Putting Out Fires

Got a Super-Sized show for you this week chocked full of topics and Big Name Guests®. First up, we take a look at the state of California, which appears to be regressing back to the 19th century in real time. Then, Douglas Murray stops by to discuss his new book The Madness of Crowds: Gender, Race and Identity which ponders and answers all of the provocative questions posed by the words in that title. Then, our old friend, fellow Ricochet podcaster, cable news star and human trending topic on Twitter John Yoo joins to clear up exactly what he thinks about Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. Did Laura Ingraham trap him into saying something he did not mean to say? Were we as tough on him as Chris Cuomo? Listen, decide, and let us know in the comments. Then, @rushbabe49 wins the highly coveted, much sought after Lileks Post of The Week prize for her The Story That Disappeared post, and yes, there’s a new Long Poll question too. Finally, (and we do mean finally), Obama calls out cancel culture, and President Trump runs a new campaign commercial and you’ll never believe who it impressed.

Music from this week’s show: Cleanin’ Out My Closet by Eminem

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There are 56 comments.

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  1. Spin Inactive
    Spin
    @Spin

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    P.S. No one criticized the dog Tweet. There were praising it.

    I was referring to the photoshopped medal-of-honor tweet, which drew some blue-check hysteria.

    I’m not sure why GWW thought you were criticizing the dog. 

    • #31
  2. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    P.S. No one criticized the dog Tweet. There were praising it.

    I was referring to the photoshopped medal-of-honor tweet, which drew some blue-check hysteria.

    James, my wording was lousy, and I’m sorry for it. I was glad you mentioned the dog and only meant to convey that I think he deserved a real medal, not just photoshopped. I followed closely your agony when you lost your dog. Our military and police dog heroes seldom get enough credit for the Work they do.

    For that picture to be real, the dog would have to be the size of a small horse, and Trump would have to be sitting on its back to be able to hang the medal from behind.  (Unless the dog was standing on its hind legs.)

    N.B.:   If you want to give a medal to the dog for real, make it a dog biscuit so he gets something out of it.

     

     

    • #32
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    ericB (View Comment):
    He could perhaps even make that dog medal some kind of official recognition of appreciated canine service.

    Britain has a medal for animals:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickin_Medal

    • #33
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    I liked James’ idea of using dentists for all our medical needs to get around a potential law. Got me thinking that barbers could return to their roots and be surgeons again. Just going to pop on down to the barbershop for my flu shot.

    I hear in Canada, they go to the veterinarian.

    • #34
  5. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Great guests and great show. Thanks, Gents. (If y’all still identify that way.)

    • #35
  6. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Great guests and great show. Thanks, Gents. (If y’all still identify that way.)

    To be fully inclusive, I use the term “gentlebeings”.

    It even covers persons who identify as Martians.

    • #36
  7. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    The ACA is forcing single payer as intended, but Warren really screwed up here. 

    The Ruling Class is a disaster, but at least we have 4,000,000,000 guns dispersed from Seattle to Key West. 

    #SovietMedicine 

     

    • #37
  8. ChrisShearer Coolidge
    ChrisShearer
    @ChrisShearer

    Rob at his finest on this podcast.

     

    And does James get a certain pleasure in drawing his co-hosts into follow up quips (pardon the pun) when they are unwittingly a part of an elaborate segue?

    • #38
  9. ericB Lincoln
    ericB
    @ericB

    Taras (View Comment):

    For that picture to be real, the dog would have to be the size of a small horse, and Trump would have to be sitting on its back to be able to hang the medal from behind. (Unless the dog was standing on its hind legs.)

    N.B.: If you want to give a medal to the dog for real, make it a dog biscuit so he gets something out of it.

    I took as if the dog was sitting on an elevated platform (e.g. like an olympic medal podium), which would be feasible in service to a photo recreation event.

    Good idea about an edible medal.  Perhaps the metal medal to the handler (on behalf of the dog or the man+dog team) and the edible medal to the dog.

    • #39
  10. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Rightfromthestart (View Comment):

    The morning it was announced that Bruce Jenner had become Caitlin I was struck by the look of pure fear in the eyes of my local news hosts that they might accidentally use the wrong name or pronoun, it was like they were tiptoeing through a minefield. How did this minuscule minority attain such power?

    Because this is precisely the method used by the radical Left to get their way, stifle debate, and vilify their opponents since the 1960s.  They have followed precisely the same playbook regarding race, and feminism, and homosexuality, and Islam, and now trans.

