December, 2022 archive
The Hunt for Hunter 0
David tries to make sense of the right’s obsession with Hunter Biden (Warning: short commercial at the end). An excerpt:
Hyperfocus on irrelevant issues has been the name of the game for this Republican Party for four, six, probably closer to eight or even ten years at this point in time . . . .
Here’s the article that David refers to.
Freedom of Screech 0
At the San Francisco Chronicle, Morgan N. Weiland argues that Elon Musk’s concept of free speech does not fit easily into the concepts of the traditional political left or political right (though the right seems to be embracing it, think primarily because of Musk’s tolerance for hate speech). Rather, Weiland suggests that it has other roots. An excerpt (emphasis added):
Instead, Musk is letting information flow, and we are drowning in it.
As an aside, it occurred to me a couple of days ago that, for all right’s concern about “cancel culture” (which is, I think, their term for “accountability”), they do not realize that they are canceling civilized discourse.
Or perhaps they do.
Guilty! Guilty! Guilty! 0
Liz Dye comments on the guilty verdict against the Trump Organization for tax fraud. It is delightful reading. A snippet:
Vaccine Nation 0
Republican Senator vows to endanger the troops by demanding an end to vaccine requirements for military personnel.
We are a society of stupid.
Twits on Twitter 0
David discusses a recent Twitter “bombshell” that fizzled and explains why there was no there there. (Warning: Short commercial at the end.)
Here’s the Twitter thread that David refers to.
Here’s the backstory.
One more time, “social” media isn’t.
It may have started with great expectations based on a delusional, optimistic evaluation of human nature, but, thanks to the reality of human nature, it has devolved into a maelstrom of malicious gossip columns on steroids.
And, no, no one is interested in a picture of your dinner plate.
Grump, grump, grump.
(Ask me nicely, and I’ll tell you what I really think.)
The Voter Fraud Fraudsters 0
As my old professor was fond of saying, “History is irony.” When you see a headline about someone’s being caught intentionally voting illegally, it’s almost always a member of the party that claims that voter fraud is rampant, which it is not.. Methinks ’tis a classic case of psychological projection.
Fly the Fiendly Skies . . . 0
. . . and have a fellow traveler accuse you of trafficking drugs because of your perceived ethnicity.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.
A Tune for the Times 0
Mangy comments at the Youtube page:
After attempting to end democracy through a coup, Donald Trump is now suggesting that we toss out The Constitution and the rule of law entirely and, by extrajudicial edict, make him a sort of unelected king or dictator, mostly because his self-esteem was hurt by getting 7 million less votes than Biden in 2020, AND, he didn’t even get a participation trophy or badge or anything. It’s hard to be a snowflake in a warm climate!
Mangy Fetlocks thought there were more sensible alternatives to getting rid of democracy, like getting rid of Donald. Siberia is waiting with open arms I’m sure.
Left Unread 0
The writer of a letter to the editor of The Roanoke Times thinks it time for gun–er–fanciers to read the rest of the Second Amendment.
Lapdogs for the Merchants of Hate 0
Jake Tapper forcefully calls out the Republican Party’s lukewarm response–almost a non-response–to the rise in antisemitism on the right.
Afterthought:
As they betray Jake Tapper’s grandfather, who died in World War II, they also betray my father, who fought in World War II, but was fortunate enough to come home to a long and full life.
Today’s Republican Party is a vile and loathsome thing.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
One of those responsible gun owners (sic) shows his courtesy at the crosswalk.
We are a broken society.
The Galt and the Lamers 0
Andreas Kluth posits that Elon Musk, many of his fellow filthy rich, and their admirers, see them as Randian superheroes. He suggests that this is not a positive thing. A snippet:
That might explain why Tesla founder Musk, Amazon titan Jeff Bezos and quite a few other hard-driving — and almost invariably male — tech tycoons adulate Ayn Rand.
