tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post4594439717672462039..comments2024-03-17T08:27:53.658-05:00Comments on Stonekettle Station: The Latter Days of a Better Nation, Part VIJim Wrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11259550121437562338noreply@blogger.comBlogger116125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-54862386695064677342018-01-27T06:43:16.392-06:002018-01-27T06:43:16.392-06:00Hmmm, you are still confining your search for the ...Hmmm, you are still confining your search for the intelligence behind "The Memo" to *national* intelligence services, like the NSA.<br /><br />How about *foreign intelligence agencies*.<br /><br />I give you the following example (obviously, I had to encrypt it):<br /><br />https://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/waarom-zijn-de-hackers-van-de-aivd-zo-goed~a4561868/Toon Moenehttp://moene.org/~toonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-71249233444091665412017-12-07T16:58:43.024-06:002017-12-07T16:58:43.024-06:00Looks like I was wrong about Franken. Damn. Well...Looks like I was wrong about Franken. Damn. Well, there's a first time for everything...<br /><br />And it's easy to imagine that my prior post exhibited a cavalier attitude toward sexual harassment. I assure all that this is not my intent. Things gotta change; we gotta change 'em.<br /><br />-elkernAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-28234182047726922612017-12-01T22:59:15.458-06:002017-12-01T22:59:15.458-06:00One more thing Jim. I came back to see if you had ...One more thing Jim. I came back to see if you had posted something new, but ended up rereading your post.<br /><br />Rereading is very important. It takes time to digest good writing. To really understand important writing, you have to be a ruminant of sorts. I haven’t reread Heinlein for literally decades, and I was a fan as a young boy. I read several of his novels, many of which were beyond my ability to prehend. I read them anyway.<br /><br />Grok. Can’t forget that concept.<br /><br />Vonnegut’s “Man Without a Country” is probably more apropos in these times, but I need to reread that too. I remember to this day the cover of “The Star Beast,” that’s how they grab ya, with images of longing and adventure.<br /><br />And I’d never realized the contention brought about by Starship Troopers. Thanks for that. It’s now on my must-read list.<br /><br />I agree with you on every point in your essay. But I am not a fair man, as you are. I’m off the rails.<br /><br />I don’t care if the accusations against Moore are true. Because in my view, Moore should be kept as far away from levers of power as possible, barring physical assault. Slander works just fine for me.<br /><br />This is not my usual take on matters such as this. But I believe Roy Moore is a danger and a menace, and one more indication that our country is tacking towards a fascist theocracy should he be elected. Honor be damned. We are presumed to be a nation of laws. Fuck if he should become a lawmaker.<br /><br />Garrison Keillor quipped (paraphrasing) “Maybe Moore could legalize stoning.”<br /><br />Good bye, all men of good will.<br /><br />Leroy<br />Leroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02021120389394278239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-38540792710262371092017-12-01T11:58:26.882-06:002017-12-01T11:58:26.882-06:00Thanks for putting "the picture" up ther...Thanks for putting "the picture" up there. I'm the person who hadn't seen it yet.<br /><br />But what I see is a comedian MUGGING FOR THE CAMERA while pretending to grope a woman WEARING A FLAK-JACKET. I gotta say, I think that's rather funny: groping Kevlar?!? To quote a different SNL alumnus... "Ewww".<br /><br />Bad taste? Sure. Behavior inappropriate for a US Senator? Sure. Behavior inappropriate for a comedian on a USO tour in 2006? Nope. Bad Example for Others? Maybe. (White) Male abusing a position of power? Nope. <br /><br />Of course, there could be other incidents. As I indicated above, I haven't followed this mess closely. <br /><br />But if the US Congress wastes it's time & our money investigating that picture, I'll be pissed. The GOP's politically motivated witch-hunts didn't start with Benghazi, nor even Whitewater (ahem, Joe McCarthy?). It's all they've got left to do, except to cash in once they loot our country & give it all to their big Donors.<br /><br />-elkernAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-17241267370261162522017-11-29T13:28:07.584-06:002017-11-29T13:28:07.584-06:00Thank you for your thoughts. Rape survivor here as...Thank you for your thoughts. Rape survivor here as well, and my radar went up about this LeAnne woman too. Plus old Roger Stone let the cat out of the bag 24 hours before Ms. Leeden broke her story. Seemed a little to fishy to me.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16018351644991688975noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-26678723583645862452017-11-27T21:52:47.029-06:002017-11-27T21:52:47.029-06:00Al Franken has already said he welcomes an ethics ...Al Franken has already said he welcomes an ethics investigation. None of the other accused have said that.