April 1, 2019
Maher and the Mayor — Bill Maher interviews Pete Buttigieg.
Maher — noting that Buttigieg learned Norwegian so he could read a particular book — calls Buttigieg the opposite of whatever Trump is: "He's fat, you're thin. He's old, you're young. You went to Afghanistan, he dodged the draft.... So how do you beat him?"
Buttigieg quickly takes the focus away from where Maher put it (on the loathsomeness of Trump). You have to have to talk about substance and give the people better policies. "We gotta be willing to talk not just at the highest level, about our values, but at the ground level, about how following our values cashes out, and instead, a lot of the time we've been stuck at that middle level, which is about the policy designs, before we really win the day, either for the values that motivate those policies or for the results that come from those policies."
Lots of conceptualization about levels — with hand gestures for up here (with the values), down here (with the designs), and in the middle (which is, I guess, some muddle of values and designs). I don't know what he's saying he can do, but I bet there are people who love the long, multi-part, conceptual-as-hell sentence. It's a word salad, but it's a salade composée. And I just learned French so I could make that joke.
About those "levels"....
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Dem values?
Open borders.
Open the jails.
Green Leap Forward.
Socialism.
Legal pot.
Higher taxes.
Abolish the Electoral College.
16 year old kids voting.
Infanticide.
General lawlessness.
And much more!
You have to have to talk about substance and give the people better policies
At the present time you can't offer good policies and still be a Democrat. Debt doesn't matter because the government can print money, rich people need to be punished, Democrats can commit crimes andget away with it because politics, reparations, no planes, cow farts. This is what Democrats are at the moment.
In that context organic, cage-free, vegan word salad is what you can give people.
there are people who love the long, multi-part, conceptual-as-hell sentence.
The left loves style over substance. Look at the Green Leap Forward, It's nothing but unicorn farts. But the left lives on unicorn farts. Virtue signaling on steriods
Theodor Adorno in "The Jargon of Authenticity" quotes Christian Schutze's "Stenciled Speech for Festive Occasions" (p89), a perfect campaign speech.
https://rosswolfe.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/theodor-adorno-the-jargon-of-authenticity.pdf
(somebody put the book online). pdf, worth waiting for it to load. "Find" festive twice.
Also check out Adorno's following analysis.
As some who has such little regard for Bill Maher that he would pay little attention to the man if he sprouted wings and flew to the moon did the famously politically incorrect humorist ever once express an iota of skepticism of the "Russiagate" matter?
Sarah Palin was far more qualified than this guy. But he can do purtier things with his tongue than a twenty dollar whore.
After well over 200 years of the American experiment it is sad that much of the population can't identify the ideas and policies that have worked and those that have failed.
For decades, lefties told us that they had no problem with “dodging the draft”, only pro-Vietnam War politicos doing it. Now, even though Trump never supported that war, they bring up his non-participation in it constantly.
Governing is about being practical and getting results.
Mayor Pete’s record in South Bend was just a continuation of whatever lukewarm Dem policies they have had.
South Bend hasn’t had a GOP mayor since 1972.
Mayor Pete is a Talker. An Ideas Man.
What he is not is someone who gets results.
Buttigieg sounds like he's saying that liberal policies don't actually work. You can try to win by attacking your opponent, but people are likely to figure it out.
I thought we were supposed to like people who do dodged the draft.
The insufferably unfunny low-middlebrow pseudo-intellectual Bill Maher will now turn to his audience with his "Amirite?" face and they'll obligingly slap their flippers together in unison before returning home to Bushwick.
"He's fat, you're thin. He's old, you're young. You went to Afghanistan, he dodged the draft.... So how do you beat him?"
Trump likes hot women. You like dude's cocks.
He reminds me of Dukakis.
Good short interview with Maher. Mayor Pete is young, bright and articulate. He's definitely going places, politically.
Problem: no hard talk on any substantive policy. As Begley notes above, Democrats believe in stuff:
1. High taxes
2. Open Borders
3. Unlimited abortions, even post birth
4. Multi-culturism
5. Gay marriage
6. Global warming
What they lack is any sense of the importance of American history, tradition and fidelity to the Constitution. Maher nailed him, generally, on the fragility of millenial bullshit - safe spaces, trigger warnings, no free speech.
Mayor Pete studiously avoids discussions of South Bend, because it is too provincial. At bottom, he's a liberal Harvard kid in a hurry to make his name in politics.
