I'm not sure, Michael. If they can do it without changing it than I think that would be okay. It was legitimately passed and if that's what they want to go with then that's what they want to go with. If they want to change it I suppose they should vote on it again. I don't think the people have spoken definitively one way or another.
My hope is not that it will reform from the left or the right - but that it will reform to be less uniform and better represent a wider swath of Americans. Republicans should run more liberal candidates in more liberal states and more conservative candidates in more conservative states. They should be less focused on purity and uniformity and more in line with the idea of decentralization - even in political views.
Well I think people give short shrift to style when people are talking about it as a positive thing - but when it is a negative thing, it gets all the weight and gravitas we can muster. Stylistic shifts actually can reflect substance, nor are the two so easily separated.
That being said, I agree completely with what you're saying about federalizing everything. Look to the states, indeed. That was the whole point of the American democratic experiment to begin with wasn't it?
I think the only time that a doctor should do something that they find morally objectionable is if not doing so would lead to the death of the patient. Even there, of course, depending on the circumstances, if the action might just as easily lead to loss of life then it becomes much murkier, so it's hard to say. Forcing doctors to perform operations, fill out prescriptions, and so forth that they are morally opposed to is simply ludicrous. Saying that people with such morals should thus not practice medicine is equally absurd.
The question I have about the stimulus is not whether it is effective at creating short-term growth, or stopping the economy from bottoming out. It's whether this will amount to an economic turn-around or whether it is in fact smoke and mirrors - a short-lived illusion which will dissipate as soon as stimulus dollars run out. I'm not sure.
Coakley is ending the campaign on a high note of condescension. William Jacobson highlights a classic quote from a Boston Globe feature on Coakley's campaign. In an election with such high stakes, with so little time left in the campaign, the Globe wondered if she was being too passive.
"As opposed to standing outside Fenway Park? In the cold? Shaking hands?'' she fired back, in an obvious reference to a Brown video of him doing just that at the Winter Classic hockey game played at Fenway.
I think it's bad news, but more importantly I think it's bad news for the RINO-hunters and the whole myth that conservatives need to fall into some magical zone of pure conservatism. Brown is conservative, no doubt, but he has some moderate positions that could easily brand him as a RINO.
That's an awfully stupid thing to say. Here's Scott Brown on abortion:
While this decision should ultimately be made by the woman in consultation with her doctor, I believe we need to reduce the number of abortions in America. I believe government has the responsibility to regulate in this area and I support parental consent and notification requirements and I oppose partial birth abortion. I also believe there are people of good will on both sides of the issue and we ought to work together to support and promote adoption as an alternative to abortion.
I'm serious, we usually have pretty excellent comments at this blog. That was a really smashing attempt to lower the bar.
Meh. The last time I posted about Norris it was a response to his column which said that had the Virgin Mary had Obamacare she would surely have aborted the baby Jesus. At this point Norris is deserving of all the bundled contempt and scorn he gets.
But isn't there also the chance that with a great blockbuster - a really terrific sci-fi or action film - that it would have an even greater chance at spawning a sequel and raking in millions more in profits? I mean, at least something unique - like Indiana Jones for instance - may not have had the most terrific script but there at least we had a unique protagonist, some humor, and so forth. (I didn't like the 4th one, but the first and third were great...) It doesn't have to be high literature to be interesting, consistent, and unique.
Exactly right. Though I admit I enjoyed Abrams' Star Trek despite inconsistencies. I suppose time travel is simply so difficult to pull off without some sort of disconnect, even my favorite attempts at it have some holes (12 Monkeys, Lost, etc.)
HBO is coming out with Martin's series this year or next (I think this year...?) which should be amazing. High fantasy, excellent writing, all the production and direction you would expect from HBO....way better than anything you'll see in the theater sadly.
Exactly. Incidentally, the same goes for commercials. While some commercials are quite good, one would think they'd be a lot better in the age of the internet with so many amateurs out there doing much better, more funny, more interesting work than the highly paid ad agencies.
Look at HBO and Showtime and other television producers. They're making high budget shows with excellent writing. Rome, for instance, or The Sopranos. I think it can be done with blockbuster movies, I just think there's too many people willing to say "Well it's a blockbuster, what do you expect?"
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “No Fear of Citizens”
Awesome post, Mark. Thanks.
On “What about health care reform?”
I'm not sure, Michael. If they can do it without changing it than I think that would be okay. It was legitimately passed and if that's what they want to go with then that's what they want to go with. If they want to change it I suppose they should vote on it again. I don't think the people have spoken definitively one way or another.
