Summer of Love

This week, a special edition of the Ricochet Podcast. Peter Robinson and Rob Long (Lileks is cruising the Atlantic) are joined by The Weekly Standard’s Andrew Ferguson and the great P.J. O’Rourke. You’ll definitely want to check out P.J.’s new venture AmercianConsequences.com. As you would expect, this show a wide ranging ramble through the culture, but past and present, including but no limited to President Trump, Sheriff Joe, the Summer of Love (in ’67), Burning Man, cars, Wall Street, Matthew Arnold’s poem Dover Beach and more. And be sure and stick around after the show (or at least the part with Andy and P.J. for a rare conversation with just Rob and Peter (aka The Founders).

Music from this week’s podcast: San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair) by Scott McKenzie

The all new opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by James Lileks.

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There are 48 comments.

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  1. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    I know. But when Rob absents himself when the three Trump supporters you mention are guests and then returns with vigah when the O’Ferguson twins are featured, I think it fair to conclude that he’s happier interacting with the anti-Trump crowd than with the pro-Trump crowd.

    First off, all throughout the election, we put Rob on with Trump supporters many, many times. We (and he) do not shy away from that. Second, You are connecting two unconnected events. With Lileks off this past week (and next), it’s very hard to find TWO guest hosts. So I asked a favor of Rob and Peter and we did a rare Saturday show this week. P.J. had been on our list for a while to promote his new website (that Andy writes for), so it was just kismet that it came together in this way.

    And now you know the rest of the story….

    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    • #31
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):
    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Maybe because he’s working for a living so Sony will rent him that garage in the Village?

    • #32
  3. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):
    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Maybe because he’s working for a living so Sony will rent him that garage in the Village?

    So what are we? Chopped liver?

    • #33
  4. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    I know. But when Rob absents himself when the three Trump supporters you mention are guests and then returns with vigah when the O’Ferguson twins are featured, I think it fair to conclude that he’s happier interacting with the anti-Trump crowd than with the pro-Trump crowd.

    First off, all throughout the election, we put Rob on with Trump supporters many, many times. We (and he) do not shy away from that. Second, You are connecting two unconnected events. With Lileks off this past week (and next), it’s very hard to find TWO guest hosts. So I asked a favor of Rob and Peter and we did a rare Saturday show this week. P.J. had been on our list for a while to promote his new website (that Andy writes for), so it was just kismet that it came together in this way.

    And now you know the rest of the story….

    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Because he’s producing a TV show right now and is generally not available on week days (we record GLoP at 6:30AM PT — not a time when Peter Robinson or James Lileks would be at their best).

    • #34
  5. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    I know. But when Rob absents himself when the three Trump supporters you mention are guests and then returns with vigah when the O’Ferguson twins are featured, I think it fair to conclude that he’s happier interacting with the anti-Trump crowd than with the pro-Trump crowd.

    First off, all throughout the election, we put Rob on with Trump supporters many, many times. We (and he) do not shy away from that. Second, You are connecting two unconnected events. With Lileks off this past week (and next), it’s very hard to find TWO guest hosts. So I asked a favor of Rob and Peter and we did a rare Saturday show this week. P.J. had been on our list for a while to promote his new website (that Andy writes for), so it was just kismet that it came together in this way.

    And now you know the rest of the story….

    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Because se’s producing a TV show right now and is generally not available on week days (we record GLoP at 6:30AM PT — not a time when Peter Robinson or James Lileks would be at their best).

    GLoP and not the Flagship? OK. But I can’t quite shake the feeling that I’ve been seated next to Mohammed, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton in the pro-Trump area of the frat house.

    • #35
  6. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    I know. But when Rob absents himself when the three Trump supporters you mention are guests and then returns with vigah when the O’Ferguson twins are featured, I think it fair to conclude that he’s happier interacting with the anti-Trump crowd than with the pro-Trump crowd.

