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Ricochet Podcast #38: The Heavy Hitters
By popular demand, it’s our heavy hitter edition of the podcast with guests Mark Steyn and Jonah Goldberg. We cover the surprising Noble Prize selection, one last look at the view from France, the sorry states of New York and California, our panel’s view on the “legalize it” debate, and a whole lot more. Listen, then discuss it here.
A fistful of links:
- Oui, Rob Long is still in Paris. In fact, Ricochet member EJHill spotted him near the Eiffel Tower.
- The trailer for Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo. If you’ve never seen the movie, you’re in for a treat.
- Here’s an interview with Mario Vargas Llosa conducted just after he won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Whether or not Llosa actually punched Gabriel Garcia Marquez appears to be open to debate.
- The WSJ concurs: the Barbara Boxer (and Jerry Brown) campaigns are both helped by Prop. 19 being on the ballot.
- The comedian arrested in Guam for marijuana possession that James Lileks refers to is Ralphie May. Mr. May correctly describes himself as an “idiot.”
- Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger’s 20 year old son Richard was arrested for a similar offense.
- Rob is not exaggerating: there are a lot of places to legally buy pot in Venice, CA.
- Ricochet contributor Adam Freeman’s recent post concerning several countries that have joined the lawsuit against Arizona’s pending immigration law.
- France is facing legal action from Europe for its deportation of thousands of unwanted Romas (or gypsies).
- If you’re going to shorten racy links, don’t use a shortening service with the .ly domain.
- Despite the name, tête de nègre does look delicious.
- The regrettably titled report on China is mentioned in this excerpt of the Congressional Record from June, 1999. Apparently, giggles are not transcribed by the CR.
- Proud To Be Right: Voices Of The Next Generation, edited by Jonah Goldberg, is available here. Ricochet’s James Poulos is a contributor.
- Richard Nixon liked long walks on the beach — in wing tips.
Music from this week’s episode:
- Wake Up by Arcade Fire
- Pass The Dutchie by Musical Youth
The direct link to this week’s episode is here, but we’d really love it if you’d subscribe. Not an Apple fan boy? Visit our Feedburner page for a number of other subscription options.
The Ricochet Podcast is sponsored by Encounter Books and their Broadside Series. This week’s featured title is President Obama’s Tax Piracy by Peter Ferrara. Available for $5.99 at EncounterBooks.com.
The conservative position, I would think, would be to examine closely those confined areas where it’s been tried already. Paules’s previous descriptions here of the dystopian Amsterdam are enough to convince me that it’s unwise, as Trace says. The dreaded “unintended consequences” of wholesale legalization would appear more severe–and less predictable–than maintaining or tinkering with the status quo.
And thanks for all that insight, Felicia. Scary stuff.
I love Jonah’s comment on how conservatives are the rebels on college campuses. As one of those conservatives in a graduate program that is dominated by very radical liberals, I had largely assumed I was the only conservative. I always have a large beard and am often confused for a hippie. I can effectively move behind enemy lines, analyze their strategies and biases, and return unharmed, just so long as I mumble things about organic food and home made clothes from time to time.
Recently, another fellow from the program remarked to me, “I think I made my way to your blog” (www.hotterthannewlove.com where I write about Catholicism and Conservatism generally). I post under my same pen name, Samwise Gamgee, there so I was surprised to hear this. He said, “good to know there’s another conservative Christian around here.” So I suspect there are more than you think… maybe 30% instead of 10% of academics.
It’s funny, you saunter over to another person and draw a “C” with your foot in the sand, then quickly stamp it out. Hopefully the other guy sees it and the both of you don’t get black listed.
Scott, if I expected any European nation west of the Danube to respond forcefully to sharia and Islamists, it would be France (ironically enough). What other nation formally purges words from its language to feign purity?
I haven’t finished America Alone yet, so I’m not sure what Mark’s expectations are. But I find it impossible to believe all of Europe will “go gently into that good night.” I can certainly imagine a rise of brutal nationalist leaders. The world seems to be repeating many trends of the 1930s: eugenics, anti-Semitism, isolationism, etc.
There’s a difference between cultural drift and cultural replacement. The latter seems to be happening across Europe… and perhaps here as well, to a lesser extent, along the border.
Rob: So, Jean, what did you think of the podcast?
Jean: C’est l’absurde.
Rob: Why is it everytime I ask a serious question of a Frenchman, I get the same answer?
Jean: Life is absurd, mon ami, get used to it. If you expect a Frenchman to take you seriously, you must throw your scarf over your shoulder with complete indifference to the question. Not unlike Toulouse Lautrec. There was a man who fully appreciated absurdity.
Rob: Jean, you’re making no sense.
Jean: Garcon, another round of Pernod for my friends. And give my American friend another chocolate negro.
Rob: That is so racist.
Jean: Not here, mon ami. It is just life, and life is absurd. Have you ever banged your little Jew on a table?
Rob: I once did a Jewish princess in my dorm room. Does that count?
Jean: And what did you learn from this? The economy sucks, eh?
Rob: Will you just stop it already! Have you anything useful to say?
Jean: Yes I have, mon ami. Be sure to take your wife to dinner after you visit your mistress.
Rob: Arghhhhhh!
The Commemorative DVD version of this podcast is now available!
See the boys of Ricochet go wild! Watch Dean Robinson lose control!
Comes with a collector’s poster!
See the boys of Ricochet go wild! Watch Dean Robinson lose control!
Comes with a collector’s poster! ·Oct 8 at 9:05pm
It really needs the Ricochet Code of Conduct underneath Steyn’s mug. With Dean Robinson adding:
“Short, broke and Democrat is no way to go through life, son.”