"
My hope is not that it will reform from the left or the right - but that it will reform to be less uniform and better represent a wider swath of Americans. Republicans should run more liberal candidates in more liberal states and more conservative candidates in more conservative states. They should be less focused on purity and uniformity and more in line with the idea of decentralization - even in political views.
"
Well I think people give short shrift to style when people are talking about it as a positive thing - but when it is a negative thing, it gets all the weight and gravitas we can muster. Stylistic shifts actually can reflect substance, nor are the two so easily separated.
That being said, I agree completely with what you're saying about federalizing everything. Look to the states, indeed. That was the whole point of the American democratic experiment to begin with wasn't it?
On “Why the Senate HCR Bill is Dead”
I think it will have to be done via reconciliation. Possibly some bipartisan bill will emerge, but I doubt that.
On “Nihilism?”
Word Thompson & you're a nihilist.
On “Of tea parties and tyranny”
Indeed. Mark, by the way, have you been to a Tea Party yet? I want to go to one just to get a first-hand experience.
On “A Very Merry Un-Posting to You”
Alice - this was great! I think I'll change my avatar to the March Hare.
On “quote of the day”
Excellent point, Kyle.
"
Are you saying that you think Muslims shouldn't be allowed to work in emergency rooms in the United States?
You can take that up with the ACLU.
"
I think the only time that a doctor should do something that they find morally objectionable is if not doing so would lead to the death of the patient. Even there, of course, depending on the circumstances, if the action might just as easily lead to loss of life then it becomes much murkier, so it's hard to say. Forcing doctors to perform operations, fill out prescriptions, and so forth that they are morally opposed to is simply ludicrous. Saying that people with such morals should thus not practice medicine is equally absurd.
On “The age of ideological uncertainty, continued”
The question I have about the stimulus is not whether it is effective at creating short-term growth, or stopping the economy from bottoming out. It's whether this will amount to an economic turn-around or whether it is in fact smoke and mirrors - a short-lived illusion which will dissipate as soon as stimulus dollars run out. I'm not sure.
On “quote of the day”
Here's a fun one:
"
I think it's bad news, but more importantly I think it's bad news for the RINO-hunters and the whole myth that conservatives need to fall into some magical zone of pure conservatism. Brown is conservative, no doubt, but he has some moderate positions that could easily brand him as a RINO.
"
That's an awfully stupid thing to say. Here's Scott Brown on abortion:
I'm serious, we usually have pretty excellent comments at this blog. That was a really smashing attempt to lower the bar.
"
Damn right.
On “Marginalizing extremists, at home and abroad”
Welcome Mark Steyn readers....
On “The Age of Ideological Uncertainty”
Nice post, Will. I hear you loud and clear.
On “Obama’s secret vault”
Meh. The last time I posted about Norris it was a response to his column which said that had the Virgin Mary had Obamacare she would surely have aborted the baby Jesus. At this point Norris is deserving of all the bundled contempt and scorn he gets.
On “expectations of mediocrity”
But isn't there also the chance that with a great blockbuster - a really terrific sci-fi or action film - that it would have an even greater chance at spawning a sequel and raking in millions more in profits? I mean, at least something unique - like Indiana Jones for instance - may not have had the most terrific script but there at least we had a unique protagonist, some humor, and so forth. (I didn't like the 4th one, but the first and third were great...) It doesn't have to be high literature to be interesting, consistent, and unique.
"
Let me invoke Lost once again, though. It may not be based on a book, but it's pretty damn good sci-fi and it's on network television....
"
Exactly right. Though I admit I enjoyed Abrams' Star Trek despite inconsistencies. I suppose time travel is simply so difficult to pull off without some sort of disconnect, even my favorite attempts at it have some holes (12 Monkeys, Lost, etc.)
"
HBO is coming out with Martin's series this year or next (I think this year...?) which should be amazing. High fantasy, excellent writing, all the production and direction you would expect from HBO....way better than anything you'll see in the theater sadly.
"
Exactly. Incidentally, the same goes for commercials. While some commercials are quite good, one would think they'd be a lot better in the age of the internet with so many amateurs out there doing much better, more funny, more interesting work than the highly paid ad agencies.
"
Look at HBO and Showtime and other television producers. They're making high budget shows with excellent writing. Rome, for instance, or The Sopranos. I think it can be done with blockbuster movies, I just think there's too many people willing to say "Well it's a blockbuster, what do you expect?"
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.