You wanted to show off your knowledge of game theory jargon, and I saw no reason to reward you for that. If anyone made any sort of attempt to answer my question, I'd respond to it. That's just normal human nature. But that's not the game you or George want to play. I'm not interested in the game you do want to play. I'll leave to the readers whether they think it a good use of their time.
Judging by past performance, it wouldn't matter what I said -- even though I obviously have no ability to "punish" anyone. Maybe if you answer the question, you can find out.
Whom would it make uncomfortable? The people who want to hear? Unlikely, we've heard lots of pretty raw s**t without getting the vapors over it. The people who would have to say? Now maybe we're getting somewhere.
I suspect that you are right, but I'd like to hear how the ressentient themselves, or their apologists, articulate their grievances, if for no other reason than to verify our suspicions.
I take it you mean that someone other than the DNC and Democrats as a whole "have a perception" that the DNC and Democrats as a whole don't care about what is probably more accurately described as the rural sections of the country, because the DNC and Democrats as a whole don't have that perception about themselves -- though they could be wrong. That "someone other than" is white rural Republicans. It is certainly a fact that white rural Republicans have that perception, and I know that a widely-shared perception is itself a political fact needing to be dealt with, but I get tired of hearing about what people "perceive," and would love to see the discussion turn toward what is so. What is it that white rural Republicans want or need that they think they are getting, or will get, from Republicans, and that Democrats are unable or unwilling to give them. And if it turns out that the Democrats can actually offer a better deal, will it matter?
I spent much of my youth sweeping out my father's warehouse, and to this day I find myself advising people on the finer points of push-broom technique.
The first of them was on his way to the drag club in New Orleans where he worked as an entertainer. That's how I found out. The other one, you may have a point, though there was a drag club not far from the bar where I tried to pick him up.
So you're relying on other peoples' assurances that you'd know one if you saw one? OK, but don't tempt me to tell the story of the two times I tried to pick up what turned out to be drag queens.
The only person running in the Democratic primary who is not a nominal Democrat is Bernie Sanders. Hickenlooper is a registered Democrat, of course, and I am willing to bet that as Hickenlooper starts taking positions in a national race and becoming visible, he will gradually become less acceptable to the nominal anti-Trumpers who are waiting for the Right Kind of Democrat(TM). At this point, Mayor Pete and Beto are sufficiently empty vessels that one can, for now, pretend that they may become the Right Kind of Democrat(TM). That won't last. Once one looks at the substance of Booker rather than the cultural style, he won't qualify either.
You have something against salt water? I guess you can't make beer out of it, which would be a problem for Hickenlooper, but otherwise, it's pretty neat and washes up on a wide variety of states.
I have been reading what passes for high-class conservative thought for close to half a century. It gets repetitious fast. Uselessly general paeans to "prudence" - a virtue of which I am genuinely fond -- tarting up an ever-changing set of specifics that one can guarantee will be embarrassing and largely disowned in about a decade. An overstuffed leather club chair and brandy aesthetic that tries to pass itself off as something substantive, until someone calls them on it and they sniff at the vulgarity of the demand. A fondness for substituting Capital Letters for explanations, as if Right Reason, the Highest Good, and the Nature of Evil spoke for themselves.
I'm getting old, and I don't want to die in re-runs. Can't somebody give us something fresh?
One of my minor quibbles with the world is having to develop and express preferences I don't have. I don't want to go to the mental effort of choosing between a paper receipt, an e-mail receipt, or whatever the third option is. I'm perfectly happy to take whatever form you want to give me. Just don't bother me about it.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “Totally Fair Unfairness”
You wanted to show off your knowledge of game theory jargon, and I saw no reason to reward you for that. If anyone made any sort of attempt to answer my question, I'd respond to it. That's just normal human nature. But that's not the game you or George want to play. I'm not interested in the game you do want to play. I'll leave to the readers whether they think it a good use of their time.
"
It's amazing the effort people make not to answer a straightforward question. I guess that's a kind of answer.
"
In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the top levels are Self-esteem and then Self-actualization.
So I’d have to say that the main thing they want is probably that.
Operationalize that.
"
Judging by past performance, it wouldn't matter what I said -- even though I obviously have no ability to "punish" anyone. Maybe if you answer the question, you can find out.