"Lots of conceptualization about levels"
Sounds serious. Not a hack. Possibly competent. Perfect for certain voters eager to rationalize a Dem vote.
The phrase that Buttigieg used repeatedly that caught my ear was "cashing out", as in "how following our values cashes out".
Cash out. Cash in. Made me think of Jane's Addiction.
Everybody has
Their own opinion
Everybody has
Their own opinion
Holding it back
Hurts so bad
Jumping out of my flesh
And I said
Cash in!
Cash in now honey
Cash in now
Cash in now
Cash in now honey
Cash in miss smith
Cash in now!
"We gotta be willing to talk not just at the highest level, about our values, but at the ground level, about how following our values cashes out, and instead, a lot of the time we've been stuck at that middle level, which is about the policy designs, before we really win the day, either for the values that motivate those policies or for the results that come from those policies."
He's not wrong. Candidates need to talk about how their idea (or values) benefits the people. This is how you win the "squishy" middle. The rah-rah-rah abortion supporters are already going to vote for the democrat nominee. The evangelicals are going to vote for Trump. Any candidate running has to make the case to those 50% of the electorate in the middle how the candidate's ideas and values will make policies that will benefit the voters.
Here is the important point. Trump did that. He told everyone that wanted to listen to him what he would do as president, and how he will fight for manufacturing jobs, and how his policies will help those people in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, etc.
And here is the other important point, those on the left refuse to acknowledge that Trump talked about any issues. The democrats and the media have effectively lost the argument(s) to be had about Trump policies by not engaging with them, instead they are stuck in Orange Man Bad syndrome.
Make Ground Level Policy Designs Great Again.
Tank said...
He reminds me of Dukakis.
Ouch. Hard criticism from someone called Tank.
Colorado went full tile left, and now there is a ton of regret. Be careful, sometimes boring young and slick can turn into an evil snake and bite you.
@rehajm
Ho, that was funny.
Despite the many levels of policy design in South Bend, Indiana, only two of about 30 (40?) South Bend schools perform above state average, with many getting the worst rating possible.
Positives about Mayor Pete...he has a calm demeanor, appropriate hand gestures to what he's saying, a fine sounding voice that is decently manly, no up talking inflections, a good vocabulary (ha, even though Trump claims to have the "best words"). His presentation of his own persona inspires belief that he has some level of competence. However, I would like to hear how he feels about these caravans of illegal immigrants demanding asylum and how he feels about the growing Dem. support for third and fourth (yes, I meant "fourth) trimester abortions. If he ends up being a typical leftist progressive, the other things won't help him in the south and midwest.
South Bend has about half the population of Boise and it too has a liberal mayor who speaks an even more arcane language (Basque) and yet no one is interviewing Dave Beiter. What's the difference?
Buttigieg's dad was a professor of literature with a very pomo bent. This is why I prefer Yang whose dad was a physics guy. Unfair perhaps but I'm all in on the STEM craze.
https://english.nd.edu/people/faculty/emeritus/buttigieg/ I smell a commie. Hopefully his son isn't the prodigal type.
Buttigieg proposes competing with Trump Steaks by selling canned salad door to door. Throw in a free comb maybe...?
Does "gay-white-male-small city mayor" trump "black-female-Senator"?
We need a claymation "Celebrity DeathMatch" tournament for the Democratic candidates. That would be much more interesting than the debates.
I should add a note here. I just read on wiki that Pete's dad recently died and I don't like to speak ill of the dead.
Fernandistein said...
Despite the many levels of policy design in South Bend, Indiana, only two of about 30 (40?) South Bend schools perform above state average, with many getting the worst rating possible.
Even Mahr asked him how can he run for president while he has a city to run, unlike senators who don't do anything anyway.
Good on Buttigieg for counseling Dems that they can't continue to try to just jam big, sweeping policies down America's throat like they did with Obamacare. They need to get out there and sell people on their ideas.
The thing is, they can't sell current, extreme Dem policies on the ground. To close the deal, they'll have to sell something people will buy, i. e. move toward the middle.
However, a lot of Dems have no patience for that anymore. They don't want to convince people. They like the idea of forcing the rubes to bend the knee. For a lot of Dems, the idea of forcing people to be "good" and do what is "smart" has become more important than the supposed merits of the policies themselves. It seems to me, Maher is in that camp.
