Bitcoins, Brexit, and The Plight of The Disappearing Pundit

It’s another Super-Sized edition of the Ricochet Podcast (1 hour and 20 minutes!) and we’re all over the map and all over the news to bring you very best in podcast punditry. First up, the great George Gilder (his new book The Scandal of Money: Why Wall Street Recovers but the Economy Never Does is a must read) stops by to talk about why conservatives have such a hard time winning the economic debate in the court of public opinion and (perhaps related), the rise of digital currencies. Then, our pal Toby Young (listen to London Calling, the podcast he hosts with James Delingpole) stop by to discuss the looming Brexit and the new book he just edited Just Say No: The Spectator On The 1975 ReferendumShould Britain head for the economic exit? Let us know in the comments below. Finally, each we week take post from Ricochet’s  world renown Member Feed and give it some Ricochet Podcast love. This week’s featured post from DocJay (welcome back, sir) is titled What Will Happen to the Conservative Pundits When They Are Completely Unstuck and suffice to say it kindles a –shall we say– very passionate (but civil!) conversation. So come for the economics and stay for the punditry. You’ll be glad you did.

Music from this week’s episode:

I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times by The Beach Boys

The brand new opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by James Lileks.

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There are 47 comments.

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  1. RyanM Inactive
    RyanM
    @RyanM

    I look forward to your company in the car tonight. Great timing!

    • #1
  2. Typical Anomaly Inactive
    Typical Anomaly
    @TypicalAnomaly

    Along with Peter, I am amazed with James’ ad hoc formulation: …kaleidoscopic efflorescence of coruscating erudition.

    A quick online translation-by-thesaurus: an ever-changing blossoming of sparkling and impressive knowledge. And that in the farewell to a podcast guest.

    My hat is off to you, James.

    • #2
  3. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Typical Anomaly:kaleidoscopic efflorescence of coruscating erudition.

    My hat is off to you, James.

    What James didn’t mention is that the phrase is also the title of his forthcoming autobiography; Kaleidoscopic Efflorescence of Coruscating Erudition: The James Lileks Story.

    Listen for it on Audible.

    • #3
  4. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Peter Robinson, defender of the Wood Chipper.

    • #4
  5. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    It good to know that Peter and Rob can go at each other as heatedly as the rest of us.

    • #5
  6. Salvatore Padula Inactive
    Salvatore Padula
    @SalvatorePadula

    Obama: Conservatives are on the wrong side of history.

    Peter: Conservatives are two weeks behind history.

    • #6
  7. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Salvatore Padula:Obama: Conservatives are on the wrong side of history.

    Peter: Conservatives are two weeks behind history.

    Reality: The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make. #AlwaysReese

    • #7
  8. Quinn the Eskimo Member
    Quinn the Eskimo
    @

    Jamie Lockett:

    Salvatore Padula:Obama: Conservatives are on the wrong side of history.

    Peter: Conservatives are two weeks behind history.

    Reality: The future is not set. There is no fate but what we make. #AlwaysReese

    Two great tastes that go great together.  #AlwaysReese’s

    • #8
  9. Peter Robinson Contributor
    Peter Robinson
    @PeterRobinson

    Jamie Lockett:It good to know that Peter and Rob can go at each other as heatedly as the rest of us.

    If he weren’t such an old friend, I’d have more patience with him. As it is? He’s had so much time to learn from me that I figure there’s really no excuse.

    • #9
  10. Jamie Lockett Member
    Jamie Lockett
    @JamieLockett

    Peter Robinson:

    Jamie Lockett:It good to know that Peter and Rob can go at each other as heatedly as the rest of us.

    If he weren’t such an old friend, I’d have more patience with him. As it is? He’s had so much time to learn from me that I figure there’s really no excuse.

    That’s how I feel about everyone at Ricochet ;)

    • #10
  11. Salvatore Padula Inactive
    Salvatore Padula
    @SalvatorePadula

    Salvatore Padula:Obama: Conservatives are on the wrong side of history.

    Peter: Conservatives are two weeks behind history.

    In fairness I should add Rob: Conservatives are six weeks ahead of history.

    • #11
  12. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    Peter Robinson had my question correct although the debate was delightful and thanks for your kindness.   In Peter’s defense, the one time I met him I was so intoxicated that he had the good sense to ignore me. Free advice here, never ever get in to a drinking contest with a Russian ex-pat.

