Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Blue Yeti ·
May 5, 2011 at 2:07am
Some guy got whacked this week. Maybe you heard about it? The good news is we've got two professors on to help us parse the story: Paul Rahe and Victor Davis Hanson. We also cover stagflation, why Paul Ryan may be the Republican's best hope for 2012, and the suprising link between Victor's mom and Governor Moonbeam. Seriously.
You know them, you love them, you can't live without them, please give a warm Ricochet welcome to this week's links:
- Here's the story about the dog who's a SEAL. Read with a certain degree of skepticism however, as it's from the British tabloid The Sun, which isn't exactly known for it's fact checking. Update: The NYT is now reporting the story as well. Our apologies to The Sun.
- We concur: Hitler's Last Days: An Eye-Witness Account is an interesting choice for bedtime reading.
- Downfall is a great movie, but we love even more the internet meme a scene from the movie spawned a few years ago, including the inevitable Hitler Finds Out bin Laden is Dead (warning: adult language).
- Here's your robe, what's your hurry? ABC News broke the story that Osama had 500 euros and some phone numbers sewn into his clothes.
- We also are reluctant to wade into this, but the BBC reported (we know, we know) in 2000 that an official Israeli report has acknowledged for the first time that the Israeli security service tortured detainees during the Palestinian uprising, the Intifada, between 1988 and 1992.
- The iconic photo from The Situation Room during the bin Laden raid is well on the way to becoming the most viewed photo ever posted on Flickr. It has also launched thousands of parodies, including our personal favorite, "The Situation in The Situation Room."
- We're not able to find the article that anonymously claims that Obama had to be talked into the mission. Little help, James?
- Curtis E. LeMay (1906–1990) was the often abrasive but utterly effective U.S. Air Force General, heralded as the father of modern strategic bombing (he's credited with orchestrating the firebombing of Tokyo and crippling Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia with devastating aerial assaults). In the classic Cold War film Dr. Strangelove, the character of General Buck Turgidson, played by George C. Scott, is based in part on LeMay.
- We're sure he was a lovely guy, but Richard Helms is the only Central Intelligence Agency director to have been convicted of lying to the United States Congress over CIA undercover activities. In 1977, he was sentenced to the maximum fine and received a suspended two-year prison sentence. But in a weird moment of convergence for this podcast episode, according to Wikipedia, he did interview Adolph Hitler for UPI during the 1936 Olympics.
- Here's the exchange on Twitter that Rob mentioned. Hey @MaxShenker, next time use the comments on Ricochet. That's why they're here.
- Paul Rahe is one of our most prolific contributors. His post on Paul Ryan, The Road Ahead: A Third Man Who Can Lead and his post on Stagflation is just a small sampling of his Ricochet ouvre. Collect them all!
- You know, until this very moment, we had never really thought about the relationship of corn and bacon. Thanks, James.
- North Dakota Senator John Hoeven and Peter Robinson attended Dartmouth together back in the days when checking the weather report on Yahoo! was considered cool. He was also a guest on episode 28 of the podcast.
- Wikipedia has an excellent summation of the territorial dispute over the Kashmir region, the northwesternmost region of South Asia. The countries disputing are India, Pakistan, China, and the Kashmiri people. Maybe it's just us, but Rob's solution sounds a little too Trump to actually work. If they do ever manage to become a sovereign nation, they will have best national anthem ever, though.
- According to Bollywood.com, Indian superstar actor Shah Rukh Khan will indeed portray Saddam Hussein in an upcoming bio pic. We're not sure about the claim that he's a bigger star than Brad Pitt, however. Hollywood stars have huge international audiences. Bollywood stars are unknown here, which is why they sometimes run into problems at Newark Airport.
- Hillsdale College is unsurprisingly located in Hillsdale, MI and is the ideal place to send your conservative son or daughter. Ricochet's own Pat Sajak is on the board there, but no, he won't write a recommendation for your kid.
- Pauline Davis Hanson was the first woman jurist on the 5th District Court of Appeal in California. Here is one of several law scholarships endowed in her memory.
