Conservative Conversation + Podcasts

Tuck

| April 30, 2014

3 COMMENTS

“More than 80 percent of the members of a Michigan union representing home health care workers opted to quit the organization in 2013, federal filings show. The workers took advantage of the state’s newly enacted right-to-work law, which allowed individuals to opt out for the first time ever.” “…The sheer size of the shift suggests […]

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A Toast To Ricochet—Rachel Lu

By Rachel Lu

Rachel Lu

| April 30, 2014

17 COMMENTS

Today is my 2-year Rico-versary. Two years ago, I took the plunge, forked over the cost of a grande latte at Starbucks (remember that?), and put up my first post.

Life has certainly changed since then, and Ricochet has been a very positive part of that. I think I would have been pretty thrilled two years ago if you’d shown me what my life would be like today.

Rick Perry Receives the Kiss of Death—Troy Senik

By Troy Senik

Troy Senik

Troy Senik was a White House speechwriter for George W. Bush. He is the host of the Hoover Institution podcasts Law Talk with Epstein & Yoo; The Classicist, with Victor Davis Hanson; and The Libertarian, with Richard Epstein. Senik is the author of the forthcoming book A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland.

| April 30, 2014

44 COMMENTS

How do you know your dreams of reaching higher office are doomed? When Dick Morris says you have a chance. From the latest musings of the man who guaranteed a Hillary Clinton-Condoleeza Rice presidential race in 2008 (the book laying out that scenario is now available at prices starting at $0.01 from Amazon):

Of the defeated candidates left over from 2012, Santorum is probably too focused on social issues to win. Cain and Bachmann can be dismissed as flashes in the pan, and the problems that knocked them out of contention have not gone away. Romney probably won’t get a third chance. Even Nixon only got two. Newt inflicted too many wounds on others and on himself.

Did Donald Sterling Tape Himself?

By King Banaian

King Banaian

Professor of economics and dean of the School of Public Affairs at <a href="http://web.stcloudstate.edu/kbanaian/" target="_blank">St. Cloud State University</a>, former state legislator. Radio host of the <a href="http://www.kycr.com/showdj.asp?DJID=52539" target="_blank">King Banaian Show</a>.

| April 30, 2014

7 COMMENTS

Reported in the LA Times yesterday, but not really noted in our earlier discussion on the taping of Donald Sterling.

The site is also reporting that sources who have heard the entire hourlong recording say Sterling absolutely knew he was being recorded. TMZ Sports has reported Stiviano has said she has more than 100 hours of recorded conversations with the 80-year-old Sterling, who is said to have used the tapes to refresh his memory because he frequently forgot what he said.

Letting Your Kids Win? Teaching Winning and Losing—Metalheaddoc

By Metalheaddoc

Metalheaddoc

| April 30, 2014

21 COMMENTS

My lil’ boy is about to turn 8. When we do something competitive, like running in the backyard, I let him win. I feel the bitter taste of defeat is an acquired, grown-up taste that he doesn’t need to get from Daddy. But as he gets older, how long do I let him win?

I want to teach him to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat. I also don’t want him thinking Daddy is a slowpoke who can’t do anything. How do you all go about teaching your yoots about winning and losing?

Member Post

By Inwar Resolution

Inwar Resolution

Moved out of "crazyville" just before the $15 minimum wage was passed and escaped to Austin. As they say here, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as fast as I could." From the great WSC: "In War: Resolution, In Defeat: Defiance, In Victory: Magnanimity, In Peace: Good Will."

| April 30, 2014

3 COMMENTS

Donald Sterling’s comments, opinions and past behavior are dreadful – no doubt about it. I just wonder how the NBA is going to cope with the next thought crime that comes along. What happens to the next guy who drops an anti-gay slur? (Frozen Chosen asked this in another thread.) What about if a black […]

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Lefler’s Laws of Life—DC McAllister

By D.C. McAllister

D.C. McAllister

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| April 30, 2014

39 COMMENTS

Our fourth child is about to graduate from high school and will be heading off to my alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in the fall. I thought a fun graduation present would be a collection of pearls of wisdom to carry with her as she embarks on a new stage of life — one in which she’ll have to navigate between liberal professors rewriting history and frat boys trying to convince her they have noble intentions when they invite her back to the Pi Kappa Phi house for a “nightcap.”

I guess I could just give her a copy of Proverbs or George Washington’s Rules of Civility, but I’m a nerd at heart, so Ensign Robin Lefler’s essential laws of life from Star Trek Next Generation (“The Game”) came to mind.

Member Post

By C. U. Douglas

Thatcher

C. U. Douglas

Born and raised in Oregon, I've lived most my life on the West Coast, save three years near Minneapolis, Minnesota. I survived four years in the hellish paradise that is Santa Rosa, another two in a land where "Keep Portland Weird" is the first commandment, and I am happily married and living in Utah. I am an electrical designer, Protestant, and a huge nerd. I am a brand new father, and I can't shut up about it. I abuse ellipses with wild abandon.

| April 30, 2014

7 COMMENTS

Saltveit, Mark. The Tao of Chip Kelly: Lessons from America’s Most Successful Coach. Diversion Books, 2013 ASIN B00HR82BQO Preview Open

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Member Post

By Salvatore Padula

Salvatore Padula

B.A. in Economics: UC Santa Barbara/University of Edinburgh J.D. Notre Dame Law School I'm from La Jolla. I go by Sal.

| April 30, 2014

14 COMMENTS

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams has been arrested in connection with the 1972 murder of Jean McConville. I wonder what Rep. Peter King, long known for his ardent opposition to all forms of terrorism except the Irish Republican variety, thinks. Preview Open

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On Israeli “Apartheid”: A response to Zafar

By Son of Spengler

Son of Spengler

Mild-mannered actuary by day. Intrepid barbershopper by night. Renegade Jew. Twitter: @spengjr

| April 30, 2014

86 COMMENTS

In Judith Levy’s post regarding Secretary Kerry’s use of the word “apartheid” in the Israeli-Palestinian context, Zafar wrote:

Under Apartheid in South Africa the benefit from the majority of the land and its resources was allocated to one ethnic group at the expense of another – one group had freedom of movement, the other didn’t. One group basically controlled the other for its own benefit.

