Don't Fear the Briar Patch, Matt Taibbi

eXile co-founder Matt Taibbi deploys the phrase "pseudo-libertarian" in a BusinessInsider.com interview, which is not as interesting as the comment from reader fred@# that follows the puff. A portion: 

Brer Taibbi: I hate you Brer Blankfein. I'm gonna get you if it's the last thing I ever do. I have written this great book detailing your crimes and you are in trouble now. You've sassed me for the last time. I'm just deciding what we should do with you now".

Brer Blankfein gulped and did some quick thinking: "Whatever you do, Brer Taibbi, please don't make me suffer under no more goverment regulation!"

Brer Taibbi: "Maybe I will join the Libertarians and let the free market have its way with you"

Brer Blankfein's eyes got very large: "Subject me to the free market if you must, but whatever you do, please don't give me no more regulators."

Brer Taibbi: "Well, I'm not a big believer in the free market. Those libertarians are too gullible (unlike Brer Taibbi who was a sophisticated liberal writer). Maybe I'll recommend that you be prosecuted according to the laws of the land.

Brer Blankfein': "Prosecute me, sic the free market on me! Do whatever you please, only please, Brer Taibbi, just don't hit me with any more regulation!"

The allusion is to a story from your country's lexicon, but if you don't recognize it, television is here to help:

More information about regulatory capture, the concept described by fred@#, can be found on the internet [pdf].  Well played, fred@#.

Comments

[Jeffersonian]

"Song of the South"???

+1000

[juris imprudent]

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAciiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssttttttttttttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BakedPenguin]

What's the over / under on Reason getting the C&D letter? I'm guessing 18 hours , and only because it's a weekend.

[Jeffersonian]

This is one flick Disney doesn't want on the street.

[AlmightyJB]

The full version has never been released in the US.

[The Bearded Hobbit]

The full version has never been released in the US

On video. I saw it at the movies when I was a wee sprite.

There was also a "Song of the South" comic in the Sunday papers for a long time. I seem to recall it was mostly Brer Bear and Brer Fox getting into trouble.

... Hobbit

[hmm]

I saw it at the drive in and had the record.

[Suki]

Pirate record or official copy?

[JW]

I had the record as well. Never did like it all that much, even as a kid. I'm sure I saw the movie at some point, but I don't remember seeing it. I'm sure my mother has a vivid memory of me seeing it, whether I actually did or not.

@#fred. Very well played sir. Very well played.

[Uncle Walt]

Yet they allowed that talking hamster movie out. And with my name on the front of it. God, I wish they'd let me out of this damn freezer.

[MJ]

Though they made one of their more popular rides in the Magic Kingdom out of that story, though they did retcon the tar baby out.

[Max]

Cultists are humorless fucks who often think things--usually stuff that conforms to the cult's orthodox take on some enemy-- are funny that really aren't. This shit is a classic example.

[Tim Cavanaugh]

Taibbi's not an enemy, afaik. He can be a broken record, but his analysis of the bailout is excellent by MSM standards. I think this parody depicts a very specific blind spot in his thinking, but if it's not your cup of tea, well, have a great weekend!

[BakedPenguin]

Wow, talk about someone with zero self-knowledge. I wonder if Max prepared that speech while looking in a mirror.

[Chupacabra]

Trolls are humorless fucks who often think things--usually stuff that conforms to the troll's orthodox take on some enemy-- are funny that really aren't. This shit is a classic example.

[Episiarch]

Oh, the irony...it burns...

[hmm]

You have to pee on it to stop the burning.

[hehe]

But it burns when I pee.

[PIRS]

Flor's Costa Rica Gallo Pinto

Costa Rican Rice and Beans

Ingredients
1 cup cooked white rice
1 cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup broth from black beans
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 red pepper chopped
2 spoonfuls Olive oil
2 Teaspoons Sesame oil
3 Tablespoons Salsa Lizano (or spicy vegetable sauce)
Fresh cilantro
Salt & fresh black pepper to taste

Steps
Heat olive and sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add spices (onion, sweet pepper, garlic) and saute for about 5 minutes, until brown.

Add the black beans and broth. Then add the rice.

[Mr. FIFY]

PIRS, you left out the Max-only part of the recipe: Once the dish is done, Max should wrap it in barbed wire and shove it up his ass.

