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And by a prudent flight and cunning save A life which valour could not, from the grave. A better buckler I can soon regain, But who can get another life again? Archilochus

Monday, July 20, 2015

Fear of the Future?

Is it Another Wrong Question?

69 comments:

Gert said...

Greetings, Campesino.

I’m beginning to think you could be right about 16 being an election for change. I’s amazing how The Donald’s racist comments seem to resonate with a laege part of the US public. And then there’s Bernie who also seems to be polling well. That could make for an interesting race, for sure!

Thersites said...

It's still early. The "heavyweights" are currently busy passing the hat at the Billionaires for Clinton/Bush Club. We'll see what shakes out. The primaries don't really start until Iowa next February.

Thersites said...

...but it is funny listening to John McCain ramble around blathering about Trump...

Gert said...

Acc. this Trump endorsed Walnuts in 08. Why the suicidal attack?

Acc. Luntz there are not 'words that sell'. ;-)

Thersites said...

Because he said what was on everyone's mind. When are REAL war heroes, ones who succeed (not fail) going to be recognized? When are we going to stop pretending that they don't matter or exist, and only honour "victims" (like McCain)?

Trump's no dummy. He went to military school. He knows that Napoleon, Ney, Massena, Murat, etc. are looked up to by real military men, NOT POW's.

Thersites said...

...NOT Swiftboat J Fn K's.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

All we need to know about Donald Trump is that the first time he ever talked politics, he floated the idea of a 14.25% annual federal tax on your property values and bank account balances, And that he wears spider monkey fur on his head.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

"To be even more precise and so on and so on..." - all you need to know about Zizek... ;)

Thersites said...

Donald Trump is America's Tehran-Berlusconi moment... and so on.

Why else would America's "Berlusconi" prove so popular, SPECIFICALLY on the Right?

Thersites said...

America's "Imperial Age" is just starting.

Thersites said...

We're through with fools like Obama who take all our money and give it away. We want a REAL Master. One who will make us all rich and let the poor wallow in their own crapulence.

Next week on "The Apprentice": "Barack Obama... you're FIRED!"

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Unfortunately, Donald Trump has never invested in cattle futures. ;)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

But, Hillary "Goldwater Girl" Clinton has.

Thersites said...

Donald Trump made his money the old fashioned way... real estate scams.

When hurricane Sandy destroyed the beaches of New York's Long Island, Trump had finegaled a sweetheart deal with Jones Beach to build a huge wedding catering complex on public property. Fortunately, Sandy took out all his construction efforts and he abandoned the project.

Imagine what Trump could do with all the vacant government-owned real estate in this country...

Thersites said...

Imagine the palace complex that Nero built after Rome burned down... x1,000

Thersites said...

It would put Hitler's Berlin to shame.

Thersites said...

...because what America needs for the Corporate Golden Age is more downtown office space.

Thersites said...

America would be absolutely perfect... if only we can rid it of Mexicans.

Thersites said...

...and Muslims. ;)

Thersites said...

Forty years ago, John McCain was a war hero. Since then he's mostly been an asshole. The problem is you can't out-asshole Donald Trump. McCain is in the Superbowl of assholery and hopelessly outmatched. He was doing assholery-as-usual last week, sneering at Trump's supporters as "the crazies". On recent polls that's getting on for 20 per cent of the Republican vote. If 20 per cent of Republican "crazies" take the same umbrage at McCain's sneer that Rick Perry, Lindsey Graham, Reince Preibus et al have taken on McCain's behalf at Trump's, then Hillary will be President with a Democratic Senate and maybe even House.

Left wing ass-holes like Stewart and Colbert have been yucking it up for a decade now. The Snark has turned into a Boojum.

Thersites said...

You should have seen the Nutroots go after Bernie last week. Bernie's way too mainstream for them. Hillary didn't show. The Democratic "base" would have turned their backs on her.

Thersites said...

...as it is, they shouted Bernie down. And they converted O'Malley into an honorary "Negro".

Thersites said...

For those who still believe that government isn't ALL about picking winners and losers and who believe in a level playing field.

Thersites said...

The rise of the Neo-liberal 'B' Corporation can only happen in a country with a 'B' Government. Else how could "officials" distinguish amongst them? $$$?

