What are you doing with the remaining microseconds as they tick away?
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Time to admit it's a civil war
Read these two items in succession.
This report about former North Carolina governor Pat McCrory being chased down a Washington Street and the police having to step in. Video at the link.
I'll buy what Prager says about the left not being the same as liberalism. Yet you have called me leftist many times here. And this war has been largely peaceful, but shoot em if you got the bullets, I guess. This time is so much like the Nixon era that I can't see it ending any way but badly for your ilk. You sure are rockin' the country and the world already with what is perceived as your hate, but which you will only admit to being tough love. Tough love for your agenda. And the rest of the country and the world is supposed to love and respect you for it? We'll see, we'll see. I am one who remembers recent history....
So build build build your metaphorical settlements here in disputed territories, build walls, throw people in jail, throw more people in jail, and rail rail rail about how Christian you are. All glory and honor to his thrice divorced arrogance, the great Squirrel Hair. All hail! Then rail rail rail....
Where are you getting this "throw people in jail" business? Are you referring to the attention finally being given to what hell-holes America's gang-infested inner cities have become?
And I'm not sure what you mean by "tough love." The emphasis in this - let's call it the new era - so far has been on removing the constraints on economic growth and on putting American interests front and center in foreign policy.
Putting Netanknownothing's settlements in disputed territories is an act of war and you know it. All so chosen peeps can build build build. Jails started to fill under Nixon, swelled under Reagan and quite likely to swell some more under Trump.
I to think more settlements in Israel is nearly an act of war. Of course I think the Sunnis and the Shiites need to settle the matter themselves. When does anyone think that will happen? The oil assets are not worth the assertion on American intervention. Assad still needs removed, maybe we ask Russia and Iran to help out there. Or maybe we ignore the region and just take the most skilled workers from the area and send the rest to Serbia and the warehouses for 20 per day resettlement. Why are we not talking to Jordan more? They bare a great deal of refugee problems, and they are definitely our ally. Turkey no longer counts, no Democracy there. And where are those wealthy mid east (Sunni) states helping out with their religious problems? I think the oil is not worth the investment. New settlements in the West Bank is nothing more than further provocation to the area. I guess war pays well.
Who went off topic? And, if so, what's the offense? Sure folks have always gone to jail in America. It's still part of our Puritan heritage to jail for consensual "crime" and the Nixons and Reagans facilitated and perpetuated that. Now there is no doubt we hav a gleeful authoritarian again in the White House.
What is this civil war garbage? Lest we be reminded how many died in our civil war. My great grandfather died at Gettysburg. Are we so opposed to one another we again reach such measures? Prager's article hardly merits consideration beyond a platform position. In discourse there are two positions, each given fair exposure. Maybe we gave up about honesty and fairness when we elected President Trump. The Republicans I have admired in my life would I think find our current histoty and President unacceptable. Our current Republicans jump on board. We won, who cares if the President is not qualified. We are becoming the nation without integrity. Maybe we never had much in the first place.
Sorry, but I stand by my concurrence with Prager. The polarization in this country between the two camps he depicts so accurately cannot be healed by anything short of divine intervention.
We didn't give up honesty and fairness. Granted, as this blog points out fairly regularly, there is a contingent that is so excited about Trump that it is willing to gloss over his glaringly unsavory traits. But then there are the conservative voices that are adamant about defense of conservative principles - and defeating the agenda of the Left.
And, as strange as it is to admit it, the new administration's moves so far have on balance been great.
And stoop way way low to do it. By the way, there are far too many executive orders being rammed up our posteriors in a short 5 days. Did Obama go after it all that quickly? Doesn't appear that you pubs give much of a crap about the opposition. Yet you say this won't hurt you moving forward? I say it so will, it so will!
"As long as Trump pursues a policy agenda that Republicans support, and which they played a large role in crafting, they will continue to shrug off his nuttier and more despotic tendencies. That is a lesson the past few days should have taught us."
read more at http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/why-republicans-wont-break-with-trump
By unprincipled, Hayek did not mean that conservatism was devoid of morals. Rather, the conservative, having strong moral convictions, cannot conceive of a society in which he collaborates with others holding different morals. Thus, lacking political principle, the conservative tends toward moral coercion. In this way, Hayek considered the conservative and the socialist to be similar, in that each uses force to garner adherence to his preferred moral beliefs.
