The Spin Zone

Warning: The Surgeon General has determined that the podcast associated with this post contains jokes and observations that may offend some listeners who are supportive of the current President of The United States.

In this episode, the hosts of this show (that’s Jonah Goldberg, Rob Long, and John Podhoretz) pretend they are White House Press Secretaries and are tasked to spin some recent news stories in such a way that makes them a positive for the President (they also take on a few stories that having nothing to do with the CiC). Some may not find this funny. We understand that, hence this very specific warning. But if you can put aside your politics for an hour, we think you’ll enjoy this. But that’s not all: the guys also discuss the recent spate of black face black listing, why Instagram is not a primary news source, and scourge of social media and why no one should ponder joining Parler.

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  1. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):
    Can you really call it a “conversation”, if they agree on everything?

    Would that make it a reverberation, instead?

    Taras (View Comment):
    Do these … fellows ever talk to anyone who disagrees with them?

    Yes, they do. I have heard it many times.

    On Ricochet?  Where?

    • #61
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Taras (View Comment):
    On Ricochet? Where?

    Rob is on the Ricochet podcast. Not too long ago, they had VDH on, who certainly disagrees with him. Jonah has had people on the Remnant, such as Sebastian Gorka, who worked for Trump, as one example. I don’t follow Jon’s work, but I am sure he has also had people on the Commentary podcast or encounters elsewhere with those whom he disagrees. Because we do not agree with them does not mean they aren’t hearing or listening to people like us. It just means they have come to different conclusions based on a lifetime of experiences that we are lucky enough not to share.

    • #62
  3. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):
    On Ricochet? Where?

    Rob is on the Ricochet podcast. Not too long ago, they had VDH on, who certainly disagrees with him. Jonah has had people on the Remnant, such as Sebastian Gorka, who worked for Trump, as one example. I don’t follow Jon’s work, but I am sure he has also had people on the Commentary podcast or encounters elsewhere with those whom he disagrees. Because we do not agree with them does not mean they aren’t hearing or listening to people like us. It just means they have come to different conclusions based on a lifetime of experiences that we are lucky enough not to share.

    So they talk to somebody they disagree with, like, once a year? 

    I very rarely miss the Ricochet Podcast; evidently I missed Dr. Hanson’s one appearance.

    I used to listen to the Commentary podcast quite regularly, before I sickened of it. It’s not just that everyone is in broad agreement there, it’s that everyone there is dependent on John Podhoretz for their livelihood, so he bullies and talks over them mercilessly.

    I don’t get to the Remnant podcast very often, but I do try to check its contents when I can. If I ever saw any pro-Trumper on the schedule, I would have made a point of listening.

    P.S.:  I thought you would have an actual URL or something!

    • #63
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Taras (View Comment):
    P.S.: I thought you would have an actual URL or something!

    Fine, make me be the one to bother.

    Recent VDH on Flagship.

    As for The Remnant, I haven’t listened in many moons. At least with the Flagship, there has long been Peter, and James is definitely now swinging in the right direction. I think one will have to go to at least page two to get to a Remnant with disagreement, but I could be wrong.

    Taras (View Comment):
    I used to listen to the Commentary podcast quite regularly, before I sickened of it. It’s not just that everyone is in broad agreement there, it’s that everyone there is dependent on John Podhoretz for their livelihood, so he bullies and talks over them mercilessly.

    I don’t think that has to do with his being the boss, I think that’s just John. He does that on this podcast, too.

    • #64
  5. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Arahant (View Comment):
    I don’t follow Jon’s work, but I am sure he has also had people on the Commentary podcast or encounters elsewhere with those whom he disagrees.

    Don’t confuse Commentary’s John Podhoretz with Ricochet Editor-In-Chief Jon Gabriel.

    • #65
  6. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    kedavis: Don’t confuse Commentary’s John Podhoretz with Ricochet Editor-In-Chief Jon Gabriel.

    Jon’s parents were dirt-poor and couldn’t afford the luxury of an “H” in his first name.

    • #66
  7. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):
    I don’t follow Jon’s work, but I am sure he has also had people on the Commentary podcast or encounters elsewhere with those whom he disagrees.

    Don’t confuse Commentary’s John Podhoretz with Ricochet Editor-In-Chief Jon Gabriel.

    I’m not confused. I just thought Norman’s son was a Jon. Now I see I am incorrect. C’est la vie!

