Monday morning links

I should have known better from my experience in hospital that when it comes to the forms of self-evident stupidity and self-destruction, man’s inventiveness is infinite.

Warren:

I could not understand how the entire German mass media, on nominal “right” and “left” alike, and I assume with little cross-consultation, agreed to shut the story down as if it had not happened; consciously lying to report that there were “no incidents” that night. And in the same Germany whose motto, seventy years ago, was, “I did not know.”

Turkish police find factory making fake lifejackets in Izmir

China and Russia: The Partnership Deepens

Playing Chess

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 06:54 | Comments (39) | Trackbacks (0)

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Obama and his hack SecDef trying their very best to ruin the Marine Corps in their last year. Hope the Commandant can delay this idiocy until next year.

One of the things that makes the Corps so special and effective is the hard training. Impossible to do while accommodating women.

#1 NJSoldier on 2016-01-11 09:21 (Reply)

Many people still don't believe Obama wants to and intends to harm the country. By now it should be obvious to anyone with a mind to think about it. He is motivated by racism and religious bias. He is an African Muslim raised in Indonesia by a mother who anti-American and mentored by a anti-American Marxist. Obama is living the dream by destroying a democratic capitalist success story. He did this little by little at first so no one would rally against him but now as a lame duck he is moving much faster. Much of what he is doing cannot be undone. We made a terrible mistake in 2008 and doubled down in 2012. We will pay for that mistake.

#2 GoneWithTheWind on 2016-01-11 09:48 (Reply)

GoneWithTheWind: He is an African Muslim raised in Indonesia by a mother who anti-American and mentored by a anti-American Marxist.

Can't imagine why there's a racial divide in America.

#2.1 Zachriel on 2016-01-11 10:30 (Reply)

QUOTE:

GoneWithTheWind: He is an African Muslim raised in Indonesia by a mother who anti-American and mentored by a anti-American Marxist.

Can't imagine why there's a racial divide in America.

Huh?

#2.1.1 mudbug on 2016-01-11 11:01 (Reply)

You have to keep pushing that there's a divide, and telling people they can't get a fair shake... but YOU will help them in exchange for a vote.

After getting elected, you deal with the problem the only way you know how. As a community organizer, you specialized in pitting people against each other, so that's what you do. Tolerance? Who the hell needs TOLERANCE? So you stoke the fires, make sure your favored group is mad as hell.

Then you tell people that things are getting worse and worse. But YOU will help them in exchange for a vote.

The problem doesn't get solved during your tenure, but you LOOKED like you were doing something. Doesn't that count? Isn't that the important thing?

#2.1.2 JLawson on 2016-01-11 11:47 (Reply)

That's supposed to mean something? Interesting how so many of your posts are passive/aggressive drivel.

More likely this is just another area where you ignore scientific data to cling to a discredited hypothesis.

#2.1.3 DrTorch on 2016-01-11 11:48 (Reply)

Me neither, considering how many people reframe every criticism in terms of racial identity.

#2.1.4 Texan99 on 2016-01-11 12:15 (Reply)

When Obama took office, he had an 80% approval rating. This is because on one side of our political divide, people are willing to give the other guy a chance after an election. George Bush had just under 60%. Those were 50-50 elections, as most American 2-party races have been. That trend holds back as far as the election of Eisenhower, BTW, though not as dramatically.

Do the math. So that means that x% of Obama's opponents defaulted to mild approval, while only y% of Bush's opponents were willing to do the same.

You can focus on people who are now angry and attribute any of their objections to racism, but the "racial divide" in this country is largely perpetuated by the side that needs desperately to see their opponents as racist. Mudbug's focus was on Americanism and ideology. You saw racism.

#2.1.5 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2016-01-11 12:17 (Reply)

Take your meds Z. Muslims come in many racial flavors, including a good smattering of Caucasian. Likewise Marxists and anti-American types. You're seeing things that aren't there again.

