The Norman Conquests

Only a very few guests warrant two segments on the Ricochet Podcast aka, America’s Most Trusted Podcast® and one of those people is the great Norman Podhoretz (around these parts, we call him “The Podfather). We talk to Norman (who’s a sprightly 89) about his recent conversion to a supporter of the President, the history of the Conservative movement, how he may have singlehandedly invented the hippy, and much more. Norman is a walking, talking museum of American politics of the last 70 years, and we highly recommend this interview. Also, are aliens among us (or at least above us)? A Ricochet Podcast investigation.

Music from this week’s show: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Soundtrack by John Williams

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  1. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    James Lileks (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):
    By the way @OccupantCDN did you ever see the series UFO? Not Project UFO, just UFO. The Gerry Anderson show from England.

    Odd show. More serious than anything Anderson did, but also campy as hell, at least when you got to the moon base. Remarkably unsympathetic main character; all business and bad hair. One of the best themes of the era. I loved it.

    I remember the show a little. The interceptors with the nose-mounted missiles, the purple-haired crew on Moonbase, and the opening theme, mainly. The plots of the episodes completely escape me.

     

    • #121
  2. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Normans of the period wore nasal helmets. Just sayin’.

    • #122
  3. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Trump is headed towards defeat, while Reagan was re-elected in a landslide.

    We need a sunny optimist that rolls over for the statist media and the Democrat party’s reflexive Alinsky tactics.

    P.S. Every single day more and more labor gets replaced by desperate, hungry, poor people THAT LIVE ELSEWHERE and robots. Houses, rent, education, and medical are less affordable than ever.

    What is to be done?

    Viva la socialism!

    • #123
  4. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Taras (View Comment):

    @garyrobbins — In other, much shorter words, you got 2016 wrong.

    Also, you don’t say anything about the Republicans increasing their margin in the Senate in 2018.

    There are, of course, no absolute laws in politics. However, it is pretty close to an absolute law that if elements within a party wage a civil war against that party’s incumbent President, whether they defeat him or just weaken him, they guarantee a victory by the other party.

    A conservative would say such a civil war is to be avoided at all costs. Yet such a civil war is what you are hoping for. That’s why I call anti-Trumpers “conservative-ish” rather than conservative.

    A conservative would point out that Trump won once, when the case against his candidacy — inexperience and unpredictability — was much stronger than it is now.

    A conservative would tell the anti-Trumper to stop hammering on the hull of the lifeboat, even if it is leaky and some of the wood is questionable. The anti-Trumper (as the water rushes in): “Haha! I was right all along! Glub glub …”

    By all means let’s talk about the Senate Elections of 2018.  The Republicans lost 2 of only 9 seats, while the Democrats lost only 4 of an incredible 26 seats they were defending!  In 2020, we will be defending 21 Senate seats, while the Democrats will be defending only 12.  Trump has critically wounded Republican Senate candidates in AZ, CO, GA, IA, KY, ME, MT, and NC.

    • #124
  5. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Voters want free stuff. Discuss. 

    Second longest peace time expansion or something like that. Why would the economy tank before or after the election? Does this affect voting? Discuss.

    • #125
  6. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Why do people want socialism and populism? Discuss. 

    Three whole minutes. 

    • #126
  7. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Look at all of our government debt. Corporate debt is higher than ever. Home purchases require more debt than ever. Show me a debt metric that is any good. Auto loan defaults are skyrocketing. Student debt is notorious. Show me any debt to GDP metric that gives you hope.

    And all of the globalized labor and robots are an unstoppable deflation, even though we obviously can’t survive without inflation.

    Something will blow up, and it will get resolved politically.

    Someone should have done something 20 years ago.

    So let’s fight Trump.

    —-

    Is this guy wrong?

    • #127
  8. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Percival (View Comment):

    Normans of the period wore nasal helmets. Just sayin’.

    But then you couldn’t see their faces. If you look at some of the background knights, you will see that they are wearing them. Also, note the helmet of James.

    • #128
  9. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Percival (View Comment):

    Normans of the period wore nasal helmets. Just sayin’.

    But then you couldn’t see their faces. If you look at some of the background knights, you will see that they are wearing them. Also, note the helmet of James.

