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Monday, November 6. 2017

Denver Built Up Its Public Transit, but Where Are All the Riders? Thirteen years after a vote that poured resources into transportation, most residents haven’t changed their habits.

Anal Sex–Pushing Teen Vogue Kills Print Edition

The UN Admits That The Paris Climate Deal Was A Fraud

"For the love of Earth, stop traveling."

If you really cared, you'd just kill yourself

The Fatal Folly of Diversity

The only value I see in "diversity" is better food. Especially the Thai.

IS IT OK TO BE WHITE? [UPDATED]

White Woman Bashing at Women’s Convention

Vox Media Dismisses Two – 8 Members of Elite Media Accused of Misconduct Towards Female Staffers

The Mania Over Sexual Harassment

Millennials: Communism sounds pretty chill

Like college but with no exams?

San Antonio Paper: We Should Totally Continue Letting Potential Terrorists In

How Class Realignment Broke the Democrats: The Democratic 'sanity bubble' is a shield against popular support

Did Russian money make Hillary's takeover of the DNC possible?

Hillary’s Campaign Accuses Donna Brazile Of Spreading ‘False Russian-Fueled Propaganda’

Gotta laugh

Paul Ryan Piles On Hillary: ‘No Wonder Democrats Are Ticked Off’

A ‘Marxist’ explanation for the Trump revolution

Bush Sr, Jr Admit To Not Voting For Trump, Sr. Calls Him A ‘Blow Hard,’ Says He Lacks ‘Humility’

It's a class thing, not a policy thing. They would blackball Trump at their clubs, and so would I. But I prefer him as Pres to Hillary. I did not vote for somebody to be my friend.

David Brooks: Our Elites Really Do Stink

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 07:02 | Comments (33) | Trackbacks (0)

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"They would blackball Trump at their clubs, and so would I."

Apparently you do not subscribe to Groucho's Rule of Membership: "I refuse to belong to any club that would have me as a member."

I'd vote Trump into my club in a New York minute, just to make all the other members permanently uncomfortable. And for the free drinks--a blowhard like that buys lots of rounds--and for the free drinks.

#1 Mike Anderson (Link) on 2017-11-06 08:35 (Reply)

I'm a little unclear why you would 'black ball' (Maggie comment) Trump at your fictitious club. What has he done that would make you do that?

He's a kind person. I just don't see this uncouth person or weirdo that other people see. To me, I'd rather have him and his lovely wife at my table than the rest of the elites. At least I know I could have a down-to-earth conversation with him.

I find high brow socializing to be not only a bore, but incredibly frustrating. I prefer real conversation with real people about real topics. No artifice. No pretend exterior.

#1.1 MissT on 2017-11-06 11:59 (Reply)

If I had to choose who to have with me in a bar fight or foxhole I'd take Trump over any of the Bushes. If I had to pick one of the wives to take out on a date I'd take Malania in a heartbeat. Maggie's is a snob blog which I have to force myself to look at on occasion.

#1.1.1 Alex on 2017-11-06 14:02 (Reply)

The fact that you don't see it is concerning. He says vile, insulting things about other people. That he does indeed do and say some kind things does not change that.

#1.1.2 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2017-11-06 23:32 (Reply)

Ah yes, the "Republicans have to be kind and polite to the people trying to destroy them".

Show me where Trump sic'd the IRS on someone like Joe the Plumber.

Show me where he sent the DoJ after Fender Guitars the way Obama did Gibson.

Yeah, Trump is nasty. I'd prefer his counter punches were a little classier, but let's face it his opponents are calling him Literally Hitler, Posting pictures of themselves holding his bloody head, accusing him of all kinds of stuff and he's MEAN MEAN MEAN to them.

Yeah, he's got lots of class, and it's all low, but that's more than the Kathy Giffords, Rose O'Donnels and all the other high caste harridans have.

#1.1.2.1 William O. B'Livion on 2017-11-07 01:40 (Reply)

You don't get around much in political circles if you think President Trump is vile. He's the tamest person I've met since the '60s in either party.