#2.1.6 BillH on 2016-01-11 13:05 (Reply)

The favorite recurring comment on Instapundit goes like this: What I like about Obama is all the racial healing going on.

#2.1.7 Sam L. on 2016-01-11 14:19 (Reply)

JLawson: You have to keep pushing that there's a divide

The divide is evident in "He is an African Muslim raised in Indonesia by a mother who anti-American and mentored by a anti-American Marxist."

DrTorch: That's supposed to mean something?

The first half of Obama's term, America's first black president, a vocal number of Americans insisted that he was not a legitimate president. The leader in the Republican primary race for president was one such American.

Assistant Village Idiot: the "racial divide" in this country is largely perpetuated by the side that needs desperately to see their opponents as racist.

You don't think this is racially divisive? "He is an African Muslim raised in Indonesia by a mother who anti-American and mentored by a anti-American Marxist."

#2.1.8 Zachriel on 2016-01-11 15:42 (Reply)

I'm not sure what is so divisive. His father was African. In 1991, his literary agency thought he was born in Kenya - something he apparently didn't dispute. He called his grandmother a "typical white person." What would happen if someone called him, or any black person a "typical black person?" Maybe GWTW and his literary agent is wrong. How is that divisive?

What's divisive is that whenever somebody disagreed with Obama, many on the left called that evidence that the one who disagreed was a racist. Then there is this from the man himself:

QUOTE:

“I don’t believe it is possible to transcend race in this country. Race is a factor in this society. The legacy of Jim Crow and slavery has not gone away. It is not an accident that African-Americans experience high crime rates, are poor, and have less wealth. It is a direct result of our racial history.”
— Barack Obama

So no matter what blacks try to do, they will be restrained by the fact that blacks were slaves over a hundred and fifty years ago. Their lot in life is not their fault, it's white peoples' fault and there's nothing neither blacks or whites can do about it.

#2.1.8.1 mudbug on 2016-01-11 16:23 (Reply)

mudbug: I'm not sure what is so divisive.

Repeatedly claiming that the first black president is not legitimate, is clearly divisive. That one of the most vocal birthers is now leading the Republican nomination process means that this was not some fringe, but a significant portion of the American right.

#2.1.8.1.1 Zachriel on 2016-01-11 16:27 (Reply)

Z: Repeatedly claiming that the first black president is not legitimate, is clearly divisive.

GWTW repeatedly claimed that Obama is not legitimate? You ignored my comment about the devisiveness of lefties who said people who disagreed with Obama were racists.

Hillary Clinton was the first Birther but she's running for President as a Democrat so we should ignore that.

#2.1.8.1.1.1 mudbug on 2016-01-11 16:52 (Reply)

mudbug: GWTW repeatedly claimed that Obama is not legitimate?

Seriously?

mudbug: You ignored my comment about the devisiveness of lefties who said people who disagreed with Obama were racists.

Please be specific.

#2.1.8.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2016-01-11 17:19 (Reply)

In this post, point out the repeated claims of Obama's illegitimacy:

QUOTE:

For extra credit, explain how those on the left calling Geo. W. Bush, 'BusHitler', was not devisive.

QUOTE:

mudbug: You ignored my comment about the devisiveness of lefties who said people who disagreed with Obama were racists.

Please be specific.

What's divisive is that whenever somebody disagreed with Obama, many on the left called that evidence that the one who disagreed was a racist.

#2.1.8.1.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2016-01-11 17:32 (Reply)

mudbug: In this post, point out the repeated claims of Obama's illegitimacy

The post is xenophobic and paints Obama as a foreigner.

mudbug: For extra credit, explain how those on the left calling Geo. W. Bush, 'BusHitler', was not devisive.

You weren't specific as requested.

The current leader of the Republican nominating race was a birther. The right wing echochamber made it an issue for Obama's entire first term. Who on the political left with similar stature used the term "BusHitler"?

