Assholishly Provocative (And Superiority-Signalling) Thought of the Day

A Question I Find Interesting: How Much of "Thought" Is Intellectuated, and How Much Is Merely Socialized?

That is to say, how much thought is the result of someone's own private research (in terms of reading) and thinking about that reading, and how much is actually just social/cultural acquiescence, in much the same way that a guy who moves to Texas picks up a Texan accent and appreciation for Texan BBQ?

Obviously both are always at play, but I think "philosophy and belief and thought" tends to be much more of a social construct than is widely acknowledged. After all, the paradigmatic ideal of "thought" is one man or woman pondering on his or her own at his or her desk; there is feeling of corruption or "cheating" if there is any admission that something as important as thought and belief is largely a product of socialization and group accommodation. But the fact that the reality strays so far from the idea ought not blind a truly thinking person from wondering precisely how much he's actually "thought" and how much he's actually simply accepted the group's "thinking" (to the extent group thinking is thinking at all).

This occurred to me recently when I checked Twitter for the first time in a while and saw that #NeverTrump was more than the dominant group norm -- it was the enforced group norm, with a cadre of Orthodoxy Defenders who responded to any questioning of it with the typical (dumb) means of Group Opinion Enforcement -- lame insults, drive-by demurrals, etc.

Not to say that all objections were in that category -- several people responded to my provocation with questions and challenges that warranted (and actually invited) responses, and I responded.

But much of the "response" was just the typical Twitter ideological enforcement thug crap -- dogpile dogshit.

I had an odd image. I'm not quite sure how the brain functions, but I do think that when the brain becomes urgently determined on a particular action or impulse, the neurons all tend to fire in that direction, and re-align any non-conforming neurons to similarly fire in that vector.

For example, if you stumble across a menacing figure in a dark and lonely alley, a great many of your neurons are going to be firing in the Get the hell out of here direction. While you may have other stray thoughts -- "I shouldn't judge a book by its cover," "Maybe this is my chance to discover if I am a natural, intuitive expert at karate" -- those will soon be overwhelmed by the rush of neurons singing the the Let's get out of here song.

Anyway, I had this image that Twitter -- or "social" media generally, or even more generally, mob psychology itself -- is essentially a very large ersatz hive-brain in which each speaker -- each mob unit -- participates as a neuron. Different neurons have different inclinations -- some neurons want to discuss things, some neurons remain quiet, taking in information from neurons firing around them.

But a lot of neurons are Ringleader Neurons and are fixated on the idea of beginning a Neuron Stampede in their preferred direction. (Or, because much thought is socialized -- in the direction they've been socialized by other neurons to believe is preferred.)

This is why I fucking hate Twitter, and why I hate blog comments when they mimic this We must shout down and silence all dissenting neurons.

The point of my provocation wasn't actually to be #ProTrump, though, in a contest with Hillary, I am in fact #ProTrump.

I know, for example, Moxie Mom, who I respect immensely, is #NeverTrump (or at least swings that way). I have no problem with a thinking being coming down on that side of the question.

My problem is more meta -- my problem is with the non-thinking beings.

My problem is with the people who seem to think that Thinking Can Only Damage the Righeousness and Morale of Our Cause, and seek to bully -- or at least ridiculize -- discordant voices (neurons firing in stubborny contrary manners) and either marginalize them and deligitimize them or apply social pressure to re-align them to fire in a more socially acceptable direction.

As I've observed a thousand times: Mankind is a social animal, with a deep-seeded desire to get along with his pack (or herd).

Thus, social pressures -- bullying, ridiculizing, stripping people of their respectability, claims of disloyalty, etc. -- are very effective in swaying human thought.

They ought not be, but they are.

The intellectual tradition, as I understand it anyway, is an attempt to set aside such mammalian group pressure tactics as a legitimate method of persuasion or conformization.

The intellectual tradition deems such tactics to be anti-intellectual, crude, animalistic, and -- if i can use this word -- rather gross.

The intellectual tradition champions the idea that only intellectual means -- facts, evidence, persuasions that appeal to the mind rather than the social-conformization centers of the brain -- will be used to sway opinion.

Now I'm not stupid. I realize that in terms of effectiveness, the herd-persuasion/tribal loyalty appeals are about, I don't know, twenty or thirty times more effective than the according-to-Hoyle intellectual means.

Nevertheless, I tend to become unreasonably angry when I see them at play, and especially when I see them in a position of dominance, where people are barely even pretending to be even playing on the intellectual-persuasion field at all.

As I've mentioned a thousand time, though I am (I think) naturally more inclined to the liberal side of things on many issues, I am so antagonistic to the group-think/social-pressure/tribal-loyalty signalling side of things that I broke angrily from not only that style of liberalism (which is really leftistm/progressivism) but liberalism itself, tossing out the baby with the befouled bathwater, out of pure pique.

Eh, I'm an asshole. What can I say. Assholes are eagerly on the hunt for any opportunity to tell other people "You're being assholes."

This is not any particular problem of the #NeverTrumper movement. They have no particular succeptibility to it. Indeed, the ProTrump forces were -- often are -- pretty egregious in attempting to use such "Let's Make This Viral"/astroturfing/artificial conformity creation techniques.

They drove me mad in these own comments for a while, to the point where I just began banning people by the score.

Make any argument you like, my motto goes, but I must insist it actually be an argument, and not simply an attempt to bully someone into silence or coerced agreement by heaping abuse and denigration on them.

But as I say, this is not particularly a Trump thing, or a NeveTrump thing.

It is a human thing, because human beings are in fact pack animals, social animals, to whom in-group peace is important, as is in-group respectability, as is loyalty to the group.

Humans are simultaneously animals who respond -- despite themselves -- to social pressure and dominance displays by, um, Bull Twitter Males and Comments Area Alpha Wolves, and also rational beings. The animal part, I think, exceeds the rational part (which Enlightenment deists might call the divine part) by at least an order of magnitude.

And that's okay. We are what we are. We shouldn't hate ourselves for being as the Lord made us.

Nevertheless, as with anything, it strikes me that we have our better selves and our worse selves, and while no one should curse his creation for having a worse self, one should strive to be one's better self, at least most of the time.

Every human being is more reasonable, civil, moral, virtuous, and intelligent in a one-on-one discussion than he is when he is speaking -- or howling -- as part of the pack. When one deems oneself to be speaking -- howling, hooting -- for the Pack, one not only begins resorting to more animalistic expressions (words become quite secondary to the emotional charge those words act as the mere carrier signal for) but one also begins justifying behavior one would never justify on one's own behalf.

That is, when you're acting to defend the privileges and rights of the group, one quickly finds oneself succumbing to Ends Justify the Means thinking -- I am not acting out of a selfish desire to champion myself, but out of an altruistic desire to champion a large group of beings who I am, at least temporarily, the advocate of.

Incivil behavior and anti-intellectual howls become not merely allowable, but nigh imperative -- after all, the pack is counting on you to vindicate them.

Were you just speaking for yourself, you wouldn't feel that sort of obligation to be cruel on behalf of the group, that license for incivility and, frankly, stupidity.

It is the imperative of defending the pack that justifies that.

Add into this the fact that 90% of political "communication" in the Age of Twitter is not chiefly expressive but instead chiefly performative.

It grows very hard to distinguish the things people really believe when they say them, and the things they merely say to declare loyalty to the pack.

And there's also a healthy mix of the Self Brag included in any expression. (N.B.: Including the post you are currently reading.) Just as there's always been that old question -- when you shout your devotion to God, are you really seeking to increase God's glory, or your own? (for, after all, who but a Good and Righteous Man would shout the glories of God so loudly?) -- there is a healthy amount of self-tribute going on in most political chatter.

Is the man raging about Principles really talking about those principles, or is his major goal in talking about principles to convince the hearer that he is the sort of man deeply interested in Principles?

There's really no one who is ever completely talking about principles, nor completely aggrandizing himself -- there's always a mix of things going on. I think that most people reading this right now can agree that Anti-Semitism is the Socialism of Fools. (And we can probably agree with William F. Buckle's (IIRC) caveat to that claim - while Anti-Semitism is the Socialism of Fools, Socialism is also the Socialism of Fools.)

And that's certainly a true thing (I think). And when I say that, I mean it.

But I also can't help but mean something else when I say it: People who disagree with this are fools, and I'm smarter than any idiot currently disagreeing.

So there's a mix of things going on in any political utterance, both a declaration of the sacredness of principles, and implicitly -- unavoidably -- a very strong suggestion about the sacredness of the being so unselfish as to declare his devotion to principles.

But I think that, while conceding that self-aggrandizement is an unavoidable (and desirable, to be honest) part of any aggrandizement of some larger purpose, people really ought to at least keep it covert and subliminal, to the extent possible.

It should not become so obnoxious and overt that the subtext of "I'm better" becomes the main text.

As Adam Carolla observed, it's like many have collectively decided that we no longer need to be particularly subtle in our self-promotion and that it's now just "Game On for Narcissists."

Anyway, to sum up:

1. Social media is anti-social media. It's a medium of "sick burns" and dogpiling and narcissistic performance art. The smartest person in the world -- such as, if I'm being honest, myself -- becomes orders of magnitude more stupid when "debating" on social media.

It ought to be limited.

I think I had a pretty good discussion with Ben Shapiro. Because it didn't happen on social media; we weren't playing to similarly-minded thugs on the playground.

Well, we probably both were -- but the people we were playing to, or the parts of those people we were playing to, were reasonable people, or their reasonable sides -- we were exhibiting our reasonableness and civility and ergo parading our virtue.

But I would say that it's no terrible thing to parade civility and reasonableness around like virtues from time to time.

2. People telling other people to shut up, or people attempting to humiliate people into silence, should be told to shut up, and should be themselves humiliated into silence, so the rest of us can have an actual exchange of ideas without their mouth-breathing poop-flinging chest-beating Dominance Displays.

3. No one should forget that everyone is human. We should recognize our own human vanities and cruelties in ourselves, and we should recognize the human capacity to be hurt or to be made to feel excluded in others.

4. People need to think more and take longer to respond. They should react less, and react less quickly. #HotTakes are for the stupid and insecure. #CoolTakes are better.

5. People need to stop signalling which tribe they belong to. By this point, with everyone babbling, hooting, and howling online for years and years and years, we all know damn well which tribes we align with. There's really no need to further advertise one's tribal loyalty. It's as obvious as someone's height and weight.

6. People knock contrarianism too damn much. Contrarianism, sure, is often lodged as a performative, look-at-me thing. (For example -- Look at Me Now!!!!)

But without contrarians, you get smug conformity, and worse yet, smug conformity enforcement officers.

The moment you have something resembling a Received Wisdom, you will have self-appointed Inquisitors sniffing out any heretical rejection of that Received Wisdom. (I'm a believer in Jung's archetypes -- I think this archetype, the Priest archetype, will always exist, particularly in politics, which is just Religion By Other Means.)

People should be more contrarian just to make sure the conformity being created is being created honestly -- with all of the demerits of that conformity examined and acknowledged -- and especially to prevent the odious rise of the conformity enforcement officers, a group of intellectually useless people involved in the creation of zero ideas but the suppression of quite a number of them.

7. Anything worth saying is worth spending more than 140 characters on saying. If you find your contribution to the public debate seems to occur in 140 character bursts, you might want to consider starting a blog, where you can post more thought-out essays, or you might want to consider shutting the fuck up.

For the good of all.

Posted by: Ace at 03:37 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 So how was the movie?

Posted by: johnd01 at May 31, 2016 03:35 PM (ukNFU)

2 First?

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at May 31, 2016 03:35 PM (KUaJL)

3 my thoughts are often vsl u rite ized

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at May 31, 2016 03:35 PM (6Ll1u)

4 Rats. Guess I better read the content now.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at May 31, 2016 03:35 PM (KUaJL)

5 And Trump is Parsifal.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:36 PM (D46NL)

6 My word...

Posted by: IC at May 31, 2016 03:36 PM (a0IVu)

7 More than 140 characters, sure.

But maybe less than 14.184 characters to basically announce to the world that you've passed freshman psychology and you know other people's True Thoughts better than they do, also.

Posted by: Jeff B. at May 31, 2016 03:37 PM (ewYO6)

8 Love me some long-form Ace!

Hope this one has dragons!

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 31, 2016 03:37 PM (jjaLl)

9 Oh, I was wondering why the new post was taking so long. Another novella.

Posted by: Brian in New Orleans at May 31, 2016 03:38 PM (UBzPO)

10 Dragons? As in Tiamet?

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:38 PM (D46NL)

11 This post needs an intermission.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 03:39 PM (gmeXX)

12 So is this movie worth watching?

Posted by: Drill at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (QCntX)

13 Damn, Ace, there's room to maneuver between "140 characters" and "Ace movie review-length". You had me at 1/3rd the word count. (Psst: William F. Buckle?)

Posted by: Lurker at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (aKTT6)

14 I never joined Twitter in the first place. Saved me a ton of time and typing, and I didn't have to write the above blog post, either.

Posted by: West at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (1Rgee)

15
So, asking questions about asking questions that questionably do or do not postulate a question.

Needs either more, or less, bong water...

Posted by: In Vino Veritits at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (QYg0L)

16 Wow. A whole lotta words. I'll just go with whatever the group thinks about whatever Mr. O'Spades has typed there. That's what I think.

Posted by: Suppressed Flasher at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (X+nFp)

17 Despite the review, I fully intend to watch Assholeishly Provocative when it comes to my local theater.

Posted by: DJ Jazzy Mel at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (22uju)

18 I feel like I just drank a BigGulp.

Posted by: the littl shyning man at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (5zFL/)

19 The trick here is in the definitions.

How Much of "Thought" Is Intellectuated, and How Much Is Merely Socialized?

It ain't thought if its being aped for social reasons.

Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (JTwsP)

20 Post, vol. I.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (oKE6c)

21 There is a reason that I enjoy the Ace of Spades podcast, and its not because of slick production values.

Interesting back and forth approaches to the topic, including admission of potential self-bias or error.

Posted by: Sexypig at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (UBBWX)

22 Ace - I'll agree with you on this. I enjoyed the Shapiro podcast. I've actually never heard Shapiro much before, but his thoughts were similar to mine, but much better articulated. And I thought it was a good back and forth.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (gmeXX)

23 "That is to say, how much thought is the result of someone's own private
research (in terms of reading) and thinking about that reading, and how
much is actually just social/cultural acquiescence"

Too much, that's for sure.

I would say a good 90% of the time I have a friendly debate, the person has barely spent 5 minutes researching the matter and is astonished when real facts are thrown at them as them.

I would think if I was REALLY invested in an idea, I would have some well thought out reasons "ready to go" when it was challenged, but this new age has instead put all the energy to shouting down heretics, so that's usually where things go.

Posted by: Buffalo at May 31, 2016 03:40 PM (x1FYm)

24 They are literally so stupid I might join the Democrats just to get crumbs Ace...

even as I type this some Chris Loesch is arguing that Beck and Thor have advocated openly for Obama's impeachment...

WHICH NEVER HAPPENED...

Here's a search on Thor.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=brad+thor+says+obama+should+be+impeached

I can't find it...lots of mockery of Obama's idiocy but no "will no one remove this bothersome priest"

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 03:41 PM (g8Hfr)

25 Shorter version - "Don't be like Hans, marching in lock-step and thinking in lock-step. Think!"

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:41 PM (D46NL)

26 Bad, bad movie!

Posted by: ManWithNoParty, unperson from Free Market Jesus Paradise at May 31, 2016 03:41 PM (EbWwy)

27 #NeverTrump ers are like leukocytes swarming a phage.

Posted by: furious at May 31, 2016 03:41 PM (8lw4l)

28 I simply Rage Against The Machine.

...because there is a Machine.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 03:41 PM (OQ9R7)

29 It is a human thing, because human beings are in fact pack
animals, social animals, to whom in-group peace is important, as is
in-group respectability, as is loyalty to the group.

People these days are really less pack animals and more herd animals. There is a difference.

Posted by: huerfano at May 31, 2016 03:41 PM (NSb9d)

30 But what about the volcano?

Posted by: rd at May 31, 2016 03:42 PM (v0YLX)

31 this election is making people angry....the last election made people angry.....all elections after this election....just like every election before the last one.....have made people angry.....the key is to not go bat shit crazy with the anger.....sadly......many good people....have gone bat shit crazy....and many not so good people that i thought were on our side.....showed their true colors in this election season......i have chosen to not go #nevertrump.....i haven't decided to go all in for trump either.....i'm waiting until the election to cast my vote.....i don't think trump is evil or stupid....i don't think he's perfect or conservative....i do think that up to this point.....he's better than hillary.....and until he shows me he's not.....he'll probably end up with my vote.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 03:42 PM (0O7c5)

32 that is a lot of writing...

it's a lot of thought writing...

hmmmm....

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at May 31, 2016 03:42 PM (WTSFk)

33 Good read and I agree about the herd/pack mentality
I hate large groups who just won't let go
Btw....go BEARS!!!

Posted by: Navycopjoe at May 31, 2016 03:42 PM (VbdIm)

34 I give it a thumbs up

Posted by: Comment McCommentface at May 31, 2016 03:42 PM (zv81W)

35 but THEY MUST DESTROY TRUMP HIS SUPPORTERS TO PROTECT THE DECORUM!!!!

While they're on a full blown BDS style spergout

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:43 PM (SyKbw)

36 This twitter business seems to be a devil of a thing. You read some gibberish that makes you steaming mad and you want to respond in kind - Now. Not tomorrow. Not on a blog where your nemesis might not even see your well thought out words. It is a real snake pit to get into, so I won't.

Posted by: washrivergal at May 31, 2016 03:43 PM (CFc5L)

37 thought writing is more asking of...

Posted by: musical jolly chimp at May 31, 2016 03:43 PM (WTSFk)

38 "And now an election night update: although Donald Trump has refused to conceded, claiming that several states are still too close to call, President-Elect Hillary Clinton has profusely thanked those conservatives of the' NeverTrump' movement who helped her to reach this historic moment. In response to a question about the possibility of making P J O'Rourke the Administration's official humorist, Mrs Clinton loudly cackled."

Posted by: mallflower at May 31, 2016 03:43 PM (qSIlh)

39 What he said, but twice as much!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 03:43 PM (wYnyS)

40 25 Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:41 PM (D46NL)

We will be lockstep in NEVER being lockstep...

//Ewoks at a campfire

No seriously this is a good post.

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 03:43 PM (g8Hfr)

41 P.S. Anyone who is actually aware has spent at least some time questioning their true degree of awareness. The trick is sorting out that sort to make pals with versus the ones who go through life on autopilot operating on feelz.

But there are never enough of the former, it seems.

Posted by: West at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (1Rgee)

42 NavyCopJoe, don't you have a dog to shoot? Or some hick tourist who needs to be fleeced on the way to Waikiki???

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (D46NL)

43 -Posted by: Navycopjoe at May 31, 2016 03:42 PM (VbdIm)

*HAH!*

Dude didn't even say "Cubs". I love this guy.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (OQ9R7)

44
LAGNAF...

Posted by: In Vino Veritits at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (QYg0L)

45 this election is making people angry....the last election made people angry

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

As government grows or appears to grow and becomes more intrusive, elections become more and more important ... thus the make us angrier and angrier

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (gmeXX)

46 My husband and I have both changed positions on some issues due to each other (he's become much more pro-life , I've become more tolerant of gays.) It's interesting because he initially couldn't see himself as pro-life because he thought of himself as a moderate, and he thought being a moderate *meant* he couldn't be pro-life. I think of myself as being very conservative, I thought being conservative sort of meant being anti-gay. As we've talked about the issues, by ourselves, we've talked about our positions because we honestly wanted to know what the other thought. I don't think we could have had our minds changed by a third party or by "arguments" in any sort of media, I would have dismissed the same rational if it was anybody but him.

Posted by: MaureenTheTemp at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (ePcUK)

47 So, should I see this movie or not?

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 03:45 PM (oiNtH)

48 Pravda Sven.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:45 PM (D46NL)

49 42 nah
I'm sitting here trying to figure out why I'm not golfing
And wondering what the hell the spawn is doing

Posted by: Navycopjoe at May 31, 2016 03:45 PM (VbdIm)

50 46 Posted by: MaureenTheTemp at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (ePcUK)

It's called "growth" and I am glad you have a partner to do so with.

I am not the person I was when I was 12, the problem with social media is the pressure to be unbending.

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 03:45 PM (g8Hfr)

51 As government grows or appears to grow and becomes
more intrusive, elections become more and more important ... thus the
make us angrier and angrier

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 03:44 PM (gmeXX)
yes, they do....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 03:46 PM (0O7c5)

52 43. I'm waiting for the all-star break
Then it's on!!!!

Posted by: Navycopjoe at May 31, 2016 03:46 PM (VbdIm)

53 People don't want to think, they just want to be right, or perceived as being right.

Posted by: brak at May 31, 2016 03:46 PM (MJuTN)

54 That post tends to also explain Justin Bieber.

Posted by: Roy at May 31, 2016 03:46 PM (VndSC)

55 how long till we get a movie about killing Trump?

$10 says some right winger will be behind the flick

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:47 PM (SyKbw)

56 A very insightful post, Ace,

I think Twain said something like the intelligence of a "mob" is roughly that of the intelligence of the dumbest member of the "mob" divided by the number of people in the "mob". Seems to capture Twitter (and many political discussions) perfectly!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 03:47 PM (wYnyS)

57 The name of the movie ace is reviewing here is . . .

"I Stink, Therefore I Am".

Posted by: Think About It at May 31, 2016 03:47 PM (CS7jF)

58 The big money's in conflict, apparently.

Posted by: moviegique at May 31, 2016 03:47 PM (7zeA4)

59 Great post. I think most "Thought" is just after the fact rationalization.

Most of the stuff I see from the nevertrump side seems to be simply disdain for Trump, with a shoring up of ideological reasons. However, these ideological reasons then clash with their willingness to see Hillary elected and cause logical dissonance by that reasoning.

The thing is, their prime motivator is not logic. They are not setting out and saying as their motive: these things must not happen. They are stating as the argument: THIS MAN must not happen. The ideological arguments and reasons are just seasoning for the stew. The meat of it is that they dislike and a viscerally turned off by Trump. I can understand this, I had the same reaction to Clinton. However, they are disingenuous when they make policy arguments as him being worse than Hillary, I think.

Now this is not true for all of them, but certainly the ones who are pro Hillary over Trump seem to heel to this particular line of thought.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 03:47 PM (3ZoRf)

60 Wear a crescent moon on June 2 if you're in favor of gun violence.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 03:48 PM (Nwg0u)

61 Hrothgar, I'll always recall Twain's comment after an English Utopian explained utopia to him.

"Sounds like a bunch of cows after the last coyote's been shot."

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:48 PM (D46NL)

62 I wonder if anyone ever did a true poll of hardcore never Trumpers, would we find that most if not virtually all of them live in states where there votes won't matter anyway?

States like California and New York or metro DC etc. If nearly all the nevers live in solid blue states/districts who cares what they say or do anyway?

Posted by: Suppressed Flasher at May 31, 2016 03:48 PM (X+nFp)

63 Twitter is the Mos Eisley of the galaxy.

Posted by: Count de Monet at May 31, 2016 03:48 PM (JO9+V)

64 Love of BBQ can be earned, it takes a lot of work - but its honest labor over mesquite coals and consumption of SHiner bock.

The accent, no.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 03:48 PM (Doh4+)

65 I disagree with you and the horde all the time.

Please don't ban me.

Again.

That has nothing to do with it though.

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 03:48 PM (LorSp)

66 Dragons? As in Tiamet?

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:38 PM (D46NL)

Alduin.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Salutes Those Who Died to Protect Our Right to Gripe at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (hLRSq)

67 Looking back in retrospect, were we Palinistas as bad as the never-trumpers?

Posted by: Navycopjoe at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (VbdIm)

68 >>>7 More than 140 characters, sure.

But maybe less than 14.184 characters to basically announce to the world that you've passed freshman psychology and you know other people's True Thoughts better than they do, also.
Posted by: Jeff B.

...

it's as if you've self-identified as being insulted by this post, Jeff!

Posted by: ace at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (dciA+)

69 Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:48 PM (D46NL)

That's one I had not heard, Anna, thanks!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (wYnyS)

70 What I hope doesn't get lost in all of that:

>>As I've mentioned a thousand time, though I am (I think) naturally more inclined to the liberal side of things on many issues, I am so antagonistic to the group-think/social-pressure/tribal-loyalty signalling side of things that I broke angrily from not only that style of liberalism (which is really leftistm/progressivism) but liberalism itself, tossing out the baby with the befouled bathwater, out of pure pique.

This kind of enforced conformity is part and parcel of leftist totalitarianism. It is the defining characteristic of SJWs, you either conform with the group on everything or you are driven out as a heretic and a hater.

This is why you see some seemingly intelligent people who may lean left get on board with the idea that people should choose their own gender and bathroom. It's batshit nuts but if you say that you can't be part of the left because you must agree with the group on all things.

I hate when our side does this shit.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (/tuJf)

71 I don't know what "shouting the glories of God" means. You mean saying, "I thank you, Jesus for this. I think you Jesus" for that to all and sundry people?
I don't do that, nor do I feel bad about expressing my religious faith to people I feel might be receptive to it.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (rmw+9)

72 People forget that "arguing" is an intellectual exercise. It's not a game where people pummel each other into submission or find juvenile ways to make pedestrian comment where they "win". That's really some type of demeaning or bullying attempt at argumentative assault. It's churlish and mostly ignorant. It's also usually an attempt at establishing some type of faulty dogma around what's popular, or my favorite, what's "right". Not because they have a solid, intellectual argument. Because "they" say so. It's imperious in its very essence and the writer or speaker never dares to realize that (or doesn't care).

That's autocratic and mostly the domain of liberals. But with the #nevertrump movement. it's become the domain of self proclaimed "conservatives". You know because they are being "principled" and there was never a situation before where they felt these tactics were necessitated. Which is at a very base level an unsupportable, intellectual claim, since it's easy to point to fact and substance that undermines the entire argument.

That's when they usually take their ball and go home.

There is truly no such thing as a lazy intellectual.

Posted by: Marcus T at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (O0lVq)

73 Ace has yet to be honest with himself about this one simple fact: the entire schtick of "breaking" with virtue-signalling to be more open, iconoclastic, "thinking man-of-the-people" etc. etc. is in itself the most transparent act of virtue-signalling imaginable. The only difference is that the signalling is being done to some sort of private intellectual lodestar (the idealized "perfect observer," or "posterity") rather than the faddish masses.

And make no mistake: it has nothing to do with Ace's interlocutors offering an "argument" or not. Any argument that cannot be sufficiently refuted or dealt with, or which falls down into realm of unadjudicable opinion? That merely gets dismissed as "received wisdom" or "tribalism" or "class culture." It's a dirty game, played dirty on purpose so as to never put the player in danger of loss.

Observant people aren't really fooled by such poses. But perhaps the capacity for self-delusion is greater than suspected in this case.

Posted by: Jeff B. at May 31, 2016 03:50 PM (ewYO6)

74 Ok, but a lot of us just don't just like the motherfucker, and it's not about signaling or tribes.

Never have liked him for decades, and dislike him now more than ever, notwithstanding some of his admirable jujitsu against the evil Dem-media complex.

I may vote for him, but don't ever tell me I have to like him.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 03:50 PM (ozZau)

75 I hate when our side does this shit.

----------

It seemingly works for the left, so many on our side are in favor of it.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 03:50 PM (gmeXX)

76 Well Hrothgar, might want to verify it. I can't recall where I stumbled across that quote.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (D46NL)

77 People can find their way to political animosity by having personal experience, say, with Obamacare for example. It costs them a lot more out of pocket, fewer doctors accepting your plan, longer waits. etc.

When that personal thing happens it can surely push you into a frustration and anger this way:

I want Ted Cruz, he wanted to repeal the ACA.
He didn't get the nomination.
Trump will.
Oh, shit, anyone but Hillary who will only support and expand the ACA.
Those who don't vote Trump are helping make Hillary the President therefore, those people are personally affecting my life.

Posted by: Seems Legit at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (U+nHb)

78 And then Prince Andrei forgave Countess Natasha just before he died and Napoleon was drivn out of Russia.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (Nwg0u)

79 2,416 words. That's how long Ace's post is.

Vanity Fair and Playboy and Cosmopolitan pay $2/word.

So that's $5,000 worth of insight, right there!

Thank God I used Bill Cosby's Speed Reading techniques (anybody remember that?), so I can confidently say that the key words in Ace's essay are "and," "that," and "aggrandizement."

Posted by: zombie at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (jBuUi)

80 Twitter, listserv with a crappy interface

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (Doh4+)

81 55 how long till we get a movie about killing Trump?

$10 says some right winger will be behind the flick
Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:47 PM (SyKbw)

According to Brad Thor, it will be the solemn duty of patriots.

Posted by: rd at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (v0YLX)

82 The first 2/3 of this is a pretty spot-on description of American academia - which ought to be to academia's shame, but they're too busy navel-gazing to care.

