April 21, 2014

Everything You Need To Know About Liberalism In One Blog Post: They Are Dumb
— DrewM

From the, "I can't beieve Jeff Bezos didn't give Ezra Klein $10 million dollars" file, behold this gem.


First of all let me say how asinine it is for someone who claims to be engaged in deep wonkery to keep pitching stories as "Everything you need to know about X in one chart/graph/interpretative dance performance".

If complex subjects can be fully covered and explained in a single anything, it's probably not that complex of a subject and you don't need experts, let alone a bunch of arrogant children without any discernible accomplishments to explain it to you.

But enough about the staff of Vox.com. Let's look at some of the "297 words" that constitute Ezra Klein's vision of all you need to know about economics. Mind you, these aren't Klein's words but the words of an actual expert in economics, Thomas Sargent a Nobel Laureate in the field.

1. Many things that are desirable are not feasible.

2. Individuals and communities face trade-offs.

3. Other people have more information about their abilities, their efforts,
and their preferences than you do.

4. Everyone responds to incentives, including people you want to help. That is why social safety nets don't always end up working as intended.

I'm going to stop here, 74 words into the 297 (my version of Word says it's actually 308 but let's not quibble).

How can you think these are essential truths about economics and still be a big government liberal? Imagine thinking, as Klein does, that these are four essential parts (there's 12 in total) of understanding economics while simultaneously thinking that ObamaCare doesn't go far enough and we should have "a more nationalized health-care system".

If your entire worldview is based on greater concentration of political power over the economy and the incentives under which individuals operate, wouldn't you look at those 4 points alone and either say, "What an idiot this guy is!" or "Hmmm....I may need to evaluate my thinking on everything."?

How can you read those words and think, "Yes! This guy nails it and oh by the way, society should be organized in such a way as to ignore everything he just said"?

There's more of this, approximately 223 words worth, at the link and all of it damning to the liberal project of confiscatory taxation providing central government planners with more money and power to control the lives of hundreds of millions of people.

And yet, Klein and his merry band of know-it-alls want you to trust them to explain everything to you.

I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German.

Posted by: DrewM at 06:53 AM | Comments (403)
Post contains 491 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Known unknowns.

Posted by: RolandTHTG at April 21, 2014 06:55 AM (QM5S2)

2 Many things that are desirable are not feasible.



*crumples up kidnap plans for Kate Upton*


Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 06:56 AM (GQ8sn)

3 The Soundbite Generation draws near to its conclusion.

Posted by: Kinley Ardal at April 21, 2014 06:56 AM (9LuAk)

4 I was told there was no math on this blog.

Posted by: Penfold at April 21, 2014 06:56 AM (Fbt5B)

5 I got nuttin

Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 06:57 AM (xWW96)

6

I remember seeing Sargent speak back when I was in  undergrad.  I had some quibble with him, but nothing too major...of course, that was back when I knew everything.

 

He's good people though - struck me as a principled economist and not one who let predetermined opinions color his reasoning.

Posted by: @JohnTant at April 21, 2014 06:58 AM (PFy0L)

7 Scheissen schpeilers, they is...

Posted by: Buster McDissenter at April 21, 2014 06:58 AM (QLbhS)

8 Number 1 and 2 are "scarcity of resources" and "opportunity costs", two things liberals simply cannot wrap their little squishy heads around.


Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 06:59 AM (GQ8sn)

9 Father Guido Sarducci once summed it up in 3 words.  "Supply and Demand."  It was part of his 10 minute University Course.  Much better than anything the Libs will ever tell us.

Posted by: dfbaskwill at April 21, 2014 06:59 AM (zllbf)

10 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German." Unfortunately 'Obama' is not a German word.

Posted by: NotCoach at April 21, 2014 06:59 AM (rsudF)

11 Everything You Need To Know About Liberalism In One Blog Post: They Are Dumb settled science!

Posted by: phoenixgirl @phxazgrl at April 21, 2014 07:00 AM (u8GsB)

12 Your usage of you're shows you're in a hurry to post to your blog.

Posted by: contraction faction at April 21, 2014 07:00 AM (i9Cdn)

13

I got nuttin......'cept for this.....they can never take this from me, not as long as I draw breath.....

http://tinyurl.com/kqn3hjm

Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 07:01 AM (xWW96)

14
Study: a 90% top tax rate could grow the economy

Matthew Yglesias - The Vox!

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at April 21, 2014 07:02 AM (kdS6q)

15 Ezra Klein will shortly be freelancing, and then he will learn what Americans more broadly have learned under the reign of Emperor Economic Ignoramus: temp work doesn't pay very well: http://cnb.cx/QzRAig

Posted by: MTF at April 21, 2014 07:02 AM (F58x4)

16 5. When any government attempts service delivery to 315 million people, it will fail. Spectacularly.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at April 21, 2014 07:02 AM (659DL)

17 In German he would be called "Wasserkopf"

Posted by: dweezil at April 21, 2014 07:03 AM (81mgL)

18 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German I use the phrase "genius retard". "Liberal" works in a pinch, of course.

Posted by: Brother Cavil at April 21, 2014 07:03 AM (rt3TY)

19 There was an rdbrewer post and then there was not.

Posted by: grammie winger at April 21, 2014 07:03 AM (oMKp3)

20 New Drew!

Posted by: Brother Cavil at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (rt3TY)

21 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German." Unfortunately 'Obama' is not a German word. Posted by: NotCoach at April 21, 2014 10:59 AM (rsudF) Austrian maybe?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (TIIx5)

22 Are the comments working?

Posted by: D-Lamp at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (bb5+k)

23 How can you read those words and think, "Yes! This guy nails it and oh by the way, society should be organized in such a way as to ignore everything he just said"?

For liberals, there is always a "good reason" to make an unprincipled exception.

Posted by: Bah at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (6cJYl)

24 First comment apparently (based on the tweet embedded in the article: "Nothing about market failure." Well yeah, because market failure is basically the summation of those Liberals want to latch on to the problems of spontaneous order, rather than note that on the balance it's better than command and control by..well a lot.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) [/b] [/i] [/s] at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (HDwDg)

25 Apparently not on the RDBrewer post.

Posted by: D-Lamp at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (bb5+k)

26 What a stunning display of denseness.  Leftism is a barrier to the mind absolutely impermeable to new ideas and renders the person incapable of self-reflection.  This is why I generally have stopped discussing politics and instead just straight-forwardly mock leftists when cornered into such discussions.  Leftism is the mental equivalent of shitting your pants and then proudly smearing it over the rest of your body. 

Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (hRzu2)

27 New thread up but I can't post a comment. Was just going to say there were plenty of Christians at Mass yesterday.

Posted by: Rex B at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (OXzvH)

28 Yeah, I think the rdbrewer was meant for the sidebar.

Posted by: Brother Cavil at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (rt3TY)

29 Obamaschade

Posted by: prndl at April 21, 2014 07:04 AM (2Ynt1)

30 Ezra Klein also believes that    all the deepest, most important mysteries of life can be explained by that "Wear Sunscreen"     pseudo   commencement speech from    a few years ago.  



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wear_Sunscreen



And   Matty Yglesias (aka Turnipthulu, the bouncing turnip) believes that the answer to cold fusion can be found by listening to Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" backward    while stoned.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:05 AM (4df7R)

31 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. I think the term "sophomore" arose in this way. Generally, it works, as most ideas from this ilk only really work at 2AM in the sophomore dorm.

Posted by: AMDG at April 21, 2014 07:05 AM (eFytx)

32 5 I got nuttin Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 10:57 AM (xWW96) **************** Not near me, you don't.

Posted by: Pamela Gellar at April 21, 2014 07:05 AM (vgIRn)

33 As for the point above, Some ideas are so stupid that only intellectuals believe them. --George Orwell--

Posted by: D-Lamp at April 21, 2014 07:06 AM (bb5+k)

34 The United Auto Workers Union, in a surprise move, on Monday gave up its fight to force a revote by workers at Volkswagen‘s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., a retreat that leaves the union with an uncertain future.

The withdrawal came an hour before the UAW was to go before the National Labor Relations Board to plead for a new election and comes after it had appeared prepared for a long and bitter fight. Earlier this month, the UAW issued subpoenas to 19 people, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Sen. Bob Corker. The union had alleged public comments against the union by Messrs. Haslam and Corker interfered with the February election, which the UAW lost by a vote of 712-626.

Posted by: Lee Harvey Oswald at April 21, 2014 07:06 AM (e8kgV)

35 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German."

Unfortunately 'Obama' is not a German word.

Posted by: NotCoach at April 21, 2014 10:59 AM (rsudF)



It's not Irish either, but that doesn't stop Obammy from pretending it is.



Just throw an arbitrary umlaut in there.   That'll be enough to fool the rubes.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:06 AM (4df7R)

36

I got nuttin...... 'cept for this..... they can never take this from me, not as long as I draw breath.....

 

Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 11:01 AM (xWW96)

 

 

That moment may come sooner than you'd like.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, who does NOT speak for the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General at April 21, 2014 07:06 AM (fwARV)

37

I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German.

 

There's "Besserwisser", which means 'the guy who thinks he knows better than you, but doesn't'. 

 

After unification the Ossis (easterners) had a phrase for the Wessis (guess) who came in to remake the country: Besserwessi.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at April 21, 2014 07:06 AM (JtwS4)

38 >>I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". EzraKlein

Posted by: Aviator at April 21, 2014 07:07 AM (3rrMW)

39 Thomas Sargent must be the reincarnated avatar of- Milton Freedman. Those 12 points are a great encapsulation of the book "Free to Choose". And yep, Ezra Klein must be dumb as a box of used condoms if he thinks that list in any way supports his worldview or politics. More likely though, he didn't read the article and just assumed that because the guy's a Nobel Laureate in Economics- he would be part of the Worldwide Super Club of Super Genius Libtards and spew warmed over, moldy old Marx. Nope. I suggest you email this list while it's got Kleintard's Seal of Approval to your progtardian friends as a bit of subversive propaganda. It just might penetrate their stupidity enough to pry open their minds.

Posted by: naturalfake at April 21, 2014 07:07 AM (0cMkb)

40 Please disregard my comment at 27. The new thread is gone. i suppose it will be up later. Have a good day everyone.

Posted by: Rex B at April 21, 2014 07:07 AM (OXzvH)

41 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Superior. As in, "our superiors aren't."

Posted by: t-bird at April 21, 2014 07:08 AM (FcR7P)

42 Shane Falco: I wish I could say something classy and inspirational, but that just wouldn't be our style.

[pause while everybody is in the huddle]

Shane Falco: Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever.

Posted by: Jimmy McGinty at April 21, 2014 07:08 AM (e8kgV)

43 Anagram Ezra's name into "Kleizaner". That sounds sufficiently German to pass as real. "I was excited to hear DeGrasse Tyson speak, but it turned out he was just another Kleizaner."

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 07:09 AM (ZshNr)

44 The German word is "Fachidiot." Which literally translates as "subject idiot." It means someone who has great expertise in a very narrow area, but is an idiot about everything else. On second thought maybe this word does not apply as it implies that Ezra Klein has great knowledge about something. He has provided no objective evidence in this regard.

Posted by: thurst at April 21, 2014 07:09 AM (IlHSL)

45 And of course contraction faction reminds me of... http://preview.tinyurl.com/n7ukl9k

Posted by: joncelli at April 21, 2014 07:09 AM (RD7QR)

46 4 I was told there was no math on this blog.

Posted by: Penfold at April 21, 2014 10:56 AM (Fbt5B)




And Ezra Klein was apparently told there    was     no math in economics.  

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:09 AM (4df7R)

47 what's the german word for pretentious? überheblich

Posted by: phoenixgirl @phxazgrl at April 21, 2014 07:10 AM (u8GsB)

48 {i]I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. K-R-U-G-M-A-N

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at April 21, 2014 07:10 AM (659DL)

49 I got nuttin......'cept for this.....they can never take this from me, not as long as I draw breath.....
http://tinyurl.com/kqn3hjm

Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 11:01 AM (xWW96)



Nope, not gonna click it!

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:10 AM (4df7R)

50 New thread up but I can't post a comment. Was just going to say there were plenty of Christians at Mass yesterday. Posted by: Rex ---------------- Now, if we can only get them into church the other 51 Sundays.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 07:10 AM (aDwsi)

51 Kaum gewusst, daß wir so viele Deutschsprächler haben.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at April 21, 2014 07:11 AM (JtwS4)

52 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. Kluge Dummheit.

Posted by: toby928© at April 21, 2014 07:11 AM (QupBk)

53 Libs don't care about outcomes, they only care about intent. Logic is a very frustrating wall to climb.

Posted by: Seems legit at April 21, 2014 07:11 AM (Ssscs)

54 Who knows, maybe points 5-12 were things like: the Koch brothers control the weather...Katrina, anyone? Equal pay for equal work, oh by the way: doctors and nurses are the same things. So are wild-catters and waitresses. The white man stole the world's mojo in order to become civilzed. things like that.

Posted by: joeindc44 at April 21, 2014 07:12 AM (FQLT3)

55 The United Auto Workers Union, in a surprise move, on Monday gave up its fight to force a revote by workers at Volkswagen‘s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., a retreat that leaves the union with an uncertain future.



*fans self*  Oh... Oh my...


I'll be in my bunk.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:12 AM (4df7R)

56 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. For some reason, when I think of liberals, I imagine blunt-trauma spray patterns, so I nominate the word "klee".

Posted by: jwpaine @PirateBallerina at April 21, 2014 07:12 AM (2oU2+)

57

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:10 AM (4df7R)

 

 

 

 

You have to admit, it was rather tempting

Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 07:12 AM (xWW96)

58 The German word is "dumm kopf"

Posted by: Phil Robertson at April 21, 2014 07:12 AM (e8kgV)

59 Who in the hell told that psychologist that I like to torture and kill small animals?

Posted by: David Gregory at April 21, 2014 07:13 AM (oFCZn)

60 Some people will say economics boils down to "There is no such thing as a free lunch." For me, it is summarized by "If you fuck with the market, it will fuck you back."

