From Pine View Farm

December, 2022 archive

The Sound of Silence 0

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s editorial board argues that the Republican Party’s silence about George Santos speaks volumes. A snippet:

Republican leaders’ attempt to shrug off Santos’ pathological dishonesty and move on drives home just how much damage has been done to the party after a half-dozen years in thrall to a fabulist former president who remains the party’s 2024 presidential frontrunner.

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The Petulance of the Privileged 0

Paul Krugman is not surprised at Elon Musk’s antics in this, our new Gilded Age. Here’s a bit from his article:

. . . I’m not shocked by the spectacle of Elon Musk’s reputational self-immolation. Fascinated, yes; who isn’t? But when an immensely rich man, accustomed not just to getting whatever he wants but also to being a much-admired icon, finds himself not just losing his aura but becoming a subject of widespread ridicule, of course he lashes out erratically, and in so doing makes his problems even worse.

The more interesting question is why we’re now ruled by such people. For we’re clearly living in the age of the petulant oligarch.

Follow the link for his answer.

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Blind Injustice 0

Caption:  Assuming the position.  Image:  Republican Elephant burying its head in the ground and saying

Click for the original image.

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All the News that Fits 0

Fox News fibs (and that surprises you how?) about who caused the Christmas meltdown at Southwest Airlines.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Yet another oxymoronic reponsible gun owner . . . .

Musical NotesGuns and stupid, guns and stupid.
They go together like love and Cupid.
Let me tell you brother,
You can’t have one without the other.

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The Enabler 0

GOP Representative-elect Santos stands next to Kevin McCarthy.  Santos's nose, like Pinnochio's has grown with each lie, so that it now reaches in one of McCarthy's ears and out the other one.  McCarthy says,

I think a strong case can be made that today’s Republican Party values faction (to use the word the Founders’ favored) over country.

Image via Juantia Jean.

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Twits Own Twitter 0

By all reports, working at Twitter really stinks since Elon Must took over.

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QOTD 0

Chapman Cohen:

The average man is happier in the wrong with a crowd, than he is in the right with only one or two companions.

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A Tune for the Times 0

Mangy comments at the Youtube page:

Mangy Fetlocks knows there is no depth to which Republicans will not stoop in order to make a buck or increase their level of influence. When their bar for ethical behavior is merely “What I did was not technically illegal”, you can’t expect much from them in the way of behaving honorably.

Newly-elected NY Representative George Santos, emulating the great Donald Trump, realized that you can lie like crazy about your achievements and education and still be welcomed into the Republican family. No doubt, he will soon offer $99 courses at “Santos University” on how to create your own fictional personal resume of outstanding achievement.

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Caught with Your Hands in the Cookie Jar? 0

At the Idaho State Journal, Chris Huston offers some advice for if (or when) you get caught red-handed.

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Vaccine Nation 0

An empty suit.

The stupid.

It burns.

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Dis Coarse Discourse, Misdirection Ploy Dept. 0

Title:  Politicizing.  Image:  Television show called

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Yet another responsible gun owner demonstrates that self-politeness is the politest kind.

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The American Demean 0

Robert Reich offers some thoughts about why some persons are so fascinated with Elon Musk and Donald Trump, two personalities who seem to dominate (or pollute) the discourse in this new Gilded Age. An excerpt:

The answer, I think, is that a large segment of the American public projects its needs and fantasies on them. People who are “mad as hell and not going to take it any more” crave strongmen who shake up the system.

People who have been bullied their whole lives want to identify with super bullies who give the finger to the establishment, answerable to no one but their own ravenous egos.
Their arrogance and certitude attract millions of followers, fans and cultish devotees, along with a fair number of goons and thugs who want to vicariously feel superior.

But they are not leaders. They are bullies who demean America.

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Trumpettes Try the Nuremberg Defense 0

It fails. Here is the short version.

Follow the link for the long version.

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QOTD 0

Eric Shinseki:

If you dislike change, you’re going to dislike irrelevance even more.

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The Pusher Men and the Profit Motive 0

In corporate America, it’s all about the Benjamins.

We are a broken society.

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Influencers on the Inner Tubes 0

At Psychology Today Blogs, Psychotherapist Nicholas Balaisis explores some of the ways in which “social” media isn’t.

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The Exemplar 0

Image:  George Santos preparing to enter the Capitol.  Caption:  Being a chronic liar isn't a disqualification for a Republican candidate.  It's a prerequisite.

Click for the original image.

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Cuban Revolt 0

Mark Cuban has had it with the arrogance of Silicon Valley’s “tech bros.”

I can’t say that I’m a big fan of either Mark Cuban or Bill Maher, but I rather think Cuban has a point.

Exhibit A, natch, would be Elon Musk.

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