#FvckTwitter

Posted by: DocJ at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (zrsn3)

83 My daughter just got a tattoo on her arm. She refuses to believe that at any time in the future will she ever regret it. She wanted it now and that is all she can see. People want their pound of flesh now and gather the herd around them.

Great careers to think about? Handyman or tattoo removal as millennials will need both.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 03:52 PM (oiNtH)

84
I like twitter. It's got great art, history, medieval, space photos. Now, I'm following live tweets reporting the gitmo hearings.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 31, 2016 03:52 PM (iQIUe)

85 It don't think twitter or the internet is the problem per se. It just makes it easier to see the problem.

The problem is the country is chock full of poorly educated, disconnected from reality, self absorbed, distractible, wannabe famous/faux intellectual schmoes who don't realize they are schmoes. The culture is polluted and we've been drinking it.

Drinking it has bad side effects . . .

Stick to the valu rite, its a cleaner death.

Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 03:53 PM (JTwsP)

86 JeffB:

>>> Ace has yet to be honest with himself about this one simple fact: the entire schtick of "breaking" with virtue-signalling to be more open, iconoclastic, "thinking man-of-the-people" etc. etc. is in itself the most transparent act of virtue-signalling imaginable.

Me:

And there's also a healthy mix of the Self Brag included in any expression. (N.B.: Including the post you are currently reading.)

Also note the "N.B.:" was in bold face and the "Including the post you are currently reading" was italicized.

I can see why Jeff missed it.

He's used to "winning public opinion" 140 characters at a time.

Posted by: ace at May 31, 2016 03:53 PM (dciA+)

87 Obviously both are always at play, but I think "philosophy and belief and thought" tends to be much more of a social construct than is widely acknowledged.

Yup.

I spent years trying to work through how much of my political theory is reasoned, how much is learned from the environment in which I grew up and how much is just flat out hard wired into my brain. For example, the core of my political beliefs can be summed up as I want to be left alone. Now, that simple statement leads into some very complicated areas. But, at heart, I want to be left alone.

Mommy says that even as a wee tiny baby I didn't want to be held and rocked when I fussed. I wanted someone to check on me and then leave me alone.

So. How much of my leave me alone is actual reasoned thought and how much is intellectualizing lizard brain leave me the hell alone? I don't know.

I like twitter. I enjoy it. I have fun with it except those times I don't. But. But I also know what it is not. It's tiny little slivers in a forum in which it is impossible, by design, to parse thoughts. It's not an intellectual space, again, by design.

Speaking of twitter and the limitations thereof, Kurt Schlichter can be a right asshole, and that is me calling someone a right asshole, on twitter. I find his articles to be far more reasoned, even though he still throws all the bombs.

This is good.

http://bit.ly/1WXj8h9

I also like that he respects that hey neither side will persuade the other but I'm still going to try.

I'm finding the tendency of everyone to Unpeople others over, idefk, whatever to be very worrisome. Denying someone's humanity over political disagreements leads to very dark places indeed.

*hands out flowers to everyone*

See. See how we can all be one and join in the amazement of being a part of the collective wonder of humanity?

SEE HOW I CAN BE NOT AWFUL! *points wildly*

All y'all better be marking this down.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 03:53 PM (mf5HN)

88 My daughter just got a tattoo on her arm. She refuses to believe that at any time in the future will she ever regret it. She wanted it now and that is all she can see. People want their pound of flesh now and gather the herd around them.

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

What I don't get about tatoos is that they are commonplace now. Seems that you are not a rebel if you have one, but if you don't.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 03:53 PM (gmeXX)

89 Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (D46NL)

What, presenting unsourced material on AoS! Burn the witch!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 03:53 PM (wYnyS)

90 past 140 characters JeffB just finds himself a bit winded.

Posted by: ace at May 31, 2016 03:53 PM (dciA+)

91 Ace's mind is a raging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought cascading into a waterfall of creative alternatives.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at May 31, 2016 03:54 PM (GdFQh)

92 Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:51 PM (D46NL)
Actually my "quote" is from a memory from long long ago...

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 03:54 PM (wYnyS)

93 Looking back in retrospect, were we Palinistas as bad as the never-trumpers?
Posted by: Navycopjoe

I bet every Palin voter -- voted for Romney.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 03:54 PM (Doh4+)

94 I bet every Palin voter -- voted for Romney.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 03:54 PM (Doh4+)

I didn't

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:54 PM (SyKbw)

95 Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 03:49 PM (rmw+9)

Fenelon, I think that would be more of a reference to the rich man making the big show of putting a lot of money in the relief box; you know the type - whited sepulchers.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Salutes Those Who Died to Protect Our Right to Gripe at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (hLRSq)

96 "but THEY MUST DESTROY TRUMP HIS SUPPORTERS TO PROTECT THE DECORUM!!!!

While they're on a full blown BDS style spergout."
-Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:43 PM (SyKbw)

It is a good thing that I haven't been stereotyped, like "others".

I'm not saying that Ted Cruz supporters are "better than you". I'm just saying that our candidate was better.

...than you.

And my thoughts are "internalized" and ultimately churned against my buddies who'd like nothing more than to see me be wrong.

It seems to be "A Thing" with my buddies. My real, close friends want me to be wrong about things.

It keeps me "in check".

Now... with all this extra humility, I'd like to ask "The Dude" if I presumed too much with my preliminary sentence.

I was a reactionary, instead of a thoughtful individual with needs and a dick.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (OQ9R7)

97 83 My daughter just got a tattoo on her arm. She refuses to believe that at any time in the future will she ever regret it. She wanted it now and that is all she can see. People want their pound of flesh now and gather the herd around them.

Great careers to think about? Handyman or tattoo removal as millennials will need both.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 03:52 PM (oiNtH)

Upper arms or chest (read- under clothing tattoos) should be ok. The guys and gals I worry about are the face and neck tattoo people.

Also depends on their choice of career.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (3ZoRf)

98 Looking back in retrospect, were we Palinistas as bad as the never-trumpers?
Posted by: Navycopjoe

I bet every Palin voter -- voted for Romney.

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

Some of us were Palin supporters, relunctant Romney voters, and now find ourselves in the neverTrump crowd (or for me notTrumpIn2016 crowd).

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (gmeXX)

99 *couriers to the Empress a plate lemon-bars*

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (D46NL)

100 Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 03:53 PM (mf5HN)

I knew that this was an AtC post as I read the first line!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (wYnyS)

101 What I don't get about tatoos is that they are commonplace now. Seems that you are not a rebel if you have one, but if you don't.
Posted by: SH

I haven't seen a stripper in years without one; and I make a point to ask.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (Doh4+)

102 and quit whining about the length of this post, my gaming threads were always a long longer than this

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:56 PM (SyKbw)

103 ...and needs.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 03:56 PM (OQ9R7)

104 Great careers to think about? Handyman or tattoo removal as millennials will need both.

-
Either way you'd need a sandblaster.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 03:56 PM (Nwg0u)

105 Some guy just came out with disappearing tattoo ink, only lasts a year.

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at May 31, 2016 03:56 PM (b+I9t)

106 That Nota Bene drop was a clever bit of double S.B.

Good stuff!!!

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 31, 2016 03:56 PM (jjaLl)

107 Is this some sort of test? I bet there is a secret message buried in that relentless wall of text.

Posted by: wooga at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (c+gCx)

108 Hey The Dude, what do you think of Overwatch?

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (D46NL)

109 Honestly, very little of thought is truly intellectualized. More than I'm happy to admit, for myself, and I suspect it's true for most people as well.

People are lazy, as a rule. We don't like to think critically. Thinking is hard.

How many issues have you really researched? For me it's actually shockingly few, when I actually think about it. Even things that I care about, this cycle. Take Hillary's emails. I consider this a pretty freakin' big deal, but when push comes to shove, I don't know where I'd actually produce my evidence. Where would I find the documents that support my convictions that what she did was blatantly criminal?

In this instance, I've done what lots of people do without thinking. I heard about it from a source that I already trust (Ace), I read the snippits that he linked. If I'm really being daring, I'll go to the link that he includes, which usually isn't even a primary source, but just includes more links.

I don't actually know if any of it is really true. Maybe I'm missing context somewhere. Maybe somewhere along the line, the quotes are being altered. I'd have no idea, because I didn't do the direct evidence. This opinion that I formed was greatly helped by the fact that I was already predisposed to dislike Hillary.

I suspect that a similar intellectual process happens with many NeverTrump people. You don't like Trump. You don't want to vote for him. Then here comes along somebody who you have over the course of years you've grown to respect. Somebody like Jonah Goldberg who wrote several extremely well sourced and articulated books about the dangers of progressivism. He starts saying "yeah, I'm not just not a Trump supporter. I'm NeverTrump." What are you naturally going to think? He's never led you astray before. I'm sure he's got good reasons for what he's saying. I'm inclined to believe him now.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (KUaJL)

110 98. That about sums me up too

Posted by: Navycopjoe at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (VbdIm)

111 ...with a dick.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (OQ9R7)

112 I would hope that most real intellectuals know the difference between posting a 140 character random stream of consciousness is much different than making an argument.

Places such as Twitter are mostly the domain of idiots trying to prove their self worth by pleasing the mob and satiating their ego. It should never be confused with an intellectual endeavor.

Posted by: Marcus T at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (O0lVq)

113 SH - and what's really weird is I am seeing a lot on women who are 40 and over where I live.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (oiNtH)

114 102 and quit whining about the length of this post, my gaming threads were always a long longer than this
Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:56 PM (SyKbw)

But you had those moving pictures to break them up.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (3ZoRf)

115 I'm just dying to know what Deus Ex Machina Thor was invoking here.

Why would it be "terrible" to extra-legally remove a tyrant peacefully?

I am not smart enough to grasp that I guess.

Maybe a Patriotic Alien was going to "borrow Trump?"

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (g8Hfr)

116 >>I bet every Palin voter -- voted for Romney.

Don't it. But I bet they all vote for Trump.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (/tuJf)

117 My daughter just got a tattoo on her arm. She refuses to believe that
at any time in the future will she ever regret it. She wanted it now
and that is all she can see. People want their pound of flesh now and
gather the herd around them.

So, let's see. You have to pay to undergo a painful procedure to get the tattoo, and pay again and undergo another painful procedure to get rid of it.

Sounds great. When can I get one?

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (oKE6c)

118 Hey Hrothgar, if you're still here, did we ever feature the French bulldogs in a pet thread? I'm trying to get things lined up for MisHum for next weekend's post and I went and organized the email and made all these new folders and categorized stuff and now we're both confused.

Posted by: L, Elle at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (6IPEM)

119 Trust checking how many read all that

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (3wHFl)

120 Most on the left consider 140 characters a f*ing tome.

Consider that their entire political and moral belief system can be summed up on a bumper sticker or three.

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (wqfrd)

121 Don't? How did Doubt come out Don't?

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (/tuJf)

122
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (OQ9R7)

Trump isn't my guy never has been (unless it had come down to him Rand, then I'd rather have Trump).
Also, your "guy" praised Snowden so trying to take any moral highground with Cruz is fucking laughable

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (SyKbw)

123 Somewhere in my 50 years I learned 2 things of importance.
Question "groupthink:.
If the whole crowd is rallying for something, and you aren't, investigate why that is. More often or not its selfish intentions. Love or money, it'll be one or the other.

Question the intentions of anyone seeking your support for a cause:
Do they know you? Are they certain that you feel like they do? Are they just using you to increase their popularity or attendance?

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (aQQbl)

124 i'm getting my tattoo when i'm in my 70's so when i die it still looks fresh

Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (0O7c5)

125 113 Just about every housewife I see when I go shopping has one.

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (B48dK)

126 @98 Some of us were Palin supporters, relunctant Romney voters, and now find ourselves in the neverTrump crowd (or for me notTrumpIn2016 crowd).

Pretty much me as well.

Posted by: DocJ at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (zrsn3)

127 I'm more humble than you cheeky bastards.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (Nwg0u)

128 Good post. You can usually tell a good post from Ace by the amount of whining about it.

Posted by: Wtp at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (0LeIk)

129 I wonder...Ace is coming across somewhat pissed and as a suck-up I will agree with him. But what if there is a next step reaction to the herd mentality? What if the next step is an anger that grows out of disenfranchisement? Without getting all Black Helicopter on folks here is a few thoughts: Cass Sunstein is a brilliant Havard lawyer. He also is a strong proponent of teh efficacy of behavioral finance. He wrote a piece called " Nudge". It is how one moves a society towards a goal. He also practiced this art in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. Paging G Orwell. Here's the rub: The left has a great handle on this black art. Look at how immediately the Tea Party was marginalized. No one could be a member without joining the clan first. Yet a lot of us looked around and thought that was bullshit.. Or Gay marriage. I always said I may not agree with it but in a civil society I would go with what the population votes in. Funny thing is that at a point when you or me or anyone you talked to spoke of gay marriage we felt like the last four people on the planet that were against it. YET voters always went the other way. Point finally being the application of behavioral finance left a great deal of folks feeling outside of the herd. After the fear, and yes there is a naturally occurring physical fear reaction, probably comes anger. After that? Trump. damn.

Posted by: Mac at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (fOoQ8)

130 I suspect that a similar intellectual process happens with many NeverTrump people. You don't like Trump. You don't want to vote for him. Then here comes along somebody who you have over the course of years you've grown to respect. Somebody like Jonah Goldberg who wrote several extremely well sourced and articulated books about the dangers of progressivism. He starts saying "yeah, I'm not just not a Trump supporter. I'm NeverTrump." What are you naturally going to think? He's never led you astray before. I'm sure he's got good reasons for what he's saying. I'm inclined to believe him now.

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

Are you being critical here? As you say thinking is hard - so we practice shortcuts. If someone we do tend to agree with and respect argues one way, it does and should bias us toward his argument. It doesn't mean they are right, but I'm not sure why we shouldn't at least give it some benefit of the doubt?

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:00 PM (gmeXX)

131 Hmmm...maybe I'll take up being a smug contrarian.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:00 PM (0mRoj)

132 Loving Texas BBQ requires no thought. It's instantaneous.

Posted by: Brisco_County at May 31, 2016 04:00 PM (Rq8Pp)

133 Hey The Dude, what do you think of Overwatch?

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (D46NL)

it's a not hat based economy updated TF2 with a lot of actual personality. Worth the money

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:00 PM (SyKbw)

134 Question authority? Says who?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:01 PM (Nwg0u)

135 People should be more contrarian

Fcuk that.

Posted by: Mortimer at May 31, 2016 04:01 PM (Nxqko)

136 Sounds great. When can I get one?

Posted by: Jay Guevara

And that's just on the 'regular' parts! I can't even imagine decorating my nether parts.

Phoenixgirl - so true. What once was a perky rose will end up looking like a shriveled weed.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 04:01 PM (oiNtH)

137 125 113 Just about every housewife I see when I go shopping has one.

Same here. Multiples. Mostly feet, inside of wrists and lower arms.

I just don't get the attraction.

Posted by: DocJ at May 31, 2016 04:01 PM (zrsn3)

138 What are you naturally going to think? He's never led you astray before. I'm sure he's got good reasons for what he's saying. I'm inclined to believe him now.

Posted by: joe, living da

-----

Okay, I get that, but it's hard for me to understand why your not voting will help prevent Hillary from choosing our next Supreme Court Justices.

Trump has given us a reasonable list of candidates. That's something.

Posted by: Seems Legit at May 31, 2016 04:01 PM (U+nHb)

139 People shape opinions either through intellectual consistency or mob mentality. The first requires accurate information . The second requires none.

I always defended the conservative movement as being intellectually consistent and the Left of being a mob. That line has now blurred.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:01 PM (K4eq3)

140 Posted by: L, Elle at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (6IPEM)

Of my Frenchies, you had only Conor T. Hrothgar as I recall, I'll send a pick of the two no longer with me if that's what you want.

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (wYnyS)

141 Mortimer - Thank you for the nice comments you made several threads below. Very appreciated

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (oiNtH)

142 SH - and what's really weird is I am seeing a lot on women who are 40 and over where I live.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (oiNtH)

******

They are every divorced woman over 40 I've seen, and that is quite a few. It's like a boilerplate command to ink up is in every woman's divorce decree or something.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (J6BT9)

143 Is this a movie review?

Posted by: RUReadingthis at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (AbKcF)

144 ..."Also, your "guy" praised Snowden so trying to take any moral highground with Cruz is fucking laughable."
-Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (SyKbw)

You should do another Gaming Thread. You were really, really good at that! ...lol.

-but, seriously, you were really good at that Gaming Post.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (OQ9R7)

145 BTW

Any thoughts on post-PC?

I'm wondering if - say if Trump gets in and the 30+ year debacle of PC everything finally gets the heave-ho - I'm left wondering if anyone remembers how we used to argue respectfully anymore, especially in public speech.

I mean, PC used to just be consideration. Now non-PC means be a cretin.

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (LorSp)

146 Go to some of the conservative sites. You'll find posters proclaiming their allegiance to, and quoting people like Locke, Hume, Montesquieu, Rosseau, etc. Most of them have not even read their publications, much less understand them.

Yet, they throw it out all the time like its Moses and the Ten Commandment tablets.

The stuff that comes out is almost as funny as it is ignorant.

We've created an entire generation of Google-Idiots.

Posted by: Marcus T at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (O0lVq)

147 By using a pseudonym(eg, "Ace"), are you still susceptible to the draw of signaling? Anonymity allows unfettered contrarian bad-thoughts, where the focus is the content of speech, not the virtue of the speaker.

Posted by: wooga at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (c+gCx)

148 I think it is well past time for this video to be posted.

https://youtu.be/kQFKtI6gn9Y

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (D46NL)

149 Be a non-conformist - just like everybody else!

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (oKE6c)

150 I don't like this shit one bit.

I am fine with people voting for Trump.

I am fine with people who can't vote for him because he's not conservative, is of poor character, etc.

I am not fine with being ordered what to do by ace or anyone.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (ozZau)

151 SH - and what's really weird is I am seeing a lot on women who are 40 and over where I live.

BTW that's how the bone through the nose thing started to. Trying to keep up with the youngsters and of course the youngsters had to be different. So they took it up a notch. And there you have it, grandma has chicken leg through her nasal cartilage. What a wonderful world when its all just a mad scramble to be "special" without being special at all.

Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (JTwsP)

152 My daughter just got a tattoo on her arm. She refuses to believe that

at any time in the future will she ever regret it. She wanted it now

and that is all she can see. People want their pound of flesh now and

gather the herd around them.

I remember back in the early 90's when the tattoo thing was taking off. I was at a concert, and saw this gorgeous young thing with a great big KSJO tat on her shoulder. KSJO being the local hard rock station. I couldn't conceive then of a tat, much less one promoting a commercial enterprise.

Is she sorry? As long as she doesn't mind head-banging to mexicans singing along to accordion music since KSJO changed formats 20 years ago.

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (wqfrd)

153 Assholier than thou

Posted by: Tilikum KAW at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (uhftQ)

154 No one should forget that everyone is human.

*shifty-eyes*

Posted by: lizard-aliens from V at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (2WoCi)

155 I was briefly thinking about getting a tattoo of Proverbs 21:9: Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (0mRoj)

156 >>>> Of my Frenchies, you had only Conor T. Hrothgar as I recall, I'll send a pick of the two no longer with me if that's what you want.
Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (wYnyS)
----
Yes, that's what I want. Thank you.

Posted by: L, Elle at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (6IPEM)

157 Alright. Back-off the tattoo shaming :-/

Posted by: Marcus T at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (O0lVq)

158 People who engage on Twitter in repetitive arguments are not wanting a reasoned argument; They are working on an emotional high. Telling people that they are a-holes just just gives one the satisfaction of feeling pleased and thinking"Well, I told him!" or "I told her!". I have a snarky/sarcastic side of my character; I don't need the temptation of doing that more or of foolishly I thinking I have honed to some level of needle like incisiveness.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (rmw+9)

159 For the record, I don't think Jonah Goldberg is NeverTrump, and also keep in mind Trump personally attacked Jonah for not being able to afford pants.

Then you have the anti-Semitic twitter trolls for Trump that don't help persuade someone like Jonah.

Posted by: Sexypig at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (UBBWX)

160 i'm getting my tattoo when i'm in my 70's so when i die it still looks fresh

-
Maybe the Grand Canyon so the wrinkles will look like gullies and such.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (Nwg0u)

161
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (OQ9R7)

wouldn't mind it but man those things were way too much fucking work. Banging out 3k words every sunday morning was taxing

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (SyKbw)

162 I can't even imagine decorating my nether parts.

Imagine.

Yes.

Imagine

Posted by: super-creepy Mortimer at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (Nxqko)

163 I knew that this was an AtC post as I read the first line!
Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 03:55 PM (wYnyS)

*rereads*

How? There was no profanity.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (mf5HN)

164 Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (0mRoj)

I'm glad you rethought that. :^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (rmw+9)

165 142 SH - and what's really weird is I am seeing a lot on women who are 40 and over where I live.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 03:57 PM (oiNtH)

******

They are every divorced woman over 40 I've seen, and that is quite a few. It's like a boilerplate command to ink up is in every woman's divorce decree or something.
Posted by: ManWithNoParty at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (J6BT9)

They've got to spend their child support and alimony payments on something, don't they?

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (0mRoj)

166 145 BTW

Any thoughts on post-PC?

I'm wondering if - say if Trump gets in and the 30+ year debacle of PC everything finally gets the heave-ho - I'm left wondering if anyone remembers how we used to argue respectfully anymore, especially in public speech.

I mean, PC used to just be consideration. Now non-PC means be a cretin.
Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (LorSp)

yep, a correction was desperately needed. Over-correction isn't usually a good thing.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (ozZau)

167 Twitter is a fag and it's shit is all retarded.

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (qUNWi)

168 We've created an entire generation of Google-Idiots.
Posted by: Marcus T at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (O0lVq)

Such as when leftists (as they often do) quote Scripture 1) out of context, 2) incorrectly, and 3) such that it's obvious they never have actually read Scripture but rather pulled the first quote from an online resource that seems to support their POV.

Posted by: DocJ at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (zrsn3)

169
People forget that "arguing" is an intellectual exercise.

No, it isn't.

Posted by: Monty Python at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (k4M/B)

170 I am not fine with being ordered what to do by ace or anyone.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (ozZau)

Who is ordering you?
Why would you give that person the time of day?

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Salutes Those Who Died to Protect Our Right to Gripe at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (hLRSq)

171 They are every divorced woman over 40 I've seen, and that is quite a few. It's like a boilerplate command to ink up is in every woman's divorce decree or something.

Posted by: ManWithNoParty

I bet that some women believe that it makes them look younger. Um, no. Same with oddly colored hair.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (oiNtH)

172

Well

That needed saying. I think the best thing about twitter was crowd sourcing news

And now that doesn't work either

It's no good at all now

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (zOTsN)

173 "I am not fine with being ordered what to do by ace or anyone."

This is kind of funny. I mean, his order has what effect exactly. If he called you on the phone and "ordered" a pizza, wouldn't you just hang up on him?

Every last one of us does what we want.

Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (JTwsP)

174 10
Dragons? As in Tiamet?

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 03:38 PM (D46NL)

Well, I was thinking more along the lines of Meereen, but that's because I didn't know what Tiamet was until I googled it....

Posted by: Dirty Randy at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (jjaLl)

175 Kettle calls pot black, but says he thought about it first, unlike the pot.

Posted by: Cameron at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (6aVBb)

176 164 Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (0mRoj)

I'm glad you rethought that. :^)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (rmw+9)

I dunno. Probably one of the best pieces of divine wisdom ever.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (0mRoj)

177 I like the saying , if you think everyone around you is an asshole , you just might be the asshole.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (K4eq3)

178
On this day 31st May 1441-43, Lady Margaret Beaufort was born at Bletsoe Castle in Bedfordshire.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (iQIUe)

179 Just kidding.

*draws circle in dirt with toe*

aw shucks, Cheri.

*blush beet red*

Posted by: Mortimer at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (Nxqko)

180 ..."wouldn't mind it but man those things were way too much fucking work. Banging out 3k words every sunday morning was taxing."
-Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (SyKbw)

There were gaming websites where I didn't get the amount of information I got out of your Sunday posts.

I'll simply raise a glass and thank you, Good Sir.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (OQ9R7)

181 The dirty little secret about this post, and about ace, is that he is actually a disembodied brain in a lab, pondering existential questions while forever trapped in a glass jar filled with cerebral spinal fluid.

Sort of like the brain in the movie The Man With Two Brains (which happens to be ace's favorite flick, by the way).

Well, except that ace isn't a fat chick just waiting to get out of the jar so he can crush Steve Martin's pelvis on their wedding night.

You get the picture, I'm sure, and the point, I hope.

Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (CS7jF)

182 For the record, I don't think Jonah Goldberg is NeverTrump, and also keep in mind Trump personally attacked Jonah for not being able to afford pants.

Then you have the anti-Semitic twitter trolls for Trump that don't help persuade someone like Jonah.

Posted by: Sexypig at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (UBBWX)

I probably could have just said Ben Shapiro instead. It was the first person that came to mind as being a right-aligned intellectual figure who has been pretty vocal about his displeasure with Trump. At least he comes off this way in his podcast.

Which is good, but not nearly as good as THE podcast.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at May 31, 2016 04:07 PM (KUaJL)

183 Dear Monty Python cf post #148

"What a stupid git"

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 04:07 PM (D46NL)

184 I voted for Palin and I'm basically #NeverTrump.

I don't disagree with Ace or Kurt, necessarily, I just can't pretend, at this point, anything about the "democratic process" will result in me being represented.

And I'm tired of validating it with my vote. So I'm just out.

Posted by: moviegique at May 31, 2016 04:07 PM (7zeA4)

185 >>For the record, I don't think Jonah Goldberg is NeverTrump, and also keep in mind Trump personally attacked Jonah for not being able to afford pants.

I think it all started years ago when Trump went after Goldberg's mother and Linda Tripp when he was defending Bill Clinton. Of course, that's all changed now.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:07 PM (/tuJf)

186 Oh I'm sorry, this is abuse. Complaints are down the hall.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:08 PM (0mRoj)

187 As an aspie I think these kinds of neurotypical social dynamics are both interesting and dismaying. Since we're far less driven by these primate social instincts/urges it's often amazing to see how immersed people can get in these group social struggles. Scary to think how quickly this can lead to justification of violence.

In short: Quit acting like a bunch of fkin apes!

Posted by: Esch at May 31, 2016 04:08 PM (08IHj)

188 I just saw a roughly 70 year old lady in leggings with hot pink hair

It doesn't scream "respect me"

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:08 PM (zOTsN)

189 Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (0mRoj)

I don't know. I've never lived with a quarrelsome wife :^) or husband (I mean not more than people who are married 30 years and still are happy argue) so I can think of a lot more helpful things in Scripture although Proverbs is a very practical book-yes.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:08 PM (rmw+9)

190 "I like the saying , if you think everyone around you is an asshole , you just might be the asshole."
-Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (K4eq3)

My friends taught me that.

...wait, what?

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:08 PM (OQ9R7)

191
Hey, I've got an idea....

Posted by: Brad Wilkes Thor

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (kdS6q)

192 188 I just saw a roughly 70 year old lady in leggings with hot pink hair

It doesn't scream "respect me"
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:08 PM (zOTsN)

Were you in Walmart, perchance?

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (0mRoj)

193
i'm getting my tattoo when i'm in my 70's so when i die it still looks fresh
Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 03:59 PM (0O7c5)
---------------------

My grandmother got a cute little anklet tat when she was 70+ and little old ladies run up to her all the time and squeal how much they love it.

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (pC96u)

194 On this day 31st May 1441-43, Lady Margaret Beaufort was born at Bletsoe Castle in Bedfordshire.

Baby Lady you mean.

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (qUNWi)

195
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM (OQ9R7)

tried to hit a bit of everything (though I was pushing more niche stuff that I should have) and even then I didn't get everything I wanted to mention each week. A lot of times I just threw my hands up hit the post button

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (SyKbw)

196
Sort of like the brain in the movie The Man With Two Brains (which happens to be ace's favorite flick, by the way).

Well, except that ace isn't a fat chick just waiting to get out of the jar so he can crush Steve Martin's pelvis on their wedding night.

You get the picture, I'm sure, and the point, I hope.

"INTO THE MUD SCUM QUEEN!!!!"

Best movie quote of all time.

Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (JTwsP)

197 They've got to spend their child support and alimony payments on something, don't they?
Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (0mRoj)

****

When did Hookers and blow go out of style?

Posted by: ManWithNoParty at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (J6BT9)

198 Look, you've got it all wrong! You don't NEED to follow ME, You don't
NEED to follow ANYBODY! You've got to think for your selves! You're ALL
individuals!

Posted by: Brian of Nazareth at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (JO9+V)

199 Coming soon: a world of nursing homes filled with 42 inch tramp stamps.

Posted by: Mortimer at May 31, 2016 04:10 PM (Nxqko)

200 How? There was no profanity.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:04 PM (mf5HN)

There is an ineradicable style to one of your posts, profanity or no!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 04:10 PM (wYnyS)

201 199 Coming soon: a world of nursing homes filled with 42 inch tramp stamps.
Posted by: Mortimer at May 31, 2016 04:10 PM (Nxqko)

Measured on an arc.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:10 PM (0mRoj)

202 I don't get the tattoo thing, not a woman I pass by that I see has one I want to ask them why?

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:10 PM (3wHFl)

203 My friends taught me that.

...wait, what?

