A Fistful of Tush

This week, a Minnesotan’s view on Franken and Keillor, we get handsy with our old pal David Limbaugh (would he vote for Roy Moore — tune it to find out), and a chat with an actual southerner about the south (that’s Weekly Standard writer Barton Swaim). Also, a bit about Flynn, and some turkey and tax talk.

Music from this week’s episode:  Stars Fell On Alabama by Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

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There are 43 comments.

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  1. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    Another masterpiece of cover art, @ejhill!

    • #1
  2. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    In answer to James’s question (yes, rhetorical, we know), does one burn a Picasso because the guy was a slime, two artists here shouted out in unison, “YES”!

    • #2
  3. Glenn Inactive
    Glenn
    @Glenn

    Is the guy in the NBC News Trench Coat Rob Long?

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Let the guests talk, James.

    • #4
  5. James Lileks Contributor
    James Lileks
    @jameslileks

    Painter Jean (View Comment):
    In answer to James’s question (yes, rhetorical, we know), does one burn a Picasso because the guy was a slime, two artists here shouted out in unison, “YES”!

    Hah! But how much if that has to do with thinking he’s drastically overrated?

    • #5
  6. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):
    In answer to James’s question (yes, rhetorical, we know), does one burn a Picasso because the guy was a slime, two artists here shouted out in unison, “YES”!

    Hah! But how much if that has to do with thinking he’s drastically overrated?

    That was my thought, or didn’t like his work.

    • #6
  7. Rightfromthestart Coolidge
    Rightfromthestart
    @Rightfromthestart

    I’ll have to strongly disagree that a one time, semi-nauseous, emergency, we need the seat, support for Moore somehow cancels out the Democrats and media’s 40 year enthusiastic love affairs with Clinton and Kennedy. You go to war with the troops you have.  The very fact that we’re beating ourselves up about it shows the difference.

    • #7
  8. JuliaBlaschke Lincoln
    JuliaBlaschke
    @JuliaBlaschke

    But if we keep accepting these awful binary, lesser of evil choices, we will never be presented with a good choice! How will primary voters ever learn to choose wisely? I’m fed up with idiots picking out people like Trump and Moore and then telling me “You have to vote for him because the democrat is so awful!” Maybe next primary DON’T pick the guy who hates gays and Muslims and thinks women shouldn’t be elected to public office!

    • #8
  9. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):
    I’ll have to strongly disagree that a one time, semi-nauseous, emergency, we need the seat, support for Moore somehow cancels out the Democrats and media’s 40 year enthusiastic love affairs with Clinton and Kennedy. You go to war with the troops you have. The very fact that we’re beating ourselves up about it shows the difference.

    Ha! Beating ourselves up about it? I hardly see that. I see the usual partisan suspects making the same rationalizations. What you think the Dems don’t think they are agonizing over their choices too? Everyone is apparently a martyr in their own eyes. Give me a break.

    • #9
  10. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):
    In answer to James’s question (yes, rhetorical, we know), does one burn a Picasso because the guy was a slime, two artists here shouted out in unison, “YES”!

    Hah! But how much if that has to do with thinking he’s drastically overrated?

    Of course he’s overrated. That’s easy. But he’s worse than just overrated, he has contributed to the destruction of the visual arts. He’s an anti-artist. His work is garbage and should be treated like garbage. It’s profoundly corrupting to have him held up as some kind of artistic giant, when the guy was simply a shrewd huckster. He was also a nasty piece of work, and if people would like to burn Picasso’s junk on that account, then I’m on board. Hey, whatever it takes, in the case of Picasso – I just want the stuff burned!

    But I do understand your larger point. You just happened upon a regrettable example, regrettable because you can predict that Mrs. Lincoln would pile on. So to respond to your other example, that of Woody Allen – I’ll still love some of his movies. This is one reason why I’m not sympathetic to the modern fascination with the artist rather than simply the art.

    • #10
  11. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Painter Jean (View Comment):
    Of course he’s overrated. That’s easy. But he’s worse than just overrated, he has contributed to the destruction of the visual arts. He’s an anti-artist. His work is garbage and should be treated like garbage. It’s profoundly corrupting to have him held up as some kind of artistic giant, when the guy was simply a shrewd huckster.