#1.1.2.2 jma on 2017-11-07 05:39 (Reply)

Bush Sr. was the worst thing to happen to the GOP since Hoover. Broke the biggest campaign promise ever, undid the Reagan reforms, and tainted the brand badly. The son was no better and continued Dad's work.

Reagan's biggest mistake was picking Bush as VP instead of DuPont.

#2 NJSoldier on 2017-11-06 09:04 (Reply)

I think 41 was worse for the GOP. They both are, were squishy Republicans and certainly were not conservatives. It was Bush Sr who described Reagan's economics as voodo economics. "Read my lips, no new taxes." But the worst came with 41; his compassionate conservatism, and his refusal to defend himself and the party against unhinged liberals. There is no compassion to allowing people to become dependent upon the government trough of free handouts.

#2.1 B. Hammer on 2017-11-06 09:36 (Reply)

Free handouts are necessary. There are many people who can not handle, or will not take on, the challenges of modern life. Can't let them die in the streets.

I think mature conservatives have to accept the low-functioning and the low-aspirational and the low IQ amongst us. Not everybody is up for real life today. On the farm, it was different.

#2.1.1 Bird Dog on 2017-11-06 09:51 (Reply)

While I agree with a safety net, I have far higher expectations of people. People are trained from childhood to become dependent.

I have noticed that the low IQ is a theme on The Farm. I'm low IQ, probably average, never been tested. I was raised to be self sufficient. I find ways of keeping myself employed, at good jobs, with a higher than average pay. I've worked hard to better myself. Always striving to learn something new.

People can be self sufficient, but only when expectations are set higher than, here is your handout. We realize you have a low IQ, so you cannot make it in modern society. They have been trained not to handle, or take on, modern society. IMHO.

#2.1.1.1 B. Hammer on 2017-11-06 10:05 (Reply)

Maybe BD can outline this "real life" that he finds so stringent. Can't really discuss the $1T/yr welfare problem in abstracts.

#2.1.1.1.1 Meh on 2017-11-06 11:32 (Reply)

The old CCC camps were a solution for the unemployed in the 30's....no reason that wouldn't work today. AND it would be good for everyones environment. AND a Rooseveltian solution would just thrill the new prog/socialist/Marxist pussyhat generation.

#2.1.1.2 indyjonesouthere on 2017-11-06 19:10 (Reply)

Sorry, BD, almost every person can do a job. We have a huge population thriving on doing nothing.

#2.1.1.3 jma on 2017-11-07 05:44 (Reply)

The heroes of Millennials: They're all over the map, aren't they? Are some of them goofing on the pollsters? Are they guessing because they haven't heard of these people? Is there some weird thing that they felt they needed to give certain answers?

#3 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2017-11-06 09:45 (Reply)

"Denver Built Up Its Public Transit, but Where Are All the Riders? Thirteen years after a vote that poured resources into transportation, most residents haven’t changed their habits."

The key weakness with public transit is that most people take it because they have to, not because they want to.

#4 JJM on 2017-11-06 09:45 (Reply)

Not true in NYC.

Much prefer quick public transit to driving or cabs.

#4.1 BD on 2017-11-06 11:03 (Reply)

Because NYC was fully built up before private cars were common, and has a population density that supports mass transit. The same is true of many European cities.

This is largely not true for most of America west of the Alleghenies.

#4.1.1 another guy named Dan on 2017-11-06 11:19 (Reply)

Population density, stop by stop, is indeed the key. Every stop along the way, even if the rails are going right through it anyway, that does not meet the threshold drags down the financial sustainability of the whole network. It doesn't take many of those to make the whole deal too expensive to run. But of course, once you've got it up and running anyway, it is politically impossible not to put stops where the complaining is. People feel robbed if they can't have one as close to their house as possible. This is also true of light rail. I recommend The Road More Traveled on the general topic. He does the basic math, which seems beyond the reach of many of our planners.

#4.1.1.1 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2017-11-06 12:46 (Reply)

Still true.

