Ross Douthat On The Unifying Fantasy Of The Left

Normally Ross Douthat tries to engage his Upper West Side readership with calm and sweet reason. Overcome, perhaps, by the martial memories of Memorial Day, he is now opting for a truth bomb which was nearly titled "Why Losers Lose":

How Liberalism Loses

An inflexible agenda and a global retreat.

In Australia a week ago, the party of the left lost an election it was supposed to win, to a conservative government headed by an evangelical Christian who won working-class votes by opposing liberal climate policies. In India last week, the Hindu-nationalist prime minister, Narendra Modi, won an overwhelming electoral victory. And as of this writing, Europeans are electing a Parliament that promises to have more populist representation than before.

The global fade of liberalism, in other words, appears to be continuing.

Are there lessons to be learned?

The fact that populism is flourishing internationally, far from the Electoral College and Fox News, suggests that Trump’s specific faults might actually be propping up American liberalism. If we had a populist president who didn’t alienate so many persuadable voters, who took full advantage of a strong economy, and who had the political cunning displayed by Modi or Benjamin Netanyahu or Viktor Orban, the liberal belief in a hidden left-of-center mandate might be exposed as a fond delusion.

But are these lessons being learned?

That liberal belief may also misunderstand the real correlation of forces in our politics. We had an example this week on our op-ed podcast, The Argument, where my colleague and co-host David Leonhardt interviewed Pete Buttigieg, the Midwestern mayor running for president with promises to build bridges between the heartland and the coasts. Leonhardt pressed Buttigieg on whether that bridge-building might include compromise on any social issues, and the answer seemed to be “no” — in part because Mayor Pete argued that on abortion and guns and immigration most middle Americans already agree with Democrats, that the liberal position is already the common ground.

The strategic flaw in this reading of the liberal situation is that politics isn’t about casually held opinions on a wide range of topics, but focused prioritization of specifics. As the Democratic data analyst David Shor has noted, you can take a cluster of nine Democratic positions that each poll over 50 percent individually, and find that only 18 percent of Americans agree with all of them. And a single strong, focused disagreement can be enough to turn a voter against liberalism, especially if liberals seem uncompromising on that issue.

A pattern of narrow, issue-by-issue resistance is also what you’d expect in an era where the popular culture is more monolithically left-wing than before. That cultural dominance establishes a broad, shallow left-of-center consensus, which then evaporates when people have some personal reason to reject liberalism, or confront the limits of its case.

None of this needs to spell doom for liberals; it just requires them to prioritize and compromise. If you want to put climate change at the center of liberal politics, for instance, then you’ll keep losing voters in the Rust Belt, just as liberal parties have lost similar voters in Europe and Australia. In which case you would need to reassure some other group, be it suburban evangelicals or libertarians, that you’re willing to compromise on the issues that keep them from voting Democratic.

Alternatively, if you want to make crushing religious conservatives your mission, then you need to woo secular populists on guns or immigration, or peel off more of the tax-sensitive upper middle class by not going full socialist.

Liberals need to compromise and prioritize? You see where this is going - "No enemies to the left" implies no compromise with any faction of the right.

But the liberal impulse at the moment, Buttigiegian as well as Ocasio-Cortezan, is to insist that liberalism is a seamless garment, an indivisible agenda that need not be compromised on any front. And instead of recognizing populism as a motley coalition united primarily by opposition to liberalism’s rule, liberals want to believe they’re facing a unitary enemy — a revanchist patriarchal white supremacy, infecting every branch and tributary of the right.

In this view it’s not enough to see racial resentment as one important form of anti-liberalism (which it surely is); all anti-liberalism must fall under the canopy. Libertarianism is white supremacy, the N.R.A. is white supremacy, immigration skepticism is white supremacy, tax-sensitive suburbia is white supremacy, the pro-life movement is white supremacy, anxiety about terrorism is white supremacy … and you can’t compromise with white supremacists, you can only crush them.

Which liberals may do in 2020, because Trump remains eminently beatable.

Well, beating Trump won't be the same as re-taking the Senate and the many GOP governorships, but yes, for the left it would be a start.

