February, 2021 archive
And Now for a Musical Interlude 0
Afterthought:
Yeah. I didn’t know she was once a brownette either.
Unity, Republican Style 0
Today’s Republican Party is a vile and loathsome thing which would replace the American dream with an American nightmare.
Image via The Bob Cesca Show Blog.
All the News that Fits, Return of Beyond the Palin Dept. 0
David comments on Piers Morgan’s recent interview with Sarah Palin, who seems firmly entrenched in the Fox News bubble.
The Circular Forgetting Squad 0
Ramesh Ponnuru takes a look at Republicans’ arguments against the impeachment trial of the previous federal executive. One of them is particular well-rounded, circular even.
Follow the link for the others.
Cancel Culture, Republican Style 0
Republicans clutch their pearls and look for their fainting couches because Neera Tanden had the unmitigated gall to have an opinion and (the horror!) express it.
Geeking Out 0
Magiea and Fluxbox. The wallpaper is from my collection (not that that should be a surprise–I do like my pretty pictures).
It’s All about the Algorithm, Q and You Dept. 0
Sam and his crew discuss a recent CNN interview with a woman who fell down the QAnon rabbit hole. I submit that the significant element of her story is that she did not seek out the claptrap; rather, “social” media served it up to her, because eyeballs.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
At the Las Vegas Sun, a self-confessed “gun nut” confesses that he doesn’t get today’s gun nuts. A snippet; do please read the rest.
A bit of clarification: This self-confessed “gun nut” is a “gun nut” in the same way that my cousin, a hunter, was a “gun nut.” My cousin had several rifles and shotguns for hunting, as well as some collectors’ items, because they were, well, collectors’ items. When he and my aunt and uncle would come to Pine View Farm for Thanksgiving dinner (a family tradition when I was a young ‘un), an afternoon hunting expedition was part of the deal. Sometimes, my brother and I would walk along on the hunt.
To the best of my knowledge, though, he never craved a bazooka.
Afterthought:
It might be worthwhile to create a new taxonomy of gunnuttery to separate “gun fetishists” (or maybe “gun fondlers”?) from “gun hobbyists.”
I get “gun hobbyists.” It’s been a long time since I lived in a place where I could trot a gun out into the back yard and take potshots at tin cans, but, if I could, I would. Because it’s fun.
But I’ve never had any desire to pack heat at the local supermarket for fear of a confrontation over canned coffee.
The Courage of Their Conniptions 0
Gwynne Dyer is an optimist thinks that there’s hope for the Republican Party.
Here’s a bit of the straw at which she grasps. Follow the link for the rest of the broom.
The following day, in an open vote on whether Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a fanatical Trump loyalist, should keep her seat on several congressional committees despite her ugly and certifiably crazy views, the very same Republican members of the House voted to keep her in place by 199 to 11.
(snip)
The Republican members of Congress may be weak and cowardly, but most are not wicked. In an open vote, they felt they had to back Greene, because otherwise Trump’s loyalists back in their home districts would ensure that they never got elected again. But they’d love to dump him if they could do it safely.
Underpinnings 0
American history and race (and racism) are intimately intertwined.
In a fascinating article at The American Scholar, Nancy Isenberg explores what she calls the “problem of whiteness” in American history and culture. She traces the historical roots and variations and permutations of the meaning of “white” and “whiteness” from the Colonial era forward. In doing so, she helps illuminate events and attitudes that shape American society today.
Her piece is beyond summary, but here’s an excerpt which will give you a hint of some of the contradictions and hypocrisies that she tracks; follow the link for the rest.
Left Dangling (on the Hook) 0
E. J. Montini has a idea as to why the previous federal executive did not preemptively pardon the January 6 insurrectionists, despite requests from many of them. He cites two of them:
Likewise, Adam Newbold, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL who boasted on Facebook about “breaching the Capitol,” told ABC News, “I would like to express to you just a cry for clemency, as you understand that my life now has been absolutely turned upside-down.”
Follow the link to see Montini’s theory as to why their pleas were ignored. Methinks he is onto something.
Aside:
Yes, I know that they should have known better than to fall for a pitch from a serial con artist who’s failed at everything he’s ever tried except acting a part on television. But they didn’t.
See below.