Dems no longer sell their ideas and candidates on merit. They convince people to sign on by associating opposition with the demonized out group. For this to work Dems need a candidate who is a member of an official victim group so they can claim Republican opposition is based on the bigotry and hate of yucky old white men.
Not sure homophobia is sufficient in this regard to turn out the black and hispanic voting blocks. Gays are a powerful group, but not a large one. And there's probably more genuine hostility towards gays in the black and hispanic communities than there is among whites.
Buttigieg's dad was a professor of literature with a very pomo bent.
I read that as "porno", which may not have been too far wrong.
Are we old people ready for a president who looks like a kid? No wonder he wants to sound high falutin'.
He was a gramsci translator, italian Marxist, the old joke being those who Italian gramsci are marxists, those who understand it are conservative
Remember when Pat Riley copyrighted the term "Threepeat?"
If this boy wins the nomination, I need to copyright the name "Mayor Buttplug."
We're in the "silly season" part of presidential campaigns, in which a zillion candidates appear to get noticed in the public-opinion polls long before even a single caucus or primary is held. Remember the "surging candidacy" of Michele Bachmann?
Most Americans don't pay attention to politics this early. And they're right. It's pointless.
> learned Norwegian
One more language than Obama
the smartest President we ever had
Being "smart" worked for President Adlai Stevenson
Yet here is Trump, our "dumbest" President
Shorter Mayor Pete: "blah, blah, blah."
Most Americans don't pay attention to politics this early. And they're right. It's pointless.
Not completely as it indicates that members of the party are not happy with what they see and are searching.
In 2008, everyone thought Hillary had it in the bag. I thought Obama was running for VP and, I suspect, he was at first.
In 2016, the fix was in. Not this time.
In 2016, the fix was in. Not this time.
It's been claimed the rules have changed but I'm not certain it isn't still a coronation.
Buttgieg talks a lot.
He hasn’t and will never do anything. He is too intellectual.
Lindell the MyPillow guy is smarter than Buttgieg. He designed and built a product people want to buy.
The leftists are empty shells and Buttgieg just provides a glossier shell.
For a lot of Dems, the idea of forcing people to be "good" and do what is "smart" has become more important than the supposed merits of the policies themselves. It seems to me, Maher is in that camp.
It seems to me Bob Boyd is right, as is My name goes here (the commentator).
I think part of it has to do with “intersectionality.” There was a time when the Democrats had to negotiate among the various competing interests of the disparate groups comprising their coalition — you get this if you let this other group have that. Now they just wave the “Intersectionality” banner and everyone is supposed to dutifully fall in line.
But it doesn’t work, not always. The Democrats can — have! — thrown white men who work hard for a living out of their coalition, keeping only that part who work for the government, but then they can wave the Intersectionality banner all they want, nevertheless they will (and have) lost the women who love them.
Will the Intersectionality banner be enough to keep Jews and Muslims who want to kill Jews in the same coalition? So far the answer is affirmative, but will it work forever? Gonna buy some more popcorn for that one.
I would concede that Mayor Pete is an improvement over the the current cast of clowns running for the Democrat nomination.
But that's a low bar.
If Mayor Pete converted to Islam, adopted a two black kids, and started reading Milton Friedman, his intersectionality would reach epic levels.
"If Mayor Pete converted to Islam...
Then he would have to throw himself off a building. Praise Allah.
Professor Buttigieg's scholarly work focused on Foucault and Gramsci, both postmodern heroes. It's reasonable to assume that the thought of these two postmodern heroes had some influence on the professor's son. Let's hope that influence led Mayor Pete to reject their thinking. For example, Foucault's contribution to political philosophy was his denial of any kind of objective truth-not exactly a view compatible with a belief in natural rights.
You people stink of fear and loathing, just like President Vagina Neck
Someone please save me some time: I didn't read the "word salad," but I'm guessing one word that was not included was "liberty." Am I correct? The l-word doesn't seem to be part of the "liberal" vocabulary these days.
How does the mayor of South we Bend figure he is qualified to be POTUS?
They're gonna have to work around Mayor Pete. He is unique and not easily disqualified. I guess they can dangle VP in front of him, but that too is not in the cards.
Hes like a jeopardy answer at this point, from my contacts hes not particularly impressive.
We'll know he's getting traction when the Stunning Revelations appear.