    First off, all throughout the election, we put Rob on with Trump supporters many, many times. We (and he) do not shy away from that. Second, You are connecting two unconnected events. With Lileks off this past week (and next), it’s very hard to find TWO guest hosts. So I asked a favor of Rob and Peter and we did a rare Saturday show this week. P.J. had been on our list for a while to promote his new website (that Andy writes for), so it was just kismet that it came together in this way.

    And now you know the rest of the story….

    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Because se’s producing a TV show right now and is generally not available on week days (we record GLoP at 6:30AM PT — not a time when Peter Robinson or James Lileks would be at their best).

    GLoP and not the Flagship? OK. But I can’t quite shake the feeling that I’ve been seated next to Mohammed, Jugdish, Sidney and Clayton in the pro-Trump area of the frat house.

    GLoP doesn’t have guests either. It’s much easier to schedule (we’re doing one tomorrow AM!).

    • #36
  7. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):
    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Maybe because he’s working for a living so Sony will rent him that garage in the Village?

    So what are we? Chopped liver?

    I’m sure if you brought in gobs of money for Sony, they would rent you a garage in the Village, too.

    • #37
  8. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    Because se’s producing a TV show right now

    Wait, has Rob got one of those new pronouns? What gender does se correspond to? Is that like the French Narcissistic gender?

    • #38
  9. Keith Keystone Member
    Keith Keystone
    @KeithKeystone

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    I know. But when Rob absents himself when the three Trump supporters you mention are guests and then returns with vigah when the O’Ferguson twins are featured, I think it fair to conclude that he’s happier interacting with the anti-Trump crowd than with the pro-Trump crowd.

    First off, all throughout the election, we put Rob on with Trump supporters many, many times. We (and he) do not shy away from that. Second, You are connecting two unconnected events. With Lileks off this past week (and next), it’s very hard to find TWO guest hosts. So I asked a favor of Rob and Peter and we did a rare Saturday show this week. P.J. had been on our list for a while to promote his new website (that Andy writes for), so it was just kismet that it came together in this way.

    And now you know the rest of the story….

    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Because se’s producing a TV show right now and is generally not available on week days (we record GLoP at 6:30AM PT — not a time when Peter Robinson or James Lileks would be at their best).

    Can you get Mark Steyn on sometime? He is brilliant and fairly pro-Trump (he’s also hilarious). Would be fun to hear his take on the latest happenings.

    • #39
  10. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Keith Keystone (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Basil Fawlty (View Comment):

    I know. But when Rob absents himself when the three Trump supporters you mention are guests and then returns with vigah when the O’Ferguson twins are featured, I think it fair to conclude that he’s happier interacting with the anti-Trump crowd than with the pro-Trump crowd.

    First off, all throughout the election, we put Rob on with Trump supporters many, many times. We (and he) do not shy away from that. Second, You are connecting two unconnected events. With Lileks off this past week (and next), it’s very hard to find TWO guest hosts. So I asked a favor of Rob and Peter and we did a rare Saturday show this week. P.J. had been on our list for a while to promote his new website (that Andy writes for), so it was just kismet that it came together in this way.

    And now you know the rest of the story….

    And Rob was absent from the three previous podcasts which featured “pro-Trumpers” why?

    Because se’s producing a TV show right now and is generally not available on week days (we record GLoP at 6:30AM PT — not a time when Peter Robinson or James Lileks would be at their best).

    Can you get Mark Steyn on sometime? He is brilliant and fairly pro-Trump (he’s also hilarious). Would be fun to hear his take on the latest happenings.

    I can ask…

    • #40
  11. Patrick McClure Coolidge
    Patrick McClure
    @Patrickb63

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    For the record, we do political commentary and conversation, not hagiography.


    Blue Yeti (View Comment)
    :
    Never said anything about your ability or right to comment on what ever you want. But you seem to be troubled by hearing any commentary of the President that isn’t “he’s doing great!” We don’t do that, which is why I suggested seeking out podcasts that might be closer to your interests.

