Ace of Spades HQ

May 15, 2013

Charles W. Cooke On The Virtue Of Political Paranoia
— DrewM

Cooke (follow him on Twitter) has been a revelation at National Review. (link added/fixed thanks to CBD)

On May 5, Barack Obama shamefully told graduating students at Ohio State University:
Unfortunately, youÂ’ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government as nothing more than some separate, sinister entity thatÂ’s at the root of all our problems. Some of these same voices also do their best to gum up the works. TheyÂ’ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. Because what they suggest is that our brave, and creative, and unique experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we canÂ’t be trusted.
This statement is telling. Contrary to the manner in which both Al Gore and President Obama customarily use the term, Â“self-ruleÂ” does not in fact describe a process by which the citizen submits himself to the state and, in return, is given occasion to cast a vote on how the government may run the more significant parts of his life. Instead, Â“self-ruleÂ” denotes a system in which a free man may maintain control over the lionÂ’s share of his decisions while maintaining some say over the governmentÂ’s conduct in those few areas where it is necessary for government to operate.
...
Why, you might ask, do I use Â“paranoia,Â” instead of the more palatable Â“skepticismÂ”? Paranoia, after all, is an involuntary reaction Â— less of a tendency to Â“wait and seeÂ” than a recipe for constant fear. I will tell you why: because reflexive suspicion of government power is a magnificent and virtuous tendency, and one that should be the starting point of all political conversation in a free republic.

Go. Read it all.

Sad that it takes a young man (I think he's in his mid-20s) from the United Kingdom to remind, or more worryingly educate for the first time, so many Americans of their birthright of freedom.

In a better world, Cooke would be at the Washington Post and Ezra "The Constitution is old" Klein would be back at Pandagon (or whatever lefty swamp he emerged from).

By the way, you know who all this talk of tyranny and government overreach benefits? This guy.

Via Monty, Jonah Goldberg takes issue with Cooke's defense of the word "paranoia". I don't know. It's a polemic. A little license is allowed.

Via RD (blogging is a team effort) Cooke responds to Goldberg.

Posted by: DrewM at 07:26 AM | Comments (192)
Post contains 423 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Just because you're paranoid don't mean they're not after you.

Posted by: Kurt Cobain at May 15, 2013 07:28 AM (+x8q5)

2 Linky for Cooke's National Review article?

Posted by: Book at May 15, 2013 07:29 AM (ee/nS)

3 College students. Natural conservatives.

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 07:29 AM (FcR7P)

4 Speaking of the NRO, linkie from drudge GOP Rep. Â‘Not WillingÂ’ to Take Obama Impeachment Off The Table

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 15, 2013 07:30 AM (XYSwB)

5 Whoa! My hash thingy changed. That's weird.

Posted by: Book at May 15, 2013 07:30 AM (ee/nS)

6 Speaking of the NRO, linkie from drudge

GOP Rep. Â‘Not WillingÂ’ to Take Obama Impeachment Off The Table

"Dispatch, this is car 54. We have a positive sighting on a set of balls, over."

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:31 AM (GQ8sn)

7 TheyÂ’ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. Shorter Obama: "Remain Calm! All Is Well!"

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 07:31 AM (FcR7P)

8 There there.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:32 AM (wbmaj)

9 Whoa! My hash thingy changed. That's weird. Someone 'doctored' your IP address.

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 07:32 AM (FcR7P)

There's epicycles involved and shit.

Posted by: Ptolemy at May 15, 2013 07:32 AM (EGA/O)

Just got back from a potty break. Any new scandals come to light since I flushed?

Posted by: Jaws at May 15, 2013 07:33 AM (4I3Uo)

12 Gaze into my eyes. Don't believe anything bad about big government. Sleep, sleep, go to sleep. Ignore the man with the lube removing your underwear.

Posted by: Svengali Obama at May 15, 2013 07:33 AM (Hx5uv)

13 Scary thought--every year, more indoctrinated college students unleashed. Not to mention what the fuck is going on in the public schools. I'm moving to Calgary.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:34 AM (wbmaj)

14 FOUND IT. Ugh. I have to do everything around here. (Link to Cooke's article: http://bit.ly/YIHCfo )

Posted by: Book at May 15, 2013 07:34 AM (ee/nS)

15 By the way, you know who all this talk of tyranny and government overreach benefits? BIDEN '16 - Not Guilty Because Idiot

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 07:35 AM (FcR7P)

16 "Someone 'doctored' your IP address. Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 11:32 AM (FcR7P)" WUT.

Posted by: Book at May 15, 2013 07:35 AM (ee/nS)

17 So now government coercion and unaccountability is "self-rule." Good to know.

Posted by: Mindy at May 15, 2013 07:36 AM (xIq7K)

Obama: Now that you've got your "hard earned" college degree--fuck that self-sufficiency jive--let me...the government...do everything for you.

Nothing scary in that.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:36 AM (wbmaj)

19 Mistakes were made but I didn't know anything about them. I have fired that Sergeant who came up with that whole Holocaust thing.

Posted by: Adloph Hitler at May 15, 2013 07:36 AM (Hx5uv)

20 "Someone 'doctored' your IP address.
Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 11:32 AM (FcR7P)"

WUT.

Posted by: Book at May 15, 2013 11:35 AM (ee/nS)

Don't worry about it. Your ISP probably refreshed your modem's IP. It will happen from time to time. Nothing sinister is going on.

Yet...

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:36 AM (GQ8sn)

21 This is O/T but does anyone know if Ace was in Louisville last night? http://tinyurl.com/a5cylnn

Posted by: Midaz at May 15, 2013 07:36 AM (f2FvF)

22 When I take over, I'll be calling in air strikes on college campuses throughout the land.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:36 AM (wbmaj)

23 When I take over, I'll be calling in air strikes on college campuses throughout the land.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 11:36 AM (wbmaj)

But we'll extract the hawt co-eds first, right?

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:37 AM (GQ8sn)

24 Why wouldn't a rational conservative that is vocal about his political beliefs be frightened and paranoid of their own government? They target you from the IRS, they leak your personal information to partisan "news" outlets to include joe the plumbers alimony payments, and they single you out for hatred harassment and stalking by publishing your name on so called "hate group" lists where people on the left target you for murder and walk into your building with a gun. Yeah no reason to be paranoid at all, nothing to see here.

Posted by: Mr Pink at May 15, 2013 07:38 AM (ASWbs)

25 5 Whoa! My hash thingy changed. That's weird.

Posted by: Book at May 15, 2013 11:30 AM (ee/nS)

---------

Electrical engineers per nanosecond?

