Havent you heard? I'm the king of NY! (news thread)

[elpollodiablo]

Yeah, what?

[coldforge]

I think he's claiming that the American left is not going to call her on not knowing the meaning of a given phrase, because that would make them look like elitists.

An assertion with which I disagree.

[Little Sixes Little Nines]

i sort of see what you're saying alistarr - yelling "LOOK SHE DOESN'T KNOW A WORD SHE'S CLEARLY RETARDED" would offend, but i don't see how "LOOK SHE'S A RACIST" wouldn't.

[FreddyKnuckles]

I think Alistarr has a point.  On the one hand, calling your political opponents stupid makes you look bad.  On the other hand, the only alternative is that they are evil fucks, which you also can't say, right?  I mean that's what you all think right? That Republicans are either stupid hicks or evil racists?

[dumbfish]

I don't really see it as either/or, but yeah.

[elpollodiablo]

There's also the Middle Way of cynical exploitation of both the stupid hicks and the evil racists through calculated deployment of anti-intellectual folksiness.

[coldforge]

To the most scumfully coldly calculating political operatives, it is a more effective weapon to accuse her of being anti-Semitic instead of just stupid, even when there's absolutely no evidence for it; it plays MUCH wider. But that's just good politics; it's not anybody being afraid of being elitist, it's just going for the jugular because it's open.

[FreddyKnuckles]

Good point. 

I also like what pollo said.

Dershowitz came out and said:

"The term “blood libel” has taken on a broad metaphorical meaning in public discourse. Although its historical origins were in theologically based false accusations against the Jews and the Jewish People,its current usage is far broader. I myself have used it to describe false accusations against the State of Israel by the Goldstone Report. "

[coldforge]

'I myself have tried to tar criticism of the State of Israel with the stain of anti-Semitism; it would be churlish not to extend that opportunity to others.' I wish that guy would fall down a hole.

[FreddyKnuckles]

Dershowitz?  He's probably smarter than you, is that why? 


HEY BLUCAS, ENJOY YOUR 66% INCOME TAX INCREASE SUCKER

[coldforge]

Yes, that's it. It's because he's smarter than me. Freddy, I can't help but notice that the dissolution of your lip-service facade of open-mindedness and being 'the reasonable one' is precisely contemporary with the ascension of the GOP to power in the House. Are you some kind of golem?

[FreddyKnuckles]

I will NOT be accused of open-mindedness.

[Dick]

A couple of months ago there was a little thing we like to call an election, coldforge.  You might have heard of it.

I like Freddy better when he's trolling than when he's 'not trolling' which is also trolling.  But more annoying. 

Overall my feeling about Freddy is pretty good.

[dieblucasdie]

I like how you pop in like every 3 months to give us some random color commentary.  Do me next!

[Dick]

I was going to but it was too mean so I self-edited. 

And anyway, I post, you jerk!

Reading LPTJ has become kind of like watching a season of Top Chef for me, though.  I don't really care what's going on, I just want to have opinions about people.

[hannah]

I post, you jerk!

I am having fun making (non)sense of this.

[dieblucasdie]

Anyway, you distracted me because

Dershowitz?  He's probably smarter than you, is that why? 


HEY BLUCAS, ENJOY YOUR 66% INCOME TAX INCREASE SUCKER

I like how in all the press they're using the "66% income tax hike!" line, when, it's, you know, a raise from 3% to 5%.  But I don't know what you expect me to say to this!  It's unavoidable, and I'm actually kind of glad that, for once, the dudes in Springfield are weathering the bad headlines to do the needed thing instead of just finding a one-year budget fix gimmick.  

I mean, I know you'd rather see an austerity budget, that we may usher in a new Randian paradise, but I'm good

xposts

[FreddyKnuckles]

yeah because tax hikes totally increase revenues and not just commutes from other states.

[elpollodiablo]

Seriously though, Top Chef has been fucking *spectacular* this season

[Dick]

It's been fun to see who stayed more or less themselves (we love you Carla!), and who got totally obnoxious from their premium cable package level of fame.  Jamie is fucking terrible this season.

Why didn't they bring back Poppa Bear (Kevin?)  Sad face.

[Antero]

'I myself have tried to tar criticism of the State of Israel with the stain of anti-Semitism; it would be churlish not to extend that opportunity to others.' I wish that guy would fall down a hole.

Agreed.

[FreddyKnuckles]

Because you're a douchebag.

Anyone else creeped out by the wild cheering by the stupid hippies at u of a? A memorial service is probably not the time for "whoooooooooo! Obaaaaaama! Owwwww! Yeeeeeeeah! O bah MAH!"

let me be clear, as BO would say, I quite liked his speech.

[dieblucasdie]

Indiana's trying to change it's constitution so Gary can declare bankruptcy, and their state budget is just as much disarray as Illinois'.  Wisconsin's trying their best at austerity, but really all it means is that they'll have to raide taxes in 2012 instead of 2011.  I honestly don't know what else you'd have them do!  The budget they are passing already contains cuts everywhere but K-12, and they still need the added revenue from taxes. And, btw, the reason the income tax hike is so steep is because they want to leave property taxes alone.  And, the idea that raising taxes doesn't raise revenue, well, that's some awesome math.

[FreddyKnuckles]

[jess]

It's been fun to see who stayed more or less themselves (we love you Carla!), and who got totally obnoxious from their premium cable package level of fame.  Jamie is fucking terrible this season.

Why didn't they bring back Poppa Bear (Kevin?)  Sad face.

They tried to bring both him and Brian Voltaggio and I think also Stephan back, but none of them would do it. That would have been awesome though.

Carla is the best. Dale L is also awesome. Fabio is also pretty much the same, but I find him mostly annoying just like last time.