But in the long run, the global trend suggests that a liberalism that remains inflexible in the face of variegated resistance is the ideology more likely to be crushed.

"Stop hating, haters" as a response to any and all critics is unlikely to develop into a winning message.

 

Comments

[Narciso79]

What color is the sky in douthats world,

[Jim Eagle]

The same color as bull shit, narc.

[Beasts of England]

I may have to smash a few of my fingers with a hammer to help me forget that I read that garbage.

[Narciso79]

Just dial the shoch collar to eleven, does Exeter and Harvard make you stupid like with yglesias

[Beasts of England]

'...Mayor Pete argued that on abortion and guns and immigration most middle Americans already agree with Democrats, that the liberal position is already the common ground.'

Indubitably.

[Another Bob]

Willowed.

MM, when we were going to the 500, I-65 from Chicago south was a raceway itself. So many state troopers etc. are in Speedway working the traffic in and out there’s no coverage.

Was ticking over at three digits MPH myself a couple years and rather enjoying it.

[JimNorCal]

If you missed it, go back to the end of the prev thread where Beasts posted a lovely photo!

[clarice]

The left is a hodgepodge of varied and conflicting interest and identity groups. No one can please them all.Great. Only BJC was slippery enough to do that.

[MissMarple2]

Another Bob,

Good point about the state police being busy at the track.

[clarice]

MT, your meet up posted on the prior page sounds like it was great.

[Buckeye]

MT

Did you make any color changes with the new paint job?

[MissMarple2]

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3011872/chinas-navy-being-forced-rethink-its-spending-plans-cost-trade

Gee, what a shame we elected a business guy instead of one of those Republicans who speak in cultured tones.

[MissMarple2]

Glenn Greenwald
‏Verified account @ggreenwald
13m13 minutes ago

Countless news reports - from liberal outlets - documented what a serial liar @JohnBrennan was during the Obama years. Then NBC/MSNBC hired him, and allowed him to shape their "news' with constant, wilful disinformation they never challenged or corrected

[Old Lurker]

So true, Clarice: "The left is a hodgepodge of varied and conflicting interest and identity groups. No one can please them all.Great.Only BJC was slippery enough to do that."

And against that the GOP used to stand for limited government (since we all understood that all powers granted government are subtracted for the liberties of the people), support for the Constitution and the intent behind each paragraph, a strong defense against all internal and external threats, Judicial restraint post Marbury, Equal Justice (prompt and consistent) in a class free society, balanced budgets and sane financial management.

But now the GOP is fractured into groups around each of those categories and therefore seems as fractured as the Dem coalition has always been.

[Another Bob]

Trump has “alienated persuadable voters”?

Where? Who? Getting the persuadables is exactly how Trump won, no? Better mid-term approval than Obama, no?

Seems to me the problem the out-of-touch progs have is too many people telling them that their Eden is just around the corner, which causes them to harden their positions.

[James D.]

What a load of absolute garbage from Douthat.

Not that that's a surprise, of course.

Especially this bit, which should win an award for stupidity:

If we had a populist president who didn’t alienate so many persuadable voters, who took full advantage of a strong economy, and who had the political cunning displayed by Modi or Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyhu doesn't alienate voters? Has this moron not been paying any attenion even to the headlines in his own newspaper about israeli politics for, oh, the last 15 years or so?

[lurkersusie]

Someone is not following orders

Mike on Twitter: "John Brennan still has a security clearance | https://t.co/5U9ZxSvCbH" / Twitter

[clarice]

OL--DJT is a true revolutionary and I think what we are seeing is a subrosa realignment of the parties.

[MissMarple2]

Mark Knoller
‏Verified account @markknoller

After Sumo, PM Abe took his guests out to dinner at a hibachi restaurant. They dined on a 5-course meal which included:
- Japanese potato with butter
- Salad
- Grilled chicken
- Wagyu beef steak with broccoli and carrots
- Vanilla ice cream

Mark Knoller
‏Verified account @markknoller
4h4 hours ago

Catching up, Japanese spokesman said that for their after-golf lunch earlier in the day, Pres Trump and Prime Minister Abe had double cheeseburgers made from American beef, said the statement.