Posted by: Assault Citizen Anachronda at May 15, 2013 07:38 AM (U82Km)

26 #23 Yes. They will be placed in special "re-education" camps. If you know what I mean.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:38 AM (wbmaj)

27 I'll actually defend paranoia and conspiracy theories in situations where it's probable that the facts necessary to make a truly informed theory will never be released to the public. Obama and his administration have been operating out of an ivory fortress of secrecy and arrogance for so long, it was indefensible to claim that they weren't dirty and corrupt. But without the cooperation of our usual watchdogs, we had to go with our instincts on most of the stories. And... we're being proven correct.

Posted by: Cameo Appearance at May 15, 2013 07:38 AM (R8yKQ)

28 FOUND IT. Ugh. I have to do everything around here. (Link to Cooke's article: http://bit.ly/YIHCfo ) *** thanks

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at May 15, 2013 07:39 AM (piMMO)

Would love to see on an OSU t-shirt:

"I spent $100,000 in tuition and all I got was a stupid paranoia lecture from Barack Millhouse Obama."

Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn at May 15, 2013 07:39 AM (EGPJQ)

30 When I take over, I'll be calling in air strikes on college campuses throughout the land.
Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 11:36 AM (wbmaj)
But we'll extract the hawt co-eds first, right?
Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 11:37 AM (GQ8sn)

Yes. But first, they will blow me.

Posted by: Operation Commander Mel Gibson at May 15, 2013 07:40 AM (W7ffl)

31 What I want to know is, how did a guy get hired as a speechwriter who thinks this is makes sense: "...our brave...experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we canÂ’t be trusted." How does that argument go? Let's see. Bad conservative: "Our brave experiment in self-rule is a sham with which we can't be trusted!" Good hope-and-change Obama supporter: "You're wrong! We CAN be trusted with that sham!"

Posted by: JPS at May 15, 2013 07:40 AM (g11mv)

32 I'm inclined to believe that our pinhead Preezy believes that "self-rule" means "not ruled by England," not "democratic republic."

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit [/s][/i][/b][/u] at May 15, 2013 07:40 AM (4df7R)

33 Argh. "This is makes sense." The speechwriter's karma got me.

Posted by: JPS at May 15, 2013 07:40 AM (g11mv)

"Dispatch, this is car 54. We have a positive sighting on a set of balls, over."

----

Addendum: Objects in mirror are smaller than they appear.

Posted by: Foghorn Leghorn at May 15, 2013 07:41 AM (EGPJQ)

35 I saw so many impossible things happen in the first six months of Obamunism that the entire concept of what was reasonable and unreasonable to believe needed to be seriously re-evaluated.

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 07:41 AM (Hx5uv)

36 Article 2

Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens....

This conduct has included one or more of the following:

He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposes not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.

I'm just sayin'.

Posted by: The Regular Guy at May 15, 2013 07:42 AM (qHCyt)

37 "Dispatch, this is car 54. We have a positive sighting on a set of balls, over." Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 11:31 AM (GQ8sn) "Dispatch, Car 54. False alarm. We were blinded by Boehner's orange glow. No balls. I repeat, no balls."

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 07:42 AM (da5Wo)

38 "You're wrong! We CAN be trusted with that sham!"

***

It's a sham within a hoax within a con within a Ponzi scheme.

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 07:43 AM (Hx5uv)

39 #30 I will also have "gulags" for the most liberal professors. They will be required to watch video of Ronald Reagan's collected speeches 23 hours a day. During the 24th hour, they will have to read passages from the autobiography of Margaret Thatcher.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:43 AM (wbmaj)

Both Cooke and Goldberg make good points. My question to Goldberg would be, "So what word would you use instead?" Because Cooke is right -- "skepticism" is not strong enough.

If "paranoia" is defined as "irrational fear," then what term would best define "rational fear?"

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit [/s][/i][/b][/u] at May 15, 2013 07:43 AM (4df7R)

#38 There's no pair there.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:44 AM (wbmaj)

42 "Dispatch, Car 54. False alarm. We were blinded by Boehner's orange glow. No balls. I repeat, no balls." Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 11:42 AM (da5Wo)

Car 54, Dispatch, your coffee and donuts are ready.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/u][/s][/b] at May 15, 2013 07:44 AM (sbV1u)

43 If "paranoia" is defined as "irrational fear," then what term would best define "rational fear?" Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit at May 15, 2013 11:43 AM (4df7R) "Reality."

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 07:44 AM (da5Wo)

44 Yes. They will be placed in special "re-education" camps. If you know what I mean.

Attention ladies, your learning curriculum during your stay will include the following:

Pole Dancing: Advanced Studies and Lab
Pole Dancing: graduate thesis and special project
Car Washing
Sandwich Making
Advanced Gender Studies of the Male Mind: TV Remote Controls and Internet Pr0n
Uniforms: Lingerie and Clear Heels

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:44 AM (GQ8sn)

45 You buy the outrage at the IRS Scandal and own the Right not to scrutinize any Liberal non-profit Forever.

Posted by: Clemenza at May 15, 2013 07:45 AM (3GuQx)

46 "Dispatch, this is car 54. We have a positive sighting on a set of balls, over." --- Now that you've done that, go check out a holdup in the Bronx, riots in Brooklyn, and a traffic jam from Harlem to Jackson Heights.

Posted by: Dispatcher at May 15, 2013 07:45 AM (+x8q5)

47 Comments from a Democrat in the Pantoja article:

"And Just like Unions you probably see as evil, they hire Lobbyists to work with Elected Officials to grow their businesses that Taxpayers fund 100%.

---

I wonÂ’t make many more comments going down the line Emiro, because I learned a long time ago that I can get 25 more voters with open minds faster than I will ever convince a person who comments on blogs to change their minds."

Open minds: closed to critical thought, responsibility and consequences.

Posted by: Liberal's Little Book of Brawndo at May 15, 2013 07:46 AM (2iU3x)

48 Car 54, Dispatch, your coffee and donuts are ready. Posted by: Sean Bannion at May 15, 2013 11:44 AM (sbV1u) Copy that Dispatch. Try and keep Patrolman Christie off of them this time.By the time we got there last time, he was licking the plate.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 07:46 AM (da5Wo)

49 Any comment yet from Turbo Tax Timmy G?

Posted by: USA at May 15, 2013 07:46 AM (VIaw0)

50 TheyÂ’ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. You should reject these voices. ...or else!

Posted by: The IRS at May 15, 2013 07:46 AM (FcR7P)

51 That really is a terrific article. I'm not even going to read Goldberg's argument because I think Cooke does a fine job in weaving "paranoia" into the argument.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at May 15, 2013 07:47 AM (piMMO)

52 Another comes out: Â‘VERY FRIGHTENINGÂ’: PROMINENT CATHOLIC PROF. CLAIMS IRS AUDITED HER AFTER SPEAKING OUT AGAINST OBAMA AND DEMANDED TO KNOW WHO WAS PAYING HER the blaze I'm trying to get a relative to also come out after he rejected a gov contract, hs swooped in to "audit" him almost immediately.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 15, 2013 07:47 AM (XYSwB)

53 Don't worry about it. Your ISP probably refreshed your modem's IP. It will happen from time to time. Nothing sinister is going on. Until Pixy bans your new ISP.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 15, 2013 07:47 AM (dhncb)

54 The Axelrod gambit: government is just so vast that nobody can really know whatÂ’s going on. President Innocent By Stander was playing hoops when this happened and he can't walk and chew gum at the same time.

