Lockdown Rant

This week on The Big Show, we inch our way back to normal with our first show in weeks without a COVID-19 specific guest. That’s not to say we don’t talk about it — we do, and then some. But the new cycle means that we have to address those icky charges against Joe Biden and to do that we call on the Ricochet Podcast’s Senior Sex and Gender Correspondent, the great Mollie Hemingway (yes, she’s also a Fox News contributor and a Senior Editor at The Federalist, but we had her first). We go deep on Tara Reade’s accusations, and how the media is (or isn’t) covering this story. Then, our old friend (and WSJ columnist) Bill McGurn stops by to discuss his recent column Communists in Brooks Brothers, in which he describes the struggles of Martin Lee. Also, some news on other dissidents in Hong Kong, and a bit of politics. We’ve got a Lileks Post of The Week about ratting on your neighbors and some closing thoughts on what the heck may be going on in The Hermit Kingdom. 

Music from this week’s show: Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson

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There are 49 comments.

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  1. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Moar Mollie!

    That is all.

    • #1
  2. Jim Wright Inactive
    Jim Wright
    @JimW

    Mollie is a consistently great guest.

    But that promo picture! Nightmare fuel.

    • #2
  3. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Oh, and “Me and Bobby McGee” — excellent choice, but dude … I know Kristofferson wrote it, but Janis owned  it.

    • #3
  4. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Percival (View Comment):Oh, and “Me and Bobby McGee” — excellent choice, but dude … I know Kristofferson wrote it, but Janis owned it.

    She absolutely owns it — you’ll get no argument from me on that.  But everyone has heard that version 10,ooo times. It’s great, but wildly overplayed.

    I really like the simplicity and stripped down nature of Kristofferson’s cover. Seems more fitting for this particular moment. (Yes, I know Joplin’s version is technically the cover, but it was recorded years before this one and is far better known).

    • #4
  5. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Oh, and “Me and Bobby McGee” — excellent choice, but dude … I know Kristofferson wrote it, but Janis owned it.

    She absolutely owns it — you’ll get no argument from me on that. But everyone has heard that version 10,ooo times. It’s great, but wildly overplayed.

    I really like the simplicity and stripped down nature of Kristofferson’s cover. Seems more fitting for this particular moment. (Yes, I know Joplin’s version is technically the cover, but it was recorded years before this one and is far more pervasive).

    I don’t know who played piano on Kritofferson’s cut. Janis had Richard Bell, and he was cookin’ too.

    • #5
  6. Painter Jean Moderator
    Painter Jean
    @PainterJean

    For Rob: The definition of “elective” to describe the procedures that have been postponed is quite wide-ranging in meaning, and emphatically NOT confined to truly elective surgeries such as cosmetic surgery – breast augmentation and the like. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, right before the shut-downs began, and my very necessary lumpectomy was postponed because it was considered “elective”. “Non-urgent” would be a better description. By the way, Mayo is starting to re-open, so I was able to have my surgery last week, and some of my husband’s appointments have also been rescheduled.

    • #6
  7. MISTER BITCOIN Inactive
    MISTER BITCOIN
    @MISTERBITCOIN

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    For Rob: The definition of “elective” to describe the procedures that have been postponed is quite wide-ranging in meaning, and emphatically NOT confined to truly elective surgeries such as cosmetic surgery such as breast augmentation. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, as and my lumpectomy was postponed because it was considered “elective”. “Non-urgent” would be a better description. By the way, Mayo is starting to re-open, so I was able to have my surgery last week, and some of my husband’s appointments have been rescheduled.

    Is it insane to label cancer treatments and procedures as ‘elective’ or ‘non urgent’?

     

    • #7
  8. Richard Easton Coolidge
    Richard Easton
    @RichardEaston

    The picture of Rob should show him with one of his MAGA hats (we know that he has so many of them).

    • #8
  9. Leslie Watkins Inactive
    Leslie Watkins
    @LeslieWatkins

    Bravo guys! To paraphrase Rob, Americans rock!

    • #9
  10. Samuel Block Support
    Samuel Block
    @SamuelBlock

    Shouldn’t it have been Death-stination? 

    C’mon, Washington Post, that’s, like, Headlines 101!

    • #10
  11. Hank Rhody, Badgeless Bandito Contributor
    Hank Rhody, Badgeless Bandito
    @HankRhody

    Rob Long: New York is the worst place in the country.

    I’ve been sayin’ it! I’ve been sayin’ it fer years!

    • #11
  12. DubyaC Inactive
    DubyaC
    @DubyaC

    I guess we can’t get through any podcast without the obligatory “Donald-Trump-has-been-loathsome” bit.   Or “the insanity that is the Trump administration.”  Wearisome.

    • #12
  13. JuliaBach Coolidge
    JuliaBach
    @JuliaBach

    MISTER BITCOIN (View Comment):

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    For Rob: The definition of “elective” to describe the procedures that have been postponed is quite wide-ranging in meaning, and emphatically NOT confined to truly elective surgeries such as cosmetic surgery such as breast augmentation. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, as and my lumpectomy was postponed because it was considered “elective”. “Non-urgent” would be a better description. By the way, Mayo is starting to re-open, so I was able to have my surgery last week, and some of my husband’s appointments have been rescheduled.

