Romney Dead Man Walking?

According to Think Progress he is:

Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty announced Thursday morning that he would step down as co-chair of Mitt Romney’s campaign to become the head of the Financial Services Roundtable, a trade organization that represents the 100 largest financial services companies in the country.

Pawlenty might be a wretched little man, but he has so far shown the wisdom of a quitter who knows when he is beat.

Dog Whistlled

The Germans have been watching the current Romney/Ryan festival of lies and have decided, at least the non-Neonazis among them, that their message is "too closely tailored to white men," which pretty much sums it up.

When the foreign press is doing a better job of honest analysis of our Presidential election, it might wake up the various outlets that have so far refused to point out Romney/Ryan's lies and dog whistles.

Civility

So, I got a Romney fundraiser phone call. I figured I would play along and suggested that while I would vote for the him I had insufficient funds to offer any financial support. In the course of wheedling, or attempting to wheedle, the spandolax out of my wallet, the nice young woman on the phone informed that should we fail to defeat Obama he would "burn this country to the ground."

Obviously, this kind of language isn't an affront to either decency or comity nor yet an example of Romney trying to divide America into those who would vote for him and those who are going to burn the country to the ground, which recent polling suggests divides the country about 50/50. Nope, because if it were it would make mock of all the other bullshit, in the Frankfurtian sense, the Republicans and the Right more generally are flinging about in their increasing desperate attempt to impose the 19th century on an unwilling 21st.

Surprise

Yesterday morning at about 7 30 am I was rolling down a small  hillock when I saw a brown thingy on the road sitting over a black dealibob. As I got closer what I took to be a cat with its victim became a hawk with a crow grasped in its talons. The hawk rose and flew side by side with the bike for a few feet before dropping the crow and crossing over to perch in a tree. It was an unexpected, or surprising, moment of beauty.

Later that same day I was sitting outside drinking a beer when I looked up to the north and found that I was right on the edge of a thunderstorm. I could hear the thunder and see the lightening but the rain was just over to the other side of the railway tracks. It was an unexpected, or surprising, moment of if not beauty then sublimity.

Early today I read an article in The New Yorker about how liberal millionaires and billionaires aren't giving Obama money because some find super pacs anti democratic, which is true but rather like unilateral disarmament, others, however, pine for the days when Bill Clinton would invite them to private dinners at which, seated in descending order of the size of their contributions, the Clinton would elicit their views on matters of substance and, get this, take notes. Finding this out was an unexpected, or surprising, moment of realizing just how venal Clinton was and just how delusional the riches of these United States are.

Obama, it seems, prefers to get his policy advice from people who know what they are talking about instead of a bunch of riches whose sole virtue is an ability to game a corrupt system. As a result, the article suggests, their feelings are all atwitter and they withhold their ill-gotten gains until such time as Obama, or whomever, decides to grant them once again their unearned ascendency in the halls of power.

What a bunch of assholes.

In Russia the State Punks You

So here is the Pussy Riot video that led to the kerfuffle:




It is insane that the band got 2 years in jail for insulting Putin; the Dixie Chicks only had to go on tv and apologize. U S A U S A  

A More Just World

When the issue of economic inequality comes up, this Anatole France quote usually turns up:

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.

And a good laugh is had all around. Did you know that in other parts of the world the law actually punishes some crimes on the basis of the perpetrator's wealth? In Switzerland and Finland at least if you are rich and speed your fine is determined by "the severity of the offense and the offender's income level."

One rich driving like a mad man was fine 290k in Switzerland, while the chairman of Nokia faced a 100 odd thousand dollar fine, and one particularly insane rich faces a fine that falls 40,000 dollars short of a million.

So lets do that with, say, property crimes. Poor and shoplift a pair of pants? 60 dollar fine; rich and shop lift a the same kind of pants, 10% of pre-tax income. Rich and embezzle?  50% of total wealth and 10 years in jail.  Poor and steal a neighbors digital camera? Give the camera back or replace and a week in jail.  And so on.

The idea is basically to make the punishment fit the advantages gained by any individual from being  a member of society.

