Good evening ladies and gentlemen, welcome to SDA Late Nite Radio. Tonight, for your delectation and pursuant to our Monday night jazz show, here are Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa, and George Duvivier performing Moonglow (6:19). This performance is undated, but Mr. Krupa passed away in '73, so I figure this must be one of the last cases where the original members of the Benny Goodman Quartet performed together.
Mr. Goodman's quartet was originally formed in '36, when it was one of the first racially integrated jazz groups to record and play before wide audiences. Goodman's popularity was such that he could remain financially viable without touring the South, where he would have been subject to arrest for violating Jim Crow laws. According to "Jazz", by Ken Burns, when someone asked Benny why he "played with that nigger" (referring to Teddy Wilson), Goodman replied, "I'll knock you out if you use that word around me again".
That, and plus, of course, I love Mr. Hampton's work.
Your Reader Tips are, as always, welcome in the comments.
Update: Thanks to E. J. Hill, in the comments, we now know that tonight's show was from The All Star Swing Festival, videotaped at Lincoln Center in the fall of 1972, and sponsored by Timex for broadcast on NBC (and later aired by public television). Hill suggests that a DVD version is available, but I can't find one; please let me know if you do (as I would like to purchase a copy thereof).
Google jim geraghty march 8 Obama overwhelmed.
He quotes from a telegraph article that he (and I) considers the most terrifying news out of the WH thusfar. I would be interested
To read what others think - particularly ET.
Careful Kate. I can see the headlines already "SDA calls blacks the N word"
Idiot.
Further to my previous post: apparently BO has named only 6 % of the 1200 positions that have to be approved by congress. Geithner in the middle of an economic crisis that makes him the most important of them has none of seventeen appointtees for his dept named yet. I'm reading greenspans autobiography currently and the amount of work he and his coworkers faced was astounding even in calm times. There is little surprise that geithner is struggling to get proposals for action ready.
I guess you guys haven't heard yet: Conservatism is irrelevant now.
Two idiots. Anyone wanna go for three?
Anon - when a self-identified Conservative pulls in a daily audience of 25 million - 10 to 15 percent of US adults - you can't call that irrelevant.
Gord Tulk: "Google jim geraghty march 8 Obama overwhelmed. He quotes from a telegraph article that he (and I) considers the most terrifying news out of the WH thusfar."
If by "overwhelmed" Geraghty means "exhausted," as some have suggested, I would find that very hard to believe. Surely Obama is physically up to the challenge. But in the other respects that count it's not at all incredible that he is overwhelmed -- which would also mean that his staff is overwhelmed too. Here "overwhelmed" simply means "not up to the job."
And that should be obvious. Ever since Obama declared his candidacy I've been saying that there is nothing in his background to suggest that he is prepared for the job of POTUS -- and this was before the special challenges that he now faces had surfaced. In my view this is a simple statement of fact, not opinion. And its truth was shown repeatedly to me by the replies to this statement I'd receive from his supporters ("Lincoln didn't have much more experience," "nobody could be as bad as Bush," "yes we can," "you just wait and see" etc.).
Now, if it starts to be clearly evident to most people that he is overwhelmed (i.e. clearer than it already is to most readers here), that's when he will be in deep trouble (we all will be).
Thanks for Moonglow, Vitruvius, and for the backstory on this particular recording. It's good to be reminded during these dark times that many people of all political stripes have been fighting the good fight for a very long time on all manner of fronts, and, further, that if we choose to focus on our shared humanity rather than our differences, beautiful things can result.
Gord: "when a self-identified Conservative pulls in a daily audience of 25 million - 10 to 15 percent of US adults",,, and then there's Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Dr. Laura Schlesinger; only to mention a few on talk radio. Some of who have been dumped by biased Liberal media.
And then we have Canadian talk radio, most of whom are Liberal but who will not declare themselves and instead pretend to be non-partisan.
Interesting:
"Forty-six of fifty states are insolvent and could be filing Chapter 9 bankruptcy proceedings in the next two years. One of the four states that is not insolvent is an unlikely candidate for the distinction – North Dakota. What does the State of North Dakota have that other states don’t? The answer seems to be: its own bank."