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:08 PM (OQ9R7)

You need better friends, the ones that can keep their flippin' opinions to themselves!

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Salutes Those Who Died to Protect Our Right to Gripe at May 31, 2016 04:11 PM (hLRSq)

204 202 I don't get the tattoo thing, not a woman I pass by that I see has one I want to ask them why?
Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:10 PM (3wHFl)

To express their individuality. Just like everybody else.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:11 PM (0mRoj)

205 Twitter did all of us one great favor,it took up all of JeffB.'s time.

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 04:11 PM (B48dK)

206 -Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (SyKbw)

You did well, man. I enjoyed the shit out of it.

I'll leave it at "Thanks".

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:11 PM (OQ9R7)

207 You've got to think for your selves!

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

I can think for myself just fine. It just so happens that there are others who think the same I do, but can express such thoughts in a much better, more articulate, wittier, and more persuasive way.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:11 PM (gmeXX)

208 Is this a movie review?

Posted by: RUReadingthis at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (AbKcF)

Better. It's the Screenplay for "Movie Review: The Movie".

Posted by: Sticky Wicket at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (7VPW0)

209 I mean, PC used to just be consideration. Now non-PC means be a cretin.
Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:02 PM (LorSp)

Be polite. That's it. Be polite.

Or, less politely, don't be a dick.

As Bander is fond of saying, manners are important. It's true. So much of the issues that PC is supposedly correcting can more easily be resolved by simply displaying decent manners to other people.

You windowlicking paste eaters.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (mf5HN)

210 I bet that some women believe that it makes them look younger.

Not younger. Easier.
And, with enough booze, open to butt stuff.

Posted by: wooga at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (c+gCx)

211

What is the tattoo? A sell by date?

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (zOTsN)

212 I can think for myself just fine. It just so happens that there are others who think the same I do, but can express such thoughts in a much better, more articulate, wittier, and more persuasive way.
Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:11 PM (gmeXX)

----

Unfortunately, that is my experience also.

Posted by: Seems Legit at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (U+nHb)

213 205 Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 04:11 PM (B48dK)

Jeff and I chat...

he is doing ok I think and I am happy he is happy.

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 04:13 PM (g8Hfr)

214
In short: Quit acting like a bunch of fkin apes!
Posted by: Esch

Gimme a break!

Posted by: Zombie Harambe at May 31, 2016 04:13 PM (k4M/B)

215 Individuality sure, but it's a dozen different tats in 3 places on 100 women

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:13 PM (3wHFl)

216 This is kind of funny. I mean, his order has what effect exactly. If he called you on the phone and "ordered" a pizza, wouldn't you just hang up on him?

Every last one of us does what we want.
Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 04:05 PM (JTwsP)

I don't word it well, but he's trying to enforce his tribe's views, and I don't share that view. Now if someone doesn't like Trump, it's just because they're virtue signaling. I disagree with that. A lot of good people just really hate him for legit reasons.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 04:13 PM (ozZau)

217 Superiority Signaling wouldn't take so many words -- this is mansplaining

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:13 PM (Doh4+)

218 Twitter did all of us one great favor,it took up all of JeffB.'s time.

Hah....like flypaper. You may be on to something.

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:14 PM (qUNWi)

219 Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (JTwsP)

Best part of the movie was Steve Martin asking for a sign from God, any sign about marrying the scum queen. Immediately the paintings in the room started spinning , the curtains started going up and down, the lights going off and on. After all the things stopped, Martin says something like ' okay no signs. I guess I'll go through with it.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:14 PM (K4eq3)

220 215 Individuality sure, but it's a dozen different tats in 3 places on 100 women
Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:13 PM (3wHFl)

I was being sarcastic.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:14 PM (0mRoj)

221 And, with enough booze, open to butt stuff.

'Depends'

Posted by: Hillary Clinton's tramp-stamp at May 31, 2016 04:14 PM (Nxqko)

222 Are you being critical here? As you say thinking is hard - so we practice shortcuts. If someone we do tend to agree with and respect argues one way, it does and should bias us toward his argument. It doesn't mean they are right, but I'm not sure why we shouldn't at least give it some benefit of the doubt?
Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:00 PM (gmeXX)

I'm not trying to make a normative statement about the thought process.

Ace spends a lot of time talking about class-signaling, but I'm not necessarily convinced that this is the answer here.

A lot of NeverTrump people weren't exactly "Establishment" guys. Maybe I'm being overly naive, but what does it really benefit you to be part of the Conservative Intellectual class? By definition, we value individual liberty and are against the consolidation of powers. We don't believe in a ruling class. If you're part of the liberal ruling class, you're the one who gets to direct everyone else on what to do. If you're part of the conservative ruling class, you're... an oxymoron.

I just thought it was a slightly alternate take on the thing, and rather interesting because I don't think class signaling is the only way to arrive at groupthink.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at May 31, 2016 04:14 PM (KUaJL)

223 "When did Hookers and blow go out of style?"
-Posted by: ManWithNoParty at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (J6BT9)

They didn't. These are children. My lawn is adorned with scorn and blow.

...but mostly scorn.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:14 PM (OQ9R7)

224 You windowlicking paste eaters.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (mf5HN)

Nothing yummier than sun-dried tomato paste on the bus window.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Salutes Those Who Died to Protect Our Right to Gripe at May 31, 2016 04:15 PM (hLRSq)

225 >>>Sort of like the brain in the movie The Man With Two Brains (which happens to be ace's favorite flick, by the way).

That reminded me of my favorite horror flick that Elvira would play a lot....The Brain That Wouldn't Die. Woman's head in a pan being kept alive and she could talk and use mind tricks to get the monster in the closet to come out and kill.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 04:15 PM (oiNtH)

226 There must be a list of most popular women's tatoos.

A rose

A shamrock

A chain

Barbwire

Paw prints

A fairy

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:15 PM (zOTsN)

227 There is an ineradicable style to one of your posts, profanity or no!
Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 04:10 PM (wYnyS)

I'm going to assume that's a compliment, so thank you!

Also Boy BFF has a French bulldog.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (mf5HN)

228 If I wasn't having such a busy day, I would read that entire post.

Then I would probably disagree with some of it.

And I would be right.

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (Zs4uk)

229 224 You windowlicking paste eaters.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (mf5HN)

At least we can reach the windows...

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (0mRoj)

230 It reminds me of Caddyshack.

The NeverTrumpers are Judge Smails and Dr. Beeper. They got theirs, they are very comfortable with the way things are going and don't want anyone to rock the boat.

They hate Al Czervik, and everything about him. He is loud, self aggrandizing, profane, very, very, profane, and most of all, "Not our sort, Dearie, sniff, sniff." Did I mention he is profane?

They just don't understand that Al is not there to JOIN Washington DC Country Club, he is there to to look it over before he tears it all down, and builds something that works.

Al wants to put a bunch of people to work, people like Noonan and D'Annunzio. He'll make Ty Webb and his lumberyard wealthy. But the Judge and Dr. Beeper along with their special interest buddy the Bishop will need to find a new place, and they will no longer be the special people that everyone needs to kiss their rings to be accepted.

Al Czervik wants to do good for the town, and employ a lot of people, but Judge Smails and the establishment will hate him for it.

Cast

Al Czervik. Donald Trump
Judge Smails. Paul Ryan
Dr. Beeper. Bill Krystol
The Bishop. Tom Donovan

Posted by: rd at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (v0YLX)

231 116 >>I bet every Palin voter -- voted for Romney.

Doubt it. But I bet they all vote for Trump.
Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 03:58 PM (/tuJf)
-------------------
And I doubt that.
My mother liked Palin a whole lot back in 2008.
Voted for her with great enthusiasm.
She detests Trump.

Maybe she's a complete out-lier, maybe not.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (T/5A0)

232 I don't get the tattoo thing, not a woman I pass by that I see has one I want to ask them why?

I find it sort of miraculous that the firstborn of Mrs. DocJ and I is still without ink as she was talking it up since she was like 14 and she's now just a wee bit shy of 21.

Now? She wants a car at the end of the summer, knows permanent scaring is not cheap and is probably holding-out some home that Mrs. DocJ and I pony-up some cash so she can afford a higher-quality beater. The daughter is no dummy - she knows there is No. Freaking. Way. we're going to even think about helping her out with that if she comes home with ink.

I'm hoping, probably naively, that she's moved on.

Posted by: DocJ at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (zrsn3)

233 A guy has "Swan" tattooed on his johnson. When asked about it, he replies he got it after drinking heavily in a strip club, and that it actually says is "Saskatchewan."

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (oKE6c)

234 This is precisely why I stopped arguing on the internet (except for VERY limited circumstances).

Posted by: Farmer Joe at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (F2rZx)

235 On this day 31st May 1441-43, Lady Margaret Beaufort was born at Bletsoe Castle in Bedfordshire.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 31, 2016 04:06 PM

Her poor mother.

Posted by: huerfano at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (NSb9d)

236 226- on
Ankles
Necks
Lower back

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:17 PM (3wHFl)

237 ..."As Bander is fond of saying, manners are important. It's true. So much of the issues that PC is supposedly correcting can more easily be resolved by simply displaying decent manners to other people.

You windowlicking paste eaters."
-Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:12 PM (mf5HN)

The lawyer-broad is pretty good.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:17 PM (OQ9R7)

238 Did someone mention a blog for long form free speech?

Posted by: H. M. Stuart at May 31, 2016 04:17 PM (9eteO)

239 Yeah, it can be awkwardly isolating to go against the grain. Like Ace, Clinton made me. Specifically, I recall James Carville on Meet The Press turned my stomach so much that I had a long look in the mirror and realized "My Gaia! I must be a Republican!"

I am by culture/milieu within the Leftist wake. I left my blue state and went to college in a purple state, and it was there, with the perspective of people who grew up in rural areas, exactly why the 2nd amendment is crucial to personal safety.

I was reasoned into being Libertarian. I went from there to voting for Bush twice more out of anger towards the Democrats I considered sophists and phonies.

Personally, my social media experience led me to believe that Trump was a paper tiger. Because everything negative I said about him led to a dogpile by creepy alt-right racists, who, _I_assumed_ were a noisy minority. Now I don't know what to think.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 04:17 PM (j3gX2)

240 Jonah Goldberg is a smart guy and he can write with great clarity and with reason. But by calling himself a #Never Trump he is clearly signalling to his tribe that he is above the rubes and hayseeds who can't wait to vote Trump. And by "tribe" I'm not being a wise ass and referring to him being Jewish. At least, not really--except to the extent that I'm not really sure Trump is going to get a lot of the Jewish vote. He's too gauche and "uneducated." And then there's the (R) by his name.
But the conservative intelligentsia is not all Jewish and George Will and PJ O'Roarke are signalling too.

Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 04:17 PM (NcS+H)

241 I know, for example, Moxie Mom, who I respect immensely, is #NeverTrump (or at least swings that way). I have no problem with a thinking being coming down on that side of the question.

She's irritatingly irritating. I've avoided AoS for the past six weeks because of her. Now if you're okay with her pushing her agenda than that's your call.

I know its hard to believe that women--the allegedly weaker sex-- can be bullies, but if the shoe fits...

There's a damn good reason that so many millions have come out for Trump. Some call it anger. I prefer 'righteous indignation' as a more explanatory definition. She's apparently part of intellegencia and has the same nose in the air attitude as the rest of those self gratifying fucks.

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:17 PM (ZnIt3)

242 I think she's right.

Yeah, I'm going to say that I think she's right.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:18 PM (OQ9R7)

243 Not all no-Trump folk are virtue-signaling, but there are many no-Trumpers who are, expressly so. Some have taken it to a point of tying it to religion, and I'm not kidding about that.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:18 PM (0mRoj)

244 My mother liked Palin a whole lot back in 2008.
Voted for her with great enthusiasm.
She detests Trump.

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

Same here. We may be in the minority I suppose, but I bet there are quite a few of us, who were very big supporters of Palin, but cannot support Trump. Proving that we don't all fall into easy categories.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:18 PM (gmeXX)

245 Again , in real life Trump is Judge Smails. At least as his golf country clubs.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:18 PM (K4eq3)

246 >>Maybe she's a complete out-lier, maybe not.

Palin has been one of Trump's biggest supporters (which is a circle someone will have to square for me cause it makes zero sense for the self-proclaimed Tea Party hero to support Trump) and she has a very loyal core following. I'd be surprised if to many stray.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:18 PM (/tuJf)

247 That broad has moxy.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:19 PM (OQ9R7)

248 But by calling himself a #Never Trump he is clearly signalling to his tribe that he is above the rubes and hayseeds who can't wait to vote Trump.

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

Or is he simply saying he will not vote for Trump?

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:19 PM (gmeXX)

249 I grew up Catholic, in Utah, I have some damn good, personal reasons for never voting for a Mormon. I sucked it up for Romney, even volunteered for ORCA. Why, because I live on state that matters and duty.

So, unless Trump personally plowed under your family graveyard to build a golf course AND the Dims dump Hilary for a Jim Webb/Evan Byah ticket, the #nevertrump thing needs to be retired. The good guys f'cked up, they ignored the base on Amnesty and followed the money, and got their just desserts. We get to live with Trump.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:19 PM (Doh4+)

250 I don't care really, my grandfather had a few so it's no big deal. Just wonder why.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:19 PM (3wHFl)

251 Posted by: rd at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (v0YLX)

Trump reminds me of a cross between Al Czervik and Patton (we watched the eponymous movie last night). Patton too was rich, outrageous, politically incorrect, half-nuts, but also a force of nature that swept all before him and thereby got things done. In short, sui generis.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 04:19 PM (oKE6c)

252 I'm going to go-ahead and like that broad.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:20 PM (OQ9R7)

253 There are still members of my family I don't talk to any more because of shouty arguments about "Bush Liiiied." I was so upset about Obama's election in 2008 and the phony get-along-groupthink that I had to break up with a girlfriend I was this close [--] to getting engaged to.

Principles over personal relations is rare, and I think it puts me "on the spectrum" even to care so much to have an opinion.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 04:20 PM (j3gX2)

254 You call it virtue signalling. I call it strutting my stuff.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:21 PM (Nwg0u)

255 Guess won't be taking a trip for Mega Million tickets today, time to sling words and write.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 04:21 PM (D46NL)

256 Temporary tattoos are Gateway Ink

Posted by: jsg at May 31, 2016 04:21 PM (gs8be)

257 That's just it AtC.

No one seems to teach manners anymore except as a private sort of thing. Between people not as a public good.

Like I try to tell my kid being polite is a kind of social grease that makes it all run smoothly. But he's 3 so he doesn't get it

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:21 PM (LorSp)

258 Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:17 PM (ZnIt3)

moxie? you got the right person?

Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 04:21 PM (0O7c5)

259 Socialized thought. Oh, ypu meant Trumpbart, right?

Posted by: jb at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (0G2Xo)

260 I enjoy that foul-mouthed broad's posts. The gal has "gumption".

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (OQ9R7)

261 I am not fine with being ordered what to do by ace or anyone.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (ozZau)

But it "worked" for the left, so we all have to do it now. You know, like knockoff electronics makers or meme-driven comedy.

First you will be made to conform, then you will be made to care. Everbody's doing it!

I kind of wondered, what the point was (back in 2001) when the disaffected left invaded the Libertarians. I mean, why take over a party that never wins anything?

Because it was a center of *ideas* about individualism, and that needed to stop. And now we have sort of vague centrist candidates promising vague millenium-pleasing solutions.

Well-played, leftists. They shifted the entire field their direction with that move.

It is really a shame that they are *so good* at tactics and so *unbelievably horrible* at governing. It seems like some sort of cosmic joke.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (wB8Tg)

262
One day transcript from the gitmo hearing. They sure prepare them fast:

https://goo.gl/BY7C48

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (iQIUe)

263 And what is with the hoops kids are putting in their earlobes? Like that will be a thing 20 years from now, but they are stuck with a giant hole in the ear.

Posted by: Tinfoilbaby at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (6Ll1u)

264 That's a lot of stuff to read....I made it through though...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (O2RFr)

265 248.
No. I can't believe Goldberg would rather see Hillary become president. He's too smart. He has to signal he's not a Trumpster. Or, he simply reasons that Trump is going to win or lose without his support. He still has to socialize with a lot of NeverTrump people after this is over.

Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (NcS+H)

266 As Bander is fond of saying, manners are important.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands

You, humble blog comment reader, may be asking yourself whatever she means. That Bander feller isn't always prattling on about manners. Mostly he's touting stupid libertarian ideas or commenting on celebrity nudity, the one subject on which he has Rainman cred.

She means in person and on the phone in the hours we talk to each other every day. And I do think that manners are important and it does come up in conversation.

This is not virtue signalling. This is not even a humble brag. This is me noting that I spent hours a day with alex and you don't. She is my Special Friend.

I won the internet.

*bows*

*leaps off stage*

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (1xUj/)

267 Temporary tattoos are Gateway Ink

That's funny...people on Gateway would definitely get inked up.

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:23 PM (qUNWi)

268 #NeverTofu

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:23 PM (Nwg0u)

269 Is it virtue signaling to not want to vote for a guy who advocated for the impeachment of the last Republican President? Who disparaged POWs? Who previously supported the right to partial birth abortions? Just to name a few things.

To use an anology, some people hate crooked cops more than crooks.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:23 PM (K4eq3)

270 I read a while back there was some kind of tattoo ink now that fades away after about a year.That might be a better option.Of course they will find out it causes cancer or something.

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 04:23 PM (B48dK)

271 Or is he simply saying he will not vote for Trump?

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:19 PM (gmeXX)

Of course, for some people that is all it is.

I think the point of the post was directed at those who are on a mission to Save the Republic from the foul Monster Trump. You know exactly the type I am talking about.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Salutes Those Who Died to Protect Our Right to Gripe at May 31, 2016 04:23 PM (hLRSq)

272 Palin has been one of Trump's biggest supporters (which is a circle someone will have to square for me cause it makes zero sense for the self-proclaimed Tea Party hero to support Trump) and she has a very loyal core following. I'd be surprised if to many stray.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:18 PM (/tuJf)

Palin has always been, first and foremost, an outsider crusading against the corrupt party elite and the wasteful status quo.

Trump falls into that same category.

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 04:24 PM (Zs4uk)

273 The progs on FB are busy creating content labeling any Trump supporter as misogynist, racist, etc. I can only hope that having played this same card so many times to defend Barry's and Hillary's indefensible actions and paint Mr. white bread, plain vanilla, nice guy Romney as a monster that its become boy who cried wolf.

Shoot, that sounds a bit like I think Trump IS a wolf. I don't like that the best carnival barker type of communication seems to be what wins modern elections but I don't think having that communications style makes him a bad guy. And he may be collecting some supporters that do stray into racism or sexism but I'm sure the vast majority are just "f*vk this, you call me a racist just for wanting a level playing field; fine, by that definition I am racist and you can STfU"

Posted by: Palerider at May 31, 2016 04:24 PM (dkExz)

274 One of the most interesting things I've ever heard about one of the main differences between the French Revolution and the American Revolution is that the American congresses were conducted behind closed doors, while the French gatherings were conducted before audiences that could register an opinion.

It lead to increasing radicalization and partisanship, as well as continual gamesmanship about who was the "true" revolutionary, as opposed to an airing of grievances and honest debate in closed session, resulting in a agreement that satisfied MOST but not all parties.

Small decision, to allow open or closed sessions, but hugely important in terms of what gets said and how the debate progresses.

Posted by: Massena at May 31, 2016 04:24 PM (OaPDG)

275 No. I can't believe Goldberg would rather see Hillary become president. He's too smart. He has to signal he's not a Trumpster. Or, he simply reasons that Trump is going to win or lose without his support. He still has to socialize with a lot of NeverTrump people after this is over.

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

I just don't get the vibe from him that he thinks Trump supporters are rubes. I honestly think he just doesn't support Trump - like I do. I don't think Trump supporters are rubes. I think they are wrong.

I'm coming at it from my own perspective which is obviously different from yours.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:24 PM (gmeXX)

276 It's a cromulent quote.

Posted by: William F. Buckle at May 31, 2016 04:25 PM (VdICR)

277 *looks askance at that preening peacock of a popinjay named Bandersnatch*

So do you get a blankey now?

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 04:25 PM (D46NL)

278 I was so upset about Obama's election in 2008 and the phony get-along-groupthink that I had to break up with a girlfriend I was this close [--] to getting engaged to.

Principles over personal relations is rare, and I think it puts me "on the spectrum" even to care so much to have an opinion.
Posted by: Leo Spaceman

I honestly don't know how people of opposite political ideologies get along in a marriage. I couldn't do it, I know that.

My problem is I genuinely feel the Left is evil, it's not like we are disagreeing about TV shows or music.

Posted by: Maritime at May 31, 2016 04:25 PM (x1FYm)

279 I loved Palin's speech at the R Convention. I thought that she was brilliant. But now....I've watched some of Palin's stump speeches and interviews for Trump and she sounds embarrassingly bad. Stilted, phony, and annoyingly chirpy is the best that I can describe it.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 04:25 PM (oiNtH)

280 230---Posted by: rd at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (v0YLX)
-------------------
Paul Ryan will endorse Trump soon enough.
McConnell already has.

Your belief that the NeverTrump group and the comfortable GOPe ruling class are the same doesn't compute.

NeverTrumpers seem to come from quite a few cohorts and directions.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 31, 2016 04:26 PM (T/5A0)

281 More often than not, trips from Gateway were suicide missions; so yeah they lived it up.

Posted by: Anna Puma at May 31, 2016 04:26 PM (D46NL)

282 A heart.

A butterfly

Crucifix

Star

Angel wings

The tattoos the woman can never see, only someone from behind her. Like, please. They should just be glad they are there

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:26 PM (zOTsN)

283 Palin has always been, first and foremost, an outsider crusading against the corrupt party elite and the wasteful status quo.

Trump falls into that same category.

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

Its just that Palin was (or appeared to me to be conservative) and Trump does not. I'm ok with an outsider crusading against the party, but I want the outsider to at least be conservative.

That is my perspective, and why I could easily support Palin, but cannot support Trump.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:27 PM (gmeXX)

284 So do you get a blankey now?

And a pallet inside the gates.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 04:27 PM (1xUj/)

285
There must be a list of most popular women's tatoos.
A rose
A shamrock
Paw prints
Posted by: ThunderB

This End Up

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (kdS6q)

286 do hope Weekly Standard trots out their host to leach on and ends up doing jack shit while Trump wins in a landslide. Be the cherry on the top of this election

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (SyKbw)

287 #NeverBrusselssprouts and also Hillary

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (3wHFl)

288 Now if someone doesn't like Trump, it's just because they're virtue signaling. I disagree with that. A lot of good people just really hate him for legit reasons

----

It's fine that you don't. Vote for whom you want.

Just never pretend to me that were the positions reversed you would give me the same courtesy. If I turned away from Cruz I'd be a traitor, a leftward, an immoral dipshit, etc. BTW I fucking hate Cruz.

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (LorSp)

289 244 My mother liked Palin a whole lot back in 2008.
Voted for her with great enthusiasm.
She detests Trump.

======

I was enthusiastic for Palin. She was a "real person," she excited my Libertarian tendencies. She was good looking, which p****ed off all the right people.

In retrospect, it was a terrible idea. Her pregnant daughter was perfect to pillory her in nascent social media, and every married middle-aged suburban woman (i.e., the KEY SWING CONSTITUENCY), had their own strong opinions on what they would do if their teenage daughter was impregnated by an inarticulate hockey jock. -- by faaar, most of them would not force their daughter into a shotgun wedding.

I went to the booth like a zombie, and voted McCain/Palin just as a protest vote, letting Obama know he didn't have unanimity, while knowing that I worried that a McCain/Palin administration would probably be a disaster.

I doubt I can vote for Trump for all those reasons and more. At this point I may just write in Cthuhlu if the ancient one is not on the ballot already.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (j3gX2)

290 Same here. We may be in the minority I suppose, but I bet there are quite a few of us, who were very big supporters of Palin, but cannot support Trump. Proving that we don't all fall into easy categories.
Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:18 PM (gmeXX)'

I don't think it's a minority, but there's no way to know.

I gave $ to SarahPac, bought her books, watched her tv show, joined her forum--and more.

Never could stand Trump, and dislike him even more now.

Most of the bloggers/tweeters I follow that hate Trump also supported Palin, but that's anecdotal.

You could even extrapolate this to Cruz supporters. Cruz was looked down on as distasteful by the upper RINO classes, who preferred Jeb and Kasich, maybe Rubio, but Cruz was my top choice.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (ozZau)

291 For those into schadenfreude, I just got word that my project car needs $2600 in additional (and unplanned for) repairs.

Fuck.

But now that I'm in as deep as I am, there is no turning back.

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (Zs4uk)

292 Looks like Hillary Harpie Mills didn't answer many questions last week.... Big surprise there...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 04:29 PM (O2RFr)

293 ..."This is not virtue signalling. This is not even a humble brag. This is me noting that I spent hours a day with alex and you don't. She is my Special Friend.

I won the internet."

*bows*

*leaps off stage*

Nicely played, Sir. Nicely played.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 04:22 PM (1xUj/)

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:29 PM (OQ9R7)

294 >>No. I can't believe Goldberg would rather see Hillary become president. He's too smart. He has to signal he's not a Trumpster. Or, he simply reasons that Trump is going to win or lose without his support. He still has to socialize with a lot of NeverTrump people after this is over.

As I said earlier, back during the Clinton impeachment days Lucianne Goldberg, Jonah's mother,was one of Linda Tripp and Monica Lewinsky's biggest defenders against the Clinton attack machine. Trump came out in support of Clinton and slimed the 3 women as physically and intellectually unattractive.

http://tinyurl.com/jo2ppx4

Some people have long memories and probably didn't like seeing their mother get torched by Trump.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:29 PM (/tuJf)

295 Is it virtue signaling to not want to vote for a guy who advocated for the impeachment of the last Republican President? Who disparaged POWs? Who previously supported the right to partial birth abortions? Just to name a few things.

To use an anology, some people hate crooked cops more than crooks.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck

You dont have to want to ... you just have to put on your boots, wade thru the bullshit, and do it. We're past the point in the process that honest disagreements and reason matter.
All that matters in turnout.

Its a binary game now - nevertrump=foreverhilary

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:29 PM (Doh4+)

296 7. Anything worth saying is worth spending more than 140 characters on saying. If you find your contribution to the public debate seems to occur in 140 character bursts, you might want to consider starting a blog, where you can post more thought-out essays, or you might want to consider shutting the fuck up.

Length: 309 characters

You couldn't even make the final point of your summation on Twitter. The whole point of Twitter is the snarky, passive-aggressive, group think meme-herding of ones frenemies. That and self-promotion for media types to let each other know they posted something new at their main digs.

At least that's my impression. I've never had a Twitter account or spent much time with their platform. *stated with as much condescending superiority as can be mustered*

Seriously, put down the Twitter! You'll be happier if you just do it rather than talking about how it should be done.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at May 31, 2016 04:30 PM (R+30W)

297 Just never pretend to me that were the positions reversed you would give me the same courtesy. If I turned away from Cruz I'd be a traitor, a leftward, an immoral dipshit, etc. BTW I fucking hate Cruz.

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

I won't speak for others, but as a Cruz supporter, I absolutely would have given you that courtesy, and I guess already have. Again, I think you are wrong about Cruz, and I think you are really wrong about Trump v. Cruz, but you are free to vote how you want.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:30 PM (gmeXX)

298 Posted by: Massena at May 31, 2016 04:24 PM (OaPDG)

There is a case to be made for denying some people a voice in proceedings. Actually, a case to be made for denying most people a voice in proceedings, especially those devoted to formulating policy. Exhibit A: social media.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 04:30 PM (oKE6c)

299 Some people have long memories and probably didn't like seeing their mother get torched by Trump.

But, but Trump "evolved" or something... It works for Hillary!

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 04:30 PM (O2RFr)

300 275--I'm not much different than you. I really don't "like" Trump and I'm not chomping at the bit to vote for him. He may prove-if he wins-to be a disaster. But we know Hillary will be a disaster just by winning.
No, I happen to believe we are going to hell in a hand basket either way, so might as well try the poison Trump is selling. It might end up being a shock to the system we need, and I think at this point many #Never Trump people are afraid of that. They have a lot invested in him losing. They can "deal" with Hillary winning--not that hey want her to win. But not with Trump "winning."

Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 04:31 PM (NcS+H)

301 Good post, Ace!

I am opposite to you in this respect: I am #NeverTrump but can accept those who have chosen to support Trump because they believe he is the least bad option.

Look, I personally cannot support the guy. Everything I said about him before he clinched the GOP nomination is still true in my book - he is not conservative, he does not have the temperament to be a descent leader (for whatever that is worth in this day and age), and that we would be better off as Conservatives to oppose him rather than endorse him.

However, I also understand and respect the position of Conservatives who say it is better to support him and hopefully have some level of control over his administration than to sit on the sidelines. While I won't vote for Trump, I hope they are right (and smarter than me). I will also condemn those "Conservatives" who are now willing to support Hillary in opposition. She is just as bad a Trump and the way to protest, in my book, is to vote Libertarian or write-in.

