The video above is Leo Burnett’s retirement speech, considered a model of its kind.
I’m surprised that Washington hasn’t returned to demand that his name be removed from the nation’s capitol.
The video above is Leo Burnett’s retirement speech, considered a model of its kind.
I’m surprised that Washington hasn’t returned to demand that his name be removed from the nation’s capitol.
When you stoop to convenient expediency and rationalize yourselves into acts of opportunism – for the sake of a fast buck.
Wait, I though that was the whole purpose of DC. What are they supposed to be doing?
…
That was a very good speech, but I don’t see Americans as willing to throw every goddamned apple down the elevator just yet. (I’m sure if Washington himself could materialize, he’d do it faster than he cut down that cherry tree.) I’m not sure they’re really willing to throw any of them down the elevator shaft just yet. According to Jamie Dupree,
The Republican lost in NC when two incumbents were forced to run against each other (redistricting, I presume on a court order), and the Dem is currently under indictment for racketeering and influence peddling. (I’m wondering who he pissed off, as that’s pretty much the job of a Congressman.) I’m not sure, but I think there were be more turnover in the House & Senate this cycle because of death than because of people getting primaried out.
This in a presidential election year in which all the enthusiasm is for candidates who are perceived as outsiders.
All this supports my contention that the Trump phenomenon (and to a lesser extent, the Sanders, Cruz and Gary Johnson* phenomena) isn’t any kind of movement, but is simply a riot by the voters. (And in the case of Sanders, the Bernie Bros are actual rioters.)
That’s why I think 2018 and 2020 are likely to be more tumultuous years than 2016. Can’t say I’m looking forward to it.
* The Libertarians seem to be polling strongly this year, for them. But it’s still five fucking months to the election, and I don’t think their numbers will hold up. While at least half of all women vote for on one issue alone (abortion rights for women too stupid to use any other birth control), I don’t think there are more than two to three percent of people – tops – that vote only on the basis of legalizing pot.
PS PD might want to save this one for 2020. It will look as good as my 2011 Trump prediction!
elevator SHAFT, elevator SHAFT.
How come you only see the mistakes after hitting SUBMIT?
It’s become, ice, just another sporting event. When a majority vote simply on the basis of ethnicity or gender (even in the hypothetical of indictment) then there is really not much point.
When a majority vote simply on the basis of ethnicity or gender (even in the hypothetical of indictment) then there is really not much point.
I would say it’s a super-majority at this point. And I think there is going to be massive political violence in the very near future.
The factors that have prevented “massive political violence” in the United States historically is an interesting question. I think a major factor is the recognition by those in groups most motivated to perpetrate violence that the consequences of violence would be most likely to fall back on them.
Have the groups most motivated changed or has the recognition been lost or diluted?
Have the groups most motivated changed or has the recognition been lost or diluted?
Motivation has been changing among groups, and there has been a dilution of consequence.
The Black Lives Matter movement has shown that violence by minorities will be celebrated by the media and excused by the politicians. Now we’re seeing more violence during the political season, and in fact the media is increasingly encouraging it. (See The Atlantic, Vox.com, Slate, The Huffington Post, for example. I predict that by October the NYT and the WaPo will be down with the violence too. Anything at all to preserve the status quo of massive immigration and the looting of the country for the benefit of the few.)
The violence is supposedly being encouraged against whites, though with the BLM movement the primary victims are of course black, but the people egging them on give less of a shit about black lives than did the average slave owner.
My point is that at some point, a significant portion of whites aren’t going to put up with this anymore. And given that whites are the best organized and the most heavily armed group in the country, it can’t end well. Several times when whites have gotten restless, things have gotten bad. But the only time whites really got irate we ended up with hundreds of thousands dead. I think we’re headed in that direction. There’s simply no way a culture can be completely torn apart this rapidly without extreme consequence.
And if you don’t think the culture has been completely destroyed, you aren’t paying attention. Two years ago the statement that people with penises should use the men’s room was not only NOT controversial, you would have been looked at strangely for stating something so obvious. Now if you make that statement you’re worse than Hitler. (And yes, I have been called worse than Hitler over this.)
That’s one issue, and not even one of the big ones. Look at immigration, trade, wealth and income inequality, etc, etc.
This much change does not happen without an extreme backlash.
Something I’ve mentioned before is the way things the relationship between Mexico and the United States used to be managed was that every 30 years or so the gringos would get fed up, round up several million Mexicans, and ship them across the border. It didn’t much matter where they had been born.
I’m not advocating that—just pointing out how limp-wristed we’ve been for the last 40 some-odd years.
Another aspect of this whole subject is the “person of color” trope. That’s a political attempt to ensure that blacks and Hispanics join hands.
It ain’t necessarily so. I suspect that a lot of Hispanics presently see themselves as “white” and in the future even more will do so. I can’t testify as to what blacks think of Hispanics but I’m guessing that many don’t think they’re natural allies. I know that many native-born African Americans aren’t nuts about Asians.
“I’m not advocating that—just pointing out how limp-wristed we’ve been for the last 40 some-odd years.”
Amen. At these riots they end up arresting 5-10 people, no one is badly hurt, and maybe 50 people participate. And it is the end of the world. Not condoning it, but not like it is wildly out of hand.
Steve
Dave, lots of Mexicans most assuredly don’t think of themselves as white, and would be offended to be called such. La Raza ain’t down with the gringos!
Steve, my concern about the violence at political rallies even at small scale is that I see no limiting factor. I can easily envision the violence escalating to literal pitched battles.
I want the authorities to crack down hard on violent protesters because if they don’t the people who are being protested against will start taking matters into their own hands.
Do the members of La Raza see themselves as “people of color”? Or are they just Mexican nationalists? I honestly have no idea.
In my experience most latinos consider themselves white and don’t consider African-Americans to be some sort of brother minority sharing identical interests.
In some kida order. Yep, Washington would drive out the money changers if he returned. However, that is not gonna happen, too many of us have got fat on the current system and spin those prayer wheels to keep him away.
Uptick in political violence? Will be some as we approach the European model of slingshots firing one inch bolts, whistle and pan banging choirs, and steel rebar/walking sticks. Doubtful we will see the return o f say the Pullman Riots or Battle of Blair Mountain.
At one time, La Raza had a racist message until MECHa took over the bit about being the true strong spokesman for the indigenous, reclaiming the lost homeland of Atzlan, etc. However, stands to reason that members of La Raza, the organization, want to see themselves as members of a minority group and so get the benefits thereof.
BTW, in India have been riots as members of middle ranking caste are seeking low caste status so as to benefit from various government programs. Of course caste does no officially exist anymore in India and the programs are merely remedies for past injustice, etc. WE may see something similar here eventually.
Great speech, unfortunately he represents a dead (or dying) generation of leadership.