Read more here – http://www.webofdebt.com/articles/state_bank_option.php
We all knew it all along.
CNN Correspondent Now the Communist Candidate in El Salvador
http://newsbusters.org/node/28644/print
Moonglow - 1972 Timex All Star Swing Festival (NBC) Available from on DVD!
Mj: according to CNN he's been hosting partys almost nightly so exhaustion could be part of it. He has never had an executive level job before so I think it is quite plausible that he is mentally overwhelmed.
>
Which ones you talking about Gunney99?
Department of Fairness:
More than a few commentators here noted that the media was soft on Obama's classless gifts to UK PM Gordon Brown when they met in Washington last week. Well, tonight on the Daily Show, host Jon Stewart (nee Leibowitz) revealed that after receiving a pen from Brown that had been made from timbers from the HMS Gannet, a Victorian era anti-slaving ship, and a sister ship to HMS Resolute, from which the Oval Office's desk was fashioned, Obama returned the favour with the thoughtful gift of 25 CD's. As Stewart put it "He got him a boxed set?!".
Next, he showed Hillary meeting Russia's foreign minister, and offering him a take-off on the Staple's "Easy" button, which was labelled with the Russian word for "Reset" (i.e. they were going to reset relations between the two countries). Hillary pointed out that they had gone to great pains to get the correct translation, but the Russian minister noted that they had gotten it wrong, and what the label really meant was "Overcharge".
Finally, he then spent a few minutes on a segment showing that during his first 100 days in office, President Bambam held parties at the White House featuring Earth, Wind, and Fire, Stevie Wonder, and (???) the Chicago Bulls.
I believe the clips are available on the Comedy Network site. But I have to say, it's only 100 days, and the MSM is already beginning to turn on the Bambam administration.
Gord:
The frequently hilarious "dealbreaker.com" has posted numerous articles related to Timmy ("the safecracker") Geithner's difficulties in recruitment, including posting a Treasury job ad which prominently featured the many perks and benefits offered. The position is so far unfilled.
Sorry to post so often, but "dealbreaker.com" has a link to a (possibly fictitious) craigslist ad for a hedge fund manager. Very funny.
Thanks, E. J. Hill. I've updated the main entry.
KevinB said: "President Bambam held parties at the White House featuring Earth, Wind, and Fire, Stevie Wonder, and (???) the Chicago Bulls."
The American people did not elect a president, they elected a concert promoter!
North Dakota is a state? I thought it was an antelope reserve.
Don't know if anyone noticed this essay from October by David Harris that puts together a pile of properly-footnoted evidence about supremacist, imperialist Islamists infiltrating Canada, including the NDP... a good read...
Damning information on the Canadian Arab Federation, too, which is led by the guy who called Jason Kenney a "whore". Other Islamic groups are fingered with inconvenient-truth information.
Islamo-Supremacists Slowly Taking Over Canada, NDP
http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2009/03/islamo-supremacists-slowly-taking-over.html
"Army running on empty: Broken-down vehicles pile up in Canada as Afghanwar sparks equipment 'crisis'
From the Toronto Star, believe it or not.
More from Jim Cramer:
"Suddenly, bloggers, opinion people, columnists and, yes, pundits who haven't paid attention to anything I have been saying or writing for the past 18 months are all over me....
Cramer Takes on the White House, Frank Rich and Jon Stewart
"Eve of Destruction 2"
Wretchard:
"Someone has sent me a link to Quadrant Magazine, an online publication in Australia, which has a feature on the Weathermen. In the middle of the article is a section on Weatherman economics, which holds that most of America’s wealth was stolen from the Vietnamese, the Angolans and the Bolivians. The funniest part is an anecdote about how they devised new lyrics to Westside Story’s Maria, to extol the virtues of Kim Il Sung (the Dear Leader’s deceased dad):
The most beautiful sound I ever heard
Kim Il Sung …
I’ve just met a Marxist-Leninist named Kim Il Sung
And suddenly his line
Seems so correct and fine
To me
Kim Il Sung
Say it soft and there’s rice fields flowing
Say it loud and there’s people’s war growing
Kim Il Sung
I’ll never stop saying Kim Il Sung …
It struck me that the Weathermen never really understood where anything came from, outside the screeds they read in their books; that they were in many ways really bloodthirsty children playing at revolution. But really, the joke is on us. Ayers and Dohrn may be among the most influential “thinkers” in America today.