[MissMarple2]

James D.,

Got to agree with you about that paragraph being garbage.

Where did we get all of these pearl clutchers who want BORING politicians?

[Jane]

Beasts,

I swear when I posted that comment it was right after your pix of melania's dress. Of course I'd been to the pool, taken a shower and made ribs before I refreshed.

It was funny then.

[Melinda]

MM’s 10:54 is on China’s navy rethinking its spending.

FYI.

[Melinda]

10:44.

(Sheesh)

[MissMarple2]

Boom! Kick-ass video taken earlier today by a friend in #Paris. #YellowVests are seen chanting "Revolution!" "Revolution!" for #ActeXXVIII. The sleeping giant that is humanity continues to awaken and thunder to life! #GiletsJaunes pic.twitter.com/1WL0IMYsFU

— Simply Beautiful (@SimplyBeautific) May 25, 2019

Video at link.

[Jane]

Beasts,

I swear when I posted that comment on the last thread, it was right after your pix of melania's dress. Of course I'd been to the pool, taken a shower and made ribs before I refreshed.

It was funny then.

[clarice]

MM: lesson--don't ride around in limos and keep raising gas taxes on those who don't.

[henry]

Too bad the GOPe and Chamber of Commerce refuse to learn that lesson on gas taxes.

[Beasts of England]

A beautiful Pieces, Clarice. 🇺🇸

[Beasts of England]

lol, Jane! :)

[MissMarple2]

clarice,

So true. I do not see how Macron retains power.

[Extraneus]

On NPR, Ramesh Ponnuru Goes Full David Brooks on Collusion, Spygate

KELLY: You're raising the danger which we just heard Jeremy Bash allude to of potentially politicizing intelligence. Ramesh, what do you think?

PONNURU: Well, there's no question that the president has the constitutional authority to make this command. The question is what degree of trust we have in the attorney general to make neutral decisions about declassification. And I...

KELLY: All right. What degree of trust do you have in the attorney general to be neutral?

PONNURU: And I would say that his reputational capital has declined quite a bit over the course of this year, that when he was nominated, he had a significant amount of bipartisan support. That has evaporated in the course of the last few months during these hearings. And I would just also point out, just a few weeks ago, Barr himself was saying in testimony before Congress that we have to stop criminalizing -- excuse me -- we have to stop using the criminal justice process as a political weapon.

This move on declassification comes after the president has accused the former team at the FBI of having committed treason against him. And it has to be seen in that context. I think that there are -- there's a warring message. They say, we want to move on from the scandal -- and then they won't let us move on from the scandal.

So I think that there's a political problem for them. And I think that it's something that we should view with a high degree of skepticism on substance.

Etc.

[Old Lurker]

Agreed Clarice.

Fingers crossed.

[Comanche Voter]

So Ol Ross thinks that some believe that liberalism is a "seamless garment". Sort of like those "Jesus Britches" that Mormons used to wear under their garments---and that the Ross's of his world chose to denigrate as ridiculous superstitions. Of course modern day liberalism is full of ridiculous superstitions.

[Beasts of England]

'They say, we want to move on from the scandal -- and then they won't let us move on from the scandal.'

I don't remember anyone on Trump's side saying we wanted to move on from the scandal. I know I don't. :)

[Manuel Transmission]

Willowed :(

JiB and Iggy: yesterday Hoyden and her pal from Bellingham walk off the early boat and meet us at the hangar. We all, including my sis visiting from NC, climb aboard and head to Boeing Field for the big Buffer Day.

Wow. It is the commemoration of a Vietnam Vet Memorial Garden at the Museum of Flight with the Midnight Express Buffer (built in 1960) as the centerpiece. That’s the same bird that is in my nic pic before they took it apart and trucked it down to the museum a couple years ago.

The whole effort was a grassroots operation including the entire crew of the M/E, and led to the Buffer being now fully restored.

