dems, they were just trying to get a Russian baddy! They were trying to do good, and now see how everyone is saying that they were doing bad! It's a dirty shame, I tells ya'.
Hillary's campaign is mentioned in an aside, but not the words "Fusion GPS", or the fact that Ohr's wife worked for fusion as a Russia specialist. You would think that may have a bearing on the story.
No doubt is cast on the story of the anonymous FBI by the NY Times writers. Apparently, they believe that the FBI lies to everyone but the New York Times.; 9/2/18, 4:04 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: AMEXPAT.. Many thanks; 9/2/18, 4:58 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: America's Elitist adulation was certainly excessive this week. It is what "entertainment" has morphed into. Methinks we were a better people with Ralph and Alice Kramden. I could be wrong.; 9/2/18, 5:08 AM
Mr. Groovington said...: Lawyers discuss Better Call Saul:

https://youtu.be/yfCCwEf_J5A

I’m worried sick about Jimmy tbh.
I can’t watch Lydia Rodarte-Quayle without sporting a tremendous soldier.
Missed Howard last week. Awesome guy, man how he’s evolved as a character. Wish he was my lawyer.; 9/2/18, 5:09 AM
Mr. Groovington said...: If you Google image

Lydia Gus

That surprise re-introduction in the car has to be one of the powerful moments in recent TV history. I shat myself almost.

On that subject, I was in Gansbaai a few days ago and a Canadian shat himself in the shark dive cage the week before. A Great White approached the cage with jaw open, the Canadian later said he could see down its throat, and pooped.; 9/2/18, 5:23 AM
Humperdink said...: steve uhr opined: ". Most average Americans thought McCain's funeral was disgusting? "

I do not know that my late father had any enemies, bit if he did, I am certain they would not be highlighted, let alone mentioned, in his eulogy.

steve, your logic escapes me.; 9/2/18, 5:52 AM
stevew said...: At the Cape for the weekend. It's my mother in law's place, 140 year old sea captain's house. She's widowed so I assist with the projects you can't hire people to do. Replaced the top step to the cellar, fixed a failed outdoor light switch, and cleaned and repaired the gas grill. Also snuck in a swim at high tide. Thus, I've missed all of McCainApalooza. From the sounds of it is a most insufferable affair, which is to say I'm not missing anything. Happy Labor Day.

-sw; 9/2/18, 6:29 AM
America’s Politico said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/2/18, 6:30 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: So ABC cropped Farrakhan? Famous anti semites on the dias. Quite a tribute.; 9/2/18, 6:36 AM
hawkeyedjb said...: It's the newest thing, the political funeral. I'm sure that my father's funeral service will feature criticism of people with whom he disagreed politically.

NOT.; 9/2/18, 6:40 AM
Fritz said...: hawkeyedjb said...
It's the newest thing, the political funeral. I'm sure that my father's funeral service will feature criticism of people with whom he disagreed politically.

NOT.

I'm starting a long list of politicians to exclude from mine.; 9/2/18, 6:42 AM
Tank said...: Well. some weird funerals this week. Tank did not watch, but could not avoid hearing/reading about them. Is McCain's funeral over, or are they carrying it over into next week.

A lot of people loved Aretha's music, Tank was not among them, just not his thing. I do wonder what she would have thought about so many people using her funeral for their own agendas. Maybe she would have approved, who knows.; 9/2/18, 6:59 AM
Tank said...: Just read that Aretha did not have a will. So, along with her other attributes, add … she was a dope. Did she not have any friends, family or confidants who could convince her to get her affairs in order. Tank has had a will since his kids were born; anyone who doesn't is a dope. Whoever her heirs are, she made their continuing lives much more complicated, possible very complicated in a very unpleasant way.

Of course, Tank does not know Aretha, perhaps she has squandered all her wealth; if so, nevermind.; 9/2/18, 7:29 AM
MayBee said...: Watching the SNL with John McCain last night reminded me of how funny SNL used to be. Also funny to watch McCain make fun of the anti-terroism measures at the time, considering the absolute hawk he became.; 9/2/18, 7:38 AM
Jaq said...: McCain is just mad at Trump because Trump doesn’t start wars like Hillary did, like Obama did, and like he, doubtless would have.; 9/2/18, 7:50 AM
Jaq said...: Is Trump racist? Traditional racist or progressive definition of racism?