Kim Il Sung
I’ll never stop saying Kim Il Sung …
Mar 10, 2009 - 3:12 am 20. ADE:
Ayers and Dohrn may be among the most influential “thinkers” in America today
“Thinkers”, perhaps.
But after Hope and Change fails, nobody thinks.
Now, O’Mighty, got those loaves and fishes handy?"
http://pajamasmedia.com/richardfernandez/2009/03/09/eve-of-destruction-2/#comments
O's "Shock labour team" (udarnaya brigada, often translated as strike brigade)". (wiki)
Soviet communist Agitprop poster by Vladimir Mayakovsky: "Hurry to enter shock brigades!"
urlm.in/bwgv
Dems to O: ""Hurry, whatever you're doing, please hurry.""
...-
"Dems To Geithner: 'Please Hurry' On Economy
WASHINGTON -- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged House Democrats to be patient with President Barack Obama's young administration on Monday as lawmakers conveyed the frustrations of their economically anxious constituents. Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., said her colleague, Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H., implored Geithner: "Hurry, whatever you're doing, please hurry."
Geithner addressed House Democratic members for nearly two hours Monday evening in a closed session ........"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2203185/posts
And here at home CTV's Power Play last night had no news to report and so filled the vacuum with the ever "lap dancing" Dizzy Lizzy May. No new revelations, as expected, just lots of spin and oh yes she stated she would be running in the same riding as last time around......unless a safe riding avails itself in a by-election somewhere else. Yuk.
Hey Sarge, to be a concert promoter, one has to have a little business sense.....more like he is the most powerful groupie in the world
"Alfred E. Obama*".
...-
"OBAMA: "You know, I have more than enough to do without having to worry about the financial system."
Tired, Frustrated Obama Inspires Zero Confidence, Scares Millions
March 9, 2009
**SNIP**
OBAMA: By the time we got here, there already had been an enormous infusion of taxpayer money into the financial system, and the thing I constantly try to emphasize to people is that if coming in the market was doing fine, nobody would be happier than me to stay out of it.
REPORTER: Right.
OBAMA: You know, I have more than enough to do without having to worry about the financial system."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2203251/posts
*http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/gm080318.jpg
Gord Tulk - Yes, Obama is overwhelmed but that's because he not only has never, ever, held an Executive position but because he is psychologically unfit to hold one.
My own view, and it's hard to explain, is that he is unable to think about policies and programs as 'separate entities'. This means that you objectively consider a policy, visualize its operation within a current situation, and visualize and analyze the result. He can't do this. He operates by how an action 'makes him feel'. That is, he's part of the act.
His only 'acts' in life have been to motivate others to act. He doesn't concern himself with the analysis of their actions. So, as community organizer, he'd help a group define themselves as 'victims' and motivate them to act, to complain to the govt, to demand such and such. He wouldn't analyze how they got to this state of existence, or the results of their new actions. But, he'd 'feel good' at having other people follow his orders.
An executive is not personally involved in decision-making; a Governor of a State sets up and analyzes policies and considers the operation well-being of the people. Obama doesn't do this. He psychologically can't empower other people. He can only ensure that people are dependent on him.
It isn't that Obama is 'overwhelmed' by the duties of the office. It is that he can't carry them out because these duties involve empowering other people. And he has only ONE 'capacity'; to make people dependent on him.
With regard to the White House's insult to the British PM, I can't believe that was due to incompetence of WH staff. Surely a new administration doesn't fire all the staff; surely protocol and other officers remain. I maintain that Obama's insult to the British PM was due to his own psychological narcissism. He cannot acknowledge another person as equal (or even superior). He has to 'put them down'.