You notice how its legally impossible to do the right thibg:
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/03/alex-acostas-signature-policy-flames-out-in-court.php
Why is it such a big deal that he learned Norwegian to read a book? Does he speak Norwegian? Is Buttigieg a Norwegian name?
I will learn Austrian to read a book written in Austrian, then I will run for the presidency.
I didn't learn Nadsat to read 'A Clockwork Orange', there was an appendix with translations in the back of the book.
Always follow the money:
https://freebeacon.com/culture/author-nyt-anti-israel-piece-works-group-funded-qatar/
He’s named Trump, you’re named Buttigieg....
In all bloody seriousness, you’re crazy if you don’t think that matters. Maybe even matters most in terms of independent electability. At least as debilitating in national politics as a face tattoo. Maybe more so.
Shorter version: the Mayor was telling the Maher that it would take a lot more than saying “Hey! I’m not Trump” to win outside of whatever bubble the Hollywood folks inhabit.
Part of the same madness:
https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/273331/kiwi-madness-bruce-bawer
Blogger Tank said... He reminds me of Dukakis
That’s been my take from day one and I’m from Mayor Pete’s vicinity. He’s not Greek like Dukakis but Maltese so it’s close. They look alike, speak in a similar manner, and like Dukakis he’s way too zen. It will doom him ... but it will also endear him to 20% of the electorate.
You people stink of fear and loathing, just like President Vagina Neck
We are more likely to stink of amusement and possibly overconfidence, but definitely not fear or loathing.
You used to be amusing Howard. Now you seem really bitter.
Stay on topic, Narciso. Althouse is letting us off the leash today to see who misbehaves.
Ok well hes a cookie cutter rep who checks the right boxes, has done little for south bend, so hes a narrow niche candidate, I didnt know buttigeg was Maltese. Until a few weeks ago.
Well we know who hes singing to;
https://www.google.com/amp/s/static.theintercept.com/amp/mayor-pete-buttigieg-on-trump-islamophobia-and-his-presidential-bid.html
Hasan was originally a Khomeini supportee
Dukakis in 1988 was a trip. Nobody particularly wanted him. Yes, he was a Governor of a big state, Mass, but he had no national following, no charisma, no gravitas. But he played by the DNC rules, and fairly and squarely won the Dem nomination.
That was the last time.
That will never happen again.
Losing a presidency is devastating, financially, to the Dems. Ever since then, they have put up somebody who has a good shot at winning. Even Kerry in 2004, arguably, their weakest candidate, came close to unseating Bush.
So, political flirtations with Mayor Pete are fine, but if he is deemed not yet politically ripe, he will be sent back down to the Minors.
I still think Bernie will win the nomination -- for the same reason as Trump did in 2016. The rest of the field splinters their vote --Bernie's loyal following of 30% carries the day.
Please people - if he wasn't gay, he'd be the butt of late night comedy jokes.
Buttiogeieg is a dyed in the wool far lefty who pretends he is a moderate [ala Dopey Joe Biden]. And by what path, do these wannabe pols get service positions which give them the military cred but keep them off the front lines? Biden's son, Buttigieg, etc.
Lastly, I am way more impressed with Congressman Crenshaw who seems to have an abundance of common sense.
There is no way Americans are going to pull the lever for a guy named Buttigieg as President.
It's just not going to happen.
Dukakis in 1988 was a trip. Nobody particularly wanted him.
He ran on the ":Massachusetts Miracle" which collapsed during the campaign or shortly after.
I still think Bernie will win the nomination
I think the big money is behind Harris. It will be interesting. Vermont is a small state CA has lots of votes,.
But the left lives on unicorn farts.
True, but only while conservative folks are farming, slaughtering, transporting, and marketing the necessities of life.
Even Karl Marx had a maid (who he bedded, it seems).
You like dude's cocks.
And/or dude's assholes.
Taste matters.
I’m glad to see that most of the criticism of Buttigieg doesn’t hinge on his sexual preference.
This field of Progressive candidates posing as Democrats will prove that one may vote for someone who is not gay or black or trans or fat or thin or male or female and be a productive, positive, upright human being and citizen for any number of reasons, and do so while hoping to provide the greatest good for the greatest number of citizens.
Inga: "I’m glad to see that most of the criticism of Buttigieg doesn’t hinge on his sexual preference."
Lefties take time out from their non-stop "tea-bagger" sexual innuendo, allusions to Lundsay Grahams relationship status, continuing sexual slurs against Melania, bitter clinging to hoax dossier golden shower lies and Manafort/Stone prison rape jokes to decry references to sexual preferences.