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 07:48 AM (Hx5uv)

55 "Sad that it takes a young man (I think he's in his mid-20s) from the United Kingdom to remind, or more worryingly educate for the first time, so many Americans of their birthright of freedom. "
===========

A few years back I had occasion to hear Nigel West deliver a lecture on how MI-5 brought down the Provisional IRA. Some of the tactics they employed could NEVER have been done in the U.S. When at the end of the lecture he was asked why MI-5 could do such things while US security services could not he replied: "You must remember that you are citizens, while we are subjects".

There is an awful lot in that distinction that is, unfortunately, being traded away by today's electorate for a plate of beans. And a cell phone.

Posted by: Nighthawk at May 15, 2013 07:49 AM (OtQXp)

56 Another comes out: Ã¯Â¿Â½VERY FRIGHTENINGÃ¯Â¿Â½: PROMINENT CATHOLIC PROF. CLAIMS IRS AUDITED HER AFTER SPEAKING OUT AGAINST OBAMA AND DEMANDED TO KNOW WHO WAS PAYING HER the blaze --- And another one goes, another one goes, another one goes under the bus. Hey, they accuse you to? Another one goes under the bus.

Posted by: The Obama Bus at May 15, 2013 07:49 AM (+x8q5)

57 I'm inclined to believe that our pinhead Preezy believes that "self-rule" means "not ruled by England," I'm pretty sure Obama is the "self" to whom he's referring.

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 07:49 AM (FcR7P)

58 Obama was supposed to say "they'll warn that a tranny is always lurking just around the corner".

Posted by: Roy at May 15, 2013 07:49 AM (VndSC)

59 35 I saw so many impossible things happen in the first six months of Obamunism that the entire concept of what was reasonable and unreasonable to believe needed to be seriously re-evaluated. Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 11:41 AM (Hx5uv) Yeah after this IRS crap all the tin foil hat shit about ammo, gun running, and everything else needs to be reexamined. If the administration would use the IRS to punish its political enemies, why would it not buy up all the ammo in the country so as to dry up supply? And furthermore, you only heard from fringe websites about the IRS intimidation and they were right all along, could the fringe websites that trumpet the ammo buying be right in this instance too? Fuck.

Posted by: Mr Pink at May 15, 2013 07:49 AM (ASWbs)

60 60 Obama was supposed to say "they'll warn that a tranny is always lurking just around the corner". --- I think that was Eddie Murphy's line.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at May 15, 2013 07:50 AM (+x8q5)

61 I think it was Kissinger who noted that it was impossible to be paranoid in DC because paranoia is the incorrect belief that people are out to get you. I bring that up for no reason whatsover.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies. at May 15, 2013 07:50 AM (VtjlW)

62 Next revelation: Truthers were telling the truth.

Posted by: Roy at May 15, 2013 07:50 AM (VndSC)

63 Next revelation: Truthers were telling the truth.

Fire can melt steel?

:O

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:51 AM (GQ8sn)

64 TheyÂ’ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner.

...and we're all trying to see around the corner and never look just behind us, where it's standing.

Posted by: HeatherRadish™ crosses the streams at May 15, 2013 07:51 AM (ZKzrr)

65 LOL. Ace is starting big on twitter today: "I wonder if @mmfa's 501(c)4 "education charity" will get any scrutiny from the IRS for plainly partisan work" citing this morning's talking points in defense of DOJ.

Posted by: USA at May 15, 2013 07:52 AM (VIaw0)

66 63 I think it was Kissinger who noted that it was impossible to be paranoid in DC because paranoia is the incorrect belief that people are out to get you. I bring that up for no reason whatsover. Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Mmmm. Blondies. at May 15, 2013 11:50 AM (VtjlW) I have leftover tin foil from where I made my hat. Want some?

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 07:52 AM (da5Wo)

67 66 TheyÃ¯Â¿Â½ll warn that tyranny is always lurking just around the corner. ...and we're all trying to see around the corner and never look just behind us, where it's standing. --- They'll tell us to just ignore the elephant standing in the room.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at May 15, 2013 07:52 AM (+x8q5)

68 Drew I may be a little paranoid here but I've been getting the feeling that your pushing your blog on me.

Is it just me?

Posted by: dananjcon at May 15, 2013 07:52 AM (jvd3N)

69 And furthermore, you only heard from fringe websites about the IRS intimidation and they were right all along, could the fringe websites that trumpet the ammo buying be right in this instance too?
Fuck.
Posted by: Mr Pink at May 15, 2013 11:49 AM (ASWbs)

How do ya like me now, bitches?

Posted by: Alex Jones of the InfoWars, buy my stuff at May 15, 2013 07:53 AM (W7ffl)

70 The IRS was targeting groups that simply "complained about government and how it was being run", that's a fucking quote pretty much. And he thinks paranoia is too strong a word?

Posted by: Mr Pink at May 15, 2013 07:53 AM (ASWbs)

Hmm... Instead of paranoia, what about "distrust?"

"In Praise of Distrust of Government."

Sounds good, doesn't it?

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit [/s][/i][/b][/u] at May 15, 2013 07:53 AM (4df7R)

72 I have leftover tin foil from where I made my hat. Want some?

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 11:52 AM (da5Wo)

I made my own at work. I have it sitting on my filing cabinet. It even has a beanie on it!

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:53 AM (GQ8sn)

73 I always know when I load the main page here at Ace cause my fan goes crazy as the main page pegs my CPU. The main AoSHQ page is like my own personal Stuxnet.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 07:54 AM (ZPrif)

74 The Drew latitudes.

Posted by: eleven at May 15, 2013 07:54 AM (KXm42)

75 individual thread pages are calm -- no matter how many comments. The main page kills my machine.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 07:54 AM (ZPrif)

76 Folks, don't give in to paranoia. Leave your doors unlocked at night.

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 07:55 AM (FcR7P)

77 Obama: Now that you've got your "hard earned" college degree--fuck that self-sufficiency jive--let me...the government...do everything for you.
Nothing scary in that.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 11:36 AM (wbmaj)
=========

Link to what is still the best commencement addresses never given:

http://bit.ly/19tjpeA

Posted by: Nighthawk at May 15, 2013 07:55 AM (OtQXp)

78 I always know when I load the main page here at Ace cause my fan goes crazy as the main page pegs my CPU.

The sitemeter widget loads every time you come to the page or refresh. Something about it makes stuff go crazy. Not sure what it is exactly, but pixy should look into it.

