There’s No Debate

Debate number two is in the history books now, and to help us parse all the performances we call on two experts: Michael Barone and Rick Wilson. Who won, who lost, who scored and who fumbled? All questions answered within. Also, whither Scott Walker? And, We’re Number 1!

Music from this week’s episode:

King For a Day by XTC

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

Get me a rewrite, EJHill.

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There are 37 comments.

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  1. Lucy Pevensie Inactive
    Lucy Pevensie
    @LucyPevensie

    I suspect that you meant “whither Scott Walker.”  Although I really fear that wither applies at least to his campaign.

    • #1
  2. Mate De Inactive
    Mate De
    @MateDe

    Wasn’t Thomas Sowell supposed to be on this week?

    • #2
  3. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Mate De:Wasn’t Thomas Sowell supposed to be on this week?

    Yes, had to reschedule him for next week.

    • #3
  4. Yudansha Member
    Yudansha
    @Yudansha

    Blue Yeti:

    Mate De:Wasn’t Thomas Sowell supposed to be on this week?

    Yes, had to reschedule him for next week.

    And you got Rick Wilson instead?  Talk about trading down…

    • #4
  5. Mate De Inactive
    Mate De
    @MateDe

    Yudansha:

    Blue Yeti:

    Mate De:Wasn’t Thomas Sowell supposed to be on this week?

    Yes, had to reschedule him for next week.

    And you got Rick Wilson instead? Talk about trading down…

    I assume this was a last minute rescheduling and Rick was available, but it’s still disappointing but I’ll listening and enjoy it anyway. Thanks for the info Yeti.

    • #5
  6. Brian Watt Inactive
    Brian Watt
    @BrianWatt

    A few seconds after Michael Barone was introduced, the sound of someone furiously clicking computer keys could be heard. I thought for a second that a cockroach had somehow gotten into my computer. It was very startling. I’m okay now but now I’m wiping insecticide off of my computer…like with a cloth.

    Oh, and if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a gazillion times, I never exaggerate.

    • #6
  7. Peter Meza Member
    Peter Meza
    @PeterMeza

    I wouldn’t vote for Carly in a heartbeat.  She seemed way too intense in that debate.  It looked like her head was going to blow up at certain points like in “Scanners”.

    • #7
  8. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Here’s why we had to move Dr. Sowell to next week:

    IMG_4150

    • #8
  9. MitchellM Inactive
    MitchellM
    @MitchellMorgan

    Michael Barone always sounds slightly out of breath.

    • #9
  10. Peter Fumo Inactive
    Peter Fumo
    @Wolverine

    Seemed like Rick Wilson has a withering contempt for Trump supporters and those who frequent casinos. I guess it is dumb to say things that turn off Hispanics voters who overwhelmingly support Democrats while degrading the type of voter who potentially would vote Republican if anyone wanted their vote. But I am not a campaign consultant.

    • #10
  11. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck

    Lucy Pevensie:I suspect that you meant “whither Scott Walker.” Although I really fear that wither applies at least to his campaign.

    Wow, I thought that was an excellent pun, and had just come to this thread to compliment the author!

    • #11
  12. Nick Stuart Inactive
    Nick Stuart
    @NickStuart

    It isn’t that everything hasn’t been said about Trump. It seems like everybody is striving to say everything about Trump again and again.

    The main feed commentariat don’t like Trump. Neither do I.

    But hearing him discussed over, and over, and over on the podcasts is becoming really tedious.

    I bailed on Need to Know a couple weeks back. Now the main podcast.

    See you guys when the primary is over I suppose.

    • #12
  13. Pepe LePew Inactive
    Pepe LePew
    @PepeLePew

    I have heard no discussion, here or elsewhere, about Trump’s 2011 book on politics: Time to Get Tough—-Making America #1 Again. Apparently written to help defeat Obama in 2012, it starts with criticism of China that mirrors his recent comments. It is written in his style of speaking so may not be ghost-written. Rick Wilson’s thought that Trump has no ideological foundation, and will withdraw when the thrill is gone, may be wrong, considering that he is committed to distinct policy positions and has a consistent vision. I think Wilson misunderestimates Trump’s commitment to get elected.

    • #13
  14. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Nick Stuart:It isn’t that everything hasn’t been said about Trump. It seems like everybody is striving to say everything about Trump again and again.

    The main feed commentariat don’t like Trump. Neither do I.

    But hearing him discussed over, and over, and over on the podcasts is becoming really tedious.

    I bailed on Need to Know a couple weeks back. Now the main podcast.

    See you guys when the primary is over I suppose.