    Is it insane to label cancer treatments and procedures as ‘elective’ or ‘non urgent’?

     

    Not until the insanity of this lockdown.  I can’t believe how many necessary medical procedures were postponed because they could be scheduled for a later date (unlike someone bleeding out from a car accident).  But of course they were, because we were told that 4M Americans would die if we didn’t delay cancer surgeries and convert our hospitals entirely to COVID-19 wards.  I wonder how many people we killed doing that?

    • #13
  14. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    Painter Jean (View Comment):

    For Rob: The definition of “elective” to describe the procedures that have been postponed is quite wide-ranging in meaning, and emphatically NOT confined to truly elective surgeries such as cosmetic surgery – breast augmentation and the like. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March, right before the shut-downs began, and my very necessary lumpectomy was postponed because it was considered “elective”. “Non-urgent” would be a better description. By the way, Mayo is starting to re-open, so I was able to have my surgery last week, and some of my husband’s appointments have also been rescheduled.

    I find this truly insane, and yet another example of how Germany’s response to Covid-19 has been better than many US states’.

    Here in Germany most hospitals also cancelled elective surgeries. But it was very clear from day 1 that cancer surgery is NOT elective, and those procedures continued on schedule.

    As far as I can tell, the largest category of surgeries that were postponed were non-urgent joint replacements (mostly for the elderly), which is justifiable considering that Covid-19 poses a greater threat to many such patients than not being able to walk for a few more months. Doubly so since many of them won’t be able to leave their homes for the next few months anyhow.

    And now that the levels of new cases have plateaued without straining most hospitals, they’re starting elective procedures again.

    • #14
  15. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    LOL

     

     

     

    • #15
  16. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):
    Oh, and “Me and Bobby McGee” — excellent choice, but dude … I know Kristofferson wrote it, but Janis owned it.

    She absolutely owns it — you’ll get no argument from me on that. But everyone has heard that version 10,ooo times. It’s great, but wildly overplayed.

    I really like the simplicity and stripped down nature of Kristofferson’s cover. Seems more fitting for this particular moment. (Yes, I know Joplin’s version is technically the cover, but it was recorded years before this one and is far better known).

    I liked to hear that version, Yeti. Good pick.

    • #16
  17. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    LOL

     

     

     

    Even the weathermen in the media are leftwing nuts?

     

    • #17
  18. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    That show was so good I can’t think of anything to add to it.

    Here are some related interviews. They are short. 

    Devon Nunes really brutal on the media and closure policy inconsistencies

    In Praise of Russiagate investigative reporter @ChuckRossDC. @DevinNunes https://audioboom.com/posts/7572224-in-praise-of-russiagate-investigative-reporter-chuckrossdc-devinnunes?utm_campaign=embed&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @batchelorshow

     

    This is really wild about beach closures and Gavin Newsom’s motivations

    Orange County Beach Blanket Bingo vs Gavin Newsom @JCBliss https://audioboom.com/posts/7572222-orange-county-beach-blanket-bingo-vs-gavin-newsom-jcbliss?utm_campaign=embed&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @batchelorshow

    • #18
  19. Fourth The Sixth Inactive
    Fourth The Sixth
    @DavidBoley

    DubyaC (View Comment):

    I guess we can’t get through any podcast without the obligatory “Donald-Trump-has-been-loathsome” bit. Or “the insanity that is the Trump administration.” Wearisome.

    Gotta check that box for the NY bona fides. 

    • #19
  20. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    LOL

     

     

     

    So, it’s pretty much a given we’re looking at future CNN meteorologist Sven Sundgaard….

    • #20
  21. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    The TV station made it sound like Sundgaard had done other stuff as well leading up to that. If you look closely at how that was written and what he actually did I don’t think it’s a firing offense. Of course people aren’t going to do that.

    He was definitely branded as “the gay weatherman”. It was a great gig as far as I can tell. You wonder why he ever put it in any risk at all. It will be interesting to see where he ends up. There was speculation on Twitter that he was going to be involved in some local Democrat stuff. They fund those things pretty well here.

    • #21
  22. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    The TV station made it sound like Sundgaard had done other stuff as well leading up to that. If you look closely at how that was written and what he actually did I don’t think it’s a firing offense. Of course people aren’t going to do that.

    He was definitely branded as “the gay weatherman”. It was a great gig as far as I can tell. You wonder why he ever put it in any risk at all. It will be interesting to see where he ends up. There was speculation on Twitter that he was going to be involved in some local Democrat stuff. They fund those things pretty well here.

