New Wave Of Populism And Other BS Explanations

Remember 2010 when the news media hated the tea party but recognized their growing stature? They tried hard to spin the tsunami as an anti-incumbency movement. This was followed by "the coffee party" and "no labels" movement. Remember them?

Media sympathetic to the political class (which is to say almost all of them) recognize that the Obama Administration is a train wreck of epic proportions. Of course, they have touted this guy and his loyalists every step of the way. Every time he has gotten in a mess, the media have covered for their messiah. They have done damage control for over five years now.

The media have to be right and the administration's critics have to be discredited. How does one square the circle? It's a new trend of bipartisan populism. Salena Zito proposes James Webb and Joe Manchin as the new faces of this nebulous trend. She even touts Webb as a potential presidential candidate in 2016. Which party do Webb and Manchin belong to?

Maybe Zito has a point. Maybe it will require a "blue dog" to unify the country. The problem is that the Dems have purged and starved all moderates. Manchin barely got elected in a Democratic state and Webb is retired. The media will do anything to save face, thus we have Salena Zito.

A new wave of populism:
http://tinyurl.com/pfohlp3

Primaries

This blog has not endorsed too many primary candidates although I do prefer Bob Smith to RINO Scott Brown.

Because it was not as close as some thought it would be (according to the polls) I have not had a lot to say about Mitch McConnell vs. Matt Bevin. I have differences with Mitch but I can summarize him in two words: good enough. Glenn Beck gets all gushy about Matt Bevin but I don't share his enthusiasm. Rand II? Not sure about that.

In Georgia, I am happy to see Saxby Chambliss retire. I don't have time to assess the field of GOP candidates and there is almost certainly going to be a run-off. Meantime, The Dems are reaching into their Royal Family playbook. Michelle Nunn will probably be their nominee. In another country Nunn would be called a duchess of a baroness or something else that would emphasize her lineage. I will always be amazed that people who sincerely renounce privilege and inequality goose step behind a political party devoted to the advancement of inherited privilege and inequality.

Oregon is heating up where the doctor candidate has been accused of spousal abuse and stalking. Arkansas is a done deal for both the Senate and Governor races.

I don't expect a lot of surprises today.

In search of a color blind heat wave

Communities of color are more vulnerable to deaths from heat waves, which climate change will make worse #ActonClimate
— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) May 16, 2014

Holy shit wow @keithellison this is one of the dumbest things I have ever heard. How the fuck were you elected to anything?
— Manasquan News (@ManasquanStuff) May 16, 2014

Enough said.

 I guess that's why the congressman lives in Minnesota but is he saying that people of color a genetically inferior?

Bill Whittle Nails It: Gaslighting

This is a subject that deserves more attention. The defense/intelligence complex concerned itself with the effects of systematic lying upon captive individuals and captive nations. Some early mental health theorists advanced the idea that serious mental illness stemmed from systematic lying. It's a subject that should be revisited.

In New Hampshire, facilitating mental trickery on one's spouse is considered abuse. The exact phrasing escapes me but I suspect people who occupied high places viewed the old Ingrid Bergman movie.

WHAT ARE THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF CONSTANT DECEPTION?

Who Cares About Handguns And Auto Parts? 3-D Printers Will Soon Be Cranking Out Buildings

OK, these models are not exactly McMansions but we are not even daisy wheel just yet. Imagine being able to build an apartment complex for roughly the price of a yard shed. The future is, was now.

Is Al Gore In Chicago?

Global warming, climate change, climate disruption, climate chaos comes to Chicago. Snow on May 15.

For the record Chicago was hit with snow as late as June 2 in 1910.

Judge rules Timothy Geithner must comply with McGraw Hill subpoena

There is a delicious poignancy in the timing. Tim Geithner is promoting his new book entitled Stress Test just as a federal judge rules on a decision that the is apt to give the former Secretary of the Treasury personal stress the likes of which he hasn't felt in years. Geithner must, the judge ruled, provide documents related to its claim the U.S. sued McGraw Hill, the parent company of Standard and Poor in retaliation for downgrading government debt. I have written numerous posts on this subject.
The upshot of Standard and Poor's defense against a DOJ lawsuit germane to it rating of mortgage debt prior to the financial meltdown of 2008 is that the suit was brought about in retaliation for S&P's downgrade of U.S. debt in 2010. Harold McGraw III, CEO of McGraw Hill claims shortly after the downgrade an angry Geithner called and promised "consequences" for said action. The call to McGraw took place right after Geithner had met with President Barack Obama, S&P said in February.
Now the judge has refused to set aside McGraw Hill's subpoena of Geithner's documents.
“Secretary Geithner’s statements are susceptible to several interpretations and it is unclear whether there is a nexus between his displeasure and the Department of Justice’s litigation decisions,” the judge said. “But, such open questions are properly answered after, not before, discovery.”