If they have the option of a more comfortable, private and convenient means of transport, people will always take it.

The wealthy do not fly by helicopter to the top of Manhattan buildings just because they like flying.

They do it because they can.

#4.1.2 JJM on 2017-11-06 11:59 (Reply)

"White women bashing at women's convention"

This is just the latest surge in the orgy of racism/prejudice by minority groups. It's always been there of course but it has become unleashed. Black on white crime is on the rise and has been for years. The MSM won't report it if they can help it and when they do report it often they find some way to negate the facts. The favorite ploy by the MSM is to report the story as a disruption by a group of "teens". This will continue to get worse as more and more people feel free to act on their prejudices and hate. The next obvious step must be to make it hate speech to speak up about this situation. That is what Europe has done and now even Canada.

#5 GoneWithTheWind on 2017-11-06 09:59 (Reply)

"The Fatal Folly of Diversity"

Here in Canada, our current government touts diversity as a Canadian value. The problem is: diversity isn't a value. It's merely a set of demographic statistics.

Nor is there anything particularly Canadian about it (the US is just as "diverse" as Canada, as are many, many countries in the world). "Diverse" societies are not even unusual in history; empires have always been diverse, for example, Austria-Hungary. Or Rome. Or - closer to home or Canadians - the British Empire.

There is a true civic value buried here somewhere about. It is tolerance: our ability to accept that individuals have the right to conduct their lives as they choose, even though we might disagree with those choices.

#6 JJM on 2017-11-06 10:11 (Reply)

I agree that empires have been diverse. There is something different about being able to keep your ethnic and tribal identity while being part of a larger whole that can work for many decades. It does get ugly when empire falls apart, however.

Countries don't do well with diversity at all. Hell, the Flemish and the Walloons, or the Spaniards and the Catalans, both of which are pretty close compared to the several races in the US and Canada, don't get on that well. The Anglospheric nations are the only ones who have had an success at diversity at all. We spend our lives being told otherwise, of course, by people who can't get along with anyone.

#6.1 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2017-11-06 12:55 (Reply)

"For the love of Earth, stop traveling."

"If you really cared, you'd just kill yourself"

Indeed. The ideology of climate change is at its very essence both inhuman and inhumane.

#7 JJM on 2017-11-06 10:25 (Reply)

re Denver Built Up Its Public Transit, but Where Are All the Riders?

Short answer: This is 19th century/pre-motor car thinking. The trains don’t go where the public needs to go. That’s why streetcars and interurbans disappeared.

This story presses almost all my buttons.

The self-important 'city-planners' and assorted other members of the parasitic class attempt to solve a problem that doesn't exist ie how to get people to work.

Of course the solution is a colossal waste of tax money. Funding with a sales tax means everyone subsidizes the few who actually ride. At the same time, the higher sales tax makes retail just a little bit less competitive compared with online.

When ridership doesn't meet expcectations, these dimwitted know-it-alls think even more money needs to be spent on ever more rail lines and busses because, "If you build it they will come." whether there is a need or not.

One 'planner' even suggested people needed to be "prodded" out of their cars suggesting that people should be forced to ride.

It sets my hair on fire. These self important busybodies earn a good living at the taxpayer trough spouting BS while wasting huge amounts of money and not being held accountable.

#8 feeblemind on 2017-11-06 11:35 (Reply)

Grossly misleading article. Only talked with the people at the RTD/taxpayer trough. Lines are built but they are not operating because of crossing issues due to new (unforeseen) technology issues--Denver previously experienced this same folly with the "new baggage system" when they built DIA--anyone remember that? And one of the operating lines--to Golden--is reducing the number of trains due to low ridership. For the privilege, we all get to pay taxes to RTD for a promised future.

#8.1 rocdoctom on 2017-11-06 11:42 (Reply)

An important principle in perceptions of public transit is that those who advocate it must be seen to be using it themselves, not zipping hither, thither and yon in sleek limos.

#8.2 JJM on 2017-11-06 12:02 (Reply)

"So where did the grand plan fall short? We asked three people: a transportation advocate, an RTD spokesperson, and a public-transit consultant. Here’s what they said." NOTE: No riders were interviewed. Also, no non-riding citizens.

