Ace of Spades HQ

January 27, 2012

Jay Cost: Obama Is a Rolodex Socialist
— Ace

Those are my words. Cost says Obama isn't a socialist, according to the usual meaning.

He doesn't believe in revolution.

What he believes in are clients, bagmen, payoffs, and ward-heeling.

ItÂ’s not just that Obama is a big government guy in the progressive tradition, which conservatives have opposed for more than a century. ItÂ’s also that heÂ’s a client guy, meaning that his idea of big government inevitably has special payoffs hidden in it somewhere. And more than even this, he's a boundless client guy in what should be an age of restraint. Payoffs to party clients are one thing when the economy is growing at a four percent rate per year; that is a situation where the times are so prosperous that government patrons are really just drawing upon the national surplus to satisfy their partisans. But when the economy is growing at less than two percent per year, barely enough to keep up with population growth, paying off party clients is actually like robbing from Peter to pay Paul. And while Obama and congressional Democrats have put off that bill -- in the form of our trillion-plus deficit -- conservatives are not fools. They know they'll be asked to pay up sooner or later, and with a stagnant economy that means less money in their pockets, in part because the president wants to hold together his voting coalition.
That's what's so bad about Obama.

Democrats are just a collection of rent-seekers, beak-dippers, and vig-skimmers, who have convinced themselves that it is not only acceptable that they should collect rents, dip their beaks, and collect a vig on everyone else's transactions, but that to deny them such rents, dippings, and vigs constitutes the most hateful, vicious, and fundamentally un-American behavior they can conceive.

If a guy comes over to your business and begins demanding that you do x and pay y tithe to group z, and is all up in your grill about it, you'd probably either call the cops or spare them the trouble by getting out your gun and telling the miscreant to remove himself from your site or be removed from the earth.

But these cats get a degree in Public Policy and worm themselves up the Media-Distributionist Complex, and suddenly that behavior isn't merely legal -- now they've got the coercive force of the government on their side.

And then they ask: What's the problem? I'm smart. You're not as smart. I am telling you how to better allocate your small pile of money for the benefit of society; and sure, it just so happens my salary is coming out of a skim from your wealth.

Why don't you thank me for telling you how to best direct your own resources, instead of being all angry about it?

They just don't get it and never will. They just don't understand why you're having such a hard time accepting them as your new cadre of government-appointed bosses, ordering you about and taking the larger half of the fruits of your labor.

And they also just don't get that --

1. Even if they were smart, you weren't looking for a new boss.

2. You don't accept that they're that smart. In fact, you think they're kind of douchey faegelas who don't know shit about shat.

3. You also reject the weird premise that a certain type of ability, like intelligence, naturally makes one party a master and a complete stranger a slave. Why shouldn't we just say that physical might creates such a relationship, as was true for the first 10,000 years of human existence?

And what's the ultimate justification for all of this? We voted. A group of us got together and decided we would rather have your wealth in our pockets than your wealth in your pockets.

See, we voted.

Now--

What's so bad about Obama?

Posted by: Ace at 03:55 PM | Comments (182)
Post contains 656 words, total size 4 kb.

1 Pull my finger.

Posted by: Jan Brewer at January 27, 2012 03:58 PM (n2K+4)

2 Corruption. I want less of it or in on it.

Posted by: alexthechick at January 27, 2012 03:58 PM (Gk3SS)

3 Well, he did hint at it with his Roman columns.

See patronus.

Posted by: Meiczyslaw at January 27, 2012 04:01 PM (bjRNS)

The king is a fink!

Posted by: Jones at January 27, 2012 04:01 PM (8sCoq)

5 The King is a Stuttering Clusterfuck Of A Miserable Fink!

Posted by: Abdominal Snowman at January 27, 2012 04:03 PM (5sjB7)

6 And while I'm at it...

Eruliaf Elbaresim a fo Kcufretsulc Gnirettuts a si Luap Nor.

Posted by: Abdominal Snowman at January 27, 2012 04:04 PM (5sjB7)

7 well played sir, well played

Posted by: Jones at January 27, 2012 04:05 PM (8sCoq)

Romney is a stuttering clusterrino of a miserable failure!

Posted by: Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus at January 27, 2012 04:05 PM (UPa+a)

9 I lived in Chicago for 15 years and I had always thought that if Chicago was the nation's capital, the blatant corruption of the Chicago style of politics would disabuse people of the romantic notion that government is anything other than a necessary evil. I thank Obama for proving my hypothesis correct.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 04:05 PM (7lm9a)

10 This morning in Boston a guy on a bicycle was run down by two thugs in a Toyota Prius, who then got out and shot the man several times. I suppose this qualifies as the most 'eco-friendly' shooting ever?

Posted by: BlueFalcon in Boston at January 27, 2012 04:05 PM (ijjAe)

11 Jay Cost is one of the best (and most underrated) political/electoral analysts we have on our side. Pretty much EVERYTHING he writes is worth paying attention to.

Posted by: Jeff B. at January 27, 2012 04:07 PM (hIWe1)

12 And it shows. The soaring rhetoric of 2008, as cloying as it was, hid an extremely limited mind that is incapable of anything beyond the immediate political calculus. It manifests itself in all kinds of ways...Solyndra, the health care debate, the budget silliness, the catastrophe unfolding that was the Arab spring....

November can't get here soon enough and I don't care if it's Mitt, Newt, or my sofa, I'm voting for him/it.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 04:08 PM (7utQ2)

13 resembles the mafia.

Posted by: willow at January 27, 2012 04:08 PM (TomZ9)

14 Ace - Excellent piece if analysis that will probably be lost in the hub-bub of the current circular firing squad behavior on the right.

Posted by: MCPO Airdale at January 27, 2012 04:09 PM (tYaDf)

I suppose this qualifies as the most 'eco-friendly' shooting ever?

Only if they used recycled bullets.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 04:09 PM (OT9g0)

16 Why don't you thank me for telling you how to best direct your own resources, instead of being all angry about it?
-------
Was that last bit intentional?

Posted by: Y-not at January 27, 2012 04:09 PM (5H6zj)

17 share your pie

Posted by: willow at January 27, 2012 04:10 PM (TomZ9)

18 I suppose this qualifies as the most 'eco-friendly' shooting ever?

+1 if they used lead-free bullets.

Posted by: Not Drinking Nearly Enough at January 27, 2012 04:11 PM (HtUdo)

19 #15, Maybe if they used bows and arrows made from reclaimed responsibly forested wood? But otherwise hard to top that.