Conservatism is not merely an anti-big-government philosophy, as it is often portrayed. Hayek noted that conservative opposition to government is “not a matter of principle," but situational. The example he used to demonstrate this was economic protectionism:
Well, of course Prager is a Zionist. He understands that Biblically understood Israel is the home of God-s chosen people. And I guess he's a "hawk" in the sense that he understands that Israel is beset by hostile forces, ranging from Hamas and Hezbollah and Syria's Assad regime, and Iran, up to and including the UN. And the neighbors with which it currently has an uneasy alliance due to Iran's growing power have a history of hostility towards Israel as well.
And did you read your linked FEE essay to the end? He concludes:
"Conservatives are optimistic about Trump - or maybe, they are just momentarily blinded by relief that Barack Obama is no longer the president.
Deal me in, on that.
But since self-described conservatives are also uncomfortable calling Trump a true conservative, perhaps this will immunize them from falling head over heels for the cult of Trumpism.
If nothing else, may we all walk into the Trump era with eyes wide open."
Prager's Orthodox Judaism is also at th core of why he has such keen moral vision and can diagnose our society's current juncture with such clarity and wisdom.
Prager's Dymo Label Maker analysis (and I use the term "analysis" here with an undeserved generosity) erects a straw man characterization of what he calls "the Left" that may be easy to criticize, but which bears little resemblance to the progressive American electorate that desired -- by a significant majority -- for the next administration to continue and to build upon the gains we as a society made under President Obama.
Does not the Left applaud the Hedges v. Obergefell SCOTUS decision that goes through impossible contortions to find in the equal-protection clause of the 14th Amendment some kind of "right" to homosexual "marriage"?
Does not the Left applaud the Iran "agreement" on its nuclear ambitions, the culmination of months of public humiliation of John Kerry at the hands of Foreign Minister Zarif, and which has been followed by multiple missile tests, the capture of US naval forces on last year's State of the Union address night, pronouncements by the head of the Revolutionary Guard that the US remains Iran's foremost enemy, and rallies at which the supreme Ayatollah spoke with a "Death to America" banner behind him?
Does not the Left continue to peddle the fiction that the global climate is in some kind of trouble - and its auxiliary fiction that 97% of the world's science authorities say this is so - and try to convince the populace that urgent and drastic alteration of the way human beings live is imperative?
You believe these things.
So I'm not sure of the basis on which you say that Prager is putting forth a caricature of the Left.
The same basis that *I* would have starting with the notion that "the Right" is busy very Saturday night dressing in white sheets and groping the genitals of uncooperative females, then arguing against those practices. It's nonsense and logically fallacious. But speaking for myself alone, yes I do believe that homosexual couples are as deserving of the protections afforded by the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution as their heterosexual counterparts, and this belief is neither "impossible" nor does it require any "contortions" beyond the ability to read and comprehend. Amazingly, so did 4 out of 5 Circuits of the US Appeals Courts and a majority of Justices in the US Supreme Court. And yes, I also tend to believe that a pledge by Iran not to construct nuclear weapons monitored by a vigorous inspection program on the ground in Iran is an awesome achievement and pretty much the opposite of a "humiliation", either for John Kerry personally or the other six (6) nations (and the European Union) who were also full participants in the negotiations. Finally, I understand that until the Koch Brothers personally whisper into your ear that "It's OK" to believe the overwhelming evidence (and yes, the undeniable scientific consensus) that climate change and man's contribution to it are both a reality, you will continue to believe its a Chinese hoax. Your failure in this regard does not warrant abandoning attempts to mitigate the damage being done to the only planet we have. Cheers. ;)
I'll buy what Prager says about the left not being the same as liberalism. Yet you have called me leftist many times here. And this war has been largely peaceful, but shoot em if you got the bullets, I guess. This time is so much like the Nixon era that I can't see it ending any way but badly for your ilk. You sure are rockin' the country and the world already with what is perceived as your hate, but which you will only admit to being tough love. Tough love for your agenda. And the rest of the country and the world is supposed to love and respect you for it? We'll see, we'll see. I am one who remembers recent history....
