Comments on: Reasonably sober

By: RM3 Frisker FTN

RM3 Frisker FTN — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:28:10 +0000

OFF-TOPIC – When trying to SHARE post this to Facebook, the snippet posted to Facebook has nothing to do with Wretchard’s article. The SHARE-THIS application appears to focus on the top few lines of the webpage (e.g. “BlogPanel: Silencing Rush, O’Reilly, & PTJV? And President Obama’s (Spending) Surge. Breitbart: Big Hollywood & The Culture War”) which really has nothing to do with Wretchard’s article

By: buddy larsen

buddy larsen — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 19:22:20 +0000

bogie wheel, i caught 1938′s “You Can’t Take It With You” the other night on TCM. Wow, talk about a major anti-banker screed, hiddin inside a light comedy of manners, almost a dingbat farce (what is that term –i know it’s not ‘dingbat farce’ but it is in that vein). And it starred Jimmy Stewart –who a few years later was flying combat missions for the 8th AAF over Europe!

By: bogie wheel

bogie wheel — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 01:02:26 +0000

Wretch, I’ve always thought “Dover Beach” was one of the most simultaneously beautiful and depressing poems I’ve ever read. It’s probably in my top 10 from college (and being an English major, I read a LOT of poems).

Thank you for reminding me of Mr. Arnold’s masterpiece.

By: bogie wheel

bogie wheel — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:58:48 +0000

Hey, since we’re talking “Casablanca,” go and re-watch (those of you who have a copy available) the very first scene where we see Rick. He’s playing chess. But there are two very interesting aspects about it. First, there’s no one else at the table … so, is he dueling himself? Ahh, symbolism! And the very first chess piece we see him pick up and move is … yah, you guessed it … the white knight.

And, from “Judgment at Nuremberg,” Judge Haywood’s (Spencer Tracy’s) speech at the end, when he is delivering the verdict:

“A decision must be made in the life of every nation, at the very moment when the grasp of the enemy is at its throat. When it seems that the only way to survive is to use the means of the enemy, to rest survival upon what is expedient, to look the other way. Only, the answer to that is: Survival as what? A country isn’t a rock; it’s not an extension of one’s self. It’s what it stands for. It’s what it stands for when standing is the most difficult. Before the people of the world, let it now be noted that here in our decision, this is what we stand for: Justice … truth … and the value of a single human being.”

So I don’t know much, but I *do* know movies!

By: Bill Orly

Bill Orly — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:08:59 +0000

God you people are stupid.

By: 2-05-09 | Drive Time Happy Hour

2-05-09 | Drive Time Happy Hour — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:19:05 +0000

[...] Richard Fernandez: The tax compliance problems of Tom Daschle, Nancy Killifer, Timothy Geithner and Charlie Rangel provide an interesting backdrop to Judea Pearl’s article about the contrast between the idealism of public life and its harsh reality.

By: sf

sf — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:56:38 +0000

Astonishing analyses above, as always.

If some of you need some positive news, consider this: Have you ever read anything remotely comparable to the above in any newspaper or magazine? I suspect not. This medium is a magnet that attracts people of similar spirit, and in that sense it’s an engine that may be powerful enough to save our way of life.

Especially when teamed with a dozen 150 kiloton warheads. (kidding)

Separately, Fred @ 54 linked to a WaPo article by a former CIA hand who claimed there was no “global jihad” threat. It’s well worth a look, because it so clearly shows the total lack of reasoning skills from those on the left. For example, he claims “We do not face a global jihadist ‘movement’…”, but in the very next ‘graf he writes, “Al-Qaeda is the only global jihadist organization and is the only Islamic terrorist organization that targets the U.S. homeland.”

Writing such self-contradictions so close to each other, it’s impressive that his head didn’t explode.

By: Robohobo

Robohobo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:32:25 +0000

“And the same idea may now be crossing the minds of those who believed that electing Democrats into power would mean cleaner government, world peace and a high moral tone only to realize …”

The same as it ever was. There is the ‘idea’ of a better world but the facts are it is still peopled by fallible humans.

Mongoose: “Narcissists are generally perfectionist. So are tyrants.” Also, tyrants are generally narcissists. See:
http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html

By: maineman

maineman — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:45:06 +0000

Regarding cynicism and romanticism, it pays to remember that they are opposite sides of the same coin. We must move beyond romanticism by coming to grips with and giving up cherished illusions. The ONLY alternative is to become infected by cynicism when our romantic ideals are scuttled by reality.

That’s how maturity and true self-confidence develop. And that’s what has eluded many of the Boomers to date, which is why they will never move beyond their narcissistic defenses.

Maybe you can plug that into the Casablanca concept, but I haven’t seen it recently enough.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 13:29:55 +0000

All I know is I’m very CONCERNED about Tom Daschle.
This is very troubling, and I think we’re all CONCERNED about that.