    It looks like James’ helmet had the noseguard clipped off. That would make inserting his face a lot easier.

    But Rob is going to ride into combat wearing just a coif? That’s a good way to get your egg scrambled.

    • #129
  10. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Percival (View Comment):
    But Rob is going to ride into combat wearing just a coif? That’s a good way to get your egg scrambled.

    Maybe he lost it in the first charge. Besides, it’s Rob. He’s just there to watch and write about it later.

    • #130
  11. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):
    For the love of Cod, I’ve seen Kasich being praised in these comments.

    Kasich is a human toothache, pescetarianism need not be involved.

     

    • #131
  12. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Trump is the Anti-Reagan

    Nah. Reagan was The Great Communicator.

    President Trump is The Great Clarifier. 

    Those aren’t opposites.

    • #132
  13. Instugator Thatcher
    Instugator
    @Instugator

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    And, while Reagan was divorced, Nancy Reagan never had naked pictures of herself on the front page of the New York Post kissing another naked woman.

    You say this like it is a bad thing.

    • #133
  14. RufusRJones Member
    RufusRJones
    @RufusRJones

    Instugator (View Comment):
    President Trump is The Great Clarifier. 

    That’s what I think. 

    • #134
  15. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Donald Trump is only one ratchet click away from Ronald Reagan. Remember how some folks thought it was terrible that a man who was divorced and remarried would become PotUS? How far is it from actor to reality TV star? Every time I see the two compared, I think, “Natural progression.” Now, some of y’all Reagan idolators are going to be upset about that, but I’m just saying it’s a slippery slope when one starts relaxing one’s standards.

    Trump is the Anti-Reagan.

    Reagan was the Greatest President of the Twentieth Century, Trump is the worst Republican of all time.

    Actually I’d put McCain in that position.  Or if not #1, at least ahead of Trump.

    Reagan led with inclusion, a large smile, and an open hand. Trump attacks anyone who refuses to bend the knee.

    And, while Reagan was divorced, Nancy Reagan never had naked pictures of herself on the front page of the New York Post kissing another naked woman.

    Just in the most basic terms, Nancy Reagan was not (ever?) Hot.

    • #135
  16. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Kasich

    I have no idea why you are so tolerant of Kasich.

    Because he’s not Trump?

    • #136
  17. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    kedavis (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Kasich

    I have no idea why you are so tolerant of Kasich.

    Because he’s not Trump?

    You guys should ease up on Gary; you don’t recognize how far he’s reaching out here. Kasich is far to the right of our Gary.

    • #137
  18. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Petty Boozswha (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Petty Boozswha (View Comment):
    I believe Trump is a pathological narcissist who primarily ran for President to gratify his insatiable craving for attention and flattery than for any altruistic or patriotic motive.

    Beliefs are funny things. They don’t have to have any basis in reality.

    You might be right, maybe I’ll end up like Winston in 1984 and finally start loving the very stable genius.

     

    P.B., I love the idea Trump ran as a conservative Republican for all the “flattery”.

    A more plausible psychological theory would be that Trump is a masochist who enjoys the torrent of abuse conservative Republicans get.

    If he actually wanted flattery, he would present himself as pro-abortion and anti-gun.  And just imagine the love fest if he had nominated Merrick Garland!

    • #138
  19. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):
    For the love of Cod, I’ve seen Kasich being praised in these comments.

    Kasich is a human toothache, pescetarianism need not be involved.

    Kasich is Cincinnatus compared to Trump.

    • #139
  20. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Trump is the Anti-Reagan

    Nah. Reagan was The Great Communicator.

    President Trump is The Great Clarifier.

    Those aren’t opposites.

    I agree with you to the extent that Trump is the Great Clarifier.  I am on the Reagan side, and you are on the Trump side.

    Biden had it right when he said that if Trump is defeated after 4 years, he will forever be considered a strange aberration in American history, and will be seen as a one term exception, but if Trump is re-elected, he will irrevocably alter the country.  To that I would add that Trump will also irrevocably alter the Republican Party.  But if Trump is defeated, the stain of Trump will recede in years not decades.

    • #140
  21. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    And, while Reagan was divorced, Nancy Reagan never had naked pictures of herself on the front page of the New York Post kissing another naked woman.