ReplyDeleteSo build build build your metaphorical settlements here in disputed territories, build walls, throw people in jail, throw more people in jail, and rail rail rail about how Christian you are. All glory and honor to his thrice divorced arrogance, the great Squirrel Hair. All hail! Then rail rail rail....
ReplyDeleteWhere are you getting this "throw people in jail" business? Are you referring to the attention finally being given to what hell-holes America's gang-infested inner cities have become?
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm not sure what you mean by "tough love." The emphasis in this - let's call it the new era - so far has been on removing the constraints on economic growth and on putting American interests front and center in foreign policy.
Putting Netanknownothing's settlements in disputed territories is an act of war and you know it. All so chosen peeps can build build build. Jails started to fill under Nixon, swelled under Reagan and quite likely to swell some more under Trump.
ReplyDeleteI to think more settlements in Israel is nearly an act of war. Of course I think the Sunnis and the Shiites need to settle the matter themselves. When does anyone think that will happen? The oil assets are not worth the assertion on American intervention. Assad still needs removed, maybe we ask Russia and Iran to help out there. Or maybe we ignore the region and just take the most skilled workers from the area and send the rest to Serbia and the warehouses for 20 per day resettlement. Why are we not talking to Jordan more? They bare a great deal of refugee problems, and they are definitely our ally. Turkey no longer counts, no Democracy there. And where are those wealthy mid east (Sunni) states helping out with their religious problems? I think the oil is not worth the investment. New settlements in the West Bank is nothing more than further provocation to the area. I guess war pays well.
ReplyDeleteYou mean no one went to jail in the US prior to the Nixon administration?
ReplyDeletePlus, I see nothing about housing construction in previously undeveloped Israeli neighborhoods in Prager's essay.
ReplyDeleteYou went off-topic. Big-time.
Who went off topic? And, if so, what's the offense? Sure folks have always gone to jail in America. It's still part of our Puritan heritage to jail for consensual "crime" and the Nixons and Reagans facilitated and perpetuated that. Now there is no doubt we hav a gleeful authoritarian again in the White House.
ReplyDeleteWhat is this civil war garbage? Lest we be reminded how many died in our civil war. My great grandfather died at Gettysburg. Are we so opposed to one another we again reach such measures? Prager's article hardly merits consideration beyond a platform position. In discourse there are two positions, each given fair exposure. Maybe we gave up about honesty and fairness when we elected President Trump. The Republicans I have admired in my life would I think find our current histoty and President unacceptable. Our current Republicans jump on board. We won, who cares if the President is not qualified. We are becoming the nation without integrity. Maybe we never had much in the first place.
ReplyDeleteSorry, but I stand by my concurrence with Prager. The polarization in this country between the two camps he depicts so accurately cannot be healed by anything short of divine intervention.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't give up honesty and fairness. Granted, as this blog points out fairly regularly, there is a contingent that is so excited about Trump that it is willing to gloss over his glaringly unsavory traits. But then there are the conservative voices that are adamant about defense of conservative principles - and defeating the agenda of the Left.
And, as strange as it is to admit it, the new administration's moves so far have on balance been great.
And stoop way way low to do it. By the way, there are far too many executive orders being rammed up our posteriors in a short 5 days. Did Obama go after it all that quickly? Doesn't appear that you pubs give much of a crap about the opposition. Yet you say this won't hurt you moving forward? I say it so will, it so will!
ReplyDeleteThey''re great, so as long as it's constitutional there is no problem.
ReplyDeleteWhistling a different tune now, it appears.
ReplyDeleteThere will be blowback in the cities and soon, very soon, all over the globe. Yep, civil war all over the world. This ain't no people's president.
ReplyDelete"As long as Trump pursues a policy agenda that Republicans support, and which they played a large role in crafting, they will continue to shrug off his nuttier and more despotic tendencies. That is a lesson the past few days should have taught us."
ReplyDeleteread more at http://www.newyorker.com/news/john-cassidy/why-republicans-wont-break-with-trump
By unprincipled, Hayek did not mean that conservatism was devoid of morals. Rather, the conservative, having strong moral convictions, cannot conceive of a society in which he collaborates with others holding different morals. Thus, lacking political principle, the conservative tends toward moral coercion. In this way, Hayek considered the conservative and the socialist to be similar, in that each uses force to garner adherence to his preferred moral beliefs.