#2.1.8.1.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2016-01-11 19:16 (Reply)

Z: The current leader of the Republican nominating race was a birther.

The current leader of the Democratic nominating race was a birther in 2008.

The BusHitler was in regards to the left generally, not Obama's birth certificate.

#2.1.8.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2016-01-11 23:10 (Reply)

mudbug: The current leader of the Democratic nominating race was a birther in 2008.

Where and when did Clinton publicly question Obama's citizenship?

mudbug: The BusHitler was in regards to the left generally, not Obama's birth certificate.

What you mean is that you overgeneralize from a vocal few to the entire group.

#2.1.8.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Zachriel on 2016-01-12 09:06 (Reply)

You brought up race. You insist it is because he is "the first black president." That would invalidate any criticism of him then, wouldn't it? Because Zachriel could just attribute it to his race.

Indonesia is a non-American place. Africa is a non-American place. Unless you have some different globe you are operating from? His mother was absolutely anti-american and Marxist - that's not name-calling, that's a descriiptor. His mentor became (did not necessarily start out) anti-American and Marxist. those are not insults but descriptions.

You really ratchet up the hysterical insults when the pressure is on, don't you? I'll explain to the others what happened, though I'll bet you can't see it yourself. You saw the word "African*" and assumed mudbug meant "nigger." Because your prejudice runs that deep, you project onto your opponents that they must be the same.

*If mudbug thinks Obama is Kenyan, I think he is inaccurate, but that doesn't make him racist.

#2.1.8.1.1.2 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2016-01-11 21:17 (Reply)

Assistant Village Idiot: You brought up race.

GoneWithTheWind: He is an African Muslim raised in Indonesia by a mother who anti-American and mentored by a anti-American Marxist.

Assistant Village Idiot: Indonesia is a non-American place. Africa is a non-American place.

The only reason it was brought up was to question Obama's Americanism. It's little wonder even the most conservative blacks distrust the American right.

#2.1.8.1.1.2.1 Zachriel on 2016-01-12 09:10 (Reply)

The reason I wrote that was as a lead in to my point that Obama does not see himself as an American, does not like America and intends to harm the country. What I said in that one sentence is 100% true. Truth is truth even if it hurts. Was their 'racism' in my comments? Absolutely not. Was my point that Obama IS a racist? ABSOLUTELY !!

#2.1.8.2 GoneWithTheWind on 2016-01-11 20:56 (Reply)

Re: Poll: Obama Has Failed on Every Issue

What's amazed me (after he was re-elected) is that his poll are as high as they are - probably because there is no demonization campaign from the pubbies like the Democrats had for George W. This is the first president for which I am unable to list a single positive accomplishment. I can't even admit that he did the right thing under pressure (e.g. Clinton with welfare reform and balanced budgets) - ever - which is partly because he never had that much pressure (thank you feckless pubbies) and partly because he never did the right thing.

Of course, the polls could be wrong and overstating his support. It's the only thing to hold on to.

#3 mudbug on 2016-01-11 09:59 (Reply)

The low-info voter deserves to be ousted for not doing homework on this man's past. Candidates should not be allowed to seal files (he found ways around opening divorce files on anyone who dared to run against him in IL) and have to present original documents verifying birth records, citizenship, college records, etc. Why should this liar be any different from those who preceded him? And, for that matter, follow him. Sen. Cruz? Sen Rubio?

#3.1 jma on 2016-01-11 11:32 (Reply)

Re: Clintons: Nothing to Do with Sex

It never was about sex. I think more people are looking at Bill & Hill's previous adventures in the "rape culture" with new eyes.

#4 mudbug on 2016-01-11 10:18 (Reply)

We were told in the 90s that Republicans were prudes for being so judgmental of Clinton's sexcapades. And that it was only 'sex.' And that it was between him and his wife.