What I can't stand are the Trumpkins who continue to antagonize the #NeverTrump crowd (at least those of us who are also #NeverHillary) calling us fake Conservatives. They want Unity now when they refused to yield before. Fuck them. The reluctant and watchful Trump camp are the only people I will listen to...

But I digress. The point I am trying to make is that I will continue to visit this site and enjoy reading the posts. I think there are a lot of people like me - who don't comment much but still want to be a part of the community. Thank you for being out here offering a coherent view of the race and, on your part at least, mostly respecting the different positions that exist within our movement.

Posted by: Cranky Contrarian at May 31, 2016 04:31 PM (bZfEn)

302 ..."Its a binary game now - nevertrump=foreverhilary"
-Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:29 PM (Doh4+)

Ugh. Shut up.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:31 PM (OQ9R7)

303 >>Palin has always been, first and foremost, an outsider crusading against the corrupt party elite and the wasteful status quo.

Yea, I've noticed that Trump really hates corruption and waste.

heh

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (/tuJf)

304 moxie? you got the right person?�Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 04:21 PM (0O7c5)

Absolutely. I know her other alias here.

Do *you* know who is being discussed?

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (ZnIt3)

305 All that matters in turnout.

Its a binary game now - nevertrump=foreverhilary

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

This is where I agree with Ben Shapiro. This is not simply about beating Hillary. If it was only about beating Hillary, then yes vote for Trump. But I don't want to beat Hillary, I want to advance conservatism. So it is not simply a binary choice as you say.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (gmeXX)

306 294--and Goldberg's mother wasn't "torched" by the Left???

Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (NcS+H)

307 I saw a never trumper attack a long time commenter in the most foul way possible on the ONT some weeks back.

Nobodies telling anyone to do anything

Just don't be an asshole

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:33 PM (zOTsN)

308 No way Goldberg or any other conservative pundit wants Hillary. Hillary will be the end.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:33 PM (3wHFl)

309 Why bother thinking when you can have others do it for you? Of course if those others are letting others do THEY'RE thinking, well...

Don't touch that with your brain! You don't know where that thought has been!

Oh, and... What an asshole!

Posted by: Mr Macca Bean at May 31, 2016 04:33 PM (4ng05)

310 blog really needs a post shitting on Beck to lighten up today

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:33 PM (SyKbw)

311
If you can't vote for Trump, and won't vote for Hillary, may I suggest another sensible option?

*pirouettes*

Posted by: Naked Fat Dancing Libertarian Guy

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 04:33 PM (kdS6q)

312 Also Boy BFF has a French bulldog.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:16 PM (mf5HN)

A certain mark of excellent taste!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 04:34 PM (wYnyS)

313 blog really needs a post shitting on Beck to lighten up today

I think Beck did a pretty good job of that Himself...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 04:34 PM (O2RFr)

314 "Yeah, I've noticed that Trump really hates corruption and waste."

heh

-Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (/tuJf)

+5 Sarcasm
+1 Vitriol

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:34 PM (OQ9R7)

315

Posted by: davisbr at May 31, 2016 04:35 PM (xk+SM)

316 I didn't know there was a Trump movie!

Anyhooooo....
I simply judge Trump by his ability to piss off the right people. And by 'right' I mean the left and the GOP.

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 04:35 PM (e3bId)

317 >>and Goldberg's mother wasn't "torched" by the Left???

And do you see Goldberg supporting the left?

Not everyone goes along with the idea that if you don't vote for Trump you are voting for Hillary. They say a pox on both your houses.

You may not agree with them but that doesn't mean their position isn't valid.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (/tuJf)

318 I only heard the author on Dana Loesch's show, someone is making a mountain out of a mole hole

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (3wHFl)

319 other than the hopeful destruction of the GOP, the best thing to take away about this election season is the complete lack of understanding of internet and internet culture on the Right

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (SyKbw)

320 Yea, I've noticed that Trump really hates corruption and waste.

heh

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (/tuJf)

I've seen some people on MSNBC with that pre-conceived image of Trump, but no one has ever explained it.

Is there some corruption or example of waste in Trump's past we should know about?

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (Zs4uk)

321 315
Posted by: davisbr at May 31, 2016 04:35 PM (xk+SM)

*thumbs up*

Posted by: Marcel Marceau at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (0mRoj)

322 So it is not simply a binary choice as you say.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (gmeXX)

Life is fragmented and thus its choices do not always let us progress as we wish we could!

Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (wYnyS)

323
Speaking of assholes, twitter suspended the @DarthPutinKGB account.

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (iQIUe)

324 Oh boy a movie review.

Posted by: Paladin at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (mCOPv)

325 Absolutely. I know her other alias here.

Do *you* know who is being discussed?

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:32 PM (ZnIt3)
yes, i know who you are talking about.....in all of my years here and on twitter.....she has never come across as you have described her....that's why i asked....do you always go by lice wigs?

Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (0O7c5)

326 What about the never Trumpers who say they will vote for Hillary. They exist

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (zOTsN)

327 If neurons have neurotransmitters, morons must have morotransmitters.

Posted by: bob at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (ixM4j)

328 I was briefly thinking about getting a tattoo of Proverbs 21:9: Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:03 PM (0mRoj)

Sort of related:

During law school, the first Ex-Mrs. Sharkman and I were invited to a party of all my student peers, and on the way to the party we had a really crappy argument about nothing, and so when we walked into the party and I introduced her as "Pam, my first ex-wife".

Needless to say, the relationship deteriorated from then on.

I still chuckle about that, though.

Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (CS7jF)

329 Oh boy a movie review!

Posted by: Amy Schumer at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (0mRoj)

330 Thank you for being out here offering a coherent view of the race and, on your part at least, mostly respecting the different positions that exist within our movement.

Posted by: Cranky Contrarian

Well said. FWIW, I respect conservatives that have decided not to vote for Trump even though I have decided that I will. I was really pissed after Cruz dropped out when I kept hearing "You need to get over it and vote Trump". I don't know of anybody who likes to be told how they are supposed to feel, think and act.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 04:38 PM (oiNtH)

331 278

I honestly don't know how people of opposite political ideologies get along in a marriage. I couldn't do it, I know that.

My problem is I genuinely feel the Left is evil, it's not like we are disagreeing about TV shows or music.
Posted by: Maritime at May 31, 2016 04:25 PM (x1FYm)

===

Like I said, I'm a rare bird. I'm on right by conviction, rather than cultural osmosis. Cultural osmosis is what led me to listening to grunge and being for Amnesty International in College. Hard conviction is what got me to come to the conclusion that the Dems are terrible totalitarians.

Living in Chicago, it was bleeding obvious to me how totalitarian the Democrat party is when they have total control. It's frightening to realize that some cannot see outside that bubble.

Also, being male in your 20s in a city like Chicago, you're looking at big blue wall if you actually want to date females. (The small shortage of Republican women means they, understandably, prefer to look toward guys in the six-figure salary area.)

Being a semi-Bohemian punk rocker meant dating a lot of dotty women with ridiculous ideas which meant they never took responsibility for their own lives. Now, married and in my 40s, I look back and chuckle.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 04:38 PM (j3gX2)

332 NeverTrumpers seem to come from quite a few cohorts and directions.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 31, 2016 04:26 PM (T/5A0)

But the New Way is that if you concede *anything*, you're a Loser. So you have to go 100% all the time and everyone who opposes you is a Bad Person and should Feel Bad.

We're past the point in the process that honest disagreements and reason matter.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:29 PM (Doh4+)

The science is settled!

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at May 31, 2016 04:38 PM (wB8Tg)

333 Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (CS7jF)

How unfortunately prescient.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:38 PM (0mRoj)

334
Wow, they have vodka juice boxes. What a country!

https://goo.gl/1T2Gbx

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 31, 2016 04:38 PM (iQIUe)

335 well that and the fat fuck Howe wondertwins crying on the internet, that's awesome as well

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (SyKbw)

336 Daily I am more glad I don't engage on Twitter except that I miss reading the comments by Iowahawk and Ace.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (rmw+9)

337 That was a close one!

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (wB8Tg)

338 What about the never Trumpers who say they will vote for Hillary. They exist

-----------

They are few in number, and for the most part, while I disagree with them on this decision, I have enough respect for them to let it be. I'm not going to disown PJ O'Rourke and his good works over this.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (gmeXX)

339 "I think Beck did a pretty good job of that Himself"...
-Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 04:34 PM (O2RFr)

Yeah, but not you, donna! Not you! Glenn is weird, but...

*gets punched in face*

...next?

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (OQ9R7)

340 All that matters in turnout.

Its a binary game now - nevertrump=foreverhilary

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

This is where I agree with Ben Shapiro. This is not simply about beating Hillary. If it was only about beating Hillary, then yes vote for Trump. But I don't want to beat Hillary, I want to advance conservatism. So it is not simply a binary choice as you say.
Posted by: SH

Explain how letting Hilary pick Scalia's replacement is in any way going to advance Conservatism.

Virtually everything else Hilary wants to do can be moderated by the Conservative lions McConnell and Ryan, except for the SCOTUS. There is no way ANYONE on Trump's list even makes it to Hilary's desk for consideration. We would even be so lucky as to get a Souter.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (Doh4+)

341 317--this makes sense.
But if Hillary wins, the people who torched his mother--you don't think the Clinton's didn't sic the IRS or whoever on Lucianne?--will be right back where they were during the Lewinsky days.

Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (NcS+H)

342 21:9: Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

The Bible says that?

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (qUNWi)

343 Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (CS7jF)
________________________________________

Someone referred to my ex as my "middle wife" at a party about ten years before we divorced. I guess they saw something that I, up to that point had not.

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 04:40 PM (aQQbl)

344 If neurons have neurotransmitters, morons must have morotransmitters.

I am a toro transmitter when I can afford it, but in truth maguro transmissions are quite good enough for me.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 04:40 PM (1xUj/)

345 342 21:9: Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

The Bible says that?
Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (qUNWi)

Sure does. I even provided book, chapter and verse if you'd like to look it up.

Posted by: Insomniac at May 31, 2016 04:40 PM (0mRoj)

346 Human brains process information horribly slowly. Our neurons fire at about 10-20 hz generally, and the absolute maximum is about 200 hz. A high-end commercial cpu runs at about 200 million times that speed.

What humans are good at is networking the 100 billion incredibly slow neurons to cache information. Even the slow processing speed in our brains can generalize trends and patterns from cached data.

Because of the way we process information, we have an innate tendency to believe new information. In terms of time and processing power, believing is cheaper than checking. Thinking independently and checking data sources is time-consuming and inefficient. Having a reason to believe (the speaker is a member of the community, is attractive and you want to sleep with them, is high status in general, has provided good information before) is often enough to just accept the information as given.

This is a good and necessary thing in most cases because finding trustworthy sources that you can rely on is an incredible efficiency booster. Living in a high-trust community helps increase individual efficiency because you can specialize your knowledge if you can believe that Chuck two doors down isn't feeding you bull to get a temporary advantage.

Posted by: Komissar Vladimir at May 31, 2016 04:40 PM (nawZ+)

347 absolutely would have given you that courtesy

---

Get fucking real. You would not.

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (LorSp)

348 >>Is there some corruption or example of waste in Trump's past we should know about?

So I take it this isn't the time you are going to defend Trump's buying of politicians for personal game as the way the system works or pretend multiple bankruptcies are normal.

Whatever. I know you are a huge Trump supporter. I'm not. We aren't going to convince the other to change.

Good burn with the MSNBC thing. I haven't seen it as I rarely watch.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (/tuJf)

349 for those who say that they will not vote for trump because he is not a conservative, who is the last "conservative" president we had in their opinion? ok, too high a bar? the last conservative candidate for president that meets their standard ?

Posted by: runner at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (UP7dB)

350 do you always go by lice wigs?Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (0O7c5)

No. I change my nic, ip, and hash frequently. I probably go back to 2007 as a commenter.

Lice Wags is a play on Lace Wigs which used to spam the ever living hell out of Ace.

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (ZnIt3)

351 Explain how letting Hilary pick Scalia's replacement is in any way going to advance Conservatism.

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

I basically agree with the response Ben gave to Ace on that point. No need for me to say it.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (gmeXX)

352 Unagissimo!

Posted by: bob at May 31, 2016 04:42 PM (ixM4j)

353 A Question I Find Interesting: How Much of "Thought" Is Intellectuated, and How Much Is Merely Socialized?

or simply said or not said out of fear

I was thinking along these same lines today after reading about Dreyfuss' remarks.

How many in Hollywood liberalspeak out of fear?
How many just remain silent?

A high reward for hanging with the tribe and smoking the peace pipe.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 31, 2016 04:42 PM (qCMvj)

354 I'll comment on this post after Reader's Digest does a condensed version of it.....

Posted by: Dogbert at May 31, 2016 04:42 PM (TgOM1)

355 "What about the never Trumpers who say they will vote for Hillary. They exist."
-Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:37 PM (zOTsN)

What about the idiots that don't think we ever landed on the Moon?

They exist.

...and we chide, deride and roll them into submission.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:42 PM (OQ9R7)

356 Nevertheless, I tend to become unreasonably angry when I see them at play, and especially when I see them in a position of dominance, where people are barely even pretending to be even playing on the intellectual-persuasion field at all.

hehe, no kidding

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 31, 2016 04:42 PM (qCMvj)

357 The Bible says that?
Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:39 PM (qUNWi)

Proverbs 21:9

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:42 PM (rmw+9)

358 Twitter poll:

When was the last time something said on Twitter changed your mind about something?

(may just as well been a rhetorical question)

Twitter pushes a button that lets people delude themselves into thinking that they finally have a voice and that they are actually reaching people. It allows them to self congratulate themselves for sharing thoughts with other equally deluded people and to be shelteredly vile to those with whom they disagree. I don't think it's innocuous.

Posted by: Mr Macca Bean at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (4ng05)

359 Lice Wags is a play on Lace Wigs which used to spam the ever living hell out of Ace.

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (ZnIt3)

I miss Lace Wig's sentient AI

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (SyKbw)

360 To me the dividing line is those who believe the individual, both self and others, is important, maybe supremely so vs. those who seek self worth in the mindless din of a mob.

Those who value the individual have to make an effort to understand themselves, take the risk that they could be wrong and have the courage to learn from experience and the reasons of others. To be honest to themselves, individualists must have the guts to stand up, or at least withstand, the noise and threats of a mob.

Those who enjoy being in the mob share certain traits.
Laziness: Why make the effort to reason a position? The mob (read power structure) supplies the thought. It is so much easier to parrot others than learn to express yourself. There is also the sense that the mob will take care of its members so there will be no consequences to the members' actions or tactics.

Cowardice: How many of the mob would dare to use the name calling, insults, threats of violence (or committing violence) without the anonymity of the internet or being part of a crowd? Would they try the same tactics face to face without mob backing? I doubt it. And their tactics would only last as long as it took to punch them in the nose, in some fashion, for their mindless noise and violence. And that leads to the third quality.

Power: Members see the mob as power or a means to power. By joining in mindlessly, they think they will share in that power. To a point they will, until those actually in charge don't need them anymore. And their laziness and cowardice won't let them learn to survive without the false cover of the mob. In the meantime, the members wreck everything that would allow them to live as a person.

There is a corollary: experience. So many people never have to face being disillusioned or deal with any serious reality that would force them to question or think. They are swaddled from birth and have no concept of pain, especially for others, because they have never had to apologize or realize damage they have done.

Posted by: JTB at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (V+03K)

361 Post is too long. If you'd taken more time, it could have been shorter.

Posted by: mycherrysamores at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (k1Zq7)

362 absolutely would have given you that courtesy

---

Get fucking real. You would not.

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

I'm sorry you think that. I doubt you will find any comments of mine from all my years of posting that would lead you to believe this to be true. Believe what you want to believe though.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (gmeXX)

363 "INTO THE MUD SCUM QUEEN!!!!"

Best movie quote of all time.
Posted by: simplemind at May 31, 2016 04:09 PM (JTwsP)

I really love that movie. Every line, every scene, everything. It is such a classic.

Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid was great, too. Both much better than The Jerk, though that flick did have some pretty funny lines, scenes.

Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (CS7jF)

364 I can't respect someone who claims to be conservative and votes for Hillary.

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (zOTsN)

365 I only heard the author on Dana Loesch's show, someone is making a mountain out of a mole hole

-
Speaking of mole hills, didja hear about the latest global warming induced eco- archeological catastrophe?

http://tinyurl.com/hw4s8oz

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (Nwg0u)

366 Most Trump support , at least at aos, started off as a way to destroy the GOPe. Now it seems that supporters have taken a defense position that Trump can turn the ship around and is no longer just the destroyer. I can understand the first position. The second position makes me sadz.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:44 PM (K4eq3)

367 288

Just never pretend to me that were the positions reversed you would give me the same courtesy. If I turned away from Cruz I'd be a traitor, a leftward, an immoral dipshit, etc. BTW I fucking hate Cruz.
Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:28 PM (LorSp)

=========

I understand disliking Cruz's personality. I am _myself_ a Libertarian atheist. I would have voted for Cruz because he's solid on the Constitution.

If you said you wouldn't vote for him, I wouldn't be angry. I'd cock my head quizzically to the side and say "well, then why are you here...? What is it, then, that you do expect by pulling "R?"

I knew people who are disgruntled for all their pet passions. Plenty of people did vote for Buchanan in 2000 just because they felt that strongly about abortion. I have a friend who's Dad refused to vote for Bush in 2004 because the FCC changed the rules for short-wave radio, and THAT was his last straw.

Being on the side of the Republicans for the fringe benefits is lousy. The parties are less fun, the chicks are far less easy, and the opportunities for getting a round of applause for saying something fatuous about how you want to give away other peoples' money are far, far fewer in number.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 04:44 PM (j3gX2)

368 Proverbs has a fair amount about quarrelsome wives. However, since Solomon supposedly wrote much of it, I don't know why he expected to not have quarrelsome wives considering how many he had. ;^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (rmw+9)

369 I can't respect someone who claims to be conservative and votes for Hillary.

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (zOTsN)

you must seethe at Red State and what ever the fuck Erickson's new shithole is then

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (SyKbw)

370
Proverbs 21:9: Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Posted by: Insomniac

If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life
Never make a pretty woman your wife

So for my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you

Jimmy Soul: 1963

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (kdS6q)

371 Ace's ranty posts give me life.

Posted by: LegzzzAkimbo at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (659DL)

372

Social media is personal. So that's what you get.

There was a time when journalists just told the facts, ma'am.

But, everyone has an opinion now. Everyone has an agenda. An extension of the "Me!" generation*.

*SCOAMF is the "I!" generation.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (qCMvj)

373 Lice Wags is a play on Lace Wigs which used to spam the ever living hell out of Ace.

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (ZnIt3)
yes, i figured as much.....

Posted by: phoenixgirl at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (0O7c5)

374 "What about the never Trumpers who say they will vote for Hillary. They exist."

-
She'll eat them last.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:46 PM (Nwg0u)

375 Proverbs 21:9

I have some qualms about that proverb but I'll just drop it.

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:46 PM (qUNWi)

376 A certain mark of excellent taste!
Posted by: Hrothgar at May 31, 2016 04:34 PM (wYnyS)

He had a female that suffered a bad fall and broke her back and had to be put down.

He was utterly devastated and his wife called the breeder they got her from the next day to see when she would have another batch of puppies and she had ones that just hit six weeks. She cut them a major deal and he got his new little guy that same day.

I still think he should have mourned a bit but damn his new guy is completely adorable.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:46 PM (mf5HN)

377 Leo Spaceman @367

Cut. Jib. Newsletter.

Posted by: DocJ at May 31, 2016 04:46 PM (zrsn3)

378
Oh FFS. Here goes Hillary compensating for her plan to put nursing stations in every tank and cockpit and lose every war she drags us into:

"Clinton releases detailed plan to help military families"

http://tinyurl.com/j2eygsj

Of course she does.

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 04:47 PM (pC96u)

379 I basically agree with the response Ben gave to Ace on that point. No need for me to say it.
Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:41 PM (gmeXX)

His response was almost literally "I concede the point."

The entire thing seems like a non sequitur to me. We need to advance conservatism. We have one candidate that probably won't advance conservatism (Trump), and one that will actively oppose it (Clinton). Therefore, we should not vote for Trump. That's a jump in logic there. I don't see how you get from A to B. I MIGHT be understanding, if the Republican party had done a good job of actually advancing conservatism literally at any point during my lifetime. As I see it, the only real quantifiable avenue that conservatism has been advanced over the last 30 or so years has been on the 2nd amendment, and the way that's happened is because the courts have thrown out bad laws written by liberals, not by anything that the republican party has done.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at May 31, 2016 04:47 PM (KUaJL)

380 I read most of the post. I can't say I'm clear on the premise, because 1., I don't do twitter, and 2., I don't tend to think that way.

The world is complex, and it's sometimes good to be on autopilot.

Why do I root for a certain sports team? Shut up! That's why. What's my favorite song, tv show, beer brand, etc? Really, who cares.

This other stuff though, the direction the country SHOULD be going, I know lots of people are on autopilot, but I try to keep that at a minimum. I've never declared myself a member of any Party, and can't imagine why I would want to limit myself that way. Some things are just too important to leave to others to figure out for me.

Now, would the country be better off if we elected people by throwing blind darts, rather than gazillion dollar media campaigns? That's one I'm contemplating these days. I don't want to assume elective office is a better idea, just because it sounds like it should be.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 04:47 PM (TOk1P)

381
Teh Ewok goes and writes a serious, magnum opus blog post.......and the most consistent theme from the Horde is "movie review".

God, I love this place.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at May 31, 2016 04:47 PM (qtR+y)

382 I can't respect someone who claims to be conservative and votes for Hillary.

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (zOTsN)

Amen to that. Or in my case works by omission to achieve that same result

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 04:47 PM (Ozsfq)

383 Proverbs has a fair amount about quarrelsome wives. However, since Solomon supposedly wrote much of it, I don't know why he expected to not have quarrelsome wives considering how many he had. ;^)

-
One bad apple . . . .

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:47 PM (Nwg0u)

384

#I'mBrilliantWithHashtags!

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 31, 2016 04:48 PM (qCMvj)

385 I'm sorry you think that. I doubt you will find any comments of mine from all my years of posting that would lead you to believe this to be true. Believe what you want to believe though

----

Examine it from how the campaign started: Trump voters were, and some still insist are, trailer trash racists idiots etc. I'm sure you know more names.

Had we lost, your side would be pounding that even more. It would be constantly STFU STFD you had your chance and now do what you are told.

Yes, even you. Be honest.

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:48 PM (LorSp)

386 I went to read for context and found this as well.

Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
Proverbs 21:19

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 04:48 PM (aQQbl)

387 Well, I won't do that again (hit enter for my highlighted email address I mean: sorry).

Interestingly, those social norms can be enforced against most groups.

This morning I was having a disagreement - based upon logic, or as someone commented "trolling" - at HG over the gorilla.

I wasn't in favor of the zoo's pre-decision process, and I was trying to make that point in a logical manner.

(AFTER stating that I was in agreement with the outcome: a human life vs. a gorilla is a no-brainer to me.)

But ...it seems that "everyone" had arrived at the place where no dissenting voices would be tolerated.

(I was being reasonably polite, and countering observations with logical repartee. PRETTY ineffectively I would add. But it was based on coolly analyzing the "opposing viewpoints" rationally, and not emotionally. I mean, what would be the point ...plus I actually agreed it was the best outcome. I'm just ticked at the zoo: I have no faith that the outcome represents was for-ordained - what if the shot missed - and wasa best case decision-making scenario by the zoo. But that's neither here nor there, and I've abandoned that field of battle without being wounded "logically" lol.)

I'm been banned twice over the years (can't recall the blogs anymore: the last was a long time ago), and it looks like I'm going to be banned a third time.

It just so happens that Ace addressed the essential problem tho: I didn't fit into the paradigm.

I was actually called an SJW.

Pretty funny, that. I mean, I'm more than slightly to the right of Herod in point of fact.

My two bits.

Posted by: davisbr at May 31, 2016 04:48 PM (xk+SM)

388
"So I take it this isn't the time you are going to defend Trump's buying of politicians for personal game as the way the system works or pretend multiple bankruptcies are normal. "

Making perfectly legal campaign contributions and asking those politicians to support your view of regulations/zoning laws, etc. is how the system is designed. If a politician accepts those contributions and changes their vote/decision on any subject because of the money, that is corruption.

As to the multiple bankruptcies, any businessman who has invested in numerous companies will, at some point, encounter a bankruptcy.

That's business.

Just because someone's name is used to market a product, it doesn't mean they have operational control of the business.

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 04:48 PM (Zs4uk)

389 ..."Jimmy Soul: 1963"
-Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (kdS6q)

*HAH!*

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:49 PM (OQ9R7)

390 368 Proverbs has a fair amount about quarrelsome wives. However, since Solomon supposedly wrote much of it, I don't know why he expected to not have quarrelsome wives considering how many he had. ;^)
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:45 PM (rmw+9)

You'd think a guy with wisdom beyond all men would have stuck to just one.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (0mRoj)

391 Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 04:48 PM (Zs4uk)

Did you learn that at Trump University?

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (K4eq3)

392 I despair at missing this thread until near 400 comments when no one is still reading.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie!, with purchase of commentor of equal or greater value at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (evdj2)

393 I can't respect someone who claims to be conservative and votes for Hillary.

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (zOTsN)

you must seethe at Red State and what ever the fuck Erickson's new shithole is then
Posted by: the dude

Seethe? No. Just don't acknowledge their existence.
Fire. Belly. Piss down throat = Parts that will never fit together.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (DUqif)

394 Interesting post. I do think we tend to "herd up" (I remember some Orwell comment about the British people being sheep, but like sheep when they decide to do something, they all do it together and one shouldn't underestimate that) so I'm surprised at how evenly divided the country is politically. You'd think there'd be a lot more 80/20 elections, or at least 60/40.

Still "Never Trump" though. I've never been able to just vote "against" people. I just have to find something to vote for. Since I don't care for Trump as a man, and don't agree with his ideas, such as I'm able to discern them from the farrago, I can't mark my ballot for him.

Posted by: Eric E. at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (7b4Mw)

395 You'd think a guy with wisdom beyond all men would have stuck to just one.

Or even fewer.

Posted by: DocJ at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (zrsn3)

396 "But without contrarians, you get smug conformity, and worse yet, smug conformity enforcement officers"

Neil Stevens of Red State springs right to mind.

Posted by: Memories at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (mwcEF)

397 It is amazing how many people walk in here with a gigantic chip on their shoulder and then start venting their spleen at people who are at least nominally, on the same side.

It is the internet, it just seems this year has been worse than usual.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (3ZoRf)

398
Iraqi immigrant who said he was gay to claim asylum 'attacked girl, 11, in Austrian pool'

Iraqi immigrant, 36, who said he was gay to claim asylum in Austria is jailed for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at a swimming pool

Appearing in court this week, the 36-year-old insisted that he is homosexual and that the contact with the child was his first experience of a sexual relationship with the opposite sex.

http://goo.gl/a20g6d
=============

Raping a 11 year old girl is not a "relationship."

Posted by: Bruce With a Wang! at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (iQIUe)

399 The entire thing seems like a non sequitur to me. We need to advance conservatism. We have one candidate that probably won't advance conservatism (Trump), and one that will actively oppose it (Clinton). Therefore, we should not vote for Trump.

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

This is probably a bad metaphor for a party that is partly here because there is never a hill to die on, but sometimes in a war, you have to retreat. I'm not in favor of a going into an ideological battle for the conservative movement with Trump as the general.

And I share Shapiro's thought that I have my doubts that Trump will use any political capital to get an actual (or even a semi) conservative through.

If I'm proven wrong, great.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:51 PM (gmeXX)

400 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
Proverbs 21:19

That makes more sense.

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:52 PM (qUNWi)

401 Wtf are you banging on about Leo?

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:52 PM (LorSp)

402 "Neil Stevens of Red State springs right to mind."
-Posted by: Memories at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (mwcEF)

Everyone at Trumservative Treehouse also owns their place at that table.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 04:52 PM (OQ9R7)

403 I went to read for context and found this as well.

Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Get back to me when you find better to live in a whore house than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (Nwg0u)

404 I don't go to red state. I quit Twitter. Much happier. If I want to know what the left is thinking I can turn on the tv or read a newspaper. I read here, zip, this ain't hell, a few others

I try to be an informed consumer of information realizing everyone has a point of view some of which they disguise. I don't think news was ever objective. We just thought it was

I think a person can be a principled conservative and not vote for Trump. I think you can be a principled conservative and vote for Trump. I don't think you can be a principled conservative and vote for Hillary.

Some of the professional punditry that is never trump is more concerned about losing their power, their access, which is the source of their income. It has nothing to do with what's best for the country for them, it's what's best for their wallet

I'm done with those people, and they have done a fine job of outing themselves. Now with Shapiro, I think he is very much opposed on principle. That I can respect. But come of the others? Not so much

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (zOTsN)

405 I miss Lace Wig's sentient AI

Posted by: the dude at May 31, 2016 04:43 PM (SyKbw)

I still pine for MACHINES FOR SALE!

Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (CS7jF)

406 Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:44 PM (K4eq3)

I was fascinated watching the master salesman, marketer, and promoter work. He identified areas of concern to voters that all other candidates were ignoring. He had avoided the scripting and puppeting that all other candidates get from the consultants and the pundits.

Trump had his own strategy, and he worked that one. He beat all predictions, he beat everyone in the Republican line-up. It was an amazing performance and one that should studied closely.

Based on past performance of all claims that "Trump is Now Doomed" I think I'll sit back and wait. There are five months worth of events coming.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - The Outrage Outlet Salutes Those Who Died to Protect Our Right to Gripe at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (hLRSq)

407 So The FAB's aid Mills refused to answer most questions. Yeah let's elect the FAB President

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (Ozsfq)

408 And I share Shapiro's thought that I have my doubts that Trump will use any political capital to get an actual (or even a semi) conservative through.

If I'm proven wrong, great.
Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:51 PM (gmeXX)

This kind of goes to the guy who is hanging from a cliff. If all he has is a few blades of grass he will grasp for them, because: hey, what does he have to lose?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (3ZoRf)

409 "
It is amazing how many people walk in here with a gigantic chip on their
shoulder and then start venting their spleen at people who are at least
nominally, on the same side.

It is the internet, it just seems this year has been worse than usual.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (3ZoRf)"
True, dat.
I guess it could also be interpreted "I resemble that remark" woot.
Ha! Little do you know.

Posted by: davisbr at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (xk+SM)

410 407 So The FAB's aid Mills refused to answer most questions. Yeah let's elect the FAB President

I'm shocked. Shocked I tell You...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (O2RFr)

411 Examine it from how the campaign started: Trump voters were, and some still insist are, trailer trash racists idiots etc. I'm sure you know more names.

Had we lost, your side would be pounding that even more. It would be constantly STFU STFD you had your chance and now do what you are told.

Yes, even you. Be honest.

-----------

Since I never said that about Trump supporters, I will not agree with you that I would be saying STFU, STFD. Some would, but as I said, I am speaking only for myself. I think Trump supporters are wrong to support him. I think they were wrong to support him over someone like Cruz. But I never said they were racists, hicks, rubes, or idiots. Just wrong.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (gmeXX)

412 >>>I hate blog comments when they mimic this We must shout down and silence all dissenting neurons.

Sometimes it's fun to participate in a little group consensus/circle jerk. I wouldn't want to second guess all my thought processes.

But an excellent post.

Posted by: Max Power at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (q177U)

413 The thing that leads me closer to despair is not the stupidity, but the willing embrace of misconduct, and, to be simple about it, evil by the supporters of our leading candidates.

You know why all the dead bodies, all the lies, all the broken security rules, the money laundering foundation, all the defending rapist husbands and clients, none of this affect Hillary voters? They're not only not ashamed by their candidate's behavior, they get off on her getting away with it.

You talk to Trumpzis about his revolving door party membership, serial bankruptcies, his lies to regulators, investors and customers, his unending series of crap vanity products, his divorces, his goosed beauty queens, his bumrushed veterans in front of the Trump Tower, his evicted old ladies, his categorical ignorance of the foundations, functions and processes of this country, his constant, constant, constant lying, and they get off on it, they think it proves he's a "fighter."

We are, in short, about to get exactly the kind of government the majority of the country is demanding.

Posted by: richard mcenroe at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (Kucy5)

414 How many #voteTrumpers were #NeverJeb ? I'm sure some would have changed their minds just like some NeverTrumpers have but this is the intellectual inconsistency that I find aggravating.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (K4eq3)

415 You'd think a guy with wisdom beyond all men would have stuck to just one.

Or even fewer.

Concubines were legal back then.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (DUqif)

416 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Proverbs 21:19
That makes more sense.
Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:52 PM (qUNWi)
__________________________________________________

Perhaps, but I'll take the roof.
Mostly for the free wifi.

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (aQQbl)

417 301---Posted by: Cranky Contrarian at May 31, 2016 04:31 PM (bZfEn)
---------------------------
Good comment.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (T/5A0)

418 State Department Issues New Travel Alert for Europe

Hum? If The FAB get's elected and keeps letting Terrorists into America will The State Department issue a travel warning for America?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 04:55 PM (Ozsfq)

419 He said: 'I thought she looked so big, I thought she must be at least 17 or 18.'

O.K. HE wouldn't have attacked her except that she looked 17 or 18. Great reasoning/s Put the man in jail permanently.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 04:55 PM (rmw+9)

420 This kind of goes to the guy who is hanging from a cliff. If all he has is a few blades of grass he will grasp for them, because: hey, what does he have to lose?

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

Fair point. I'm not at the same point you are.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:56 PM (gmeXX)

421 Most Trump support , at least at aos, started off as
a way to destroy the GOPe. Now it seems that supporters have taken a
defense position that Trump can turn the ship around and is no longer
just the destroyer. I can understand the first position. The second
position makes me sadz.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:44 PM (K4eq3)

I think it's entirely reasonable for people to think an elected Trump will still be a near unmitigated good. For one, he might still be actively destroying Gope, and that can't be a bad thing. And two, if you start with the premise that Presidents don't actually turn the ship around, they at most reflect the direction of the change, then Trump could still be a part of that. I don't expect it, but I can understand why some people would hope.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 04:56 PM (TOk1P)

422 ace, I think you're talking about "received wisdom," which may not be wisdom at all but it tends to arrive fully packaged.

There are also "unexamined assumptions."

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at May 31, 2016 04:56 PM (AroJD)

423 I think Trump supporters are wrong to support him. I think they were wrong to support him over someone like Cruz. But I never said they were racists, hicks, rubes, or idiots. Just wrong.
Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (gmeXX)

yeah but it is no longer Trump against Cruz...it is Trump against the FAB.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 04:56 PM (Ozsfq)

424 This is probably a bad metaphor for a party that is partly here because there is never a hill to die on, but sometimes in a war, you have to retreat. I'm not in favor of a going into an ideological battle for the conservative movement with Trump as the general.

And I share Shapiro's thought that I have my doubts that Trump will use any political capital to get an actual (or even a semi) conservative through.

If I'm proven wrong, great.
Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:51 PM (gmeXX)

I get that. And I can accept that sometimes the smart move is to retreat. But retreat itself is not a plan for victory. It might be the first step, but we haven't heard anything beyond that.

It feels like wishful thinking to me, because (and maybe I'm wrong because I just haven't been looking in the right place), I don't understand the overall strategy we're using so that retreating here is the right move. All the important details are being glossed over. The strategy can't just be "Brave Sir Robin bravely ran away." I just never hear anything past the first part.

Posted by: joe, living dangerously at May 31, 2016 04:56 PM (KUaJL)

425 Proverbs has a fair amount about quarrelsome wives. However, since Solomon supposedly wrote much of it, I don't know why he expected to not have quarrelsome wives considering how many he had. ;^)

At least one of them had breasts like twin fawns, so I cut him some slack.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 04:57 PM (1xUj/)

426
So The FAB's aid Mills refused to answer most questions. Yeah let's elect the FAB President
Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (Ozsfq)
---------------------

Oh wow. But she told her aides to cooperate fully with all investigations!!!!

And by the way, how does she even do this? It's not a criminal case.

This will soon be picked apart:

http://www.judicialwatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/JW-v-State-Mills-deposition-01363.pdf

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 04:57 PM (pC96u)

427 OT: A deputy in the county in which I used to live got shot in the face during a "routine" traffic stop. He's going to live, but lost an eye.

Here's a link to the GoFundMe for him:

http://tinyurl.com/z6asrmk

Posted by: Country Singer at May 31, 2016 04:57 PM (GUBah)

428 And as far as the Ben Shapiro discussion goes; the next time that you have him as a guest in a discussion where neither of you agree with each other as nicely as you each disagreed with each other, might I suggest a little Barry White playing in the background?

Posted by: Mr Macca Bean at May 31, 2016 04:57 PM (4ng05)

429 416 Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

Proverbs 21:19
That makes more sense.
Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 04:52 PM (qUNWi)
__________________________________________________

Perhaps, but I'll take the roof.
Mostly for the free wifi.
Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 04:54 PM (aQQbl)

I think " then thou shalt burn the motherfucker down" was in the original text, but deleted by the Council of Nicea.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at May 31, 2016 04:57 PM (0mRoj)

430 as to the multiple bankruptcies, any businessman who has invested in numerous companies will, at some point, encounter a bankruptcy.�

The term 'bankruptcy' is seldom understood by pretty much everyone. 'Protection from creditors' is actually a better term to describe the process.

But it's like the Joe the Plumber vs Obama argument eight years ago. Noboby knew what the hell either one of them was talking about because the subject is complex.

Accounting is an entire language that only a few understated.

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (ZnIt3)

431 Appearing in court this week, the 36-year-old insisted that he is homosexual and that the contact with the child was his first experience of a sexual relationship with the opposite sex.�

I'm guessing it wasn't a sharia court and he isn't being charged for homo sex.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (3wHFl)

432 So Slap, I went and read what Shapiro had to say ... and he's a fool and a defeatist. Yes, Trump is the best Democrat in the race, but Trump winning the Presidency won't gut the Conservative movement; it may however gut the Republican party. Which might not be a bad thing.

All he is doing is preserving a roost from which he can crow if either Trump loses (I told you so ...) or criticize him if he wins.

No moral courage there.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (Doh4+)

433 I was active duty when Reagan was POTUS and then Clinton. What a sea change that was. All of a sudden we were forced to have sensitivity classes and a heap of new rules.

With a Hillary POTUS there will be mandatory tampon kits and cramp-days-off.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (oiNtH)

434 425 Proverbs has a fair amount about quarrelsome wives. However, since Solomon supposedly wrote much of it, I don't know why he expected to not have quarrelsome wives considering how many he had. ;^)

At least one of them had breasts like twin fawns, so I cut him some slack.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 04:57 PM (1xUj/)

Four legs and hooves?

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (0mRoj)

435 >>For one, he might still be actively destroying Gope, and that can't be a bad thing

Trump is not destroying the GOPe. Just the opposite. He is being assimilated.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (/tuJf)

436 by the time I got to the end, I forgot what movie was being reviewed. what was it again?

in all srsnss, nice, thoughtful piece. a concept lost on the hard left and not to be had by them no matter the factual basis and logical persuasion of your argument. there is no help for them.

i think that the malevolent intent, the "cruelty" as you say, ace, of the worker bees n�e trolls is not pack protection-that protection is a given provided sufficient numbers exist- but to seek approval of those members of that that pack. man is a social creature (witness the to me unfathomable success of facebook, instagram, snapchat and all the other social aps) and acceptance by society (or subparts) is crucial to satisfying that urge; the "pack" here being its own little sub-society. in the end, whatevs, cuz' haters gonna hate.

putting all that aside, they are a nasty, dishonest bunch of assblisters, that's for sure.

Posted by: oddnot says ~sigh~ at May 31, 2016 04:59 PM (g1MTt)

437 He had a female that suffered a bad fall and broke her back and had to be put down.

He was utterly devastated and his wife called the breeder they got her from the next day to see when she would have another batch of puppies and she had ones that just hit six weeks. She cut them a major deal and he got his new little guy that same day.

I still think he should have mourned a bit but damn his new guy is completely adorable.

Posted by: alexthechick - All The Whatever Hands at May 31, 2016 04:46 PM (mf5HN)

Puppies! Finally a topic I feel good about discussing, despite the sad prologue.

I agree about mourning. When my beloved golden retriever - and best friend - died, I ignored advice to get another dog right away. It was just over a year before I could look at a puppy without thinking of the end. But then, I could, and was able to love the new little guy without being overcome by sadness.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 04:59 PM (oKE6c)

438 I get that. And I can accept that sometimes the smart move is to retreat. But retreat itself is not a plan for victory. It might be the first step, but we haven't heard anything beyond that.

-----------

No but neither is rush head first into an ambush. I don't know what the plan for conservatism is. I just don't think Trump can or will lead it. And I think he will actually hurt it in the long run.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:59 PM (gmeXX)

439 How Much of "Thought" Is Intellectuated, and How Much Is Merely Socialized?

Christ. And it's the first day back after a holiday. See, this is why I like blogs like Iowahawk's. Just pictures of hot rods.

Posted by: Skookumchuk at May 31, 2016 04:59 PM (/WPPJ)

440 I think this archetype, the Priest archetype, will always exist,
particularly in politics, which is just Religion By Other Means.

*rolls d20*

Posted by: Level 27 Priest Archetype at May 31, 2016 04:59 PM (itfg0)

441 See WZ. Media caught creating fake news. It's only Telemundo but still . . . .

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 04:59 PM (Nwg0u)

442 >>>Appearing in court this week, the 36-year-old insisted that he is homosexual and that the contact with the child was his first experience of a sexual relationship with the opposite sex

I actually approve of a sudden drop from roof altitude for this guy.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:00 PM (oiNtH)

443 Well I got sort of a "Preference Cascade" vibe on the opening end to this but I stuck with it to the end and you make some valid points. To whit I'm only going to offer this observation.

Galvanization using shallow emotional arguments is only effective for lessor thinkers. Unfortunately we are at no shortage of those. Now in the case of TRUMP! V !TRUMP we have what I would see as an expected galvanization.

Trump's opposes have been attacked on all fronts, both legitimate and illegitimate, and outright underhanded. Of course they developed into an emotionally insular and orthodox community. That's what's bound to happen, from a behavior standpoint, when so much pressure is asserted on a group from all fronts, intellectual, emotional, and outright coercive.

So when you look now at #NeverTrump remember their defenses weren't erected for you singular they were erected for you plural, all of you #ProTrump. If you plunder a city often enough you shouldn't call them un-neighborly for erecting walls.

Posted by: MikeTheMoose at May 31, 2016 05:00 PM (0q2P7)

444 "This occurred to me recently when I checked Twitter for the first time in a while and saw that #NeverTrump was more than the dominant group norm -- it was the enforced group norm..."

There's only so much blame you can put on yourself for that. Twitter is an environment of self-selection -- you choose who you follow, and therefore you are surrounding yourself with people whose opinions you value enough to listen to. Let's face it: 95% of what news I get, I get from conservative-leaning sources. I know in my heart of hearts that MSNBC and the Los Angeles Times are not just wrong, but wrong to the point of pissing me off, so I don't hook up with them.

People ask me if I'm in a right-wing echo chamber. Maybe I am. Three weeks ago, half of my Twitter feed was #NeverTrumpers, and they were a constant barrage of NeverTrumpism; the other half was Trump fanatics, who wouldn't shut up about the need for me to get on the Trump Train if I wasn't a cuck-something. Point is, I followed the people I followed because I liked most of what I read from them back when I clicked the "follow" button.

If, by some chance, the vast bulk of the people you follow are NeverTrumpers, it's going to seem like a vortex of enforced opinion.

I didn't give in to the urge to unfollow people for disagreeing with me. I figure, by mid-November, one way or another, this range way will be over, and we can get back to the important business of trashing Obama, and retweeting everything most of us do agree on.

Posted by: Qoheleth at May 31, 2016 05:00 PM (iIzG7)

445 Trump is not destroying the GOPe. Just the opposite. He is being assimilated.
Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (/tuJf)

And The FAB is being assimilated by the far far far left

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:00 PM (Ozsfq)

446 "So Slap, I went and read what Shapiro had to say ...
and he's a fool and a defeatist. Yes, Trump is the best Democrat in
the race, but Trump winning the Presidency won't gut the Conservative
movement; it may however gut the Republican party. Which might not be a
bad thing.

All he is doing is preserving a roost from which he can crow if
either Trump loses (I told you so ...) or criticize him if he wins.

No moral courage there."
-Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (Doh4+)

Yeah, I know. I'm resigned and you are right.

*doffs cap*

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:00 PM (OQ9R7)

447 tl;dr

is there a Cliff notes version of Ace's rant?

Posted by: redc1c4 at May 31, 2016 05:01 PM (VY58g)

448 FAB= Fat aged Bitch?

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:01 PM (O2RFr)

449 A Question I Find Interesting: How Much of "Thought" Is Intellectuated, and How Much Is Merely Socialized?

No.

Posted by: Brain Slugs at May 31, 2016 05:01 PM (itfg0)

450 All he is doing is preserving a roost from which he can crow if either Trump loses (I told you so ...) or criticize him if he wins.

No moral courage there.
Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (Doh4+)

Excellent.

Posted by: Mr Macca Bean at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (4ng05)

451 First off: great job Ace. Excellent point, terrific article, stated very well. You covered something that's been bothering me in the back of my head but had not taken shape.

On the positive side: embrace the truth. Love the truth. The purpose of argument is not to win but to defend the truth. Whether you "win" or not is not the point - that's out of your hands. What matters is if you're on the side of truth, and that is in your hands.

If you're interested only in the truth, you're less likely to be jammed into a corner defending things stupidly - its happened to us all, me more often than most. Loving the truth first makes you more willing and able to back down, to say "that's a good point" and admit where you don't know the answer.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (39g3+)

452 "If you plunder a city often enough you shouldn't call them un-neighborly for erecting walls."

I nominate you for head of Department of Border Control in the next administration, Mike.

Posted by: Qoheleth at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (iIzG7)

453 And The FAB is being assimilated by the far far far left
Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:00 PM (Ozsfq)

I am pretty sure she is not assimilating, but rather throwing off the trappings of centrism she thought she had to wear to get elected.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (3ZoRf)

454 Would now be a good time to remind everyone we could have had a stripper/pornstar candidate?

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (e3bId)

455 I respect most of the NeverTrumpers.

But I look at the "Nevertrump Leadership" and all I see are GOP Establishment hacks that want the system to go on and on. The system that has run up 20 Trillion in debt, the system that has enriched Washington and impoverished the 50 states. The system that thinks mass illegal immigration and amnesty is a great idea. The system that is giving Iran nuclear weapons, gave Iraq to ISIS. Turned Libya into a hellhole. The system that refuses to fight and defund Obamacare.

That is what I see when I see NeverTrump.

I hope Trump can change this. I know damned well Hillary, Jeb!, and Paul Ryan will not change any of this.

If Trump can fix immigration, Obamacare, and the VA I will be happy. (I thought Cruz could too, but that was not to be)

His Supreme Court list made me feel much better.

Posted by: rd at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (v0YLX)

456 FAB= Fat aged Bitch?
Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:01 PM (O2RFr)

Fat Ass Bitch

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (Ozsfq)

457 Fat Ass Bitch Thanks....

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (O2RFr)

458 Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:01 PM (O2RFr)

It could be Fuck Ass Bitch in my hood.

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (48QDY)

459 Did you learn that at Trump University?

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (K4eq3)

Here's something I learned, and I didn't need Trump University to learn it.

I've learned there are people who consider themselves intellectually elite conservative thinkers. Some of these people are writers, others just comment.

In their deep thinking about conservative government, they believe that the perfect candidates to fill offices outline plans to reduce spending and staffing at federal agencies.

That is what conservatives do, they explain.

Of course, not one of them has ever said anything about what actual value these agencies provide or how efficiently they could provide it, they only focus on the percentage of cut.

These aren't smart people. They want to impress people with the purity of their dogma, but the bottom line is that they never put a great deal of thought into the goals and process.

Trump has a lifetime record of getting things done in a tough, competitive environment. He would know that a random percentage cut is worthless without knowing what is lost and what is gained. There are times a 80% reduction is called for. Other times an increase is needed.

Someone like Trump dealt with those decision every day of his life. The politicians who he defeated as candidates have only dealt with how a cut or increase would "look".

Fuck them. I want change.

That's why I'm for him.

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (Zs4uk)

460 It is the internet, it just seems this year has been worse than usual.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 04:50 PM (3ZoRf)

I think, in part, more people who *don't* do this have been driven away, and more people thrilled by this have joined in.

I have stopped posting for weeks at a time this season. Hysteria is extremely depressing to be around. It just reminds me of why 99% of people's lives in history have sucked ass (but not for long).

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (wB8Tg)

461 404----I think a person can be a principled conservative and not vote for Trump. I think you can be a principled conservative and vote for Trump. I don't think you can be a principled conservative and vote for Hillary.

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (zOTsN)
---------------------
That about sums it up.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (T/5A0)

462 osted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:01 PM (O2RFr)

I think it stands for Fat a$$--d b.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (rmw+9)

463 Would now be a good time to remind everyone we could have had a stripper/pornstar candidate?

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (e3bId)

Pics or it never happened?

Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (CS7jF)

464 I won't speak for others, but as a Cruz supporter, I
absolutely would have given you that courtesy, and I guess already
have. Again, I think you are wrong about Cruz, and I think you are
really wrong about Trump v. Cruz, but you are free to vote how you want.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:30 PM (gmeXX)

At least in the online circles I've following for the last 15 years, hating the Republican nominee and other high profile Republicans always seemed to be a sign of your conservative bona fides. Like, Drew M abandoning the Republican party back when we most of us still thought we were all generally in agreement with each other just made him seem like a more serious conservative to me. My experience is anecdotal, sure, but I never saw hostility directed at party dissidents until Trump. I'm sure there's examples of it to cherry pick, but it was certainly a lot easier to ignore. I'm mildly surprised by all the Romney hate there was (apart from the context of the pro vs anti-Trump debate, which is pretty recent) in the party, but was never upset by it. I always assumed some of the people espousing Drew M-like opinions were serious and didn't vote or voted third-party, others were all bluster and voted anyway, and ultimately it was of no relevance to me either way. I liked Republicans a lot better when I thought this was a commonplace perspective in the party.

Posted by: reform highlander at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (jCH/T)

465 Hum? If The FAB get's elected and keeps letting Terrorists into America will The State Department issue a travel warning for America?

-
They should issue travel warnings for Chicago.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (Nwg0u)

466
is there a Cliff notes version of Ace's rant?

Read the finall summation, the 6 points. But seriously, read it all.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (39g3+)

467 My problem is more meta -- my problem is with the non-thinking beings.

Well, Ace, that's a hell of a problem, given that about 99% of the human race isn't interested in thinking. It's hard and stuff. (Elitist? You bet your ass)

Here's a test of your inclinations in that regard. Can you think of any topic where you listened to a reasoned argument and changed your mind?

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (LAe3v)

468 Also there's So Much Red some threads are hard to read.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (wB8Tg)

469 All he is doing is preserving a roost from which he can crow if either Trump loses (I told you so ...) or criticize him if he wins.

----------

Or he is being sincere when he says he fears that Trump may cause damage to the conservative movement.

I'll be the first to admit that if Trump is as good as his supporters think he will be - I'll admit crow. But I also now realize, we see things differently. If he starts a trade war, some will find that good, because we are finally doing something, whereas I will think it is probably bad.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (gmeXX)

470 >>And The FAB is being assimilated by the far far far left

Well I'm told here on a daily basis that there is no difference between the GOPe and the left.

Come on, I'm trying to figure out a reason to vote for him. Give me something positive about the guy, don't just tell me how much Hillary sucks. I know how bad she is.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (/tuJf)

471 I'm content to sit back in smug silence as this entire farce plays out and reveals everyone but me to be a mob of howling idiots.

Posted by: DamnDirtyRINO at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (Jd3Pb)

472 The term 'bankruptcy' is seldom understood by pretty much everyone. 'Protection from creditors' is actually a better term to describe the process.

Protection from having to pay your creditors. You took their money, they have the most secured interest, and you're not paying them back.

I understand the societal utility of bankruptcy and I know the difference between Ch. 9 and Ch. 11, but Trump has shown an unseemly disregard for the people who lent him money.

"I was just operating under the rules".

That's a moral failing in my book.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (1xUj/)

473 But it wouldn't make me feel better about voting for Hillary no matter what the size of her derriere or whether she looks like the attractive blonde model with the large chest that morons go crazy about.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (rmw+9)

474 471 I'm content to sit back in smug silence as this entire farce plays out and reveals everyone but me to be a mob of howling idiots.

Poetic... Almost as good as apes in a grotto with figs..

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (O2RFr)

475 There was a man who went into politics

He changed parties frequently

He offended many with his tart tongue, and said some particularly vicious and funny things about a female public figure he loathed

He often had money problems even as a politician

Many people thought he was a dangerous crank. In fact it was the received wisdom

Who was he

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (zOTsN)

476 If you find your contribution to the public debate seems to occur in 140 character bursts,
------------

*ponders the length of my posts here*

Well, that's going to bring the average down.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (9mTYi)

477 I am pretty sure she is not assimilating, but rather throwing off the trappings of centrism she thought she had to wear to get elected.

Posted by: Aetius451AD

It's trappings all the way down. There is no core to her, just decay.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:06 PM (LAe3v)

478 Come on, I'm trying to figure out a reason to vote for him. Give me something positive about the guy, don't just tell me how much Hillary sucks. I know how bad she is.
Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (/tuJf)

His Supreme's list is positive
He seems to support the Military
He does not seem to hang with Jew Haters

That's a start

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:06 PM (Ozsfq)

479
Cliff clavens?

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 05:06 PM (jJSCP)

480 Off topic, but if Hillary is indeed indicted, would the MSM even report it?

Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 05:06 PM (NcS+H)

481 I'll still not vote for Trump, but I no longer have the Constitutional Conservative to fall back upon.

I've been crass, I've been determined.

I lost to a Reality Show and I'm also awaiting my Twelve-Pack from Tim in Illinois.

I knew Ted Cruz from the beginning. He would never work, let-alone V.P. for Donald Trump.

I lost and I resign myself to my principles.

...except for my twelve-pack!

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:06 PM (OQ9R7)

482 I also want to state, unequivocally, that while I am, I suppose, "NeverTrump" I am in no way voting for Hillary. I am not advocating voting for her EVER. I am genuinely upset at this election, and genuinely upset at the idea of Hillary as President. I'd LOVE to vote for someone to stop her.

My problems with Trump were all perfectly articulated by Ben Shapiro. It's also about lending credibility to a movement that is destructive in a long-term way.

Also, I have a particular personal hatred for people who do cons and scams. I cannot look at Trump U and his various multi-level marketing schemes as anything but evocative of worst sort of petty, grasping, criminal mind.

Yeah, I know, the Clinton Foundation is a giant slush fund for corruption. And the media refuses to report on it. They are c***suckers and eff them, and eff the Clintons.

But Trump is not on _my_ side in any other way than running against Clinton. And if he starts a trade war in a fit of pique, then we are worse off with a famously corrupt -- but a corruption that is rational -- dictatorship of Clinton.

Would I rather live in totalitarian state with the head of it ripping off the public, but the population given enough bread and circuses to get by -- Putin's Russia? -- or a cult-of-personality insanity like Zimbabwe or North Korea, where the Leader DunningKrugerizes everything he does while the public is left to suffer?

So, yes, if that's my choice, either Putin model (Clinton) or Zimbabwe model (Trump) I will choose neither. If that means Putin wins, then so be it. Wouldn't be sorry to see Putin lose, but I also have _serious_ fears about taking a Zimbabwe-esque risk.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 05:06 PM (j3gX2)

483 Who was he
Posted by: ThunderB
----------

Churchill?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (9mTYi)

484 For one, he might still be actively destroying Gope, and that can't be a bad thing

--------------------------------
Trump is not destroying the GOPe. Just the opposite. He is being assimilated.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (/tuJf)

You wish.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (TOk1P)

485 "Thinking rightly" has become a team sport. I chatted with Ace once about Prager's concept that "Understanding is of more value than agreement." But Twitter and shutUrFace comment dog-piling is antithetical to this concept.

For instance, I have my own position on Trump (perhaps different than Ace), and it's complicated. I don't have a desire to make anyone else conform to it, but at the same time I'm interested in why other people think differently. I really enjoy reading the reasoning Ace and other have posted here, and getting to see the "why" that different people have come up with for their views. It makes me compare them with my own reasons to see if they are sound.

Hashtag allegiance, Red vs. Blue, cool kids vs. dorks bullshit is the opposite of this all the rage though so #SMODorREVOLUTION

Posted by: adc at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (Rv8vW)

486
There was a man who went into politics

He changed parties frequently

He offended many with his tart tongue, and said some particularly vicious and funny things about a female public figure he loathed

He often had money problems even as a politician

Many people thought he was a dangerous crank. In fact it was the received wisdom

Who was he

Is this a limerick?
Or is it a riddle?

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (jJSCP)

487 But it wouldn't make me feel better about voting for Hillary no matter what the size of her derriere or whether she looks like the attractive blonde model with the large chest that morons go crazy about.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke

I'm afraid I'm going to need more details.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (LAe3v)

488 "Off topic, but if Hillary is indeed indicted, would the MSM even report it?"

Depends on whether on not the hanging is featured on Pay-Per-View.

Posted by: Qoheleth at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (iIzG7)

489 475 Millard Fillmore!

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (e3bId)

490

Serious question. Who is the figure I have described

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (zOTsN)

491 I don't fear Trump damaging the conservative label. I imagine that there are few who would link Trump and Conservative together even in their thoughts.

The Boehners and McConnells have done far worse violence to the ideas of ordered liberty than Trump will ever do.