    You say this like it is a bad thing.

    Not what I want to see in Presidents or First Ladies.

    • #141
  22. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Not what I want to see in Presidents or First Ladies.

    I’ll certainly agree that I wouldn’t want to see President Trump naked anywhere. 😜

    • #142
  23. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Donald Trump is only one ratchet click away from Ronald Reagan. Remember how some folks thought it was terrible that a man who was divorced and remarried would become PotUS? How far is it from actor to reality TV star? Every time I see the two compared, I think, “Natural progression.” Now, some of y’all Reagan idolators are going to be upset about that, but I’m just saying it’s a slippery slope when one starts relaxing one’s standards.

    Trump is the Anti-Reagan.

    Reagan was the Greatest President of the Twentieth Century, Trump is the worst Republican of all time.

    Actually I’d put McCain in that position. Or if not #1, at least ahead of Trump.

    McCain would have stood up to Trump.  Lindsey Graham has folded like a cheap suit.

    Reagan led with inclusion, a large smile, and an open hand. Trump attacks anyone who refuses to bend the knee.

    And, while Reagan was divorced, Nancy Reagan never had naked pictures of herself on the front page of the New York Post kissing another naked woman.

    Just in the most basic terms, Nancy Reagan was not (ever?) Hot.

    Speaking for myself, Nancy Reagan adoring of Ron was lovely and sweet.

    • #143
  24. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):
    For the love of Cod, I’ve seen Kasich being praised in these comments.

    Kasich is a human toothache, pescetarianism need not be involved.

    Kasich is Cincinnatus compared to Trump.

    To paraphrase Kahless, “Great rhetoric in service of lefism is no victory, and… whatever you want to say Trump does… in service of conservatism, is no defeat.”

    (Some people would say he was copying Barry Goldwater, but since Kahless was centuries ago, obviously Goldwater copied HIM.)

    • #144
  25. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Trump is the Anti-Reagan

    Nah. Reagan was The Great Communicator.

    President Trump is The Great Clarifier.

    Those aren’t opposites.

    I agree with you to the extent that Trump is the Great Clarifier. I am on the Reagan side, and you are on the Trump side.

    Biden had it right when he said that if Trump is defeated after 4 years, he will forever be considered a strange aberration in American history, and will be seen as a one term exception, but if Trump is re-elected, he will irrevocably alter the country. To that I would add that Trump will also irrevocably alter the Republican Party. But if Trump is defeated, the stain of Trump will recede in years not decades.

    If Trump loses, the Political class will go right back to their corrupt old ways, secure and confident in their ability to curbstomp any attempt to defeat it.

     

    • #145
  26. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    kedavis (View Comment):

    RufusRJones (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Kasich

    I have no idea why you are so tolerant of Kasich.

    Because he’s not Trump?

    That is the primary reason.  And he could carry Ohio and the Upper Midwest.

    • #146
  27. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    Not what I want to see in Presidents or First Ladies.

    I’ll certainly agree that I wouldn’t want to see President Trump naked anywhere. 😜

    The image of a naked Trump has now been imprinted on my brain.  I may not sleep tonight.

    • #147
  28. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    I may not sleep tonight.

    Or ever again. But you’re the one who added Presidents to the mix. You just couldn’t leave it at First Ladies. 😜

    • #148
  29. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Instugator (View Comment):

    Boss Mongo (View Comment):
    For the love of Cod, I’ve seen Kasich being praised in these comments.

    Kasich is a human toothache, pescetarianism need not be involved.

    Kasich is Cincinnatus compared to Trump.

    To paraphrase Kahless, “Great rhetoric in service of lefism is no victory, and… whatever you want to say Trump does… in service of conservatism, is no defeat.”

    (Some people would say he was copying Barry Goldwater, but since Kahless was centuries ago, obviously Goldwater copied HIM.)

    Two political highlights of my life were to shake the hands of my Senators, Barry Goldwater, and the man who saved Iraq in the surge (only to have Obama throw it away), John S. McCain, III.

    • #149
  30. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):
    I may not sleep tonight.

    Or ever again. But you’re the one who added Presidents to the mix. You just couldn’t leave it at First Ladies. 😜

    You are right.  My bad.

    • #150
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