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:55 AM (GQ8sn)

79 The main AoSHQ page is like my own personal Stuxnet.

So it's not just me.

Posted by: eleven at May 15, 2013 07:55 AM (KXm42)

80 "That's, that's that's... uh, paranoia, ...you know. Uh... if, if, if, you know... doctors could just, you know; cut your feet off with a breathalyzer"

..."fill your tuneup and save that, uh, gas for the corpseman."

Posted by: Greatest Orator EVAR at May 15, 2013 07:56 AM (7gwGw)

81 There are two kinds of people in the world: the kind who do what they're told and the kind that get audited.

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 07:56 AM (Hx5uv)

82 The sitemeter widget loads every time you come to the page or refresh. Something about it makes stuff go crazy. Not sure what it is exactly, but pixy should look into it. Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 11:55 AM (GQ8sn) #twoweeks

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 07:56 AM (da5Wo)

83 ...and passwords? That's just more paranoia.

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 07:56 AM (FcR7P)

84 Speaking of tyranny, there is a report over at Weasel Zippers that says the IRS is being sued for seizing 60 million health records. That "constant vigilance" thing is for suckers. http://tinyurl.com/ajsstev

Posted by: no good deed at May 15, 2013 07:56 AM (mjR67)

85 #twoweeks

Srsly? Awesome.

Posted by: eleven at May 15, 2013 07:57 AM (KXm42)

86 #46 And there's always that "extra-credit" thing.

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 07:57 AM (wbmaj)

87 Folks, don't give in to paranoia. Leave your doors unlocked at night. Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 11:55 AM (FcR7P)

Yes, yes indeed. Please

Posted by: Prince George's County SWAT Team[/i][/u][/s][/b] at May 15, 2013 07:58 AM (sbV1u)

88 And there's always that "extra-credit" thing.

The "internship".

#twoweeks

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 07:59 AM (GQ8sn)

89 Who's been saying I'm paranoid?

Paranoia may well be a survival characteristic, at least in times like these.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at May 15, 2013 07:59 AM (BDU/a)

90 Posted by: Prince George's County SWAT Team at May 15, 2013 11:58 AM (sbV1u) Crap. What did they do now? (That's the force that my FIL was on. Well, PGPD, not SWAT.)

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 07:59 AM (da5Wo)

91 Both Cooke and Goldberg make good points. My question to Goldberg would be, "So what word would you use instead?" Because Cooke is right -- "skepticism" is not strong enough.

If "paranoia" is defined as "irrational fear," then what term would best define "rational fear?"

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea

Eternal ______ is the price of liberty.

Posted by: weft cut-loop [/i] [/b] at May 15, 2013 08:00 AM (YTstp)

92 Posted by: Prince George's County SWAT Team at May 15, 2013 11:58 AM (sbV1u) First!

Posted by: College Park Cuddler at May 15, 2013 08:00 AM (X4HxX)

93 Whenever I load the main page I'm in a race to scroll down to the individual thread link -- whether I can scroll fast enough before my machine melts. Sometimes I forget and the fan and smoke rising from my machine reminds me. It's like Mission Impossible.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 08:00 AM (ZPrif)

94 Ace keeps saying all this benefits Rand Paul as if that's a bad thing. Not suggesting it's a good thing, but the statement has been thrown out a few times without further explanation. Would appreciate some clarity there - is this good? is this bad? Why?

Posted by: major major major major at May 15, 2013 08:00 AM (MUhs0)

95 "Reflexive suspicion of government power is a magnificent and virtuous tendency, and one that should be the starting point of all political conversation in a free republic."

That should be on the AOSHQ t-shirt.

#twoweeks

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 15, 2013 08:00 AM (O6Tmi)

96 Another Gosnell verdict: Life in prison w/o the possibility of parole for murder of Baby A.

Posted by: Tami[/i][/b][/u][/s] at May 15, 2013 08:01 AM (X6akg)

97 Crap. What did they do now?

(That's the force that my FIL was on. Well, PGPD, not SWAT.)

Was it them that did the wrong no-knock raid and accidentally kill/injure someone other than who they were looking for?

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:01 AM (GQ8sn)

98 rational fear -- normalnoia

Posted by: eleven at May 15, 2013 08:01 AM (KXm42)

99 Hey, you know those right-wingers paranoid about The Government trying to get them? Let's get them! - The Government

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 08:01 AM (ZPrif)

100
Sometimes I forget and the fan and smoke rising from my machine reminds me.

It's like Mission Impossible.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 12:00 PM (ZPrif)

This blog will self-destruct in five seconds...

Not that far from the truth actually.

#twoweeks

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:02 AM (GQ8sn)

101 Goldberg's dictionaries and education are shitty.

"Paranoia" means "beside thinking"--thought that resembles but exceeds logic, deduction (the form of reason) applied to incomplete information.

If you're being lied to, as we almost always are, "paranoia" is eunoia.

Own it, tubby.

Posted by: oblig. at May 15, 2013 08:02 AM (cePv8)

102 that joke is actually from IMAO's twitter, I think. Can't remember.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 08:02 AM (ZPrif)

103 Ace now shaming MSM: "does anyone in the media know that the plainly partisan @MMFA has an attached 501(c)4 "education charity"? Do any care?" I love days like this.

Posted by: USA at May 15, 2013 08:02 AM (VIaw0)

104 That should be on the AOSHQ t-shirt. #twoweeks Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at May 15, 2013 12:00 PM (O6Tmi) But only for the guys.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at May 15, 2013 08:02 AM (da5Wo)

105 Now that you've done that, go check out a holdup in the Bronx, riots in Brooklyn, and a traffic jam from Harlem to Jackson Heights.

And after that, proceed to Idylwild to provide security for arrival of Khrushchev.

Posted by: Otis Criblecoblis at May 15, 2013 08:03 AM (IlZPo)

106 OT - "State Police say the five men and two women are from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, and Â“cited their education and career interestsÂ” for being in the area. The men told police they were chemical engineers and recent college graduates." This makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 08:03 AM (fWAjv)

107 Shit, I gotta follow ace too, that's right...lol @akula_51

Posted by: [/i][/b]akula51 at May 15, 2013 08:03 AM (Vgn84)

108 I always thought paranoia was a low level Noid, kinda like a paralegal.

Posted by: mugiwara at May 15, 2013 08:03 AM (W7ffl)

109 The men told police they were chemical engineers and recent college graduates.

ORLY? Let's see your diplomas.