Obama certainly couldn't have a formal press conference, because a full-flag ceremony would indicate equality and acknowledgment of such. He can't emotionally handle that. And, Obama can't function in a press conference where he is asked questions and he has to 'think' about the answers. He is NOT someone who can think through a policy or program. He has no ability to visualize causes and effects. He can only 'know' whether a policy makes him 'feel good'. And he only 'feels good' when the policy makes people dependent on him/government.
Obama has no knowledge of or interest in economics. No knowledge of or interest in foreign affairs - heck - he thinks that he can charm terrorists, just like he did the American people, by making them think he'll bring Hope and Change to them.
As the economy worsens, what will Obama do? He'll blame others, and his current and constant blame will, of course, be Bush. He keeps telling us that he 'inherited this'. No, that's not the case, and after a while, since he ought to have known 'this' when he was campaigning, it's time to shut up and do something. But he can't.
So, he'll pass off policy construction to others. The stimulus package wasn't about the economy but about dream projects of Pelosi and Reid. Gauntanamo was about the sophistry of the left. He hasn't done much else.
That's how I see it. What puzzles me, is where is the WH staff - to tell him how to behave properly to a foreign leader? Did he tell them - no? And where are the economic and financial advisors?
Here's an outline by Rich Lowry on Obama's calmness in the National Review, 'At Least He's Calm'.
He comments that Obama seems unmoved by the economic, the financial, the foreign crises.
I'm saying that he is aloof from these situations because he cannot function except in situations where he can make people dependent on him. He has no answers to the economic, financial, foreign realities that would set up such a dependency framework and therefore - he and these realities are unconnected. Totally unconnected.
He has no 'image' in his mind what imposing new taxes means, no image of how his 'cap and trade' will decimate the industrial capacity of the US, no image of the banks and how they operate.
I quote, "His budget makes unduly rosy assumptions about the near-term performance of the economy that are already being discredited, pockets fake savings by making absurd assumptions (e.g., that troop levels in Iraq will remain at 140,000 forever), and projects a $637 billion deficit in 2016 even after years of robust economic growth. But he is as calm as he is dishonest and profligate."
It isn't that Obama is 'calm' in the sense that he is aware and yet strong. He is 'calm' because he is intellectually blank. He has no understanding of the situation - and not because he's stupid - but because he can only 'think' about things where he is emotionally embedded. And he is only emotionally embedded in situations where he is Sovereign and other people are dependent on him.
He's great as a community organizer. Nothing to think about. The ideology of victim and oppressor already exists in the literature. The definitions of who is victim and oppressor already clear. The desired results of money and benefits are already outlined. All he has to do is charge the victims up emotionally and send them out into the streets to complain. And he is emotionally involved because they are dependent on him to charge them up emotionally. He isn't involved in a single analysis or thought.
I'm saying that this is his nature - he is pathologically dysfunctional - and he cannot, even for one minute, intellectually or operationally move himself into a situation where he has to think about policies and programs as realities - not just hyperbolic dreams.
Is it wise
to analyze
from a distance
sans assistance
would a professional
be so confessional
is it typical
to be so unequivocal
in an untrained field
common sense does yield
Wow! Moonglow like I've never heard it! Errol Gardner's version is the one I'm most familiar with.
What consummate musicians. I guess working together for over 40 years accounts for the musical tightness and freedom of expression. Great selection, Vitruvius. Thanks.
Here's a really excellent column
Obama is in Trouble
Read the article.
LindaL, re the 46 insolvent states: apparently Alaska isn't one of them (http://fin.admin.state.ak.us/dof/financial_reports/resource/budget_report_fy08.pdf). I don't see much mention of this in the media, when the U.S. economy is in total meltdown.
Governor Sarah Palin and her government's fiscal stewardship have been responsible for Alaska's being in the black -- but who's saying? Not the NYT or CNN.
Just google it Vit -- it is for sale on Amazon for 99.99.
