A fish from Paul Krugman: "An Elite Obsession" [personal communication; excerpt:]
David Dayen makes a very good point, which I missed: during the Hofstra debate, in which questions were posed by members of the public rather than the Beltway elite, there wasn’t a single question about the deficit. Not one. The public really doesn’t care.
And you know what? Neither do financial markets, which continue to lend to the U.S. government at incredibly low rates.
Fishing again: "The Most Bloated Election in History," by Tom ngelhardt [personal communication; excerpt:]
Though no one’s bothered to say it, the most striking aspect of this election is its gigantism. American politics is being supersized. Everything—everything—is bigger. There are now scores of super PACs and “social welfare” organizations, hundreds of focus groups, thousands upon thousands of polls, hundreds of thousands of TV ads, copious multi-million dollar contributions to the dark side by the .001%, billions of ad dollars flooding the media, up to $3 billion pouring into the coffers of political consultants, and oh yes, though it’s seldom mentioned, trillions of words.A British view of the election: "Chefs in a city under siege," by Charlie Stross [personal communication; excerpt:]
...You shouldn't read this as indicating that I'm in favour of a Romney presidency, mind you. I think he's a classic sociopath, and [would] likely...be as disastrous as George W. Bush....[personal communication]More Fox News: "Roger and us: how Ailes' Fox talk revolutionised the American right," by Michael Wolff [personal communication; excerpt:]
There is an obsessional quality to the Fox formula when it's directed by Roger Ailes....Limerick of the Week:
The long-term success of Fox is the result of not just annoying the left, but of creating an ever-mounting dramatic tension among conservatives of various hues....
Ailes creates conflict. Conflict creates good television....
If Romney loses, then he's the culprit—not Fox. Romney will be the stand-in, as no doubt he should be, for all the establishment Republican phonies. Obama, remaining in office, stays as the lightening rod—indeed, the anti-Christ against which the Tea Party (or Ailes party) continues to mount its suicidal, but ratings-winning opposition.
Ailes wins on 6 November, no matter what....
There was a paid pray-er, a pro,
Whose fee was quid strictly per quo:
Clients paid to excess
When what happened seemed "Yes,"
But nothing when answer seemed "No."
I wonder what Mourdock would say if you explained that abortions are also "what God intended."
ReplyDeleteOf course, such an explanation would be disingenuous in supposing only for the sake of argument that "God" intends anything....
DeleteLike other true-believers, Mourdock's response would not engage reality.
I started to write a response but got hopelessly tangled up in notions of predestination, free will, omniscience, omnipotence, original sin, quantum mechanics, probability and entropy. Suffice it to see that any deep consideration of Mourdock's statement opens up a Pandora's Box of Paradoxes that, has been pointed out, the True Believers simply hand-wave away.
ReplyDeleteWhile we have thousands of years of confusing examples of the alleged intentions of an alleged Christian God, it would be interesting to hear Mourdock's explanation of his God's intent when several thousand people were killed on 9/11, or when a 10-year-old child in Colorado was abducted on her way to school and dismembered.
ReplyDeleteGod's will, God's will. And He works in Mysterious Ways, His wonders that we may behold. Vote for Him on November 6 (or before).
DeleteI am of course duly flattered and impressed by such a cleverly personalized response. And I shall vote early and often. But not for Him, as I am dubious of the warranty.
ReplyDeleteMy boss says that this sounds like God's Will at work. He says he will be praying for you.
DeleteI know, that's ironic, isn't it?
Or perhaps sardonic is the more accurate word?
ReplyDeleteAh, you'd be right if my boss weren't sincere. But I was assuming he was sincere, in which case it would have been ironic for him to pray when praying would seem to have been going against God's will. I mean, if something is God's will, what's prayer with regard to it supposed to accomplish?
DeleteBut overnight I've begun to feel that you're right and Mr. Mourdock didn't have any intention of praying for you, but was just mocking you.
This has led me to the realization that I cannot continue to serve as Mr. Mourdock's communication director, and I'm composing my letter of resignation. If he says he praying for me, I think I'll bop him over the head.
Oops, my phone's ringing....
It was Governor Romney. He thinks I ought to reconsider, says he'll need Senator Mourdock in his government next year. Shit!
In raising the idea that praying could be thought of as going against God's will, you make a very interesting point. Considering your career path and peer group, however, you may not want to put that on your bio.
ReplyDeleteSince your boss has a knack for making outlandish, attention-grabbing statements, have you considered adding "Howling Mad" as a nickname? It would seem to suit his style and could draw the backing of fans of Captain H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock, the infamously "over the top" character of the 1980s A-Team television series. And the legendary 2010 movie, how could we possibly forget that? Candidate Richard Mourdock wearing a helmet emblazoned "Howling Mad" in a tank with its barrel aimed at a medical clinic...or a local Social Security office...just think of the campaign possibilities!
On a related note, congratulations to you on your smooth handling of Mr. Romney's attempt to distance himself, sort of, from your boss. Based on the newscast I heard this morning, Mr. Romney doesn't want people to think he agrees with what the potential future Senator Mourdock said, yet he doesn't want them to think he disagrees. Well done Mr. Communications Director!