November, 2012 archive
General Consternation 7
Thomas Ricks appears on Fresh Air to discuss how being an US Army General turned into a tenured post. From the website:
He says it boils down to one word: accountability. Back in World War II, successful generals were generally promoted, while unsuccessful generals were relieved of their commands. But that began to change during the Korean War.
Follow the link to read the full story or the transcript or to listen to the show.
Twits on Twitter 0
NFL hangers-on twits–Bob Molinaro in today’s local rag:
Molinaro is one of the finest sports writers around. He’s almost the only reason I still read the sports section.
Blather Blather Blather Culture! Others! Twaddle Twaddle Twaddle 2
Under the guise of a column about electoral tactics, David Brooks blames the Republican loss on American citizens who don’t think like David Brooks.
It is a sun-glint wave with an undertow of xenophobia.
The Booman offers a more accurate analysis.
Grace in Defeat 0
Offered without comment.
Peter Morrison, who serves as treasurer of the Hardin County Republican Party, wrote in his post-election newsletter that there was a clear solution to the problem of Obama’s re-election.
“We must contest every single inch of ground and delay the baby-murdering, tax-raising socialists at every opportunity,” Morrison wrote. “But in due time, the maggots will have eaten every morsel of flesh off of the rotting corpse of the Republic, and therein lies our opportunity.”
The Galt and the Lamers 0
Murray Energy, known for forcing employees attend a Romney rally without pay, goes Galt.
If they can’t get their way by stealing the election, they try throwing a temper tantrum.
And Bill O’Reilly had the nerve to accuse poor people of wanting stuff.
Seems to me that the biggest stuff-wanters are rich folks for whom too much is never enough.
Re-Imagining the Brand 0
You can’t hit a political website or a website that discusses politics without seeing an article wondering whether the Republican Party will reconsider their tactics in view of the fate of Mitt the Flip.
I am certain they will, with the full support of their rank-and-file:
Everybody Must Get Fracked 0
It will shake you to the core.
The Voter Fraud Fraud 0
Hoist on their own petard. Delicious details at the link.
They found out that it wasn’t so easy. Both of them may be charged with felonies.
Perhaps this will help them separate fact from reality in the future.
Twits on Twitter 0
Twits with Trump cards.
ROI 0
Daniel Ruth considers the tremendous amounts of right-wing money expended on the recent election and the stunning lack of ROI for the rich guys who expended it. A nugget:
And Donald Trump, the Lord of the Lies? Can we all agree that the Great Pumpkin of Puffery has retired the title of the nation’s village buffoon?
As for talk radio’s conservative fringe — Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and Todd Schnitt — in the run-up to Election Day, there was more foaming spittle flying through the speakers than Old Yeller in his death throes.
Certainly a case can be made election night was a triumph over the politics of stupid.
Read the rest. It’s a gem.
It’s Not Even Veterans’ Day . . . 0
. . . and Santa is already descending on local malls to sell photographs.
At MacArthur Center
The magic words to explain Santa’s early arrival are these:
$21 to $55
Also, movie sales.
Break Time 0
Off to drink liberally.
Meanwhile, on the White Wing . . . 0
The SPLC rounds up reaction amongst the mongers of hate:
The reaction to the re-election of our first black president from the radical right — and that seemed clearly to include some University of Mississippi students — ranged from sputtering rage and name-calling to calls for a new Southern secession, mass emigration to Europe, or even the break-up of the United States. There was one thing large numbers seemed clearly to agree on: The changing racial demographics of our country, expected to lose its white majority by 2050, was key to the result.
Read the rest. Then help them out with a donation.
Heeeee’s Back 0
Alan Grayson is going back to Congress. An excerpt:
If we go back to the principle that a dollar is a dollar and just because you’re rich, and you get it through capital gains, doesn’t mean you get some sort of special tax break,” he said. “If we go back to the sense that a dollar is a dollar, they’re all green, let’s tax them equally, that itself will go substantially to reduce the deficit.
Via Raw Story.