Posted by: AmishDude at April 21, 2014 07:13 AM (T0NGe)

61 More like stupid person who is actually quite stupid.  See Choom.

Posted by: Titanium at April 21, 2014 07:13 AM (6iwzV)

62 The United Auto Workers Union, in a surprise move, on Monday gave up its fight to force a revote by workers at Volkswagen‘s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., a retreat that leaves the union with an uncertain future.

Posted by: Lee Harvey Oswald at April 21, 2014 11:06 AM (e8kgV)


Ok, that does surprise me. Usually these assholes never stop and with such a sympathetic NLRB, why would they give up now?

Posted by: [/i]KG at April 21, 2014 07:13 AM (p7BzH)

63 Ok, that does surprise me. Usually these assholes never stop and with such a sympathetic NLRB, why would they give up now?



Something's up.   Maybe they have a Plan B?

Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 07:14 AM (GQ8sn)

64 You have to admit, it was rather tempting

Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 11:12 AM (xWW96)



One of these days I'll slip up and follow one of your links.   That will be a dark day indeed!  

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:14 AM (4df7R)

65 Ezra, this ain't your grandfather's fucking shinebox.

Posted by: Krugtron the Invincible at April 21, 2014 07:14 AM (oJUxt)

66 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. The Germans have always been a comforting people

Posted by: Sheldon Cooper at April 21, 2014 07:14 AM (aTXUx)

67 Ok, that does surprise me. Usually these assholes never stop and with such a sympathetic NLRB, why would they give up now?

Posted by: KG at April 21, 2014 11:13 AM (p7BzH)



Maybe someone called the leader of whoever was leading the unionization charge and said, "I know where you live, you poxy bastard, and I will fucking burn your house down with you and all   you love inside.   Kapiche?   Now fuck off."



You know, basically out-unioning the union.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:15 AM (4df7R)

68 This guy and his hateful ideas are racist, misogynist and homophobic.  Undoubtedly a product of white privilege.   He is a hater, too.

Posted by: George Orwell at April 21, 2014 07:15 AM (Vv4Go)

69 49 I got nuttin......'cept for this.....they can never take this from me, not as long as I draw breath..... http://tinyurl.com/kqn3hjm 
Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 11:01 AM (xWW96) 

Nope, not gonna click it! 
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:10 AM (4df7R)

I'm surprised that maddogg is so in love with moustaches.   

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at April 21, 2014 07:15 AM (ioT3q)

70 Explanatory Journalism Defined. Write a 497 word blog post where 315 words are cut-pasted from someone else's youtube speech and a twitter comment, also by someone else. $10M would have been a bargain for such penetratingly thoughtful analysis.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 21, 2014 07:16 AM (TIIx5)

71

Two words for Klein.

 

Bor  Ing

 

Posted by: polynikes at April 21, 2014 07:17 AM (m2CN7)

72 Maybe someone called the leader of whoever was leading the unionization charge and said, "I know where you live, you poxy bastard, and I will fucking burn your house down with you and all you love inside. Kapiche? Now fuck off." You know, basically out-unioning the union. --- I only wish. Instead, I figure that theorganizers have figured out that the employees who voted "yes" last time won't do so again because they found out that they were being lied to by the union.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at April 21, 2014 07:17 AM (APuJ7)

73 The Germans have always been a comforting people Posted by: Sheldon ------------------------------- I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.

Posted by: Blanche DuBois at April 21, 2014 07:17 AM (aDwsi)

74

I'm surprised that maddogg is so in love with moustaches.

 

It's always that way.  As soon as German sprouts in a thread somebody trots out Hitler.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at April 21, 2014 07:18 AM (JtwS4)

75 Edward Snowden and Ezra Klein having simultaneous realizations that they are Fredo, priceless.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 07:18 AM (ZshNr)

76 U.S. District Court Judge Richard Stearns ruled that Michael Wesson of Salisbury and Thomas Woods of Natick have a Second Amendment right to own firearms despite being convicted of possessing weed in the past. Sterns said the portion of the Massachusetts Gun Control Act that disqualifies gun applicants who had previously been convicted of possessing a controlled substance was unconstitutional, as applied to the two men.

“What they are seeking is a vindication of their personal Second Amendment rights to purchase and possess firearms for home self-defense,” Stearns wrote. “They also seek, as an extension of the core right of home self-defense, the right, subject to reasonable restrictions, to transport firearms to a shooting range or other lawful location to maintain proficiency in their use.”

Posted by: Harry Reid's investor friend's friend at April 21, 2014 07:18 AM (e8kgV)

77 I got nuttin......'cept for this.....they can never take this from me, not as long as I draw breath..... Twice with the same pic in one day. Eff the trebuchets. That's a drone strike.

Posted by: Brother Cavil at April 21, 2014 07:18 AM (rt3TY)

78 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German."

Well, the Greek one is "sophomore," literally translated as "wise fool."  If that helps.

Posted by: They Can't Have My French Fries at April 21, 2014 07:19 AM (MDr17)

79 $10M would have been a bargain for such penetratingly thoughtful analysis.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 21, 2014 11:16 AM (TIIx5)



*raises hand*   Yeah, I can do way better than that, and I'll only ask for $100K a year.   Think I can get a job    writing snarky commentary?

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:19 AM (4df7R)

80 >>> Shane Falco: Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever. All this time I've had the wording wrong. Did I lose my Y chromosome?

Posted by: fluffy at April 21, 2014 07:20 AM (Ua6T/)

81 scheisskopf

Posted by: Travis McGee at April 21, 2014 07:20 AM (Ph479)

82 I got nuttin......'cept for this.....they can never take this from me, not as long as I draw breath.....
http://tinyurl.com/kqn3hjm

Posted by: maddogg at April 21, 2014 11:01 AM (xWW96)

 

 

--------------------------------------

 

 

This is something that should be  posted on every thread.  SALUTE!

Posted by: Soona at April 21, 2014 07:20 AM (cu9Nx)

83 First of all let me say how asinine it is for someone who claims to be engaged in deep wonkery to keep pitching stories as "Everything you need to know about X in one chart/graph/interpretative dance performance". Drew, no offense, but I am going to have to send the entire Ravage after you, with full emu strapped to honey badgers strapped to lions weapons package along with air support from the Flying Manatee Brigade, as the only appropriate response to image of Ezra Klein doing interpretative dance. I am beginning to be more and more convinced that it is opportunity cost that the Left refuses to comprehend. Hell, nearly the entirety of modern "feminism" can be summed up as banshee shrieking at the opportunity costs of life. Let us take the mythical wage gap. It is a gap because women take off more time than men to care for family. If you do not work as much, you do not get paid as much. Is that harsh? Possibly. But it is true and it will always be true and screaming at the universe will not change it. You chose to prioritize family. Did you think that choice was free of consequences? What are you, two years old? The cake is a lie. Stop whinging all over the place about that. Also, let us not forget that there are opportunity costs for men. Do you think, do you really and truly and honestly think, that every man with a family is thrilled to put in all those hours away from home? Seriously? Because I'll tell you what, the men I know with families agonize just as much about work life balance as women do. They just do it quietly and they suck it up and do it anyway because someone has to keep the roof over the family's head and come hell or high water they will do it. Men lose the time with their family. That is a cost. It is. It is real. I am so sick (and tired) of womyn acting as if men pay no costs at all for their careers. Life is trade offs and least worst options and closing your eyes and letting go of the path not taken. You pays your money and you takes your chances and life? Life grinds on, no matter what you do.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 07:20 AM (mf5HN)

84 Did I lose my Y chromosome?

Posted by: fluffy at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (Ua6T/)

 

Try to think of the last place you had it.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 07:21 AM (DrWcr)

85 ezrakleinheit

Posted by: Emperor of Icecream at April 21, 2014 07:21 AM (ZMzpb)

86 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. Lunkenhedder?

Posted by: Daniel Simpson Day at April 21, 2014 07:21 AM (aA2hG)

87 Shane Falco: Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory... lasts forever.


I love that movie so very much.   *happy sigh*    I especially love that the big football player is afraid of spiders.   I feel vindicated.   ^_^

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:21 AM (4df7R)

88 If I believed in conspiracies ...

A 28-year-old Boston police officer who earned honors for bravery during the Watertown shootout that followed last yearÂ’s Boston Marathon bombing died while on duty yesterday, police said.

Dennis O. Simmonds, a six-year veteran of the Boston Police Department, suffered a “medical emergency” while at the Boston Police Academy and was rushed to an area hospital, police said. Officers and hospital personnel attempted to save Simmonds, who died at the hospital.

Police did not specify the medical condition and have not released details on funeral arrangements.

Posted by: Islamic Rage Boy at April 21, 2014 07:21 AM (e8kgV)

89 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. Wassermanschultz

Posted by: kbdabear at April 21, 2014 07:21 AM (aTXUx)

90 Economic Fail... because as good as it was, it did not start with the basic Economic truth of... TANSTAAFL...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 07:21 AM (84gbM)

91 I'll only ask for $100K a year. Think I can get a job writing snarky commentary? Posted by: MWR, -------------------------------- Ah. An object lesson in how the marketplace works. Let the bidding begin. I'll do it for $99K/yr.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 07:22 AM (aDwsi)

92 >>> Ezra, this ain't your grandfather's fucking shinebox. I lol'd.

Posted by: fluffy at April 21, 2014 07:22 AM (Ua6T/)

93
You know, basically out-unioning the union.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:15 AM (4df7R)


So... what you're saying is... there's hope for Tennessee? Heh, that would be nice.


Good news, still makes me a little uneasy, like what you'd feel if a portion of one's enemy disappears from the field of battle. You'd feel a rush of hope since their numbers are now down from yours, but then you wonder, what are they doing, where did they go?


I think those workers are gonna need to keep their eyes open and their heads on a swivel...

Posted by: [/i]KG at April 21, 2014 07:22 AM (p7BzH)

94 It took Thomas Sowell a few volumes to explain what Ezra Klein lifted from someone else to explain in under 300 words. Ezra Klein > Thomas Sowell

Posted by: Soothsayer § at April 21, 2014 07:22 AM (+6MPX)

95
Also, let us not forget that there are opportunity costs for men. Do you think, do you really and truly and honestly think, that every man with a family is thrilled to put in all those hours away from home? Seriously? Because I'll tell you what, the men I know with families agonize just as much about work life balance as women do. They just do it quietly and they suck it up and do it anyway because someone has to keep the roof over the family's head and come hell or high water they will do it. Men lose the time with their family. That is a cost. It is. It is real. I am so sick (and tired) of womyn acting as if men pay no costs at all for their careers.



*SWOON*


*draws little hearts and stars around AtC's name in Trapper Keeper*  

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:23 AM (4df7R)

96

Drawing on my Austrian heritage and my not quite adequate German speaking/writing skills....

 

"Hirnloser idiot"

 

With the German pronunciation of idiot as "idyawwwt"

 

Adequate description of the above bloke it seems

 

BTW Hello from Down Here on a cool early Autumn Tuesday morning

 

 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 07:24 AM (XURZb)

97
Ah. An object lesson in how the marketplace works.
Let the bidding begin.
I'll do it for $99K/yr.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 11:22 AM (aDwsi)



Shit shit shit.


$98.5K, and I don't have a cat that could potentially make incendiary comments on online forums under my user name.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:24 AM (4df7R)

98

Drew, this concept is at the very core of what ails America today ("smart" people who are, in fact, incredibly ignorant, misinformed, and do not apply critical thinking to the whole area of public policy).   I languish among them.  I call them the "coastal clueless".

 

They marinate in a toxic spew of misinformation, bigotry, false frameworks, historical ignorance/distortion, and social reinforcement (that leads to the most smug Americans almost without exception being the most clueless, destructive, fashionably leftist ones).

 

And once you've switched on the "self-dealing" circuit (one's ignorance, arrogance, and authoritarian impulse is not only lauded and socially rewarded - but financially rewarded), you get the collapse of public service mindset (and among the private sector worst cases, cronyism and gaming the system to one's advantage).  Firemen holding signs on election day demanding more $$$$ ..... "solar energy" and windmill B.S. sucking down public resources.

 

 

Posted by: non-purist at April 21, 2014 07:25 AM (afQnV)

99 You know, basically out-unioning the union. It may be that the anti-union workers are fairly well organized and would bring bad PR. My dad's plant had a similar issue. The union voted itself in thanks to some temp workers and invoked the "One man, one vote (secret this time), one time" rule of union voting. Most of the long-timers were furious and a lot of the others came around quickly when they realized the union wasn't benign and wasn't getting them squat. The UAW "case" against Volkswagen was, of course, silly. It was based on the notion that when Corker said it would cost jobs that there was some sort of collusion...with reality, I guess.

Posted by: AmishDude at April 21, 2014 07:25 AM (T0NGe)

100 Alia: I am a messenger from Muad'Dib. Poor Emperor. I'm afraid my brother won't be very pleased with you.

Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV: Silence!

Reverend Mother Mohiam: Kill this child. She's an abomination. Kill her!

Reverend Mother Mohiam: [groans then yells at Alia] Get out of my mind!

Alia: [using the voice] Not until you tell them both who I *really* am!

Reverend Mother Mohiam: [Weakly] Alia, daughter of Duke Leto the Just and the royal lady Jessica. Sister... of Paul... Muad'Dib.

Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV: Paul's sister? Paul is Muad'Dib?

Posted by: Shadout Mapes at April 21, 2014 07:25 AM (e8kgV)

101 >>I suggest you email this list while it's got Kleintard's Seal of Approval to your progtardian friends as a bit of subversive propaganda. Or just drop into conversation: As Ezra Klein informs us, 'many things that are desirable are not feasible'. Heh.