There is no fixed definition of racist. If it had a fixed definition, it would be open to discussion.; 9/2/18, 7:52 AM
Humperdink said...: Just saw a pic of Farrakhan, Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Clinton lined up at Aretha's funeral.

Caption: "Three racists and a rapist go to a funeral......"; 9/2/18, 7:57 AM
Paco Wové said...: "steve, your logic escapes me."

Makes sense to me – he's questioning the idea that most Americans found McCain's funeral disgusting. I don't know that we have evidence for it one way or another. Some people found it disgusting; some people apparently thought it great; I suspect the vast majority didn't think about it one way or another.; 9/2/18, 8:00 AM
Jaq said...: Memory Hole; 9/2/18, 8:09 AM
Humperdink said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 9/2/18, 8:29 AM
Humperdink said...: Hump said: "steve, your logic escapes me."

Paco Wove responded: "Makes sense to me – he's questioning the idea that most Americans found McCain's funeral disgusting. I don't know that we have evidence for it one way or another. Some people found it disgusting; some people apparently thought it great; I suspect the vast majority didn't think about it one way or another."

You might be right. However, he actually said: "Most average Americans thought McCain's funeral was disgusting?" Average Americans want that circus at a funeral? I guessed I am missing something.; 9/2/18, 8:31 AM
narciso said...: https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/09/two_funerals_and_a_missing_cardinal.html; 9/2/18, 8:44 AM
narciso said...: she has more than a few comedians in her family, so there is a touch of whimsy here,; 9/2/18, 8:47 AM
Paco Wové said...: "Average Americans want that circus at a funeral?"

Good point, I missed that key word. I don't know the answer, though I suspect that most Americans just don't care. It's just one more bit of incessant hysterical establishment propaganda, and as such will have no marked effect. The same people that have eagerly lapped up such propaganda will continue to do so, and those that are repulsed will continue to be repulsed.

What made the Wellstone funeral stand out was that at the time, it was unprecedented; for me, at least, it was one of the first indications that the Democrats – which I had aligned myself with more often than not – had gone batshit crazy.; 9/2/18, 8:49 AM
Paco Wové said...: The "average American" is quite a schizophrenic beast, having voted about half for Trump and about half for Establishment in the last election. I'm not sure I'd trust anyone presuming to divine its political opinions.; 9/2/18, 9:00 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: "See, Ohr and Steele weren't conspiring to use government intelligence to dig up dirt for Hillary and the Dems, they were just trying to get a Russian baddy! They were trying to do good, and now see how everyone is saying that they were doing bad! It's a dirty shame, I tells ya'.
Hillary's campaign is mentioned in an aside, but not the words "Fusion GPS", or the fact that Ohr's wife worked for fusion as a Russia specialist. You would think that may have a bearing on the story.
No doubt is cast on the story of the anonymous FBI by the NY Times writers. Apparently, they believe that the FBI lies to everyone but the New York Times."

This may not go as planned. Deripaska Apparently offered to testify before Congress last year, without immunity, and his offer was rejected by the Senate Intelligence committee, and, apparently, in particular, Vice Chair Mark Warner. But this is now more of a Judiciary issue anyway, and I suspect that some of the House committees investigating the scandal, or the senate Judiciary committee might be very interested in what he has to say.; 9/2/18, 9:12 AM
narciso said...: And almost picking Howard 'yeargh' dean, was another, for the nomination.; 9/2/18, 9:13 AM
Michael K said...: his offer was rejected by the Senate Intelligence committee, and, apparently, in particular, Vice Chair Mark Warner.

I've been wondering for a while now what Warner has on Burr.; 9/2/18, 9:39 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: "I've been wondering for a while now what Warner has on Burr."

It could just be osmosis. These are the Senators who spend a lot of time with our spies, and CTH Claims that the Senate Intelligence committee is the most corrupt, and the most protective of the Deep State. I suspect that it is a heady experience routinely being briefed by our top spies, like Clapper and Brennan, about intelligence matters that no one else, outside the White House knows anything about, as is the case for Burr and Warner (as members of the Gang of Eight).; 9/2/18, 10:18 AM
narciso said...: Burr is jebs man, castigated Cruz for trying to trim the whole fisa matter to respectable limits.; 9/2/18, 12:18 PM
narciso said...: Does the intelligence committee deal with actual intelligence, either kind?; 9/2/18, 12:29 PM
narciso said...: I think it's a,reasonable query:

http://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/403692-the-enigmatic-case-of-carter-page; 9/2/18, 12:46 PM