Running Mates

Romney picked Ryan because he is the only other  politician who is running as hard as Romney from his record.

Points Tipped

Remember when John Kerry decorated war hero ran for president and the Republicans "swift boated" him? It would seem that calling a double-amputee from injuries sustained in one or another of our current conflicts not a hero is a bridge too far.

It remains, obviously, to be see what the actual fall out this event it; but by gosh by gory if it leads to the end of the Republicans and the Right more generally being able to lie and traduce at will the world will be a slightly better place.

Recalled Yet Again to Life

So it looks like the Wisconsin Dems did, in fact, regain the majority in the Senate by 2%.  Again to all of those touting Walker's expanded political capital, it is just not the case. Furthermore, when you think of the millions of dollars and related etc Walker garnered from outside the state, it ought to be clear that his curiously dead eyes are now fixed on a wider horizon.

The Right Wing revolution is, baring ballot shenanigans, over.

The World and How It Got That Way (USA Edition)

Here is a long essay by a former Republican congressional staffer filled with well deserved criticisms for the radical right and tepidly egalitarian neoliberal centrists who currently seek to drive the ship of state further into a ditch, to engage in metaphoric mix and match.

Knowledgeably Ignorant

The first stage of the French presidential election was today. According to a  24 year old Frenchman and student, who voted for Sarkozy because of fear of turmoil in the "financial markets" -- whatever that might mean,

[n]obody knows exactly what’s going to happen whoever is elected,” Mr. Hustaix said. “Hollande is not going to be able to enforce his program, and Sarkozy didn’t disclose specifics on what he is going to do, aside from immigration and security.

He is certain that the future is uncertain except to the extent that the socialist will be gridlocked and Sarkozy threaten immigrants and "terrorists," which appears to be a coded French discourse for more discrimination against Muslims and "mild" Le Penisme.

In other words, other than knowing exactly what would happen and voting out of fear of international finance capitalism, the poor lad is in the dark. It is almost like he realizes that the State's economic policies is in the hands of the ruthless capitalists of the Bourse, the City, and Wall Street but is afraid to admit it.

The French Jon Stewart

is how The New Yorker's Lauren Collen describes this guy and his show:

Le Petit Journal 06/02/12 - La civilisation anglaise

The bit that matters is this:

“The battle of who has the most perfect family [in the upcoming American presidential race] has begun,” Barthès says. “We choose the Republican Newt Gingrich, having discovered his delicious wife, Callista.”
Next: “We have an image just of Callista!” She’s in blue. The hair is voluminous. “Good God!” Barthès sputters. He makes some gestures around his head. “But what is this crash helmet?” A moment later, he declares, “We have discovered the secret of this mysterious cut, thanks to Leonardo da Vinci.” Now it’s Caleesta again, with the Vitruvian Man superimposed on her face. Barthès rattles off measurements and radii in a tone of Dan Brown-ish portentousness. We see another image of Callista, on a day with “winds strong enough to tear off a cow’s horn,” standing alongside Newt. “It swells slightly,” Barthès says, “but nothing moves.”

And there you have it.

Unfortunately

I've lost track of where this picture came from but it suggests one of the larger problems confronting the  sociopathic robots and defenders of western civilization populating the ranks of the GOP's presidential hopefuls.

Oh How I Long for the Millionaire Hobo of Yesteryear

I was reading Whateveritisimagainstit this morning and  learned of James Eads How the "millionaire hobo." I assumed, foolishly, that the epithet was ironical. According to Wikipedia, he was in fact a millionaire. Or, more precisely, the son of a millionaire one who refused his wealth because, he said:

I have not earned it, it is not mine

Instead he spent his time trying to improve the lot of the poor and, as his name suggests, living like hobo even as he attempt improve their lot.  And odd man? Perhaps. However, he understood the difference between merit and luck; between unjust suffering and unjust opulence and he decided to work to overcome rather than benefit from the system that created both.

In contrast, robotic sociopath Mitt Romney has been given everything he has and yet claims that

I did not inherit what my wife and I have.