Posted by: BlueFalcon in Boston at January 27, 2012 04:11 PM (ijjAe)

20 I swear, the more I hear Newt talk about how Romney is a Washington insider the more I want to see him choke on his lobbying consulting fees from Fannie Mae.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 04:12 PM (OT9g0)

21 What kind of pussies use a Prius as a crime wagon?

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 04:12 PM (7utQ2)

22 Where's the part about Hope and Change?

It slipped right by me unnoticed.

Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 04:13 PM (ZJCDy)

They just don't get it and never will. They just don't understand why you're having such a hard time accepting them as your new cadre of government-appointed bosses, ordering you about and taking the larger half of the fruits of your labor.

And they also just don't get that --

1. Even if they were smart, you weren't looking for a new boss.

if you don't like it, they might just take that business from you.

( wasn't that the craziest thing)

Posted by: willow at January 27, 2012 04:14 PM (TomZ9)

24 10: Oh heck no, or not for long. The prius has an evil gas engine along with its electric motor and can actually do 85mph on the freeway. Soon, someone will use a Nissan all electric Leaf or a Volt.

Posted by: Palerider at January 27, 2012 04:14 PM (dkExz)

Well, sure. Isn't that how socialism usually works?

I might actually be the least politically intelligent person on this blog and that's how I've always understood it.

It's just a huge money laundering machine for the elites.

Posted by: ErikW at January 27, 2012 04:14 PM (gnNFW)

26 Where's the part about Hope and Change?

Over there behind the High Speed Rail locomotive pulling us to the future.

Across 200 miles of California meth-head infested scrub land.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 04:15 PM (7utQ2)

27 circa, the clown posse?

Posted by: willow at January 27, 2012 04:15 PM (TomZ9)

28 #21 apparently a lot, http://tinyurl.com/seedyunderworldofPriuscrime

Posted by: BlueFalcon in Boston at January 27, 2012 04:16 PM (ijjAe)

29 What kind of pussies use a Prius as a crime wagon?

MS3.14159265?

The Big M.I.T.s?

Decimal Disciples?

Posted by: Not Drinking Nearly Enough at January 27, 2012 04:16 PM (HtUdo)

30 The funny thing is that I bet if you stopped any garden variety career Dem hack and asked him what a Rent Seeker was he'd look at you blankly for a second and tell you to fuck off.

Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 04:17 PM (ZJCDy)

31 It's just a huge money laundering machine for the elites.

The brilliant Eric Sevareid writing about communism in the 60s said it this way: "Communism is not an ideology, it is a path to power." Still holds true, because an ideology usually gives at least a fig leaf to consistency. Lefties have never been able to pull that off.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 04:17 PM (7utQ2)

32 @24: the Volt also has a gas engine. The major difference from the Prius is it defaults to running electric at all speeds until the battery runs down.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 27, 2012 04:18 PM (Lpdzt)

33 "And then they ask: What's the problem? I'm smart. You're not as smart."

The irony is that the smartest people never go in for collectivism because they can make much more pursuing their individual goals, not to mention the fact that pursuing your own individual goals gives you a satisfaction that pursuing some abstract "humanitarian" goal never can, regardless of how philosophical a person you are. "From each according to his ability to each according to his need" assumes that there's one group of people characterized by actual ability.

I swear Nietzsche said somewhere that socialists were a bunch of zeros getting together and claiming to add up to one. If he didn't, that's the sort of thing he would have said. Collectivists are mediocrities, by definition. That's why they insist upon their own superiority so much.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 04:18 PM (7lm9a)

34 {Who uses} a Prius as a crime wagon?

The mafia is nothing if not connected to the latest fashion trends.

Watch some surveillance footage from the 70s. It's hilarious to watch made men wander around in tight white shorts.

Posted by: Meiczyslaw at January 27, 2012 04:20 PM (bjRNS)

35 Did anyone see the clip Fox played of the Florida NAACP chair complaining about voter ID and how it was Jim Crow. I'm going to see if I can find the video on-line.

Posted by: dagny at January 27, 2012 04:20 PM (0BpYu)

36 Heh, I'm picturing blue-masked Crips hanging from the left side of a Prius with 26 inch rims as it quietly glides by a gang rival's crib as they shoot it up with Tec 9s and AK's.

Posted by: ErikW at January 27, 2012 04:21 PM (gnNFW)

37 The federal government has become a criminal enterprise worse than the mafia ever was. At least the mob bosses knew they were doing wrong. The Obama's of the world say WE are wrong for opposing their criminality.

Posted by: Ken Royall at January 27, 2012 04:22 PM (9zzk+)

38 Can we just call him a cock sucker and get it over with?

Posted by: Mr. Pink at January 27, 2012 04:22 PM (sb3kT)

39 Great post, ace. The root of the problem is democracy itself. It is not and never has been a stable form of government. It inevitably degenerates into tyranny and mob rule. The Founders were perfectly aware of this, which is why they created a republic, "if you can keep it". We haven't kept it. Today we have a nearly pure democracy, and the results are entirely predictable. A society which gives the people riding in the wagon the same voting rights as the people pulling the wagon is doomed. It's that simple, and there is no way around it.

Posted by: rickl at January 27, 2012 04:23 PM (sdi6R)

40 Seedy underworld of Prius crime?

Yeah, okay, we're done here. The asteroid NEEDS to hit us.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 04:23 PM (7utQ2)

41 Is it safe to ask what a vig is?

Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 04:26 PM (SsG4J)

42 The right are the fascists as they are in the pocket of big business and use the police and military to enforce their ways of making the 99 percent slaves.

Posted by: Raylon at January 27, 2012 04:26 PM (xtMRY)

43 Nice work, Ace. This is why you are at the top of my payroll.

People who have no idea how to earn a living themselves are most interested in redistribution. People who don't grasp the concept of growth don't understand the expanding pie. They use the gov to take ours because they can't make it themselves.

Fuck 'em.

Posted by: dr kill at January 27, 2012 04:27 PM (ELPgk)

44 That's just silly. A Prius can't knock a bike over.

Posted by: garrett at January 27, 2012 04:27 PM (+7fwG)

45 @41: Hence why the Democrat Party is called the Democrat Party. They want democracy: one (dead) (trans)(wo)man, one vote, one time.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 27, 2012 04:28 PM (Lpdzt)

46 Look for the media to pad economic numbers this year, too. The closer we get to Nov, the better things will be portrayed, even if nothing has changed. What's the big deal if you call 1.7% growth 3%? What's a little push here and a little lie there for our dear leader?

Posted by: rectal exam at January 27, 2012 04:29 PM (O7ksG)

47 >>43 Is it safe to ask what a vig is?

Interest on a loan. Generally used in relation to loan sharks.

Posted by: Y-not at January 27, 2012 04:29 PM (5H6zj)

48 Vig = vigorish. The mob's precentage or commission on any transaction. Also the interest (expressed in terms of points where 1 point = 1%) due weekly on racketeering loans. A $5,000 loan at 6 points = $300 per week due to keep your kneecaps intact.