Posted by: Mama AJ at April 21, 2014 07:26 AM (SUKHu)

102

Also, let us not forget that there are opportunity costs for men. Do you think, do you really and truly and honestly think, that every man with a family is thrilled to put in all those hours away from home? Seriously? Because I'll tell you what, the men I know with families agonize just as much about work life balance as women do. They just do it quietly and they suck it up and do it anyway because someone has to keep the roof over the family's head and come hell or high water they will do it.

 

Then they get to come home to wives who bitch at them about how much time they spend in the office, but who feverishly spend every dime he makes because it's "their" money.

 

 

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 07:26 AM (DrWcr)

103 Most of the long-timers were furious and a lot of the others came around quickly when they realized the union wasn't benign and wasn't getting them squat.



My hatred of    all unions   and union supporters is neck and neck with my hatred of all things    feminazi.    I really couldn't choose which I hate more.  

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:26 AM (4df7R)

104 Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV: Paul's sister? Paul is Muad'Dib? --- "The Guild requires that you kill Rand Paul." "Don't you mean his father, Ron Paul?" "No, we mean RAND Paul!"

Posted by: Guild Navigator Third Class, R-KY at April 21, 2014 07:27 AM (APuJ7)

105 Shorter Vox: Supply and Demand are Iron Laws of Economics. That's why we support Rent Control and high Minimum Wage!

Posted by: Costanza Defense at April 21, 2014 07:27 AM (ZPrif)

106 Shit shit shit.
$98.5K, and I don't have a cat that could potentially make incendiary comments on online forums under my user name.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:24 AM (4df7R)



You are forgetting your advantage.



*points to trampoline*


Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 07:28 AM (GQ8sn)

107 Time for "Card Check" at Media Matters

Posted by: Knights of Labor at April 21, 2014 07:28 AM (e8kgV)

108 34 The United Auto Workers Union, in a surprise move, on Monday gave up its fight to force a revote by workers at Volkswagen‘s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., a retreat that leaves the union with an uncertain future.

The withdrawal came an hour before the UAW was to go before the National Labor Relations Board to plead for a new election and comes after it had appeared prepared for a long and bitter fight. Earlier this month, the UAW issued subpoenas to 19 people, including Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Sen. Bob Corker. The union had alleged public comments against the union by Messrs. Haslam and Corker interfered with the February election, which the UAW lost by a vote of 712-626.

Posted by: Lee Harvey Oswald at April 21, 2014 11:06 AM (e8kgV)

 

 

I bet on a couple things.  They talked to some of those 626 and found out that this bullshit by the UAW has made them tell the union to fuck off and they will vote no the next time.  Or else someone said to them "Keep this up and we will make it very public what interference and threats you have made concerning the vote.

Posted by: buzzion at April 21, 2014 07:28 AM (LI48c)

109 Knowing a little about German compound words, I give you klugendummkopf or 'wise fool'

Posted by: MickfromVic at April 21, 2014 07:28 AM (Z5RGD)

110 What did Ronald Reagan say about them? I think it was they don't know any better. But, that was 40-50 years ago when he started talking about them, now they are mean & stupid.

Posted by: Carol at April 21, 2014 07:28 AM (gjOCp)

111 Supply and Demand are Iron Laws of Economics. --- Did someone say Iron Law?

Posted by: Balon Greyjoy at April 21, 2014 07:28 AM (APuJ7)

112 Shit, you're average leftist can't remember today what they said yesterday. I could send the list to my leftist friends, say it was was Ezra Klein approved, and they'd love it. Tomorrow I'd tell them it was Koch Bros. approved and they'd hate it. Then I'd point out that it was the same list and they'd hate me.

Posted by: Hork at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (a2Kal)

113 As Ezra Klein informs us, 'many things that are desirable are not feasible'.
Posted by: Mama AJ at April 21, 2014 11:26 AM (SUKHu)
It takes $250,000 worth of higher education to learn this.

Posted by: #6 at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (I9I9J)

114 1) TANSTAAFL 2) We Strongly Support The Federal Free Lunch Program!

Posted by: Vox Public Policy Guide at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (ZPrif)

115 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German.

Wassermanschultz


*applause*

Posted by: HR at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (ZKzrr)

116 >>$98.5K, and I don't have a cat that could potentially make incendiary comments on online forums under my user name. $97K and I'm wearing furry cat ears.

Posted by: Mama AJ at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (SUKHu)

117 Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (mf5HN) Well said Here's a stompy boots pic as your reward http://tinyurl.com/kv3b93l

Posted by: kbdabear at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (aTXUx)

118 107 Time for "Card Check" at Media Matters --- That's a situation I'd LOVE to see become very protracted and ugly.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (APuJ7)

119 Also, let us not forget that there are opportunity costs for men. Do you think, do you really and truly and honestly think, that every man with a family is thrilled to put in all those hours away from home? Seriously? Because I'll tell you what, the men I know with families agonize just as much about work life balance as women do. They just do it quietly and they suck it up and do it anyway because someone has to keep the roof over the family's head and come hell or high water they will do it.

Then they get to come home to wives who bitch at them about how much time they spend in the office, but who feverishly spend every dime he makes because it's "their" money.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 11:26 AM (DrWcr)


Oh, so you've met my father?  And my best friend?  Small world. 

Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (hRzu2)

120 - There's a whole riff on this in 'Fish Called Wanda' - Wanda: "Oh, right! To call you stupid would be an insult to stupid people! I've known sheep that could outwit you. I've worn dresses with higher IQs. But you think you're an intellectual, don't you, ape? Ezra Klein: Apes don't read economics Wanda: Yes they do, Ezra. They just don't understand it. Now let me correct you on a couple of things, OK? Aristotle was not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not "Every man for himself." And the London Underground is not a political movement. Those are all mistakes, Ezra. I googled them. _

Posted by: BumperStickerist at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (4CVLy)

121 1. TANSTAAFL 2. Federal Borrowing Is Free Money

Posted by: Vox Macroeconomics Guide at April 21, 2014 07:29 AM (ZPrif)

122

Klein's even more of a hack than you think, Drew.  This was going  around the web this morning as the best, shortest commencement address ever.  So all he did was basically a Drew dump.

 

And for that, the nickelfucker makes more money in a day than I will in a year.

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 21, 2014 07:30 AM (zF6Iw)

123 aussie - See here, I weary of stumbling into my mornings and finding there the detritus of those who got there first. I mean the least you folk can do is clean up behind yourselves. When I get to Tuesday, I damned well expect my Aussie brethren to at least have tidied up the empty beer cans and cigarette butts.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 07:30 AM (aDwsi)

124 And the London Underground is not a political movement. --- My absolute favorite line of the movie.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at April 21, 2014 07:30 AM (APuJ7)

125 Shit shit shit.
$98.5K, and I don't have a cat that could potentially make incendiary comments on online forums under my user name.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:24 AM (4df7R)

 

 

--------------------------------------

 

 

Oh, hell.  I'll do it for 98K.  And  I have two cats that comment on the Federalist all the time.

Posted by: Soona at April 21, 2014 07:30 AM (cu9Nx)

126 Posted by: non-purist at April 21, 2014 11:25 AM (afQnV) And its exasperated by the whole Political Pundit class, and 'News Analysis' shows... Where they take a bunch of Non Experts from the Press, and ask them their opinions about World Events. Look at shows like... Bill Reiley's .... or the Five.... NONE of them have any actual experts on the topics they are talking about... they are all reporters, blabbing to other reporters... as though being a reporter somehow makes their OPINION worthwhile...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 07:30 AM (84gbM)

127 Dumb ? No question. Winning ? Seems likely. Still having trouble reconciling these two things.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 21, 2014 07:31 AM (V0aFE)

128 12. Because market prices aggregate traders' information, it is difficult to forecast stock prices and interest rates and exchange rates.

The word he's look for is "impossible." 

The import of this point is that when you destroy people's ability to interact in a market setting, you lose the price information that market could have provided.  You create a market-information vacuum. 

Which is why price-fixing causes shortages. 

Which is why government-controlled markets (like 404Care) cannot increase the quality or efficiency of the goods in question. 

Posted by: Phinn at April 21, 2014 07:31 AM (i5GO4)

129 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Ezrakleinkopf?

Posted by: physics geek at April 21, 2014 07:31 AM (MT22W)

130 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German." Sitzpinkler.

Posted by: frankly at April 21, 2014 07:31 AM (41QaG)

131 Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 11:30 AM (aDwsi) /looks over at the Barrel... Well.... that looks empty...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 07:31 AM (84gbM)

132

Klein's even more of a hack than you think, Drew. This was going around the web this morning as the best, shortest commencement address ever. So all he did was basically a Drew dump.

 

--------

 

So Klein forwards emails.  It seems more and more clear that he forwarded this to try and appear hip, and not because he actually read the thing.

Posted by: @JohnTant at April 21, 2014 07:32 AM (PFy0L)

133 Leftists spend all of their time organizing takedowns and takeovers of the residue and remnants of their deconstruction. They never get around to figuring out how to build, run or manage anything productive. And will never admit that controls and regulations inhibit growth in just about everything that they come in contact with, except unemployment and welfare rolls.

Posted by: ontherocks at April 21, 2014 07:32 AM (k+9Bw)

134 A Large VC Funding Embiggens the Smallest Wonk

Posted by: kbdabear at April 21, 2014 07:32 AM (aTXUx)

135 $98.5K, and I don't have a cat that could potentially make incendiary comments on online forums under my user name. $97K and I'm wearing furry cat ears. Posted by: Mama -------------- $96,500

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 07:32 AM (aDwsi)

136 Oh, so you've met my father? And my best friend? Small world.

Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 11:29 AM (hRzu2)

 

Indeed.   It's far too common a tale.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 07:33 AM (DrWcr)

137 Father Guido Sarducci once summed it up in 3 words. "Supply and Demand." It was part of his 10 minute University Course. Much better than anything the Libs will ever tell us. I miss Father Guido Sarducci.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 21, 2014 07:33 AM (lUXJH)

138 112 Shit, you're average leftist can't remember today what they said yesterday. I could send the list to my leftist friends, say it was was Ezra Klein approved, and they'd love it. Tomorrow I'd tell them it was Koch Bros. approved and they'd hate it. Then I'd point out that it was the same list and they'd hate me. Posted by: Hork at April 21, 2014 11:29 AM (a2Kal) Everything you need to know about liberals in 58 words.

Posted by: AmishDude at April 21, 2014 07:33 AM (T0NGe)

139 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Ezrakleinkopf? Ezrafruede.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 21, 2014 07:34 AM (lUXJH)

140 Here at Vox we believe that all rational public policy should flow from enlightened principles of liberal economics. For example: Principle - People Respond To Incentives Policy - Unemployment Benefits Should Be Extended Indefinitely

Posted by: Vox Public Policy Guide at April 21, 2014 07:34 AM (ZPrif)

141

"Everyone responds to incentives, including people you want to help. That is why social safety nets don't always end up working as intended."

*******************

 

If Klein actually understood what this meant in practical terms he would probably be a conservative. I think most liberals have no clue about the impact of incentives on behavior and refuse to factor them into their plans. This is the entire reason communism doesn't work - right here.

Posted by: Lea at April 21, 2014 07:34 AM (lIU4e)

142

Life is trade offs and least worst options and closing your eyes and letting go of the path not taken. You pays your money and you takes your chances and life? Life grinds on, no matter what you do.  

 

 

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (mf5HN)

 

That needs to be read at the MoMee.  In its entirety.  Whilst we retire to our bunks. 

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, who does NOT speak for the Department of Commerce, Office of Inspector General at April 21, 2014 07:34 AM (fwARV)

143 $98.5K, and I don't have a cat that could potentially make incendiary comments on online forums under my user name. $97K and I'm wearing furry cat ears. Posted by: Mama -------------- $96,500 $90,000

Posted by: rickb223 at April 21, 2014 07:35 AM (lUXJH)

144 I am going to have to send the entire Ravage after you, with full emu strapped to honey badgers strapped to lions weapons package along with air support from the Flying Manatee Brigade, as the only appropriate response to image of Ezra Klein doing interpretative dance. Must have something to do with the Platinum Membership.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at April 21, 2014 07:36 AM (oFCZn)

145 I can't keep bidding; I gotta take the cat to the vet! (which is why I'm wearing the cat ears: solidarity or moral support or something) $94,999. If I get the contract, just leave it on the desk.

Posted by: Mama AJ at April 21, 2014 07:36 AM (SUKHu)

146 Another 2 and 1/2 years ... expect Obama to pivot to actions that would get the House to impeach him as an alternative to seppuku

Posted by: George Clooney at April 21, 2014 07:36 AM (e8kgV)

147 1. TANSTAAFL

The cafeteria rubbish bins are stacked to the brim with Michelle Obama's school lunch menu.

Posted by: Fritz at April 21, 2014 07:37 AM (oJUxt)

148 Well, that's five minutes of my life I'll never get back. And if Little Baby Ezra thinks that's all you need to know about economics, he's far dumber than I thought he was. Which I didn't think was possible.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b][/u] at April 21, 2014 07:37 AM (0HooB)

149 $92k and maybe some Outback coupons.

Posted by: @JohnTant at April 21, 2014 07:37 AM (PFy0L)

150 "How can you think these are essential truths about economics and still be a big government liberal? Imagine thinking, as Klein does, that these are four essential parts (there's 12 in total) of understanding economics while simultaneously thinking that ObamaCare doesn't go far enough and we should have "a more nationalized health-care system". ferns law...

Posted by: sound awake at April 21, 2014 07:38 AM (pk/NG)

151 Vox is the hipsterclature of the "For Dummies" self help tomes. And yes it is true that hipsters are very stupid.

Posted by: Lester at April 21, 2014 07:38 AM (2UPXV)

152 You want $98.5K annual You'll settle for $20k You'll get .10 a word.

Posted by: toby928© at April 21, 2014 07:38 AM (QupBk)

153 83 Life is trade offs and least worst options and closing your eyes and letting go of the path not taken.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (mf5HN)


Sowell writes about this in The Vision of the Anointed.  Those with the tragic vision understand that there are no solutions, "only trade-offs that still leave many desires unfulfilled..."