"... on Obama's calmness: ... 'At Least He's Calm'."
It's the calm of a sleepwalker, of someone who's so disengaged from what's happening around him that he's a zombie.
Obama scares the He** out of me. He's SO not up to the task of being POTUS. His indiscretions in the White House (parties every Wednesday night to wine, dine, and carouse with his personal favourites -- "Michelle and I want Americans to know that the White House is open to the people" MY FOOT, his abysmal "hospitality" to British PM Gordon Brown, etc.) are just the tip of the iceberg.
The guy's a total incompetent and, unfortunately, as he seems unable to delegate, a point made by ET, we're going to see more and more of his bumbling and its dismal outcomes.
Rough seas ahead. Batten down the hatches.
Hey! Hey! OOO! hOw many 0s did yOu O tOday?
O = LBJ = "a hopeless teller of untruths." = a congenital liar.
"However, what narcissists preach and what they do are two different things.*"
...-
"Obama's LBJ Syndrome(Someone else who did not know a million from a billion from a trillion..)
The 1967 board game was called "Credibility Gap."
Created by two academics, it was inspired by what now might be called LBJ Syndrome, the pattern of behavior exhibited in the 1960s by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson. A pattern of behavior that gradually led Americans to the belief LBJ was a hopeless teller of untruths. "Credibility gap" was the much used political term of the day applied to Democrat LBJ whether talking about subjects major (Vietnam, the economy, health care) or minor (insisting an ancestor fought at the Alamo even though said ancestor was soon found to have never arrived in Texas until a decade afterwards.)
As Americans listen to the smooth assurances from President Obama that his health care plan would cost $634 billion over 10 years, a look back at how liberal assurances like these actually work out in practice is in order."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2203254/posts
*http://www.faithfreedom.org/obama.html
Great choice Vit. I enjoy the old timey big band stuff. The other day I was feeling weird so I listened to all of the cuts of "Pennies From Heaven" on YouTube. There were some outstanding voices. I think it was all the doom and gloom and dumb and dumber going around.
Just a question, my not being in any way economically savvy: I purchased $25.00 U.S. yesterday for which I had to fork over $33.00 Canadian.
How is it, why is it, that if the Canadian economy is in better shape than the U.S. economy, our dollar is worth only 67 cents U.S.? 'Something to do with U.S. protectionism?
I'd really appreciate a mini-lesson in economics regarding our 67-cent dollar.
Thanking someone in advance! ;-)
been around the block
batb It is called a 'flight to safety' In these uncertain times investors will go to where they feel their money will do better than somewhere else. US Treasury notes are considered among the safest. I'm not sure whether it is the capacity of the US to produce or investors seeking safety in numbers. This is affecting the Canadian dollar which could go down to about $0.74 before trending up. Canada could not absorb that type of influx of cash. Right now it is more hanging on to what you can over making more.
thanks, speedy. Our dollar is actually down to 67 cents. Yikes. When I was in the U.S. just three weeks ago, it was at 79 cents. That's a rapid fall -- on the other hand, Obama is showing such gross incompetence that the stock market seems to be in free fall.
I'm just pi**ed off that such greedy, selfish, a**holes have put hard-working, honest people living modest and responsible lives up against the wall, in order to bankroll their lavish-beyond-belief lifestyles. I mean, we're talking hedge fund "managers" (sic) with three and four houses, opulent social lives, and more clothes than 100 normal people would wear.
It's sickening. 'Guess I'll just stay home, drink beer, eat popcorn, and watch videos ...
Vaclav Klaus: "the intellectual tends to become a socialist."
...-
"The Intellectuals and Socialism: As Seen from a Post-Communist Country Situated in Predominantly Post-Democratic Europe
1. I take it for granted that this audience knows the slightly provocative (because mercilessly generalizing) but very powerful and important, now already 56 years old article “The Intellectuals and Socialism”. This audience certainly knows as well that it was written by F. von Hayek and that it was published in the very confused and very pro-socialist post-second world war era, when the overall belief in the benefits of social engineering and of economic planning and, at the same time, the disbelief in free markets were at their heights.
