Okay, Walter. I get it. You're special. You were there. You've read it. You sat next to that person. You've lived there. You know people. You were in the room where it happened. Do you have to layer it so thickly every single time? I would never suggest a Jake Tapper variety of ;humility', but dang. I admire Matt and his integrity to no end, but your ego insertions are off-putting and wearing me out.
Yes, I agree with Squirrel. Walter Kirn adds so much to filmed conversations with Matt Taibbi. Matt & Walter, I consider a matched set but vastly different, like fraternal twins. It is when either or both of them get a bit heated — it is at those times, the best and deepest insights come to the surface.
Omg Karen Bass, “…but mah housekeeper…” it belies her classism and disconnect. She’s more worried about the disruption on “the other side of town”, than the actual neighborhoods the rioting is taking place in. See Shellenberger’s article.
Also, as a side note, if you are a Mexican immigrant wanting to stay in the US, then why would you wave a Mexican flag while burning an American flag? You’re kind of making the point that you should be back in your own beloved country and out of the country you clearly hate, right?!
Jeff Chilters, Coffee and Covid, notes in his post yesterday that the riots are about charging remittances on funds sent back to home countries. It’s in the BBB. The Mexican president came to influence Congress about it. There’s a lot of money supporting other economies. Check out what he has to say. Thanks for the shout out.
After seeing ALL of the videos from January 6th, especially the ones that had been withheld from the trials & the public, I think we can describe the capitol protests as "mostly peaceful." Except, of course, for the poor woman who was shot in the face by a capitol policeman.
Finally, someone else makes the Goldstein-Trump comparison. I’ve been making that comparison for years, but haven’t heard it elsewhere.
There’re few things more obnoxious than people calling the Trump administration “Orwellian.” As if 1984 were about a flamboyant businessman and television personality who becomes president and says wild shit, only to be immediately denounced for it by 85%+ of institutional media, academia, and entertainment.
Maybe Trump could be a villain in a dystopian novel, but it would have to be a new kind of story. The major dystopian novels all center around nameless, faceless ideologically controlled bureaucracies, not flamboyant personalities like Trump. Big Brother is not a personality, but is rather a mascot, a logo for the state.
If the Left wants to rewrite 1984, they should really do a sequel in which Goldstein overthrows the Party as the leader of a populist revolt. Goldstein can then be revealed as a self-serving demagogue who institutes a race-based caste system, creating a society even worse than the one that preceded it, leaving everyone longing for the days of stable Party control.
I’m not saying that’s at all our present reality. Just that if the Left wants to write Trump into 1984, that’s the only way to do it in a remotely convincing way.
What an interesting point in the discussion about 1985 that those in power can never let the middle and lower classes join up. It’s my understanding that’s exactly what happened in the Chinese Communist revolution. Probably Russia too.
Here’s a conspiracy theory for you, Goldstein is Big Brother.
The Party doesn’t just crush resistance—it manufactures it. That’s the real game. Goldstein is the “voice of freedom” by design, a symbol of rebellion who exists only to be hated, hunted, and used to justify control. It’s political subversion turned inside out: the illusion of dissent becomes the ultimate tool of power.
The Brotherhood was likely real at one point but as all bottom up movements are, co-opted by power (as my hypothesis of Occupy becoming the awoke movement). The name Big Brother is no coincidence. Therefore the books content is irrelevant, even if the content critiques oligarchical collectivism—because even truth, when curated by the regime, becomes part of the trap. Goldstein exists to catch people like Winston. The voice that claims to free you is the same voice that leads you straight to Room 101.
That’s the horror: Big Brother doesn’t silence the voice of freedom—he speaks through it.
1:59:00 I've been thinking Walter's epiphany here for a decade. I use different words, but they arrive at the same outcome.
Think back to when as a child you loved playing TicTacTo
Do you remember when you stopped playing?
Do you remember why?
We stop playing TicTacTo when the game is figured out. When the possibility of victory between the two players is eliminated.
This is the point we have reached in democracy.
Trump has found out (many before him have flirted with it, but Trump perfected it) where to place the X on the TicTacTo game to end the game in a forced draw.
TicTacTo dies when you achieve annulling knowledge
Democracy dies when you achieve annulling knowledge
We are in a turbulent times. The turbulence will keep coming until winter locks things up. Sherlock Holmes short stories (originals,pastiches, fan fiction, and the whole lot) comfort me. There are so many stories,—thousands—I cannot possibly run out.
The stories present a riddle, and in a short time, Holmes solves the problem, with Watson’s help. I get a payoff: I feel better. Sherlock Holmes stories are (I guess it is called) formulaic, and right now, I psychologically and emotionally need that (what I would call) routine.
Okay, Walter. I get it. You're special. You were there. You've read it. You sat next to that person. You've lived there. You know people. You were in the room where it happened. Do you have to layer it so thickly every single time? I would never suggest a Jake Tapper variety of ;humility', but dang. I admire Matt and his integrity to no end, but your ego insertions are off-putting and wearing me out.
Then don’t listen. I enjoy them both and find their personal experiences add to the conversation.
What Mr. Squirrel said. (You follow John Schindler?)