- Jessica Lynch served in Iraq during the 2003 invasion operation. After she was captured Iraqi forces, she was subsequently rescued by U.S. Special Operations Forces. Lynch's was the first successful rescue of an American POW since World War II and the first ever of a woman. However, initial media reports on Lynch's recovery in Iraq were incorrect. Lynch, along with major media outlets, fault the U.S. government for creating the story as part of the Pentagon's propaganda effort.
- Here's the piece in Time about the kids who listened while George W. Bush read My Pet Goat to them on September 11th, 2001. The biggest shocker isn't that they thought the President did the right thing by finishing the story, its that they are now in high school.
- The "Keep Calm and Carry On" poster was first produced by the British government as a morale booster during WWII. There are dozens of parodies and variations of it. Make your own here.
- Peter's post, Poets' Corner, Or a Double Dactyl for Osama is a lot of fun. James Lileks' double dactyl is the second comment down, but be sure and read them all.
- Thanks for reading this far. Did we miss anything? Add your own links in the comments below.
Music from this week's episode:
- Chopin's Sonata No. 2 (Funeral March) by Vladimir Horowitz
- Dead! by My Chemical Romance
The direct link to this week's episode (great for mobile devices!). But be calm and subscribe. Don't use iTunes? Visit our Feedburner page for a number of other subscription options.
The Ricochet Podcast is proudly sponsored by Encounter Books and their Broadside series. This week's featured title is Government Unions and the Bankrupting of America by Daniel DiSalvo. Available in all formats at EncounterBooks.com.
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Comments:
Mar '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
--> We're not able to find the article that anonymously claims that Obama had to be talked into the mission.
Found this a little while ago, although it seems "stronger" than just talking him into it:
http://newsflavor.com/politics/us-politics/did-senior-militaryintelligence-officials-overrule-president-obama-regarding-mission-to-kill-osama-bin-laden/
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Ok you got me. I finally signed up for Ricochet. Thanks for the fabulous podcasts,
Max - aka @MaxShenker
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
In case anyone was wondering where the title of the episode came from:
Feb '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
I came across this story suggesting that Obama had to forced into pulling the trigger via Instapundit.
I’ll admit this fits my prejudices, so I am in danger of wanting to believe the worst about Obama. But the details have the ring of truth and the players are all acting true to their MOs. If there's fire under this smoke I think we’ll hear from Clinton/Panetta/Gates supporters “off the record” pretty soon. If it does turn out to be true BO is done.
http://socyberty.com/issues/white-house-insider-obama-hesitated-panetta-issued-order-to-kill-osama-bin-laden/
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
No Caesar: I came across this story suggesting that Obama had to forced into pulling the trigger via Instapundit.
I’ll admit this fits my prejudices, so I am in danger of wanting to believe the worst about Obama. But the details have the ring of truth and the players are all acting true to their MOs. If there's fire under this smoke I think we’ll hear from Clinton/Panetta/Gates supporters “off the record” pretty soon. If it does turn out to be true BO is done.
http://socyberty.com/issues/white-house-insider-obama-hesitated-panetta-issued-order-to-kill-osama-bin-laden/ · May 4 at 6:36pm
I read that article just prior to logging onto Ricochet from a comment on a Ron Radosh article at PJM. It fits my prejudices as well but my BS detector went off at the same time. I can't reconcile myself to it being accurate. Does anyone know the author? I have never heard of the website before...has anyone?
I'd like to invite other Ricochet members to read it an offer their opinions/thoughts. It could be worth a post in and of itself. Thoughts?
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
With apologies to Dr. Seuss.
Do not trust a TSA man
Do not trust him said my gran
Do not trust him with a can
Do not trust him if his name is Dan
Do not trust him with a flan
Do not trust him with a plan
Do not trust him with a scan
For he is a TSA man
Mar '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Grantman
I'd like to invite other Ricochet members to read it an offer their opinions/thoughts. It could be worth a post in and of itself. Thoughts? · May 4 at 6:53pm
I started a "conversation" about that link in the Member Feed about 20 hours ago but there were no takers.