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Well, if we really have capitalism without democracy, Hillary already has her cattle wrangled. It's "her turn."

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Please.... let the billionaires decide which 'B' corp will get the "contract. The bidding has only just gotten started.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Donald Trump, billionaire, has his bids in already.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

He certainly knows who to "pay" to "play".

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Certainly not politicians that made Chapter 11 bankruptcy filings difficult ;)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Donald Trump, welfare queen.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

My prediction, Trump will continue to attack people not in the race, because he's really not in the race either, until its down to Hillary and whoever she'll trounce.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Deblasio just threatened to pull every future deal out from under him... he can't afford not to burn down city hall now.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

The Kronies will take Trump down now and make an example of him. You don't f*ck with the system. Remember what Putin did to Mikhail Khodorkovsky. And yes, it can happen here, freedom lovers.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

When did it ever not happen here? Benedict Arnold just wanted a return on his investment in the Continental Army.

Donald Trump isn't exactly a business hero. He's a business hero because he keeps restructuring his debts? I like business heroes that make a profit, I hate to tell you. ;)

Thersites said...

I agree. I'm no fan, but I do realize the stakes of the game.

Thersites said...

...The Donald is, however, just learning.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

What if the Duck Dynasty guy ran for President, with Dog the Bounty Hunter as his running mate? Is Honey Boo Boo old enough to be Secretary of State? If not, why not Dr. Phil? ;)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Jerry Springer has political experience....

Thersites said...

Why not? I don't see many names on THIS list worth supporting... but there's only one that I wouldn't vote for even if my life depended on it. Can you guess which one?

Thersites said...

As WF Buckley once said, "I am obliged to confess I should sooner live in a society governed by the first two thousand names in the Boston telephone directory than in a society governed by the two thousand faculty members of Harvard University."

Thersites said...

;p

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I think Tea Party people should support Bernie Sanders in the primaries, then vote Libertarian in the general.

Thersites said...

Works for me. I just might.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Either way we end up Hillaryless ;)

Thersites said...

Funny thing is, if Bush wins, 99% of Republicans will consider his election "Mission Accomplished" and go back to sleep until they receive the inevitable outsourcing pink slip.

Gert said...

Left wing ass-holes like Stewart and Colbert have been yucking it up for a decade now. The Snark has turned into a Boojum.

'Stewart/Colbert. The Joke's on you'

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Trump is trolling Lindaey Graham now.

Now, until a Republican candidate calls for running Mitt Romney through a tree mulcher (Romney supporters will just have to set aside their principles...) I'm not interested in Republican candidates. But, it is funny to watch Trump the Democrat pretend to be a Republican and punk them.

Thersites said...

Want to know the funny thing about that article Gert. The author completely misses the "frame" that makes Stewart and Colbert so funny. The liberal "Superego".

I don't find them funny at all.

And Trump... is pure conservative "Superego". No wonder the Left hates him so.

Thersites said...

Politics has moved from from Snark to Boojum. No doubt about it.

Gert said...

Trump then told a story about Graham calling him 4 years ago for a campaign endorsement and contribution. Trump claimed he went back through his phone records and found Graham’s private cell phone number. He showed the audience the number, written down on a yellow post-it note, and read the number aloud, encouraging everyone “let’s try it.”

Classy! ROFLOL. Yooooge!

Gert said...

He sounds more like an Id to me: what Cons and Rinos would like to say but have Trump to do it for them.

Gert said...

Who [i]would[/i] he take for a running mate? Miss USA?

Thersites said...

Sade/Kant for President!

Gert said...

Ola!

On “Hardball” Thursday, Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz told host Chris Matthews that he is “in complete agreement” with fellow senator Bernie Sanders on a number of issues, including corporate welfare.

“Far too many Democrats — and I will readily admit far too many Republicans — are supporting hundreds of billions of dollars of loan guarantees to giant corporations at the expense of the taxpayers,” Cruz said. “I think people are fed up with that. They want someone who will stand with the working man and woman against the bipartisan corruption of Washington.”

Matthews sensed that Cruz’s support of Sanders originated from a place of deep dishonesty, and asked, “is that a strategy on the right, to build up Bernie Sanders?”