    I’ve noticed that the adulterous, twice divorced, vulgar-talking man in the Whitehouse isn’t a saint, nor does he always do great.  There are plenty of things I would like him to have done differently.  What I have consistently noticed on the Podcast is that most of the commenters attribute any good he does to his supporting cast convincing him to do something against his instincts and any bad he does is a result of not paying attention to his staff and going with his instincts.  That gets very tiring.  At some point commenters need to recognize his victory was no accident, and his victories and losses are both a result of the President’s decisions.  Just because his character is tarnished, doesn’t mean he is bad as President.  But go ahead and dismiss me as a fanboy again.

    • #41
  12. Mrs. Ink Inactive
    Mrs. Ink
    @MrsInk

    I listened to this podcast against my better judgment, P. J. O’Rourke has been dead to me since he endorsed Mrs. Clinton. However, I have to say that he and Mr. Ferguson are the most heartless gits I have ever heard.

    Whatever you may think of him, Joe Arpaio is 85 years old. Sending him to prison is a death sentence-he would likely be murdered shortly after admittance. The judge in the case had to have known this, and Arpaio’s conviction was nothing less than a hit job.

    And not a word from these idiots about the Obama or Clinton pardons, which were more numerous and for worse people.

    Arpaio’s prosecution was entirely politically motivated, and his conviction was a travesty. Pardoning him was the only way to allow him to live out the rest of his life.

     

     

    • #42
  13. Curt North Inactive
    Curt North
    @CurtNorth

    I couldn’t make it 10 min into this back-slapping hate fest for Trump.  The flagship isn’t always this way, I like it much better when they don’t discuss politics to be honest.  Of the three hosts, 2 are Nevers, and its very predictable what they will ask and even say.  Bring on a couple Nevers as guests and this was a very boring, predictable, and eminently skippable podcast.

    • #43
  14. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Lucy Elwood (View Comment):
    Pretty much as soon as they began to discuss politics, PJ O’Rourke said that Sherriff Arpaio was like a Nazi, that Trump was psychotic and ruled by an organ lower than his gut (meaning his male member

    Actually, he said a part of his digestive tract lower than his gut.  Unless I’m really confused about anatomy, you missed his point.

    • #44
  15. Wolfsheim Member
    Wolfsheim
    @Wolfsheim

    The average age of the four commentators on the Summer of Love is just 60. I was 22 in 1967, having just finished my final year at UC Berkeley. I had been in Europe and was about to leave the United States again, more or less for good, so I was probably late in learning the word “hippie”…Then a “serious” leftist (and therefore all the more a fool), I thought of those who used “like” at least once in every sentence (not to mention “groovy”) as typifying capitalist inanity…Deep down inside I might have feared that I was a latent conservative. “There’s a whole generation, with a new explanation…” Uh, no, fornication and dope-smoking did not strike me as promising answers to the world’s problems…I too was eventually mugged by the ugly reality of “liberalism.” Finally, in 1980, the year after the one and only Peter Robinson (more power to him!) graduated from Dartmouth, Ronald Reagan was elected. It must have been a great time to be young!

    A loyal Ricochet member

     

     

    • #45
  16. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    “For example, I never heard anyone discuss Trump’s books, interviews and comments on politics made prior to the campaign.”

     

    –Ooh I did. It was one of my posts that made to the main feed as well.  I gave an assessment of his views based on his book “Think Like A Champion.”  It was well received.

    • #46
  17. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    I love P.J. O’Rourke and appreciate every time he is on the podcast.  He’s making fun of Donald Trump right now because Donald Trump is in the news every day.  If Chuck Schumer or Nancy Pelosi were making a lot of headlines when the podcast were being recorded, he would have gone after them.  He’s a satirist and anybody who has read his books knows that he is looking for laughs wherever he can find them.  If you want a guest who will exclusively ridicule the left, you’ll just have to skip over any podcasts with O’Rourke because he’ll make fun of anyone including himself.

    • #47
  18. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):
    including himself.

    Which he did here. We should slap him around for being an agist, but he was the old person he was making fun of.

    • #48
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