Posted by: Count de Monet at January 27, 2012 04:30 PM (4q5tP)

49 Vig, short for vigorish.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 04:30 PM (OT9g0)

50 Prius drive-by?

Snerk. Snort. Bwaaahahahahhaahahahahha! *cough*

Posted by: Jane D'oh at January 27, 2012 04:31 PM (UOM48)

51 "43 Is it safe to ask what a vig is?"

No, quite, this is man talk, con talk and womens have no say.

Posted by: Raylon at January 27, 2012 04:31 PM (xtMRY)

52 Did anyone see the clip Fox played of the Florida NAACP chair complaining about voter ID and how it was Jim Crow. I'm going to see if I can find the video on-line.

Posted by: dagny at January 27, 2012 08:20 PM (0BpYu)[i/]

I saw her. She looked like The Bartender from The Voodoo Queen Canteen.

Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 04:31 PM (ZJCDy)

53 The root of the problem is democracy itself. It is not and never has been a stable form of government. It inevitably degenerates into tyranny and mob rule. The Founders were perfectly aware of this, which is why they created a republic, "if you can keep it". We haven't kept it. Today we have a nearly pure democracy, and the results are entirely predictable. This! I die a little every time I hear the proggy zombies shouting, "This is what democracy looks like!" Yep, just like that.

Posted by: VW Zao at January 27, 2012 04:31 PM (vWZa0)

54 Friday night is document dump night. This should be saved for the Monday morning opener.

And I'm still voting for Newt next week.

Posted by: dr kill at January 27, 2012 04:31 PM (ELPgk)

55 Weird, when I see a Prius my first reaction is often an urge to commit a crime. Against the person driving it. Especially want to make mischief on the ones with the Obama 2012 bumper stickers.

Posted by: ParanoidStillAGirlinSeattle at January 27, 2012 04:32 PM (RZ8pf)

56 And I first read the post heading as "Obama is a Rolex Socialist." Which works too.

Posted by: ParanoidStillAGirlinSeattle at January 27, 2012 04:33 PM (RZ8pf)

57 Okay. Let me get this straight (from The Blaze):

Illinois has a new law that took effect on January 1 requiring all people who purchase drain cleaners or any caustic substances to provide a government issued photo ID. And retailers now must ask for identification from those buying drain cleaners and maintain extensive records of which caustic products have been purchased, in what amounts, and by whom.

Asking for an ID to vote is raaaaaacist though. I need some kind of score card to keep up with this shit.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at January 27, 2012 04:33 PM (UOM48)

Posted by: Raylon at January 27, 2012 08:31 PM (xtMRY)

Real men, not pantywaisted nancyboy poofters, know the correct way to spell quiet, meaning a peaceful lack of sound, versus quite, as in, you are quite stupid, aren't you?

Posted by: Count de Monet at January 27, 2012 04:34 PM (4q5tP)

59 Thanks for puttin' me the knowledge, everyone.

I never ceased to be amazed at what you priggish, prudish, ignorant knuckle dragging, uptight Conservative Jesus-Freak Morons know about.

Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 04:35 PM (SsG4J)

60 I never ceased to be amazed at what you priggish, prudish, ignorant knuckle dragging, uptight Conservative Jesus-Freak Morons know about.

Distributed Moron knowledge is a powerful thing.

Posted by: alexthechick at January 27, 2012 04:36 PM (Gk3SS)

61 And I first read the post heading as "Obama is a Rolex Socialist." Which works too.[/]

I first misread the post heading as "Obama is a Polesmoking Fucking Piece of Worm Shit".

Posted by: Waterhouse at January 27, 2012 04:37 PM (m9/ps)

62 "The right are the fascists as they are in the pocket of big business and use the police and military to enforce their ways of making the 99 percent slaves."

In actual, historical fascism, the "economic" realm was subordinated to the "political" realm to a degree that would be far beyond anything you've ever experienced in America. Think 'party operatives' running factories. Do you see that in America? The worst you get is political appointees running agencies designed to be run by political appointees. So unless you reverse your argument and try to make a coherent case that John Boehner is secretly directing resource allocation decisions for corporate America, you're not talking about fascism. The whole point of fascism was to do away with the "Anglo-American" idea that business should be independent of politics. Read any of the philosophers of fascism and they are all consistent on this point. I know, because I've read them and no one who has would make your argument. No one who actually understood what he was reading, I mean.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 04:37 PM (7lm9a)

63
Fuck.

Posted by: Waterhouse at January 27, 2012 04:37 PM (m9/ps)

64 "Real men, not pantywaisted nancyboy poofters, know the correct way to spell quiet,"

You sound like one of those elitists, the college girl, the ones that know whats so good for the rest of us.

Posted by: Raylan at January 27, 2012 04:38 PM (xtMRY)

I never ceased to be amazed

It's amazing what you can do with that one free hand.

Posted by: garrett at January 27, 2012 04:38 PM (+7fwG)

66 Democrats are just a collection of rent-seekers, beak-dippers, and vig-skimmers, who have convinced themselves that it is not only acceptable that they should collect rents, dip their beaks, and collect a vig on everyone else's transactions, but that to deny them such rents, dippings, and vigs constitutes the most hateful, vicious, and fundamentally un-American behavior they can conceive.

No respect!

Posted by: Don Fanucci at January 27, 2012 04:38 PM (yQwq5)

67 Distributed Moron knowledge is a powerful thing.
Posted by: alexthechick

Welcome to the MoronosphereÂ™.

You're not just stupid, you're soaking in it.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at January 27, 2012 04:38 PM (+Jr2Z)

68 heh, the 'Moron Cloud' is quite the repository of data.

Posted by: garrett at January 27, 2012 04:39 PM (+7fwG)

69 I first misread the post heading as "Obama is a Polesmoking Fucking Piece of Worm Shit".

Posted by: Waterhouse at January 27, 2012 08:37 PM (m9/ps)

That's what I got too.

I'm going to go back and read it without my bracket goggles on.

Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 04:39 PM (ZJCDy)

70 The Democratic party has always been the party of Tammany Hall.

You know your sleazy Uncle Bernie who always has a get-rich-quick scheme but just pockets the money and leaves town? Socialists turned that into a philosophy.

Posted by: AmishDude at January 27, 2012 04:39 PM (T0NGe)

71 what am I not using drain cleaner for that I could be if I were a crazed criminal who is easily stopped by silly laws?

Posted by: ParanoidStillAGirlinSeattle at January 27, 2012 04:40 PM (RZ8pf)

72 43 Is it safe to ask what a vig is?

Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 08:26 PM (SsG4J)

Usually interest to a loan shark, but can also be used for any corrupt payment demanded, a piece of the action or pay to play.

Posted by: Have Blue at January 27, 2012 04:40 PM (IKTC8)

73 Whoa, I just fell out of my barstool.

Posted by: ontherocks at January 27, 2012 04:40 PM (ZJCDy)

74 >I never ceased to be amazed at what you priggish, prudish, ignorant knuckle dragging, uptight Conservative Jesus-Freak Morons know about.

Posted by: Tammy al' Thor at January 27, 2012 08:35 PM (SsG4J)

ask us about the invention of the longbow

Posted by: Jones at January 27, 2012 04:40 PM (8sCoq)

Is AoS the First Distributed Moron Republic?

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 04:41 PM (OT9g0)

76 The root of the problem is democracy itself. It is not and never has been a stable form of government.

Word.

Posted by: Socrates at January 27, 2012 04:41 PM (yQwq5)

77 BS,-bs

Posted by: willow at January 27, 2012 04:43 PM (TomZ9)

75: any corrupt payment demanded, a piece of the action or pay to play.

George Kaiser's fundraising for the DNC was inexpensive vigorish for the half bllion dollar grant to Solyndra.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 04:43 PM (OT9g0)

79 74: You could toss it in the face of your enemies.

Now I had to give ID to buy MSM (joint supplement) for my horses the other day. I had heard ages ago that it was a meth ingredient but it was never taken out of the catalogs that sell horse equipment and supplements.

Posted by: Palerider at January 27, 2012 04:43 PM (dkExz)

80 The root of the problem is democracy itself. It is not and never has been a stable form of government.

Word.

Posted by: Socrates at January 27, 2012 08:41 PM (yQwq5)

Amateur.

Posted by: Iterations One, Two, Three, and Four of the French Republic at January 27, 2012 04:44 PM (7utQ2)

81 Sorry if someone has linked this (if that's still possible) but it describes power relationships under Alinsky.

http://prestopundit.wordpress.com/2008/02/19/obama-has/

Posted by: Dr Spank at January 27, 2012 04:44 PM (lVGED)

82 We should just use the word that best describes his political philosophy. Obama is a fascist.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at January 27, 2012 04:44 PM (k34Gz)

83 ...even if they were smart....

What peeves the most is - the kazillion GOP debates are the perfect opportunity for every candidate to point out, advertise to the world and expose how un-smart, manipulative and are dangerous to country' financially health and security.

GOP should be "drill baby drilling" on all the things media never reports while they have the limelight and platform. UGH!

Posted by: Deli LLama at January 27, 2012 04:45 PM (ADlPJ)

84 So we have cleared up that small matter; Con are knuckle draggin Jeebus freaks. Amen.

Posted by: Raylan at January 27, 2012 04:45 PM (xtMRY)

85 I'm late . You sound pissed ace . Everything seems right at the moment .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 27, 2012 04:46 PM (npr0X)

86 We progressives study at the Temple of Reason you worthless clumps of matter.

Posted by: The Church of Latter-Day Jacobins at January 27, 2012 04:47 PM (8HhF2)

87 what am I not using drain cleaner for that I could be if I were a crazed criminal who is easily stopped by silly laws?

Making meth.

Posted by: Heorot at January 27, 2012 04:47 PM (1bluv)

88 You're a funny guy, Ace.

Posted by: Henry Hill at January 27, 2012 04:48 PM (lXi+d)

89 Good piece, ace. I'm not really getting the "Rolodex Socialist" phrase. Doesn't really have the thinly-veiled organized crime vibe the rest of the article has. A rolodex is neutral-to-positive thing. If I call someone a rolodex socialist, most people wouldn't have a clue what I meant.

Posted by: Clubber Lang at January 27, 2012 04:49 PM (ZPrif)

90 "A rolodex is neutral-to-positive thing."

Actually depends on how hard you throw it.

Posted by: Iterations One, Two, Three, and Four of the French Republic at January 27, 2012 04:50 PM (7utQ2)

85. Bingo.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 04:50 PM (OT9g0)

92 Off, sock.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 04:50 PM (7utQ2)

93 A rolodex is neutral-to-positive thing. I suppose it depends on the numbers we're talking aboot .

Posted by: Bill D. Cat at January 27, 2012 04:51 PM (npr0X)

94 I approve of this post.

Posted by: Zombie Ayn Rand at January 27, 2012 04:52 PM (2b46R)

95 I'm not really getting the "Rolodex Socialist" phrase. Posted by: Clubber Lang

"Payoffs to party clients are one thing when the economy is growing at a four percent rate per year; that is a situation where the times are so prosperous that government patrons are really just drawing upon the national surplus to satisfy their partisans."

That's pretty much the nut of it. It's that Obaka and crew aren't so much hardcore Marxists as they are a band of cronies trading favors and power.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at January 27, 2012 04:53 PM (+Jr2Z)

96 Well good news! Not a person in the GOP knows how to beat Obama!

Posted by: Blaster at January 27, 2012 04:53 PM (Fw2Gg)

97 See my business card? It doesn't fit in a Rolodex because it doesn't BELONG in a Rolodex.

Posted by: That dick on YouTube at January 27, 2012 04:53 PM (DiqH3)

98 Our fore fathers condoned slavery, Jeebus condones slavery, God condones slavery and so do the little con.

Freeeddddoooommmmmm

Posted by: Raylan at January 27, 2012 04:54 PM (xtMRY)

99 ""The right are the fascists as they are in the pocket of big business and
use the police and military to enforce their ways of making the 99
percent slaves."

The other aspect of fascism, besides subordinating the economic to the political, is the aestheticizing of politics. Who does that more than the Democrats? How many pictures of Obama surrounded by a halo have there been over the past 4 years? How often are leftist political figures equated with Hollywood stars in glossy photo shoots? Styrofoam Greek columns - Republican or Democratic stage prop?

The real problem with leftist rank and file plankton like you is that you don't even recognize the fascist water in which you are drifting along. You still expect fascism to take the form of a goose-stepping corporal with a funny mustache, rather than the form it has actually taken. Have you ever heard the phrase "the first time as tragedy, the second time as farce"? That's pretty much the history of fascism. First a European tragedy and then an American farce, with Obama as the head farceur.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 04:57 PM (7lm9a)

100

99: Not a person in the GOP knows how to beat Obama!

Too harsh. Lots of folks in the GOP know how to beat Obama. Some of them may even be running against him.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 04:57 PM (OT9g0)

101 Btw Palin's got a new message on Facebook. I have been saying for a while that she wasn't going to run and her mission was like Munich - to take out the establishment pukes that threw her to the wolves. But hey, shes stupid, nothing to worry about, right? She's a quitter! We'll just ignore it.

