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The Ricochet Podcast returns with two members of the podcast bullpen getting up to the plate: The Hemingway’s Mollie Hemingway and Need To Know’s Mona Charen discuss the politics of procreation, being a Cards fan in a Red Sox world, and rousing debate on why the shutdown strategy didn’t work. Batter up!

Music from this week’s episode:

Big Brother by David Bowie

The Ricochet Podcast opening theme was composed and produced by James Lileks.

Home run, EJHill.

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There are 46 comments.

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  1. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Astonishing

    Mona, you keep saying “it’s all in the past,” but you won’t let it go. 

    Fortunately, it is not all in the past. The good effects of the shutdown will come all in the future. The immense value of the shutdown was as a clarifying moment, whose positive after-effects will increase over time.

    • #1
  2. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Foxfier

    ….how would the amendment that we’d supposedly “dare” Obama to veto actually reach him?  Reid didn’t let anything else for a vote– did someone have incriminating pictures they’d only use for the “Obamacare hits the Congress, too” vote?

    • #2
  3. Profile Photo Inactive
    @clmac

    I’ll give them a shot, but it just won’t be the same. While I’m thinking about it, here’s a really bad joke.

    Q: What do Democrats use for  a jock strap? A: Two rubber bands and a peanut shell.

    James Lileks: clmac: Planter’s GoldenRoast. I’ll get you through the tough times until the memory fades. ;) · 8 hours ago

    • #3
  4. Profile Photo Member
    @MisterSirius

    Blue Yeti–Bowie’s “Big Brother” as outro? I didn’t see that coming. Woah. Head spinning timewarp…worlds in collision…get that tune out of my head…must…reach…the…history…eraser…button…

    • #4
  5. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Foxfier
    MisterSirius: Blue Yeti–Bowie’s “Big Brother” as outro? 

    Watch that movie where he’s the Goblin King.

    That I enjoy his music partly because of that movie probably says something….

    • #5
  6. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Foxfier
    Astonishing

    But then, if my memory serves, she couldn’t resist circling back later with a wane accusation that Cruz was guilty of “line-jumping,” pushing himself ahead of higher-ranking establishment graybeards formerly at the front of the line opposing ObamaCare.

    Here’s the problem with Mona’s “line-jumping” accusation: The previous accusation was Cruz was “suicidal,” so the line Mona now says Cruz was jumping to the front of was, so we were previously told, a “suicide line” no sane Republican would enter. If so, how could Cruz be guilty of elbowing his betters out ofthatline?

    She said she believed that there as no question that the Republicans opposed Obamacare….they just weren’t doing anything, apparently….

    Even here folks weren’t “clear” that Republicans oppose Obamacare, so outside of those folks who believe the News when it says how horrible Republicans are for not wanting to Give You Free Stuff, I’m not sure what demographic was aware the Republicans oppose Obamacare before this.

    • #6
  7. Profile Photo Inactive
    @KimK

    It was great having Mollie on again.  I’m glad Mona had a chance to clarify, but I’m not sure she convinced anyone. Troy is a great sub – Rob better watch out!  Peter and James – excellent, as usual. This is definitely my favorite Ricochet podcast.

    • #7
  8. Profile Photo Member
    @

    Had to. Peter Robinson is a huge Bowie fan.  

    MisterSirius: Blue Yeti–Bowie’s “Big Brother” as outro? I didn’t see that coming. Woah. Head spinning timewarp…worlds in collision…get that tune out of my head…must…reach…the…history…eraser…button… · 1 hour ago

    • #8
  9. Profile Photo Inactive
    @swatter

    Mona, a Ricochettette, was always against the strategy. Of course, I am sure, she was hammered and called a RINO. Yet, in none of the podcasts did she whine about it.

    In my words, she “manned up” (in past comments, that word also was used to describe Thatcher and Kirkpatrick, so it is high praise). I wish the so-called conservatives who were ‘hurt’ and wounded by the opposition to their views could have also ‘manned up’.

    Mona gave a well thought out response to why her opposition to the strategy was right. She was right, but everyone on both sides knew it wasn’t going to repeal Obamacare. What she didn’t realize, it was supposed to be just another sword cut in a Death by a Thousand cuts.

    Also, has anyone in the Surrender Caucus said what their plan was? Goldberg? Podhoretz? Anyone? McCain?

    • #9
  10. Profile Photo Inactive
    @MrTall

    Very enjoyable podcast!