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie!, with purchase of commentor of equal or greater value at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (evdj2)

492 487 But it wouldn't make me feel better about voting for Hillary no matter what the size of her derriere or whether she looks like the attractive blonde model with the large chest that morons go crazy about.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke

I'm afraid I'm going to need more details.
Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (LAe3v)

Pictures would be helpful.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (0mRoj)

493 My only point is that received wisdom can be very wrong and none of us know the future

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (zOTsN)

494 "I'm content to sit back in smug silence as this
entire farce plays out and reveals everyone but me to be a mob of
howling idiots.

Poetic... Almost as good as apes in a grotto with figs..."
-Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (O2RFr)

If I ever see you, I'm going to fight you.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (OQ9R7)

495 Would now be a good time to remind everyone we could have had a stripper/pornstar candidate?

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 05:02 PM (e3bId)

Pics or it never happened?

Bing "Cicciolina"

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (1xUj/)

496 490

Serious question. Who is the figure I have described
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (zOTsN)

Josiah Bartlet?

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (0mRoj)

497 Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:07 PM (LAe3v)

You know who it is, She's recently engaged or married to someone people seem to know but I have no idea who he is.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (rmw+9)

498 Come on, I'm trying to figure out a reason to vote for him. Give me something positive about the guy, don't just tell me how much Hillary sucks. I know how bad she is.
Posted by: JackStraw

I've concluded that I have no choice but to vote for him if it's even remotely close. That should be good enough for the likes of you.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (LAe3v)

499 Mr Hammer is correct

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (zOTsN)

500 -I think a person can be a principled conservative and not vote for Trump. I think you can be a principled conservative and vote for Trump. I don't think you can be a principled conservative and vote for Hillary.

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 04:53 PM (zOTsN)
---------------------
That about sums it up.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille

Sure, unless you live in a swing state. If I lived in Maryland (god forbid), I might write-in Cruz. But, here in Virginia, not voting for Trump might as well be a vote for Hilary.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (Doh4+)

501 I think, in part, more people who *don't* do this have been driven away, and more people thrilled by this have joined in.

Posted by: Merovign,
------------------
Good way to put it. Certainly sums up my feelings. Hell, i quit visiting the majority of the daywalker threads for quite a while.

Posted by: Chi at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (N8FxX)

502
Arlen Specter?
Humpty fucking Dumpty?
I dunno. Who is it?

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (jJSCP)

503
In an age of "look at me!" I think it might possibly be refreshing for people to consider taking the "Please, don't look at me," route.

Posted by: Mr Macca Bean at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (4ng05)

504 none of us know the future
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (zOTsN)

Wanna bet

Posted by: Marty McFly at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (Ozsfq)

505 486- Winston Churchill?

Posted by: Tilikum KAW at May 31, 2016 05:10 PM (uhftQ)

506 Anna Puma

Story idea

pbho's Noble Peace Prize.

A repo team gets the money and the award back to Norway.

Hijinks and hilarity along the way. We may need some pistol packing nuns and unearthly powers to make it happen.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 31, 2016 05:10 PM (u82oZ)

507 Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:09 PM (rmw+9)

The wholesome blonde look. Had some slightly risqu� picture with baby bunnies.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:10 PM (rmw+9)

508 Most intellectual argument is divorced from the standards of proof that exist in math, engineering and other scientific pursuits. Hence, it is best classified as an adjunct of Sociology, the non-rigorous study of an irrational subject.

Note: Do love the importation of statistics into Sociology, giving the discipline the false patina of rigor.

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at May 31, 2016 05:10 PM (WqhK3)

509 Wait! Wut movie was this post about?

Posted by: lindafell de spair at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (xVgrA)

510 Anna,Godzilla and Mothra is on(1992) followed by Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla(2002)

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (B48dK)

511 That's a moral failing in my book.
Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (1xUj/)
__________________________________________

Some ventures win, some fail. It's been done throughout our history way before Trump. Would you suggest that a bankruptcy should be a disqualifier? Investing in a company, person, idea, is no more than righteous gambling.

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (aQQbl)

512 "Speaking of mole hills, didja hear about the latest global warming induced eco- archeological catastrophe?

http://tinyurl.com/hw4s8oz"

This is what I love (by which I mean despise) about the" I Love Science" AGW crowd:

"..warmer winters are likely to bring higher populations"
"..may destabilize stone work"
"..drier summers could bring increase visitors"
But oddly
"..wetter conditions are ideal breading grounds for worms"

Those speculations and contradiction were all in about a about 50 words. But remember, the science is settled, haters.

Posted by: Ripley at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (1BQGO)

513
Poetic... Almost as good as apes in a grotto with figs..."
-Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (O2RFr)

If I ever see you, I'm going to fight you.
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM

Just kidding... Yours is better...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (O2RFr)

514 On Movies!

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (B48dK)

515
Looks like that lying bitch Cheryl Mills is another one who just soooo wishes she'd done things differently:

Q: did it ever occur to you when -- from 2009 to 2013, before you left, that communications between the Secretary and, let's say, you, to your personal e-mail account, that related to State business, that those actually weren't available to the government or to the State Department to respond to FOIA requests?

A: I wish it had. But no is the answer. In the sense of I was an overwhelming user of the State Department system. And so most of my communications with her and everybody else was on the State system. And I don't think I reflected on were there occasions where there might still be something with respect to a personal e-mail where someone had either e-mailed me or I had responded back or the system had been down and we ultimately needed to use it, that there was information that hadn't been captured. And I wish it had.

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (pC96u)

516 Mr Hammer is correct
Posted by: ThunderB
------------

*smugly pastes gold star on shirt pocket*

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:12 PM (9mTYi)

517 504 none of us know the future
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (zOTsN)

Wanna bet

Posted by: Marty McFly

Oh, cry me a freaking river.

Posted by: Phil at May 31, 2016 05:12 PM (LAe3v)

518 >>That's a start

It's a good start. I don't think he's ever heard of anyone on the SC list but at least it shows he's being pushed in the right direction.

>>I've concluded that I have no choice but to vote for him if it's even remotely close. That should be good enough for the likes of you.

Daaaaaadd!

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 05:12 PM (/tuJf)

519 If he starts a trade war, some will find that good,
because we are finally doing something, whereas I will think it is
probably bad.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 05:04 PM (gmeXX)
Much as I hate to wade into the Trump/NeverTrump food fight, I'd like to point out a third possibility: staking out an extreme position (in this case, perhaps resulting in a trade war) to win concessions ultimately from those who've been taking advantage of us. See, e.g., trade partners, and NATO members.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:12 PM (oKE6c)

520 Sigh

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:12 PM (Ozsfq)

521 Churchill. Churchill was a paranoid loon with money troubles and a lot of enemies who changed parties often. That was the received wisdom.

Recieved wisdom can be wrong and none of us know the future, so we all carry on in good faith and do the best we can

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (zOTsN)

522 Useful analogy between intellect and all other forms of feeling/thinking that control our decisions: the rider and the elephant.

The elephant is going to go where it wants. The rider on its back can make some suggestions, but the suggestions have little impact.

In order to feel better, the rider spends most of his time coming up with ways to justify the path the elephant has chosen to take.

Corollary: this is why "shape the path" social engineering is so effective. If one can make other people's elephants want to take a certain path, then that person, in effect, is controlling the riders.

Posted by: ZBBMcFate at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (k7D+q)

523 the false patina of rigor.

Would be a great name for a rock band. Or porn.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (LAe3v)

524 He seems to support the Military
...

Except the ones who get caught.
Unacceptable and loathsome language from a prospective CinC.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (ozZau)

525 Come on, I'm trying to figure out a reason to vote for him. Give me something positive about the guy, don't just tell me how much Hillary sucks. I know how bad she is.

Supreme Court.

Posted by: eleven -- unenthused trumpchump at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (qUNWi)

526 438 I get that. And I can accept that sometimes the smart move is to retreat. But retreat itself is not a plan for victory. It might be the first step, but we haven't heard anything beyond that.

-----------

No but neither is rush head first into an ambush. I don't know what the plan for conservatism is. I just don't think Trump can or will lead it. And I think he will actually hurt it in the long run.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 04:59 PM (gmeXX)

++++

Everytime I hear someone bemoaning Trump's unsuitibility as a conservative leader, I have to wonder what the current definition of conservative is. Just what does it mean to be a conservative these days? Unlimited spending authorized by the Republican House and Republican Senate. A CiC who can start wars without congressional approval, while at the same time neither house of congress even whispers a peep? The current open borders situation, beloved by all GOP (establishment and otherwise)? Federal laws being passed to ensure equal access by all trannies into any restroom they want. Gay "marriage".

What is this "conservative" philosophy being discussed?

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (R+30W)

527 I believe ThunderB is referencing Churchill. He didn't change parties frequently, only twice, giving rise to one of my favorite quotes:

"Anyone can rat. It takes a certain ingenuity to re-rat".

Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (1xUj/)

528 I just thought of her name. It's Kate Upton. And you guys didn't know who I was talking about? ;^)

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (rmw+9)

529 so we all carry on in good faith and do the best we can
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (zOTsN)

Or in WSC's case "Bugger on"

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (Ozsfq)

530 All he is doing is preserving a roost from which he can crow if either
Trump loses (I told you so ...) or criticize him if he wins.

No moral courage there.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 04:58 PM (Doh4+)

What else can he or other people who can't stand Trump do but position themselves for the aftermath, regardless of what it might be?

Posted by: The Political Hat at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (itfg0)

531 Or he is being sincere when he says he fears that Trump may cause damage to the conservative movement.

SH

Well. He'll be hard pressed to do more damage than the current leadership has done.

As a conservative, I've been told for some time, my time has come and gone.

I'm starting to believe it.

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (48QDY)

532 523 the false patina of rigor.

Would be a great name for a rock band. Or porn.
Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (LAe3v)

Sounds like the title of some artsy-fartsy foreign indie movie.

Posted by: Insomniac - Pale Horse/Death 2016 at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (0mRoj)

533 Much as I hate to wade into the Trump/NeverTrump food fight, I'd like to point out a third possibility: staking out an extreme position (in this case, perhaps resulting in a trade war) to win concessions ultimately from those who've been taking advantage of us. See, e.g., trade partners, and NATO members.

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

That is certainly possible. On this, I don't know what will be the result. Merely showing an outcome that some will be supportive of, that others will not. What I have learned from Trump is that those of us who comment on this board, are not in agreement on as much as I might have thought before Trump.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (gmeXX)

534 Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 05:11 PM (pC96u)

Yeah, who knew that State Department business conducted on private servers wouldn't be available for FOIA requests? It's a pretty arcane point. /sarc

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (oKE6c)

535 That's a moral failing in my book.Posted by: Bandersnatch at May 31, 2016 05:05 PM (1xUj/)

Moral failing? On whose part? I think that an understanding/misunderstanding of the value of 'Work in Process' is what drove DT into court.

If you've never been in business, never had a bank 'call a loan' on a moments notice you can't appreciate this argument.

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (ZnIt3)

536 >>Who was he

Churchill.

But I will wake up tomorrow and Trump still won't be Churchill.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (/tuJf)

537 The elephant is going to go where it wants.
-----------

I've had the same experience with horses.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (9mTYi)

538 none of us know the future
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:08 PM (zOTsN)

Wanna bet

Posted by: Marty McFly

Oh, cry me a freaking river.

Posted by: Phil at May 31, 2016 05:12 PM (LAe3v)

zzzZZZZzzzzz

Posted by: Edgar Casey at May 31, 2016 05:15 PM (evdj2)

539 OT: Interesting graphical look at US immigration over time. J. Pournelle has the link on his site.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/jqr3jhk

If already posted here, just ignore it. If not actually off topic (not sure what the topic is) then - perfect.

Posted by: RioBravo at May 31, 2016 05:15 PM (NUqwG)

540 But I will wake up tomorrow and Trump still won't be Churchill.
Posted by: JackStraw
------------

And Hillary will be still be ugly.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:15 PM (9mTYi)

541 459

Trump has a lifetime record of getting things done in a tough, competitive environment. He would know that a random percentage cut is worthless without knowing what is lost and what is gained. There are times a 80% reduction is called for. Other times an increase is needed.

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (Zs4uk)

====

That's what I wish were true about Trump. If I felt it were, I would agree.

What turns my stomach about the man is that the reality is so much more tied up in PR. He is the television reality show and People magazine version of a "successful" person, or a "capitalist."

In fact, what I liked about Romney was that he had real executive experience, and built real companies. He made tough decisions that the Dems used in their commercials of course, i.e., people lost their jobs.

Trump's persona of fake gold and television hype turns my stomach because it's such an obvious imitation of actual success. If I could believe he was all that you say he is, I would join you. I have watched this election waiting for my notions to be changed by anything he says or does. I'm still waiting.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 05:15 PM (j3gX2)

542 Except the ones who get caught.
Unacceptable and loathsome language from a prospective CinC.
Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (ozZau)

I think what Trump said about the SOB from AZ was out of line and I, for one have NEVER attack his Military Record, but politically the senile SOB from AZ was out of line attacking Trump and he also used out of line language so it's a push to me. Next

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:16 PM (Ozsfq)

543 Say ace,

Maybe if you hadn't been so effective in being insulting to Trump supporters and thereby making it embarrassing to be one, you wouldn't have to do so much work to walk back the general idea of convincing people using embarrassment.

"Thus, social pressures -- bullying, ridiculizing, stripping people of
their respectability, claims of disloyalty, etc. -- are very effective
in swaying human thought.
"They ought not be, but they are."

Posted by: Terrible, America, Terrible at May 31, 2016 05:16 PM (GyTPW)

544 What is this "conservative" philosophy being discussed?

-----------

I think you know.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 05:16 PM (gmeXX)

545 Who was he

-
Churchill. Trump is Churchillian in another way as well. Churchill was a man of a million ideas, many of them ridiculous or just plain horrible. But his good ones saw him through.

In 1940, Churchill urged PM Chamberlain to invade Norway. Chamberlain acquiesced, it was a bloody disaster causing Chamberlain to fall from power, and Churchill became PM. I wonder if anyone ever tripped and fell into clover better.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:16 PM (Nwg0u)

546 I'm not saying Trump is Churchill. I'm saying recieved wisdom can be wrong. Churchill was as described, but he also was the right man for the time

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:17 PM (zOTsN)

547 I saw False Patina of Rigor open for Cowboy Bob at the Warehouse in '82.

Posted by: Edgar Casey at May 31, 2016 05:17 PM (evdj2)

548 dammit

Posted by: Grump928(c) says Free Soothie!, with purchase of commentor of equal or greater value at May 31, 2016 05:17 PM (evdj2)

549 Trump's persona of fake gold and television hype turns my stomach because it's such an obvious imitation of actual success.

yeah?
Driving down the West Side Drive the other day all I saw were huge buildings with the name TRUMP on them?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:17 PM (Ozsfq)

550 Well. He'll be hard pressed to do more damage than the current leadership has done.

As a conservative, I've been told for some time, my time has come and gone.

I'm starting to believe it.

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (48QDY)

These days whenever anyone tells me he's a conservative, I automatically (there's that auto thinking thing!) question what the word means. It's been commandeered by too many who want to drag it somewhere it was never meant to go.

If people ask, these days I don't call myself a conservative. I just say I believe in limited government. Simple and direct. I won't let anyone else's definition of a word to be used against me.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (TOk1P)

551 I've only read half the comments so far. What I have discovered is that I have come to hate two terms: "virtue signaling" and "tribe". If I never hear "virtue signaling" or "tribe" again, it will be too soon. Gah.

Posted by: grammie winger at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (dFi94)

552 Trump MAY be awful.

Hillary WILL BE awful.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (0LHZx)

553 But Trump is not on _my_ side in any other way than
running against Clinton. And if he starts a trade war in a fit of pique,
then we are worse off with a famously corrupt -- but a corruption that
is rational -- dictatorship of Clinton.

Posted by: Leo Spaceman at May 31, 2016 05:06 PM (j3gX2)

Think of it as giving Josef Stalin all the armaments he wants in order to defeat Hitler... while insisting that Wallace be kept on as Veep.

Posted by: The Political Hat at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (itfg0)

554 Or he is being sincere when he says he fears that Trump may cause damage to the conservative movement.
--------------
Trump is merely applying the highlighting. He is not damaging anything.

Posted by: RioBravo at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (NUqwG)

555 What turns my stomach about the man is that the reality is so much more tied up in PR. He is the television reality show and People magazine version of a "successful" person, or a "capitalist."

You keep using the wrong metric. Is he a douchetastic fake? Yes. Is he better than Hillary? Again, yes. QED.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (LAe3v)

556 I jut offered a MoMee Challenge to a broad. I'm almost ashamed at myself.

The offer stands.

To youz broads and Morons.

If I see you in person, I will accept you offer to "go outside and settle it".

Don't let my prayers before the fight deter you.

I'm simply asking God if I can punch you hard enough to dot that chin in one stellar blow.

In Jesus' Name, I Punch, Amen.*

*I won't punch a broad. Unless she draws blood. She then becomes a "combatant".

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (OQ9R7)

557 We could use a Churchill, but they broke the mold. Or returned it to the queen. Or something.

Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (NcS+H)

558 What else can he or other people who can't stand Trump do but position themselves for the aftermath, regardless of what it might be?
Posted by: The Political Hat

Stop writing, buy guns. Or, more productively, how about a series of columns on a dozen or so actual Conservative congressional candidates who need help; maybe even where to help a Senator or two. He has a pulpit, use it.

He should have been hammering Perry and Walker for their stupid positions on amnesty, a year ago. Then maybe, we would not be in this mess.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (Doh4+)

559 It occurs to me I haven't had a Nilla Wafer in years.

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (e3bId)

560 We best KBO

Keep buggering on

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (zOTsN)

561 If people ask, these days I don't call myself a conservative. I just say I believe in limited government. Simple and direct. I won't let anyone else's definition of a word to be used against me.
Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (TOk1P)

____

Limited how? You want a strong military I assume? See, you can twist anything around easily.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (0LHZx)

562 We best KBO

Keep buggering on
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (zOTsN)

Outstanding!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:20 PM (Ozsfq)

563 544 What is this "conservative" philosophy being discussed?

-----------

I think you know.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 05:16 PM (gmeXX)

++++

Ha! No, I don't know what others think it means anymore. The current GOP doesn't look in anyway conservative to me, at least not by my understanding of the term.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at May 31, 2016 05:20 PM (R+30W)

564 Merely showing an outcome that some will be supportive of, that others will not.

Fair enough. The disparity in response may arise in part from a disparity in interpretation, and strategy for reaching the same goal. At this juncture, after sending any number of stern letters, hashtag campaigns, and other expressions of concern, we may well HAVE to get hard-nosed to have any negotiating power.

So some might see a policy leading to a trade war as an undiluted evil, whereas others see it as a now necessary prelude to a serious negotiation that can lead to an acceptable outcome.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:20 PM (oKE6c)

565 And Hillary will be still be ugly.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:15 PM (9mTYi)

And Trump is even uglier, though it's hard to believe that possible.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 05:20 PM (ozZau)

566 *smugly pastes gold star on shirt pocket*
-Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:12 PM (9mTYi)

*HAH!*

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (OQ9R7)

567
If people ask, these days I don't call myself a conservative. I just say I believe in limited government. Simple and direct. I won't let anyone else's definition of a word to be used against me.
Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (TOk1P

I'm turning to Constitutionalist.

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (48QDY)

568 I think socially acquired philosophies are common, but not necessarily an evil. In my formative years, we're talking K-8, I learned that I identified and agreed with Mr. McAullife and Mr. Powers a lot more than I did Ms. McGourty or Mrs. Brennan. The first two were Korean War Vets, the latter duo, bitter outdated flower-children.

Posted by: Lincolntf at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (2cS/G)

569 Ha! No, I don't know what others think it means anymore. The current GOP doesn't look in anyway conservative to me, at least not by my understanding of the term.

----------

I suspect your definition and mine are pretty close. The fact that the current GOP doesn't share it is beside the point. Do you think Lee and Cotton share it?

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (gmeXX)

570 539. Immigration

Interesting ---- notice how the illegal immigration is ignored.

The last few decades we brought in more immigrants than in the whole 1800's.

Posted by: rd at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (v0YLX)

571 I won't disparge any #NeverTrump people here with this, but I have no qualms about disparging Kristol, Will, NRO, and the rest of the "elite thinkers". Beck is a human self destruct button so I won't go there.

The elite GOPe and "deep thinker" types of the #NeverTrump movement are very comfortable with a Hillary presidency and know that a Third Party candidate is a gutless way to protect Hillary while looking all principled.

The #NeverTrump from the Cruz camp I believe are sincere in being principled and see no difference between Trump and Hillary, so I can respect that even if I don't agree with it.

It's the GOPe who are hiding behind "principle" as a chickenshit as usual way of talking opposition while doing all they can to help Hillary

Posted by: kbdabear at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (P+q5N)

572 565 And Hillary will be still be ugly.
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at May 31, 2016 05:15 PM (9mTYi)

And Trump is even uglier, though it's hard to believe that possible.
Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 05:20 PM (ozZau)

Your Mother wears army boots or something...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (O2RFr)

573 Except the ones who get caught.

Unacceptable and loathsome language from a prospective CinC.

Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 05:13 PM (ozZau)

I think what Trump said about the SOB from AZ was out of line and I,
for one have NEVER attack his Military Record, but politically the
senile SOB from AZ was out of line attacking Trump and he also used out
of line language so it's a push to me. Next

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:16 PM (Ozsfq)

Heh, I was scratching my head on that one, "except those who get caught."

Yeah, let's pretend Trump was talking about POWs. Because he hates them, you see. Not because he wanted to say something mean about that rotten bastard Mccane.

I might not like the way he said it, but anyone who thinks it meant anything more than as an insult to that pig-jerk mccane doesn't really want to think.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (TOk1P)

574 302 ..."Its a binary game now - nevertrump=foreverhilary"
-
This! You who say "but hes notconservative" "i wanna conservative" fine, but if you are so pure that youd rather have satanhillary, well, FOAD.

Posted by: ok, thanks, bye at May 31, 2016 05:22 PM (S89PT)

575 If people ask, these days I don't call myself a conservative. I just say I believe in limited government. Simple and direct. I won't let anyone else's definition of a word to be used against me.
Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (TOk1P

I'm turning to Constitutionalist.

-----------

I don't think that fully defines my philosphy, because it doesn't address where I am on state issues, but it is a very good starting point, and I think if we were all here, we'd be much better off.

Posted by: SH at May 31, 2016 05:22 PM (gmeXX)

576 Thank you, Ace.
I appriciate such a brave post.

Posted by: Mr Chumpo at May 31, 2016 05:23 PM (NAqmt)

577 I might not like the way he said it, but anyone who thinks it meant anything more than as an insult to that pig-jerk mccane doesn't really want to think.

Posted by: BurtTC

Yeah, no. It was an insult to anyone who thinks a POW being tortured is something to mock. Try again.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:24 PM (LAe3v)

578 "This! You who say "but hes notconservative" "i wanna
conservative" fine, but if you are so pure that youd rather have
satanhillary, well, FOAD."
-Posted by: ok, thanks, bye at May 31, 2016 05:22 PM (S89PT)

Really? How simplistic has this shit become?

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:24 PM (OQ9R7)

579 "Anti-Semitism is the Socialism of Fools"

anti-gentileism is also the socialism of fools?

I remember one day when one Ace regular bragged that "last night (some commenter) was swinging the jawbone of an ass" against another commenter.

In other words, the Supremacist Jews were slaying their 1000:1 intellec against inferior pagan Gentiles/Philistines, (because they are God's Tribe, and "we" are mere hedonists). And in like manner, Netanyahu lost me when he said Trump was wrong for limiting Muslim immigration, (while they are right for maintaining a Jewish state).

The Jew card is played constantly ... along with the race card, gender card, Islamophobe card, etc.

The Christianity "upgrade" made Jew and Gentile equal, but we are apparently not "over that". Of course Muslims are not "over it" either, as they see themselves as superior, and lying about being willing to submit to western law is nothing to them, as they rape the infidels in accordance to their own Sharia law.

Ace seems to be trying to adjudicate some grand "can't we all just get along" (Rodney King) plan. No, we can not. America First is a very simple plan, that the globalist of any stripe will not accept. First Principles do not allow for the leftist "critical theory" that says "Blame America First".

There is no reconciliation possible ... the left hates America First. Choose which you will serve. imo

anyway .. just stopping by to see if Ace is still overly concerned about making sure everyone knows he hates Trump, while being so considerate as to acknowledge electing Hillary is possibly a worse idea. BRAVE!!!

sheesh ... Trump is the hope for smashing the globalist machine ... how hard is that?

Posted by: illiniwek at May 31, 2016 05:25 PM (HvPso)

580 To those who want a true-blue dyed-in-the-wool conservative candidate it bears pointing out that such a candidate is probably nigh until unelectable at this stage of Idiocracy. Regrettable, but true.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:25 PM (oKE6c)

581
You can just hear the grief and regret in Cheryl Mills's voice:

Q: what about the federal records that were the e-mails between the Secretary and other people outside of the State Department; what about those e-mails?

A: I wish I had thought about that subset. I mean, I think about when she's engaging in her State business as the business she does with people who are in the department and people who are in the government. And so I thought of those as records that were being captured. I wish I had thought about the fact that someone could be nongovernment, non -- non-State and -- and those records might be not being captured. I didn't think about that. I thought about the fact that her engagement with officials in the government was on their -- on their federal systems. And so I thought all those records were being kept by the department

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 05:25 PM (pC96u)

582 580 To those who want a true-blue dyed-in-the-wool conservative candidate it bears pointing out that such a candidate is probably nigh until unelectable at this stage of Idiocracy. Regrettable, but true.

And that is the reality...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:25 PM (O2RFr)

583 Yeah, no. It was an insult to anyone who thinks a POW being tortured is something to mock. Try again.

Posted by: pep

er.....NOT to mock.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:25 PM (LAe3v)

584 If people ask, these days I don't call myself a
conservative. I just say I believe in limited government. Simple and
direct. I won't let anyone else's definition of a word to be used
against me.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (TOk1P

I'm turning to Constitutionalist.

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (48QDY)

That's fine, but I really don't want to have a conversation with idiot lefties who want to talk about a breathing document. I would much prefer having a discussion, if it must be discussed, of how the federal government has no business engaging in all the things it does.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (TOk1P)

585 We had a Constitutionalist, but America wanted a Game Show Host.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (OQ9R7)

586
These comment threads, when they start with the anti-Trump and somewhat-pro-Trump shit, they remind me of the group therapy sessions on the Bob Newhart Show.

Lots of anxiety, lots of bickering. No progress.

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (jJSCP)

587 Yeah, no. It was an insult to anyone who thinks a POW being tortured is something to mock. Try again.
Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:24 PM (LAe3v)

Nope, it was a shot at the senile old bastard from AZ and only him. And yes the way he said it was out of line as I said, but The senile old Bastard from AZ took many off base shots at Trump also.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (Ozsfq)

588 We could use a Churchill, but they broke the mold. Or returned it to the queen. Or something.
Posted by: JoeF. at May 31, 2016 05:19 PM (NcS+H)
-----------------------
Chruchill switched parties more than once, changed political philosophies, and was generally disliked by most in the leadership of all UK political parties by the early-30's. He was 'dangerous', too!

Posted by: RioBravo at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (NUqwG)

589 Great article ace.

I think one element that sometimes gets underplayed is basic laziness (or, put more favorably, mental weariness). That is, the "I've already spent enough time considering the pros and cons, and I'm done thinking about it" attitude.

Thinking takes time and energy, and we all have our limit at which point we want to shut 'er down and lock onto a position. Temporarily or permanently.

People "discussing" from this frame of mind can be wearisome.

Posted by: Kevin Canuck at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (Hlv/w)

590 From WZ. 18 women sexually assaulted by asylum seekers at a convert in Darmstadt, Germany. Boy, if only they could figure out what's causing this.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:27 PM (Nwg0u)

591 Posted by: illiniwek at May 31, 2016 05:25 PM (HvPso)

_____

HUH?

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:27 PM (0LHZx)

592 A: I wish I had thought about that subset. I mean, I think about when she's engaging in her State business as the business she does with people who are in the department and people who are in the government. And so I thought of those as records that were being captured. I wish I had thought about the fact that someone could be nongovernment, non -- non-State and -- and those records might be not being captured. I didn't think about that. I thought about the fact that her engagement with officials in the government was on their -- on their federal systems. And so I thought all those records were being kept by the department

Posted by: iforgot

The reason we have rules about this, you stupid, dissembling whore, is so that people don't have to think about it. The emails are stored. Period.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:27 PM (LAe3v)

593 I don't care if Trump is desirable to conservatives as a candidate, frankly, he isn't. But sometimes you just have to play Defense to stay in the game. Holding the Left to a single is better than allowing a homerun. I think Trump is a single. Hillary clears the bases.

Posted by: Lincolntf at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (2cS/G)

594 I was just wandering through an airport when I saw a copy of Maclean's (Canada's equivalent of Time) with a cover article proclaiming Kevin O'Leary to be Canada's Donald Trump.
I'm not sure who O'Leary is but I do know the writer is an imbecile who's never had an intelligent thought cross his tiny little walnut-sized brain.
The article is clear group think and virtue signalling.