Posted by: Blaster at January 27, 2012 04:57 PM (Fw2Gg)

102

Perhaps a small insight into the real nature of "Fascism". Under Mussolini, the government vigorously pursued and surpressed the Mafia in Italy like never before or since.

Why?

Because they were both in the same business, and the Fascist Mussolini wasn't going to take any shit from the Mob. The State under Fascism has to have an ABSOLUTE monopoly on violence, to maintain rule and the threat of terror should you resist.

Mafia men were instrumental in providing guidance and intelligence to the Allied invasion of Sicily and then Italy.

Posted by: Reader C.J. Burch writes.... at January 27, 2012 04:58 PM (sJTmU)

103 Good to have the non-dyspeptic Ace back, at least for tonight...

Posted by: Fresh Air at January 27, 2012 04:59 PM (2M1g0)

104 lol@the police oppressing teh people. that's still a talking point? i thought even the mainstream Democrats'd pretty much rejected it by the '90s

Posted by: lol unreconstructed leftists at January 27, 2012 04:59 PM (8HhF2)

105 Jim in Va I don't believe that any of them who are running know how. Certainly none of the leadership in Congress know how to beat him. I think Newt could beat him but it would be luck not by plan.

Posted by: Blaster at January 27, 2012 04:59 PM (Fw2Gg)

106 Another Robert Heinlein comment I recently read and am paraphrasing here is basically that the only time democracy can be the basis of a stable government is when it doesn't work (and basically only appears to be a democracy). This is because people are not all equal in ability, discipline, or motivation, i.e., the characteristics that differentiates "makers" versus "takers". True democracy very quickly falls into the "tragedy of the commons" plus "the voting yourself other people's money" construct and falls apart rapidly.

Posted by: Hrothgar at January 27, 2012 05:00 PM (i3+c5)

107 "Our fore fathers condoned slavery, Jeebus condones slavery, God condones slavery and so do the little con."

Context, how does it work?

I'm only 41, so there's still some time yet, but I've yet to come across a single piece of evidence from interacting with any of the various liberals I've met over the years that, if they had the means and lived in an area of the country where slave labor was useful, they would not have owned slaves themselves.

In other words, I'm not impressed by your 150-years-after-the-fact condemnation of slavery. Yawn.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 05:01 PM (7lm9a)

108 Our precious Republic has morphed into a defacto Oligarchy.

The United States, as it existed for a couple of hundred years prior, no longer exists. Welcome to the north American edition of the Russian Federation

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:01 PM (O2Wq5)

109 "Styrofoam Greek columns -"

Ronnie?

Posted by: Raylan at January 27, 2012 05:01 PM (xtMRY)

110 i think i misunderstood a post , going back to read again.

Posted by: willow at January 27, 2012 05:02 PM (TomZ9)

111 One more annoying facet of those Chi-Town, progressive "Phillip Dru - Administrator" types is oikophobia (ecophobia). Most Obama zombies I know have utter contempt for the USA. It's not enough that they think they know better than you, if you have any pride in your country then you're obviously an idiot. How could anyone love a rrraaaaacissst country (etc) ?

Posted by: Hatin' me some progressives at January 27, 2012 05:02 PM (sJKFk)

112 It's amazing what you can do with that one free hand.

Posted by: garrett at January 27, 2012 08:38 PM (+7fwG)

free hands hell, i never use caps because it hurts myballs to hit the shift keys.

Posted by: Racefan at January 27, 2012 05:03 PM (b08Oj)

113 "Welcome to the north American edition of the Russian Federation"

Welcome to Newts world.

Newt is gone, Romney is a flip flopper, Obama for 4 more years.

Posted by: Raylan at January 27, 2012 05:04 PM (xtMRY)

114 "113 "Styrofoam Greek columns -"

Ronnie?"

Think "cleaner and more articulate". At least, if Joe Biden is to be believed.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 05:04 PM (7lm9a)

115 Posted by: runninrebel at January 27, 2012 08:57 PM (N/1Dm)

So many good points in there. I always say that if a liberal with a 90 IQ found out that Einstein wasn't for abortion on demand up until the time the baby was leaving the birth canal, the liberal would call Einstein an idiot. It's just who they are.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 05:07 PM (7lm9a)

116 "...if Joe Biden is to be believed"

There might be a structural issues with that premise.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:09 PM (O2Wq5)

117
How could anyone not have pride in this country? I will never understand not being proud of the most exemplary country and political system on the planet.

I fully understand the gravity of the situation we are currently in, but fervently believe the bedrock is too solid not to overcome our trouble. Won't be easy, but we can prevail.

So keep your heads up and just don't quit.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 27, 2012 05:10 PM (SAMxH)

118 Blaster- I give two, maybe three of the four the benefit of the doubt. The primaries and the general are two simultaneous and completely different campaigns. You've got to keep your eye on the big fight in the fall, but you have to be nominated first.

Posted by: Jim in Virginia at January 27, 2012 05:10 PM (OT9g0)

119 42
Yeah, okay, we're done here. The asteroid NEEDS to hit us.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 27, 2012 08:23 PM (7utQ2)

Poor asteroid. I hope it doesn't catch anything.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at January 27, 2012 05:12 PM (Qq9rL)

120

The irony is that the smartest people never go in for collectivism because they can make much more pursuing their individual goals

The irony is that the smartest people don't see the 'smart' people working in plain sight to make sure that doesn't happen.

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 05:13 PM (QBuqo)

121 Amateur Beginners

Posted by: Fifth French Republic at January 27, 2012 05:13 PM (RJOgX)

122 Establishment, Establishment, you always know what's best.

Posted by: Stewie Griffin at Woodstock at January 27, 2012 05:15 PM (8HhF2)

123 truthfully, we should be able to just call Obama a liberal and say that Liberalism Is Bad. all this talk about how conservatives are the real classical liberals, how liberals today are really fascists/socialists, and how we can out-antiracist and multicultural them at their own game is pointless.

Posted by: Billy Bob at January 27, 2012 05:16 PM (8HhF2)

124

So keep your heads up and just don't quit.

Posted by: irongrampa at January 27, 2012 09:10 PM (SAMxH)

Very well said but don't forget who you're addressing. It's fashionable around these parts to be negative and pessimistic.

I'm glad that you're of the optimistic type.

Posted by: ErikW at January 27, 2012 05:17 PM (gnNFW)

125

Weird, when I see a Prius my first reaction is often an urge to commit a crime. Against the person driving it.

When I see a Prius I think the owner is a green religion nut who just shelled out thousands to buy smug.