The vision of the anointed has different premises.  "Here it is not the innate limitations of human beings, or the inherent limitations of resources, which create unhappiness but the fact that social institutions and social policies are not as wisely crafted as the anointed would have crafted them."

Posted by: Titanium at April 21, 2014 07:39 AM (6iwzV)

154 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Harvard Grad?

Posted by: garrett at April 21, 2014 07:39 AM (268VZ)

155 Now, to be charitable to Ezra (why? who knows), he actually wrote that it's all you need to know about economics, not that you all should actually do what it says.  If you were to pin him down on any one of those issues and how it doesn't square with his desire for greater state control of everything, he will mutter something about "social justice" and about how economics isn't the whole answer, etc., etc.

But yeah, largely he's just posting that so that he can sound smart, not that he is actually able to entertain a real discussion on the matter.

Posted by: chemjeff at April 21, 2014 07:39 AM (dBV5N)

156 * ponders a knockout punch * * calculates daily time required to produce Klein-like commentary *

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 07:39 AM (aDwsi)

157

Can't bear to actually read the wise words in question.  But does he attack "externalities"?  I am shocked at how good my econ education was.  To echo this guy's speech, in the first two classes I got all the basic tools, and it changed the way I saw/analyzed the world, almost instantly. 

 

But one thing I remember clearly, and it was a bit dubious at the time, was "externalities".  Basically, some outside/exogenous reason for people to f**k with markets, on the basis of social impact/things not captured by prices/problems not solved by markets/negative things not priced into market actions (think serious air pollution from coal-fired power plants for an example).  Logically, at one level, this concept has some validity.  But then we see today where it can lead.  With an unserious country and populace, voracious self-dealers looking to use the system to steal their wealth, maniacal authoritarian control freaks, and zealous fake religion promoters, "externalities" like environmental impact are simply a ticket to screw up an economy and society (and these above-named camps are often combined in single individuals or groups).

Posted by: non-purist at April 21, 2014 07:39 AM (afQnV)

158 Is Klein dumb or disingenuous? I suspect that most liberals (certainly many in power - though not all) understand this. But if they actually put this in practice, they would be giving up power, control and influence. So they just ignore common sense and historical truths.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 07:39 AM (gmeXX)

159 There are plenty of websites and youtube channels and podcasts where you can listen and watch actual experts discuss policy -- but very few people are interested in that. FoxNews features bloviating pundits because that's what people want to see - revealed preferences and all. Same way people watch smart-ass comedians to get their news instead of people who actually know stuff.

Posted by: Costanza Defense at April 21, 2014 07:39 AM (ZPrif)

160 In related news, Joe Scarborough continues to be a knob polishing little turd.

I see on Newsbusters that he's calling the parents in Kansas "asinine" and that they should all just shut up and glory in the aura of The First Hips and her entourage of snack fetchers and ass kissers coming into Kansas and disrupting the fuck out of everyone's graduation.

Because on a day when all the schools are having graduation and everyone's families are attending, you really need 60 limos and a metric fuckton of Secret Service drunks clogging up the roads.

All because of the 60th anniversary of Brown vs BoE.  Because black education has come so far since then thanks to the Dems.

Posted by: B at April 21, 2014 07:40 AM (XyoGP)

161

123 Mike Hammer

 

Everything is tidy and spotless so you can enjoy yesterday in sparklingly clean surroundings...

 

Sorry I can't clean up your idiot pollies and commentators though

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 07:40 AM (XURZb)

162 127 Dumb ? No question. Winning ? Seems likely. Still having trouble reconciling these two things. Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 21, 2014 11:31 AM (V0aFE) Finagle's Law: The perversity of the universe tends toward a maximum.

Posted by: joncelli at April 21, 2014 07:40 AM (RD7QR)

163 Life is trade offs and least worst options and closing your eyes and letting go of the path not taken. Life is suffering. Pass the bong.

Posted by: Aqua Buddha at April 21, 2014 07:40 AM (268VZ)

164 unrichtiggescheitmeier unrichtig= incorrect gescheitmeier= know-it-all

Posted by: DCPensFan at April 21, 2014 07:41 AM (ma/2m)

165

That is why social safety nets don't always end up working as intended.

 

Nothing does.  The Law of Unintended Consequences should be a restraint on every impulse to "fix" things via government action.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at April 21, 2014 07:41 AM (JtwS4)

166 Life is pain.  Anyone who says differently is selling something.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 07:41 AM (DrWcr)

167 They never get around to figuring out how to build, run or manage anything productive. And will never admit that controls and regulations inhibit growth in just about everything that they come in contact with, except unemployment and welfare rolls. It's almost like they're idiots with no common sense or understanding of how the real world operates.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b][/u] at April 21, 2014 07:41 AM (0HooB)

168 I'm not sure what the German equivalent is, but the word you're looking for is "hubris".

Posted by: Jason at April 21, 2014 07:42 AM (jqcVe)

169 The Law of Unintended Consequences should be a restraint on every impulse to "fix" things via government action ---- Of course some things are intended.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 07:42 AM (gmeXX)

170 Life is pain. This.

Posted by: Clubber Lang at April 21, 2014 07:42 AM (268VZ)

171

$85K  and a weekend with Kate Upton......in Maui.......in a  house on a secluded beach.

Posted by: Soona at April 21, 2014 07:42 AM (cu9Nx)

172 American Keflezighi on Heartbreak Hill, still in the lead, 6 miles to go.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 07:42 AM (ZshNr)

173 Posted by: @JohnTant at April 21, 2014 11:37 AM (PFy0L) Pfft. Let's weed out the jokers, I'd do it for 40k a year. (Marketplace 201, a labor surplus leads to lower wages.)

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) [/b] [/i] [/s] at April 21, 2014 07:42 AM (HDwDg)

174 1. Everything has unintended consequences that are impossible to predict. 2. We guarantee that Obamacare will have no negative unintended consequences.

Posted by: Vox Public Policy Guide at April 21, 2014 07:43 AM (ZPrif)

175 They never get around to figuring out how to build, run or manage anything productive. And will never admit that controls and regulations inhibit growth in just about everything that they come in contact with, except unemployment and welfare rolls. It's almost like they're idiots with no common sense or understanding of how the real world operates. ---- Or they just realize that they may not be needed and so in order to have control they have to ignore what they really know.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 07:43 AM (gmeXX)

176 10. When a government spends, its citizens eventually pay, either today or tomorrow, either through explicit taxes or implicit ones like inflation.

I expect that Ezra, like most Progressives, like to ignore this like they do the 9th Amendment to the US Constitution.

Posted by: John Adams at April 21, 2014 07:43 AM (e8kgV)

177 I'm going outside to try to finish pruning my roses. Oops, I forgot I have to work for a half hour or so. Have a nice afternoon!

Posted by: Carol at April 21, 2014 07:44 AM (gjOCp)

178 1. Remember the Fallacy of Chesterton's Fence 2. That said, we should eliminate private insurance cause it serves no obvious purpose.

Posted by: Vox Public Policy Guide at April 21, 2014 07:44 AM (ZPrif)

179 Ninth Amendment to the United States Constitution

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Posted by: John Adams at April 21, 2014 07:44 AM (e8kgV)

180 Everything you need to know about performing fellatio in five concise pictures.

Posted by: Ezra Klein at April 21, 2014 07:44 AM (Aif/5)

181 Life is suffering.   Pass the bong.
Posted by: Aqua Buddha at April 21, 2014 11:40 AM (268VZ)


Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 07:45 AM (MPIX5)

182 candidate words to describe "'smart' people who actually are dumb":

A. twits.
2. Obama administration.

Posted by: jd at April 21, 2014 07:45 AM (y53d1)

183 New News Network. Probably ought to spread the word. This is exactly the sort of development we should be strongly encouraging in our efforts to destroy the existing one party control of media/news. http://curmudgeonlyskeptical.blogspot.com/2014/04/one-american-news-network.html

Posted by: D-Lamp at April 21, 2014 07:45 AM (bb5+k)

184 'Everything you need to know about Glory Holes' - Ezra Klein (2014)

Posted by: Ezra Klein at April 21, 2014 07:46 AM (268VZ)

185 The reality is that economics isn't that complicated.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 07:46 AM (gmeXX)

186 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe. Pass the scotch please.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 21, 2014 07:47 AM (lUXJH)

187 1) It's impossible for Central Planners to have all the knowledge that individuals have. 2) Which is why we just need bigger, better Central Planners with more Power and Control.

Posted by: Vox Public Policy Guide at April 21, 2014 07:47 AM (ZPrif)

188 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe. And that's on the good days.

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b][/u] at April 21, 2014 07:47 AM (0HooB)

189 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy... Ezra. Not Eddie.

Posted by: Ezra Klein at April 21, 2014 07:47 AM (268VZ)

190 184-Now there's something he could actually update us on from personal knowledge.

Posted by: ejo at April 21, 2014 07:47 AM (GXvSO)

191 It's almost like they're idiots with no common sense or understanding of how the real world operates.

They know.  They just don't care. 

They know, as well as we do, that government programs cause hardship, inefficiency, loss of wealth, pain, suffering, a declining standard of living. 

These things are no secret.  They are obvious to any thinking person. 

Never attribute to stupidity that which is explained by malice. 

The Left KNOWS that control-schemes like ObamaCare will destroy that sector of the economy, and drag the rest of the economy along with it. 

IT'S WHAT THEY WANT. 

Posted by: Phinn at April 21, 2014 07:47 AM (i5GO4)

192 How can you read those words and think, "Yes! This guy nails it and oh by the way, society should be organized in such a way as to ignore everything he just said"?

Liberals employ cargo cult thinking.  

"Look, they're doing socialism and they're not a hellhole!  Let's copy them because!"   

No actual thinking of causes and effects, only mindless parroting of feel-good sayings and wishing really hard.   

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at April 21, 2014 07:48 AM (ioT3q)

193 I think he meant to say that everything that he can comprehend must be presented in a single speech/chart/diagram

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 21, 2014 07:48 AM (aq5Dc)

194 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe. Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 11:45 AM (MPIX5) Orgasms. Cigarettes. Cookies.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 07:48 AM (mf5HN)

195 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe.

At night, the ice weasels come.

Posted by: HR at April 21, 2014 07:48 AM (ZKzrr)

196 "...a labor surplus leads to lower wages."

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) at April 21, 2014 11:42 AM (HDwDg)

That is incorrect.

Increasing the legal labor force by relaxing immigration rules and granting amnesty to those here illegally will inject vibrancy into the labor market and will immediately result in a large GDP increase, large tax receipt increases, and will also fund the ACA for the next 50 years.

Posted by: Paul Krugman PhD, Nobel Laureate at April 21, 2014 07:48 AM (QFxY5)

197 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy...   Ezra. Not Eddie.
Posted by: Ezra Klein at April 21, 2014 11:47 AM (268VZ)

I'd be down for some swirlies.

Just not from Ezra.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 07:48 AM (MPIX5)

198

I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid".

I believe a--hole is the word you are looking for

 

Posted by: jim g at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (4WPpC)

199

"Wenn nur eine Bombe in Berlin fallt, konnen Sie mir Meyer heissen"

 

Not really relevant to the economics and German discussion under way, but one of my favorites (Luftwaffe chief Goering boasting - a few months before the first Allied raid on Berlin - that "if even one bomb should fall on Berlin, you can call me 'Meyer'" - that is, you can make a sophisticated anti-semitic slur against me).

 

More apt perhaps to the discussion of close-minded, ignorant "educated" Americans, mostly and inexplicably known as "liberals":

 

"Der Bauer frisst nicht, was er nicht kennt."

 

Which basically says the peasant doesn't eat what he doesn't know.  But with the added joy of word choice, as German has two verbs for "eat", and this saying uses the one used for animals. 

Posted by: non-purist at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (afQnV)

200 At night, the ice weasels come.

Posted by: HR at April 21, 2014 11:48 AM (ZKzrr)




They mostly come out at night.  Mostly...



Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (GQ8sn)

201 dumm wie Bohnenstroh

Posted by: Marcus T. at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (GGCsk)

202

Everything you need to know about voxonomic cognitive dissonance in two words:

Shut. Up.

Posted by: ZBBMcFate at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (Hj9yW)

203 At night, the ice weasels come.  Posted by: HR at April 21, 2014 11:48 AM (ZKzrr)

I always forget to add that part.

Dammit.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (MPIX5)

204 DRUDGE REPORT ‏@DRUDGE_REPORT 18m Chicago schools to teach black history in every subject... http://drudge.tw/1k09TY7

Posted by: Separate but Stupid at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (ZPrif)

205 At night, the ice weasels come.

Posted by: HR at April 21, 2014 11:48 AM (ZKzrr

 

Isn't that one of chuckles Johnson's sycophants?

Posted by: buzzion at April 21, 2014 07:49 AM (LI48c)

206 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 11:45 AM (MPIX5)

 

That's the Pollyanna perspective.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (DrWcr)

207

Some guidance please

 

Knowing not much about your Constitution could you recommend to me a book or article about what is in this Constitution...

 

Yes I know I can Bing/Google but I value your guidance rather than wading through a zillion entries trying to find something that will enlighten me

 

Thanks in advance (from a very sad Aussie whose favourite beautiful  kitty has not come home for 2 days)

 

 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (XURZb)

208 Or alternately;
Gegen Dummheit gibt es keine Pillen.

Posted by: Marcus T. at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (GGCsk)

209 Liberals employ cargo cult thinking. "Look, they're doing socialism and they're not a hellhole! Let's copy them because!" Where? NORK - check Cuba - check Venuzaela - check

Posted by: rickb223 at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (lUXJH)

210

Orgasms. Cigarettes. Cookies.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:48 AM (mf5HN)

 

Bunk. Gin and tonic. Nap.