Glad to see that today's young Democrats don't see it that way. They see Clinton 20 years ago as a creepy perv who is sexual predator. They find him gross and a 'famous' person who got away with sexual crimes.

Talk to some young women and you will get this response.

The Democrats of yesteryear had stars in their eyes when they looked at Bill. They never wanted to believe he was a creep-o that had preyed on women. They believed in the hype surrounding him and talked about his incredible 'charisma' and decided all of these women accusers were the sluts that Hillary accused them of being...or money grubbers.

That won't work anymore. 20 years later, times have changed. Bill is not a celebrity to people under 35. He's a creep.

#4.1 MissT on 2016-01-11 12:47 (Reply)

re Why Don't Kids Address Adults as Mr. and Mrs. Anymore?

Yes indeed. My experience is the same as Megan's.

Growing up, all the adults were "Mr." and "Miss" or "Mrs. but as an adult I can't recall one time a child addressed me as "Mr."

And I marvel at the change. I would have thought there would have been a transition period where some parents still taught their children to address adults in the traditional manner. From my perspective the change was practically overnight. When I was in HS all adults were addressed as "Mr.", "Mrs." or "Miss". When I got out of college, no one seemed to use those terms anymore.

Was there a memo or something that came down that I missed?

#5 feeblemind on 2016-01-11 11:21 (Reply)

Yes, my family is uncomfortable with this.

We allow our kids to address others as adults introduce themselves, usually Mister or Miss First Name (regardless whether it's actually Mrs.)

However, when I introduce colleagues to my kids, it is Dr., Mr., Mrs. Last Name. And that usually sticks too.

#5.1 DrTorch on 2016-01-11 11:51 (Reply)

I'll go one step beyond that. Mister and Mrs. were even used by my parents as an honorific to teachers. It took most of one semester to get used to addressing one of my college professors by his first name, especially because he insisted on the diminutive. Close family friends and neighbors may have been addressed by Mister or Mrs. and then first initial of last name, but only after years of acquaintance and their approval. The one exception I can think of was that the town barber was "Sutton", who had a shop called "Sutton's", and I think was even called "Sutton" by his wife.

I think it comes down to the idea that it is somehow more egalitarian to show an equal informality to all, rather than an equal amount of respect. The whole idea of honorifics seems to have passed out of fashion.

#5.2 Another guy named Dan on 2016-01-11 14:07 (Reply)

I also was brought up to address my elders as Mr or Mrs. I insisted on the same formality with our children, although it didn't always stick. One of our great family friends was "Mrs. D" - a great friend but always the honourific.

#5.3 Francesq on 2016-01-16 23:02 (Reply)

"I think it comes down to the idea that it is somehow more egalitarian to show an equal informality to all, rather than an equal amount of respect."

Indeed. An entirely misplaced idea.

Nothing could be more egalitarian than the use of the title Mr or Mrs (or yes, even Ms) since it acknowledges that every person (not just those with Doctor or Colonel or Lord or President or King in front of their names) is equally worthy of courtesy and respect in a civil society.

#6 JJM on 2016-01-11 14:30 (Reply)

Explain to you why people hate success? It took a long time but it was planned in the early 1900s.

The Long March Through The Institutions has been successful.
http://theatheistconservative.com/tag/the-long-march-through-the-institutions/

This started with Antonio Gramsci in the early 1900s.
Gramsci called for Marxists to spread their ideology in a gradual, incremental, stealth manner, by infiltrating all existing societal institutions and embedding it, largely without being noticed, in the popular mind. This, he emphasized, was to be an evolutionary, rather than a revolutionary, process that, over a period of decades, would cause an ever-increasing number of people to embrace Marxist thought, until at last it achieved hegemony. Gramsci described this approach as a “long march through the institutions”.

Among the key institutions that would need to be infiltrated were the cinema and theater, the schools and universities, the seminaries and churches, the media, the courts, the labor unions, and at least one major political party. According to Gramsci, these institutions constituted society’s “superstructure,” which, if captured and reshaped by Marxists, could lead the masses to abandon capitalism of their own volition, entirely without resistance or objection.