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 05:20 PM (QBuqo)

126 "but fervently believe the bedrock is too solid not to overcome our trouble"

The "bedrock" is being eroded by demographic trends though. If this shit was all going down 40 years ago, I'd have been a lot more confident we could pull it off. Projecting current population trends out 30 years or so paints a very grim picture of what the political landscape is going to look like.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:22 PM (O2Wq5)

127

@25: "Well, sure. Isn't that how socialism usually works?

I might actuallybe the least politically intelligent person on this blog and that's how I've always understood it.

It's just a huge money laundering machine for the elites."

It's very effective at getting rid of excess proles, too.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at January 27, 2012 05:23 PM (FsqHK)

128 >>>Weird, when I see a Prius my first reaction is often an urge to commit a crime.<<<

I did see an anomaly last Saturday. In the parking lot of a restaurant, we parked next to a Prius. On the back was a bumper sticker that said, "The only thing Wright about guns is that a woman needs to have one." Wright refers to our sheriff, Chuck Wright, who is pretty well liked here and is a staunch advocate for gun ownership. He's made quite a name for himself in upstate SC. It's awesome to live in a red state.

Posted by: Lady in Black....{sigh} at January 27, 2012 05:23 PM (F+Xfj)

129 When I see a Prius I'm reminded of those "Intel Inside" stickers on PC's. Prius's should come with stickers that say "Asshole Inside"

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:23 PM (O2Wq5)

130 This is simply history repeating itself. If you consider that the European nobility of old basically started out as a group of thugs demanding protection money you see that these Democrats really are no different. In antiquity if you chose not to accede you lost your head; today, you go to prison. Either way, they use force to get your stuff.

Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at January 27, 2012 05:26 PM (KIoeg)

131

Shorter list :

What's good about Obama ?

From a person with a job viewpoint.......

Posted by: seamrog at January 27, 2012 05:26 PM (g6av1)

132

@45: "People who have no idea how to earn a living themselves are most interested in redistribution. People who don't grasp the concept of growth don't understand the expanding pie. They use the gov to take ours because they can't make it themselves."

I respectfully disagree. It's simply *easier* for me to use the government to loot you than to actually do any work myself. Plus, it has the dual advantage of making sure you lot stay poor, so my wealth is worth more.

Posted by: Warren Buffett at January 27, 2012 05:26 PM (FsqHK)

133

Think 'party operatives' running factories. Do you see that in America?

Does the unions and GM fit the bill?

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 05:26 PM (QBuqo)

134 "The irony is that the smartest people don't see the 'smart' people working in plain sight to make sure that doesn't happen."

Yeah, there are a lot of smart people who aren't worldly. I don't think those people rise to the level of "smartest", though, so unless you've got some examples of who you mean, I don't know that you're actually identifying a "type". Of course the "smartest" people know collectivism is bullshit. Whether they say so or not depends on the amount of power held by collectivists at any given point in time or the amount of personal danger they are willing to put themselves in.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 05:28 PM (7lm9a)

135 When I said I'm not getting the "Rolodex Socialist" thing -- I didn't mean I didn't understand it in the context of the article. I mean it's not that great of a phrase cause it has little meaning by itself. A good political zinger needs to be understand by itself. Like -- Mormon Yacht Boy. Chicago Jesus. Limousine Liberal. Rolodex Socialist? Just doesn't have a good ring to it and doesn't instantly convey - socialist-crook-who-steals-from-the-public.

Posted by: Clubber Lang at January 27, 2012 05:29 PM (ZPrif)

136

@51: "Vig = vigorish. The mob's precentage or commission on any transaction. Also the interest (expressed in terms of points where 1 point = 1%) due weekly on racketeering loans. A $5,000 loan at 6 points = $300 per week due to keep your kneecaps intact."

Yup, plus, even if you have payed off $4,999 of that $5,000, you still owe interest on the full amount. Loansharking pays *very* well.

Posted by: Fa Cube Itches at January 27, 2012 05:29 PM (FsqHK)

137 Well observed, and well diagnosed. Now, how do we get rid of these parasites -- whether they have an R after their name or a D?

Posted by: cthulhu at January 27, 2012 05:29 PM (kaalw)

138

@56: "I die a little every time I hear the proggy zombies shouting, "This is what democracy looks like!""

Thanks for trying to do our job for us, but you're not in the union. Not to worry, we'll get you across that finish line, and make sure you have lots of company on your trip.

Posted by: Communist Death Squads Local 1217 at January 27, 2012 05:30 PM (FsqHK)

139 apologies to BS.

Posted by: willow at January 27, 2012 05:31 PM (TomZ9)

140 Plus, it has the dual advantage of making sure you lot stay poor, so my wealth is worth more.

Another important point. One of the (intended?) effects of socialism is to limit the ability of the have-nots to become haves.

Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at January 27, 2012 05:31 PM (KIoeg)

141 "People who don't grasp the concept of growth don't understand the expanding pie."

People like Obama see the economy as a zero-sum game. If their viewpoint were correct, the whole planet would still be living in caves and wearing bear skins, but we're not, so obviously new "wealth" has been created somehow.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:31 PM (O2Wq5)

142

This is simply history repeating itself. If you consider that the European nobility of old basically started out as a group of thugs demanding protection money

And in Russia it's already gone full circle with democracy/republic stage lasting mere months.

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 05:31 PM (QBuqo)

143 I have been saying for a while that she wasn't going to run and her mission was like Munich - to take out the establishment pukes that threw her to the wolves.

Wonderful, admirable, good to know. So St. Palin, with (self)righteous indignation, is waging her own personal vendetta... projecting her own 2008 martyrdom on 2012 "crucified" Newt, the poor baby (I mean martyr). Still fighting last election's battle-- today. With Newt in Palin's place (since they have *so* much in common). Who cares about beating Obama 2012, when what matters most right now is sticking it to the "establishment"?

Priorities.

Here's my take: fuck the 2008 GOP figures who, *during* the general election campaign, attacked Palin & facilitated Obama's coronation. I spit on them.

And fuck the 2012 Palinistas (many of whom are now Newtistas) who in 2012, out for revenge on behalf of Mama Grizzly, are on a righteous crusade against the shadowy "establishment"-- even if it turns out to be a kamikaze mission-- on behalf of Newt, Newt! of all people (ugh), even at the cost of facilitating Obama's (re)coronation.

NB of course, not all people who support Newt fit the description above (many are political commentators I normally respect-- just not for this). It's a subset. But Newt supporters are very fond of brushing all so-called "Mittbots" with the same ad hominem brush. So I'm not feeling especially charitable.

Posted by: lael at January 27, 2012 05:32 PM (KHapD)

144 When I see a Prius I'm reminded of those "Intel Inside" stickers on PC's. Prius's should come with stickers that say "Asshole Inside"
--------------------------
Crunchy on the outside, soft and squishy on the inside?

