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We’ve reached the end of the road folks — this is it– our last Ricochet Podcast before the election for the 45th President of the United States. Rob Long couldn’t join us us today, something else came up. But in his stead, Peter and James carry on with two of our favorite guests: El Rush Bro himself — the great David Limbaugh, and Ricochet alumnus (and equally great) Mollie Hemingway (@molliehemingway). David makes the case for the Republican nominee, while Mollie discusses the schizophrenic media coverage of the race. Also, fair and balanced podcasts, courtesy of Ricochet Member Curt North (featuring a rare cameo from the mysterious @BlueYeti himself) and James and Peter make their predictions for next Tuesday. Thanks to all for your loyalty to this podcast, this site, and our advertisers through this entire campaign season. It’s very much appreciated. See you on the other side, folks.
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Music from this week’s podcast: There Is No Time by Lou Reed
The opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by James Lileks.
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Down for the count, @EJHill.
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I get it – it was that good! You’re speechless!
I do find myself feeling both glee and worry in the reopening of the email case. I’m feeling glee for obvious reasons, but I’m a little bit worried that the consequences of a Trump presidency would be worse than a Clinton presidency. I see both candidates as terrible, and anchors on their parties. If we’re going to have a president that drags down his party, I’d rather it be a Democrat. That all assumes that either candidate will be a net negative for his party, and I certainly could be wrong.
I was eating lunch and thought it would be poor manners to speak with my mouth full.
<burp!>
Okay, David. You’re a fool.
Seconding @jameslileks around the 30′, there are decent people in a tough bind on both sides of the Trump issue and there are self-righteous moralizers on both sides of the Trump issue.
Thank you for making this your last podcast before the election. I almost didn’t listen as the last time I heard David Limbaugh was when he was vociferously anti Trump. In fact, I had almost decided to cancel my membership if this was another #Never tirade on the Main Feed. As you all try to attract new members, it’s a good thing that you are acknowledging the importance of keeping the members you have, and many of us are happily voting for Trump. Part of the reason, of course, is extreme distaste for the crooked Clintons; but there’s more attracting us to Trump: we’re willing to gamble that he will shake up a corrupt Washington D.C. for the better and give a great big middle finger to the liberal press. Molly Hemingway is naive in her thinking that it doesn’t matter.
Thanks for an excellent podcast. After the election, regardless of who wins the White House, conservatives will need to break bread.
On the one hand, I wish y’all would quit interrupting each other. On the other hand, I wish y’all would just spit out whatever you want to say. A sentence should have fewer than a dozen clauses. Less hedging, please.
A political impasse, Peter? I admire your optimism. Clinton wouldn’t need legislation to act. Trump doesn’t show much regard for rule of law either, but we’ll see if those admirable advisors can restrain him when morality does not. If he’s not a changed man, as you and David hope (his pro-life position wasn’t included among issues on his official site, last I checked), then he might work with Democrats in Congress and whoever is willing to empower his efforts. A non-ideological, non-partisan president is flexible.
If most Americans are “patriots”, then their patriotism is insignificant. Both the czarists and the Bolsheviks loved their country in that general sense, but it didn’t prevent oppression and murder. Beliefs matter more than smiles and dinner parties.
There was one less of us! Surely there was a smaller amount of interruption.
Well, here’s a trade secret: sometimes you start asking the question, and feel compelled to explain why you’re asking it, because you’ve been listening to the guest and thinking thoughts no one else heard. OR you want to establish a few predicates to explain why you asked the question, so the guest can challenge your train of thought. Like:
Why do you support the death penalty? Direct. Or: Given the historical disparate impact against lower-class people accused to murder, why do you support the death penalty? Revelatory of the questioner’s mindset, and hence a valid place to start answering the question.
@jameslileks – Thank you so very much for your response to the “if your aren’t supporting Trump then you are implicitly supporting HRC” charge.
Yes, that’s one of the options Limbaugh suggested, but let’s please try to keep things civil here.
Thank you, James! That should have had bleeping to be complete.
The questions were not what frustrated me. This conversation was like an episode of Very British Problems. The circumspection was so thick I’m not sure I know what anyone really meant.