    I have no issue with NeverTrump pundits although I do with ‘I’m voting Hillary’ ones because of what I’d consider an intellectual disconnect as both candidates are quite unsavory and one is a sorta kinda R unless he’s lying which would never happen with honest Don, the used car salesman of the ever darkening dream that is the GOP.

    NopeandNoper

    • #12
  13. Ken in CT Inactive
    Ken in CT
    @KeninCT

    Something the Dems know that many on our side have yet to learn is party unity. When the process of making sausage is over, you get behind the party candidate.

    Hold your nose and pull the R lever!

    • #13
  14. inmateprof Inactive
    inmateprof
    @inmateprof

    Rob and Peter, the bathroom issue is not a “loser” issue.  I’m in North Carolina, Pat McCrory was losing by 9-10% in polls for his re-election for governor six weeks ago.  Since the “bathroom law” he is now up five.  Something to think about.

    • #14
  15. Stephen Dawson Inactive
    Stephen Dawson
    @StephenDawson

    Rob, you should check in on Bitcoin value. Contra your remarks, their price has been on an upwards trend in recent months, roughly doubling since the middle of last year to around $US530-$US540 at the moment.

    The Mt Gox fiasco was interesting and I factored it into my decision to purchase a small number, primarily as a positive. If such a thing didn’t bring down the whole system, it looks like it might be around to stay.

    Oh, don’t forget that the next halving event — the number of new bitcoins to be issued will reduce from ~8% to ~4% per year — is next month.

    • #15
  16. ParisParamus Inactive
    ParisParamus
    @ParisParamus

    Please don’t distort and unintentionally slander Chasidism, and especially the Lubavitchers! The Crown Heights folk, primarily known to the world through Chabad, are wonderful warm people who have nothing in common with leftists.

    • #16
  17. Peter Meza Member
    Peter Meza
    @PeterMeza

    Speaking of which … If you are a fan of parodies, and the Beach Boys, submitted for your listening enjoyment is “Pale and Precious” by the great Dukes of Stratosphear.

    • #17
  18. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    That was enjoyable.

    • #18
  19. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    Yeah I have major problems with people who are Republicans who say they will vote for Hillary over Trump. This women committed Treason.  She put her personal business over national security by creating a private server and sending classified material to it.  Snowden personal data on a personal drive and is now in exile in Russia.  Manning did that and is now serving life sentences.

    Hillary gets to run for President. If you cant see the difference between that.  Trump might be odius.  But compared to the above that is simply unforgiveable in my eyes.  I would rather vote for two former Republican governors who seem to be drawing equally from Dems and Republicans than either of them.  But given the above fact, Trump vs Cliinton it’s a no brainer.

    • #19
  20. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    inmateprof:Rob and Peter, the bathroom issue is not a “loser” issue. I’m in North Carolina, Pat McCrory was losing by 9-10% in polls for his re-election for governor six weeks ago. Since the “bathroom law” he is now up five. Something to think about.

    In Rob’s defense, I think what he means is “we always end up losing these social fights anyway”, and that’s mainly because our lords and masters in the court system impose it  on us. But the bathroom thing does seem to have sparked an awakening in non-millenials who were on the fence about such stuff. A guy in a dress that wants to pee next to your daughter seems to be a bridge too far for most Americans. “You have to believe he’s a woman” doesn’t seem to be selling.

    • #20
  21. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    Of course 0% interest rates boost existing asset prices.  Its baked into the math.  Its welfare for rich people.

    How do we still feel about milton, given he proposed a cap and trade system in an old episode of uncommon knowledge?

    • #21
  22. J Climacus Member
    J Climacus
    @JClimacus

    ToryWarWriter:Yeah I have major problems with people who are Republicans who say they will vote for Hillary over Trump. This women committed Treason. She put her personal business over national security by creating a private server and sending classified material to it. Snowden personal data on a personal drive and is now in exile in Russia. Manning did that and is now serving life sentences.

    Hillary gets to run for President. If you cant see the difference between that. Trump might be odius. But compared to the above that is simply unforgiveable in my eyes. I would rather vote for two former Republican governors who seem to be drawing equally from Dems and Republicans than either of them. But given the above fact, Trump vs Cliinton it’s a no brainer.

    It’s not just that. With our consulate in Benghazi under assault, and the men there begging for help, Hillary left the State Dept. to go home and huddle with her political advisers to get ahead of the spin, consciously leaving the men to their fate. Then later, literally over the dead body of one of the men, she lied to his father’s face about the nature of the attack, blaming it on a video.