ReplyDeleteConservatism is not merely an anti-big-government philosophy, as it is often portrayed. Hayek noted that conservative opposition to government is “not a matter of principle," but situational. The example he used to demonstrate this was economic protectionism:
http://econintersect.com/pages/opinion/opinion.php?post=201701252333
Prager is a Zionist hawk first and foremost. He thinks he will relish the war and that his God who calls him into offensive battle will win.
ReplyDeleteWell, of course Prager is a Zionist. He understands that Biblically understood Israel is the home of God-s chosen people. And I guess he's a "hawk" in the sense that he understands that Israel is beset by hostile forces, ranging from Hamas and Hezbollah and Syria's Assad regime, and Iran, up to and including the UN. And the neighbors with which it currently has an uneasy alliance due to Iran's growing power have a history of hostility towards Israel as well.
ReplyDeleteAnd did you read your linked FEE essay to the end? He concludes:
"Conservatives are optimistic about Trump - or maybe, they are just momentarily blinded by relief that Barack Obama is no longer the president.
Deal me in, on that.
But since self-described conservatives are also uncomfortable calling Trump a true conservative, perhaps this will immunize them from falling head over heels for the cult of Trumpism.
If nothing else, may we all walk into the Trump era with eyes wide open."
That's where I am coming from.
Prager's Orthodox Judaism is also at th core of why he has such keen moral vision and can diagnose our society's current juncture with such clarity and wisdom.
ReplyDeleteAll the henchmen lining up to groom the Squirrel Hair in his outrageousness all over the globe if it suits their "godly" designs.
ReplyDeletePrager's Dymo Label Maker analysis (and I use the term "analysis" here with an undeserved generosity) erects a straw man characterization of what he calls "the Left" that may be easy to criticize, but which bears little resemblance to the progressive American electorate that desired -- by a significant majority -- for the next administration to continue and to build upon the gains we as a society made under President Obama.
ReplyDeleteDoes not the Left applaud the Hedges v. Obergefell SCOTUS decision that goes through impossible contortions to find in the equal-protection clause of the 14th Amendment some kind of "right" to homosexual "marriage"?
ReplyDeleteDoes not the Left applaud the Iran "agreement" on its nuclear ambitions, the culmination of months of public humiliation of John Kerry at the hands of Foreign Minister Zarif, and which has been followed by multiple missile tests, the capture of US naval forces on last year's State of the Union address night, pronouncements by the head of the Revolutionary Guard that the US remains Iran's foremost enemy, and rallies at which the supreme Ayatollah spoke with a "Death to America" banner behind him?
Does not the Left continue to peddle the fiction that the global climate is in some kind of trouble - and its auxiliary fiction that 97% of the world's science authorities say this is so - and try to convince the populace that urgent and drastic alteration of the way human beings live is imperative?
You believe these things.
So I'm not sure of the basis on which you say that Prager is putting forth a caricature of the Left.
The same basis that *I* would have starting with the notion that "the Right" is busy very Saturday night dressing in white sheets and groping the genitals of uncooperative females, then arguing against those practices. It's nonsense and logically fallacious.
ReplyDeleteBut speaking for myself alone, yes I do believe that homosexual couples are as deserving of the protections afforded by the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution as their heterosexual counterparts, and this belief is neither "impossible" nor does it require any "contortions" beyond the ability to read and comprehend. Amazingly, so did 4 out of 5 Circuits of the US Appeals Courts and a majority of Justices in the US Supreme Court.
And yes, I also tend to believe that a pledge by Iran not to construct nuclear weapons monitored by a vigorous inspection program on the ground in Iran is an awesome achievement and pretty much the opposite of a "humiliation", either for John Kerry personally or the other six (6) nations (and the European Union) who were also full participants in the negotiations.
Finally, I understand that until the Koch Brothers personally whisper into your ear that "It's OK" to believe the overwhelming evidence (and yes, the undeniable scientific consensus) that climate change and man's contribution to it are both a reality, you will continue to believe its a Chinese hoax. Your failure in this regard does not warrant abandoning attempts to mitigate the damage being done to the only planet we have.
Cheers. ;)
Pos-publishing editing is apparently not available, but I hope you know I meant "every" Saturday night.
Delete