He goes yet even further and enlists, or tries to, Thomas Paine in his war on equality and justice. In the process he exposes his general ignorance of history, which is nice. Finally, he says, in a burst of honesty, that he is not

concerned with the very poor. We have a safety net there.

I mean really, he likes to fire people, he isn't worried about the poor. Next he will actually kidnap some young woman and tie her to the railroad tracks.

Let's hope that Newt Gingrich stays in the election and the two horrid little men continue to expose their horridness, their littleness, and their aversion to the truth for a few more months. Ideally this will ensure the Obama's election and we can have four more years of disappointment that don't include recreating all of the 19th century.

He's Right You Know That

A German pundit on last night's debate he asks if

there enough material to make it worth watching, even though it was number 18 of the campaign season? No, the anticipation proved too much, though there were some meaty skirmishes and well-planned attacks between the top two candidates and the other two on the stage, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul. But there were also more lies, half-truths, and window dressings.

It really was one of the oddest and least illuminating debates ever in human history except that it exposed the Republican candidates as loons each one odder than the other. Really, it was an intellectual freak show.

Debate

I just watched the Republican debate. All four candidates are nuts. Should any of them become president the country is screwed, blued, and tattooed.

Protests in Days of Yore

I've never heard of this incident:



Nixon reflects



via

All Apologies

Various manics, including the robotic sociopath Mitt Romney have been castigating Obama for apologizing for the US. Many folks insist that's not true. Here is a list of the alleged apologies. As I read them, they are examples of Obama saying here is an error we made and we won't make that mistake again. If you think that is an apology fine; if, however,you think it's a bad thing, you're nuts.So, for example, on the whole Guantanamo torture deal, the President argues that

[t]here is also no question that Guantanamo set back the moral authority that is America's strongest currency in the world. Instead of building a durable framework for the struggle against al Qaeda that drew upon our deeply held values and traditions, our government was defending positions that undermined the rule of law. In fact, part of the rationale for establishing Guantanamo in the first place was the misplaced notion that a prison there would be beyond the law--a proposition that the Supreme Court soundly rejected. Meanwhile, instead of serving as a tool to counter terrorism, Guantanamo became a symbol that helped al Qaeda recruit terrorists to its cause. Indeed, the existence of Guantanamo likely created more terrorists around the world than it ever detained.
So the record is clear: Rather than keeping us safer, the prison at Guantanamo has weakened American national security. It is a rallying cry for our enemies.

As I read it, the Obama is  trying, although his failure to close the prison is a real disaster for his presidency, to lay out the reasons why Guantanamo was and is bad. It's not an apology; it's more of an admission of error.

If you watch this video, when MLK gets to a discussion of Kennedy and the Bay of Pigs he lays out the argument for doing what Obama did:



I have to say, I agree and I think it is high time that we went Obama and Kennedy one better and, in fact, as a state learned from our mistakes instead of just insisting we've learned. Besides which, when did dealing with reality become a sign of weakness?

Complaints? That's My Department.

From Letters of Note:
In May of 1872, having recently travelled twice to watch Aida, a disappointed Italian gentleman named Prospero Bertani decided to write a letter of complaint to the opera's composer, Verdi, and ask for his money back; not just for the show, but for his expenses too. Amused, Verdi responded by forwarding the letter to his publisher, Giulio Ricordi, with instructions. The chain of correspondence can be seen below, along with a written promise from Bertani never to watch the opera again.

To Bertrani's dismay, Verdi later arranged for his letter of complaint to be published in a number of Italian newspapers.

. . .

Verdi to his publisher, Giulio Ricordi:

St. Agata, 10 May 1872

Dear Giulio,

Yesterday I received from Reggio a letter which is so amusing that I am sending it to you, asking you to carry out the commission I am about to give you. Here is the letter:

Reggio, 7 May 1872

Much honored Signor Verdi,

On the second of this month, attracted by the sensation your opera Aida was making, I went to Parma. Half an hour before the performance began I was already in my seat, No. 120. I admired the scenery, listened with great pleasure to the excellent singers, and took great pains to let nothing escape me. After the performance was over, I asked myself whether I was satisfied. The answer was in the negative. I returned to Reggio and, on the way back in the railroad carriage, I listened to the verdicts of my fellow travellers. Nearly all of them agreed that Aida was a work of the highest rank.