"
Whom would it make uncomfortable? The people who want to hear? Unlikely, we've heard lots of pretty raw s**t without getting the vapors over it. The people who would have to say? Now maybe we're getting somewhere.
"
Maybe you'll have more luck getting someone to answer that than I have had. But I doubt it.
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So enlighten us.
"
I didn't ask for the take of people who already vote for Democrats, but the articulated views of the people who don't.
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This conversation is vague, and that’s not accidental.
Nor is it surprising.
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Sure beats taking responsibility for articulating your own grievances and risking having them exposed.
"
I suspect that you are right, but I'd like to hear how the ressentient themselves, or their apologists, articulate their grievances, if for no other reason than to verify our suspicions.
"
I take it you mean that someone other than the DNC and Democrats as a whole "have a perception" that the DNC and Democrats as a whole don't care about what is probably more accurately described as the rural sections of the country, because the DNC and Democrats as a whole don't have that perception about themselves -- though they could be wrong. That "someone other than" is white rural Republicans. It is certainly a fact that white rural Republicans have that perception, and I know that a widely-shared perception is itself a political fact needing to be dealt with, but I get tired of hearing about what people "perceive," and would love to see the discussion turn toward what is so. What is it that white rural Republicans want or need that they think they are getting, or will get, from Republicans, and that Democrats are unable or unwilling to give them. And if it turns out that the Democrats can actually offer a better deal, will it matter?
On “The Street Sweeper At Home”
I spent much of my youth sweeping out my father's warehouse, and to this day I find myself advising people on the finer points of push-broom technique.
On “A Grand & Glorious Return”
How many months along is she?
On “The Gig Is Up”
The first of them was on his way to the drag club in New Orleans where he worked as an entertainer. That's how I found out. The other one, you may have a point, though there was a drag club not far from the bar where I tried to pick him up.
"
So you're relying on other peoples' assurances that you'd know one if you saw one? OK, but don't tempt me to tell the story of the two times I tried to pick up what turned out to be drag queens.
On “Trophy Lives”
I've always said there's nothing wrong with participation trophies as long as there is a bigger trophy for winning.
On “The Gig Is Up”
I’m 44 and I have never been around a drag queen either.
How sure are you of that, and why?
"
Thanks. I have no idea how they work, but that's another issue.
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What is a DM?
"
The only person running in the Democratic primary who is not a nominal Democrat is Bernie Sanders. Hickenlooper is a registered Democrat, of course, and I am willing to bet that as Hickenlooper starts taking positions in a national race and becoming visible, he will gradually become less acceptable to the nominal anti-Trumpers who are waiting for the Right Kind of Democrat(TM). At this point, Mayor Pete and Beto are sufficiently empty vessels that one can, for now, pretend that they may become the Right Kind of Democrat(TM). That won't last. Once one looks at the substance of Booker rather than the cultural style, he won't qualify either.
You have something against salt water? I guess you can't make beer out of it, which would be a problem for Hickenlooper, but otherwise, it's pretty neat and washes up on a wide variety of states.
"
I'd be happy to vote against Trump as long as the Democrats nominate a Republican. Part 6734.
"
I will also say, is drag queen intolerance an actual thing we need to be super-concerned about?
Not for some values of "we," but we already knew that.
On “Conservative Thinkers So Heavenly Minded They’re No Earthly Good”
I have been reading what passes for high-class conservative thought for close to half a century. It gets repetitious fast. Uselessly general paeans to "prudence" - a virtue of which I am genuinely fond -- tarting up an ever-changing set of specifics that one can guarantee will be embarrassing and largely disowned in about a decade. An overstuffed leather club chair and brandy aesthetic that tries to pass itself off as something substantive, until someone calls them on it and they sniff at the vulgarity of the demand. A fondness for substituting Capital Letters for explanations, as if Right Reason, the Highest Good, and the Nature of Evil spoke for themselves.
I'm getting old, and I don't want to die in re-runs. Can't somebody give us something fresh?
On “The Unnecessity of Choice”
One of my minor quibbles with the world is having to develop and express preferences I don't have. I don't want to go to the mental effort of choosing between a paper receipt, an e-mail receipt, or whatever the third option is. I'm perfectly happy to take whatever form you want to give me. Just don't bother me about it.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.