    • #67
  8. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    I stopped listening after Rob’s desecration of Robert E. Lee.  Attacking the most revered Southern general and gentleman is not the way to attract listeners.  Whatever happened to Mother’s advice, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”?

    Every historical person has his admirers and detractors, because every historical figure has his virtues and his flaws.  Even Uncle Joe (Stalin) was admired for his effort fighting Hitler and the Nazis, in spite of the fact they had a peace agreement at first (Molotov-Ribbontrop Pact).

    • #68
  9. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Stad (View Comment):

    I stopped listening after Rob’s desecration of Robert E. Lee. Attacking the most revered Southern general and gentleman is not the way to attract listeners. Whatever happened to Mother’s advice, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”?

    Every historical person has his admirers and detractors, because every historical figure has his virtues and his flaws. Even Uncle Joe (Stalin) was admired for his effort fighting Hitler and the Nazis, in spite of the fact they had a peace agreement at first (Molotov-Ribbontrop Pact).

    In the kindergarten-level understanding of the origins of the Civil War, which Rob Long believes, Robert E. Lee is a villain, period.

    • #69
  10. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Taras: In the kindergarten-level understanding of the origins of the Civil War, which Rob Long believes, Robert E. Lee is a villain, period.

    There is no one alive today (with perhaps Texas as the outlier) who believes in the sovereignty of the state before the Federal government. They have no idea what it means to be “a Virginian first.” Most people are likely to identify with their college mascot before state residency.  

    • #70
  11. DrewInWisconsin Doesn't Care Member
    DrewInWisconsin Doesn't Care
    @DrewInWisconsin

    EJHill (View Comment):

    Taras: In the kindergarten-level understanding of the origins of the Civil War, which Rob Long believes, Robert E. Lee is a villain, period.

    There is no one alive today (with perhaps Texas as the outlier) who believes in the sovereignty of the state before the Federal government. They have no idea what it means to be “a Virginian first.” Most people are likely to identify with their college mascot before state residency.

    What about California? Or New York?

     

    • #71
  12. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    EJHill (View Comment):

    Taras: In the kindergarten-level understanding of the origins of the Civil War, which Rob Long believes, Robert E. Lee is a villain, period.

    There is no one alive today (with perhaps Texas as the outlier) who believes in the sovereignty of the state before the Federal government. They have no idea what it means to be “a Virginian first.” Most people are likely to identify with their college mascot before state residency.

    I don’t think people see it in a state’s sovereignty issue but some people here in Albuquerque identify with our area code, 505. Businesses use 505 in their name and people get it tattooed on them. 

    I have seen two or three people flying the state flag when I drive around, which I haven’t seen much outside of Texas. It might have more to do with it being a beautiful flag. 

    • #72
  13. DrewInWisconsin Doesn't Care Member
    DrewInWisconsin Doesn't Care
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Obviously I identify more as a Wisconsin citizen. For example, I didn’t choose “DrewInUSA” as my Rico-handle.

    • #73
  14. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Lee did not take his forces into a sectarian war.

    Means noting to Rob Long.

    God, I despise Yankees and their smugness. Theys till despise the South.

     

    • #74
  15. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Means noting to Rob Long.

    God, I despise Yankees and their smugness. They still despise the South.

    Rob is from below the Mason-Dixon Line.

    • #75
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Means noting to Rob Long.

    God, I despise Yankees and their smugness. They still despise the South.

    Rob is from below the Mason-Dixon Line.

    But he doesn’t seem to like much about the south except for the cooking.

    • #76
  17. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Means noting to Rob Long.

    God, I despise Yankees and their smugness. They still despise the South.

    Rob is from below the Mason-Dixon Line.

    Rob is a yankee in his outlook

    • #77
  18. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    Rob is a yankee in his outlook

    Bi-coastal élite.

    • #78
  19. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Means noting to Rob Long.

    God, I despise Yankees and their smugness. They still despise the South.

    Rob is from below the Mason-Dixon Line.

    He’s from Baltimore.  Hardly the deep south.

    • #79
  20. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):
    Rob is a yankee in his outlook

    Bi-coastal élite.

    Well at least he’s Bi.  That’s a plus, these days.

    • #80
  21. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):
    He’s from Baltimore. Hardly the deep south.

