We Called It A Raid…

We’re not short on takes about the search (or whatever you wanna call it) at Mar-a-Lago this week; but one can’t ever get enough of people who know what they’re talking about when it comes to something as big as this!

Ricochet’s old friend Andy McCarthy joins to provide just that kinda commentary. He gives some essential vocab clarifications; lays out the charges he believes the Justice Department is actually seeking; and ponders how and when the ethos of the agency went awry – and how he thinks it could be brought back.

Also, Peter recounts how he felt right at home on the range. Plus he and James chat about the shows they “have to” watch and the stuff they can live without.

Subscribe to The Ricochet Podcast in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

Please Support Our Sponsors!

ExpressVPN

Boll & Branch

Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing.

There are 106 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    Taras (View Comment):

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    The Cloaked Gaijin (View Comment):
    I always generally liked the movie 2010: The Year We Make Contact more than 2001: A Space Odyssey.

    Probably because unlike 2001 it’s a coherent story with good pacing, writing, and a satisfying conclusion. You don’t need to see the first one to enjoy it, and those aspects that don’t make that much sense in 2010 don’t make much sense in 2001 either so it’s a wash. You’re probably spot-on about the recreational drugs.

    Piece of pie.

    Easy as cake.

    My recollection of 2010 — and, admittedly, it’s a recollection of the original release — is that it’s one of those “Why, the Soviets are just like us! They just want peace” movies.

    We’re American patriots, they’re Soviet patriots: why, they’re just like us!

    Even the movie adaptation of The Hunt for Red October features an apology for its “Cold-Warriorness”: that this is all taking place “before Gorbachev”.

    The book version of Red October is a Cold War book. The movie came out in the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Soviet Union. It pretty much had to be addressed. I thought they did a pretty good job of suggesting that the events [The Russians attempting to deploy a first-strike weapon, only to have it hijacked by Ramius] in the movie were a significant contributing factor that brought Gorbachev to power and helped end the Cold War.

    The movie, The Hunt for Red October, was released more than a year before the Soviet Union was dissolved. There is nothing in the film to suggest that its (fictitious) events led to the rise of Gorbachev or to the end of the Cold War, which hadn’t happened yet.

    Sorry I had the year wrong – but it was released after the fall of the Berlin Wall.  I can’t find the quotes online, but there’s a scene at the very end of the movie, with Ryan and Ramius talking  in the sail of the submarine while going up river where they say something along the lines of “This incident is going to cause a lot of changes in Moscow” and Ramius says something about  “a little revolution now and then is a good thing”.

     

    • #91
  2. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    • #92
  3. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Which reminds me of the Aesop’s fable about “King Log and King Stork” …

    I’ll take a “do-nothing Republican” over a “do-something Democrat” any time.

    • #93
  4. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    “What difference at this point does it make?”

    • #94
  5. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Andy McCarthy reverts again to insisting the FBI/DOJ/etc are all rock-ribbed patriots in 3…2…1…

    I didn’t hear him say that. In fact, I heard a lot of criticism of what took place. Maybe I was listening to a different podcast…

    • #95
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Leslie Watkins (View Comment):

    I don’t know if I found Andy’s information more frustrating or infuriating. As he described the intricacies of what’s going on with the DOJ/FBI and Trump, clarifying the Byzantine maze we call our legal system, all I could think was: the law has become absurd, a sick game of musical chairs and every bit as random, reducing citizen engagement to the mere act of hiring a lawyer. I feel like Charlie Brown after Lucy has once again pulled out the football.

    I don’t think Andy really KNOWS that much about what’s happening, all he can do is speculate on what might usually happen in most cases, etc.

    And point to anyone else who knows any more than he does.

    • #96
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    • #97
  8. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Andy McCarthy reverts again to insisting the FBI/DOJ/etc are all rock-ribbed patriots in 3…2…1…

    I didn’t hear him say that. In fact, I heard a lot of criticism of what took place. Maybe I was listening to a different podcast…

    The issue isn’t now or the podcast, the issue is later.  Andy has made a habit of reverting to a sort of “all is well” each time something like this has happened.

    It may “stick” this time, but if it does, it will be a first for him.

    • #98
  9. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Susan Quinn (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Leslie Watkins (View Comment):

    I don’t know if I found Andy’s information more frustrating or infuriating. As he described the intricacies of what’s going on with the DOJ/FBI and Trump, clarifying the Byzantine maze we call our legal system, all I could think was: the law has become absurd, a sick game of musical chairs and every bit as random, reducing citizen engagement to the mere act of hiring a lawyer. I feel like Charlie Brown after Lucy has once again pulled out the football.

    I don’t think Andy really KNOWS that much about what’s happening, all he can do is speculate on what might usually happen in most cases, etc.

    And point to anyone else who knows any more than he does.

    Trump, Garland (maybe), others actually involved in the situation…

    • #99
  10. DrewInWisconsin, Oik Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Oik
    @DrewInWisconsin

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    They do nothing while Democrats yank us leftward. They do nothing when they should be fighting for us.

