November 29, 2010

A Generalization about the Right

Most Palin supporters aren't aren't crazy, but most crazies are Palin supporters.

November 22, 2010

BOP!

Last week was lousy: Bush, Obama, and Palin all in the news.

Afterthought 20101124. And now here's Barbara Bush dissing Palin, perhaps to help another of her idiot sons try to be President.

I have reversed my initial support of Palin; I do not want her to be President (giving Rush Limbaugh a run for his money is fine with me). I fully acknowledge that Jeb would have been the 2008 nominee if not for his last name, and would have had a better shot at winning than McCain did. I fully acknowledge that Jeb would be the obvious choice for the 2012 nomination if not for his last name.

But if it's Jeb vs Sarah, I will cross my fingers and toes and go with Palin.

November 16, 2010

It Finally Came to Me

The Palin persona and high voice have been rubbing on my memory, and it finally came to me.

Some enterprising cartoonist should start portraying Palin as Rocky the Flying Squirrel. With Todd as Bullwinkle.

Rockette the Flying Squirrel, I should say.

November 15, 2010

Full-Body Scanners at Airports

Glenn Reynolds has been pointing out their intrusiveness, and there is talk of a boycott.

Look at it from the ruling class's point of view.

If the public tolerates the scanners, they thereby become further conditioned to a surveillance society. If the public refuses to fly, the airlines will go bankrupt and the government will nationalize them. So what's not to like?

Addendum 20101116. This poll indicates strong public approval of the scanners, and strong disapproval of profiling. My impression is that the Israelis don't think much of our security and perform extensive profiling in their.

(I sent the poll link to Glenn Reynolds. Perhaps it doesn't fit his narrative.)

November 3, 2010

Assessment of Election

Palin: FAIL.

Afterthought 20101122. Actually, what's needed is an in-depth, race-by-race look at the difference her endorsement made.

November 2, 2010

Palin

Was she a plus or a minus for the GOP?

Palin endorsee O'Donnell lost. Intrade says Palin endorsee Angle will lose.

Expect some scorekeeping when the dust clears.

November 1, 2010

Comments: November 2010

On the SPLC, language, and gay marriage.

On the TSA's package-size restrictions, and reporting thereof.

Another Blasphemous Whimsy

Suppose the Exodus story is backwards. Suppose the Hebrews got kicked out of Egypt (and were escorted/chased to the Red Sea by Egyptian cavalry). Suppose the Exodus story is a product of wounded tribal self-esteem.

(What triggered this thought is a conjecture I read long ago regarding the Iliad. In the final version of the story, Achilles stops sulking and returns to battle after Hector kills his friend Patrocles. The conjecture was that in the original story, Hector was the predominant warrior and Patrocles died when he and Achilles attacked Hector together. That account might have been insufficiently heroic for the egos of the victors...)