Mad Dog, who grew up over in Richland, was the keynote speaker and was clear that he didn’t serve in VN, but his older brother did and was his inspiration to also join the Marines. He also said that the wisdom conveyed by his brother and other older men from that war helped him save a lot of men when his life or death decisions had to be made.

Later in the afternoon, they had an 1-1/2 hr session in the Allen Theater with 3 Buffer drivers and 2 other pilots, who were also POWs. Very moving session. Talked a lot about the Linebacker II Christmas bombing raid that finally drove the North to the negotiating table and won the release of the POWs.

[Jim Eagle]

For Keto, I am having a late breakfast of Avocado Egg and Cheese:)

Hollow out a little more of the pit hole, pour in an egg on each piece, bake at 425F for 15 minutes then sprinkle some shredded cheese on the hot surface. Yummy.

[Beasts of England]

As seen on FB: I'm pretty bad at math until someone orders mozzarella sticks for the whole table.

[Jim Eagle]

MT,

I was Arc Light in an F model. Got out in '69 so missed Linebacker. My launch was Anderson but some guys went to U-Taipo in Thailand. Glad you got to see and hear those buffer stories.

[Sammy Small]

MT

Popular saying from VN war era, "I'd rather have a sister in a whorehouse than a brother flying BUFFs."

[clarice]

Wave when you see this in any US media:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7071713/FBI-tapes-Martin-Luther-King-Jr-40-affairs-laughed-friend-raped-parishioner.html

[MissMarple2]

The #SnakePit is in full force here at the #Indy500! 🐍 @IMS #IndianasVeryOwn pic.twitter.com/s5XP6kYiw8

— CBS4 Indy (@CBS4Indy) May 26, 2019

Pictures at link.

[Manuel Transmission]

From one of my homeboys:

Much is made of our “trade war” with China, and increasing tariffs. Note, however, that we export some $129B annually, approximately .5% our our $21T GDP. No, you didn’t misread that, our exports to China are only point five percent of our GDP. China sends us 505B in goods annually - and shamelessly steal technology from us, and all their trading partners (e.g., Europe).

Selling goods back to us when using our stolen technology is a special kind or irony. And don’t forget, China is the largest polluter on the planet. China is the largest polluter of our oceans, three times greater than its nearest offender, Indonesia. Don’t have a plastic straw for that cocktail, blame China - and Indonesia, India, the Philippines, etc. But, don’t blame Europe or the USA. Our rivers aren’t used as garbage bins and toilets. No, diversity is not strength. Try that philosophy on your military combat unit or favorite sports team. Merit is the answer, not some sort of pathetic substitute, but I digress, and could not help myself.

Our tariffs on Chinese goods have been increasing over time and now are at 25% on $200B of imports. We have lots of room to yet increase the amount of Chinese goods on which we place tariffs. In theory, tariffs make Chinese good more expensive to the consumer here at home, but actuality it’s a little more complicated. We buy Chinese goods from overseas wholesalers, who, through pricing pressure, are now trying to fulfill orders through other suppliers as China’s stolen competitive advantage is being whittled away. We are now buying goods from other countries (Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America, etc.) at nominally higher prices and China’s production is falling. China placing retaliatory tariffs on US goods hurts our farmers at home (e.g., soy beans), but we’re fixing that diverting collected tariffs to directly support them. And, don’t forget the swine flu in China killing off (wiping out) their supply of pork - you likie pork? Got in trouble years back by jokingly saying that to a young grandson who though it was hysterical and promptly went around shouting it throughout the grocery store. Bad Grandpa.

Bottom line, we can’t lose this battle, either economically due to the trade imbalance, or ethically by allow the Chinese to keep stealing. Time to put a stop to this now. The Nike running shoes I just bought are now coming from Vietnam, and are of a higher quality that the pair I bought that were made in China. BTW, I don’t know if measurements get screwed up in translation, but almost every time I buy something via the internet and it’s made in China, the sizing always comes out wrong and I have to send it back. Importantly, also note that China’s retaliation against our exports of goods to China doesn’t amount to a hill of beans and is negligible as it relates to our GDP. Our economy is too strong. If there was anytime better for a fight like this I can’t recall one. The Demorats won’t tell you any of this as they engage in hyper partisan politics, anything to ruin Trump’s chances for re-election. This is all about 2020, and rabid identity politics. Nothing is going to get done to help America because the Democraps wont allow it. In a phrase, screw them. Eis dependeat in excelsis (hang them high).