    He’s the leading Republican candidate in all of the polls and has been for weeks. How can we not talk him, especially right after a debate?

    • #14
  15. Tuck Inactive
    Tuck
    @Tuck

    Blue Yeti: He’s the leading Republican candidate in all of the polls and has been for weeks. How can we not talk him, especially right after a debate?

    See the request in another thread for a Monarchy feed: politics without elections. ;)

    • #15
  16. Nick Stuart Inactive
    Nick Stuart
    @NickStuart

    Blue Yeti: He’s the leading Republican candidate in all of the polls and has been for weeks. How can we not talk him, especially right after a debate?

    Of course, you’re right. I’m only a loyal listener for 5+ years. What would I know?

    • #16
  17. MBF Inactive
    MBF
    @MBF

    Trump may be leading the national polls, but he barely registers in the Ricochet member polls. Know your audience.

    • #17
  18. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    @MBF Currently on the first two pages of the Member Feed, I count 8 posts with the word TRUMP in the headline. There are several more that mention him.

    But I hear you. Maybe next week, we’ll do a Trump- free Ricochet Podcast.

    • #18
  19. Ward Robles Inactive
    Ward Robles
    @WardRobles

    Gentlemen, this was one of your best efforts. “A hat pin to the ear.” The whole 72 minutes was good, but was worth my time just for that one quip.

    • #19
  20. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Blue Yeti:Here’s why we had to move Dr. Sowell to next week:

    IMG_4150

    Peter shot an episode of “Uncommon Knowledge” with Dr. Sowell? Cool!

    What are they doing in Australia?

    • #20
  21. Lidens Cheng Member
    Lidens Cheng
    @LidensCheng

    Peter Fumo:Seemed like Rick Wilson has a withering contempt for Trump supporters and those who frequent casinos. I guess it is dumb to say things that turn off Hispanics voters who overwhelmingly support Democrats while degrading the type of voter who potentially would vote Republican if anyone wanted their vote. But I am not a campaign consultant.

    Campaign consultants are overrated. They’re the reason Rick Perry is gone, and Scott Walker’s campaign is dying.

    • #21
  22. Dustoff Inactive
    Dustoff
    @Dustoff

    JAMES

    You are totally YUGE!

    • #22
  23. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    That opening was brilliant. If it wasn’t inappropriate to laugh out loud at work, I would have done so, James. Well done.

    • #23
  24. Pike Bishop Inactive
    Pike Bishop
    @PikeBishop

    Best intro evah! It was YUGE!

    • #24
  25. Atavist Member
    Atavist
    @Atavist

    Zzzzzzzzbrrrsstruuuuuubrsssssssssszzzzzzzztpp…*splutter* *sniffle* oh sorry….. I nodded off a minute or two into Barone’s droning discourse. If the fellow must speak in such a somnolent monotone can he at least be encouraged to offer some genuine insight?

    • #25
  26. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    I am in a monarchy and we still have elections so niah!

    • #26
  27. mildlyo Member
    mildlyo
    @mildlyo

    Thanks to Lileks for the mention of the Star Trek discussion this past week.

    • #27
  28. Ario IronStar Inactive
    Ario IronStar
    @ArioIronStar

    I’m just wondering:  why does Ricochet have Rick Wilson on?  Whatever the merits of his political insights (seems bog standard to me, though), hasn’t he demonstrated conclusively that he falls far, far below the minimal decorum required by the CoC?  Any defenders?  Perhaps I’ve missed something?

    UPDATE:  I was curious and checked out the issue from last month:

    http://ricochet.com/hey-rick-wilson-what-exactly-is-wrong-with-you/#comments

    Folks, please don’t have Rick Wilson back on.

    • #28
  29. Ario IronStar Inactive
    Ario IronStar
    @ArioIronStar

    Also, regarding the mention of the Trump Obama/Muslim “controversy,” Republicans gotta get a grip on this.  This apology syndrome is foolish.  As so often, Steyn (last week’s guest) pretty much sums it up:

    http://www.steynonline.com/7188/get-lost-you-palace-guard-creep

    • #29
  30. Mr. Dart Inactive
    Mr. Dart
    @MrDart

    Ario IronStar:Also, regarding the mention of the Trump Obama/Muslim “controversy,” Republicans gotta get a grip on this. This apology syndrome is foolish. As so often, Steyn (last week’s guest) pretty much sums it up:

    http://www.steynonline.com/7188/get-lost-you-palace-guard-creep

    I especially liked #5 of Steyn’s 7 responses but all 7 had merit.

    None of them seemed in line with James’s view that what Trump did (or, more accurately, didn’t do) was, “gaffetastic!”

    • #30
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