Is Donald Trump the Golem We Assume or Will He Usher in Some Good Policies?

He's a reality-show weirdo with terrible hair and many awful ideas. Libertarians should be cautiously optimistic - and subscribe to the Reason Podcast!

Reason

So the latest election was the most important of our lifetimes.

So much so, in fact, that it didn't even generate record turnouts.

And yet, we must ask: Is Donald Trump bad for the libertarians, that weird, growing, dominant tribe of folks who increasingly comprise a plurality of all Americans?

At Reason, we define libertarianism in terms of "Free Minds and Free Markets," of letting people have maximum ability to live how they want, eat what they want, marry whom the want, create business that they want…. You get it, right, we're pro-choice in EVERYTHING.

Let's stipulate two things. First, that Trump is kind of an awful human being, just based on what he promised on the campaign trail. And that Hillary Clinton, the major-party alternatives, was in virtually all ways even worse (I miss Gary Johnson already!). For instance, Clinton has a proven track record of supporting the invasion and occupation of countries we have no business invading and occupying, pushing dumb regulation of business and health care, and being objectively anti-free speech.

This is all a long wind-up to say that you should subscribe to the Reason podcast, a near-daily half-hour of talk with leading libertarian thinkers about just WTF is going on regarding Donald Trump, the two-party system, and even more importantly, the incredible profusion of freedom and permissionless innovation that is happening far beyond the confines of godawful, zero-sum politics. You do realize, don't you, that as bad as Donald Trump might be that politicians have never had less control over our lives? Because of massive and ongoing increases in wealth, education, and technology—and the breakdown of gatekeeper institutions regarding public morality and regulation—we are more free than ever to live however the hell we want to.

THAT'S the territory we cover in the Reason podcast, to which you should subscribe, rate, and review at iTunes! And if you don't want to get on bended knee before the Great God Apple, then listen to us at SoundCloud or via this easy-peasy RSS feed.

You can listen online, download for your commute (sucks to by YOU), or bookmark for later listening. We're hosting conversations with fascinating people about fascinating topics: Shikha Dalmia on how the War on Immigration Will Reprise the War on Drugs, Rep. Thomas Massie on how Trump Wasn't Elected King, and Baylen Linnekin Talking About How Stupid Food Make Our Food Supply Less Tasty and Less Sustainable.

Please subscribe to the Reason Podcast:

Follow us at Soundcloud.

Subscribe to our video channel at iTunes.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Like us on Facebook.

Follow us on Twitter.

And here's a taste of the smart, contrary thinking we word towards. Yes, Donald Trump is a protectionist xenophobe with crony-capitalist tendences. But are there reasons for optimism? Yup, especially if you care about non-interventionism, school choice, infrastructure upgrades, and more.

Comments

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

libertarians, that weird, growing, dominant tribe of folks who increasingly comprise a plurality of all Americans?
Because of massive and ongoing increases in wealth, education, and technology?and the breakdown of gatekeeper institutions regarding public morality and regulation?we are more free than ever to live however the hell we want to.
We're hosting conversations with fascinating people about fascinating topics: Shikha Dalmia
And here's a taste of the smart, contrary thinking we word towards.

You lost a bet to the Derpetologist, didn't you, Nick?

[Crusty Juggler]

His "libertarian moment" theory is not so bad, and he is being contrary to the commenters by promoting a conversation with Dalmia.

[Playa Manhattan.]

He meant recessive.

[MarkLastname]

Actually I think he meant libertarians tend to be dominant in a sexual sense, like in BDSM. Personally I sometimes do submissives, but in general I think he'd right, libertarians are usually doms.

[Austrian Anarchy]

Libertarians are mentioned all over this thread when liberaltarians are the actual topic.

[AddictionMyth]

I'm a big Trump supporter. He will restore our country to greatness, even if he has to kill millions of people to do it. And that's great for libertarians - because there's nothing we love more than a fascist police state that kills millions of people while we quibble over building a wall. What more could you want???

[Crusty Juggler]

You are so dull.

[AddictionMyth]

Why don't you love me, anarcho-Trumpkin? What more could you want???

[Crusty Juggler]

I want you to stop being so boring.

[AddictionMyth]

Sorry honey. Watch a movie. I hear Arrival is good. Play a video game?

[Pompeius the Quant Retard]

Also, banal.

[A frilly pink thing]

Puerile even.

[CZmacure]

Pedestrian.

[Zero Sum Game]

Unimaginative.

[pan fried wylie]

Shallow and pedantic.

[Swiss Servator]

Shriek remains boring - film at 11.

[Zero Sum Game]

Tedious comes to mind. It was bugging me for a while and then I realized that seeing upon his handle I could just give myself a permission slip to ignore it altogether. It's just non-stop inspipdity. Nobody can really tell what he thinks about anything, if he does at all, because he's always playing this stupid game where he pretends that he understands what we think.

At least with AmSoc we know what he thinks (honestly, I think he's a sock of one of us who plays Poe's law for the lulz, because his idiocy is so complete it's like the persona's just a little too perfect). Tony's just a little wind-up hate machine; just turn the key on his back and watch him go (probably the genuine article).

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

I don't get it.

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

It is funny because the squirrel gets dead.

[Suicidy]

Fascist police state you say? Too bad your spank bank fave Hildebeast got her ass kicked. She is the ginchiest at being a murdering fascist cunt. Oh well.

Have a Trumptastic day, bitch.

[Austrian Anarchy]

You replaces Maoist with Trump supporter. Might want to go back to your source material to slick up that copy.