“I’ve said it for a long time,” Cruz replied, “I like and respect Bernie Sanders.”

“Yes,” Matthews said, “but you’re building him up. You just did it. You took an opportunity there to build him up. What is the strategy to build up Bernie Sanders from the right-wing perspective?”

Cruz replied that “Bernie admits he’s a socialist, we can at least have an honest debate” — suggesting that it’s impossible to have “an honest debate” with covert socialists like President Barack Obama or Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton.

“You’re a Tea Party guy!” Matthews shot back.

“I think there are an awful lot of Democrats in the United States Senate whose policies are every bit as liberal or every bit as socialist as Bernie’s, but they don’t admit it,” Cruz explained. “I’m enjoying watching Hillary Clinton explain to the voters how she is just as much of a socialist as Bernie Sanders.”

Matthews later noted that he understood why conservatives were suddenly so enthusiastic about the Vermont senator. “I know what you’re up to,” Matthews said. “It’s called trouble-making.”


source

Thersites said...

I think that despite the Senator's wife's job, Cruz was being honest. And let's both acknowledge that ~30% of Trump's so-called "support" comes from Progressives looking to "make trouble" within the RNC.

Thersites said...

Cruze has been trying to kill the EXIM bank for w while. It's a "Tea Party" thing.

Gert said...

And let's both acknowledge that ~30% of Trump's so-called "support" comes from Progressives looking to "make trouble" within the RNC.

You believe that? When most are still stupid/naive enough to root for Clinton?

And would such faked support even be that damaging? No shortage of people who worry about immigrants of all kinds, you know. Yoooooge is saying what a lot believe (but dare not say)

That's why I see Donald more as an 'id': that thing that makes you say things the 'superego' forbids.

Gert said...

I've seen 'mirror' accusations about cons supporting Bernie to sabotage Clinton. I don't really buy it.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

It all depends upon who you perceive as the "weaker" candidate. Many on the Left see Trump as one. Some on the Right foolishly see Bernie as one.

I actually thought that Clinton did her self a bit of good with her economic speech the other day. She moved very much in Bernie's direction, with her talk of making corporation pay their employee's more justly... but IMO, unless one seals one's borders against them, corporations will evade doing their part.

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Latest polls.

Gert said...

These bits?

As Clinton said it was time for U.S. companies to "break free from the tyranny of today's earnings report so they can do what they do best, innovate, invest and build tomorrow's prosperity,"

"It is clear that the system is out of balance," Clinton said of a corporate culture that stresses short-term gain over long term investment.

"It is time to start measuring value in terms of years," not days, Clinton added.

Instead, Clinton outlined a series of policy proposals that she hopes would rebuild "a connection between companies and their workers, so that workers are seen as assets rather than costs," her campaign aides said.

"It's time to return to an old-fashioned idea," Clinton said, "that companies' responsibility to their shareholders also encompasses a responsibility to employees, customers, communities and ultimately to our country, and yes, our planet."


Source

Gert said...

Most of the Gallup polling numbers are phone interviews, right?

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

No, not those specifically. Hers is a very "muddled" approach, that tries to reform neoliberal capitalism, rather than tear it apart and place it upon a new foundation, as I would prefer. The statements I was referring to were those that would force companies to prefer compensating "employees" over "shareholders", tax capital gains at individual income rates, and the like.

Where she goes wrong is in her premise that shareholders currently actually receive value from companies. They don't... UNLESS they "sell". Few companies pay dividends, they simply re-invest and re-invest in the company itself. The only way a shareholder "profits" is to buy the stock at a low price, and sell it at a higher one.

Gert said...

It's supposed to have become a 'shareholder society'. Nice little dystopian 'dream' that was! ;-)

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Instead it became a "Corporate" Society that "employed" even the CEO at a "Surplus Salary"... with Government as it's "marketting" department.

Gert said...

... with Government as it's "marketting" department.

... and Corporate Welfare safety net!

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

That, too!

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

The picture is more clear if you don't make the common mistake of confusing Tea Party populists with right-wing conservatives. Why isn't Bernie Sanders a Tea Party favorite? Because proud socialists embarrass self-loathing socialists?

Thersites said...

Cynics seldom over-identify.