#7 Bill on 2016-01-11 17:22 (Reply)

My children, born in the 90's, were taught to address adults as Mr. & Mrs. It was difficult fighting against the status quo of calling adults by their first name, but we prevailed. I'm counter-culture! The Southern tradition of addressing adults as Sir and Ma'am is nice.

Thanks for the links to David Warren, I've enjoyed reading his blog. The post you linked to reminded me of the book "They Thought They Were Free" by Milton Mayer. Good read.

Obviously, Zachriel is a troll and Leftist loser. I wonder if "he" is the same troll that used to visit Bookwormroom.

If I have a chance later I'll comment on the H-1B and all of your hard earned taxes going to Indian consultants.

#8 L.B. on 2016-01-11 18:28 (Reply)

The Gang of Z was busy today.

#8.1 Sam L. on 2016-01-11 19:40 (Reply)

We moved south from the US midwest when our children were preschool age. We were not accustomed to addressing teachers, etc., as "Sir" or "Ma'm" but quickly adopted it, even in our home, in order to help our children transition to a new place. Maybe it is a bit of an affectation, but the use of Sir and Ma'am when children address adults does encourage respect.

Bulldog nailed Zach a few weeks back. Most of his posts are indeed vapid nitpicking.

#8.2 Gordon on 2016-01-11 19:54 (Reply)

Some years back (1992) I worked for a company in California that had a lot of Indian programmers/analysts. Great people, enjoyed working with them and going to lunch with them. I probably wouldn't have ordered most of those Indian dishes I did without their encouragement. Now, don't get me wrong, they were smart, hard working and dedicated, but for whatever reason not all that productive. What I noticed was of the 20 or so working there with me 5 or 6 were pretty sharp, another 5 or 6 could hold their own and the rest were just not cutting it. BUT they all worked together to make sure the less capable kept up. They covered for them, mentored them, spent hours off the clock fixing their problems, etc. I don't say or know that this was bad but it would have been better for the company to let the 8 or so slackers go. All the other programmers/analysts were American, Korean or Chinese. Most of them were pretty good to really good but pretty much each of them did their own work and knew their stuff. (The Korean lunches were great too, but to be honest I miss the Mexican food in California the most). My Systems programmer was Korean and you almost needed an interpreter to understand him. He would call me in the middle of the night when there was a problem and I had to have him repeat everything twice at least. I will say this he had a lot of patience because this happened all the time.
Anyway my point is even then the computer field was over run with H1B' and recent immigrants. I saw a lot of good American workers pushed out and it was NOT because the H1B or other foreign workers were better. It came down to one thing; the foreign worker would work 80-100 hour weeks for less than a American worker got for 40 hours and never complained about it. We used to call them 'the slave labor'.

#8.3 GoneWithTheWind on 2016-01-11 21:15 (Reply)

I'm a web developer for a state agency. There are about 4 white Americans in a shop of about twenty five programmers. The rest are Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean and Indian. All immigrants and all good people - definitely not better programmers (for another time). They must have their citizenship to be able to work for the state. There was already a problem with a bias towards hiring Asians for IT positions, however now the state hires consultants to bypass the citizenship requirement. What's funny is the Asian-Americans are the most angry about the situation, many of their children are now graduating from college and competing with the H-1B holders.

#8.3.1 L.B. on 2016-01-11 22:10 (Reply)

Yes, the same that was at Bookwormroom.
Z-Team, Gang of Z- some sort of collective endeavor.

#8.4 Gringo on 2016-01-11 21:19 (Reply)

Zach cannot help but show his true colors:

Bigoted: stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
.

#8.4.1 chasmatic (Link) on 2016-01-11 23:55 (Reply)

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Monday, January 11. 2016

Monday morning links