Posted by: Northernlurker, muzungo at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (fwOlI)

595 Chruchill switched parties more than once, changed political philosophies, and was generally disliked by most in the leadership of all UK political parties by the early-30's. He was 'dangerous', too!
Posted by: RioBravo at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (NUqwG)

Dangerous is good

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (Ozsfq)

596 The reason we have rules about this, you stupid, dissembling whore, is so that people don't have to think about it. The emails are stored. Period.

She basically didn't answer anything... She had, I think, 6 lawyers with her...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (O2RFr)

597 So how many people went to work today acting like it was Monday? Three day weekends screw me up.

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (e3bId)

598 I might not like the way he said it, but anyone
who thinks it meant anything more than as an insult to that pig-jerk
mccane doesn't really want to think.

Posted by: BurtTC

Yeah, no. It was an insult to anyone who thinks a POW being tortured is something to mock. Try again.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:24 PM (LAe3v)

I understand why you don't like it. It doesn't change the fact that that's what it meant. Trump goes for the jugular, occasionally (almost always?) he cuts where he shouldn't. Doesn't change the purpose of the thing.

Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (TOk1P)

599 546 I'm not saying Trump is Churchill. I'm saying recieved wisdom can be wrong. Churchill was as described, but he also was the right man for the time
Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:17 PM (zOTsN)

There's a lot to be said for that theory. For example, many of the heroes of the TX revolution were misfits in some way back home, Travis especially, but they were the right men for that time.
If Trump turns out to be that guy I'll be happy to admit it and eat my words.

I don't think my vote counts here in this non-swing state anyway, so all I can do sit back and watch. And prepare for the Burning Times.

Posted by: state, SMOD/Yellowstone caldera 2016 at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (ozZau)

600 What turns my stomach about the man is that the reality is so much more tied up in PR. He is the television reality show and People magazine version of a "successful" person, or a "capitalist."

You keep using the wrong metric. Is he a douchetastic fake? Yes. Is he better than Hillary? Again, yes. QED.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:18 PM (LAe3v)

Hoover '28.

Posted by: The Political Hat at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (itfg0)

601 The people who pay attention to politics tend to take it very seriously and be quite passionate about that. Add in the 8 years of division stoked by Obama, and the 8 years before that which saw leftists openly painting Bush as Hitler and praying for his death. Top off with a truly awful choice between an lying, corrupt leftist leftover who betrayed national security and a lying, celebrity who is accused of lending his name to a fraudulent educational organization.

There are no happy choices here unless you personally really like the idea of either Mrs. Clinton or Mr. Trump as president. If you do, hey, congratulations. I wish I felt as good about Election Day as I once did. I'm personally inclined to leave the Presidential line blank on my ballot, but I'll reserve final judgement on possibly voting against Clinton by tossing a vote to Trump.

That said, I can't see the point in harassing or being nasty to someone who genuinely feels called to vote one way or another. Leftists do that. We ought to be better than that.
Try persuading someone to see things differently rather than calling them names or imputing bad motives. Or maybe just agree to disagree.

Posted by: Jill v2 at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (8048L)

602 Nope, it was a shot at the senile old bastard from AZ and only him. And yes the way he said it was out of line as I said, but The senile old Bastard from AZ took many off base shots at Trump also.

Posted by: Nevergiveup

But nothing. A man with a filter, which a president has to have, would never have said this.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (LAe3v)

603 Hillary clears the bases.
Posted by: Lincolntf at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (2cS/G)

I ain't even going to 2nd with that FAB not matter how much you pay me!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (Ozsfq)

604 594 I was just wandering through an airport when I saw a copy of Maclean's (Canada's equivalent of Time) with a cover article proclaiming Kevin O'Leary to be Canada's Donald Trump.
I'm not sure who O'Leary is but I do know the writer is an imbecile who's never had an intelligent thought cross his tiny little walnut-sized brain.
The article is clear group think and virtue signalling.
Posted by: Northernlurker, muzungo at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (fwOlI)

_____

O'Leary is the mean guy from Shark Tank. And he's "mean" because he is an unabashed capitalist who loves money. Therefore...EVIL!!

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (0LHZx)

605 pep unfortunately I think in some ways he could be worse than Hillary. I think his knee jerk comments and unthoughtful rhetoric have the potential to unnecessarily start international conflict. It could also do the opposite of what people hope , and destabilize the economy because his rhetoric is all over the place from one day to the next. You can do that stuff as a businessman and even a candidate but what you say as President can trigger so much more.

Again I pray that if he becomes President, he becomes everything his supporters tell us he will be.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (K4eq3)

606 585 We had a Constitutionalist, but America wanted a Game Show Host.

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:26 PM (OQ9R7)

++++

A Constitutionalist who was constitutionally ineligible for the office he was running for.

We have no need of that kind of Constitutionalist.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (R+30W)

607
I heard some of Trump's presser today.
And then I imagined the kind of campaign Jeb Bush would be running on this very day, or even Cruz.

I got no regerts about Trump.

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (jJSCP)

608 385 Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at May 31, 2016 04:48 PM (LorSp)

As a Trump agnostic I can tell you I would have been thrilled to be welcoming Trumpers to Cruz in a way I don't think the NT Ichi Jima Stalwarts just won't come in from the cold to.

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (g8Hfr)

609 Weasel Zippers also reports:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (rmw+9)

610 Hillary clears the bases.
Posted by: Lincolntf at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM

Can't wait till She opens the promised Office of "immigrant" services to fast track them to Citizenship!

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (O2RFr)

611 But nothing. A man with a filter, which a president has to have, would never have said this.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (LAe3v)

You have get to be President before you can be Presidential...How'd being being polite work out for Romney and McCain?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (Ozsfq)

612 That said, I can't see the point in harassing or being nasty to someone who genuinely feels called to vote one way or another. Leftists do that. We ought to be better than that.

____

You know what else leftists do that we don't ever? WIN!

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (0LHZx)

613 Hoover '28.
Posted by: The Political Hat

?

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (LAe3v)

614 I'm with you. I saw the rise of the internet in the 90s as inherently liberty-friendly. At last ideas that did not meet the "standards" of the Mush-Stream-Media could be expressed and find an audience as they merited. Some, like NAMBLA and the totalitarian movements (e.g. Nazi communist parties) we might WISH not find much of an audience but they were there for the asking, with no "deciders" to shut them down.

Fakebook and nit-Twitter have basically reversed much of that. Instead of some ossified old clown at the dead-tree "press" censoring stuff, we now have tech oligarchs doing the same job. The more things change, the more they stay the same. It is and has always been easier to join the witch hunt than to explain the solar eclipse to a bunch of raving lunatics.

So FU Fakebook, nit-Twitter and the rest of the anti-social media. I don't need you and you definitely don't need me.

Posted by: Lost In the Ozone Again at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (G57fe)

615 Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (0LHZx)

No , everyone else on the panel is also a capitalist. He's just a douchebag.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (K4eq3)

616 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

Barf...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (O2RFr)

617 Try persuading someone to see things differently
rather than calling them names or imputing bad motives. Or maybe just
agree to disagree.

Posted by: Jill v2 at May 31, 2016 05:28 PM (8048L)
==============================================

Yes.

Posted by: grammie winger at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (dFi94)

618 And Trump is even uglier, though it's hard to believe that possible.
Posted by: stace at May 31, 2016 05:20 PM (ozZau)

Everyone hates the gingers.

Posted by: Jean at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (Doh4+)

619 June

The month most Americans associate with weddings

Isn't that special

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (zOTsN)

620 You have get to be President before you can be Presidential...How'd being being polite work out for Romney and McCain?

Being President and being canny and polite are orthogonal?

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:32 PM (LAe3v)

621 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

Barf...
Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (O2RFr)

NYC nows has 31 names for your sexual preference and if you don't use the right one, you will get fined...How'd ya like them Apples BUTCH

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:32 PM (Ozsfq)

622 605 Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (K4eq3)

I'd rather have out and visible idiocy falling from Trump's mouth rather than the supplicant butt thrusting falling out of Obama's ass.

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 05:32 PM (g8Hfr)

623 I don't really understand why people should be proud about their sexual orientation. I*'m not proud of being straight.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (rmw+9)

624 The month most Americans associate with weddings

I still can't get over Him turning the WH into a gay flag when the Supreme Court ruled for gay marriage...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (O2RFr)

625 Okay... before I congratulate myself on always being right, I'm going to sign-off.

Okay, I just inherently congratulated myself.

Now that I'm over that, I'll ask that you all send your prayer requests.

*phases out*

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (OQ9R7)

626 but America wanted a Game Show Host.

-
Trump: The Price Is Right

Hillary: To Tell the Truth

Bernie: The Dating Game

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (Nwg0u)

627 I might not like the way he said it, but anyone who thinks it meant
anything more than as an insult to that pig-jerk mccane doesn't really
want to think.
______________________________________

This. In fact I think the RINO SOB should be mocked right out of office.
Being a POW, he has my respect, but I won't stand for him hiding behind it. 50 years of history since then. You aren't untouchable when you are a large part of the reason this country is the way that it is. Own your votes, and your choices you miserable bastard, and take your seat beside the retirement pool.

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (aQQbl)

628 615 Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (0LHZx)

No , everyone else on the panel is also a capitalist. He's just a douchebag.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (K4eq3)

_____

Everyone else usually does the "you have a great idea, you're a wonderful person, but I'm going to pass".

Kevin instead is more "your business model is awful, you have no sales, you have no future. I'd have to be insane to invest in you".

He's not a DB, he's a dose of reality.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (0LHZx)

629 I*'m not proud of being straight.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (rmw+9)

that's not the first line on your Resume?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (Ozsfq)

630 I hereby proclaim June is Homo month.Is there a color we should wear?

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (B48dK)

631 Pope Francis: Hollywood Squares

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (Nwg0u)

632 I*'m not proud of being straight.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (rmw+9)
============================================

Maybe if they threw us a Straight Pride Parade, we'd have better self-esteem.
/

Posted by: grammie winger at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (dFi94)

633 June is also National Oceans Month. What the fuck is a national ocean?

Posted by: Weasel at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (e3bId)

634 Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (0LHZx)

You know how many times he's been wrong?

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (K4eq3)

635 WTH? Maybe I'll be back in a few hours and actually read this thing. It's not like I need to sleep at some point tonight...

Posted by: Optimizer at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (jPHi7)

636 Maybe if they threw us a Straight Pride Parade, we'd have better self-esteem.

Or White History Month

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (O2RFr)

637 I might not like the way he said it, but anyone who thinks it meant anything more than as an insult to that pig-jerk mccane doesn't really want to think.
Posted by: BurtTC at May 31, 2016 05:21 PM (TOk1P)

It's obsolete to think that words mean something, but to me they do.

Most of us occasionally say bad things we don't mean, and then apologize.

He said those words and didn't take them back. I'll HATE him forever for that--unless he took it back and I didn't hear about it.

Posted by: state, SMOD/Yellowstone caldera 2016 at May 31, 2016 05:35 PM (ozZau)

638 I hereby proclaim June is Homo month.Is there a color we should wear?
Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (B48dK)

Ah? I don't believe "Homo" is one of the 31 approved NYC terms...$200 fine there pal

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:35 PM (Ozsfq)

639
Barf...
Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (O2RFr)

I say, this President O'shitforbrains fella sure is intrigued with the whole homo/gay and off-shoots arena.

Posted by: washrivergal at May 31, 2016 05:35 PM (CFc5L)

640 I am liking our new acronyms

FAB = Clinton

SOB = McCain

SOW = Couric

and TFG which never gets old

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:35 PM (oiNtH)

641 Obama is just trolling now with June as LGBTQAJDHSK month. Every time you freak out over it, he wins.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:36 PM (0LHZx)

642 585 We had a Constitutionalist, but America wanted a Game Show Host.
Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05

Slap. I'm reminded of my favorite movie when Capt Oskar Steiger calls Patton "a magnificent anachronism ".

Fits Cruz ( and me , too).

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:36 PM (48QDY)

643 Rick Perry: Whose Line Is It Anyway?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:36 PM (Nwg0u)

644 Hillary! Should be Jeopardy...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:37 PM (O2RFr)

645 It's just risible. I mean I'm soooooo glad that the powers of the Constitution give Obama the right to declare some month LGBT month. I wonder that Washington or Jefferson never thought of that.

He's a malignant cartoon.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:37 PM (rmw+9)

646 say, this President O'shitforbrains fella sure is intrigued with the whole homo/gay and off-shoots arena.

Posted by: washrivergal

Makes me think that the stories about Man's Country in Chicago are more than rumors.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:37 PM (oiNtH)

647 NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.�

(In best Empire of Jeff imitation)

He doesn't mention 'questioning' people? I mean people like me who wake up every morning and ask themselves, 'Am I gonna suck a dick today? '

Why does the precedent have so little concern for our daily plight?

Posted by: Lice Wags at May 31, 2016 05:37 PM (ZnIt3)

648 639 I'm not saying he sucks dick but I bet he holds one in his mouth for a while.

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 05:37 PM (B48dK)

649
there was a man who went into politics... I like that, let me try one :

there was a man who went into politics who was a union guy, in fact a union president

didn't just give money to the democratic party, was a member of democratic party for many years

supported abortion and equal rights amendment and was extremely undiplomatic in describing various global powers, so much so that some intellectuals were afraid that if that uncouth guy ever got into the oval office the nukes would not be safe and global armageddon would be upon us

Posted by: runner at May 31, 2016 05:38 PM (kkixe)

650 634 Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:33 PM (0LHZx)

You know how many times he's been wrong?
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:34 PM (K4eq3)

_____

Well sure, they're all wrong and right every season. That doesn't mean he's a db. He's just honest with his views and doesn't sugar coat shit. Besides the real asshole is Cuban, he fucks over contestants all the time by forcing them to accept his offer "RIGHT NOW" or else he walks.

Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:38 PM (0LHZx)

651 #475 General/Presidente Santa Ana!

Posted by: richard mcenroe at May 31, 2016 05:38 PM (Kucy5)

652 Joe Biden: Boggle

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:38 PM (Nwg0u)

653 "A Constitutionalist who was constitutionally ineligible for the office he was running for.

We have no need of that kind of Constitutionalist."
-Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (R+30W)

I won't say what I mean because I mean what I'll say.

I'ma wish you well, Anon Y, Mous. I like you. And Moo-Moo. And all of the other Libertarians that fight for the right.

I'm too full of beer to start getting disrespectful.

Birthday and Memorial Day makes for a confused Slapweasel.

G'Night, Ev-ry-Buddy!

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:39 PM (OQ9R7)

654 Get ready for some more bakers out of business... Wonder how many LGBT? are gonna want that celebratory gay pride month cake?

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:39 PM (O2RFr)

655 Nobody has ever stopped Barak or said no, so he's cock sure he's right about everything. And everything to him is all the leftist clap trap he's been listening to since college.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 05:39 PM (3wHFl)

656 Hmpf.

...didn't get banned after all.

So far.

Posted by: davisbr at May 31, 2016 05:39 PM (xk+SM)

657 This is their binders of women

The whole trans rights thing is their get out the vote project. Think it will get out the women and young people. Never mind that people of color hate it. They got them a anyway

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:39 PM (zOTsN)

658 Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:32 PM (Ozsfq)

Those idiots voted for De Blah Blah and now watch the latest shit show. How exactly are they going to enforce this? Between that and the resurgence in crime and filth everything that Guiliani accomplished is going downhill.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:40 PM (oiNtH)

659 321 315 Posted by: davisbr at May 31, 2016 04:35 PM (xk+SM)

*thumbs up*

Posted by: Marcel Marceau at May 31, 2016 04:36 PM (0mRoj)

Heh.

Posted by: davisbr at May 31, 2016 05:40 PM (xk+SM)

660 Romney: Wheel of Fortune

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (Nwg0u)

661
The reason we have rules about this, you stupid, dissembling whore, is so that people don't have to think about it. The emails are stored. Period.
Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:27 PM (LAe3v)
-----------------------

But she's so regretful. She's so sorry about the way things somehow turned out.

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (pC96u)

662 I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

Except for those filthy crackers and Regular, normal Americans. F--- those people.

Posted by: President Barack Hussein O'Bama at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (39g3+)

663 When Trump supporters try to compare Trump to Reagan it makes my head hurt.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (K4eq3)

664 P.S.: I will still fight you.

G'Night, Ev'ry-Buddy!

*click*

Posted by: Slapweasel, (Cold1), (T) at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (OQ9R7)

665 646 say, this President O'shitforbrains fella sure is intrigued with the whole homo/gay and off-shoots arena.
Posted by: washrivergal
Makes me think that the stories about Man's Country in Chicago are more than rumors.
Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:37 PM (oiNtH)

Yep. What other issue is he on about at such length? Racial shit, where has an obvious ax to grind. Makes you wonder whether the he has an ax to grind about the homo shit too.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (oKE6c)

666 Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:36 PM (0LHZx)

I'm not freaking out. I think it's ludicrous/laughable, as much of a sorry joke as he is. Maybe some gay people have these conversation about gay pride with each other, but the gay people I know feel pride in working hard, or being good pastors or being talented at the arts or completely renovating a house by themselves doing something that is...,you know...worthwhile not because of who they have sex with.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (rmw+9)

667 This thread is stale and smell like feet.

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 05:42 PM (B48dK)

668 But she's so regretful. She's so sorry about the way things somehow turned out.

And of course Hillary! knew nothing about it..

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:42 PM (O2RFr)

669 Runner

Reagan

Some of the best defenders of Liberty are recovering liberals

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:42 PM (zOTsN)

670
Yeah, who knew that State Department business conducted on private servers wouldn't be available for FOIA requests? It's a pretty arcane point. /sarc
Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:14 PM (oKE6c)
--------------------

You have to understand there's so much to think about on this job. We have so much important work to do for the people that some things get overlooked.

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 05:42 PM (pC96u)

671 So Dead Soldiers only get one day 'Memorial Day" but fags get a whole month? Who loves ya now baby!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:42 PM (Ozsfq)

672 I wonder if by the end of the year "young love" or some sickening pedo euphamism won't be added to the list. And the people now who think its awful and sick and would neeeeeeeever be normalized will suddenly decide its a fundamental civil right that only a hater would oppose.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 31, 2016 05:43 PM (39g3+)

673 Those idiots voted for De Blah Blah and now watch
the latest shit show. How exactly are they going to enforce this?
Between that and the resurgence in crime and filth everything that
Guiliani accomplished is going downhill.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:40 PM (oiNtH)
I think it's called "a control experiment." See, e.g., Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, Detroit 1950/1980, California 1970/2000.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:43 PM (oKE6c)

674
And of course Hillary! knew nothing about it..
Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:42 PM (O2RFr)
-----------------

Neither did Mills apparently. The standard answer in that transcript is "I don't know."

Posted by: iforgot at May 31, 2016 05:43 PM (pC96u)

675 I haven't posted lately because I have a life, and anyway I was incarcerated for manslaughter.

So I read Ace's post, & I just want to encourage all you pitiful droolcuppers to STFU up! Because I said so!

Man, do I ever feel empowered now! My Twitter affinity group will think I'm God.

Posted by: MNW at May 31, 2016 05:43 PM (yUPCi)

676 The concept of democracy brought the unscrubbed masses into politics. Sure, they brought some notions of human rights: "Hey, I have every right to happiness that the king has!" But they also brought the flip side: mob mentality. Suddenly the thing that had merely been the bane of street riots was now part of the political landscape.

So with every blessing comes a curse.

The "great democratizing tool" of the internet has given super powers to mob mentality. It has also put adolescents into the forum like never before. Not a good thing, as they have no experience paying rent or taxes.

Posted by: RKae at May 31, 2016 05:43 PM (kLw2y)

677 Nobody has ever stopped Barak or said no, so he's cock sure he's right about everything. And everything to him is all the leftist clap trap he's been listening to since college.

Posted by: Skip

I would venture that he was raised on these beliefs by his whacked out mother and of course the alcoholic father and Frank Marshall Davis the avowed racist, communist, and all around agitator.

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:44 PM (oiNtH)

678 663 When Trump supporters try to compare Trump to Reagan it makes my head hurt.
Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (K4eq3)

Comparing the real Reagan with the mythical Reagan will have the same effect.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:44 PM (oKE6c)

679 IMHO,

nobody thinks.

If you have the in-dwelling Holy Spirit, you think the thoughts he wants you to think.

Otherwise, you think the thoughts that the demon possessing you wants you to think.

But seriously, most folks are too busy working, playing, sleeping, eating, etc. to objectively analyze a problem and weigh alternatives.

Posted by: Grampa Jimbo at May 31, 2016 05:44 PM (1ijHg)

680 Fine, You can be LGBT? but I don't have to "celebrate." it.

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:44 PM (O2RFr)

681 Did Fredo completely cut off all of his "white family"? I never hear a peep about them?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:45 PM (Ozsfq)

682 Fenelon I think your right, but leftist have to make everyone believe whatever out of the ordinary you are is something to be celebrated.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 05:45 PM (3wHFl)

683 Jeb Bush: Family Feud

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:46 PM (Nwg0u)

684 It is starting to smell in here...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:46 PM (O2RFr)

685 pep unfortunately I think in some ways he could be
worse than Hillary. I think his knee jerk comments and unthoughtful
rhetoric have the potential to unnecessarily start international
conflict. It could also do the opposite of what people hope , and
destabilize the economy because his rhetoric is all over the place from
one day to the next. You can do that stuff as a businessman and even a
candidate but what you say as President can trigger so much more.

Again I pray that if he becomes President, he becomes everything his supporters tell us he will be.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:29 PM (K4eq3)

The major drawback to a Trump presidency that goes off the rails is that anyone connected to conservatism or the GOP will be tarred and feathered with the disaster. It would benefit only the Dems.

Oh, there is a chance that conservatives and the GOP could unite against a disastrous Trump presidency... but that ain't going to happen because insiders have used the Trump campaign to secure themselves in power and won't be easily removed.

Hoover '28.

Posted by: The Political Hat

?

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:31 PM (LAe3v)

Hoover in 1928 led to FDR in 1932... and 1936... and 1940... and 1944...

Posted by: The Political Hat at May 31, 2016 05:46 PM (itfg0)

686 Thought-provoking and well-expressed. One of the reasons that I read, lurk, and don't comment much is that I try to think about the topic at hand. (Virtue signal!). And end up realizing that I do not have much original to say about the matter.

Still, love lurking and am grateful to the Ace, the cobs, and the commenters.

Posted by: LochLomondFarms at May 31, 2016 05:47 PM (Bt0lZ)

687 LGBTQWERTY
GoD, its like crossfit. It ain't enough to tell everyone you do it, you have to preach about how everybody else doesn't.

P.S. - My boss is also a crossfit freak and owns his own gym/parlor/dojo/ WTF they call it.

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 05:47 PM (aQQbl)

688 Congrats, Ace: You are now officially the Mr. Plinkett of Social Media criticism!

Posted by: NOam Sayen at May 31, 2016 05:47 PM (bIhmV)

689 "When Trump supporters try to compare Trump to Reagan it makes my head hurt. "

you sure it's your head that's hurting ?

Posted by: runner at May 31, 2016 05:47 PM (kkixe)

690 Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:44 PM (oKE6c)

I'm fully aware of that too.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at May 31, 2016 05:47 PM (K4eq3)

691 609---"... do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people."

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM
------------------------------
Why does he hate foot-fetishists?
Why is he discriminating against sado-masochists? Shouldn't we celebrate ALL sexual tastes and behaviors? Isn't that what the Founders thought government was instituted for?!?

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 31, 2016 05:48 PM (T/5A0)

692 When is BDSM month?

Posted by: IP at May 31, 2016 05:49 PM (aQQbl)

693 Fine, You can be LGBT? but I don't have to "celebrate." it.

I'll be satisfied if you'd just refrain from writing FAG on all my baked goods and shit.

Oh hell, who am I kidding?

Posted by: Pastor Jordan Brown, Fab-American at May 31, 2016 05:49 PM (8ZskC)

694 The Justice Department is fighting the Federal Judges ruling they take Ethics course, saying it is to expensive?

But all the Regs Fredo and Politburo buddy shave inflicted on America are not?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:49 PM (Ozsfq)

695 Read another analogy on Frank Marshall awhile ago, he was one sick bastard and the artical was speculating he might have had some special relations with Barak.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 05:49 PM (3wHFl)

696 691 609---"... do hereby proclaim June 2016 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people."

Si is He gonna have the rainbow lights on the WH all month?

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:49 PM (O2RFr)

697
is stale and smell like feet.
Posted by: steevy

Pardon Monsieur, mais qui est ma Femme.

Posted by: The French Guy at the Next Table

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 05:49 PM (kdS6q)

698
I hereby proclaim June is Homo month.Is there a color we should wear?
Posted by: steevy

Roy G. Biv

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at May 31, 2016 05:49 PM (k4M/B)

699 "A Constitutionalist who was constitutionally ineligible for the office he was running for.

We have no need of that kind of Constitutionalist.

Posted by: Anon Y. Mous at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (R+30W)"

A number of courts rejected suits to force Sen. Cruz off the ballot citing this reasoning. I know of no court that agreed with the claim that he was not a natural born citizen. He obviously wasn't your chosen candidate, but being born in Canada to an American citizen mother was not a legal reason for rejecting him. Indeed, Mr. Trump was refreshingly honest when he acknowledged the only reason he switched from supporting Mr. Cruz's eligibility to proclaiming him ineligible was that Mr. Cruz began beating him in Iowa polls. Very candid reasoning, but not a legal case.

Posted by: Jill v2 at May 31, 2016 05:50 PM (8048L)

700 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] David French!

Wait. What?

See WZ.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:50 PM (Nwg0u)

701
I bailed on Twitter about two months ago, but my iPhone still has the app and settings for my account. Since I deactivated the account, it tries and fails to log in, so some of the sidebar links fail for me.

A small price to pay for the time that I otherwise would gave wasted there.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 31, 2016 05:50 PM (BK3ZS)

702 700 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] David French!

Who?

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:50 PM (O2RFr)

703 Speaking of diversity, Sign spotted in southwest Houston, Tx:

"Centro Islamico"

Posted by: RioBravo at May 31, 2016 05:50 PM (NUqwG)

704 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] David French!

Wait. What?

See WZ.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:50 PM (Nwg0u)

the Butler on that TV show right..Yeah great pick

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:51 PM (Ozsfq)

705 Some Young Guy or whatever the freak in charge of North Korea's name is seems to be ramping up the crazy to a pretty dangerous level. Is there anywhere Dear Leader's foreign policy hasn't bitten us in the ass?

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 05:51 PM (/tuJf)

706 700 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:50 PM (Nwg0u)

THE REPUBLIC IS SAVED!

//Billy Dee Kristol

Posted by: sven10077 at May 31, 2016 05:51 PM (g8Hfr)

707 Mister French! Mister French!

Posted by: Buffy and Jody at May 31, 2016 05:52 PM (k4M/B)

708 I feel guilty banging on here enough, couldn't imagine twitter as well.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 05:52 PM (3wHFl)

709 692 When is BDSM month?

Kinbakuary

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at May 31, 2016 05:52 PM (8ZskC)

710 David French

The guy who said the US military would turn Nazi if Trump were president

Good grief

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:52 PM (zOTsN)

711 Katie Couric went to the same high school as Rich Lowry. Now it all makes sense, doesn't it?

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 05:53 PM (x2rNW)

712 the Butler on that TV show right..Yeah great pick
Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:51 PM (Ozsfq

Nah, dude.

That conservative that liked the crease in TFG's britches.

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:53 PM (48QDY)

713 Once again it seems the only Obama cares about is gay rights. Is he signalling something ?

Posted by: Northernlurker, muzungo at May 31, 2016 05:53 PM (3+2PK)

714 I hereby proclaim June is Homo month.Is there a color we should wear?
Posted by: steevy

Puce.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 31, 2016 05:53 PM (DUqif)

715 Here I go on my hobby horse. Don't leave the presidential vote blank. If you are in Nevada and can vote none of the above OK. Otherwise if you can't bring yourself to vote Trump and there is no clear option for a write in vote then vote for the american constitution party or reform party or libertarian. Blank is at worst inviting the poll worker to *fix* your mistake and at best saying "oh whoever you smarter people pick is ok by me" You may be thinking it means "none of the above is acceptable" but the MFM and PTB will not choose to interpret it that way.

Posted by: Palerider at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (dkExz)

716
David French, the NR typist and the JAG who tries to spin his unit Bronze Star so people will think he rushed a machine gun nest?

Should be fun watching his story fall apart at the first puff of investigative journalism.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (kdS6q)

717 Posted by: Margarita DeVille at May 31, 2016 05:48 PM (T/5A0)

It was very remiss of Washington, Jefferson and Silent Cal Coolidge not to consider this earlier.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (rmw+9)

718 Nothing about Katie Couric makes sense

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (3wHFl)

719 The guy who said the US military would turn Nazi if Trump were president

I can't wait to see the new uniforms.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (8ZskC)

720 Kristol has entered and is the mayor of Douchebagtown

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (zOTsN)

721 "That said, I can't see the point in harassing or being nasty to someone who genuinely feels called to vote one way or another. Leftists do that. We ought to be better than that.

