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Our deepest apologies for the delay in getting this show out the door. A lot of factors conspired in this show being a day late (but not a dollar short). And let’s also say this up front: for reasons that will become apparent to you when you listen to it, this is one of the quirkiest Ricochet Podcasts we’ve ever done (and not just because of the occasionally iffy audio). OK, enough of the caveats, let’s talk about the show.
First off, we’re down a host (although he does make a cameo appearance late in the show). Second, one of the hosts is podcasting while driving (you’d think he would have learned a lesson from the last time he attempted this, but apparently not). Our third host is ensconced in small town hotel room with less than ideal internet service and well, we struggle a bit with that too (we don’t do this very often, but you’ll definitely want to listen to the very end of the show if you like hearing Ricochet Podcast bloopers). All that being said, we did manage to put together a very interesting show featuring two guests from opposite sides of the aisle.
First up: columnist, author, and cultural critic (yes, we ask him about that) Joel Stein. The title of his new book In Defense of Elitism: Why I’m Better Than You and You Are Better than Someone Who Didn’t Buy This Book certainly got our attention and he’s also a listener, so we wanted to have him. It’s an interesting –but civil!– conversation that points up some fundamental differences in the way liberals and conservatives view the issues of the day. Then, we swing 180 degrees the other direction and have a chat with our old friend, David Limbaugh because the title of his new book also got our attention: Guilty By Reason of Insanity: Why The Democrats Must Not Win. We have a typically, shall we say, enthusiastic chat with David and yes, he schools a certain host on his propensity for all things squishy.
Then, Lileks checks in to award the highly coveted, much sought after Lileks Post of The Week to @garyrobbins We keep losing with Trump. Mazel tov, Gary.
Finally, today is the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and luckily, we have a host who knows a thing or two about that event. We talk about that day and why it was one of the most important historical moments of the 20th century.
Music from this week’s episode: Crumblin’ Down by John Mellencamp
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Just out of curiosity last night, I looked up Venezuelan interest rates. Central bank prime rate is currently at 30.67%. Way not zero. 10 years ago they where 20%. The lowest point was a few years back at 15% – all way way not zero.
A few minutes with a google machine might force you to evaluate some assumptions. The real look of a zero interest rate economy is America in 2007. Interest rates artificially set too low create malinvestment which leads to asset bubbles and eventual crashes.
I think it’s remarkable that, when Stein was challenged to name something that wasn’t “going well” under Trump, all he could come up with was Trump urging lower interest rates, and Syria, an issue already fading from memory.
Because the elites now are so much smarter than the elites back then or the elites in Venezuela. Everything is different now dont’t-cha know.
Peter: “I won’t be here for the 40th…”
Skuze me!?
He said 60th.
Ah, thanks, BY. Bit of a surprise…
I think the real problem with the Stein interview was that it was really to short. Hes not an articulate interviewee and so unlike a lot of the people interviewed in the short segments (usually on air reporters), he is unused to being challenged or summarizes his thoughts, and its quite obvious that Rob and Peter werent really knowledgeable of his work.
I would prefer to see him interviewed in the long format by someone like Jay Nordlinger or Jon Gabriel who are more professional interviewers than the founders. Perhaps if @jameslileks had been there the interview would have gone better.
I know @peterrobinson is also good at the long form interview. But Steins book needed a bigger format and so we could really understand what he was saying, instead of the short 15 minute interview that we ended up having.
I would love for Stein to be put on the spot by someone asking him about Stephen Harper the very successful PM of Canada, who is a self professed Nationalist and Populist.
Always has been. He’s one of the reasons I cancelled my subscription with the LA Times many years ago.
Scott Adams and his girlfriend spent an evening reading aloud the chapter that Joel wrote about him.
If memory serves, not one thing Joel wrote about Scott was accurate.
I think you’re giving him too much credit. Long or short, you’re going to sound like an idiot if you’re just making up nonsense at random. More time to cross examine him just would have made it more obvious that he was full of it.
Imagine how the rest of us reacted. 😉
It should probably be added – for any nonmember who happens to make it this far into the comments – that if you want to argue with Gary, or join in him in his mission, you’ll have to join Ricochet. 🤑
Word of the day:
Very Lileks.
So after listening to this podcast this morning (Sunday) on a very early morning bicycle ride, complete with its discussion of a book entitled, “In Defense of Elitism: Why I’m Better Than You and You Are Better than Someone Who Didn’t Buy This Book,” I was amused when I arrived at church for worship that the scripture lesson was Philippians 2:1-5, and the sermon was on serving others with humility modeled after Christ’s, and not thinking of ourselves as more worthy than others.
I think Gary got off at the wrong exit a long time ago …
Oh snap! It’s on now!
My recollection is that you predicted they would win the general election next November, not just the Democrat nomination. Although that seems to be just about as unlikely.
Please join us at Ricochet!
I did have one prediction that looked pretty silly until recently, that there was likelihood of Trump not completing his term of office; i.e. that he would not be President as of January 19, 2021. There is a non-zero probability of that.
Non-zero, but tiny. He could, for example, die. He’s not a young man. But I’d put the odds of that happening above the other thing you’re implying.
I think he just REALLY wants everyone to forget his prediction that Klobuchar and Buttigieg would be President/VP on/around January 20, 2021.
@annefy
I missed this but it sounds entertaining. Could you provide a link?
It was on one of his periscopes. I’ll scroll through the descriptions and try to find it
edited to add:
i haven’t relistened, but going by the video description, this should be it.
Somehow, I always expect Scott Adams to have hair.
He sounds exactly how I would expect someone with hair to sound. But no.
Could be though, age 92.
The Joel Stein part starts at 37:45.
Of course, when your currency inflates 53,798,500% since 2016, 30.67% is effectively zero. Hard to imagine many loans actually being made.
Where did I predict that?
Right now I think that it would be Buttigieg/Klobuchar. I also think that it is very possible that if Biden wins, he will choose Klobuchar who wipe out Trump, leading Klobuchar to run in 2024.