I suppose that many of us still remember Hayek’s definition of intellectuals (we would probably say public intellectuals nowadays) as “the professional second-hand dealers in ideas”, who are proud of not “possessing special knowledge of anything in particular”, who do not take “direct responsibility for practical affairs” and who need not “even be particularly intelligent” to perform their “mission”. Hayek argued that they are satisfied with being “intermediary in the spreading of ideas” of original thinkers to the common people, whom they consider not being their equals.
Hayek was – more than half a century ago, which means before the current prevalence of electronic media – aware of the enormous power of intellectuals to shape public opinion and warned us that “it is merely a question of time until the views held by the intellectuals become the governing force of politics”. This is as valid today as it was when he wrote it.
The question is what kind of ideas is favoured by the intellectuals. The question is whether the intellectuals are neutral in their choice of ideas with which they are ready to deal with. Hayek argued that they are not. They do not hold or try to spread all kinds of ideas. They have very clear and, in some respect, very understandable preferences for some of them. They prefer ideas, which give them jobs and income and which enhance their power and prestige.
They, therefore, look for ideas with specific characteristics. They look for ideas, which enhance the role of the state because the state is usually their main employer, sponsor or donator. That is not all. According to Hayek “the power of ideas grows in proportion to their generality, abstractness, and even vagueness”. Hence it is not surprising that the intellectuals are mostly interested in abstract, not directly implementable ideas. This is also the way of thinking, in which they have comparative advantage. They are not good at details. They do not have ambitions to solve a problem. They are not interested in dealing with the everyday’s affairs of common citizens.
Hayek put it clearly: “the intellectual, by his whole disposition, is uninterested in technical details or practical difficulties.” He is interested in visions and utopias and because “socialist thought owes its appeal largely to its visionary character” (and I would add lack of realism and utopian nature), the intellectual tends to become a socialist."
http://www.klaus.cz/klaus2/asp/clanek.asp?id=wFYl3mgsTzI6
batb:
No, the Canadian dollar future is worth $0.7814 US (noon Tuesday). If you're paying more at your local bank, it's because your bank is charging you a spread, and a surcharge on such a tiny amount. Either open an account at a US bank you trust, and keep a few hundred in it, or open a US$ account at your Canadian bank, make a one-time deposit of $1,000, and use that whenever you make your trips to the US.
I don't know where you get your $0.64 rate; it's not anywhere near that at any source I've checked.
Why is the C$ so low compared to the US$? Two reasons: first, rightly or wrongly, the C$ is considered a "resource" currency, so when oil and other commodity prices are down, so is the C$, and second, despite all the indications by Pres. Bambam to the contrary, many people still consider the US as the one place where their wealth is not subject to arbitrary confiscation, and so billions flood in from Asia, Eastern Europe, Russia, etc., all of which boosts the US$ against all other currencies. Gold has backed down to under $900; great time to buy the yellow metal.
A few comments from Klaus' and Hayek's analysis, posted by maz2, on 'the intellectual'.
First, don't mistake Obama for an 'intellectual' in the sense of an analytic thinker. He doesn't examine, research, analyze cause-and-effect. He simply, as noted below, operates within the realm of abstract ideas.
"Hayek argued that they are satisfied with being “intermediary in the spreading of ideas” of original thinkers to the common people, whom they consider not being their equals."
NOTE: Consider how often the above statement has been exemplified by Obama's behaviour. His whole career, if one can call it a career, has been as an intermediary, whether as community organizer, editor of a journal or senator. He himself innovates no policies and programs and is not even interested in them. He can't work with policies and programs in their practical effects.
Note also the clear conclusion that an intermediary is an elite, who makes lesser beings 'do something'.
"They prefer ideas, which give them jobs and income and which enhance their power and prestige.