____

You know what else leftists do that we don't ever? WIN!
Posted by: Monsieur Moo Moo at May 31, 2016 05:30 PM (0LHZx)"

Leftists don't always win. We won the Presidency in 2000 and 2004. We cleaned their clocks in 2010 and 2014. We've been fighting them in the courts and winning some of those cases.

Leftists operate by trying to silence and intimidate everyone else into surrender. Rightists win by having better ideas and working together to advance them. Whatever your position on the presidential race or any number of policy ideas, if you're on the right, you're not my enemy.

Posted by: Jill v2 at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (8048L)

722 Nothing about Katie Couric makes sense
Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (3wHFl)

Nah the colonoscopy did

Posted by: Nevergiveup at May 31, 2016 05:54 PM (Ozsfq)

723

Some of the best defenders of Liberty are recovering liberals

Posted by: ThunderB at May 31, 2016 05:42 PM (zOTsN)
true dat

Posted by: runner at May 31, 2016 05:55 PM (kkixe)

724 Ace going to give us another hour?
I'm sure we can get to 1000

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 05:55 PM (3wHFl)

725 David French
-------------

Shiite! Well, the alt-right would have a lot of fun with this.

Posted by: RioBravo at May 31, 2016 05:55 PM (NUqwG)

726 unfortunately I think in some ways he could be
worse than Hillary. I think his knee jerk comments and unthoughtful rhetoric have the potential to unnecessarily start international conflict.

If having a craven, weak, cowering president who bows to everyone, refuses to take action, finds fault with America every conflict, even when we're not involved, and goes out of his way to support our enemies... if all that doesn't result in war and destruction, I don't think a jerk in office will.

A President Trump would say stuff we will cringe and moan at, he'll piss off other world leaders, but he's also going to be swinging a big stick, so they won't lash out.

Meanwhile, as Glenn Reynolds notes: a white male republican in office will have a wall of opposition and resistance to everything he does. Everything, even the stuff they'd ordinarily like. Media, popular culture, both parties in congress. No way Hillary faces even a 10th of that. Not 1%.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 31, 2016 05:55 PM (39g3+)

727 Makes you wonder whether the he has an ax to grind about the homo shit too.
Posted by: Jay Guevara at May 31, 2016 05:41 PM (oKE6c)

Makes me wonder more than a little.

Posted by: washrivergal at May 31, 2016 05:55 PM (CFc5L)

728

astute commenter over at the sidebar link about Couric's trash being taken offline

The commenter said:

Now that I think about it, all three of the major networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) have had their star anchors exposed as lying libs. No wonder the liberal media isn't trusted.

CBS News - Dan Rather
ABC News - Katie Couric
NBC News - Brian Williams

Who's next?

I guess they did not have to mention Al Sharpton or any of the tampon wearing clowns at MSNBC.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 31, 2016 05:56 PM (qCMvj)

729 702 700 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] David French!

Bill Kristol. When ordinary clownishness just isn't good enough.

Posted by: pep at May 31, 2016 05:56 PM (LAe3v)

730
David French, huh? Lemme guess, his VP choice will be Grey Poupon?

Game Freakin' Changer!

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 31, 2016 05:56 PM (BK3ZS)

731 The guy who said the US military would turn Nazi if Trump were president

I can't wait to see the new uniforms.

Paging Mr. Hugo Boss. Mr. Hugo Boss. Please pick up the black courtesy phone.

Posted by: rickb223 at May 31, 2016 05:56 PM (DUqif)

732
713 Once again it seems the only Obama cares about is gay rights. Is he signalling something ?
Posted by: Northernlurker, muzungo at May 31, 2016 05:53 PM (3

Something Putin and other world leaders have known for a long time.

Posted by: Golfman at May 31, 2016 05:56 PM (48QDY)

733 You know the French. They invented fries, arrogance, the crepe.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 05:57 PM (Nwg0u)

734 I can't wait to see the new uniforms.

Paging Mr. Hugo Boss. Mr. Hugo Boss. Please pick up the black courtesy phone.

It beats Hillary's unisex uniforms...

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 05:58 PM (O2RFr)

735 The Justice Department is fighting the Federal Judges ruling they take Ethics course, saying it is to expensive?

But all the Regs Fredo and Politburo buddy shave inflicted on America are not?

Posted by: Nevergiveup

This course is mandatory for all feds to take annually. You do it by computer and it takes all but 30 minutes. Of course, this Judge was so pissed that he may have ordered something more intensive for these jerks. Suddenly they are worried about spending money????

Posted by: Cheri at May 31, 2016 05:58 PM (oiNtH)

736 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] David French!

is this a joke ?

Posted by: runner at May 31, 2016 05:58 PM (kkixe)

737 Comparing the real Reagan with the mythical Reagan will have the same effect.

Yeah, the actual guy and what he actually did is a different guy than the golden towering god he's been built up into. He raised taxes, he did nothing to stop abortion, he pulled troops out of Beirut when our embassy was bombed instead of taking any action, etc, etc.

Nobody is perfect. All politicians are a mixed bag, and no matter how popular you are or how much power you have, you have got to give a little and compromise some to get anything done.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 31, 2016 05:58 PM (39g3+)

738 thanks for the millionth time for putting these obscure ideas into words.

I do think a lot of social structure is simple 'herd instinct'. Generations ago, our tribe would move around in herds hunting and gathering.

some members have genetic predisposition to be at the center of the herd. If the herd is under attack, being at the center is a statistically safe place. You can also get trampled in the center if you're not careful.

some members have a genetic predisposition to be at the periphery. (I do and think ace does too) Living at the edge give advantages of first feeding, less trampling by others, and the option not to jump off the cliff.

We really haven't evolved much over the years and still follow these basic biological rules.

just my $0.02

Posted by: whiskey dick at May 31, 2016 05:59 PM (rfJAN)

739 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] David French!

Bob Dole must have said no.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at May 31, 2016 05:59 PM (8ZskC)

740
Bill Kristol: "I'd assumed the new party should be called the New Federalist Party or The New Whig Party. But now I'm thinking, The Renegade Party..."

Bill, how about the obama-ass-licking party?

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 06:00 PM (jJSCP)

741 Bob Dole must have said no.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at May 31, 2016 05:59 PM (8ZskC)

Point of order: according to the commercials, Bob Dole never has to say no.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at May 31, 2016 06:00 PM (3ZoRf)

742 Is Bill Kristol any more than a hammering head on Fox? He's not an elected official is he? Why does anyone give him so much authority on bringing in another candidate?

Posted by: washrivergal at May 31, 2016 06:01 PM (CFc5L)

743 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at May 31, 2016 05:58 PM (39g3+)

#AMNESTY

Posted by: runner at May 31, 2016 06:01 PM (kkixe)

744 Yo!

Posted by: Yo! at May 31, 2016 06:01 PM (GwIKd)

745 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] David French!

is this a joke ?
Posted by: runner at May 31, 2016 05:58 PM (kkixe)

it's worse than I thought
lol

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at May 31, 2016 06:02 PM (qCMvj)

746 French is one of the writers who has really jumped on the Israel can do wrong bandwagon over at NRO, so this isn't surprising. Trump has shown that a very large contingent of "Conservatives" really care only about foreign policy and nothing else.

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:02 PM (x2rNW)

747
Trump: "He's a real lightweight. His name is Bill Kristol. [...] What a loser. What a loser."

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 06:02 PM (jJSCP)

748 With Kevin Williamson as his VP?

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 06:02 PM (B48dK)

749
Bill Kristol: "I'd assumed the new party should be called the New Federalist Party or The New Whig Party. But now I'm thinking, The Renegade Party..."

"The Coronets, Norm."

"The Coronets...."

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at May 31, 2016 06:03 PM (kdS6q)

750 These aren't smart people. They want to impress
people with the purity of their dogma, but the bottom line is that they
never put a great deal of thought into the goals and process.

Trump has a lifetime record of getting things done in a tough,
competitive environment. He would know that a random percentage cut is
worthless without knowing what is lost and what is gained. There are
times a 80% reduction is called for. Other times an increase is needed.

Someone like Trump dealt with those decision every day of his life.
The politicians who he defeated as candidates have only dealt with how a
cut or increase would "look".

Fuck them. I want change.

That's why I'm for him.

Posted by: jwest at May 31, 2016 05:03 PM (Zs4uk)

You're talking about the guy who didn't bother to learn any of the rules of the primary process as someone who will know the practical workings of the Washington bureaucracy. Trump makes most of his fortune the same way celebrities who've passed their career peak do (at least, the ones who listen to their financial advisors). He owns properties and businesses that do the work for him, lends his personal brand to things, does a little reality TV and advertising. Then you've got the lineup of pushing the borders of legality business ventures like multi-level marketing (Trump Vitamins) and for-profit universities (Trump U), which are common practice schemes that, yeah, can make you a lot of money, but are sort of known tricks passed around in certain circles, and many cases predate Trump's existence (For-profit universities I assume are pretty new, but they are universally sketchy. Trump U is hardly the only one undergoing a legal investigation). I guess knowing the insider tricks involves some savvy in most cases, but it's essentially a basic talent of anyone who can make a living as a magician. To the extent similar insider tricks exist in the public sector sphere, I guarantee you nobody who knows them is gonna be using their talents for the benefit of the average taxpayer.
The Scott Adams idea that Trump is playing high-level 3D chess needs to be retired already. I'm sure Trump genuinely does have a certain effectiveness and some rare insights into humanity caused by largely unique personal attributes (unusually high audacity and shamelessness, unusually low empathy and self-restraint, etc.). But ultimately it's the Republican voters who have been dropping the big surprises of 2016, not Trump himself, who seems to be exactly who I thought he was at age 5. Once we're passed the popularity contest, in a head to head with Trump vs. a high IQ Democrat like Chuck Schumer, my money is on Schumer winning.

Posted by: reform highlander at May 31, 2016 06:03 PM (jCH/T)

751 Bill Kristol's secret weapon Independent powerhouse is [drum roll please] inside Al Capone's vault!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks at May 31, 2016 06:03 PM (Nwg0u)

752 Especially #7. Sarah Hoyt wrote about this. http://preview.tinyurl.com/zzz66v2

People are afraid and try to virtue-signal. But a smart guy can cut through the noise and make a difference.

Posted by: setnaffa at May 31, 2016 06:03 PM (w1aKr)

753 I'd say Bill Kristol needs to give up activities that require conscious thought.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at May 31, 2016 06:03 PM (8ZskC)

754 I'd say Bill Kristol needs to give up activities that require conscious thought.

I believe He's already done that

Posted by: donna at May 31, 2016 06:04 PM (O2RFr)

755 If the Chinese wanted to catch Obama in a honey trap what flavor would the honey be?

Posted by: Northernlurker, muzungo at May 31, 2016 06:05 PM (K/Dlo)

756 "707 Mister French! Mister French!
Posted by: Buffy and Jody"

Please lay out my blue pinstripe and pour me a scotch.

Posted by: Uncle Bill at May 31, 2016 06:05 PM (OD2ni)

757 Nood

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 06:05 PM (B48dK)

758 Some of these intelligencias are putting wasaayyyyy more effort in fighting Trump than they ever did trying to stop Obama.........

Posted by: Yo! at May 31, 2016 06:05 PM (GwIKd)

759
Kristol cut ties with Fox in 2013. He's now a talking shithead for msnbc/nbc.

Posted by: Mister Magoo at May 31, 2016 06:05 PM (jJSCP)

760 681 Nevergiveup
Did Fredo completely cut off all of his "white family"? I never hear a peep about them?

I campaigned hard for his white cousin, Milton Wolf of Kansas (second cousin, once removed). Even walked in parades for him.

He was a great candidate, and has a good story about a family meeting with Obama. He was very critical of Obama at the meeting. Obama retaliated and tried to get him fired from his job as a columnist.

Wolf would say "you can't chose family, but you can chose who you vote for." He still lost to Roberts, a over-the-hill GOPe Senator for Old Lobbyists in VA.

pbho's Mom was from Kansas. Milton Wolf's Mom and pbho's Mom were friends in Wichita. Kansas had nothing to do with how she or her son turned out.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at May 31, 2016 06:05 PM (u82oZ)

761 755 Ballsweat.

Posted by: steevy at May 31, 2016 06:05 PM (B48dK)

762
The major drawback to a Trump presidency that goes off the rails is that anyone connected to conservatism or the GOP will be tarred and feathered with the disaster. It would benefit only the Dems.

How convenient to overlook what Republicans did not do once they won the House in '10 and the Senate in '14. The rails were left long ago -- hell, I'd go back to do nothing House majority they had under Tom DeLay.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 31, 2016 06:06 PM (BK3ZS)

763
The reason for 99.99% of the #NeverTrump crowd:

OMG, I've let everybody know that I'm smart and principled and conservative and articulate and reasoned. And I just know Trump is eventually gonna say or do something really goofy. How will I ever live it down?

Yep - it's all about saving face.

Not for the good of the country.
Not for constitutionalism, or conservatism.
Not for any ideal.

It's really:

I'd rather be dead than face the day I'll have to explain how I - Mr. smart and principled and conservative and articulate and reasoned - ever bought into supporting Trump.

If you're stuck in that box you deserve to squirm in discomfort.

Posted by: Ed Anger at May 31, 2016 06:06 PM (RcpcZ)

764 Reggie Love honey, best honey you can get. Made from the finest clover and special bees.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 06:06 PM (3wHFl)

765 "707 Mister French! Mister French!
Posted by: Buffy and Jody"

I like Cissy as a young lad. She was pretty cute.

Posted by: Benji Carver at May 31, 2016 06:07 PM (OD2ni)

766 The major drawback to a Trump presidency that goes off the rails is that anyone connected to conservatism or the GOP will be tarred and feathered with the disaster. It would benefit only the Dems.

How convenient to overlook what Republicans did not do once they won the House in '10 and the Senate in '14. The rails were left long ago -- hell, I'd go back to do nothing House majority they had under Tom DeLay.

And why didn't the Obama disaster tar Dems?

Posted by: rickb223 at May 31, 2016 06:08 PM (DUqif)

767 "You're talking about the guy who didn't bother to learn any of the rules of the primary process as someone who will know the practical workings of the Washington bureaucracy. Trump makes most of his fortune the same way celebrities who've passed their career peak do (at least, the ones who listen to their financial advisors). He owns properties and businesses that do the work for him, lends his personal brand to things, does a little reality TV and advertising. .....
Posted by: reform highlander at May 31, 2016 06:03 PM (jCH/T)"

Bingo. Very well stated.

I'll give Trump credit for having a natural flair for marketing himself and having learned how to leverage celebrity into media coverage, but he's not a genius businessman. He also flatly never bothered to do his homework on public issues or campaigning. This means that if he does make it to the White House the on the job training is going to be brutal for all of us. Plus his strategic ambiguity and wanting to have leverage means we really have no idea what he'd do in office. It might be stuff we really like, or he could use a lot of wiggle room to make deals with the Dems for stuff we don't like at all. Having him as our nominee is a very big gamble. I hope it doesn't come up snake eyes.

Posted by: Jill v2 at May 31, 2016 06:09 PM (8048L)

768 Once we're passed the popularity contest, in a head to head with Trump vs. a high IQ Democrat like Chuck Schumer, my money is on Schumer winning.
Posted by: reform highlander at May 31, 2016 06:03 PM (jCH/T)

"high IQ Democrat like Chuck Schumer!"

So how are those self-hypnotism tapes working?

Posted by: Mr Macca Bean at May 31, 2016 06:10 PM (4ng05)

769
But now I'm thinking, The Renegade Party..."

LickDickers Party, Bill-o. Go with what you know best.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at May 31, 2016 06:10 PM (BK3ZS)

770 Part of the problem with Trump is that he has a very different intelligence from most writers. Writers mull things over, they gather information, they take ideas seriously, etc. But Trump thinks in the moment, he relies on sizing up people and situations, he doesn't take ideas seriously, he thinks people are important and ideas aren't, etc. But Trump has a style that works for him. It's strange to hear what a failure Trump is when he has obviously been a great success, for more of a success than Romney, who was surprisingly ill informed for a guy who was supposed to be the smart candidate.

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:12 PM (x2rNW)

771 I think there's also a problem with the assumption of bad faith. I mean, most of the people *deserve* that assumption, but if you are always trying to suss out ulterior motives, then any self-referential comment starts to seem like naive chest-beating and virtue signalling.

It's sort of the paradox of the honest liar (or to sound snootier and more intellectually self-satisfied, the Epimenides paradox) - or like that scene from Life of Brian. If I say I truly, deeply care about principles, you can say that I'm just saying that to signal my own superiority - my principles are dishonest.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at May 31, 2016 06:15 PM (kumBu)

772 In my recent studies of physics and intelligent design and Darwinism and especially the lack of observational and factual support in physics and Darwinism for natural selection and for the theory of how the universe came to be created, I have especially enjoyed the fact that the intellectual argument on the side of the mainstream "Science!" establishment is that the scientific method does not include a willingness to go down the path that the facts take them if the facts take them down the path of a deity or design. In other words, not scientific method.

Posted by: Sharkman at May 31, 2016 06:16 PM (CvYDE)

773 Also, his campaign has been a huge success. He realized the old way of doing things (the Jeb way) was a failure and that TV (and Twitter) was the only thing that mattered. He realized that he could market test his ideas on Youtube and Twitter and then roll them out on TV, that was what mattered. He would try out new lines in his stump speech. Meanwhile people like Jeb and Cruz were relying on fundraising, avoiding gaffes, and repeating the same stump speech day after day. Trump was relying on testing and data, the rest of the field was relying on consultants. And Trump was the stupid one? He saw through the whole charade and came up with a better model. Campaigning will never be the same again. And he gets no credit for this.

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:16 PM (x2rNW)

774 "Part of the problem with Trump is that he has a very different intelligence from most writers. Writers mull things over, they gather information, they take ideas seriously, etc. But Trump thinks in the moment, he relies on sizing up people and situations, he doesn't take ideas seriously, he thinks people are important and ideas aren't, etc. But Trump has a style that works for him. It's strange to hear what a failure Trump is when he has obviously been a great success, for more of a success than Romney, who was surprisingly ill informed for a guy who was supposed to be the smart candidate.
Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:12 PM (x2rNW) "

Intelligence and competency mean different things. So do intelligence and success. This reminds me of the push by the self-esteem movement to parcel out intelligence into so many different sub-categories that everybody has at least one intelligence sub-scores where they're at or above average. Emotional intelligence, artistic intelligence, etc.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at May 31, 2016 06:19 PM (kumBu)

775 Yes; Trump is good at marketing and media. Whether he'll be a good President or just a liberal with good marketing is another story. The people who marketed Obama did an excellent job-Unfortunately, he wasn't the product he was sold as. Aside from being a loose cannon and brash I have no idea what to expect from Trump.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 06:20 PM (rmw+9)

776 >>And why didn't the Obama disaster tar Dems?

It did. There are more stupid people in the world than smart ones. This isn't news.

Posted by: JackStraw at May 31, 2016 06:24 PM (/tuJf)

777 But Trump is a loose cannon things that don't matter. He didn't get to where he is today by doing rash things. If you look at his real estate deals, he is very focused on minimizing downside, what's called negative optionality. That's why his first deals were options on old properties that nobody thought could get rezoned/rehabbed. Option is much less risk than buying the property outright and getting stuck with a turkey. He buys golf courses because he knows he can convert them into housing if golf continues to decline. He is a serial liar but he lies about stuff that doesn't matter. Hillary lies about stupid stuff and then she gets investigated by the FBI. Trump is such a good liar (he lies about stuff that won't get him in trouble) that he will never be investigated by the FBI.

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:25 PM (x2rNW)

778 Another part of this is that ideas are complex, and the up and coming generation is very much the generation of memes and 140 character 'hot takes' and vine clips. This is not a generation that is prepared to do the probing examination of facts and ideas that is required for an intellectually fulfilling life. Which seems especially appropriate since this blog post was roughly the length of your average Tolstoy novel. But I read it all! (See, I can do some superiority signalling too.)

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at May 31, 2016 06:25 PM (kumBu)

779 I think serial lysing is a bad thing-whatever it's done about, and we'll see if skills as a businessman translate into skill as a President IF he's elected.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 06:27 PM (rmw+9)

780 "Also, his campaign has been a huge success. He realized the old way of doing things (the Jeb way) was a failure and that TV (and Twitter) was the only thing that mattered. He realized that he could market test his ideas on Youtube and Twitter and then roll them out on TV, that was what mattered. He would try out new lines in his stump speech. Meanwhile people like Jeb and Cruz were relying on fundraising, avoiding gaffes, and repeating the same stump speech day after day. Trump was relying on testing and data, the rest of the field was relying on consultants. And Trump was the stupid one? He saw through the whole charade and came up with a better model. Campaigning will never be the same again. And he gets no credit for this.
Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:16 PM (x2rNW)"

You make a very fair point. Trump did accomplish something new. I don't think this really gets at his innate intelligence, but I don't think that was really the issue. He certainly deserves respect for using what he had (celebrity and a flair for marketing himself) to overcome his rivals.

I'd also agree that you're right that campaigning will never be the same again. Whether that's a good thing or not is debatable. It's very nice to see someone other than a traditional politician having success, but it's also nice to see that candidates are familiar with the issues and have sound policy positions they can articulate. Personally, I like to see candidates road tested a bit in office so we have some idea of how they'll perform before we nominate them for the top spot, but obviously that criteria wasn't deemed as important this year.

Posted by: Jill v2 at May 31, 2016 06:27 PM (8048L)

781 Trump has a very important skill: he knows which laws can be broken and which can't be broken. Hillary probably figured "this server doesn't matter, this info is classified but not important." But that's not how the FBI thinks about it. Trump is too smart to get caught breaking a small law. He follows the laws and then tells big whoppers that aren't illegal.

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:28 PM (x2rNW)

782 I'm starting, and doggie just starting to think it's possible he might win. Hillary is so bad it shouldn't even be a race.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 06:29 PM (3wHFl)

783 Trump has a very important skill: he knows which laws can be broken and which can't be broken.

I don't know that he knows that although he might know about servers-yes..

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 06:30 PM (rmw+9)

784 Type, read, post.
Type, read, post.
Type, read, post.
Type, read, post.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 06:31 PM (3wHFl)

785 He might win, but you may not be taking into account the massive fraud which will be perpetrated on the D side.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at May 31, 2016 06:33 PM (rmw+9)

786 Someone on radio was pointing out Trump's has been Trump on tv for many years, with good ratings on the shows he's been on. It is hard for someone to come along and tell people who they have been watching isn't Trump.

Posted by: Skip at May 31, 2016 06:33 PM (3wHFl)

787 bjk, it's not like Trump beat Cruz straight up. Trump beat the entire GOP primary field. Cruz's ground game gave him advantages in certain areas, it just wasn't enough to overcome the Trump phenomenon. Trump was successful partially because he was the anti-everybody candidate. When it gets to the point where one candidate is the front runner and everyone who wants that candidate to lose starts looking for the 'anti-X' candidate to save them, that rarely works, because candidates with no hope (and their backers) don't give up until it's far too late, which splits and dilutes the power of the 'anti-X' vote. It happened in 2012, where every candidate that got any momentum got pushed as the new 'Anybody But Romney' candidate, but Romney won easily. The same thing when it got down to Trump, Rubio, Cruz and Kasich. The Trump vote was unified - the anti-Trump vote was split three ways. An easy victory for Trump in the end.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at May 31, 2016 06:40 PM (kumBu)

788 I gave up reading after 140 characters.

Posted by: TexasJew at May 31, 2016 06:44 PM (N7G17)

789 Cruz had to convince people to like him. He should have gone on Anderson 360 and shown that he's a good guy. Trump realized that all press is good press.

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:46 PM (x2rNW)

790 "Cruz had to convince people to like him. He should have gone on Anderson 360 and shown that he's a good guy. Trump realized that all press is good press.

Posted by: bjk at May 31, 2016 06:46 PM (x2rNW) "

A lot of people who are now Trump voters don't particularly like him. Yes, the election is a popularity contest, but it's a popularity contest that is basically restricted to two people. You can win simply by being less unpopular than the other guy/gal.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at May 31, 2016 06:47 PM (kumBu)

791 One very smart thing Trump did early: seize on one concrete issue and pound that as your message. In this country, targeted interests always trump (maybe I should get a synonym for that word) diverse interests. If Cruz was asked to summarize his candidacy in one sentence, what would he have said? Upholding the Constitution? Defending conservative values? Too abstract to really hit home with people, and too diffuse in the second case. Immigration is one targeted issue - "build the wall" is one concrete, easy to digest proposal.

Perhaps Cruz should have countered by trying to seize on another hot button issue - Obamacare, or the 2nd Amendment. But immigration was clearly the zeitgeist, and Trump capitalized on it.

Posted by: broseidon king of the brocean at May 31, 2016 06:51 PM (kumBu)

792 Yep - it's all about saving face.

Not for the good of the country.

Not for constitutionalism, or conservatism.

Not for any ideal.

Posted by: Ed Anger at May 31, 2016 06:06 PM (RcpcZ)

You imply that we secretly think voting Trump would be good, or at least better, for the party, or constitutionalism, or whatever sort of idealism you think is in play in the era of Trump. I sure as hell don't, especially in an era where we now have massive and rapidly growing faction of the voting-age public who have no memory of an ideologically articulate, pro-conservatism Republican president.

I think the left advances (sometimes at the ballot box, sometimes in advances in the general culture) from a culture seeped in conspiratorial thinking and a perception that shadow-y others are out to screw you over, or a culture abandoning Judaeo-Christian style morals like self denial and deferred gratification, characteristics embodied in the leftist cultural revolution of the 60s, all of which Trump promotes and embodies.

You see different, and lucky you, the Republican party seems to be all yours. The only person I have any standing to kick out of the Republican party is myself, and so I will.

Posted by: reform highlander at May 31, 2016 07:13 PM (jCH/T)

793 At over 750 comments, I don't know if Ace will see this, but, dude, I gotta tell ya, it's posts like this that make me think about all the stuff I used to ponder as a freshman and sophomore at the University of Chicago. You, sir, are my new "Common Core."

Posted by: VA MK Z at May 31, 2016 08:14 PM (MYZr8)

794 I stand with Twitter and its trending topics. So I guess #IStandWithHateSpeech, whatever that means.

(This comment #IsSoClassicMe.)

Posted by: FireHorse at May 31, 2016 09:46 PM (BU7eM)

795
Less peyote, more bandwagon.

Posted by: filladellferya at May 31, 2016 09:56 PM (cREE3)

796
Go! Team! We gotta take it over the line.
Again, and again.

No be so frown-frown.

Posted by: filladellferya at May 31, 2016 10:06 PM (cREE3)

797 "Just as there's always been that old question -- when you shout your devotion to God, are you really seeking to increase God's glory, or your own?"

************************
Over here in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod the point that you raise is a chronic and eternal caution and an everlasting danger. All to the Glory of God; if it is to anything else it is an elevation of self above God, and to be most sternly resisted.

Posted by: LCMS Rulz! at May 31, 2016 10:22 PM (O4NI/)

798 Half the population has an IQ less than a hundred. We need to remember this. What Twitter and the rest of social media has done is empower everyone, no matter how intellectually limited, to broadcast their opinions to the world. Like Obama, many very average people think they are far smarter and wiser than they actually are. This is why virtue signaling is so prevalent; it allows the average person to fit in with the cool kids. They aren't well read and have little capacity for independent thought. But they invest themselves emotionally into whichever tribe they attach to, like a pathetic loser who latches onto the Yankees or Crimson Tide to bask in reflected glory.

Posted by: IanDeal at May 31, 2016 10:23 PM (fVIcq)

799 All I can say after reading through your stream o' conscious type posts like this is 'What a beautiful mind!'. Keep on truckin' Ace. luvs ya!

Posted by: GasperGoo-regular lurkster at May 31, 2016 10:23 PM (Si9ix)

800 And I swear I don't say that to declare loyalty to the pack... My pack is very small these days.

Posted by: GasperGoo-regular lurkster at May 31, 2016 10:26 PM (Si9ix)

801 Thanks for saying that Ace. These are strange days indeed. We had the most conservative (in everyway) presidential candidate since Reagan and he couldn't consistently get more than 30% of the primary vote. The Conservative base (or movement) is being torn asunder by internal strife and dividions, and boy do I sure blame the Establishment for that.

Anyway, for what it's worth, You have been, and are one of my consistent go to guys. And regarding you internal struggle re social conservatism / liberalism. I think that you have provided some of best arguments for social conservatism that I have heard in the past few (6-10 years) . Social Conservatism has gotten such a bad name (for a variety of reasons, some of them their own fault), that only someone form "outside" the movement can really argue for it. You may not want that mantel or even resent the imposition (those options are both fully within your rights) but you do do one helluva job doing it.

Take care, and God bless.....
PZL (long time lurker....)

Posted by: pzl at June 01, 2016 12:03 AM (WNMaS)

802 Haven't read all the comments but I like the ost. Well done.

Posted by: Les in NC at June 01, 2016 12:47 AM (YtdHe)

803 *the post too

Posted by: Les in NC at June 01, 2016 12:49 AM (YtdHe)

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