<br /><br />-The New York Crank<br />The New York Crankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04489472134701718697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-66523857954944361542017-11-27T16:14:39.950-06:002017-11-27T16:14:39.950-06:00I actually wanted to sent you a quick thought abou...I actually wanted to sent you a quick thought about your "pass through" post on facebook, but I don't have a box to add a comment, and I am not a twitterer. I just wanted to post the observation that the PGA Tour is a non-profit corporation. I read somewhere (maybe from John Feinstein) that establishing the Tour as a non-profit was one of their best money making moves ever. (It's been a few years since I read that but that was the gist of the thing)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-74450420628685036472017-11-27T10:00:03.179-06:002017-11-27T10:00:03.179-06:00You'll need a lot of investigators to hold eve...You'll need a lot of investigators to hold everyone to a higher standard. And why would anyone hold themselves to a higher standard when the odds are they'll get away with it, or they can reach for their checkbook.Peter Panhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09473311771939167712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-17678382925813160702017-11-23T12:43:35.690-06:002017-11-23T12:43:35.690-06:00One other comment: how might I get invited to Than...One other comment: how might I get invited to Thanksgiving dinner at your place next year?<br /><br />:)<br />D. Toolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663301000927280133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-69529988647814980752017-11-22T08:22:29.306-06:002017-11-22T08:22:29.306-06:00The photo is what it is, and it ain't good at ...The photo is what it is, and it ain't good at all, but if you look at it you can see there is no actual touching happening. It's taken from an angle to look as if there is touching going on, and it's clearly wrong to do that, but it does not show a man actually touching anything.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-7680867306161784032017-11-20T20:25:09.073-06:002017-11-20T20:25:09.073-06:00This is perhaps a more complicated issue than it s...This is perhaps a more complicated issue than it seems. I have the following paragraph in one of my essays:<br /><br />"Were you a butt patter? (I was. It was the 1960’s and we hadn’t heard your side yet.) Plan to see every pitiful aged remnant of the flaming foxes you knew in the parties of your youth, on TV, telling America that you sexually assaulted them on 16 separate occasions."<br /><br />I submit that things done in relative innocence, in more benighted times, should be judged differently. Yes, we could and no doubt should do better, but in my opinion things done for reasons not including or even related to sexual gratification should be viewed differently.<br /><br />If there is no difference, does that not mean that all things are the same? Surely not.Jeff McFaddenhttp://www.nopackagedeals.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-57315216568953301142017-11-19T01:42:33.124-06:002017-11-19T01:42:33.124-06:00Seldom hear it so clearly stated. Whatsaboutism dr...Seldom hear it so clearly stated. Whatsaboutism drives me up the wall. Nice essay, Jim.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-11657852325613360062017-11-18T17:45:21.315-06:002017-11-18T17:45:21.315-06:00Jim, a good essay, and lots of good comments. See,...Jim, a good essay, and lots of good comments. See, we have can good things.<br /><br />I was having a pint with a buddy of mine and our conversation sparked a memory of something I’d read in one of Stephen Donaldson’s books.<br /><br />"In accepting a gift, you honor the giver."<br /><br />At the time as I read it as a teen – and in the context of the story – it made perfect sense. But I hadn’t seen the menacing implications of that concept, in the contexts addressed in this essay, nor in the entire history of the human species for that matter, dimorphic as we are. What a trudge, to reach the concept of parity between the sexes.<br /> <br />We talked about the thin veneer of civilization. And then we drank some more beer. He brought up heuristics and I promised to look it up.<br /><br />Love you man, and cheers,<br /><br />Leroy<br />Leroyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02021120389394278239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-67307292629600827712017-11-18T17:10:55.911-06:002017-11-18T17:10:55.911-06:00As a woman, I agree with you. It was good to hear...As a woman, I agree with you. It was good to hear that HE called for the ethics investigation, that he apologized genuinely, and that his apology was accepted.cydwattshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14275486148665297587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-21716929606432944012017-11-18T14:59:56.664-06:002017-11-18T14:59:56.664-06:00"I hope Franken's "taking responsibi..."I hope Franken's "taking responsibility" means more than empty-gesture "thoughts and prayers"..."