Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Blue Yeti ·
Jan 6, 2011 at 7:28pm
It's (arguably) our one year anniversary show and to mark the occasion we've gotten the band back together. Jonah Goldberg and Mark Steyn join us and as usual, anything goes. We cover crying, Boehner's honeymoon, how soon the new Congress will sell us out, perform a dramatic reading of both the Constitution and an amazing NYT editorial, roast Jessica Alba, re-write Huck Finn, review True Grit (good), Gulliver's Travels and Yogi Bear (bad), and much, much more. Settle in, kids: it's one of our longest podcasts and one of our best.
Lots O' Dots:
- James Lileks is indeed on a cruise, and as is his way, he is blogging the entire adventure at Lileks.com. Looking good, sailor.
- A search of YouTube returns dozens of videos of the new Speaker of The House expressing his emotions. Take your pick.
- Glenn Beck doesn't mind shedding a tear or two either.
- We admit it: we had to look up the definition of lachrymosity.
- Rob Long wrote a post a few days ago accusing the MSM (specifically David Letterman), of demonizing John Boehner as a way of pushing back against the Republican agenda in the house.
- It's true, a 10% tax on individuals receiving indoor tanning services was indeed tacked on to the health care bill. Clearly, the tanning industry needs better lobbyists.
- Through the magic of Google Books, you can read Milton Friedman's quote about "electing the right people who then do the wrong thing" straight from Milton Friedman: Critical Assessments by John Cunningham Woods and Ronald N. Woods. How is this legal?
- You can watch House members reading the Constitution courtesy of C-Span. If we knew they were going to do this last fall, we would have really gotten behind a James Earl Jones candidacy. He can make anything sound good.
- Oh, New York Times Op-Ed writers. Is reading the Consitution really that bad? Or are you just link-baiting every conservative pundit and blogger on Earth?
- World famous improviser and Shakespearean actress Jessica Alba, renowned for her rapier wit and elegant elocution, managed to diss every writer on the planet with her proclamation to Elle that "good actors, never use the script unless it’s amazing writing. All the good actors I’ve worked with, they all say whatever they want to say.” Really, Jessica? Screenwriter John August takes the contrarian view.
- We're not able to find the British playwright who accepted an award for best paperwork. Maybe the Ricochet membership can help out? Update: Mark Steyn himself writes in to let us know that the playwright was Sir David Hare accepting an award for for best play at the Olivier Awards in the West End in the 1990s.
- Harry Stein's I Can’t Believe I’m Sitting Next to A Republican is available from Encounter Books and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. We threw that one in for free, Mr. Kimball.
- Mad props to Ricochet member A Murder of Cows for getting the coveted podcast mention this week. His post The Misadventures of Huckleberry Finn inspired a very provocative debate, both on Ricochet and on the podcast. Special mention to Ricochet member Kenneth whose post Is Taiwan a Dangerous Cold-War Relic? was a close runner up.
- The full lyrics to Oh, Susannah. We asked Jonah to sing it, but he declined.
- N.W.A. was a seminal hip hop group during the 90's from Compton, CA. Ice Cube and Dr. Dre were both members. We can't tell you what N.W.A. stands for without violating the Ricochet CoC, but we suggest you examine the lyrics of Oh, Susannah for a hint.
- We're all the TSA now: CNN reports on passengers foiling a Turkish Air hijacking attempt. We bet they did more than just touch his junk.
- Bob Smith represented New Hampshire in the Senate from 1990 to 1996. In January 1999, Smith announced that he was a candidate for the Republican nomination for president (at the time the front-runner was Texas Governor George W. Bush). In July, after failing to gain any ground in the presidential race, Smith announced he was leaving the Republican Party and would seek the nomination of the U.S. Taxpayers Party for president. One month later, Smith swore off the Taxpayers Party and announced as an independent. He withdrew completely from the race in October and endorsed Bush. Fittingly, he now sells real estate in Florida.
- Governor Chris Christie has become a national figure largely through the dozens of videos of him posted on YouTube taking on the unions. This one is our favorite.
- Yup, he really said that. Harry Reid proclaims that the American people "love government." Expect to see that clip a lot in the next election cycle.
- Dave Carter's post The Theft of Your Retirement on the possibility of the government nationalizing 401K accounts inspired a rather spirited debate..
- There no longer appears to be an Office of Interoffice Coordination, at least not on the federal level. Clearly, a victory for small government! However, the Bureau of Public Debt is alive and well.
Music from this week's episode:
- Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club
- Crying by Roy Orbison
The direct link to this week's episode. But please do us a solid and subscribe. Don't use iTunes? Visit our Feedburner page for a number of other subscription options.
The Ricochet Podcast is sponsored by Encounter Books. Our featured title this week is Freedom at Risk: Reflections on Politics, Liberty, and the State by James L. Buckley. Available for $16.85 in hardcover and $12.99 for Kindle at Amazon.com.
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Comments :
Jul '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
"Feckless Crap-weasel"
These podcasts are worth the price of admission.
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
"The (Democ)rats might want to read the European Union Constitution" -M. Steyn
A man for all seasons, glad to hear Mr. Steyn back on the podcast.
Since Peter is interviewing Dr. Sowell on this week's Uncommon Knowledge, one of my favorite quotes of his, on the New York times, they report as if "they just came from interviewing G-d."