Yes, I agree with Squirrel. Walter Kirn adds so much to filmed conversations with Matt Taibbi. Matt & Walter, I consider a matched set but vastly different, like fraternal twins. It is when either or both of them get a bit heated — it is at those times, the best and deepest insights come to the surface.
isn’t that part of his charm? he likes to create his lore.
Wow. Insulting. “creating his lore?”
Jealous?
Omg Karen Bass, “…but mah housekeeper…” it belies her classism and disconnect. She’s more worried about the disruption on “the other side of town”, than the actual neighborhoods the rioting is taking place in. See Shellenberger’s article.
https://youtu.be/5IsSpAOD6K8?si=7cAm6H1ivFHTx_xc
Also, as a side note, if you are a Mexican immigrant wanting to stay in the US, then why would you wave a Mexican flag while burning an American flag? You’re kind of making the point that you should be back in your own beloved country and out of the country you clearly hate, right?!
Jeff Chilters, Coffee and Covid, notes in his post yesterday that the riots are about charging remittances on funds sent back to home countries. It’s in the BBB. The Mexican president came to influence Congress about it. There’s a lot of money supporting other economies. Check out what he has to say. Thanks for the shout out.
And also the groups that are funding the rioters.
Yes. I was shocked to see how well organized nokings.org was. Zoom meetings. Training. Speakers.
Loving the new format guys! Still getting political and cultural analysis but with a kickass book club to boot!
After seeing ALL of the videos from January 6th, especially the ones that had been withheld from the trials & the public, I think we can describe the capitol protests as "mostly peaceful." Except, of course, for the poor woman who was shot in the face by a capitol policeman.
Finally, someone else makes the Goldstein-Trump comparison. I’ve been making that comparison for years, but haven’t heard it elsewhere.
There’re few things more obnoxious than people calling the Trump administration “Orwellian.” As if 1984 were about a flamboyant businessman and television personality who becomes president and says wild shit, only to be immediately denounced for it by 85%+ of institutional media, academia, and entertainment.
Maybe Trump could be a villain in a dystopian novel, but it would have to be a new kind of story. The major dystopian novels all center around nameless, faceless ideologically controlled bureaucracies, not flamboyant personalities like Trump. Big Brother is not a personality, but is rather a mascot, a logo for the state.
If the Left wants to rewrite 1984, they should really do a sequel in which Goldstein overthrows the Party as the leader of a populist revolt. Goldstein can then be revealed as a self-serving demagogue who institutes a race-based caste system, creating a society even worse than the one that preceded it, leaving everyone longing for the days of stable Party control.
I’m not saying that’s at all our present reality. Just that if the Left wants to write Trump into 1984, that’s the only way to do it in a remotely convincing way.
Re the National Guard, a few of us are old enough to remember Kent State.
Okay. Somebody explain what the hell riding cheetah dick means.
Guess: similar to “got a tiger by the tail” but considerably more painful.
Dog faced pony soldier?
What an interesting point in the discussion about 1985 that those in power can never let the middle and lower classes join up. It’s my understanding that’s exactly what happened in the Chinese Communist revolution. Probably Russia too.
Here’s a conspiracy theory for you, Goldstein is Big Brother.
The Party doesn’t just crush resistance—it manufactures it. That’s the real game. Goldstein is the “voice of freedom” by design, a symbol of rebellion who exists only to be hated, hunted, and used to justify control. It’s political subversion turned inside out: the illusion of dissent becomes the ultimate tool of power.
The Brotherhood was likely real at one point but as all bottom up movements are, co-opted by power (as my hypothesis of Occupy becoming the awoke movement). The name Big Brother is no coincidence. Therefore the books content is irrelevant, even if the content critiques oligarchical collectivism—because even truth, when curated by the regime, becomes part of the trap. Goldstein exists to catch people like Winston. The voice that claims to free you is the same voice that leads you straight to Room 101.
That’s the horror: Big Brother doesn’t silence the voice of freedom—he speaks through it.
Thought most considered this a likely scenario.
I don't think people in danger of deportation are going to these, would you?
I wouldn't, but I suspect that a great many of those protesting are here illegally.
1:59:00 I've been thinking Walter's epiphany here for a decade. I use different words, but they arrive at the same outcome.
Think back to when as a child you loved playing TicTacTo
Do you remember when you stopped playing?
Do you remember why?
We stop playing TicTacTo when the game is figured out. When the possibility of victory between the two players is eliminated.
This is the point we have reached in democracy.
Trump has found out (many before him have flirted with it, but Trump perfected it) where to place the X on the TicTacTo game to end the game in a forced draw.
TicTacTo dies when you achieve annulling knowledge
Democracy dies when you achieve annulling knowledge
We are in a turbulent times. The turbulence will keep coming until winter locks things up. Sherlock Holmes short stories (originals,pastiches, fan fiction, and the whole lot) comfort me. There are so many stories,—thousands—I cannot possibly run out.
The stories present a riddle, and in a short time, Holmes solves the problem, with Watson’s help. I get a payoff: I feel better. Sherlock Holmes stories are (I guess it is called) formulaic, and right now, I psychologically and emotionally need that (what I would call) routine.
70-something
Off topic
Komodo dragons are “defiant.” They cannot be anything else.
It’s all for show. ICE could come to any rural area in the South and get all the illegals they would like without protest.