I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

To be fair, Republicans have long applauded crap like the swift boating of John Kerry and the Benghazi nonsense - it's hard to keep straight when someone has gone too far for you guys.

Has anyone done a chart of what despicable things are ok and what aren't?

Like, you know, maybe set up some categories, like "endorse wholeheartedly", "endorse but criticize", "criticize and don't endorse". Lying about Hillary would be an "endorse wholeheartedly" for all the Rs, while something like "Swiftboating Kerry" would be an "endorse wholeheartedly" only when done by surrogates and an "endorse but criticize" when done by the Bushes.

"Criticize Paul Ryan", of course, would be the only "criticize and don't endorse" I've spotted so far as far as the Republican leadership is concerned.

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

I think it is just as elitist and narrow-minded to describe this demographic as "simple people" who are lashing out at The System that has no more use for them. Sure, there may be some of that. But where you see a desperate underclass that has been forced to turn to nihilistic violence rather than become completely irrelevant, I instead see a lot of people whose willingness to blame Muslims, Mexicans, and various other groups for many of their problems has been validated and cynically exploited for political ends. Maybe the latter is just the vocal minority, but I definitely don't admire the sentiment.

I do admire a funky bass clarinet riff, though. The Daily Dose is some Headhunters funk. If You Got It, You'll Get It:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz4kUvHAIBg

Following up on the first part of this post, this video is indicative of why, when I look at Trump supporters, I don't see a desperate downtrodden man lashing out at the Establishment that has its foot on his neck. I just see hatred. Maybe it is hatred that is fueled by being forgotten or discarded by the System or whatever, but it is hatred nonetheless, and Trump's calculated cultivation of this hatred for political ends is nothing short of scary. This is true even if the people depicted in the video are just a tiny screaming minority in a movement that is mostly made up of peaceful, anti-globalist populists.

http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/poli...T.nav=top-news

[taxwonk]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

Following up on the first part of this post, this video is indicative of why, when I look at Trump supporters, I don't see a desperate downtrodden man lashing out at the Establishment that has its foot on his neck. I just see hatred. Maybe it is hatred that is fueled by being forgotten or discarded by the System or whatever, but it is hatred nonetheless, and Trump's calculated cultivation of this hatred for political ends is nothing short of scary. This is true even if the people depicted in the video are just a tiny screaming minority in a movement that is mostly made up of peaceful, anti-globalist populists.

http://www.nytimes.com/video/us/poli...T.nav=top-news

I think hatred oversimplifies it a bit. It's hatred coupled with a belief that Trump's victory will lead to a license to act on that hatred. I think a lot of th rednecks in the Trump camp think that they will be set free to prey on the objects of their hatred, or that Trump himself will have the State take care of them. If Trump wins, I fear Election Night will make Kristallnacht look like a Flower Power gathering in Golden Gate Park circa 1965.

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by taxwonk

I think hatred oversimplifies it a bit. It's hatred coupled with a belief that Trump's victory will lead to a license to act on that hatred. I think a lot of th rednecks in the Trump camp think that they will be set free to prey on the objects of their hatred, or that Trump himself will have the State take care of them. If Trump wins, I fear Election Night will make Kristallnacht look like a Flower Power gathering in Golden Gate Park circa 1965.

Wow, dude, that's a dark vision, but I hear ya.

So, that Jimmy McGriff funk tune yesterday had me exploring his catalogue a bit, and I stumbled across this little gem with that funk guitar wah wah that I immediately recognized as having been sampled by Cypress Hill. The Daily Dose is "The Bird":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6C6doGJnvM

Here is the Cypress Hill song, which also explores dark themes. The sample is slowed up just a bit to give it that blunted Cypress Hill ambiance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L35_HSkl9mo

Finally, Phife Dawg is getting his own street!

http://pitchfork.com/news/67216-a-tr...-in-his-honor/

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Random observation about the latest New Hampshire polling:

The only reason I can see for Kelly Ayotte to be losing is Trump.

I differ with Ayotte on many, many issues, but can concede that absent the dynamics in the Republican party today she's the kind of Republican Democrats can work with. And she is running a pretty good campaign (as is her opponent).

But right now, it looks like Trump is going to take her down.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

Has anyone done a chart of what despicable things are ok and what aren't?

Like, you know, maybe set up some categories, like "endorse wholeheartedly", "endorse but criticize", "criticize and don't endorse". Lying about Hillary would be an "endorse wholeheartedly" for all the Rs, while something like "Swiftboating Kerry" would be an "endorse wholeheartedly" only when done by surrogates and an "endorse but criticize" when done by the Bushes.

"Criticize Paul Ryan", of course, would be the only "criticize and don't endorse" I've spotted so far as far as the Republican leadership is concerned.

Kerry held his service up, so attacking it was not wrong per se. The attacks may have been based upon inaccurate information (or not), but if wrong they were only wrong for being contrived. The same with attacking the Hil.

Attacking the mother of a fallen soldier though, that takes you out by Westboro Baptist territory. The closest political equivalent I can think of is Rush attacking Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign by saying she was overweight. First, she wasn't, but second even if she was, how could the party of "family values" attack the build of a woman with two youngish children? It's just a sickening thing to hear.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Kerry held his service up, so attacking it was not wrong per se. The attacks may have been based upon inaccurate information (or not), but if wrong they were only wrong for being contrived. The same with attacking the Hil.

Attacking the mother of a fallen soldier though, that takes you out by Westboro Baptist territory. The closest political equivalent I can think of is Rush attacking Michelle Obama's anti-obesity campaign by saying she was overweight. First, she wasn't, but second even if she was, how could the party of "family values" attack the build of a woman with two youngish children? It's just a sickening thing to hear.