 

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (JtwS4)

211 Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (mf5HN) I stand in awe of your wordcraft!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (o3MSL)

212 Posted by: Paul Krugman PhD, Nobel Laureate at April 21, 2014 11:48 AM (QFxY5) Which reminds me, when I finish my PhD, I'll gladly pump out "Krugman level writing" for $10/year. If it gets him to STFU, it's worth more than that to me .

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) [/b] [/i] [/s] at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (HDwDg)

213 True conservatives think that incentives work in every situation.... Except congressional pay.

Posted by: jwest at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (u2a4R)

214 Also, let us not forget that there are opportunity costs for men. Do you think, do you really and truly and honestly think, that every man with a family is thrilled to put in all those hours away from home? Seriously? Because I'll tell you what, the men I know with families agonize just as much about work life balance as women do. They just do it quietly and they suck it up and do it anyway because someone has to keep the roof over the family's head and come hell or high water they will do it. Men lose the time with their family. That is a cost. It is. It is real. I am so sick (and tired) of womyn acting as if men pay no costs at all for their careers. Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (mf5HN) That was so awesome that I think you deserve a reward. Here's all I've got: http://tinyurl.com/m7h8hgb

Posted by: physics geek at April 21, 2014 07:50 AM (MT22W)

215

RE: "smart-stupid".

 

I prefer "Voxtarded".

Posted by: ZBBMcFate at April 21, 2014 07:51 AM (Hj9yW)

216 Chicago schools to teach black history in every subject... http://drudge.tw/1k09TY7 You are ALL Nubian Royalty!

Posted by: Chicago Teacher at April 21, 2014 07:51 AM (268VZ)

217 Life is pain.



"Pain don't hurt."


-Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned    From    Road House, Vol 1

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:51 AM (4df7R)

218 Orgasms. Cigarettes. Cookies.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:48 AM (mf5HN)




In that order?

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:51 AM (4df7R)

219 216 Chicago schools to teach black history in every subject... http://drudge.tw/1k09TY7 You are ALL Nubian Royalty! --- What's a Nubian?

Posted by: Banky Edwards at April 21, 2014 07:52 AM (APuJ7)

220 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe. Ah, an optimist. Sucker.

Posted by: physics geek at April 21, 2014 07:52 AM (MT22W)

221 They know, as well as we do, that government programs cause hardship, inefficiency, loss of wealth, pain, suffering, a declining standard of living.

These things are no secret. They are obvious to any thinking person.

Never attribute to stupidity that which is explained by malice.

The Left KNOWS that control-schemes like ObamaCare will destroy that sector of the economy, and drag the rest of the economy along with it.

IT'S WHAT THEY WANT.

Posted by: Phinn at April 21, 2014 11:47 AM (i5GO4)

 

 

------------------------------------------------

 

 

THIS!  I think the left has been very smart (and very very patient) in destroying this country.   I don't  think anyone here could come up with a better plan for doing this than what we're experiencing right now.

Posted by: Soona at April 21, 2014 07:52 AM (cu9Nx)

222 Life is a swirling, sucking eddy of despair, punctuated by brief moments of false hope, in an ever-blackening universe. Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 11:45 AM (MPIX5) That'sthe Pollyanna perspective. Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 11:50 AM (DrWcr) No, that's the moron perspective. It reminds me of the Hrothgar family crest with the motto "Life is a bitch, and then you die!"

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 07:52 AM (o3MSL)

223 Pajama Boy's column was that Sunblock son. What a douche.

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at April 21, 2014 07:53 AM (Y92Nd)

224 Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:51 AM (4df7R) "I can't stand pain, it hurts me" --Everything I need to know about Life I learned from Daffy Duck.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) [/b] [/i] [/s] at April 21, 2014 07:53 AM (HDwDg)

225 Life is pain. "Pain don't hurt." Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 21, 2014 07:53 AM (lUXJH)

226 Yes, most leftists (90%) are quite stupid...

Posted by: prescient11 at April 21, 2014 07:53 AM (tVTLU)

227 Chicago schools going full Afrocentard. Basically -- everything good and interesting in history was done first and best by black people until white people came along and fucked everything up. Cause Science. http://drudge.tw/1k09TY7 In the work, Bernal claimed that ancient Greeks stole much of its civilization from Egypt, which, Bernal asserts, was populated by blacks. The Chicago curriculum entertains rebuttals to Bernal’s theory but skews heavily in its favor. Ron Fritze, a historian, the dean of Athens State University, and author of the book “Invented Knowledge,” says that Bernal’s theories are not historically accurate and have no place in Chicago schools. “As a historian and an educator, I am very troubled by the notion of [students] in Chicago city schools spending five weeks on Bernal’s ideas,” Fritze told TheDCNF. “His ideas are outliers of scholarship and have been largely discredited among other scholars,” said Fritze, noting that few scholars from Egypt or even China and Japan subscribe to Bernal’s theories. Fritze says that while most of Bernal’s critics had proven expertise in Classical studies, ancient history, and Egyptology, most of his supporters were not specialized in those fields. “But they were people who found his ideas to be politically attractive,” said Fritze. Chicago fifth graders will be exposed to another controversial and widely-criticized theory in Ivan van Sertima’s “They Came Before Columbus.” Van Sertima, who taught at Rutgers University, theorized that Africans populated the Americas well before Columbus. But critics largely panned the work. In a 1977 New York Times book review, archaeologist Glyn Daniel called van Sertima’s work “ignorant rubbish” and labeled it “myth and folklore.” Fritze is critical as well. “I and most historians of exploration consider ‘They Came Before Columbus’ to be very wrong in its contentions about African voyages to the Americas,” he told TheDCNF.

Posted by: Separate but Stupid at April 21, 2014 07:54 AM (ZPrif)

228 Human history has basically been about the control of people, who has it, how do they get it, how do they keep it.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 07:54 AM (gmeXX)

229 *blushes* Thank you, Hrothgar. That was so awesome that I think you deserve a reward. Here's all I've got: http://tinyurl.com/m7h8hgb Posted by: physics geek at April 21, 2014 11:50 AM (MT22W) *stocks up on cigarettes and cookies* Also my little film geek heart shaped hole just exploded in glitter and rainbows. http://bit.ly/1ngazw6

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 07:54 AM (mf5HN)

230 What's a Nubian? Posted by: Banky Edwards at April 21, 2014 11:52 AM (APuJ7) You have to sign up and PAY for the course before we can tell you!

Posted by: Chocage Universal Black Studies Coordinator at April 21, 2014 07:55 AM (o3MSL)

231 Life is pain.  "Pain don't hurt."
-Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned From Road House, Vol 1
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:51 AM (4df7R)


Pain is just the weakness leaving your body.

- From "Everything I Need to Know About Life I Learned At Ranger School, Vol 85-3"


Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 07:55 AM (MPIX5)

232 "...a labor surplus leads to lower wages."
***
Ending illegal immigration would have a major effect on the wages of no/low skill Americans.

If the Republican party wanted to win on the issue you think they would talk about it.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 21, 2014 07:55 AM (78TbK)

233 Ezrafruede. Posted by: rickb223 at April 21, 2014 11:34 AM (lUXJH) Doesn't that describe the relieved feeling when one realizes that Ezra Klein is Ezra Klein and you're not?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 21, 2014 07:55 AM (TIIx5)

234 Spell check, I blame spell check

Posted by: Chicago Universal Black Studies Coordinator at April 21, 2014 07:56 AM (o3MSL)

235 unrichtiggescheitmeier unrichtig= incorrect gescheitmeier= know-it-all Posted by: DCPensFan at April 21, 2014 11:41 AM (ma/2m) Unrichtiggescheitmeier. Ezra Klein is an unrichtiggescheitmeier. We may have a winner. The word even sounds insulting.

Posted by: naturalfake at April 21, 2014 07:56 AM (0cMkb)

236 Life is pain.



"Pain don't hurt."



Pain is just weakness leaving the body.



"They made you suffer, so I'm gonna make them suffer... and suffer and suffer and when I think they've suffered enough, then I start with the pain."


Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:56 AM (4df7R)

237 The "Ancient Egyptians were Black" lie has been repeated ad nauseum in rap music for 30 years now.

Posted by: Separate but Stupid at April 21, 2014 07:56 AM (ZPrif)

238 "Scarcity of Resources" Actually, I think liberals understand this quite well, their whole Maltusian concept thingy is based on it. It's the whole "I want my fair share and if there area fewer people with whom I have to share that scarce resource, then there is more for me" ideology.

Posted by: Williams the Youngest at April 21, 2014 07:56 AM (TYYSB)

239 No luck for the Americans in the Women's division. Course record, though. Still leading in the Men's but faltering a bit with 2 miles to go.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 07:56 AM (ZshNr)

240 Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 11:55 AM (MPIX5) Beat me to it by this much "|".

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 07:57 AM (o3MSL)

241 Imbecilectual

Posted by: M at April 21, 2014 07:57 AM (bLXQw)

242 227 Chicago schools going full Afrocentard. Basically -- everything good and interesting in history was done first and best by black people until white people came along and fucked everything up. Cause Science.


Successful people feel good about themselves. 

Therefore we need to make people feel good about themselves to be successful. 

Therefore we need to teach a madeup history that makes people feel good about themselves.   

That way, students with no clue about history will be successful.  Somehow.  

Liberal "thinking" in action.  

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at April 21, 2014 07:57 AM (ioT3q)

243

Knowing not much about your Constitution could you recommend to me a book or article about what is in this Constitution...

 

aussie, it's not a very complicated text.  The body of it is pretty dry, it establishes the three branches of government, defines their authorities (the "enumerated powers", we specifically give the government the right to mint coin, raise armies, etc.), and establishes qualifications for office.

 

The fun part is the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, which sets forth a bunch of stuff that the government specifically can't do, and throws is some general qualifiers about how all the rest of the rights remain with the states and the people and just because we didn't mention a right doesn't mean it isn't one.

 

The tricky part is that the meaning of the constitution is continuously defined by the body which rules on what it meant, the Supreme Court, which also ruled for itself that it is the arbiter of such things.  And they've been able to interpret a lot into the fairly dry language of the documents.  Mostly by exploiting the clause that says one role of the government is to facilitate interstate commerce.  They can find a commerce nexus for anything that blows their dress up.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at April 21, 2014 07:57 AM (JtwS4)

244 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid".

Chlamydiot.

Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at April 21, 2014 07:57 AM (UWTjh)

245
Also my little film geek heart shaped hole just exploded in glitter and rainbows.

http://bit.ly/1ngazw6

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:54 AM (mf5HN)



That is AWESOME.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:57 AM (4df7R)

246 Life is pain.







"Pain don't hurt."







Pain is just weakness leaving the body.



"They made you suffer, so I'm gonna make them suffer... and suffer and suffer and when I think they've suffered enough, then I start with the pain."


Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:56 AM (4df7R)



"I've hurt you and I wish to go on hurting you."


-take from "Everything I Need To Know About Life I Learned From Star Trek II:  The Wrath of Khan".



Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 07:58 AM (GQ8sn)

247 In that order? Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:51 AM (4df7R) According to the esteemed Dr. Denis Leary, yes.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 07:58 AM (mf5HN)

248 Ezra is only interested in large govt. control if it is HIS group doing it.
Otherwise he is screaming his head off about "oppression".

Posted by: Kafiroon at April 21, 2014 07:58 AM (HZMpv)

249 - An original term I coined, that seems appropriate here: Poopluft - that lighter-than-air one has after a particularly good dump. _

Posted by: BumperStickerist at April 21, 2014 07:59 AM (4CVLy)

250 According to the esteemed Dr. Denis Leary, yes.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:58 AM (mf5HN)



Hmm...   I wonder if I could get special dispensation to forego the "cigarettes" in favor of either


A) More orgasms, or


B) More cookies


depending on the mood.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 07:59 AM (4df7R)

251 Pain is just the weakness leaving your body. "Pain is a function of nerves, pain comes as light comes to the eyes."

Posted by: Mentat Lesson at April 21, 2014 07:59 AM (MT22W)

252 Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 11:55 AM (MPIX5) "Pain confirms I'm awake and alive." --Something I said once, but don't remember who I stole it from.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) [/b] [/i] [/s] at April 21, 2014 07:59 AM (HDwDg)

253 Khaaaaannnnnn!

Posted by: obligatory at April 21, 2014 07:59 AM (QupBk)

254 This is tense, second place gaining rapidly.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:00 AM (ZshNr)

255 Educated fools.

Posted by: Cicero Kid at April 21, 2014 08:00 AM (Fp7JI)

256 Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 11:52 AM (o3MSL) One great disservice we have done our children, is what I call the 'Bill Cosby' effect. Every problem can be solved in 30 minutes, with a happy ending... TV started it... and we have sheltered our children from Want, and consequence for their actions... to the point where they have no appreciation of what the REAL world is like... So when they enter it... and it bitch slaps them... they think there is something wrong with themselves.... or else it must be some grand conspiracy of Racists, or Sexists... or something ists... When in reality... its just the Fact that life sometimes Sucks... and you must just trudge on until it becomes less Sucky... Stoicism.... which I learned in the Military... is not on any School Agenda today...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 08:00 AM (84gbM)

257 Life is pain.











"Pain don't hurt."











Pain is just weakness leaving the body.



"They
made you suffer, so I'm gonna make them suffer... and suffer and suffer
and when I think they've suffered enough, then I start with the pain."




Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:56 AM (4df7R)

"I've hurt you and I wish to go on hurting you."
-take from "Everything I Need To Know About Life I Learned From Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".

Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 11:58 AM (GQ8sn)




"What is best in life?   To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women. "



-From  "Everything I Need to Know In Life I Learned from 'Conan the Barbarian', Volume IV"

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 08:00 AM (4df7R)

258 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid

A fool.   

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at April 21, 2014 08:01 AM (ioT3q)

259 - I have come here to explain the issues and chew gum - a Vox approach to the news, brought to you by Wrigleys, makers of 5 Gum.