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:04 AM (GQ8sn)

110 "our brave, and creative, and unique experiment in self-rule is somehow just a sham with which we canÂ’t be trusted."

This sentence struck me immediately as wrong and conflating two opposite ideas. Our self-rule specifically warns us to be suspicious of government, of power, and to rule one's self instead of letting the EPA, WH, IRS, SEC, yada yada, do it.

Is his speechwriter really that stupid, or was this a sleight of rhetorical hand?

Posted by: PJ at May 15, 2013 08:05 AM (ZWaLo)

111 And he thinks paranoia is too strong a word?

Posted by: Mr Pink at May 15, 2013 11:53 AM (ASWbs)

Goldberg isn't saying that "paranoia" is too strong; he's just saying the definition of paranoia is at odds with Cooke's point. Cooke makes the completely true assertion that it is healthy for a society to be suspicious of its government's actions. The definition of "paranoia," however, as Goldberg notes, is, "suspicion and mistrust of people or their actions without evidence or justification."

Well that's just not the case.

As you yourself pointed out, it is not paranoid to accuse the IRS of targeting conservative groups, because THAT'S WHAT THEY DID. And what they're still doing, I'm sure.

The word "paranoid" has negative associations in our culture. Using "paranoid" or "paranoia" to describe a healthy vigilance and distrust of those in power simply morphs into a cultural belief that ANY vigilance or distrust of those in power is a bad thing. That's what we want to avoid.

It's not paranoia when your fears are justified. And the lessons of history will always justify suspicion of the controlling authority. So what can we call it instead of "paranoia?"

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit [/s][/i][/b][/u] at May 15, 2013 08:05 AM (4df7R)

112 Another Gosnell verdict: Life in prison w/o the possibility of parole for murder of Baby A. Gosnell was given "Life", huh?

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 08:05 AM (FcR7P)

113 ummm http://tinyurl.com/bd6xdkw Mass. Police investigate reservoir trespassing State Police spokesman David Procopio says Tuesday night that a trooper saw two cars parked at a reservoir park entrance at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, then saw five young men and two young women walking toward them from the reservoir. Procopio said they are from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Singapore with addresses in Amherst, Cambridge, Sunderland and Northampton, and New York City. He said law enforcement databases show no warrants, detainers or advisories on them. The men told police they are recently graduated chemical engineers curious about the reservoir. curious

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 15, 2013 08:05 AM (XYSwB)

114 It's not paranoia when your fears are justified. And the lessons of history will always justify suspicion of the controlling authority. So what can we call it instead of "paranoia?" Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit at May 15, 2013 12:05 PM (4df7R)

Gingerism

Posted by: Prince George's County SWAT Team[/i][/u][/s][/b] at May 15, 2013 08:06 AM (sbV1u)

115

When you think of the 80,000+ pages of rules and regulations some stooge in the IRS can nail you on just because he feels like it, or the hundreds of thousands of other pages of rules and regulations other agencies have, along with the enforcement powers to crush any American that tries to stand up to them, then yeah, I'm paranoid....

What three government rules have you broken today that they haven't tried to punish you for....yet?

Posted by: Stateless Infidel at May 15, 2013 08:07 AM (AC0lD)

116 ORLY? Let's see your diplomas. Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 12:04 PM (GQ8sn) Left them at their buddy Tspeedbumps apartment. (Boston's drinking water comes from that reservoir.)

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 08:07 AM (fWAjv)

117

Stimulus--crap

Obamacare--crap

Iran--bomby (slightly crazy)

North Korea--bomby (totally batshit)

Benghazi--lies

IRS--lies

AP--lies

Drones--truth

Deficit--I have no words

Jobs--Ditto

Solyndra--fire

Joe Biden--Vice President ofthe Untied States

Chuck Hagel--Secretary of Defense

John Kerry--Carrots

John Brenna--DCI

Janet Napolitano--In your backyard with a parabolic mic and rubber gloves

Now, why on earth would we be paranoid?

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at May 15, 2013 08:07 AM (659DL)

118 Is Jay Carney part Basset Hound?

Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 08:08 AM (wbmaj)

119 Are we out to get you? That depends. Did you vote for Obama? Or did you unpatriotically support the racist Republicans? -The Government

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 08:08 AM (ZPrif)

120 Another Gosnell verdict: Life in prison w/o the possibility of parole for murder of Baby A.

Gosnell was given "Life", huh?

***

Sandra Fluke has reminded us that we need to remember what drove women to Gosnell to begin with. Hint: It's you.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/bv9ynum

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 08:09 AM (Hx5uv)

121 It's not paranoia when your fears are justified. And the lessons of history will always justify suspicion of the controlling authority. So what can we call it instead of "paranoia?"

Skepticism is the most appropriate word, though unfortunately most people don't actually know what the word really means.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at May 15, 2013 08:09 AM (SY2Kh)

122 Is Jay Carney part Basset Hound? Posted by: Fourth Virginia at May 15, 2013 12:08 PM (wbmaj)

No, half-blooded weasel though.

And his father smelt of elderberries.

Posted by: Sean Bannion[/i][/u][/s][/b] at May 15, 2013 08:09 AM (sbV1u)

123

ARTICLE 1

In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his consitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has prevented, obstructed, and impeded the administration of justice, in that:

On June 17, 1972, and prior thereto, agents of the Committee for the Re-election of the President committed unlawful entry of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington, District of Columbia, for the purpose of securing political intelligence. Subsequent thereto, Richard M. Nixon, using the powers of his high office, engaged personally and through his close subordinates and agents, in a course of conduct or plan designed to delay, impede, and obstruct the investigation of such illegal entry; to cover up, conceal and protect those responsible; and to conceal the existence and scope of other unlawful covert activities.

The means used to implement this course of conduct or plan included one or more of the following:

...making or causing to be made false or misleading public statements for the purpose of deceiving the people of the United States into believing that a thorough and complete investigation had been conducted with respect to allegations of misconduct on the part of personnel of the executive branch of the United States and personnel of the Committee for the Re-election of the President, and that there was no involvement of such personnel in such misconduct...

I'm just sayin'. Again.

Posted by: The Regular Guy at May 15, 2013 08:09 AM (qHCyt)

124 107 Now that you've done that, go check out a holdup in the Bronx, riots in Brooklyn, and a traffic jam from Harlem to Jackson Heights. And after that, proceed to Idylwild to provide security for arrival of Khrushchev --- Also, there's a scout troop which is one short. See if the Searchlight Strangler is in town.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at May 15, 2013 08:09 AM (+x8q5)

125 The genie called, said to tell the bottle 'FU, I ain't getting back in!' "Travis Lerol, a 30-year-old former military software engineer in Glen Burnie, Maryland, printed his Liberator within days of its appearing online. Unlike the original printed gun, he says heÂ’s altered his to have a rifled barrel, a move designed to avoid the National Firearms Act, which regulates improvised and altered weapons and has a provision covering Â“smooth-boredÂ” pistols. HeÂ’s also built another version of the barrel for .22 ammunition that uses a metal insert for reinforcement, instead of the entirely-plastic barrel for .380 rounds used in Defense DistributedÂ’s original. And heÂ’s cast versions of the LiberatorÂ’s barrel in epoxy that take .380 and .45 ammunition, a design he argues will be more durable than the pure ABS plastic Defense Distributed tested."