When I see a Prius I'm tempted to flip that 4WD switch and see if I can climb over it.

Posted by: Retread at January 27, 2012 05:33 PM (joSBv)

145 First part of my comment @147 is meant to be a quote from #105.

Posted by: lael at January 27, 2012 05:34 PM (KHapD)

146

Posted by: lael at January 27, 2012 09:32 PM (KHapD)

And who the fuck are you and why should we care?

Posted by: Steph at January 27, 2012 05:34 PM (9ZUtX)

147

"The root of the problem is democracy itself. It is not and never has been a stable form of government."

I respectfully disagree - it gave me a very stable form of government.

Posted by: Zombie Adolf Hitler at January 27, 2012 05:35 PM (FsqHK)

148

Yeah, there are a lot of smart people who aren't worldly. I don't think those people rise to the level of "smartest", though, so unless you've got some examples of who you mean, I don't know that you're actually identifying a "type".

What I meant is that really smart people with ideas start businesses and prosper and then get almost regulated out of existence by politicians and government agencies.

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 05:35 PM (QBuqo)

149 There's no reason you should care. I'm just a commenter, commenting. Is this not a comments section?

Posted by: lael at January 27, 2012 05:36 PM (KHapD)

150 Remember Don Fanucci - the dude with the white suit and the full cleveland (white shoes, belt and hat) in Godfather II - "hey wet my beak" - that is Obama - Don Fanucci - where is that young "you got balls" Coreleone kid?

Posted by: Hutzul at January 27, 2012 05:37 PM (Qgmhc)

151 Nothing new here!
They have been doing exactly this in Chicago for at least the last half century.

Posted by: Mayor Nutter at January 27, 2012 05:38 PM (e8kgV)

152 "137
Think 'party operatives' running factories. Do you see that in America?

Does the unions and GM fit the bill?

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 09:26 PM (QBuqo)"

Yeah, that's about the closest thing we've got to fascism in the US and look which party it's aligned with. That was also a great example of "rule by decree", which fascists love.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 05:38 PM (7lm9a)

153 Our precious Republic has morphed into a defacto Oligarchy. The United States, as it existed for a couple of hundred years prior, no longer exists. Welcome to the north American edition of the Russian Federation Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 09:01 PM (O2Wq5) This illuminates the stupidity and folly of chasing after the Middle. The Middle is the ally of the Left.

Posted by: eman at January 27, 2012 05:41 PM (pn8u0)

154 @141: "Now, how do we get rid of these parasites -- whether they have an R after their name or a D?"

Per'aps I may be ov serivce? I mey be old, bet I can steel get zings done.

Posted by: Madame Guillotine at January 27, 2012 05:41 PM (FsqHK)

155 The govt also forces its own people onto the BOD's of failing banks. There were a number of banks forced to accept a couple of govt apparatchiks on their BOD's.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:42 PM (O2Wq5)

156 #147 Excellent analysis and opinion. I agree. GOP inside people started this in 2008. And even after the election loss, they didn't let up. What point was there to that?

Now Palin is on a mission to take THEM out. And it is totally destructive and not going to get OBAMA out, which is what we want.

I am upset with both sides. An Twitter is almost unbearable. I am going to have to unfollow some of the people I had on my list because they have gone into complete Romney derangement syndrome.

And some of the Romney people are being assholes, too. When Perry dropped out it was just too much for Brad Blakeman to be generous and conciliatory. Nope, he had to talk about how Perry was crawling back to Texas with his tail between his legs, ha-ha. On Fox.

So, I imagine that got back to Perry and for all of his difficulties on the campaign trail, he still wields a great deal of power in Texas, with its 38 electoral votes. Nice going, Blakeman.

I feel like I am caught in a food fight between two high school cliques.

Posted by: Miss Marple at January 27, 2012 05:44 PM (GoIUi)

157 When I see a Prius, I want to drop deuce on it Just like the OWS cop car

Posted by: Rthor at January 27, 2012 05:45 PM (/80g3)

158 "And some of the Romney people are being assholes, too."

The behavior of his senior campaign staff is probably a fair indicator of how a Romney administration would function. Romney is obviously comfortable with being a dick.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:47 PM (O2Wq5)

159 PS to 147. I wrongly suggested an equivalence. I still feel much more disgust for those GOP figures who, *during* the general election, went on the attack against Palin, facilitating Obama's election, than those Palinistas who, today, project Palin on Newt (IMO misguidedly), and wage their anti-establishment crusade on Palin/ Newt's behalf. Because the latter is going on now, today, it's more relevant & the feelings are fresher... but still, there's no comparison. After all, it's the primaries. In the end, all's fair in love & primary season.

If, after the primaries, during the general election against Obama, Romney turns out to be the nominee, and the Palinistas wage their anti-GOP vendetta *then*... that would be worth spitting at. Today, I'm just venting, because I personally think Newt is such a disastrous candidate.

Posted by: lael at January 27, 2012 05:52 PM (KHapD)

160 "What I meant is that really smart people with ideas start businesses andprosper and then get almost regulated out of existence by politicians and government agencies.

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 09:35 PM (QBuqo)"

Now I get what you're saying. Yes, this happens an unfortunate amount of times. Americans have had the anomalous luxury of being relatively free of ideological disputes for most of our history.

Have you ever seen this scene from "Back to School"? My favorite, especially around the 2 minute mark. I wouldn't say Rodney's smart, but he sure is worldly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlVDGmjz7eM

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 05:56 PM (7lm9a)

161 "and then get almost regulated out of existence by politicians and government agencies"

This is why I laugh when the leftists rail against capitalism and free markets. There has been no such thing in this country for going on 80 years now. FDR drove the stake in that notions heart.

Posted by: Purple Avenger at January 27, 2012 05:59 PM (O2Wq5)

162 It's called being a "Fabian Socialist".

Posted by: Optimizer at January 27, 2012 06:02 PM (As94z)

163

Have you ever seen this scene from "Back to School"? My favorite, especially around the 2 minute mark.

BS Inc, thanks for the link. I did see this many years ago but forgot these bits. Particularly funny are the references to greasing the local pols, kickbacks to unions and payoffs to the mafia. You bet that no textbook or course will cover these hidden costs of doing business.

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 06:09 PM (QBuqo)

164

greasing the local pols, kickbacks to unions and payoffs to the mafia

And if you could tell the truth you would put these costs under the PR budget.

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 06:20 PM (QBuqo)

165 Hey Decaf,

Yeah, my economics classes never included that stuff, but my real-world dealings have definitely run across all of those factors. As far as I'm concerned, this post touches on one of the most important topics discussed here at the HQ. Once non-liberals realize that liberalism is a job as much as it is an ideology, and the people who have that as their job are no more likely to give up the revenue stream that comes with that job than anyone else who has a different job would voluntarily give it up, we gain a better perspective on what liberals actually are and see how different it is from the way they portray themselves.