<br /><br />Well to date he's made a very public apology without excuses or "if anyone was" statements.<br /><br />He's also sent a personal letter of apology to Tweeden (which she immediately publicized).<br /><br />He's offered to be the subject of a full Ethics investigation. <br /><br />He's agreed to step away from sponsoring a rape victim bill at the request of the victim the bill is named after. <br /><br />I mean ... what more do you want?Karahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09055340314451907458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72635564420346506822017-11-17T14:48:23.010-06:002017-11-17T14:48:23.010-06:00Right on - this whole essay is spot on. This is n...Right on - this whole essay is spot on. This is not a partisan issue. This is a morality/criminality issue. When will we as a nation stop bickering across the aisle and work together, especially on matters that have nothing to do with politics? Sadly, that answer may be NEVER.Citizen Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07974646745597998504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-80069254026254991152017-11-17T14:47:45.373-06:002017-11-17T14:47:45.373-06:00Bravo. I agree 100%. Bravo. I agree 100%. Kat. C.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04802838309089438333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-5322334458483071412017-11-17T14:06:21.204-06:002017-11-17T14:06:21.204-06:00As a government employee, I too have signed and ha...As a government employee, I too have signed and have to follow a code of conduct. As a compliance officer I have to objectively hold employees accountable. I expect better of my representatives. I refuse to call them leaders since they work for us. Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634714229973287675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-24270596776908206032017-11-17T12:39:34.529-06:002017-11-17T12:39:34.529-06:00For the record, Bill Clinton had more than one acc...For the record, Bill Clinton had more than one accuser and at least one of those accusations included rape.Brian Padgetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-45733225158766354582017-11-17T12:38:02.663-06:002017-11-17T12:38:02.663-06:00I saw a billboard recently that claimed that 93% o...I saw a billboard recently that claimed that 93% of women were victims of sexual assault. I have no clue where that statistic came from or how valid it might be. However based on my own sad experiences, I suspect the number falls way short. I for one am glad that women have become emboldened and instances this behavior are coming to light and at least being discussed, but we should never think that it is limited to politicians or actors. There is a pervasive culture of assault and cover-up that I am hopeful will begin change and my daughters will never be subjected to the miserable behavior I have.<br /><br />I might add that most men are wonderful and respectful wrt women. It only takes a couple of bad apples.<br />Joan Schneller Bullockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01776508030740022423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-36864253832739229622017-11-17T12:16:54.689-06:002017-11-17T12:16:54.689-06:00I have always assumed that crazy is a willing mist...I have always assumed that crazy is a willing mistress.Brian Padgetnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-84012565777107967492017-11-17T11:46:36.938-06:002017-11-17T11:46:36.938-06:00Ironically, Louis C.K. performed a riff about how ...Ironically, Louis C.K. performed a riff about how historically the worst violent offenders have been white Christian men. He described how a date should begin:<br /><br />Her - "Where are you taking me?"<br /><br />Him - "Statistically soeaking, to your demise"Millard Fillmorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02824756652679903086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-287055492006799112017-11-17T11:36:47.986-06:002017-11-17T11:36:47.986-06:00First, let me say I'm a woman. Secondly, I nee...First, let me say I'm a woman. Secondly, I need to say that I've been wondering the same thing. The photo is certainly distasteful and I think less of Mr. Franken than I did before it came to light, but does the activity depicted actually rise to the level of sexual assault? ebrkenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-72602123941847580712017-11-17T11:36:03.303-06:002017-11-17T11:36:03.303-06:00You're welcome.
--HawkYou're welcome.<br /><br />--HawkHawkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01117930898867288795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8243351006478134285.post-52494151112698906662017-11-17T09:34:06.355-06:002017-11-17T09:34:06.355-06:00Whether or not she is sleeping, is touching someon...Whether or not she is sleeping, is touching someone over ceramic plates in small arms body armor groping or sexual assault? This is an honest question. Does it reach that bar? The kiss is another question altogether, but the photo's existence is not in question. David Earl Noehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02649570649040375169noreply@blogger.com