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 08:10 AM (fWAjv)

126

Gee...it's almost like he knew that some big scandals were about to hit...

Scandals that would expose some of his abuses of government power.

Posted by: wheatie at May 15, 2013 08:10 AM (y8LTw)

127 122 Another Gosnell verdict: Life in prison w/o the possibility of parole for murder of Baby A. Gosnell was given "Life", huh? *** Sandra Fluke has reminded us that we need to remember what drove women to Gosnell to begin with. Hint: It's you. http://preview.tinyurl.com/bv9ynum --- I figured that it was the babydaddy who drove women there, not the American people.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at May 15, 2013 08:10 AM (+x8q5)

128 The men told police they are recently graduated chemical engineers curious about the reservoir. Dudes, it's H20. That should have been covered in class.

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 08:10 AM (FcR7P)

129 "Travis Lerol, a 30-year-old former military software engineer in Glen Burnie, Maryland, printed his Liberator within days of its appearing online. Unlike the original printed gun, he says heÂ’s altered his to have a rifled barrel, a move designed to avoid the National Firearms Act, which regulates improvised and altered weapons and has a provision covering Â“smooth-boredÂ” pistols. HeÂ’s also built another version of the barrel for .22 ammunition that uses a metal insert for reinforcement, instead of the entirely-plastic barrel for .380 rounds used in Defense DistributedÂ’s original. And heÂ’s cast versions of the LiberatorÂ’s barrel in epoxy that take .380 and .45 ammunition, a design he argues will be more durable than the pure ABS plastic Defense Distributed tested."

Interesting...

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:11 AM (GQ8sn)

130 Nice Nighthawk. I love PJ O"Roarke.

Posted by: Infidel at May 15, 2013 08:11 AM (gqEUi)

131 test

Posted by: Jones in CO at May 15, 2013 08:11 AM (8sCoq)

132 Skepticism is the most appropriate word, though unfortunately most people don't actually know what the word really means.

Posted by: Hollowpoint at May 15, 2013 12:09 PM (SY2Kh)

The problem with "skepticism" is that its connotations are too light. It doesn't carry the kind of rhetorical weight that "paranoia" carries.

"Pineapple on pizza? I dunno, I'm skeptical."

"Pineapple on pizza? Call me paranoid, but are you trying to poison me or something?

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit [/s][/i][/b][/u] at May 15, 2013 08:12 AM (4df7R)

133 Is it possible to make a 3D printer using a 3D printer?

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:12 AM (GQ8sn)

134

I don't trust the government without any specific justification except their prior actions and the congenital make up of government that makes it not trustworthy.

The government has not done one thing to help me unless in turn it was advantageous to itself.

Posted by: polynikes at May 15, 2013 08:13 AM (m2CN7)

135

113...So what can we call it instead of "paranoia?"

Posted by: MWR

Natural survival instincts.

Posted by: wheatie at May 15, 2013 08:13 AM (y8LTw)

136 Is it possible to make a 3D printer using a 3D printer?

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 12:12 PM (GQ8sn)

It's like an MC Escher sketch...

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit [/s][/i][/b][/u] at May 15, 2013 08:13 AM (4df7R)

137 I don't trust the government without any specific justification except their prior actions and thecongenital make up of government that makes it not trustworthy.

I don't trust the government because it's full of people straight out of Kos, except some of them have a badge and a gun.

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:14 AM (GQ8sn)

138
It's like an MC Escher sketch...

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit at May 15, 2013 12:13 PM (4df7R)

I wonder...

Next up: self-replicating machines.

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:14 AM (GQ8sn)

139 The plastic 3D printers used to print the gun only print -- plastic. Nothing metal or electronic. I prefer the term additive manufacturing. Other 3D printers can print using other materials. But plastic is the dominant form right now.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at May 15, 2013 08:14 AM (ZPrif)

140 Is it possible to make a 3D printer using a 3D printer? The parts that can be cheap plastic, yes.

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 08:15 AM (FcR7P)

141 Doesn't anybody remember that little group of nazi type obama supporters out west that said they would prosecute anybody who tells lies about obama? I think is was some douchenozzle state senator or state prosecutor or some shit with her merry little band of nazis. This was the first time around in '08. I think they were from Missouri or some shit, they threatened prosecution for any lies (meaning truth)told against their man child.

That was ALL I needed to see to know we were in deep shit with this fucking prick.

Posted by: Berserker at May 15, 2013 08:16 AM (FMbng)

142 According to MM Action Network (from the bottom of its talking point page on DOJ): "We develop messaging by aggregating, analyzing and distilling polling, tested messaging, and expert recommendations, and monitoring the media to identify what is and isn't working. If that isn't 21st century political spadework, I don't know what is.

Posted by: USA at May 15, 2013 08:16 AM (VIaw0)

143 An analogy to the current administration. We're the chickens. Obama's Colonel Sanders.

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 08:16 AM (Hx5uv)

144 Next up: self-replicating machines. Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 12:14 PM (GQ8sn) xkcd lends us this warning regarding the proliferation of 3D printers.. http://tinyurl.com/6jdfh9q (SFW - xkcd comic)

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 08:17 AM (fWAjv)

145 143 Doesn't anybody remember that little group of nazi type obama supporters out west that said they would prosecute anybody who tells lies about obama? I think is was some douchenozzle state senator or state prosecutor or some shit with her merry little band of nazis. This was the first time around in '08. I think they were from Missouri or some shit, they threatened prosecution for any lies (meaning truth)told against their man child. That was ALL I needed to see to know we were in deep shit with this fucking prick. --- Correct, that was a bunch of Dem state and county level officials in Missouri.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at May 15, 2013 08:17 AM (+x8q5)

146 You're all being reported to the Fight the Smear website.

Posted by: Lauren at May 15, 2013 08:17 AM (wsGWu)

147 "Unfortunately, youÂ’ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government....." So "unfortunate" that some of these students may have stumbled upon the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers. Yep. Fits right in with his comments about our Constitution "unfortunately" impeding the "rights" he wants imposed. Fits right in with his blather at UN about how we "unfortunately" have freedom of speech in this country.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 15, 2013 08:17 AM (C8mVl)

148
xkcd lends us this warning regarding the proliferation of 3D printers..

http://tinyurl.com/6jdfh9q

(SFW - xkcd comic)

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 12:17 PM (fWAjv)

I give it...