    How far outside of the Twin Cities is KARE’s coverage area? I’d think if it just was dealing with viewers in the immediate Minneapolis-St. Paul market, calling people Nazis who want COVID restrictions eased might just be a minor blip on the radar, but if the station is worried about a larger coverage area more evenly split between Democrat and Republican viewers, they might a major problem with  essentially calling anyone in their audience not happy with Gov. Walz’s extended limitations a fascist. That’s not a good strategy for boosting the local news ratings, though it might not keep Sundgard from advancing his career to the network level (he could be the next Sam Champion for ABC, as long as he keeps the Nazi references to a minimum…)

    • #22
  23. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    @jon1979 I don’t know about any of that. Here is some decent speculation. Click into the whole thread. It could be they were looking for an opportunity to cost cut or they were mad at him for other stuff as well. I don’t really pay attention to local news, but I always guessed he made a lot of money. He had a pretty good delivery. 

     

     

    I don’t know if they still do, but they used to have another gay reporter that really dressed in a very over-the-top androgynous style.

    • #23
  24. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    @jon1979 I don’t know about any of that. Here is some decent speculation. Click into the whole thread. It could be they were looking for an opportunity to cost cut or they were mad at him for other stuff as well. I don’t really pay attention to local news, but I always guessed he made a lot of money. He had a pretty good delivery.

    I don’t know if they still do, but they used to have another gay reporter that really dressed in a very over-the-top androgynous style.

    I suppose he could be the Twin Cities’ media version of Chris Kluwe, who was the Minnesota Vikings’ punter and — years before Colin Kaepernick — the NFL’s leading progressive social activist who couldn’t keep his political positions to himself. The Vikings put up with Kluwe as long as they thought his punting stats offset his public relations liabilities,  but once the liabilities outweighed his positives, he was gone, while screaming about persecution due to his progressive beliefs all the way (he was No. 30 out of 32 NFL punters when the Vikes dumped him, so they had just cause based on performance).

    It’s not exactly analogous to Sundgard, unless the NBC affiliate has some ratings metric to compare him specifically to the other Twin Cities weather people, and not the entire local news broadcast. But from what you posted, it does seem like he was pushing the envelope further and further inserting politics into a job position viewers don’t want to hear politics out of, and the Nazi analogy finally pushed him over the line, to where firing him was the better option.

    • #24
  25. Full Size Tabby Member
    Full Size Tabby
    @FullSizeTabby

    My favorite line from Molly: (approx.) If everyone is a billion times less consistent than Donald Trump, you have a problem.

    [comparing the vastly different statements by media and news outlets and politicians concerning allegations against Joe Biden and allegations against Brett Kavanaugh, with relatively consistent statements by Donald Trump]

    • #25
  26. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    I’m listening to local weekend talk radio right now, I just found out that Sundgard was reposting a local rabbi. lol The rabbi is the son of one of the local Democrat big shots. I think he’s the head of the MN senate or something.

    • #26
  27. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    After the “perusal” of the Biden documents archives, did anyone think to check Sandy Berger’s pants?

    • #27
  28. LibertyDefender Member
    LibertyDefender
    @LibertyDefender

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    That show was so good I can’t think of anything to add to it.

    Here are some related interviews. They are short.

    Devon Nunes really brutal on the media and closure policy inconsistencies

    In Praise of Russiagate investigative reporter @ChuckRossDC. @DevinNunes https://audioboom.com/posts/7572224-in-praise-of-russiagate-investigative-reporter-chuckrossdc-devinnunes?utm_campaign=embed&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @batchelorshow

     

    This is really wild about beach closures and Gavin Newsom’s motivations

    Orange County Beach Blanket Bingo vs Gavin Newsom @JCBliss https://audioboom.com/posts/7572222-orange-county-beach-blanket-bingo-vs-gavin-newsom-jcbliss?utm_campaign=embed&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @batchelorshow

    @peterrobinson is the best hour-long interviewer anywhere.

    John Batchelor is the best 10-15 minute interviewer anywhere.

    • #28
  29. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    LibertyDefender (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    That show was so good I can’t think of anything to add to it.

    Here are some related interviews. They are short.

    Devon Nunes really brutal on the media and closure policy inconsistencies

    In Praise of Russiagate investigative reporter @ChuckRossDC. @DevinNunes https://audioboom.com/posts/7572224-in-praise-of-russiagate-investigative-reporter-chuckrossdc-devinnunes?utm_campaign=embed&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @batchelorshow

     

    This is really wild about beach closures and Gavin Newsom’s motivations

    Orange County Beach Blanket Bingo vs Gavin Newsom @JCBliss https://audioboom.com/posts/7572222-orange-county-beach-blanket-bingo-vs-gavin-newsom-jcbliss?utm_campaign=embed&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter via @batchelorshow

    @peterrobinson is the best hour-long interviewer anywhere.

    John Batchelor is the best 10-15 minute interviewer anywhere.

    Plus whatever James, Rob and the guests have to say. All of it. I can’t think of a guest that I didn’t like hearing even if I didn’t like them. Not for a long time anyway.

    • #29
  30. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    RufusRJones (View Comment):
    I just found out that Sundgard was reposting a local rabbi.

    I just figured out who this guy is. If there was an index of holding political power versus being dumber than a stump, this guy would set the record for Minneapolis. Every single thing that comes out of his mouth is ridiculous. 

    • #30
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