Discuss.
I’m glad to see that most of the criticism of Buttigieg doesn’t hinge on his sexual preference.
I just hope that most people won't let their vote hinge on his sexual preference.
Inga the State's Handmaid writes that she's glad most of the criticism of Buttgieg doesn't hinge on his sexual preference. Would she expect it to? Uh-oh, I smell prejudice! Is it nice and warm and comfy in your cocoon, Inga? It must be rough to pull yourself out of it to attend those Mensa meetings.
Me, I'd vote for Jack from WILL AND GRACE if he pledged to just go after the bad guys (terrorists, etc.) and otherwise leave me the heck alone.
As I have said on previous occasions, "The Butt" reading a book in Norwegian wouldn't impress me the way him reading and digesting HUMAN ACTION by Ludwig Von Mises. (You'll remember Von Mises. The last time I referenced him here, Genius Inga cited that as proof positive that I was a closet Trump Cultist. Really.)
nga...Allie Oop said...
I’m glad to see that most of the criticism of Buttigieg doesn’t hinge on his sexual preference
Very True - Colbert definitely dare not call him cock-holster; though if Mr Butts shows up on his show - all will be thinking it.
I would like to learn more about the Norwegian angle. Love the idea that one would learn a new language just to read a book but My bullshit antennae are trembling a touch. It is reported that an actual Norwegian was bowled over to hear him speak in her language. Unless unusually gifted it takes a while to learn to read a language and a good while longer to speak it competently. I remain curious.
Is it mandatory the Dem candidates appear in shirtsleeves a la Bobby Kennedy, sleves rolled up.
I’m glad to see that most of the criticism of Buttigieg doesn’t hinge on his sexual preference.
I was thinking that "Creepy Hands" Uncle Joe would get that attention, then I thought of the perfect ticket:
Biden/Buttigieg - The Plugs Ticket.
As in hair plugs and buttplugs
I’m glad to see that most of the criticism of Buttigieg doesn’t hinge on his sexual preference.
That's because he would be a small-town mayor nobody's ever heard of if not for his sexual preference.
narayanan/Inga exchange: nga...Allie Oop said...
"I’m glad to see that most of the criticism of Buttigieg doesn’t hinge on his sexual preference
"Very True - Colbert definitely dare not call him cock-holster; though if Mr Butts shows up on his show - all will be thinking it."
I don't know how true it is, although I read it on the Internet so it must be true; but Colbert's mouth is Hillary's cock-holster.
You people don't seem to realize your homophobia is rooted in your latent homosexual desire.
When you stop to think about it, the nearly exact opposite of a community organizer for people in public and low rent housing is a real estate developer who builds and markets high end condos for the rich. You don't get contrasts more stark than that......I think Obama won more votes from people who voted for him exclusively because he was black than he lost from people who voted against him exclusively because he was black. It's probably impossible to quantify such numbers because people in both camps are liars. There are people who will vote against Buttigieg because he's gay, but, among Democrats anyway, he will win a fair number of votes for just that reason. Dems are always shopping for a French Tennis Court moment, when they can hold hands and proclaim their belief in equality and fraternity. It's very paradise to be young at such moments. Millennials are particularly eager for the paradisiacal moments that Buttigieg can supply. Plus he's much better at hand gestures than O'Rourke.......Personally, I like him better than Elizabeth Warren.
Howard: "You people don't seem to realize your homophobia is rooted in your latent homosexual desire."
That certainly is what all the Cool Kid psychoanalysts were saying in the 60's.
Usually while wearing turtlenecks and frequenting body painting parties.
All very groovy baby.
“Is it nice and warm and comfy in your cocoon, Inga?”
What cocoon? I’m here daily, is this my cocoon?
LOL
Howie Zowie,
Are homosexuals who look at heteros with disdain, calling them "breeders" etc expressing their repressed heterosexuality?
Reminds me of that powerful childhood retort: "I know you are but what am I?"
I meant the cocoon in your head, Inga--where the State is our benevolent best buddy (no Democide here!), statism brings only peace and prosperity, and the Law of Supply and Demand can be suspended by clicking your heels three times.
"One more language than Obama"
He knew Austrian!
What language must one learn to properly pronounce his last name?
The left's love affair and fawning for identity politics. What's next, the first pedophile president? After that?
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