Posted by: Ezra Klein at April 21, 2014 08:01 AM (4CVLy)

260 I prefer just reading the constitution itself. This will allow you to ask obvious questions like: I noticed the constitution only gives the federal government limited enumerated powers, if that is true where did they get the power to have control over 1/6 of the entire US economy. The obvious answer will be the taxing power, which may surprise you because Obama said it was not a tax and even argued that it was not a tax. Further, everyone else assured us it was under the commerce power, but that turns out to not be true. In seriousness, the federalist papers are a good place to read further about the constitution. But beyond that, maybe you can find a pre-1970 social studies book that will explain it pretty well.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 08:01 AM (gmeXX)

261 Hey, a Kenyan won another marathon. But remember, it's totally impossible that Kenyans might have some genetic advantage when it comes to long distance running. That's Unpossible! Race is a Social Construct! We are all the same Mr. Potato Head just with different parts and paints applied! Stop studying genetics, you monsters! Beware the Dark Enlightenment! DNA testing is the tool of the Devil!

Posted by: Separate but Stupid at April 21, 2014 08:01 AM (ZPrif)

262 "What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women. " -From "Everything I Need to Know In Life I Learned from 'Conan the Barbarian', Volume IV" --- "Little boy, want some candy?" - From "Everything I needed To Know In Life, I Learned From Bryan Singer"

Posted by: Banky Edwards at April 21, 2014 08:02 AM (APuJ7)

263

"Pain confirms I'm awake and alive."

 

Two conditions which are highly overrated.

Posted by: Insomniac at April 21, 2014 08:02 AM (DrWcr)

264 237 The "Ancient Egyptians were Black" lie has been repeated ad nauseum in rap music for 30 years now.
***

Yeah.......I went to Egypt back in the 80s on a sightseeing trip.  I suggest someone espousing those views go to Egypt and try that line on the first group of Egyptians they see.   Bring a first aid kit with you.

Posted by: B at April 21, 2014 08:02 AM (XyoGP)

265 8 seconds between one and two. could be a photo finish.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:02 AM (ZshNr)

266 Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 12:00 PM (84gbM) What, you mean that any problem cannot be solved in at most 50 minutes (absent the commercials)?

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:02 AM (o3MSL)

267 Also my little film geek heart shaped hole just exploded in glitter and rainbows. http://bit.ly/1ngazw6 Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:54 AM (mf5HN) Okay, this also deserves a gift. Guess I'll go with the old reliable: http://tinyurl.com/m23u6le

Posted by: Mentat Lesson at April 21, 2014 08:03 AM (MT22W)

268   Pain is just weakness leaving the body.   

"They  made you suffer, so I'm gonna make them suffer... and suffer and suffer  and when I think they've suffered enough, then I start with the pain."      
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:56 AM (4df7R) 

"I've hurt you and I wish to go on hurting you."
-take from "Everything I Need To Know About Life I Learned From Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".   
Posted by: EC at April 21, 2014 11:58 AM (GQ8sn)  

"What is best in life? To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women. " 
-From "Everything I Need to Know In Life I Learned from 'Conan the Barbarian', Volume IV" 
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 12:00 PM (4df7R)


"SPACESHIP!"
- That blue Lego man from "The LEGO Movie"

Posted by: ConservativeMonster at April 21, 2014 08:03 AM (ioT3q)

269 No luck for the Americans in the Women's division. Course record, though. Still leading in the Men's but faltering a bit with 2 miles to go. Posted by: Lincolntf --------------------------- Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I will soon be dealing with this issue.

Posted by: Diana Moon Glampers at April 21, 2014 08:03 AM (aDwsi)

270 "Life is pain, Highness.  Anyone who says differently    is selling something."


-From, "Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from 'The Princess Bride,' Volume XXI-XXII inclusive."

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (4df7R)

271

I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid

 

------

 

Not one word, but Lenin called such folk 'useful idiots'

 

 

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (aq5Dc)

272 How can you think these are essential truths about economics and still be a big government liberal? Maybe Ezra Klein is angling for a gig as a house conservative.

Posted by: t-bird at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (FcR7P)

273 In seriousness, the federalist papers are a good place to read further about the constitution.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 12:01 PM (gmeXX)


I would say both the federalist and anti-federalist papers (especially Federal Farmer). Lots of good stuff there. I must admit to my shame that I have not read them all...

Posted by: [/i]KG at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (p7BzH)

274 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German." Sieg Heil?

Posted by: SailorChick '95 at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (uhuPK)

275 Hmm... I wonder if I could get special dispensation to forego the "cigarettes" in favor of either
A) More orgasms, or
B) More cookies depending on the mood.
Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:59 AM (4df7R)

:::: scribbles furiously in notebook :::

NoVAMoMee Packing List:  
- cookies
- large pillows
- lotion
- lube
- video camera

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (MPIX5)

276

243 frumious bandersnatch

 

Thanks - you're a real sweetie for replying to an ignorant foreigner (smiley face as I'm cardboard only AoSHQ subscriber and can't post pretty smileys)

 

I'll give Bing a go then....

 

I've become increasingly interested in the American Constitution mainly from reading this blog and reading comments related to this

 

 

 

 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (XURZb)

277 #227, 237

So annoying.  Do even modern day Egyptians look black?  No.  Do modern middle-easterners anywhere?  No. 

Nevermind that the Greeks owned and occupied every part of Africa that has ever contributed anything noteworthy to history during the time of said contributions. 

Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (hRzu2)

278 A) More orgasms, or B) More cookies depending on the mood. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:59 AM (4df7R) Why not both? Maybe I could replace the cigarettes with alcohol, which was conspicuously absent from the list.

Posted by: physics geek at April 21, 2014 08:04 AM (MT22W)

279 6 seconds!

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:05 AM (ZshNr)

280 Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 12:01 PM (gmeXX) You can't appreciate the intellectual thought of the times and basis of the Constitution unless you read the Federalist Papers, IMHO.

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:05 AM (o3MSL)

281 "Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?"



-John Keats

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 08:05 AM (4df7R)

282 Alcohol, cookies, orgasms... BINGO!

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at April 21, 2014 08:06 AM (Y92Nd)

283 Posted by: Separate but Stupid at April 21, 2014 11:54 AM (ZPrif) History is written by the Victors... Winston Churchill

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 08:06 AM (84gbM)

284 Yeah.......I went to Egypt back in the 80s on a sightseeing trip. I suggest someone espousing those views go to Egypt and try that line on the first group of Egyptians they see. Bring a first aid kit with you.

Posted by: B at April 21, 2014 12:02 PM (XyoGP)

 

Best to choose the Coptic Christians.  Since they are the Egyptians, and not the Arabic invaders.

Posted by: buzzion at April 21, 2014 08:06 AM (LI48c)

285

aussie, I admit to being woefully lazy on this subject (constitutional literacy), but one idea is to check out the online course on the constitution offered by Hillsdale College (a small private American college apparently dedicated to the radical concepts of law, common sense, history, and the US Constitution).  Think it's called Constitution 101.

 

One broad (and audacious) warning, though.  Today's America bears only vague and declining resemblance to any constitutionally-run country, even that of a few decades ago.  So many fundamental elements have simply vanished (some specific and substantive, like the 10th Amendment, some informal yet critical like an American mindset in favor of individual liberty and against government control or dominance of life) that I'm not sure how to relate the document to today's reality.  And there's the purely orwellian - and devastating - element of capricious, lawless "jurisprudence" (SCOTUS and other courts just making shit up, usurping power to themselves, becoming unaccountable and particularly asinine legislatures, arbitrarily re-defining words and concepts, etc.).

 

 

Posted by: non-purist at April 21, 2014 08:06 AM (afQnV)

286 You can't appreciate the intellectual thought of the times and basis of the Constitution unless you read the Federalist Papers, IMHO.

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 12:05 PM (o3MSL)

THIS

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 08:06 AM (MPIX5)

287 Home stretch down Boylston St!

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:07 AM (ZshNr)

288 >>http://curmudgeonlyskeptical.blogspot.com/2014/04/one-american-news-network.html Posted by: D-Lamp at April 21, 2014 11:45 AM (bb5+k) I thought you were joking Good News, maybeÂ…..

Posted by: ontherocks at April 21, 2014 08:07 AM (k+9Bw)

289 Posted by: KG at April 21, 2014 12:04 PM (p7BzH) Note to self: Track down the "Anti-Federalist Papers" for future study.

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:07 AM (o3MSL)

290
Haha.  He is inadvertently educating his dumbass followers to our side.  Maybe it will lightbulb some of them.  Maybe.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at April 21, 2014 08:07 AM (hJauc)

291 I'm pretty certain that Jeff Bezos boiled those 4 points down to 1 for Ezra: You have no way of making me money.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 08:08 AM (gmeXX)

292 NoVAMoMee Packing List: - cookies - large pillows - lotion - lube - video camera Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 12:04 PM (MPIX5) I dreamed last night about teams girls competing to see who could catch the most stuff with their boobs.

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at April 21, 2014 08:08 AM (Y92Nd)

293 So close.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:08 AM (ZshNr)

294 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". ------------------------- Nodding Donkeys : http://tinyurl.com/oxnph45

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 08:08 AM (aDwsi)

295 For the uneducated white devils: 1. African-Americans are black. 2. Egypt was in Africa. 3. Therefore Egyptians were black. Boom-shaka-laka! Science, bitches! Droppin' knowledge. Educate yo'self!

Posted by: Afrocentric Historian, PhD in African-American Grievance Studies at April 21, 2014 08:08 AM (ZPrif)

296 He's gonna do it. First American winner in decades.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:09 AM (ZshNr)

297 Stoicism.... which I learned in the Military... is not on any School Agenda today...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 12:00 PM (84gbM)

 

 

-----------------------------------------

 

 

Living life on life's terms.  Getting off of one's ass, turning to the fear, and then walking through it,  is a joyful triumph all it's own.  Wish more people would try it.

Posted by: Soona at April 21, 2014 08:09 AM (cu9Nx)

298 I'm using iPad, WSJ had a piece on how Ted Cruz has accomplished nothing as a senator, except to ban Iranian from coming here & is pissing off GOPe, but winning fans with conservatives. I'll post link tonight.

Posted by: Carol at April 21, 2014 08:09 AM (gjOCp)

299 He wins! Personal best.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:09 AM (ZshNr)

300 >>>You can't appreciate the intellectual thought of the times and basis of the Constitution unless you read the Federalist Papers, IMHO. Â…..yeah, but that was like a hundred years agoÂ….

Posted by: ontherocks at April 21, 2014 08:09 AM (k+9Bw)

301

Life is pain.












"Pain don't hurt."

 

 


Pain is just weakness leaving the body.

 

 


"They
made you suffer, so I'm gonna make them suffer... and suffer and suffer
and when I think they've suffered enough, then I start with the pain."




Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at April 21, 2014 11:56 AM (4df7R)

 

"I've hurt you and I wish to go on hurting you."
-take from "Everything I Need To Know About Life I Learned From Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan".

 



AHH! PAIN! PAIN! PAIN!

- taken from "Everything I Need To Know I Learned From The Horta," Vol. 2

 

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 21, 2014 08:10 AM (zF6Iw)

302 1983, last time an American won.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 21, 2014 08:10 AM (ZshNr)

303 Trolling libs is fun and all, but I need to get a life. --- 2015 was an interesting year, in that Cliven Bundy was sworn in as sheriff and immediately disarmed the BLM. After deputizing a posse of 10,000, no one ever saw the BLM in those parts again. It was just cows for as far as the eye could see, topsoil improved, turtles and other flora and fauna flourished, trees grew, the rains came and within 50 years the desert had become like a garden of eden. Teaching the legend of Cliven Bundy is mandated course study in all public schools to this day (in 2065). It is said that he stood 8 feet tall if he stood a foot and could split a cord of wood with his bare hands. Some say he still rides the hills on a his giant Ox, and if you listen closely the cows can be heard praising him with a loud mooooo off in the distance.

Posted by: Up With People at April 21, 2014 08:10 AM (pf+hU)

Posted by: [/i]KG at April 21, 2014 08:10 AM (p7BzH)

305 I believe the point of VOX is to let stupid attention deprived progs (BIRM) "educate" themselves on the right proggie things to say within the limits of their attention spans

Posted by: thunderb at April 21, 2014 08:10 AM (zOTsN)

306 Waggles finger at MP4

Posted by: [/i]KG at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (p7BzH)

307 MPPP report to the barrel.  MPPP report to the barrel

Posted by: Sean Bannion at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (MPIX5)

308 What, you mean that any problem cannot be solved in at most 50 minutes (absent the commercials)? Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 12:02 PM (o3MSL) Nope... that's more the Kirk Effect.... that there are no unwinnable scenarios... ie... the Kobyoshi Maru... hell.... even Spock comes back... The Cosby effect is "any problem in life can be solved in 30 minutes or less... and be funny at the same time"...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (84gbM)

309 MPPPP, stay small in the barrel. Touch nothing.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (ojnk6)

310 Damn forgot my action asterisks!

Posted by: [/i]KG at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (p7BzH)

311 Yeah.......I went to Egypt back in the 80s on a sightseeing trip. I suggest someone espousing those views go to Egypt and try that line on the first group of Egyptians they see. Bring a first aid kit with you.
***
The Arabic world engaged in a larger slavery industry in Africa, and for longer, then the Europeans did.

When you go anywhere in the New World you can see the descendants of the European's slaves, however in the Arabic world you don't.

Somehow, however, the slave trade within Islam generates little discussion though...

Posted by: 18-1 at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (78TbK)

312 298 I'm using iPad, WSJ had a piece on how Ted Cruz has accomplished nothing as a senator, except to ban Iranian from coming here & is pissing off GOPe, but winning fans with conservatives. I'll post link tonight.

Posted by: Carol at April 21, 2014 12:09 PM (gjOCp)

 

Of course you won't see an article talking about what McConnell or McCain have accomplished in the past 2 years.