    Do you know where the Mason-Dixon Line is? I didn’t say he was from the Deep South, just that he is a Southerner.

    • #81
  22. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Maryland is not the South. 

    Not in any way, shape or form. 

    • #82
  23. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):
    He’s from Baltimore. Hardly the deep south.

    Do you know where the Mason-Dixon Line is? I didn’t say he was from the Deep South, just that he is a Southerner.

    Yes I do.

    When  you say “southerner” to most people, the first thing that comes to mind is not “someone from Baltimore”.

    • #83
  24. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I stopped listening after Rob’s desecration of Robert E. Lee. Attacking the most revered Southern general and gentleman is not the way to attract listeners. Whatever happened to Mother’s advice, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”?

    Every historical person has his admirers and detractors, because every historical figure has his virtues and his flaws. Even Uncle Joe (Stalin) was admired for his effort fighting Hitler and the Nazis, in spite of the fact they had a peace agreement at first (Molotov-Ribbontrop Pact).

    In the kindergarten-level understanding of the origins of the Civil War, which Rob Long believes, Robert E. Lee is a villain, period.

    Well, all Confederates were villians in some curricula.  If the war was only about slavery, why did almost all of the Confederate forces consist of non-slaveholders?

    • #84
  25. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Lee did not take his forces into a sectarian war.

    Means noting to Rob Long.

    God, I despise Yankees and their smugness. Theys till despise the South.

     

    When I was stationed in Connectcut, I visted New York City, Boston, and others places up North.  Heck, I spent 16 weeks in Newport, RI while going to OCS.  I enjoyed the different cultures these places had, and wouldn’t dream of changing them.  Instead, I lived in them, experienced them.

    Which is why I wonder why Northerners and other parts of the country want to change ours . . .

    • #85
  26. Bryan G. Stephens Thatcher
    Bryan G. Stephens
    @BryanGStephens

    Stad (View Comment):

    Bryan G. Stephens (View Comment):

    Lee did not take his forces into a sectarian war.

    Means noting to Rob Long.

    God, I despise Yankees and their smugness. Theys till despise the South.

     

    When I was stationed in Connectcut, I visted New York City, Boston, and others places up North. Heck, I spent 16 weeks in Newport, RI while going to OCS. I enjoyed the different cultures these places had, and wouldn’t dream of changing them. Instead, I lived in them, experienced them.

    Which is why I wonder why Northerners and other parts of the country want to change ours . . .

    Because the north has been set against the south sine the foundation of this republic 

    • #86
  27. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Stad (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Stad (View Comment):

    I stopped listening after Rob’s desecration of Robert E. Lee. Attacking the most revered Southern general and gentleman is not the way to attract listeners. Whatever happened to Mother’s advice, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all”?

    Every historical person has his admirers and detractors, because every historical figure has his virtues and his flaws. Even Uncle Joe (Stalin) was admired for his effort fighting Hitler and the Nazis, in spite of the fact they had a peace agreement at first (Molotov-Ribbontrop Pact).

    In the kindergarten-level understanding of the origins of the Civil War, which Rob Long believes, Robert E. Lee is a villain, period.

    Well, all Confederates were villians in some curricula. If the war was only about slavery, why did almost all of the Confederate forces consist of non-slaveholders?

    You’re giving the kindergarteners headaches!

    • #87
  28. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Yes I do.

    When you say “southerner” to most people, the first thing that comes to mind is not “someone from Baltimore”.

    I can’t help it if most people are ignorant.

    • #88
  29. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Maryland stayed in the Union. And John Wilkes Booth was from Maryland.

    • #89
  30. DanPuryear Inactive
    DanPuryear
    @DanPuryear

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    J Climacus (View Comment):
    Rob Long gave us an ignorant opinion of Robert E. Lee,

    What’s the best biography of Robert E. Lee? I heard he freed his slaves so I have some respect for the man. What’s Rob’s narrative.

    I agree that Rob’s opinion about Lee was really disappointing and displayed a shocking lack of knowledge.  I think Rob in hilarious, and I like his sunny optimism.  But on this point, he is way off base.  The best biography of Lee is Charles Bracelon Flood’s “Lee: the Last Years”.  Granted, it is not a biography of his whole life, but just the period after the war.  But it demonstrates the remarkable integrity of the man, and how important a role he played in healing the wounds of the nation after the war.  

    • #90
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