    All of these have been terrible changes, with one partial exception.  The movement for racial fairness was a good one, but it went off the rails almost immediately, and became a cynical and corrupt system of special privileges (for blacks especially, and other minorities to a lesser extent), hiding the disastrous results of the welfare state (by refusing to allow discussion of family breakdown, which is disproportionately black), and excusing criminal behavior.

    • #40
  11. Goldwaterwoman Thatcher
    Goldwaterwoman
    @goldwaterwoman

    Arahant (View Comment):

    ericB (View Comment):
    He could perhaps even make that dog medal some kind of official recognition of appreciated canine service.

    Britain has a medal for animals:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dickin_Medal

    We definitely need an award in the US for our brave dogs too. I read about every single one of these animals on the Brit’s list, all of whom were amazing and saved lives. 

    • #41
  12. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):
    We definitely need an award in the US for our brave dogs too.

    Note that the award has gone to pigeons, horses, dogs, and a cat. It is not just for dogs.

    • #42
  13. Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… Member
    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio…
    @ArizonaPatriot

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):
    By the way, there are also people in this world and many on Ricochet who would take serious offense at calling him a pig. Perhaps we all need to be reminded that 63 million Americans voted for this man to be our president and accord him and them with a modicum of respect

    I don’t want to continue an argument/side conversation that has nothing to do with this show, so I won’t post one of the 100 or so YouTube super cut videos of Trump-coined nicknames that includes several Republicans as targets. Because that would be too easy.

    There are lots of legit issues to defend the President around. Nicknames/name calling isn’t one of them. He literally started it.

    P.S. No one criticized the dog Tweet. There were praising it.

    I don’t think that you are correct about the President starting it.  I think that John McCain started it, at least as reported by Victor Davis Hanson.

    You might want to check.  It is an important point, and I may be wrong.

    Many NeverTrumpers seem oblivious on this point — their guys said something outrageous about Trump, and Trump retaliated, and all that they can do is whine about how rude Trump was to retaliate.  They need to grow up.

    • #43
  14. Goldwaterwoman Thatcher
    Goldwaterwoman
    @goldwaterwoman

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Note that the award has gone to pigeons, horses, dogs, and a cat. It is not just for dogs.

    Yes, I did see that and am for including all animals who serve just as the Brits do.

    • #44
  15. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    I think that John McCain started it, at least as reported by Victor Davis Hanson.

    You might want to check. It is an important point, and I may be wrong.

    Many NeverTrumpers seem oblivious on this point — their guys said something outrageous about Trump, and Trump retaliated, and all that they can do is whine about how rude Trump was to retaliate. They need to grow up.

    The lament of siblings everywhere – “He hit me back first!”

    • #45
  16. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):
    By the way, there are also people in this world and many on Ricochet who would take serious offense at calling him a pig. Perhaps we all need to be reminded that 63 million Americans voted for this man to be our president and accord him and them with a modicum of respect

    I don’t want to continue an argument/side conversation that has nothing to do with this show, so I won’t post one of the 100 or so YouTube super cut videos of Trump-coined nicknames that includes several Republicans as targets. Because that would be too easy.

    There are lots of legit issues to defend the President around. Nicknames/name calling isn’t one of them. He literally started it.

    P.S. No one criticized the dog Tweet. There were praising it.

    I don’t think that you are correct about the President starting it. I think that John McCain started it, at least as reported by Victor Davis Hanson.

    You might want to check. It is an important point, and I may be wrong.

    Many NeverTrumpers seem oblivious on this point — their guys said something outrageous about Trump, and Trump retaliated, and all that they can do is whine about how rude Trump was to retaliate. They need to grow up.

    Just living up to their alleged balls-and-strikes calling job. Refs rarely see the first hit but see the guy retaliating. 

    • #46
  17. Goldwaterwoman Thatcher
    Goldwaterwoman
    @goldwaterwoman

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    I don’t think that you are correct about the President starting it. I think that John McCain started it, at least as reported by Victor Davis Hanson.

    The press usually points out only Trump’s end of the conversation without reference to what was said against him prior to his reply when he’s only defending himself.  That said, I often wish he would just let it go and not give his political enemies more fuel to criticize.  Their initial tumble occurred, I believe, when McCain accused Trump of firing up the crazies and a few other critical comments in 2015 in reference to Trump’s remarks about illegal immigrants. Trump was later asked by the press what he thought of McCain’s criticism when he made the war hero comment.

    • #47
  18. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    I liked James’ idea of using dentists for all our medical needs to get around a potential law. Got me thinking that barbers could return to their roots and be surgeons again. Just going to pop on down to the barbershop for my flu shot.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edIi6hYpUoQ

    • #48
  19. Wolverine Inactive
    Wolverine
    @Wolverine

    @peterrobinson, why did you hate the Boy Scouts?