In the meantime, let’s bus all the illegals coming across the border to the home towns of these unelected partisan judges who believe it is they who are effectively presidents of the US and run the Country from their appointed bench seats. The latest being an Obozo appointed, partisan hack, from Oakland, CA (what a shit hole) who has ruled Trump can’t build a wall to address an emergency and stem the tide of illegals pouring over our southern border. We are being over-run and Tit’s Magee (Nasty Nancy) stands there, with that crazed wide-eyed look, licking her dentures, and fighting an ever increasing case of turrets, surrounded by her antisemitic, socialist, Muslims sisters and cries impeachment. Go for it Nancy, make our day.

[Manuel Transmission]

Buckeye,

Kept the red/white/blue theme, but dramatically different scheme. Medium dark metallic blue on the bottom including the wings. Red and silver ribbons along the sides and up the tail.

[MissMarple2]

VView from Speedway media center:

[matt - deplore me if you must]

I wonder if Abe and Trump went to Benihana? Isu kurimu?

I can imagine Trump off the cuff with the sumo wrestlers? "youse guys are bigger than big! The biggest! Bigly, even!"

He always seems to have the common touch, from going out to Arlington before he left greeting family members in the White House to reaching out when he stops over to our troops. Where Obama was stiff, Trump seems more engaged.

As to the libs it is impossible to tell them apart without a scorecard now. Buttigieg is dreaming that most of the country agrees with the on guns and abortion, especially in light of poll after poll.

I think that without these screaming liberal judges we would see serious limits on abortion rights. 90 days max after conception seems reasonable, and more and more doctors are putting paid to the lies about mother's lives and rape. Those circumstances are both rare and some of the stories coming to the fore now directly contradict their propaganda.

Their platform is a tapestry of lies, so how can they even think they can successfully engage the middle?

[MissMarple2]

This is a nice story:

https://www.wishtv.com/national/world-war-ii-vet-95-graduates-more-than-70-years-after-leaving-high-school/2028239413

[clarice]

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/courts/federal-judge-who-blocked-trumps-border-wall-donated-20k-to-obama

[MissMarple2]

matt,

Trump genuinely likes people. Saw him at a rally last year and you cannot miss it when seeing him live.

I watch a lot of videos of his White House events and his engagement with the people attending, whether cabinet officials, sports teams, or average citizens, is remarkably the same. Lots of personal contact, shoulder patting while shaking hands, joking, and the use of first names.

I dono't think the left understands how important this is. Every one of their candidates (and people in Congress as well) seem mostly concerned with telling people what to do and convincing everyone that they are smarter than everyone else.

[MissMarple2]

clarice,

Not only that, but he worked for Eric Holder's AG department before being appointed!

[Extraneus]

New Abortion Laws Reportedly Affecting College Enrollment Decisions

“It puts my child into a situation [where] I might think twice about her safety.”

[MissMarple2]

Helio Castraneves will carry Betty Rutherford's name on the side of his car. She was Johnny Rutherford's wife and passed away last winter. She is remembered fondly in Indianapolis as one of the pioneers of women at the track.

[Manuel Transmission]

JiB, the crew at the event were in either D or G models. They explained that there were a lot of G models lost due to them having much less jamming capability as their main purpose was going over the pole, not dodging S-2s. In fact, they had a stand down day early in the eleven day campaign after losing 4(?) Buffers in one day.

[Jim Eagle]

Just announced by Tirico that Bart Starr has died. 85y.o. RIP Bart.

[MissMarple2]

https://americandigitalnews.com/index.php/2019/04/25/ukraines-new-president-and-why-you-should-know-him/

This is an April article I hadn't seen. LOTS of information on the new president and the monumental clean-up task he faces.