"They, therefore, look for ideas with specific characteristics. They look for ideas, which enhance the role of the state because the state is usually their main employer, sponsor or donator. That is not all. According to Hayek “the power of ideas grows in proportion to their generality, abstractness, and even vagueness”. Hence it is not surprising that the intellectuals are mostly interested in abstract, not directly implementable ideas. This is also the way of thinking, in which they have comparative advantage. They are not good at details. They do not have ambitions to solve a problem. They are not interested in dealing with the everyday’s affairs of common citizens."
NOTE, 'they prefer ideas which empower their role. They are usually in government, for this moves them into a position of authority. Note also that their ideas have no plan of implementation. They leave that to others, as Obama left the 'stimulus package' to Pelosi and Reid. As he's left the banking situation to Geithner, with no result.
A result of 'leaving details to others' is that these Others can be blamed. Not him.
NOTE also that this explains why Obama can't have press conferences. He can't 'think' about the details of a policy, he can't examine its effects except in the most general and illogical manner of 'hope and change'.
"Hayek put it clearly: “the intellectual, by his whole disposition, is uninterested in technical details or practical difficulties.” He is interested in visions and utopias and because “socialist thought owes its appeal largely to its visionary character” (and I would add lack of realism and utopian nature), the intellectual tends to become a socialist."
NOTE: But Obama is not simply an intellectual as described above, for he wouldn't be as dangerous as he is if he were JUST an intellectual.
Stephene Dion is an intellectual; he's best at the abstract ideas and can't envisage how a policy, for example, the Green Shift, would actually operate apart from his own words about how he thinks it would operate. But Dion is not dangerous. Obama is.
Yes, understanding Obama as an intellectual and a sophist at that, means that he has no ability to 'think through' the pragmatics of policies and programs and visualize how they'd operate in reality. But Obama, unlike Dion, is psychologically dysfunctional.
Obama is a pathological narcissist. This means that his policies and programs, or the ones which he approves of, MUST, absolutely MUST, disempower people and empower him.
So, not only will Obama be unable to come up with economic and financial policies that pragmatically help the country - unless someone else writes them - BUT, any policy that he approves of MUST empower him and reduce the power of the individual American.
http://newsbusters.org/node/28644/print
Letter asks PM to muzzle minister.
Muzzling a MP???? Where does he think he lives??? Iran? Syria?
And, now that he has gotten our attention, maybe it is time to do a little look see at some of the folks that he allowed into this country.
THANKS FOR PUTTING YOURSELF ON THE RADAR, DUDE !
batb and KevinB - yeah - I can't figure out why the US dollar is continued to be viewed as the "flight to safety". I've heard that US Treasury bonds are the next bubble to burst.
ET - thought you might be interested in this snippet from an article I came across:
"Obama's election as the first black president of the Harvard Law Review led to a contract and advance to write a book about race relations.
The University of Chicago Law School provided him a lot longer than expected and at the end it evolved into, guess what? His own autobiography! Instead of writing a scholarly paper focusing on race relations, for which he had been paid, Obama could not resist writing about his most sublime self. He entitled the book Dreams from My Father."
Erik - exactly. Obama can't get interested in a topic of which HE isn't the key focus. He can't write a 'scholarly paper on race relations'; his mind simply goes blank. He can only stay engaged when the topic is himself.
And he was the editor of the review, not an author in it. As pointed out by Hayek and Klaus, someone like Obama is a mediator, a position which puts him in power and makes others (authors) dependent on him for his approval. That was also his role as community organizer.
BUT, if you add to this non-innovator, non-entrepreneurial, non-primary role...a psychological malady of pathological narcissism, what's the result? Someone who requires others to be dependent on him, while they are kept in a dependent and unproductive and disabled state of existence.
Can Obama empower Americans? No. He can disable them.
Unfortunately, can't remember Obama's exact words - but there was some murmering about all the concerts and parties at the White House - he said something to the effect of "I can't get out in the world like I used to, so I have to bring the world to me".
The first memo I wrote - I brought it to my boss at the time - he circled all the "I"s and "me"s - looked at me, and said - you're egotistical. Get rid of that stuff.
And (my) behaviour has changed. Um, except for the paragraph above, but it's a personal story, can't be helped.