    At least he was a capable artist. Many today are not.

    • #11
  12. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    Glenn: Is the guy in the NBC News Trench Coat Rob Long?

    No. Rob’s the guy in the CBS trench coat.

    • #12
  13. Guruforhire Inactive
    Guruforhire
    @Guruforhire

    James Lileks (View Comment):
    wer to James’s question (yes, rhetorical, we know), does one burn a Picasso because the guy was

    bob ross took him to school.

    • #13
  14. dicentra Inactive
    dicentra
    @dicentra

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):
    In answer to James’s question (yes, rhetorical, we know), does one burn a Picasso because the guy was a slime, two artists here shouted out in unison, “YES”!

    Hah! But how much if that has to do with thinking he’s drastically overrated?

    Guernica is a masterpiece. You’d be hard-pressed to capture the same chaos and horror using representational art.

    • #14
  15. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):
    Of course he’s overrated. That’s easy. But he’s worse than just overrated, he has contributed to the destruction of the visual arts. He’s an anti-artist. His work is garbage and should be treated like garbage. It’s profoundly corrupting to have him held up as some kind of artistic giant, when the guy was simply a shrewd huckster.

    At least he was a capable artist. Many today are not.

    Picasso was better before he became a genius. That happens to a lot of artists. Miles Davis comes to mind.

    • #15
  16. Dave Matheny Inactive
    Dave Matheny
    @DaveMatheny
    • #16
  17. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    On a rainbows and sunshine note, isn’t it great to hear Trumpers and never Trumpers not talk to each other politely?

     

    • #17
  18. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    JuliaBlaschke (View Comment):
    But if we keep accepting these awful binary, lesser of evil choices, we will never be presented with a good choice! How will primary voters ever learn to choose wisely? I’m fed up with idiots picking out people like Trump and Moore and then telling me “You have to vote for him because the democrat is so awful!” Maybe next primary DON’T pick the guy who hates gays and Muslims and thinks women shouldn’t be elected to public office!

    People behave like this in a regressive economy dominated by identity politics and Critical Theory. It will get better after all western bond markets collapse. #MAGA

    • #18
  19. Bombgineer Inactive
    Bombgineer
    @Bombgineer

    @peterrobinson, at about 48:00 it sounds like you are saying that coed dorms and explicit consent requirements are in conflict. Why would they conflict with each other? This sounds too close to one of the worst excuses people have made for sexual assault in the past, that somehow the circumstances (what a woman was wearing, how she was acting/talking, too much proximity) made it understandable that a man would take nonconsensual advantage. Can you clarify that that is not how you meant it?

    Regarding explicit consent laws, perhaps it is possible to go to a silly extreme like requiring a notarized contract signed before witnesses. But what is wrong with removing ambiguity in something this important? Speaking as a man, I think all parties would all be better off if men didn’t expect the benefit of the doubt and took responsibility for eliminating any doubt. The vast majority of men are not potential rapists and would be horrified at the thought of finding out they had done something to a woman that she didn’t want. So, let’s be proactive about eliminating that possibility.

    • #19
  20. Henry Castaigne Member
    Henry Castaigne
    @HenryCastaigne

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    JuliaBlaschke (View Comment):
    But if we keep accepting these awful binary, lesser of evil choices, we will never be presented with a good choice! How will primary voters ever learn to choose wisely? I’m fed up with idiots picking out people like Trump and Moore and then telling me “You have to vote for him because the democrat is so awful!” Maybe next primary DON’T pick the guy who hates gays and Muslims and thinks women shouldn’t be elected to public office!

    People behave like this in a regressive economy dominated by identity politics and Critical Theory. It will get better after all western bond markets collapse. #MAGA

    Identity politics have also been practiced by Trump more than any other major Republican I can name.

    • #20
  21. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    JuliaBlaschke (View Comment):
    But if we keep accepting these awful binary, lesser of evil choices, we will never be presented with a good choice! How will primary voters ever learn to choose wisely? I’m fed up with idiots picking out people like Trump and Moore and then telling me “You have to vote for him because the democrat is so awful!” Maybe next primary DON’T pick the guy who hates gays and Muslims and thinks women shouldn’t be elected to public office!