    One thing I know about Hillary is that she will coldly sacrifice lives in favor of her political future. I don’t know that about Trump. Frankly, I’m more comfortable with Donald on the nuke button than Hillary.

    • #22
  23. Mr. Dart Inactive
    Mr. Dart
    @MrDart

    Douglas:

    inmateprof:Rob and Peter, the bathroom issue is not a “loser” issue. I’m in North Carolina, Pat McCrory was losing by 9-10% in polls for his re-election for governor six weeks ago. Since the “bathroom law” he is now up five. Something to think about.

    In Rob’s defense, I think what he means is “we always end up losing these social fights anyway”, and that’s mainly because our lords and masters in the court system impose it on us. But the bathroom thing does seem to have sparked an awakening in non-millenials who were on the fence about such stuff. A guy in a dress that wants to pee next to your daughter seems to be a bridge too far for most Americans. “You have to believe he’s a woman” doesn’t seem to be selling.

    The tide turned in NC when the discussion moved from bathrooms to the girls’ shower at the local public high school.

    McCrory, the Republican Mayor of Democrat-majority Charlotte for 14 straight years, knows North Carolina politics and knew HB2 would likely benefit him not harm him.

    This wasn’t the first podcast on Ricochet to foul up the HB2 story.  There was a GLoP one a few weeks ago that was far worse on the timeline and basic facts of the issue.

    • #23
  24. Rightfromthestart Coolidge
    Rightfromthestart
    @Rightfromthestart

    Did they ever get Mr. Gilder out of the well?

    • #24
  25. TKC1101 Member
    TKC1101
    @

    So I take from this podcast is Rob is back to the Trump loses in a landslide based on polls that do not exist from a bump that has not happened, James is still just so offended that Trump is not Minnesota nice and Peter is amazingly not pulling out a Louisville Slugger at the sheer insanity on display. (Sorry James, I grew up in New York and it’s just how we are)

    I was hoping Ricochet would be something other than Vichy Hillary country in the run up to the election.

    With Fred playing Ricochets’ Chris Matthews and Claire doing her best Pauline Kael it looks to be place of despair and travail with no optimistism whatsoever.

    I do have a line on some letters of transit….

    • #25
  26. jmelvin Member
    jmelvin
    @jmelvin

    Rob, I am glad to hear that I am not the only who took Doc Jay’s piece to suggest that those writers who opposed Trump based on principled judgments would have to suddenly explain themselves to Pappy T and his masses if he won.  I appreciate that you also noted that you had opposed President Obama based on principle judgments and had no reason to change simply because Obama was elected either.  Peter’s arguments simply jumped all over the place and left me frustrated as well.

    • #26
  27. Salvatore Padula Inactive
    Salvatore Padula
    @SalvatorePadula

    TKC1101: I was hoping Ricochet would be something other than Vichy Hillary country in the run up to the election.

    Okay, so you’ve definitely lost the right to take umbrage when critics of Trump bring up Hitler comparisons.

    • #27
  28. TKC1101 Member
    TKC1101
    @

    Salvatore Padula: Okay, so you’ve definitely lost the right to take umbrage when critics of Trump bring up Hitler comparisons.

    No, only to French history. Besides, she IS the real enemy.

    You do not call your own side Hitler, you save that for the other side.

    • #28
  29. Ricochet Inactive
    Ricochet
    @LauraViise

    I’m one of those crazy Christians that sees ample evidence from  the Old Testament that even political prophesy has come true. When I read end times predictions,  many equate a system like Bitcoin to a one world currency’s controlled centrally. The actual passages are the ones that talk about being restricted from buying or selling without a specific mark or device. Just interesting how the dangers of such a system ( whether you believe the bible or not) have been pondered for millenia. I also remember a post apocalyptic movie from the 80’s where in one scene a lady prostituted herself for a rat to eat.

    • #29
  30. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    TKC1101: James is still just so offended that Trump is not Minnesota nice and Peter is amazingly not pulling out a Louisville Slugger at the sheer insanity on display. (Sorry James, I grew up in New York and it’s just how we are)

    I’m no stranger to New Yawk and its pleasure, TKC; that’s not it. Brash & iconoclastic are fine – we voted for Jesse Ventura, after all. The things about Trump I find repulsive could be found in someone from any place.

    • #30
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