See, this helps.

Any attack on a Democratic candidate, no matter how pernicious, ok for all! Even if based on service, even if based on lies!

Attack on Mom not running for office, very bad if her kid is a fallen soldier. Icky and ill-advised if it's just the candidate's wife.

Attack on Republican leadership, very very bad!

We're starting to get the chart together.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

See, this helps.

Any attack on a Democratic candidate, no matter how pernicious, ok for all! Even if based on service, even if based on lies!

You can't read?

Attack on Republican leadership, very very bad!

and my little experiment with coming back has failed.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

The only reason I can see for Kelly Ayotte to be losing is Trump.

I differ with Ayotte on many, many issues, but can concede that absent the dynamics in the Republican party today she's the kind of Republican Democrats can work with. And she is running a pretty good campaign (as is her opponent).

But right now, it looks like Trump is going to take her down.

A lot of people have soured on the GOP because for eight years it has opposed everything the Democrats have wanted to do, and hasn't done anything. That strategy may work better for Republican candidates in very red states, but it hurts them in places like New Hampshire. Trump is reaping what McConnell sowed.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally Posted by sebastian_dangerfield

One could say that about Black Lives Matter, and he'd be guilty of the same failure to adequately analyze the situation.

Nobody's angry without reason.

This right here is some dumb shit. There are plenty of people who are angry for no good reason. Angry that a Kenyan Muslim is President. Angry that they are suffering from reverse racism. Angry that they have to put some effort into calling people what they want to be called instead of how white people used to define people. Angry at the government because their company moved their jobs to Mexico so that stockholders could increase their return on investment, which is taxed at a lower rate.

Yeah. There's always a reason, but that's not saying anything when those reasons are often demented.

Also, after your criticism of Obama's "lack of action" on imbalanced drug laws, your silence on this is telling: https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016...itional-people

TM

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

Wow, dude, that's a dark vision, but I hear ya.

So, that Jimmy McGriff funk tune yesterday had me exploring his catalogue a bit, and I stumbled across this little gem with that funk guitar wah wah that I immediately recognized as having been sampled by Cypress Hill. The Daily Dose is "The Bird":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6C6doGJnvM

Here is the Cypress Hill song, which also explores dark themes. The sample is slowed up just a bit to give it that blunted Cypress Hill ambiance!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L35_HSkl9mo

Finally, Phife Dawg is getting his own street!

http://pitchfork.com/news/67216-a-tr...-in-his-honor/

A little Maceo for the Daily Dose. "Soul Power '74" is basically the James Brown Soul Power if it were written to be an extended sax solo. The Bootsy bass keeps things tight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEYgSuIWPTs

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by ThurgreedMarshall

This right here is some dumb shit. There are plenty of people who are angry for no good reason. Angry that a Kenyan Muslim is President. Angry that they are suffering from reverse racism. Angry that they have to put some effort into calling people what they want to be called instead of how white people used to define people. Angry at the government because their company moved their jobs to Mexico so that stockholders could increase their return on investment, which is taxed at a lower rate.

Yeah. There's always a reason, but that's not saying anything when those reasons are often demented.

Also, after your criticism of Obama's "lack of action" on imbalanced drug laws, your silence on this is telling: https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016...itional-people

TM

The face of anger today is a purported Billionaire married to a model with a private jet who has made a fortune while repeatedly bankrupting his businesses.

I am sorry whitey (orangey?), but before you sing the blues, you have got to live the blues.

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally Posted by Pretty Little Flower

A little Maceo for the Daily Dose. "Soul Power '74" is basically the James Brown Soul Power if it were written to be an extended sax solo. The Bootsy bass keeps things tight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEYgSuIWPTs

Speaking of James Brown, let's do some of that. Of all of his funk, there is something about the tune Get On The Good Foot that grabs me every time. The way that chirpy guitar line propels you forward, walking up and down those same three notes. Or when the horns hit, drop, and then build back in, over and over. Or maybe the message of unity: "Said the long-hair hippies and the afro blacks, they all get together across the tracks, and they party." Whatever, it is funk most worthy of the Daily Dose:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgGwI12zMJg

[Not Bob]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

The face of anger today is a purported Billionaire married to a model with a private jet who has made a fortune while repeatedly bankrupting his businesses.

I am sorry whitey (orangey?), but before you sing the blues, you have got to live the blues.

In all seriousness, I wish Teddy White was still around to write "The Making of the President - 2016." And while I think that Hunter Thompson's "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972" is his best work, I think that Teddy's Everyman style would probably make for a better read on this saga.

Instead we'll just get something like "Game Change 3 - The Wrath of Khan" by Heilemann and Halperin, filled with breathless awe and after the fact self-justifications and rationalizations. (John, why do you hang out with that idiot?) Maybe someone will ask Elizabeth Drew will write a book again.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Not Bob

In all seriousness, I wish Teddy White was still around to write "The Making of the President - 2016." And while I think that Hunter Thompson's "Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972" is his best work, I think that Teddy's Everyman style would probably make for a better read on this saga.

Instead we'll just get something like "Game Change 3 - The Wrath of Khan" by Heilemann and Halperin, filled with breathless awe and after the fact self-justifications and rationalizations. (John, why do you hang out with that idiot?) Maybe someone will ask Elizabeth Drew will write a book again.

I've been thinking about writing up my recollections of a youth on the campaign trail. I mean, think of all the colorful, exciting stories I could share about being on the campaign trail with the likes of Fritz Mondale and Mike Dukakis....

Yeah, we'll keep that one in the drawer.