    People behave like this in a regressive economy dominated by identity politics and Critical Theory. It will get better after all western bond markets collapse. #MAGA

    Identity politics have also been practiced by Trump more than any other major Republican I can name.

    Gee, how did it come to this?

    • #21
  22. Icarus213 Coolidge
    Icarus213
    @Icarus213

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    JuliaBlaschke (View Comment):
    But if we keep accepting these awful binary, lesser of evil choices, we will never be presented with a good choice! How will primary voters ever learn to choose wisely? I’m fed up with idiots picking out people like Trump and Moore and then telling me “You have to vote for him because the democrat is so awful!” Maybe next primary DON’T pick the guy who hates gays and Muslims and thinks women shouldn’t be elected to public office!

    People behave like this in a regressive economy dominated by identity politics and Critical Theory. It will get better after all western bond markets collapse. #MAGA

    Identity politics have also been practiced by Trump more than any other major Republican I can name.

    Gee, how did it come to this?

    Why are liberals always making us violate our principles???

    • #22
  23. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Icarus213 (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Henry Castaigne (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    JuliaBlaschke (View Comment):
    But if we keep accepting these awful binary, lesser of evil choices, we will never be presented with a good choice! How will primary voters ever learn to choose wisely? I’m fed up with idiots picking out people like Trump and Moore and then telling me “You have to vote for him because the democrat is so awful!” Maybe next primary DON’T pick the guy who hates gays and Muslims and thinks women shouldn’t be elected to public office!

    People behave like this in a regressive economy dominated by identity politics and Critical Theory. It will get better after all western bond markets collapse. #MAGA

    Identity politics have also been practiced by Trump more than any other major Republican I can name.

    Gee, how did it come to this?

    Why are liberals always making us violate our principles???

    Because Keynesianism and Critical Theory are more powerful than good principles. This will change when the bond market collapses.

    • #23
  24. Icarus213 Coolidge
    Icarus213
    @Icarus213

    Bombgineer (View Comment):
    @peterrobinson, at about 48:00 it sounds like you are saying that coed dorms and explicit consent requirements are in conflict. Why would they conflict with each other? This sounds too close to one of the worst excuses people have made for sexual assault in the past, that somehow the circumstances (what a woman was wearing, how she was acting/talking, too much proximity) made it understandable that a man would take nonconsensual advantage. Can you clarify that that is not how you meant it?

    Regarding explicit consent laws, perhaps it is possible to go to a silly extreme like requiring a notarized contract signed before witnesses. But what is wrong with removing ambiguity in something this important? Speaking as a man, I think all parties would all be better off if men didn’t expect the benefit of the doubt and took responsibility for eliminating any doubt. The vast majority of men are not potential rapists and would be horrified at the thought of finding out they had done something to a woman that she didn’t want. So, let’s be proactive about eliminating that possibility.

    Yeah, I’ve sort of had this thought too.  I don’t think the conservative position on this has been too coherent, since after we are done expressing the wistful desire to put the Sexual Revolution genie back in the bottle and move on to present day life, our recommendations for what people should do aren’t too much different from what liberals are saying (except, of course, for the liberals who buy into the whole Rape Culture panic and think that all men are inherently dangerous).  Sexual assault is bad, rape is bad, protect yourself if you are a girl, and protect yourself if you are a guy.  Criticizing colleges for co-ed dorms strikes me as kind of lazy, since I don’t think we are willing to get really serious about segregating the genders again.

    • #24
  25. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    People need good parents. The End.

    • #25
  26. Mrs. Ink Inactive
    Mrs. Ink
    @MrsInk

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):
    I’ll have to strongly disagree that a one time, semi-nauseous, emergency, we need the seat, support for Moore somehow cancels out the Democrats and media’s 40 year enthusiastic love affairs with Clinton and Kennedy. You go to war with the troops you have. The very fact that we’re beating ourselves up about it shows the difference.

    To my understanding, there is no statute of limitations on statutory rape in Alabama, so if there is a case to be made against Roy Moore, why has he not been charged? Why is this coming out now, forty years after the supposed event? Roy Moore has been active in Alabama politics for a long time, and we know the Left will lie to achieve their goals, what reasons are there to assume that they are not lying now?