Thereupon I conceived a desire to hear it again, and so on the forth I returned to Parma. I made the most desperate efforts to obtain a reserved seat, and there was such a crowd that I had to spend 5 lire to see the performance in comfort.

I came to the following conclusion: the opera contains absolutely nothing thrilling or electrifying, and if it were not for the magnificent scenery, the audience would not sit through it to the end. It will fill the theatre a few more times and then gather dust in the archives. Now, my dear Signor Verdi, you can imagine my regret at having spent 32 lire for these two performances. Add to this the aggravating circumstance that I am dependent on my family, and you will understand that his money preys on my mind like a terrible specter. Therefore I address myself frankly and openly to you so that you may send me this sum. Here is the account:

Railroad, going: 2.60
Railroad, returning: 3.30
Theatre: 8.00
Disgustingly bad dinner: 2.00

Twice: 15.90

Total: 31.80

In the hope that you will extricate me from this dilemma,

I am yours sincerely,

Bertani

My address: Bertani, Prospero; Via St. Domenico, No. 5.

Imagine, if to protect a child of a family from the horrible specters that disturb his peace, I should not be disposed to pay that little bill he has brought to my attention! Therefore by means of your representative or a bank, please reimburse 27.80 lire in my name to this Signor Prospero Bertani, 5 Via St. Domenico. This isn't the entire sum for which asks me, but... to pay for his dinner too! No. He could very well have eaten at home!!! Of course he will send you a receipt for that sum and a note, by which he promises never again to go to hear my new operas, to avoid for himself the danger of other specters and for me the farce of paying him for another trip [...]

Ricordi to Verdi:

Milan, 16 May 1872

Dear Giuseppe,

As soon as I received you last letter I wrote to our correspondent in Reggio, who found the famous Signor Bertani, paid the money, and got the proper receipt! I amc opying the letter and receipt for the newspaper, and I shall return everything to you tomorrow. Oh, what fools there are in this world! But this is the best one yet!

The correspondent in Reggio writes me: "I sent immediately for Bertani, who came to me right away. Advised of the reason for my invitation, he first showed surprise, but then said: 'If Maestro Verdi reimburses me, this means that he has found what I wrote fim to be correct. It's my duty to thank him, however, and I ask you to do it for me.'"

This one is even better!

Pleased to have discovered this rarity of the species, I send the most cordial greetings to you and Signora Peppina.

Giulio

Prospero Bertani to Verdi:

15 May 1872

I, the undersigned, certify herewith that I have received the sum of 27.80 lire from Maestro Giuseppe Verdi, as reimbursement of my expenses for a trip to Parma to hear the opera Aida. The Maestro felt it was fair that this sum should be restored to me, since I did not find his opera to my taste. At the same time it is agreed that I shall undertake no trip to hear any of the Maestro's new operas in the future, unless he takes all the expenses upon himself, whatever my opinion of his work may be.

In confirmation whereof I have affixed my signature.

Bertani, Prospero

This is a thousand times cleverer than "Cancel your own goddamn subscription" about which Buckley was so damned proud. After all how else was a subscriber to cancel a subscription without writing to the magazine.

Republicans in Disarray

Flush from his recent victory of the sociopathic robot Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum makes with the wisecracks about Romney's wealth. Newt Gingrich, apparently stung because Romeny's fellow plutocrats spent millions making sure everyone remembers Gingrich's record of double-dealing, personal and professional crapulence and asshatery, had his plutocratic pals put out a movie with this for a trailer



I think it's great that this clowns are decrying wealth and neoliberalism; I await Romney's, who calls their kid Willard?, measured and reasonable response.

What I don't get is how they think they can attack Romney who represents decades of Republican, conservative, and neoliberal policies' successes and woe the crazed hordes they need to win the primaries or how they suddenly pivot back to hating socialism, which mean moderate neoliberalism.