Posted by: buzzion at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (LI48c)

313 Posted by: Carol at April 21, 2014 12:09 PM (gjOCp) Yes, that Sen Cruz is so stupid and unaccomplished, he'll never be able to get a job as a K Street lobbyist when he retires.

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (o3MSL)

314

Stop.

 

Barrel  Time!

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (zF6Iw)

315 WSJ had a piece on how Ted Cruz has accomplished nothing as a senator ---- A Senator with a lot of accomplishments is not typically one I would support.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (gmeXX)

316 Feed me, Horde!  Feeeeeeeeeeeeeed meeeeeee.

Posted by: The Barrel at April 21, 2014 08:11 AM (MPIX5)

317 Tanj Finagle !

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 21, 2014 08:12 AM (V0aFE)

318 Stop.  Barrel Time!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 21, 2014 12:11 PM (zF6Iw)

You don't wanna touch this.

Posted by: The Barrel at April 21, 2014 08:12 AM (MPIX5)

319 American wins Boston Marathon!

Posted by: Dang at April 21, 2014 08:13 AM (MNq6o)

320 Posted by: thunderb at April 21, 2014 12:10 PM (zOTsN) Yeah this. It's basically a lib echo chamber with the occasional talking points (but most of the talking points can be crushed my pinky.) Throw in the "appeal to authority" fallacy and you've got a Ezra Klein website.

Posted by: tsrblke, PhD(c) (No Really!) [/b] [/i] [/s] at April 21, 2014 08:13 AM (HDwDg)

321 Barreling is a bad way to start the week....

Posted by: Mike Hammer at April 21, 2014 08:13 AM (aDwsi)

322 WSJ had a piece on how Ted Cruz has accomplished nothing as a senator
 


*ahem*

Posted by: Barack Hussein Obama at April 21, 2014 08:13 AM (MPIX5)

323 I get better info from lincolntf than I do from espn.com. They sure have lots of pictures of slogans, because being cute is so important.

Posted by: t-bird at April 21, 2014 08:13 AM (FcR7P)

324 when you stop things people accuse you of accomplishing nothing. Sometimes that is what is needed. To first stop the harm

Posted by: thunderb at April 21, 2014 08:13 AM (zOTsN)

325

285 non-purist

 

Thanks so much - I'll really have a good look at what's on offer - I'm really interested to find out about the Constitution and how it has been modified, especially by the mob you have in office right now...

 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:14 AM (XURZb)

326 A Senator with a lot of accomplishments is not typically one I would support. ---- To be clear, the inverse is not necessarily true either.

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 08:14 AM (gmeXX)

327 WSJ had a piece on how Ted Cruz has accomplished nothing as a senator Senators don't accomplish things.

Posted by: t-bird at April 21, 2014 08:15 AM (FcR7P)

328 African-Americans are black.
***
I love listening to the State Media talking heads when covering black Canadian athletes in the Olympics.

So and So is the first, uh, African, uh. American whatever from Canada.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 21, 2014 08:15 AM (78TbK)

329 I haven't read the WSJ since they put in the Toll Booth.

Posted by: ontherocks at April 21, 2014 08:15 AM (k+9Bw)

330 Posted by: Romeo13 at April 21, 2014 12:11 PM (84gbM) Got it. Funny solutions take 30 minutes; Thoughtful solutions take 60 minutes; And there's time for commercials to keep the capitalist system going!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:15 AM (o3MSL)

331 Hey, hey hey!  I want you to ponder the deeper meaning of today's lesson while me and the gang play you a little junkyard song.

Posted by: Fat Albert Klein at April 21, 2014 08:16 AM (oJUxt)

332 Note to self: Track down the "Anti-Federalist Papers" for future study.

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 12:07 PM (o3MSL)


They weren't a single cooperative effort like The Federalist Papers.  The "Anti-Federalist Papers" is just a short hand for anti-federalist writings during the ratification debates.  Some were written in response to the Constitution itself, some were written as responses to certain publications in the Federalist.  You can get books collecting many writings that title the collection "The Anti-Federalists" or "The Anti-Federalist Papers," but they won't be exhaustive. 


Without doing the research myself right now, I know you can find collections or online sources that will recommend anti-federalist writings to match topics of specific Federalist Papers.  Reading them side-by-side was one of the most rewarding undertakings of my formal education.  (An independent study course of my own design; I doubt you could find a cookie-cutter university course like that anywhere.)

Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 08:16 AM (hRzu2)

333 The Arabic world engaged in a larger slavery industry in Africa, and for longer, then the Europeans did.

I thought they were still doing it.  Mostly Asian slaves in the peninsula now (and a couple German soccer players), but still some Arab-controlled African places with black slaves.

Posted by: HR at April 21, 2014 08:16 AM (ZKzrr)

334 Why not both? Maybe I could replace the cigarettes with alcohol, which was conspicuously absent from the list.

Posted by: physics geek at April 21, 2014 12:04 PM (MT22W)



Hmm... I like this idea.


May I substitute "alcohol"     with    "chocolate?"

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/s][/u][/i][/b] at April 21, 2014 08:17 AM (4df7R)

335 I'm really interested to find out about the Constitution and how it has been modified, especially by the mob you have in office right now... Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 12:14 PM (XURZb) A word of advice--don't go there, lest you wind up being depressed at the greatest historical tragedy of all time!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:17 AM (o3MSL)

336 An American won the marathon. An American born in Eritrea in East Africa. But it's impossible that East Africans have genes that are helpful for long distance running. It's totally a coincidence that runners of East African descent do so well at elite distance running -- and never at Olympic caliber sprinting.

Posted by: Separate but Stupid at April 21, 2014 08:17 AM (ZPrif)

337 "Life's never so bad that it can't get worse." Calvin (and Hobbes)

Posted by: BackwardsBoy, who did not vote for this shit [/i][/s][/b][/u] at April 21, 2014 08:17 AM (0HooB)

338 Klein knows his audience is stupid with a short attention span. He hopes to help them feign depth and intelligence. That is all

Posted by: thunderb at April 21, 2014 08:17 AM (zOTsN)

339 Thanks so much - I'll really have a good look at what's on offer - I'm really interested to find out about the Constitution and how it has been modified, especially by the mob you have in office right now... Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 12:14 PM (XURZb) Mob is right, aussie. We don't have any adults in high office, just a bunch of hooligans spray-painting the republic with puerile slogans.

Posted by: joncelli at April 21, 2014 08:17 AM (RD7QR)

340 how it has been modified ---- Most modifications were good. The 16th - 18th amendments were bad and dumb, but they overturned the 18th. The other two fundamentally upset the structure of the constitution in the negative (I suspect the Horde would agree with me).

Posted by: SH at April 21, 2014 08:17 AM (gmeXX)

341

326 -

 

One of the most important things Cruz accomplished, after  the shutdown debacle, when most of his party was cowering, gnashing their teeth, Cruz made an impassioned plea  for optimism.

 

He laid out a scenario by which Republicans  COULD find common ground  with the American  people by advocating  for a government that was smaller, less intrusive, and more responsive to the actual needs of the people. 

 

Which of course has nothing to do with how the Senate operates, especially now.  So I can  understand why some people have no idea how to mark Cruz' accomplishments, when  he will never do the things the Gope wants done,  or the chattering classes. 

Posted by: BurtTC at April 21, 2014 08:19 AM (TOk1P)

342 Dumkoffsitzpinkler.

Posted by: West at April 21, 2014 08:19 AM (1Rgee)

343 Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 12:16 PM (hRzu2) I think I have stumbled across a few of the AF papers in my admittedly haphazard studies!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:19 AM (o3MSL)

344 Nood

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at April 21, 2014 08:19 AM (ojnk6)

345 Most modifications were good. The 16th - 18th amendments were bad and dumb, but they overturned the 18th. The other two fundamentally upset the structure of the constitution in the negative (I suspect the Horde would agree with me). --- The good from the 17th being passed- Ted Cruz The bad from the 17th being passed- Crap like Al Franken Even a Dem-controlled Minnesota wouldn't have put that idiot into DC.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at April 21, 2014 08:19 AM (APuJ7)

346 Mebrahtom "Meb" Keflezighi born May 5, 1975 in Asmara, Eritrea) is an American athlete, specializing in long distance running. He is a 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist in the Marathon and finished in 4th place in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He won the Boston Marathon on April, 21 2014 becoming the first American to win since 1983.

Posted by: Separate but Stupid at April 21, 2014 08:19 AM (ZPrif)

347 Thanks so much - I'll really have a good look at what's on offer - I'm really interested to find out about the Constitution and how it has been modified, especially by the mob you have in office right now...

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 12:14 PM (XURZb)

 

 

--------------------------------------------

 

 

You've pretty much hit it on the head here.  We have "mob rule" now.  There's nothing Constitutional about how the present WH regime is conducting themselves now.  We  basically have a lawless government.

Posted by: Soona at April 21, 2014 08:20 AM (cu9Nx)

348 The Arabic world engaged in a larger slavery industry in Africa, and for longer, then the Europeans did. I thought they were still doing it. Mostly Asian slaves in the peninsula now (and a couple German soccer players), but still some Arab-controlled African places with black slaves. Posted by: HR I was in New Orleans this weekend and did not know that prior to the Civil War, blacks owned black slaves there. Heard is from a black tour guide. They never tell that one do they?

Posted by: thunderb at April 21, 2014 08:20 AM (zOTsN)

349 Can't touch this

Posted by: The Barrel at April 21, 2014 08:21 AM (QupBk)

350 Now that the race is over, and nobody got blowed up, can the rest of us normal people get back to ignoring the Boston Strongathon? 

Posted by: BurtTC at April 21, 2014 08:21 AM (TOk1P)

351 I'm really interested to find out about the Constitution and how it has been modified, especially by the mob you have in office right now...
***
The since most fundamental change, though it has its origins in the 30s, is that whereas the Constitution narrowly defines what the federal government may do and denies all else, the left now pretends that the Constitution only forbids the federal government the powers it expressly denies (and even then they take a rather expansive view).

A more honest reading though is the the modern Left believes that the Constitution places no restrictions on what the federal government may do, and when forced to defend itself will come up with bullshit interpretations of what the document really means, which are directly opposed to what it actually says.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 21, 2014 08:21 AM (78TbK)

352 Posted by: thunderb at April 21, 2014 12:20 PM (zOTsN) Funny how that works!

Posted by: Hrothgar at April 21, 2014 08:21 AM (o3MSL)

353

aussie, you're more than welcome (and please see the rather more helpful responses from others here).

 

Remember, the constitution was, in fact, brilliantly engineered to rest on consent of the governed, in various ways, at various levels.  But if the governed don't engage, or (the same thing) replace their judgment and good sense with fashionable stupidity, and bigotry, and selfishness - then it's all for nought.  The constitution is not self-enforcing.  When the SCOTUS guts the constitution, in effect, and the people and the other institution that is given power over the courts (Congress) don't respond - well, then the thing is unraveling. 

 

True, the alien and repugnant nature of the Dem political class (and much of the GOP), the absurd and bizarre administration, and the destructive impulses of their electoral base are the active problem.  But the quiescence of the rest of the country and its institutions is actually the problem.  The founders expected pernicious political actors and doctrines to arise.  They designed a system wherein the people could defend themselves against these things.  The people aren't doing it.  They're mostly lying down for it.

 

Posted by: non-purist at April 21, 2014 08:22 AM (afQnV)

354 how about something Biblical sounding for an idiot who thinks he's brilliant (or someone who does extraordinarily well in school because he can endlessly memorize and regurgitate)? how about... Obamamite (like the Biblical Amalekites)?

Posted by: mallfly at April 21, 2014 08:23 AM (bJm7W)

355

335 Hrothgar

 

Hi and yes I know I will be shocked - but I now have this urge to find out more... I'm a very pro American Aussie having visited your country many times and having met many very nice Americans as well in my travels

 

 

 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:24 AM (XURZb)

356
I was in New Orleans this weekend and did not know that prior to the Civil War, blacks owned black slaves there. Heard is from a black tour guide. They never tell that one do they?

Posted by: thunderb at April 21, 2014 12:20 PM (zOTsN)

 

They also don't like to talk about the case that truly created the institution of slavery in North America, and who the slave's owner was.

Posted by: buzzion at April 21, 2014 08:24 AM (LI48c)

357 I was in New Orleans this weekend and did not know that prior to the Civil War, blacks owned black slaves there.
***
The history of slavery is far more convoluted then the left, and therefore the infotainment complex, would like to discuss.

As another point that geenreally evades the infotainment complex, slavery is as old as we can trace, but it is mostly banned throughout the world now because a bunch of "rightwing extremist Christians" forced their morality on all those poor slave owners and had the gall to take away the right of African chieftains to sell people into slavery...

Posted by: 18-1 at April 21, 2014 08:24 AM (78TbK)

358 "Der Vorteil der Klugheit liegt darin, dass man sich dumm stellen kann. Das Gegenteil ist schon schwieriger." — Kurt Tucholsky, fälschlich zugeschrieben

Posted by: Dr. Varno at April 21, 2014 08:25 AM (V4CBV)

359

339 joncelli

 

Hi, and after reading posts about your President trolling all of you I totally agree

 

 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:26 AM (XURZb)

360 Aussie, the US Constitution hasn't been 'modified' as much as it has been re interpreted and re defined. We have a lot of government (Environment Protection, Occupational safety, Federal Department of Education or Energy or Commerce) that fall under the heading of 'general good'. There are several loopholes in the original text that can be interpreted to mean nearly anything that the founders would never have considered. Another thing to know about the US Constitution was the delegates argued about 'everything', every word, clause, and idea, and the deals they had to make to get everyone to agree to it. And they started changing it immediately with the first ten amendments.