    • #26
  27. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    To my understanding, there is no statute of limitations on statutory rape in Alabama, so if there is a case to be made against Roy Moore, why has he not been charged?

    Because the burden of proof in a criminal matter is much higher than in the court of public opinion.

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    Why is this coming out now, forty years after the supposed event?

    Obviously because he is running for Senate. Don’t make this too hard.

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    Roy Moore has been active in Alabama politics for a long time, and we know the Left will lie to achieve their goals, what reasons are there to assume that they are not lying now?

    The women in the WaPo story did not come forward, they were sought out. They seem to be credible enough. Only one of the originals is alleging a crime, and it is not the horrible, horrible crime that everyone makes it out to be. She told several friends about the incident at the time, and they were sought out to corroborate. That WaPo story seems to have been very well researched and verified. And then there were Moore’s statements, which were a nightmare.

    Subsequent claims, such as Gloria Allred’s client or the bit about his being banned from the mall have not held up. In fact, they have probably helped Roy Moore’s case and his election. Thank you, Progressives, for taking everything too far. (Conspiracy Theory Bonus: The left realized that Roy Moore could be a great talking point for them, so took it over the top in order to ensure his election. Even though it will not help them this year, they’ll be able to point to him for next year’s election. ?)

    • #27
  28. Mrs. Ink Inactive
    Mrs. Ink
    @MrsInk

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    To my understanding, there is no statute of limitations on statutory rape in Alabama, so if there is a case to be made against Roy Moore, why has he not been charged?

    Because the burden of proof in a criminal matter is much higher than in the court of public opinion.

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    Why is this coming out now, forty years after the supposed event?

    Obviously because he is running for Senate. Don’t make this too hard.

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    Roy Moore has been active in Alabama politics for a long time, and we know the Left will lie to achieve their goals, what reasons are there to assume that they are not lying now?

    The women in the WaPo story did not come forward, they were sought out. They seem to be credible enough. Only one of the originals is alleging a crime, and it is not the horrible, horrible crime that everyone makes it out to be. She told several friends about the incident at the time, and they were sought out to corroborate. That WaPo story seems to have been very well researched and verified. And then there were Moore’s statements, which were a nightmare.

    Subsequent claims, such as Gloria Allred’s client or the bit about his being banned from the mall have not held up. In fact, they have probably helped Roy Moore’s case and his election. Thank you, Progressives, for taking everything too far. (Conspiracy Theory Bonus: The left realized that Roy Moore could be a great talking point for them, so took it over the top in order to ensure his election. Even though it will not help them this year, they’ll be able to point to him for next year’s election. ?)

    Why would a WaPo hit job not be well researched and credible? They are, after all, not Rolling Stone. If the woman is credible, why didn’t she come forward when Moore was running for AL supreme court, which would seem more influential in AL than who their senator is. How did WaPo find her? Did they pay her?

    As for the conspiracy theory bonus, that is right up there with “Hillary helped Trump win the nomination because he would be so easy to beat.”

    • #28
  29. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    As for the conspiracy theory bonus, that is right up there with “Hillary helped Trump win the nomination because he would be so easy to beat.”

    That’s why it’s a conspiracy theory, right? Crazy stuff.

    • #29
  30. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Mrs. Ink (View Comment):
    Why would a WaPo hit job not be well researched and credible? They are, after all, not Rolling Stone. If the woman is credible, why didn’t she come forward when Moore was running for AL supreme court, which would seem more influential in AL than who their senator is. How did WaPo find her? Did they pay her?

    I’m not sure what your point is. If you’re trying to say the timing on the story seems to have been calculated to help the Democrat win, well, the sun rises in east. If you’re promoting Roy Moore as an innocent saint of the South, why bother? We believe in human nature, don’t we? We believe people can sin and repent and grow? If these accusations were from yesterday or the day before, rather than before the man started what seems to be a successful 30+ year marriage, we would have reason to be seriously concerned.

    The true, non-conspiracy theory is that this is going away because Roy Moore’s conduct pales in comparison to the conduct of John Conyers, Al Franken, Bill Clinton, and about a million more Democrats.

    • #30
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