#8.3 Sam L. on 2017-11-06 12:21 (Reply)

Long time Denver metro resident here. The fundamental issue with RTD is that it is socialism writ-large. Taxpayers subsidize the entire system. But even within the system, suburban commuters are gorged (financially) in order to subsidize bus service in low-income areas of Denver and the northern suburbs.

The southbound light rail systems have been reasonably successful and are a pretty good option for commuters who work downtown. Ridership has been hampered by lack of parking at RTD stations and, more recently, by significant increases in ticket prices. The last time I checked a round trip ticket was no cheaper than parking downtown.

The westbound train to Golden has been a failure and the infamous Train to Nowhere which follows 25 and 225 is nearly empty all the time. I believe the plan is to extend the line to DIA, which may increase ridership. I believe the new train from downtown to DIA has been modestly successful.

About 6 months ago I needed to take a bus from a northern suburb to downtown, and had the ill-fortune to hop on a city bus, rather than a commuter bus. Big mistake. I spent the next 45 minutes listening to an obviously drunk elderly Hispanic woman rant racist remarks to the black passengers on the bus, one of whom nearly assaulted her in response.

RTD has earned the nickname "Reason to Drive" in the Denver metro area. It is responsive to political agendas, not to commuter needs. It will never change.

#8.4 Guest on 2017-11-06 13:50 (Reply)

70 years of surveys and studies have demonstrated that Americans are firmly of the belief that other people's money should be spent by government to encourage other people to use mass transit.

#8.5 another guy named Dan on 2017-11-06 14:43 (Reply)

You folks have missed the primary resistance to mass transit--the masses. Folks who would be eager and willing to use mass transit don't want to sit next to human garbage. NOW, IF we were allowed to have two seperate cars on each train one first class and one second class, or you could call it whatever you want as long as one car cost more to use, had nicer seating, a little coffee bar, etc. THEN and only then will you get enough people using the longer lines and miracle of all miracles the train company would be generating more money. BUT, our unions have made it absolutely impossible to have two categories of service!
Hop on/off in grid like service works the best, you start doing loop de loop designs for picking up this group and dropping off that group you are trying to predict/control passenger desires. What they want pure and simple with regard to the design of the system is this: hop on/off. Not waiting longer than 10 minutes for the next ride. Shorter straighter travel.

#9 another one on 2017-11-06 15:03 (Reply)

Denver International Airport is one of the most poorly (simplistic) designed airport to be constructed in the last 30 years! They had a great opportunity to do a great airport and the design team failed miserably. Unlimited land to them meant that they only had to lay out long straight corridors with people movers. The distance from one end of United's arrival terminal to the other end (last gate for UA) is exactly 1/2 mile. Of course, they do have a people mover that operates sometime and then it is only i various sections of that 1/2 mile. No imagination with that design team which btw was headed up by a member of Lesbian community! Yeay!

#10 faculty wife on 2017-11-06 18:27 (Reply)

diversity is our achilles heel

forced diversity is our weakness

fascist forced diversity is our doom

the crime of "cultural appropriation" destroys the efficiency and "melting pot" of "best practices"

evil is diverse from good

dysfunction is diverse

incorporating people who hate us is putting sand in our cultural gears.

#11 jaybird on 2017-11-07 08:12 (Reply)

Bush Sr, Jr Admit To Not Voting For Trump, Sr. Calls Him A ‘Blow Hard,’ Says He Lacks ‘Humility’..

Yes, Trump lacks humility. Hillary-I-should-be-ahead-by-50-points-Clinton is not a model for humility, either. Blowhard, yes. But I will take a twittering blowhard who strikes back at the press compared to someone who silently never replies back to lies and attacks from the press and pols. It seems to me that Dubya's silence wasn't a very successful strategy, as the press and Demos kept attacking.

#12 Gringo on 2017-11-07 22:55 (Reply)

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Monday, November 6. 2017

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