#twoweeks

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:18 AM (GQ8sn)

149

Caution. ...Apprehension, in the face of danger.

These are normal, rational reactions to a harmful situation.

Barky was trying to get ahead of the scandals that were about to hit.

He was telling these kids...

"You should have no rational fear of my abuses of power. Instead, you should suspend all normal survival instincts and love me irrationally...because I'm cool."

Posted by: wheatie at May 15, 2013 08:18 AM (y8LTw)

150 Barky was trying to get ahead of the scandals that were about to hit.
He was telling these kids...

"You should have no rational fear of my abuses of power. Instead, you should suspend all normal survival instincts and love me irrationally...because I'm cool."

Not 5 years ago, they were being told just the opposite.

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:19 AM (GQ8sn)

151 That was ALL I needed to see to know we were in deep shit with this fucking prick. Posted by: Berserker at May 15, 2013 12:16 PM (FMbng) The TFG Truth Teams/Squads?

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 08:19 AM (fWAjv)

152 Obama should be impeached and removed immediately. This stains the White House and that is unacceptable.

Posted by: Jmel at May 15, 2013 08:20 AM (t1oUn)

153 DISTRUST.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 15, 2013 08:20 AM (C8mVl)

154 Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 12:18 PM (GQ8sn) What's the #twoweeks meme? How long Carney has? Or is it trending on twitter?

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 08:20 AM (fWAjv)

155 Unfortunately, youÂ’ve grown up hearing voices that incessantly warn of government... Uh-oh, looks like another audit for Rush Limbaugh...

Posted by: t-bird at May 15, 2013 08:21 AM (FcR7P)

156 Correct, that was a bunch of Dem state and county level officials in Missouri.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at May 15, 2013 12:17 PM

yeah ok, I thought I had the right state, because I remember thinking about how long it would be before their decomposing bodies were hanging from the arch.

Posted by: Berserker at May 15, 2013 08:21 AM (FMbng)

157

OT. Maybe why I'm home hibernating today. BFF has dr. appt with BF in 2 hours to find out what kind of cancer BF has. Not going to be good. Weeks or less than months is expected.

Could explain my terribly foul mood. Not looking for sympathy, just venting.

Sympathy comes between shit and syphillis in the dictionary.

Posted by: Infidel at May 15, 2013 08:22 AM (gqEUi)

158 More election post mortem: Top Romney Strategist: 'High Percentage of People' 'Thought Romney Was A Catholic Against Contraception'

Geez, if you're going to hate people because of their religion, at least get the religion right.

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 08:22 AM (Hx5uv)

159

I wonder if Stevens should have been a little paranoid about his government.

'No way they would let these terrorists kill me and and burn down our consulate without any attempted response. That's just paranoia talking. '

Posted by: polynikes at May 15, 2013 08:22 AM (m2CN7)

160

What we really need to do is stop using negative terms to describe our feelings toward the government. The government works for us, allegedly. That means suspicion and menace and, yes, paranoia, is experienced by the government and those in power, NOT us. What we define as "suspicion of the government" isn't suspicion -- it's oversight. What we define as "distrust" of the government isn't distrust -- it's an exercise in proper stewardship of the rule of law.

WE are not the ones experiencing negative emotions. What we feel and do are what WE ARE SUPPOSED TO FEEL AND DO. Everything comes back to language; absolutely everything. I'm not going to keep saying I'm suspicious of the government's motives for this or that; I'm going to start saying I'm exercising my right as an employer to review my employees' work product. And they can kiss my ass if they have a problem with that. I'm not the one in the wrong.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorirst) Party Hobbit [/s][/i][/b][/u] at May 15, 2013 08:22 AM (4df7R)

161 Could explain my terribly foul mood. Not looking for sympathy, just venting. Sympathy comes between shit and syphillis in the dictionary. Posted by: Infidel at May 15, 2013 12:22 PM (gqEUi) You're getting prayers like it or not. So sorry to hear.

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 08:23 AM (fWAjv)

162 In nature, paranoia is what keeps some critter from becoming another critter's lunch.

Being strong just means you probably win a fight, but may come away bloodied.

Being strong and paranoid means you probably don't even get into that fight.

Fair fights are what prey demand. Slam dunks are what predators demand.

Posted by: @PurpAv at May 15, 2013 08:24 AM (/gHaE)

163 I don't trust the government because it's full of people straight out of Kos, except some of them have a badge and a gun.

Posted by: EC

***

+100

Posted by: Tilikum The Killer Assault Whale at May 15, 2013 08:24 AM (uhftQ)

164 It's not an Obama scandal though. The IRS is a rogue agency that, now, picks who gets to have a public voice. Even Axelrod is saying that Obama isn't in charge. Impeaching Obama is like impeaching one of those old fainÃ©ant kings of France. The IRS will just cover for the next Meroving child candidate.

Posted by: boulder toilet hobo at May 15, 2013 08:24 AM (fx7EL)

165 The TFG Truth Teams/Squads?

Posted by: RWC at May 15, 2013 12:19 PM

Yup, that was them. Kinda like the saudi police of virtue.

Posted by: Berserker at May 15, 2013 08:24 AM (FMbng)

166 Obama should be impeached and removed immediately. This stains the White House and that is unacceptable.

Posted by: Jmel at May 15, 2013 12:20 PM (t1oUn)

Heheh...you said "staind" the White house.

Posted by: Slick Willy at May 15, 2013 08:26 AM (jvd3N)

167 OT: I guess Rod Stewart couldn't stand having Angelina Jolie getting all the press. From Drudge, Steroids shrunk his Charles Johnson.

Posted by: WalrusRex at May 15, 2013 08:26 AM (Hx5uv)

168 If "paranoia" is defined as "irrational fear," then what term would best define "rational fear?"

How about...just FEAR?

As in "I love my country, but I fear my government."

Posted by: Paladin at May 15, 2013 08:29 AM (E1aoU)

169

Thx RWC.

The day in politics isn't helping either. Maybe should go work in the garden.

Posted by: Infidel at May 15, 2013 08:29 AM (gqEUi)

170 OT me-too edition:

Excel question again.

How do I write the visual basic code that tells Excel to go to the very first worksheet without using the specific name? Typically, the first worksheet is called "Sheet1", but I want to tell Excel not to pay attention to the name but just select the first worksheet in the list of tabs without regard to the name.

Thanks!

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:29 AM (GQ8sn)

171 Nice Nighthawk. I love PJ O"Roarke.

Posted by: Infidel at May 15, 2013 12:11 PM (gqEUi)
=======

That one of his is one of my favorites:

"ThereÂ’s nothing the matter with honest money-making. Wealth is not a pizza where if I have too many slices you have to eat the DominoÂ’s box. In a free society, with the rule of law and property rights, no one loses when someone else gets rich."