[MissMarple2]

BNL NEWS
‏ @BreakingNLive
13m13 minutes ago

DEVELOPING: Exit polls from 7 EU countries expected at 12 pm ET, 6pm CET, including exit polls from the Netherlands and Germany.

[Jim Eagle]

MT,

That and expanding tonnage of ordinance both in the bay and wing pylons.

[Beasts of England]

RIP, Bart. (RTR)

[Captain Hate]

Maybe it was Lombardi's system but I thought Starr was a boring QB.

[Jim Eagle]

CH,

Like Woody's, 3 yards and a cloud of dust:)

[Narciso79]

Actually he headed a division at Covington and birling and may have worked alongside Mueller in northern califirnia

[Captain Hate]

Pretty much, Jack; pounding Taylor and Hornung. He was turning the Skins around when he died. #9 even lost his gut!

[Narciso79]

Ponnuru is hindi for frum, have I not made that clear.

[MissMarple2]

Opening ceremonies starting. Presentation of colors, Invocation by the Archbishop of Indianapolis, National Anthem, and Back Home Again in Indiana.

[Beasts of England]

On update, re: (Dr.) Naomi Wolf. Her book was based on her doctoral thesis at New College (Oxford). That's some serious elite'n rat there!

[MissMarple2]

In this thread, Stu channels our Stephaie. Hilarious!

https://twitter.com/STUinSD/status/1132683186130042881

[Beasts of England]

'...have I not made that clear.'

That's Hall of Fame material, narciso!! 👊🏼

[hoyden]

I am so uncaughtup with reading so wanted to say how appreciative I feel for being invited to accompany MT to the Museum of Flight yesterday. So memorable on so many different levels. Veterans, aviation and American history in magnificent abundance. Our meal afterwards after flying back to Friday Harbor was a nice experience after such an eventful day.

[MissMarple2]

I just love listening to the opening ceremonies. They also played taps, and a laady is now singing "God Bless America."

It's so very Hoosier and old-fashioned, and I love it!

[MissMarple2]

Kelly Clarkson singing the National Anthem after the announcer asks everyone to rise in respect and remove their hats.

[MissMarple2]

Flyover by Air Force Heritage Flight.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/05/26/gove-to-challenge-boris-for-tory-leadership/

[Jim Eagle]

Interesting, that W issued an EO allowing military veterans to salute the flag heads uncovered during the Anthem but you rarely see that at large gathering like the 500.

[Narciso79]

Gove is a slimy little weasel, who was rewarded by may for stabbing Johnson at the finishline.

[Jim Eagle]

MM,

Gove is the weasel who gave them May if you remember. Boris will clean his clock.

[Narciso79]

How did the pilots flying arclight that would be 66-67 feel about their missions over north Vietnam.

Tk theres a knob with six setting on the left, thr farthest is the hottest.

[MissMarple2]

Jack, Narciso,

I cannot help but think that the Brits, having seen the weak leadership and zero personality of May, and the larger-than-life and strangth of Trump, would prefer Boris Johnson.

However, it's up to the MP's and not the voters, so we will see.

[Momto2]

Totally OT but sweet video of mama with hatching baby chicks...love to hear their little chirping. (These are in the UK)

Needed a little something to lower my blood pressure after spending 5 minutes on Twitter :)

https://twitter.com/TheFloofLady/status/1132545669221232640

[MissMarple2]

Now the Purdue band an an IU grad singing "Back Home Again in Indiana."

I cannot tell you guys how homesick I was when I heard this performed on the Armed Forces Network when I lived in West Berlin.

[MissMarple2]

Drivers are now in their cars.

[Jim Eagle]

narc,

Much like the drivers in the 500, narc. They were stoked to finally drive into harm's way. A lot of adrenaline for the first t/o.

[MissMarple2]

Balloon release at the #indy500 as “Back Home Again in Indiana” is performed by the great Jim Cornelison! pic.twitter.com/23QqdVhyLa

— CBS4 Indy (@CBS4Indy) May 26, 2019

Video at link, although not all of the song.

[Jim Eagle]

Green flag. They are off.

[MissMarple2]

67 passes already, according to the radio guys!