[strat]

PIRS is my short-duration personal savior now. I have been looking for a good gallo pinto recipe ever since my first of several trips to Costa Rica. This is a breakfast of the gods, or at least pleasant and energizing enough to then drink cafe con leche and post furiously to H&R.

[Max]

And I know all about being a humorless cultist fuck.

[Amakudari]

I'm lost. Does "this shit" refer to the article or to Max's posts? Cuz I could have sworn...

[Fatty Bolger]

Fart

[Jeffersonian]

And with that, Brer Taibbi issued forth in his mightiest voice a call for the brave and bold US government to step and create regulations that would cut Brer Blankfein down to size. The US government sprang into action and answered the call, putting their best regulators on the case, and hiring many more to fill the void left by not enough regulation. Brer Taibbi cocked his ear toward the NY Times, listening carefully for stories to signify Brer Blankfein's death rattle. He heard nothing.

Then Brer Taibbi heard someone calling his name. He turned around and looked up at capital hill. Brer Blankfein was sitting next to a senator in a fine sushi restaurant, having a drink and a fine filet mignon and looking smug.

"I was bred and born in the washington patch, Brer Taibbi," he called. "Born and bred in the washington patch."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com.....z14SMvkZ5F

[Rob McMillin]

Taibbi is a humorless, self-important tool.

And that -- that is fucking fantastic.

[nekoxgirl]

Taibbi sometimes cuts through the bulls**t of the Democrats too. He did prior to when they get back into office. Taibbi used to make fun of Obama's speechs, and did so at least once after he was elected (something about a unicorn in every garage). Since then, he seems to have become confused. Kind of like Jon Stewart too, depending on the show.

[vanya]

"humorless" is the one insult that will not stick to Taibbi. Say what you will about him, he can laugh at everyone, including himself. Maybe you're missing the joke.

[heller]

They let you out of the hospital again vanya?

[shrike]

Ron Paul is in line to become Chair of the House Subcommittee for Domestic Monetary Policy.

Hilarious. Boehner and Paul Ryan will deny him like was done previously in 2003 to avoid those nonstop Fed witchhunts that would surely occur.

[Tim Cavanaugh]

Lighten up, Francis. The only witch hunt in this country since colonial days was the one against Christine O'Donnell.

[Chupacabra]

She turned me into a newt.

[Mikey]

It got better...

[Newt Gingrich]

I feel your pain.

[NEWCULAR TITTIES]

I don't!

[Mr. FIFY]

We NEED those "Fed witchhunts", shrike. Unlike you, we don't trust those fuckers.

[Stephen Smith]

I can't think about him without recalling this line from the Vanity Fair article on the eXile:

"...while Taibbi, in a committed relationship for much of his time in Moscow, snorted bumps of white Asian smack."

[Episiarch]

STEVE SMITH NOT DO DRUGS! DRUGS FOR LOSERS! STEVE RAPE AND EAT WHITES, ASIANS, SUGAR SMACKS, ANYTHING! STEVE NOT DISCRIMINATE!

[Stephen Smith]

Au contraire...I love heroin!

[Episiarch]

Is this the real STEVE SMITH? You're not linking to the concerned troll website any more. I love that site. I need more pictures.

And you don't love heroin, you liar. No one loves heroin. The dragon loves you.

[David E. Gallaher/Ruthless]

In my youth, I hitchhiked and caught a ride from FL to Eatonton, GA, with the daughter of Georgia's "official" Uncle Remus. (white folks. duh.) I even spent the night at his home. Then caught a ride on closer to Atlanta the next morning with another of the guy's lovely daughter's.
Back in those days, we were still of the opinion Joel Chandler Harris had wisdom to impart.

[emerson]

Tim is really reaching with the alt-text. The man is balding, cut him a break.

[BakedPenguin]

Thai Restaurant Owner: Because you are such coward, my daughters have to attend state college run by drunken jockocracy. Baseball caps everywhere!
Bart Simpson: I'm sorry...

[?]

Taibbi is a humorless, self-important tool.

Yes. But eXile was great. The lies were fightin'-the-man lies!

Then a thing happened. A tooly, tooly thing.

But he used to be a fred@#.

Of lies.

[C'mon man]

Tim, are you guys hip and cool enough to score an interview with Taibbi?

Considering Reason's growing popularity, I think it would be educational for many new readers if you guys scored an interview with the country's most famous libertarian - Bill Maher.

[nj]

I pretty sure Taibbi has done an interview with reason. He was fan of Ron Paul in 08. At times he can be wonderful, other times he comes across as a vulgar progressive. He really is confused.