    • #49
  20. FredGoodhue Coolidge
    FredGoodhue
    @FredGoodhue

    ericB (View Comment):

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):
    And one more thing: millions of dog lovers were delighted when they saw the picture of that brave dog who risked his life and was injured. I hope Trump invites him to the White House and gives him the medal for real along with a huge medium rare filet mignon.

    Yes, it would be great if he gave the dog that paw print medal for real and posed in front of the same background etc. Make it as close to the photoshop as feasible. Life imitating art. He could perhaps even make that dog medal some kind of official recognition of appreciated canine service.

    I wonder, what would the Democrats say then to that? Try to double down? Just move on and change the subject?

    The British Dickin Medal for animal bravery.  The US should have something like this.

    • #50
  21. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    I don’t think that you are correct about the President starting it. I think that John McCain started it, at least as reported by Victor Davis Hanson.

    The press usually points out only Trump’s end of the conversation without reference to what was said against him prior to his reply when he’s only defending himself. That said, I often wish he would just let it go and not give his political enemies more fuel to criticize. Their initial tumble occurred, I believe, when McCain accused Trump of firing up the crazies and a few other critical comments in 2015 in reference to Trump’s remarks about illegal immigrants. Trump was later asked by the press what he thought of McCain’s criticism when he made the war hero comment.

    McCain had a long track record of making intemperate remarks.  Here’s the New York Times in 2000:

    Under growing fire over his recent attacks on leaders of the Christian right, Senator John McCain apologized yesterday for remarks the day before in which he characterized Pat Robertson and the Rev. Jerry Falwell as ”forces of evil.” …

    Mr. McCain’s apology focused on remarks he had made on his campaign bus that amplified on a speech he gave on Monday, calling Mr. Robertson and Mr. Falwell ”agents of intolerance.”

    McCain would routinely ventilate to his “core constituency”, the journalists on the campaign bus, where the unwritten rule was that they would not report any abusive remarks he made. This came out when a new guy on the bus who didn’t know about this rule filed a story.

    • #51
  22. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    I never figured why McCain apparently thought the media and others would actually support him when he was up against a real Democrat Party candidate.  I can only conclude that he wasn’t very bright.

    • #52
  23. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    kedavis (View Comment):

    I never figured why McCain apparently thought the media and others would actually support him when he was up against a real Democrat Party candidate. I can only conclude that he wasn’t very bright.

    Egomania is a powerful force!

    • #53
  24. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    Taras (View Comment):

    Goldwaterwoman (View Comment):

    Jerry Giordano (Arizona Patrio… (View Comment):
    I don’t think that you are correct about the President starting it. I think that John McCain started it, at least as reported by Victor Davis Hanson.

    The press usually points out only Trump’s end of the conversation without reference to what was said against him prior to his reply when he’s only defending himself. That said, I often wish he would just let it go and not give his political enemies more fuel to criticize. Their initial tumble occurred, I believe, when McCain accused Trump of firing up the crazies and a few other critical comments in 2015 in reference to Trump’s remarks about illegal immigrants. Trump was later asked by the press what he thought of McCain’s criticism when he made the war hero comment.

    McCain had a long track record of making intemperate remarks. Here’s the New York Times in 2000:

    Under growing fire over his recent attacks on leaders of the Christian right, Senator John McCain apologized yesterday for remarks the day before in which he characterized Pat Robertson and the Rev. Jerry Falwell as ”forces of evil.” …

    Mr. McCain’s apology focused on remarks he had made on his campaign bus that amplified on a speech he gave on Monday, calling Mr. Robertson and Mr. Falwell ”agents of intolerance.”

    McCain would routinely ventilate to his “core constituency”, the journalists on the campaign bus, where the unwritten rule was that they would not report any abusive remarks he made. This came out when a new guy on the bus who didn’t know about this rule filed a story.

    Comments like that were why Maverick was the candidate of the vast majority of the Beltway GOPers in 2000, despite GWB’s family lineage. Bush didn’t radiate a disdain for much of flyover country’s Republicans as McCain did, though because of GWB’s family connections (and post-9/11 party unity), the rift there never got deepened as the post-2016 Trump vs. Beltway rift has.

    • #54
  25. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    I figured a more appropriate closing, considering the podcast title, would have been “Putting Out Fires With Gasoline.”  That’s largely what PRC (People’s Republic of California) has been doing for years/decades, with refusing to thin fire fuelstocks, etc.

    • #55
  26. Charlotte Member
    Charlotte
    @Charlotte

    Man, do I love me some Douglas Murray.

    • #56
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