Jim Geraghty briefly addressed this in his Morning Jolt and I kind of agree with him that there's no way that would happen. However, it definitely fits with my image of BHO.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
There have been many reports from "Ulsterman" over the last few months, all claiming to be info from some unnamed insider. They all sound exactly like what one would expect from Obama behind the scenes (ie, lazy, uninvolved).
But that's exactly what makes them suspect - they sound too perfect. I think I found them from links at hillbuzz.org, and they were presented there as at best a compilation of info, not really the exact words of one person.
Apr '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
I haven't listened to this podcast yet, but can you do something about the volume of the ricochet sound effect at the end? It gets me every time before I can rip the earphones out. Turn it down, I'll be forever grateful.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Blue Yeti
Hillsdale College is unsurprisingly located in Hillsdale, MI and is the ideal place to send your conservative son or daughter. Ricochet's own Pat Sajak is on the board there, but no, he won't write a recommendation for your kid.
What's the good of hobnobbing with the politically connected and the cultural elite if you can't use them to advance the prospects of your children? Snobs. Now I feel... so cheap... when I thought I was doing this... for the children!
(E-mailing Yeti a picture of my crying children as we speak...)
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
We have been meaning to re-do that for months. You just motivated me to get it done. It's an artifact from way, way back and it's proabably time to retire it. But thanks for listening to the very end.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Blue Yeti
We have been meaning to re-do that for months. You just motivated me to get it done. It's an artifact from way, way back and it's proabably time to retire it. But thanks for listening to the very end. · May 4 at 9:39pm
I agree that it's too loud but please don't retire it. It's a great trope and I like that it comes at the end of each of the growing family of podcasts -- I think it's really effective branding and Peter;s delivery is pitch-perfect. Don't get rid of it -- just turn down the bullet sound as it does tend to cause bleeding from the ear.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
It's the NBC chimes of the internet...
Mar '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Yes, keep the sound effect.
And I just want to say that I love this podcast and I love you guys. Thanks.
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Trace Urdan
I agree that it's too loud but please don't retire it. It's a great trope and I like that it comes at the end of each of the growing family of podcasts -- I think it's really effective branding and Peter;s delivery is pitch-perfect. Don't get rid of it -- just turn down the bullet sound as it does tend to cause bleeding from the ear. · May 4 at 9:45pm
Really? My kids and I were just monkeying around with sound effects on the computer one afternoon. It turns out that there are sites at which you can buy, well, you name it--the sounds of buzz saws whirring, doors closing, ghouls shrieking, and, yes, bullets ricocheting. All that for, as I recall, $1.95. Like the Blue Yeti, I'd forgotten we were still even using the darned thing.
If folks like it, though, I suppose we could hold onto it. Yeti? What think?
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Peter Robinson
If folks like it, though, I suppose we could hold onto it. Yeti? What think? · May 4 at 10:20pm
I rememeber when it used to say, "Ricochet... coming soon"
Memories... in the corner of my mind...
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Absolutely. And I'll turn it down too.
May '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
Remember when NBC traded in the Peacock for the Nebraska Public Television "N?" There was wholesale slaughter in the streets.
How about the time Bill Cosby foisted "New" Coke on us? A bloodbath.
Do you want another American Civil War on your hands, Peter? I didn't think so...
Now, I need to get back to thinking of a new way to get my kids into Hillsdale, since Yeti informs me that sucking up to this crowd won't work...
Jun '10
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
EJHill
Now, I need to get back to thinking of a new way to get my kids into Hillsdale, since Yeti informs me that sucking up to this crowd won't work... · May 4 at 10:32pm
The way to get in is to distinguish yourself from the crowd.
Tell them that if they want to stick out, write a personal essay called, "How diversity shaped my life" -or- "Government spending brought me here today" - or - "Clinton or Carter, great minds, kind hearts."
Mar '11
Re: Ricochet Podcast #68: He's Dead, James
In the category of saying thanks, thanks to Peter Robinson for your insistence that Israel's serious efforts to deal with morality in the face of threats be acknowledged. Standards here are definitely different, but there are standards and there are red lines.
And to add an additional thank you, I really love these podcasts.