Edited on Jan 6, 2011 at 8:21pmRe: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Jimmy Carter: "Feckless Crap-weasel"
These podcasts are worth the price of admission. · Jan 6 at 8:02pm
In an alternate universe, that is the name of this episode.
Nov '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Hollywood has always treated writers like bastard cousins and third-class citizens. And the writers do feel bitter about it:
(WARNING: Naughty Words and Generally Foul Language)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Really fun conversation about True Grit. Nice break from politics.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Always enjoy the wide ranging discussion and the inclusion of pop culture in the convo.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
This podcast was SO entertaining that I felt guilty listening to it for free. I'm not saying this for effect, that feeling actually came up for me while listening. And since Reader's Digest says that "laughter is the best medicine," I think you guys may owe Kathleen Sebelius a tribute under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010!
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
I'm surprised that the left's meme of John Boehner is a weepy drunk did not come up. There was almost a vague reference to the idea when Jonah spoke of Boehner tending bar. But the Rico-pundits seem to not be taking the charge very seriously. But I am most unnerved by these charges -- especially when presented... soberly.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
The Democrats' problem with Boehner is not that he cries, it's that he cries at the wrong thing, like love of country. You're not supposed to actually do that sort of thing, you just need to fake it when you're out among the rubes.
As for the drinking allegations, it sure didn't bother the Dems that when Patrick Kennedy left office the blood-alcohol level of Capitol Hill fell to a 60-year low and that his Uncle Teddy was so pickled that at death embalming seemed too much of a redundancy. They were just fun-loving Irish lads. Boehner is a German name, isn't it? And doesn't he come from the same hometown as Marge Schott? I'll bet he's a closet Nazi, too!
Edited on Jan 7, 2011 at 8:06amOct '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Listening now, what could possibly possess Rob to go to Baltimore?
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Careful Casey. His people hail from Charm City.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
In defense of Yogi Bear: my seven year-old loved it; we went alone as 10 year-old and 12 year-old had less than no interest. The evil developer storyline was completely lost on him but simply served as a plot device to allow Yogi to ride his picnic-basket-snatching bicycle-plane to save the endangered pet turtle. In general the picnic-basket snatching drew the biggest laughs and prompted him to ask whether in the original Hanna-Barbara series anything else happened besides picnic basket snatching. I answered no, that was pretty much it. He was down with that. So Yogi gets a first-grade two thumbs up (suggesting the casting was probably overkill) and yes, Yogi and Ranger Smith do end up working together.
Edited on Jan 7, 2011 at 6:56amRe: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
You're not listening to it for free, Gone2tx. You're a paid-up member! And we thank you. Although we may have to rethink the free-to-all model, for the podcast -- especially if we add another podcast in there somehow. New Media business models are evolving, of course, but we still need to make a payroll... And Casey, yes, my family has deep Baltimore roots. It's actually a wonderful city. If you can overlook the crime and the corruption. It's a perfect example of how awful the 1950's and 60's were to old, beautiful 19th century American cities. All of that nasty "urban planning" by "urban planning experts" tore the heart out of some wonderful places. Trace: the Boehner-drinking chatter has been going on for a while. I'm not sure it amounts to much -- though he does have a "Mad Men"/Don Draper vibe going.
Sep '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
I'll bet he's a closet Nazi, too!
A photo of Boehner and Pope Benedict XVI could power the Gray Lady for another decade combined with wafting the fumes of the Kennedy brandy sifter vapor trail.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
I think EJ nailed it. If we want to be concerned about how many of our elected officials are highly functioning alcoholics, let's at least count both sides of the aisle. I am happy to judge him on his actions alone. But if we're being perfectly honest, I'm guessing that Mr. Speaker is one of those people you don't want to be on the telephone with after 7PM.
Oct '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
I meant no such insult by my above comment as in fact it came from Charm City ("The Greatest City in America" as the park benches say). Between Pat Sajak in Annapolis and Rob Long in Baltimore, it seems there is some heavy Ricochet concentrated in blue, blue Maryland.
Edited on Jan 7, 2011 at 9:49amMay '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
And Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi
The things that make you go "Mmmmmmmmmm..."
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
So Rob, I am from Maryland, but not Baltimore. I was wondering if you shared the perspective of my life-long Baltimorean friends on the show "Hairspray." They were really insulted by the show's depiction of Baltimore - specifically with regard to the way race relations were depicted, rather than the de rigeur ribbing about its blue collar rough edges. For me, the depiction was just another one of those predicable story lines (like the evil big businesses trying to throw Yogi Bear out of the park), but they took it very personally.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
Frankly, I'd have more faith in a less emotional Speaker to dominate negotiations.
"Yeah... ok." Perfect response, Rob.
Mark: "They weren't able to pump the baseline and normalize 'trillion'." Sure, they were. Nobody bats an eye anymore upon hearing government just committed to tens of billions and hundreds of billions. That's the norm now, and it adds up.
Rob, let me get this straight. The film industry, perhaps the most vital industry in California, a state over $20 million in debt, is struggling. Meanwhile, you continue to receive free DVD copies of films you had no hand in producing for no reason other than you are one of the thousands of workers in that general industry?
Jan '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #51: Pump The Baseline
The funniest podcast I've heard all year.
Episode 51 around minute 51...
Caused me to open my wallet.