Posted by: Williams the Youngest at April 21, 2014 08:26 AM (TYYSB)

361 Leftism is a barrier to the mind absolutely impermeable to new ideas and renders the person incapable of self-reflection. This is why I generally have stopped discussing politics and instead just straight-forwardly mock leftists when cornered into such discussions. Leftism is the mental equivalent of shitting your pants and then proudly smearing it over the rest of your body. Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 11:04 AM (hRzu2) Yes, and the perfect example is that "Closing of the academic mind" article. Leftism temporarily works in a populace-controlled environment only and you can only really teach it in a dissent controlled environment. All variables are controlled and predetermined to elicit the desired outcome. No debate is tolerated.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Waiting for the Sun at April 21, 2014 08:26 AM (lbj7A)

362 - taken from "Everything I Need To Know I Learned From The Horta," Vol. 2 Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at April 21, 2014 12:10 PM (zF6Iw) Each of us carries a hidden pain. Share your pain so that you may release it! - taken from "Everything I Need to Know I Learned From Star Trek V, The Final Frontier

Posted by: Sybok at April 21, 2014 08:27 AM (aTXUx)

363 They designed a system wherein the people could defend themselves against these things. The people aren't doing it. They're mostly lying down for it.
***
The left presumes that as long as they make the punishment for disobedience significantly worse then their day to day thievery of the productive class that the average American will submit to protect what they have. And...they are right.

We are at the point where we have to hope for overreach and a backlash...but without an opposition party that is proving difficult even with the abuses we've seen in the last 6 years.

Posted by: 18-1 at April 21, 2014 08:27 AM (78TbK)

364 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. Intelligentsia.

Posted by: Stark Dickflüssig at April 21, 2014 08:29 AM (MbqmP)

365 Can you imagine these two loose in Ukraine? They'll do for European peace exactly what they've done for the American economy: Lay waste to everything in sight. http://bit.ly/1nCQNZ5

Posted by: John Kerry, 2015 Nobel Peace Prize winner at April 21, 2014 08:29 AM (F58x4)

366

347 soona

 

Hi, and I think this is why I'm interested now in your Constitution - it appears to me that you have mob rule with rules being broken constantly

 

 

 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:29 AM (XURZb)

367 re 328; reminds me of an episode of the Mary Tyler Moore show n the mid 1970s: local weatherman Gordy is headed for a prime morning hosting job in NYC and Ted Baxter wants in... they'd make a great team, Ted tells Gordy: "Me, a white anglo saxon protestant, and you... a black anglo saxon protestant!" and maybe the solution is to refer to "them" as African North Americans.

Posted by: mallfly at April 21, 2014 08:30 AM (bJm7W)

368 Obamamite I don't know. That kinda sounds like a rock that forces you to falsify numbers and pat yourself on the back constantly.

Posted by: 98ZJUSMC Waiting for the Sun at April 21, 2014 08:33 AM (lbj7A)

369

353 non-purist

 

That is what is disturbing - where are the people who can defend themselves?

 

Where is the engagement of the population?

 

We have this problem here as well - many people are only interested in the latest celeb goss or how their footy team is going

 

Dumbing down....

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:35 AM (XURZb)

370

Very well put, 18-1.  And the lack of a backlash (hell, the astonishing results of Nov. 2012) has pretty much finished off my hope for any real change.  Inertia is the greatest force in nature, but inertial (vestigial) identification with what is today called "America" is about all I have left. 

 

To circle back on-topic, I can hardly think of any "smart" successful people I know who have even an inkling of the trouble we're discussing.  If it doesn't affect them concretely, on a daily basis, it doesn't exist.  On the rare occasions their attention is engaged by something beyond their daily life, the vapid stylings of The Daily Show or the orwellian make-believe world of NPR suffices to give them their answers.

 

 

 

Posted by: non-purist at April 21, 2014 08:37 AM (afQnV)

371 Hi and yes I know I will be shocked - but I now have this urge to find out more... I'm a very pro American Aussie having visited your country many times and having met many very nice Americans as well in my travels


Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 12:24 PM (XURZb)


In addition to the Federalist and selected anti-federalist writings, early Supreme Court decisions are good to add for understanding the shift away from the "four-corners" approach to understanding and implementing the Constitution.  Marbury v. Madison, McCullogh v. Maryland, Gibbons v. Ogden, Wickard v. Filburn.  There are more, but those are off the top of my head. 


And then you get into points in history with major changes (expansions) in federal governing.  Post-American Civil War and then Great Depression into the New Deal era are probably the most important. 

Posted by: shillelagh at April 21, 2014 08:37 AM (hRzu2)

372

360  Williams the Youngest

 

Thanks and I'm now more than ready to read more about it 

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:37 AM (XURZb)

373 Here's a great short essay, courtesy of a Maggie's Farm link, that explains why even Lenin learned to back off ObamaCare type domination. If there is hope for Obama and his cohort I suppose this is it: http://bit.ly/1nCREc8

Posted by: MTF at April 21, 2014 08:38 AM (F58x4)

374 rew, no offense, but I am going to have to send the entire Ravage after you, with full emu strapped to honey badgers strapped to lions weapons package along with air support from the Flying Manatee Brigade, as the only appropriate response to image of Ezra Klein doing interpretative dance.


I am beginning to be more and more convinced that it is opportunity cost that the Left refuses to comprehend. Hell, nearly the entirety of modern "feminism" can be summed up as banshee shrieking at the opportunity costs of life. Let us take the mythical wage gap. It is a gap because women take off more time than men to care for family. If you do not work as much, you do not get paid as much. Is that harsh? Possibly. But it is true and it will always be true and screaming at the universe will not change it. You chose to prioritize family. Did you think that choice was free of consequences? What are you, two years old? The cake is a lie. Stop whinging all over the place about that.

Also, let us not forget that there are opportunity costs for men. Do you think, do you really and truly and honestly think, that every man with a family is thrilled to put in all those hours away from home? Seriously? Because I'll tell you what, the men I know with families agonize just as much about work life balance as women do. They just do it quietly and they suck it up and do it anyway because someone has to keep the roof over the family's head and come hell or high water they will do it. Men lose the time with their family. That is a cost. It is. It is real. I am so sick (and tired) of womyn acting as if men pay no costs at all for their careers.

Life is trade offs and least worst options and closing your eyes and letting go of the path not taken. You pays your money and you takes your chances and life? Life grinds on, no matter what you do.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD/Orion Death Star 2016 at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (mf5HN)



Where were you when I was young?


Posted by: [/i] [/s] [/u] [/b] An Observation at April 21, 2014 08:38 AM (ylhEn)

375 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German." I'm thinking "Krugman" might be the word you are looking for here.

Posted by: Dave at April 21, 2014 08:39 AM (VX02Y)

376

37 shillelagh 

 

Luckily I have  the whole week off so I can do some reading - thanks for those cases to look up

Posted by: aussie at April 21, 2014 08:40 AM (XURZb)

377 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid".

Well, we already have both "Liberal," and "Democrat."  They seem to work pretty well for me.

Posted by: Null at April 21, 2014 08:51 AM (xjpRj)

378 Klein is not stupid.  He's deluded.

He'd probably do well in an IQ test.

Posted by: Hepcat at April 21, 2014 08:53 AM (Q4mug)

379  "smart person who is actually quite stupid" = ezraklein

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Snow! AHHHHHHHH! at April 21, 2014 08:53 AM (hLRSq)

380 Our new theme song, "Let It Burn" http://bit.ly/1i2u5tO

Posted by: SMOD Public Relations Department at April 21, 2014 09:02 AM (F58x4)

381 Notice how Klein doesn't allow comments to his post.

Yet, at the bottom of the page it says,

VOX
CONVERSATIONS
The smartest thinkers,
the toughest questions.

By "smartest thinkers", Klein must be referring to himself and his staff.  And obviously, they must speak the truth.  That's some conversation.

Posted by: Hepcat at April 21, 2014 09:04 AM (Q4mug)

382 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German."

Will Greek do? The word you're looking for is "sophomore" - literally, "wise fool". Depending on context, it can mean the person who poses as a fool but is in fact wise; more often, it refers to the Ezra Kleins of this world - the ones who have a very high opinion of themselves, but who, in fact, are rather dim.

Posted by: Brown Line at April 21, 2014 09:04 AM (VrNoa)

383 Sarcasm defense?


Posted by: Hepcat at April 21, 2014 09:10 AM (Q4mug)

384 Thomas Sargent self-identifies as a "fiscally conservative Democrat," need we know anything more about him? Just sayin.

Posted by: Bob at April 21, 2014 09:41 AM (VjlMj)

385 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German."

Not German, but I'll take a crack at it (group form):

The Illiterati.

Posted by: anon at April 21, 2014 09:50 AM (lDq8n)

386 Yes one can overdo the "all you need to know in 3 EZ steps" stuff, but Sowell The Great did quite a lot when he articulated three questions that will destroy almost every argument advanced by the Left: The first is: ‘Compared to what?’ The second is: ‘At what cost?’ The third is: ‘What hard evidence do you have?’ You will be surprised how far you can go with this. And of course if that fails, you can always rely on : "f*ckyou f*ckyou f*ckyou f*ckyou!" I apologize in advance if this was posted above but just didn't see it.

Posted by: NYC Parent at April 21, 2014 10:46 AM (HEo6y)

387 I think "know nothing' in German is "banause" and "know it all" is "besserwisser", so would a "banausebesserwisser" be a "know nothing know it all" (or would "besserwisserbanause" be more correct)? Or would "Akademikerin" be pithier? ("university graduate") (albeit a slander on those who do graduate and know how little they know) Discuss.

Posted by: slash buzz at April 21, 2014 10:54 AM (yk5Y5)

388 "Never attribute to stupidity that which is explained by malice" To #191 - you forgot the second half of Hanlon's Razor: "...but don't rule out malice" To reverse a line from "The Incredibles" that is the Liberals' unstated credo - "When nobody is super, then everybody is super"

Posted by: slash buzz at April 21, 2014 10:58 AM (yk5Y5)

389 "kleinfreude" The mixture of amusement/horror one gets listening to someone confidently pronounce upon that about which they know nothing cf Oswald Bates cf Ezra Klein cf OBama

Posted by: slash buzz at April 21, 2014 11:06 AM (yk5Y5)

390 Other phony but German-sounding possibilities: Obamaus (with or without an umlaut) Barackopf

Posted by: slash buzz at April 21, 2014 11:16 AM (yk5Y5)

391 I believe the German word that you're looking for is: guffendouche. (goofen-douche)

Posted by: missbosslady at April 21, 2014 11:20 AM (vFJ2q)

392 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German. Ezra Klein isn't as smart as he thinks he is.

Posted by: Blacque Jacques Shellacque at April 21, 2014 11:37 AM (vd7A8)

393 18 I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German I use the phrase "genius retard". "Liberal" works in a pinch, of course. Posted by: Brother Cavil at April 21, 2014 11:03 AM (rt3TY) I have two pals like this, life-long partisan-firsters. Constantly ready with the excused propaganda even as oblivious to results. I have taken to referring to them as "Dunning" and "Kruger." The third pal, son of a doctor who is to the right of him, who is to the right of me, bites his tongue every time I do this to keep from breaking into hysterics. One would think that such wise men, if not having realized this after such time, would have sense to at least have googled it at some point and had a sad, but life is full of surprises.

Posted by: BuddyPC at April 21, 2014 11:43 AM (jfUIE)

394 The word your looking for is
"freidoofkopf"

aka liberal dumb head...

Posted by: Janir at April 21, 2014 11:46 AM (pOZma)

395 I would suggest "dunkru" as the word. Say "Don't be such a dunkru" outloud and people can almost guess the meaning. It also modifies rather well for things like "Obama announced another dunkrustic policy today."

Posted by: Just AGuy at April 21, 2014 12:02 PM (5tHN/)

396 213 True conservatives think that incentives work in every situation.... Except congressional pay. ========== No, we just want to avoid adding any additional incentive for them staying around for re-election

Posted by: Old Toby at April 21, 2014 01:04 PM (dop0N)

397 This should fit your request for a German word  that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid":
Krankheit f (genitive Krankheit, plural Krankheiten) sickness, illnessdisease   In the US we would spell it as "Cronkite"   :-)

Posted by: Dave the Engineer at April 21, 2014 01:31 PM (t2ma1)

398 May I suggest a derivative of dummkopf (dumb head) for this particular instance.  dummklein.

Posted by: stwendeler at April 21, 2014 02:27 PM (jDOWs)

399 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid"." The term is "clever silly", coined by Bruce Charlton a few years back.

Posted by: Michael Pershing-Carter at April 21, 2014 03:55 PM (KzaZw)

400 Klein is very, very stupid

Posted by: JEF Obama at April 21, 2014 05:19 PM (wNLIv)

401 I know I'm way late to this party, and maybe it has been discussed above, but let's back off the "bash-Klein" mentality for a second. This graduation speech IS a wealth of good advice. Why not take Klein at face value in his admiration of it, and explain how it is so enhancing of the CONSERVATIVE argument?! Again, this may have been done multiple times above (I'm sorry, it's late and I don't want to read 400 comments), but instead of saying "you're world view doesn't support any of this, so why are you so stupidly posting it with admiration?", let's say "this is an admirable thing to post - now here's how taking it seriously will force you to rethink many things you've argued for a long time". Am I crazy (probably), or is there opportunity here to show a lost lamb the light?

Posted by: moleman1976 at April 21, 2014 07:00 PM (/uNZI)

402 G-d f-ing d-mmit! I hate when I make stupid grammar mistakes. Third paragraph in 401 should read "your world view...". In before the grammar nazis, but as I'm one of them, I guess I'm just trying to correct my own error.

Posted by: moleman1976 at April 21, 2014 07:08 PM (/uNZI)

403 "I really feel there should be a word that means "smart person who is actually quite stupid". Preferably it would be in German."

We generally used the term "mindgefucked".

(This will be comment #403 (at least); not sure why I'm bothering...)

Posted by: I lurk, therefore I amn't at April 21, 2014 08:27 PM (ab+jQ)

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