    • #100
  11. Vince Guerra Inactive
    Vince Guerra
    @VinceGuerra

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    No difference.

    “Those who ignore evil are accomplice to it.” – MLK Jr.

    • #101
  12. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    No difference.

    “Those who ignore evil are accomplice to it.” – MLK Jr.

    It would be absurd to insist that, for example, not cutting taxes is the same as increasing taxes.

    Or that a pacifist is the same as an attacker (even if a pacifist is not much use when you’re attacked).

    King Log vs. King Stork.

    • #102
  13. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Taras (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    No difference.

    “Those who ignore evil are accomplice to it.” – MLK Jr.

    It would be absurd to insist that, for example, not cutting taxes is the same as increasing taxes.

    Or that a pacifist is the same as an attacker (even if a pacifist is not much use when you’re attacked).

    King Log vs. King Stork.

    But according to the left, not INCREASING spending is CUTTING spending.

    • #103
  14. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    No difference.

    “Those who ignore evil are accomplice to it.” – MLK Jr.

    It would be absurd to insist that, for example, not cutting taxes is the same as increasing taxes.

    Or that a pacifist is the same as an attacker (even if a pacifist is not much use when you’re attacked).

    King Log vs. King Stork.

    But according to the left, not INCREASING spending is CUTTING spending.

    Remember, leftists rarely believe their own arguments.  

    They are utilitarians in ethics:  they will make whatever argument they think will work for them, before a particular audience at a particular moment; and then they will walk down the block and make a different and contradictory argument, before a different audience at a different moment.

    William Hurrell Mallock describes a real-life example of this that he witnessed, in his 1907 A Critical Examination of Socialism.  He followed a socialist agitator from an appearance before a middle-class audience, to one before a working-class audience.

    • #104
  15. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Taras (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    No difference.

    “Those who ignore evil are accomplice to it.” – MLK Jr.

    It would be absurd to insist that, for example, not cutting taxes is the same as increasing taxes.

    Or that a pacifist is the same as an attacker (even if a pacifist is not much use when you’re attacked).

    King Log vs. King Stork.

    But according to the left, not INCREASING spending is CUTTING spending.

    Remember, leftists rarely believe their own arguments.

    They are utilitarians in ethics: they will make whatever argument they think will work for them, before a particular audience at a particular moment; and then they will walk down the block and make a different and contradictory argument, before a different audience at a different moment.

    William Hurrell Mallock describes a real-life example of this that he witnessed, in his 1907 A Critical Examination of Socialism. He followed a socialist agitator from an appearance before a middle-class audience, to one before a working-class audience.

    You may be right about leftist leadership.  But I’ve become convinced – due to cases such as my benighted mother – that much of their “base” ends up actually believing these things.

    • #105
  16. Taras Coolidge
    Taras
    @Taras

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    Vince Guerra (View Comment):

    kedavis (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Oik (View Comment):

    Taras (View Comment):

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, and lose without her, then “GO NIKKI!!!”

    If we win with Nikki Haley on the ticket, we lose.

    She doesn’t know what time it is.

    You seriously believe there’s no difference between Trump-Haley and Biden-Harris?

    You didn’t say “Trump/Haley” you said “Haley.” What was I supposed to think?

    OK. You seriously believe there’s no difference between Haley-anybody and Biden-Harris?

    I seriously believe there’s little difference between Nikki Haley and the sort of do-nothing “Republicans” that the GOPe is always shoving at us.

    Would “do-nothing” be better than “do-bad?”

    No difference.

    “Those who ignore evil are accomplice to it.” – MLK Jr.

    It would be absurd to insist that, for example, not cutting taxes is the same as increasing taxes.

    Or that a pacifist is the same as an attacker (even if a pacifist is not much use when you’re attacked).

    King Log vs. King Stork.

    But according to the left, not INCREASING spending is CUTTING spending.

    Remember, leftists rarely believe their own arguments.

    They are utilitarians in ethics: they will make whatever argument they think will work for them, before a particular audience at a particular moment; and then they will walk down the block and make a different and contradictory argument, before a different audience at a different moment.

    William Hurrell Mallock describes a real-life example of this that he witnessed, in his 1907 A Critical Examination of Socialism. He followed a socialist agitator from an appearance before a middle-class audience, to one before a working-class audience.

    You may be right about leftist leadership. But I’ve become convinced – due to cases such as my benighted mother – that much of their “base” ends up actually believing these things.

    Exactly!  In Mallock’s example, above, a different version of leftism is presented to each group, precisely designed to be persuasive for members of each group.

    Middle-class leftists would be told that, under socialism, freedom of speech and the press would be strictly observed.  Leftist workers would be told they would control their factories. Peasant leftists would be promised the land.

    The agitator represents the “upstream” leftists, who know they’re lying.  “Downstream” leftists are the rank-and-file consumers/disseminaters of the lies, which they believe.

    • #106
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.