Posted by: BS Inc. at January 27, 2012 06:24 PM (7lm9a)

166 I gotta tell ya, the chapter in David Kahane's book (Rules for Radical Conservatives) on the TRUE HISTORY of the gangster/mob/mafia/crime/racketeer control over the Democratic Party in the 20th/21st century is ASTOUNDING. Almost as astounding as the GOP's complete silence about it for as long as it's been going on. If it were me, I'd make sure there was a 5-10 minute little slide-show at every GOP meeting with more than 10 attendees to drill into their/our thick skulls that: 1--the Dems are the party of Jim Crom/KKK/malignant racism, and 2--the Dems are the party of organized crime (which makes their massive vote fraud of recent years sooooooo ridiculously easy for them). These are the facts, people. Too bad John McLame never learned them. Nor, I'm afraid, Mutt Romney.

Posted by: JewishOdysseus at January 27, 2012 06:31 PM (hRH92)

167 Rolodex Socialism sucks, I admit. I was trying to convey a socialism where the well-connected and their clients get paid. It sucks. Something like Tamany Hall is the idea I was going for. Tweed Socialism?

Posted by: ace at January 27, 2012 06:41 PM (nj1bB)

168 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYabrQrXt4A

Posted by: SOYLENT GREEN at January 27, 2012 06:46 PM (UD0aD)

169

Tweed socialism ? Obama ?

More likely Cord de roy. Or pleather. Silk?

Posted by: seamrog at January 27, 2012 06:51 PM (g6av1)

170 It's articles like these that are alienating the crucial Occupy swing vote.

Posted by: David Frum at January 27, 2012 07:14 PM (8HhF2)

171 _{^{"The Silent Anschluss: Germany Formally Requests That Greece Hand Over Its Fiscal Independence"}}

This should get very interesting very fast. It's from Zero Hedge.

Posted by: ambrosia at January 27, 2012 07:15 PM (oZfic)

172 "1--the Dems are the party of Jim Crom/KKK/malignant racism, and" I feel like it's impossible to make this point without being accused of being a crypto-liberal, but...yes, the Southern wing of the Democratic Party during the New Deal coalition was segregationist. But a lot of these people started voting Republican nationally -- not necessarily regionally -- once the national Democratic Party endorsed the civil rights platform under JFK/LBJ, and continued to go left with McGovern. That was the whole point of Nixon's Southern Strategy, to win over people who were fleeing areas as crime shot up, and didn't want to be forcibly bused into schools for what the federal government deemed the correct racial balance. personally I don't see this as a problem, as the Republican Party was not endorsing a return to Jim Crow, the Democratic Party went soft on crime out of racial guilt, and ex-segregationists found other points of agreement with broader conservative ideology. just because a party attracts support from people with views we reject does not taint their entire political opinion.

Posted by: Fred the Reactionary at January 27, 2012 07:20 PM (8HhF2)

173 to quickly add, Nixon openly told his advisors he wanted to bring in conservative Democratic Wallace voters to expand on the narrow victory he won over Humphrey when Wallace ran third party in 1968. I realize the Southern Strategy's been used as a tool by the Left to try and delegitimize the GOP's post-1964 victories, but let's not pretend there wasn't a realignment -- and let's defend the fact that it wasn't just a simplistic case of racist voters winning the GOP elections.

Posted by: Fred the Reactionary at January 27, 2012 07:24 PM (8HhF2)

174

"Think 'party operatives' running factories. Do you see that in
America?

Does the unions and GM fit the bill?

Posted by: Decaf at January 27, 2012 09:26 PM (QBuqo)"
Yeah, that's about the closest thing we've got to fascism in the US and look which party it's aligned with. That was also a great example of "rule by decree", which fascists love."

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

I went to a job interview this week and was asked if " I had a problem with unions." I shared a slighly negative view of unions. I didn't get the job; there is no recourse for the discrimination in current law. So we have a goverment system that completely caters to the tyranny of unions. We wonder why all the manufacturing jobs have gone away and that the rest are being subsidized. Tell me we aren't already facists?

Posted by: Kyle at January 27, 2012 07:41 PM (h09iL)

175 Man. When Ace gets mad, it's a beautiful thing.

Posted by: blue star at January 27, 2012 08:00 PM (0Pb00)

176 "Obama Offends the Catholic Left A contraceptive mandate provokes an unnecessary war."

By Bill McGurn of WSJ's Main Street

Posted by: ambrosia at January 27, 2012 09:11 PM (oZfic)

177 "Conservatives may enjoy the problems this creates for Mr. Obama this election year. Still, for those who care about issues such as life and marriage and religious liberty that so roil our body politic, we ought to wish Catholic progressives well in their intra-liberal fight. For we shall never arrive at the consensus we hope for if we allow our politics to be divided between a party of faith and a party of animosity to faith."

From Bill's WSJ article

Posted by: ambrosia at January 27, 2012 09:15 PM (oZfic)

178 You are free to practice your religion, so long as you admit it is evil and retrograde.

Posted by: The FDR, the State and the Holy Obama at January 27, 2012 09:44 PM (8HhF2)

179 Ace, you were on a roll with this one. Your verbiage is so good I'm going to quote it elsewhere.

"Democrats are just a collection of rent-seekers, beak-dippers, and vig-skimmers, who have convinced themselves that it is not only acceptable that they should collect rents, dip their beaks, and collect a vig on everyone else's transactions, but that to deny them such rents, dippings, and vigs constitutes the most hateful, vicious, and fundamentally un-American behavior they can conceive.

Awesome.

Posted by: DiogenesLamp at January 28, 2012 05:46 AM (t3mKS)

180 Way late as usual, but great post, articulating things I've been feeling but hadn't really thought out. Thanks, Ace

Posted by: RM at January 28, 2012 06:03 AM (TRsME)

181 29 Decimal Disciples would be a good name for a techno band. I denounce myself, just in case.

Posted by: Captain Whitebread at January 28, 2012 03:03 PM (SEXto)

182 I wrote this yesterday. Politics can be boiled down to the Sopranos season where Tony is trying desperately to get accepted into the checkpants country club. It was a classic distillation of the dynamic in place between these two warring parties. Sadly, just as with every war, civilians bear the brunt of the damage. Groups such as the Tea Party attempt to represent us civilians but lacking guns in the form of political muscle, never seem to gain traction. Before the Tea Party we had the Perot Nationalism movement. Before him it was the Moral Majority. None of those civilian movements stood up to the test of time.

Posted by: Carl Spackler at January 29, 2012 07:17 AM (I6KKl)

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