See the boys of Ricochet go wild! Watch Dean Robinson lose control!
Comes with a collector’s poster! · Oct 8 at 9:05pm
Fantastic! That’s going up on the wall of Ricochet HQ South. A Rhino…ha!
Thanks for sharing, Felicia. I didn’t realize the law makes that distinction. One of my relatives was born to a drunk. Ironically, it helped him in one way — he’s extraordinarily strong (apparently, FAS kids tend to be either very strong or very weak) — but his thinking is impaired and he always struggled.
Perhaps a woman’s legal rights to particular drugs should be suspended while she’s pregnant. Abusing a baby with heavy alcohol ingestion would be legally equivalent to abusing it with other drugs.
Samwise, I had that same experience. A fellow student confessed to me that he agreed with my conservative views, but he wouldn’t admit it to others. I understand how many believe it prudent to remain silent to protect their grades. But I’d rather suffer injustice for being open and honest than advance in life by hiding and pretending. I wish conservatives wouldn’t hide.
A liberal (very liberal) friend once came to my defense as I was being labeled a homophobe and called hateful. I think that took more guts than if a fellow conservative had defended me. Likewise, we should stand up for our enemies against slander and misrepresentation.
A liberal (very liberal) friend once came to my defense as I was being labeled a homophobe and called hateful. I think that took more guts than if a fellow conservative had defended me.
A true friend!
Peter Robinson:
“Don’t answer! Don’t answer!”
Mark Steyn::
“Hello, Ricochet…”
Caller:
“Yeah, lemme speak to Rob Long.”
Steyn:
“I’m terribly sorry, but Rob is in Paris, clearing gypsies off the Champs-Elysees. Apparently the Roma have become quite a blight; entire arrondissements look like the Capitol Mall after an Obama event…” …
Edited on Oct 08 at 05:28 pm
Kenneth, that was so bizarre it was entertaining.
…
Jean: Garcon, another round of Pernod for my friends. And give my American friend another chocolate negro.
Rob: That is so racist.
Jean: Not here, mon ami. It is just life, and life is absurd. Have you ever banged your little Jew on a table?
Rob: I once did a Jewish princess in my dorm room. Does that count?
Jean: And what did you learn from this? The economy sucks, eh?
Rob: Will you just stop it already! Have you anything useful to say?
Jean: Yes I have, mon ami. Be sure to take your wife to dinner after you visit your mistress.
Rob: Arghhhhhh! ·Oct 8 at 8:26pm
And here I was worried about posting “OMG” and strategizing my argument that “G” means gosh. I think I’m good to go.
Okay, I’m going to be the boor and discuss something serious – legalizing drugs and the affect that will have on children.
Currently, in California if a mother gives birth to a child who tests positive for illegal drugs, the child is removed from the mother’s custody (it’s considered child abuse) until either the mother can prove she can provide a stable home environment, the child is reunified with another family member or the child becomes a ward of the state and can be adopted. However, if that child tests positive for legal drugs, the mother retains custody of the child. Sadly, from experience, I know that mothers who are on mind altering chemicals really are not going to have the child’s best interest utmost in their minds.
I’m very sensitive to this issue because 2 of my children suffered drug abuse in the womb. One of my children was born with such severe withdrawal symptoms. He was in the hospital for 2 months and then suffered from grand mal seizures for weeks until his meds could be worked out. Then he had moderate to severe neurological issues and developmental delays for years. Continued…
Continued from above…
Here’s the irony: because my son’s birth mother tested positive for legal drugs which the state was giving her to come off of another addiction, he was not removed from her custody. My son finally ended up in the social services system because of his birth mom’s other foibles. Frankly, if he would have stayed with his birth mom, he probably wouldn’t have survived.
I have another child who was also abused by his birth mom in the womb. He tested positive for illegal drugs when he was born and was immediately removed from his birth mom’s custody. Ironically, he was in much better medical shape, and suffered far less extensive neurological and developmental damage. Yet, he most likely would have suffered horribly growing up with his birth mom.
So, my question for those of you who think it is a good thing for our society to legalize drugs, what would you say about the impact on the victims – the innocent babies? Legalization basically strips the state from the recourse of removing abused children early on when a difference can be made. How would you recommend solving that problem?
My libertarian impulses were quashed by Jonah’s joking that California (and where more than San Francisco where I am raising children) could become Amsterdam. I voted no on 19 tonight. (Though I haven’t sealed the envelope yet — I’m trying to figure out what to do about all those judges I have to vote for…)
Recently, another fellow from the program remarked to me, “I think I made my way to your blog” (www.hotterthannewlove.com where I write about Catholicism and Conservatism generally).
I checked that out myself a couple weeks ago. Good stuff.
See the boys of Ricochet go wild! Watch Dean Robinson lose control!
Comes with a collector’s poster!
But really…who would have thought a podcast with a NoCal Establishment Conservative, a Hollywood RINO Squish by way of Paris, a NoDak Expat in the People’s Republic of Minnesota, a previously confused Star Trek fanboy, and an accused abuser of Canadian Human Rights now fomenting armed insurrection in the US would go seriously off the tracks???
But as we know, everyone loves a train wreck! Lets do that again next week…if Peter’s sanity can handle it…
(On a serious note…is there really a way to download these Encounter Broadsides? I am still not seeing it….)
Great podcast. I like it so much better without me on it.
(On a serious note…is there really a way to download these Encounter Broadsides? I am still not seeing it….) · Oct 11 at 11:19am
Charles, If you click on the Barnes and Noble link on Encounter Books’ site, they will sell you an ebook (pdf) version. At $4.99, it’s also a buck cheaper.
I think Pat would have pushed it over the edge!
Yeti – Thanks for the tip…