    I wish there had been more time to discuss the ‘fecundaphobia’ Mollie described. James mentioned how Deadspin and other media not only excoriate married athletes who have big families, but lionize those, such as Adrian Peterson, who father many children via hook-ups and other short-term ‘relationships’. 

    I read Deadspin, and I’d like to expand a bit on James’s point. It was indeed a tragedy that Adrian Peterson’s son was murdered. But then a couple of sports columnists had the temerity to report that Peterson had never met his son until he was dying in a hospital, and how this complicated Peterson’s media elevation from Sports Hero to Noble Victim.

    Deadspin’s contributors (and, even more so, readers’ comments) just blasted these writers, accusing them of racism and insensitivity (one is labelled a ‘race-baiting troll‘), but even more so mocking them relentlessly for saying that it’s better a man knows who his children are.

    I find it hard to plumb the depth of this cultural decay:

    Traditional father with many children: risible, and likely evil. 

    Sexual libertine who commits to no woman or children: hero.

    • #10
  11. Profile Photo Inactive
    @clmac

    Every time I go to my mother-in-law’s house, she has a can of Planter’s Spanish Peanuts on the counter that I munch on constantly while we visit. While that comment was hilarious, I want to thank James Lileks personally for ruining one my favorite snacks.

    • #11
  12. Profile Photo Inactive
    @CatoRand

    Listening to the podcast now.  One thing you said that not even Enron advisor Paul Krugman could deny is that Kathleen S has absolutely no clue at all what’s going on or what needs to be done.

    • #12
  13. Profile Photo Member
    @DonTillman

    Thanks for the shoutout, Peter.  I am thoroughly honored.

    • #13
  14. Profile Photo Contributor
    @jameslileks

    clmac: Planter’s GoldenRoast. I’ll get you through the tough times until the memory fades. ;)

    • #14
  15. Profile Photo Contributor
    @PeterRobinson
    Don Tillman: Thanks for the shoutout, Peter.  I am thoroughly honored. · 4 minutes ago

    Are you kidding?  We’re honored to have you here on Ricochet!

    • #15
  16. Profile Photo Contributor
    @PeterRobinson
    Blue Yeti: Had to. Peter Robinson is a huge Bowie fan.   · 1 hour ago

    MisterSirius: Blue Yeti–Bowie’s “Big Brother” as outro? I didn’t see that coming. Woah. Head spinning timewarp…worlds in collision…get that tune out of my head…must…reach…the…history…eraser…button… · 1 hour ago

    Edited 1 hour ago

    During the winter of 1988, I took leave from the White House to spend a couple of months in Switzerland as a research assistant to William F. Buckley, Jr.–Bill spent every winter in Gstaad, writing books by day and dining out with with movie stars and royalty by night.  At dinner one night, I found myself seated across from David Bowie.

    So there.

    • #16
  17. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Rawls

    Peter, the way to avoid more children from being born out of wedlock is to increase access to birth control. You asked Mona for a solution, but there are only trade offs here. Less single parentage or less birth control.

    • #17
  18. Profile Photo Podcaster
    @EJHill

    David Bowie… Wasn’t he some megastar’s last duet partner?

    • #18
  19. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Astonishing
    swatter:. . . .in none of the podcasts did she whine about it.. . .

    It depends on what sounds like whining to you. I heard a fair amount of whining from her, but I guess whining is in the ear of the behearer.

    I am ready to “move on and unite,” but if Mona keeps taking backwards swipes at Cruz and the TP, she’ll have to expect to get something in return.

    • #19
  20. Profile Photo Member
    @MollieHemingway
    Peter Robinson

    Chris O.: I’d love to hear about the conversation between Buckley, Robinson and Bowie. Not that a starstruck Peter would necessarily remember! · 25 minutes ago

    Bowie at dinner was quiet, modest, soft-spoken, and more interested in what others had to say than in talking himself.  Just struck me as a nice, quiet guy.  Hard to believe, I know, but there you are. · 10 hours ago

    This is the coolest story ever. I’m a huge Bowie fan, of course, and love him so much that I can’t stop listening to Arcade Fire’s latest (Reflektor).

    • #20
  21. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Foxfier
    Rawls: Peter, the way to avoid more children from being born out of wedlock is to increase access to birth control. You asked Mona for a solution, but there are only trade offs here. Less single parentage or less birth control. 