Benghazi Keeps Bubbling Up Despite WH Spin — Jon Gabriel

By Jon Gabriel, Ed.

King

Jon Gabriel, Ed.

Jon Gabriel (a.k.a., @ExJon on Twitter) is the Editor-in-Chief of Ricochet. He is a political writer and marketing consultant, contributing articles to The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, and USA Today among others. Until 2012, he served as Director of Marketing for the free-market Goldwater Institute, where he converted policy initiatives into compelling stories. In the private sector, Jon led marketing efforts for Cold Stone Creamery, Honeywell, and several technology companies. In his… [more]

| April 30, 2014

25 COMMENTS

As a kid, I had to repaint an old bike body that had been left out in the elements for months. I picked up the rusty body, rinsed off the dirt with a hose, let it dry and spray painted it. The shiny red bike looked like new.

Of course, after several weeks, the rust came back with a vengeance. Being lazy, I’d touch up the paint every few months to keep it looking decent. But, since I didn’t take care of the hidden corrosion, the rust wouldn’t stay covered up for long.

Member Post

By Aaron Miller

Aaron Miller

| April 30, 2014

7 COMMENTS

I first learned of this through Chicks On the Right: According to this, Eric Holder’s US Dept of Justice might be behind this effort, in something called Operation Choke Point, which is supposedly a targeted program designed to shut down as many as THIRTY separate industries by closing them out of banks. The American Bankers […]

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Member Post

By Tim H.

Tim H.

Mild-mannered college professor by day, astrophysicist by night. Methodist, Southerner, East Tennessee hillbilly. I'm a traditional Southern conservative with a strong libertarian streak. A sunny disposition and a trust that America will survive the problems we face.

| April 30, 2014

11 COMMENTS

Two interesting articles—one at The Federalist, and one at The College Fix. Two unbelievable sets of comments. (Correction: A few of the comments on The Federalist article are sort of annoying or seem to be argued in bad faith, but they’re not unbelievable. Maybe the reactions expressed just took me by surprise. The ones at […]

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Member Post

By Doug Watt

Moderator

Doug Watt

| April 30, 2014

4 COMMENTS

“It will draw to a fine point where we are at — and that is, the First Amendment is sacred, but that the First Amendment is not absolute, and by making it absolute you actually make it less sacred to most Americans,” Mr. Schumer said. I know I am not the brightest guy in the […]

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Member Post

By DocJay

DocJay

| April 30, 2014

84 COMMENTS

Even among moderates, and some conservatives, the name Bush conjures up dread. Yet the power brokers of Wall Street are determined to get someone who will sing for them like a trained bird and we will end up with dynasty versus dynasty in 2016 unless action is taken. Even here at Ricochet and many conservative […]

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Member Post

By Sandy

Sandy

| April 30, 2014

2 COMMENTS

This was posted a few weeks ago by Matede, but it deserves more exposure, especially now. Please consider giving to this wonderful group of people who are raising funds to make a movie about Kermit Gosnell, the man they rightly call “America’s biggest serial killer.” Time is running out for their crowdsourcing effort. Preview Open

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RIP, Bob Hoskins: Top Bloke; Not a Bad Actor, Either—James Delingpole

By James Delingpole

James Delingpole

James Delingpole was born with the curse of being right about pretty much everything. So depending on whether you're right or wrong too, you'll either love him or hate him. He believes in liberty, small government, free markets. His loves surfing, Team America, country walks, Led Zeppelin, fox hunting, his family, decent coffee, leaf tea. He hates wind farms, the European Union and the Environmental Protection Agency. His blog at the Telegraph is one of the most popular in Britain and helped bre… [more]

| April 30, 2014

13 COMMENTS

Rest in peace to Bob Hoskins, who just died of pneumonia at 71. He’s probably best known for his role opposite that infuriating animated bunny in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? or for his appearance in the slightly overrated Mona Lisa. This is a shame because his finest hour, surely, was his performance in the ’80s London gangster classic The Long Good Friday.

The key bit is at the end, which I’m not going to spoil for those of you haven’t seen it. (And you must! And when you’re done, make it a double-whammy and watch the Michael Caine ’70s gangster classic Get Carter!, which for my money is the only film of that genre that touches it). Suffice to say that in less than five minutes Hoskins, without saying anything — it’s just a close up of his face as he sits in the back of a car — provides the best acting moment not only of his career, but of almost anyone’s acting career.

Member Post

By KC Mulville

KC Mulville

Married with four children, Catholic, ex-Jesuit, M.A. in Philosophy. Currently working as a database programmer in Baltimore, since a long training for the priesthood doesn't seem to guarantee many jobs.

| April 30, 2014

20 COMMENTS

The economy is at a standstill. Russia is about to invade its neighbors. China is about to take over as the #1 economy. Iran is close to a nuclear weapon. Syria is a killing field. Not only is the Middle East peace process dead, but our ally is furious at us. The promising pipeline is […]

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Member Post

By Edward Smith