[C'mon man]

I agree. I have read his stuff before, but I'd like to see an interview with him since he's become a Wall Street sheriff. It's the same old horseshit: more and better regulation, rather than letting the market work and failure to happen.

[Coeus]

Threadjack:
The bart cop who executed that guy just got 2 years with some time already served. Public reactions are being continually updated:
http://www.mercurynews.com/bre.....ck_check=1

[Coeus]

(Filter ate this already, maybe this extra text will fix it.)Threadjack:
The bart cop who executed that guy just got two years with a bunch of time already served. Public reactions are being updated, so far no riots:
http://www.mercurynews.com/bre.....ck_check=1

[Coeus]

(Filter ate this already, maybe this extra text will fix it.)Threadjack:
The bart cop who executed that guy just got two years with a bunch of time already served.:
http://www.mercurynews.com/bre.....ck_check=1
Public reactions are being updated at this site, so far no riots.

[Coeus]

(Filter ate this already, maybe this extra text will fix it.)Threadjack:
The bart cop who executed that guy just got two years with a bunch of time already served.:
http://www.mercurynews.com/bre.....ck_check=1
Public reactions are being updated at this site, so far no riots.

[Coeus]

Threadjack:
The bart cop who executed that guy just got two years with a bunch of time already served.
http://www.mercurynews.com/bre.....ck_check=1
Public reactions are being updated at this site, so far no riots.

[Coeus]

spam filter test. I'm getting blocked. (disregard)

[Coeus]

Threadjack:
The bart cop who executed that guy just got two years with a bunch of time already served.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-n.....ck_check=1
Public reactions are being updated at this site, so far no riots.

[Coeus]

Threadjack:
The bart cop who executed that guy just got two years with a bunch of time already served.

(cut and paste because the spam filter sucks)www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_16533309?nclick_check=1

Public reactions are being updated at this site, so far no riots.

[Jerry]

God, Matt Taibbi is such a second hander.

[John]

In a 2010 Vanity Fair article chronicling the demise of the eXile, journalist James Verini alleges that Taibbi cursed at him and threw a coffee in his face after being told The Exile: Sex, Drugs, and Libel in the New Russia was "redundant and discursive." Verini maintains that the incident took place in a crowded Manhattan restaurant during lunchtime and that after storming out Taibbi further accosted him on the street.[16] Taibbi later said in an interview that the incident was "an aberration from how I've behaved in the last six or seven years

From his wiki entry. What a douchbag.

[fresno dan]

If only we had the fine oversight and regulation (they had a regulatory agency just for them) of the upstanding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, everything would be perfect...

Not to mention our fine gubermint approved rating agencies, which did such an accurate and honest evaluation of mortgage backed securities...

And of course, our fine upstanding gubermint, when faced with rich, venal, tupid, stupid men losing their fortunes, decided that the most important thing that they could do was to assure that the rich, venal, stupid, stupid men stayed rich...because the "unregulated" way of reducing them to penury for their stupidity and venality would be bad...

[Brian Defferding]

Taibbi should know (and maybe he does) is that if there was an actual free market, his arch-nemesis Goldman Sachs would not have been bailed out through AIG, and probably would have eaten most of their losses. I'm sure that would make even those "eat-the-rich" liberals smile.

[assssssscat]

will one of you guys please write an article showing how little of a fucking bitch taibbi is? preferably a snarky nick g or "WW" as he calls willy wilkinson (sic?). if you read exile with any regularity you notice his overuse of his infantile portmanteau "libertard" to describe any vaguely pro-property rights or corporatist economic policies with which he disagrees. and he seems to understand "libertardianism"(?) as advocating pro-RIAA judgments forcing soccer moms to pay tens of thousands of $s for downloading music, supporting andrew breitbart, and/or producing "inequality denial propaganda". he lacks a basic understanding of economics, loves straw men "medicare tea partiers" and isn't past degenerating articles about people/ideas with which he doesn't agree into childish, lazy, irrelevant insults. and he was talkin shit about wil wilkenson. hes asking for it.

[PD Quig]

Taibbi provides huge entertainment value...to Blankfein and crew. They're quaking in their $4,000 Italian loafers. Taibbi's the fly and they're sitting out on their deck in the Hamptons on a warm summer evening with 2 fingers of 50 year-old Scotch. They're not even paying attention but may register the sound of the "ZAP" when he finally fries.