[MissMarple2]

https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-inconsistencies-of-bill-browder-and-the-magnitsky-act_2642783.html

This explains the Magnitsky Act, which I knew nothing about.

[MissMarple2]

WISH-TV
‏Verified account @WISH_TV
25s26 seconds ago

#INDY500 YELLOW FLAG: Trouble with car of Colton Herta.

[Buckeye]

MT

I like the idea of darker blue.

Did Hoyden fly right seat to or from Boeing?

[Manuel Transmission]

Buckeye, no, Mrs MT was helping due to shitty WX. Sadly there was no sightseeing either.

[Buckeye]

My nephew left Microsoft for a position at Amazon. Seems as this is the current fast track path.

Good news is he is 29 years old and started at Amazon at $280K.

Bad news is he still can't afford to buy a house.

West coast cost of living is in the stratosphere.

[Jim Eagle]

A lot of empty seats at the 500. Or are the occupants getting food and drink?

[clarice]

Housing is so expensive and it affects everything. In SF a nanny costs $80k a year.

[Jim Eagle]

Back in my time in SF, I had a one bedroom apartment with kitchen, dining room, living room, garage space in Pacific Heights for $1,100 a month:) That was 1992 to 1997. I even kept it when I went to permanent status in Buenos Aires not knowing if I would have to come back to fill another position. I let some friends across the Bay use it as long as they kept it clean and no parties.

The Landlady was Elizabeth Warren's doppelganger:)

[Jim Eagle]

So where is PETA on Putin?

https://twitter.com/rickrodan/status/1132645503060140032

[rse]

buckeye-

Red has a good friend who went to stanford and then stayed in sf to work in business after graduating. All 4 roommates had 6 figure incomes and all they could swing collectively was a small basic apartment.

He got fed up after two years or so and took a job in austin.

[MissMarple2]

Jack,

Can't be sure. Those stands are metal, so I wouldn't want to sit on them very long.

The weather has been iffy and it may be some people bailed. Looks like the race will finish before the next round of storms blows in.

[Jim Eagle]

What Obama, Holder, and Comey have wrought.

https://www.realclearinvestigations.com/articles/2019/05/25/trump-russia_the_knives_are_out.html

Amazing that in 8 years two institutions of American security were so compromised and corrupted. Still on the Ledge but will do handstands if Barry somehow gets exposed as a treasonous asshat.

[MissMarple2]

Leaving for a while. We have to go down and pick up a sewing machine in a cabinet that a friend is giving my daughter.

[Tom R]

Beasts @ 8:59 from the previous thread.

I have to give you credit. You can quibble to evade answering questions better than anyone else on this blog. You know good and damn well the allegations Trump was facing when he took office and you know good and damn well that was the point I was making.

BTW this is the main point you decided to ignore:

There is no way in hell Trump could have gone on the offensive on Day 1 with that cloud hanging over his head. He couldn’t go on the offensive until he was proven innocent of the false allegations.

Allegations and charges are synonymous terms in this context.

[Narciso79]

Well holder was a college radical at Colombia and brennan was an actual communist in 1980, so not a surprise, his predecessor Panetta was a Soviet dupe as noted before.

[mike in houston]

Althouse asks where did Naomi Wolf get her PhD. and finds this. Oxford has a lot to answer for.

"From 1985 to 1987, she was a Rhodes Scholar at New College, Oxford, but did not complete her original doctoral thesis.... Wolf returned to Oxford to complete her PhD in 2015, supervised by Dr Stefano-Maria Evangelista. The PhD thesis that she wrote was the basis for her 2019 book 'Outrages: Sex, Censorship and the Criminalisation of Love.'

Oh! So this book was an Oxford PhD thesis?! Wow. Oxford needs to account for itself. There's a brand that ought to mean something. Do the thesis advisers there rely ultimately on authors for the integrity of their research and fact-checking? Did the NYT attempt to talk with Stefano-Maria Evangelista? Can we get him on the air at BBC?"

https://althouse.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-nyt-is-very-gentle-with-naomi-wolf.html#more

[Jim Eagle]

80 laps to go. Frog still in front.