Pretty much dis-assembles the entire TFG campaign in 3 sentences.

Posted by: Nighthawk at May 15, 2013 08:29 AM (OtQXp)

172 If "paranoia" is defined as "irrational fear," then what term would best define "rational fear?"

How about...just FEAR?

As in "I love my country, but I fear my government."

http://thesaurus.com/browse/suspicion?s=t

Lots of good choices.

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 08:30 AM (GQ8sn)

173 It's not an Obama scandal though. The IRS is a rogue agency that, now, picks who gets to have a public voice. Even Axelrod is saying that Obama isn't in charge.

We don't know.

It could be that a partisan actor in the IRS did this on their own. It's not at all unlikely.

It could be that Obama (via a staffer or appointee) gave a wink-wink nudge-nudge suggestion along the lines of "Someone should take a closer look at these groups and who is financing them".

If the latter, it's unlikely that anyone will step forward to pin it on Obama. I doubt there exists an e-mail or memo directly from the White House explicitly telling the IRS to target conservative group.

Now, if someone ends up facing jail time- all bets are off. Would they fall on their sword or not?

Posted by: Hollowpoint at May 15, 2013 08:32 AM (SY2Kh)

174

In case you didn't see Hannity last night...

There were Democrat Senators, such as Shummer and Al Franken, who wrote letters to the IRS, demanding that they do this to the Tea Party groups.

Yes...demanding.

They were basically saying to the IRS, that these Tea Party groups "must be stopped!"

Posted by: wheatie at May 15, 2013 08:32 AM (y8LTw)

175

They were basically saying to the IRS, that these Tea Party groups "must be stopped!"

Wait, what? Really? Do they have the actual letters with signatures?

Posted by: Infidel at May 15, 2013 08:35 AM (gqEUi)

176 Charles C.W. Cooke is absolutely brilliant. Those last four paragraphs should be enshrined in some hall of fame.

Rand Paul should be polishing his sword right about now. I look forward to how he addresses these scandals.

Posted by: frode at May 15, 2013 08:36 AM (8z3Pa)

177 There were Democrat Senators, such as Shummer and Al Franken, who wrote letters to the IRS, demanding that they do this to the Tea Party groups. Yes...demanding. They were basically saying to the IRS, that these Tea Party groups "must be stopped! ***** Baucus did the same.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at May 15, 2013 08:36 AM (piMMO)

178 #175, I am willing to believe these IRS Gefreiters were perfectly willing to do this without direction from higher ups. They knew what The Leader wanted them to do without being told, and what leftist lets the law stand in the way of "doing the right thing?"

Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at May 15, 2013 08:37 AM (Q9qpj)

179

177...Wait, what? Really? Do they have the actual letters with signatures?

Karl Rove was holding up copies of the letters.

[Yeah, I know...I don't like him either. But still...]

There are about 7 senators...all Dems...who wrote letters to the IRS, demanding that they do this to the Tea Party people..

Posted by: wheatie at May 15, 2013 08:39 AM (y8LTw)

180

They were basically saying to the IRS, that these Tea Party groups "must be stopped!"
Wait, what? Really? Do they have the actual letters with signatures?

***

Saw the letter. It is implied that they wanted them harrased.

Gateway pundit had the copy.

Posted by: Tilikum The Killer Assault Whale at May 15, 2013 08:41 AM (uhftQ)

181 There are about 7 senators...all Dems...who wrote letters to the IRS, demanding that they do this to the Tea Party people..
Posted by: wheatie at May 15, 2013 12:39 PM

Then they are the ones that need to be in jail.

Posted by: Berserker at May 15, 2013 08:42 AM (FMbng)

182 Here's the DC article about Baucus and the IRS: http://t.co/j2G3D420Rd

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at May 15, 2013 08:48 AM (piMMO)

183 Karl Rove was holding up copies of the letters. [Yeah, I know...I don't like him either. But still...] There are about 7 senators...all Dems...who wrote letters to the IRS, demanding that they do this to the Tea Party people.. *** this is the kind of stuff he needs to stick with, not telling us who to vote for.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at May 15, 2013 08:49 AM (piMMO)

184 183 Then they are the ones that need to be in jail. Unfortunately, Senate. See: Reid, Harry.

Posted by: [/i][/b]akula51 at May 15, 2013 08:49 AM (Vgn84)

185 new IRS post up

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at May 15, 2013 08:49 AM (piMMO)

186 hmm, feels like we are having a "national conversation". Well, Obama does like the spotlight.

Posted by: gracepmc at May 15, 2013 08:53 AM (rznx3)

187 How do I write the visual basic code that tells Excel to go to the very first worksheet without using the specific name?

I'm neither an Excel or VB expert, but this MSDN help looks promising as a starting poing

http://tinyurl.com/ae9j8q9

The code samples deal with the active sheet. Maybe its as simple as Setting Workbook.ActiveSheet to zero or one

Posted by: @PurpAv at May 15, 2013 08:54 AM (/gHaE)

188 I am willing to believe these IRS Gefreiters were perfectly willing to do this without direction from higher ups.

Examples must be made. Pikes adorned with heads, retirements revoked, prison sentences applied.

If the employees don't understand where the boundaries are, then mark them with fucking corpses.

Posted by: @PurpAv at May 15, 2013 08:57 AM (/gHaE)

189 Thanks purp! I'll check it out.

Posted by: EC at May 15, 2013 09:02 AM (GQ8sn)

190 Ref: Rand Paul, Michelle Malkin apparently got a memo from somewhere*, because she's trying to hang Adam Kokesh around Senator Paul's neck.

*Probably some fixers acting on behalf of Chris "Only Half the RINO He Used to Be" KrispyKreme.

Posted by: Ken at May 15, 2013 09:14 AM (fFh95)

191 Keep in mind that "A cynic is a sceptic armed with facts." The founders who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were cynics when it came to government. Since then our universities have gradually become staffed by those educated beyond their level of intelligence and have been filling the students with their b.s. The students today know absolutely nothing about the ideas that formed this country.

Posted by: Rich at May 15, 2013 09:37 AM (vm0dY)

192 I know it's already illegal to suborn perjury, but is it illegal to suborn stupidity? Because I'm thinking that oughtta lead off the articles of impeachment.

Posted by: Aloha Akhbar @PirateBallerina at May 15, 2013 10:20 AM (/lWM8)

Hide Comments | Add Comment | Refresh | Top

Comments are disabled. Post is locked.

175kb generated in CPU 0.0572, elapsed 0.2696 seconds.
64 queries taking 0.2334 seconds, 320 records returned.
Powered by Minx 1.1.6c-pink.