    Doesn’t work.  Birth control fails even when used perfectly– unless you’re going to try to encourage mass sterilizations?  There was a picture of a billboard about that a while ago….

    If you want to prevent out of wedlock births, you have to prevent out of wedlock sex.

    Shockingly, being responsible is just not very popular…. probably the best tactics would involve making it acceptable for women to say no.  Also more prosecution of sexual predators that target the under-aged. 

    • #21
  22. Profile Photo Member
    @MollieHemingway
    Rawls: Peter, the way to avoid more children from being born out of wedlock is to increase access to birth control. You asked Mona for a solution, but there are only trade offs here. Less single parentage or less birth control. · 10 minutes ago

    And you can see this easily by tracking how increased “access” to birth control has led to steep declines in out-of-wedlock births. Just look around you at the world since the 1960s and you can see pretty easily that all it took to get rid of out-of-wedlock births back then was just explosively higher access to birth control. Right?

    • #22
  23. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Foxfier
    EJHill: David Bowie… Wasn’t he some megastar’s last duet partner? · 0 minutes ago

    *sigh* Proof you are far, far too male… The Goblin King’s leather pants had a strong influence on a generation of ladies. 

    • #23
  24. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Snirtler
    Astonishing: Mona, you keep saying “it’s all in the past,” but you won’t let it go. 

    For crying out loud, Peter & James asked her about the shutdown.

    • #24
  25. Profile Photo Coolidge
    @ChrisO

    I’d love to hear about the conversation between Buckley, Robinson and Bowie. Not that a starstruck Peter would necessarily remember!

    • #25
  26. Profile Photo Member
    @MisterSirius
    EJHill: David Bowie… Wasn’t he some megastar’s last duet partner? · 49 minutes ago

    I gotcha, drummerboy!

    Nevermind…

    • #26
  27. Profile Photo Member
    @MisterSirius
    Blue Yeti: Had to. Peter Robinson is a huge Bowie fan.   · 2 hours ago

    MisterSirius: Blue Yeti–Bowie’s “Big Brother” as outro? I didn’t see that coming. Woah. Head spinning timewarp…worlds in collision…get that tune out of my head…must…reach…the…history…eraser…button… · 1 hour ago

    Edited 2 hours ago

    You slay me, Blue.

    Mike Flowers has a groovy Bowie medley. Just saying.

    • #27
  28. Profile Photo Contributor
    @PeterRobinson
    Chris O.: I’d love to hear about the conversation between Buckley, Robinson and Bowie. Not that a starstruck Peter would necessarily remember! · 25 minutes ago

    Bowie at dinner was quiet, modest, soft-spoken, and more interested in what others had to say than in talking himself.  Just struck me as a nice, quiet guy.  Hard to believe, I know, but there you are.

    • #28
  29. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Foxfier
    Peter Robinson

    Chris O.: I’d love to hear about the conversation between Buckley, Robinson and Bowie. Not that a starstruck Peter would necessarily remember! · 25 minutes ago

    Bowie at dinner was quiet, modest, soft-spoken, and more interested in what others had to say than in talking himself.  Just struck me as a nice, quiet guy.  Hard to believe, I know, but there you are. · 1 minute ago

    Way to encourage a childish crush on the man, sir.

    • #29
  30. Profile Photo Inactive
    @Astonishing
    Snirtler

    Astonishing: Mona, you keep saying “it’s all in the past,” but you won’t let it go. 

    For crying out loud, Peter & James asked her about the shutdown.

    Mona could have responded in a more forward-looking, rather than backward-looking, way. To her credit she did so initially to some extent, admitting that maybe, just maybe, Cruz might have been more far-sighted than she had thought. For that grudging acknowledgement, she deserves additional credit.

    But then, if my memory serves, she couldn’t resist circling back later after her wane accusation that Cruz was guilty of “line-jumping,” pushing himself ahead of higher-ranking establishment graybeards formerly at the front of the line opposing ObamaCare.

    Here’s the problem with Mona’s “line-jumping” accusation: The previous accusation was Cruz was “suicidal,” so the line Mona now says Cruz was jumping to the front of was, so we were previously told, a “suicide line” no sane Republican would enter. If so, how could Cruz be guilty of elbowing his betters out of that line?

    An alternative metaphor: Cruz strode to an undefended front line, while others cowered or aimed their arrows at his back.

    • #30
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