But I appreciate your Oscar-worthy performance as the American, James, with the despairing wail that so well encapsulated 2016.
Mollie talking about boobs?
I’ll be in my bunk.
I agree with Mollie the focus is the media , if they can drag this horrible ,viscous, corrupt old hag across the finish line , what can’t they do? They will be totally unrestrained knowing they have a stranglehold on the presidency. It is the media who must be defeated. Trump is merely the only weapon at hand to do the job. Media delenda est.
James Lileks asks rhetorically after Limbaugh interview: Maybe I’m delusional that Conservatives come back together and find common ground between NeverTrupmers and NeverHillary, Conservative voters. Answer: Had NeverTrumper Pundits, taken and supported their positions – from time to time – without the castigating, moralistic zeal, yes. Not now.
This podcast moment came at a bad time as I was just tying the bow on the UPS package returning 4 months of un-read National Review magazines with my cancellation notice. Next, …..4 months of unread Weekly Standards. The only way I’d click on NRO these days is to read VDH. Good luck selling that Cruise out….
That’s a dig at me, isn’t it? That’s it. I’m cancelling. Again.
I think the biggest mistake the #Nevers have made is underestimating how many of us #Deplorables are out here in the real world. We may not win this particular election, but we’re not going away.
David’s explanation of how he moved wholeheartedly from Cruz to Trump is a great illustration of the problem Shapiro is constantly trying to remind us about. Do not plead allegiance to candidates. Be true to ideas. Politicians will always disappoint you. Do not put your trust in princes. etc. etc.
We need to be much less gung-ho about the candidate and much tougher on the principles. A free people should be free thinking individuals. Not like supporters of a sports team.
Don’t know if it was intentionally written this way, but that’s how it read.
You guys missed a big fat glaring problem with a Hillary Clinton win, something Bill didn’t have hanging over his head during either of his terms. SHE’S BEEN BOUGHT OFF. All those foreign governments and oligarchs who paid her and Bill hundreds of thousands of dollars for “speeches”. They didn’t pay them out of the goodness of their hearts. they paid them for the good will and influence of the most powerful person in America, (thank you congress for relinquishing power to the executive) American taxpayers, military and government officials could be used in order to personally enrich a Clinton donor. THAT is unprecedented
Lileks: “… there are a couple of people doing Three Stooges manuevers … ”
Where are they? Where are they? Point ’em out, I’ll moiderize ’em!
Rob Long does well on GLOP. The dynamics of that podcast work better with his personality and commentary style than do the dynamics of The Ricochet Podcast. While listening to Ep.327: Closing Arguments, I was positively impressed with the terrific discussion between Peter and James sans Rob. Usually, James says very little. Rob seems to hinder discussion on this podcast but augments discussion on GLOP. The free-flow discussion between Peter, James and the guests was much more productive without Rob’s intellectual stammer, something he doesn’t do on GLOP.
I’m just saying…
Keep having David Limbaugh as a guest. There are times when I agree and there are times when I disagree, but he is a gentlemen all the time.
I think you are right when it comes to foreign governments and oligarchs. I do not that is the case for most business that contributed. In the latter case, I think it is just a shake-down (nice bank you have there, shame if something bad would happen to it). I am not saying that the shake-down is unproblematic. Just saying that it does not create the same future risk for Hillary (being in debt, extortion). Both cases are despicable and makes her completely unfit.
This is the second time you folks have mentioned a conversation I started on the flagship podcast.
The first time: Star Trek.
This time: Star Trek vs. Star Wars.
(Metaphysics, epistemology, law, theology, analyses of the ethics of voting for Trump? All less important than sci-fi!)
Principles and/or position papers don’t take office. Candidates do.
David Limbaugh rants against #NeverTrumpers for moralizing while moralizing against #NeverTrumpers.
And on another of the topics, cleavage was out of the fashion in the 1920’s as the poor dears were strapped in tight.
Agreed. I’m so sick of that intellectually weak crap.
I thought it was enormously revealing that James stopped David in his tracks by asking the simple question “who?”.