[Toast88]

He'll kill millions of people? Must've missed that in his agenda.

Even Chris Matthews had to ask a guest the other day, "Wait, what has Trump said bad about gays and Jews?"

[AlmightyJB]

It will be George Bush the Elder's 8th term.

[AddictionMyth]

I have nothing better to do than sit around thinking up ways to instigate muslims to attack us. I hear their religion makes them do it! I read it online somewhere! Only crazy people would point out they were all employees of the private security industry trying to justify a police state.

[0x90]

Sandy Hook, amirite?

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Did Reason (Robby) cover this:

The student's union at a London universtiy has voted to ban the Daily Mail, Sun and Express newspapers on campus ? despite there being no shops which sell them on the institution's grounds.

The ban was approved at City University, which is home to one of the most prominent journalism departments in the country.

The decision was met with surprise and outrage from journalism students and former students, who claimed it was "censorship" and "worrying and ignorant". A contest to the motion is now expected.

And there are people actually arguing that banning newspapers averts fascism?

[Diane Reynolds (Paul.)]

Didn't mean to reply to he who shall not be interesting.

[Crusty Juggler]

The Demon Drab.

[A frilly pink thing]

Baron of Blah.

[Swiss Servator]

Earl of Ennui?

Duke of Duh?

Landgraf of Lame?

[Swiss Servator]

Margrave of Meh?

Elector of Eh?

[Ted S.]

I can't wait for Robby's weasel words that this isn't actually such a bad thing.

[AddictionMyth]

As an anarcho-Trumpkin, I was about to kill myself as part of the oxy epidemic in my state. And they just shut down the last AA meeting in my county - evidently people got tired of being abused and exploited by the old-timers. So then Trump came along and promised to fulfill all my dreams! Running after muslims and illegals all day and making them miserable. What more could an anarcho-Trumpkins want???

[Suicidy]

Committing suicide is an awesome idea for you. Go drink the Drano (hint: an off brand drain cleaner is also acceptable.).

[CZmacure]

Your nick has dark new meaning.

[AddictionMyth]

Stupid, stupid Trumpkins. Why don't you love me????

[Swiss Servator]

Jeez, Shriek, you need help.

[Brochettaward]

THAT'S the territory we cover in the Reason podcast, to which you should subscribe, rate, and review at iTunes!

Sure, Nick. I'll get right on that. Right after I masturbate for the tenth time today.

[Ted S.]

I don't have an ItUnes account, anyway. (I prefer podcasts so third parties in the cloud don't have a list of all my podcasts. And it's on my computer, not in the cloud.)

[The Hyperbole]

(sucks to by YOU) , contrary thinking we word towards..

That's some quality editorering going on right there.

[commodious is retromingent]

Is Donald Trump the Golem We Assume or Will He Usher in Some Good Policies?

Is he part of the global Jewish conspiracy, you mean?

[Florida Hipster]

Son of a.....
*walks off*

[commodious is retromingent]

Hey, kid... catch.

*tosses FH pit-sweated Reason shirt*

[Florida Hipster]

Golly mister.

[John Titor]

Gillespie forgot that to write it as (((Golem))) because he's not hip with what the kids are into nowadays.

[Austrian Anarchy]

Seems to be a cascading set of errors.

While the writer meant goy, he tried to write goyim and antics ensued.

[Florida Hipster]

Isn't a Golem a Jewish puppet? RACIST!!!

[GILMORE?]

Isn't a Golem a Jewish puppet?

Sort of. more like a poor-man's Frankenstein.

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

Poor man's? But I though Jews have all the money?

[Suicidy]

No, Scrooge McDuck has all the money. And he's a lapsed catholic.

[Austrian Anarchy]

That's just what they want you to think.

[AddictionMyth]

Trump's goal is to instigate muslims to attack us. He's been doing it for the last year and a half - by saying things like "I Donald Jay Trump promise to ban muslims from our country." And "kill their families" and "torture and worse." He's a genius at incitement. He's the master baiter.

[MarkLastname]

You're right. Those Islamic terrorists, ever famous for being even-tempered and slow to anger, are fast reaching the end of their fuse I bet. Which really says what an asshole this Trump is. I mean, these guys are well-composed, they're not the kind of people to be set off by a cartoon or something. This instigating may just lead to the end of this goldden age of eight terrorism free years the world has enjoyed and taken for granted.

[AddictionMyth]

There are millions of rapists, murderers and drug dealers in this country. We must round them up and send them back to their home countries. But if we do it now then they will just come right back over the border. That's why we need a wall. But - that could take a few years. So what should we do with millions of dangerous, young illegals until then?

[Suicidy]

"There are millions of rapists, murderers and drug dealers in this country."

Yes, we call them democrats, like you.

[AddictionMyth]

I'm so bored! Where is everyone tonight? Why won't anyone play with me???

[TheZeitgeist]

Hillary's available, nothing on her calendar I think.

[Austrian Anarchy]

And there is always room on her fainting couch.

[AddictionMyth]

Look at me!!!!!

[Vapourwear]

Finally, an honest post.

[AddictionMyth]

OMG I can't WAIT for the next terrorist attack. (Even if it's a disgruntled private security employee radicalized by the FBI.)

[C. Anacreon]

Concern troll is concerned.

[Florida Hipster]

I watched "Bottle Shock" today. I'm miss Alan Rickman. I can't believe that movie was well received at Sundance. It was cliche and predictable.

[AddictionMyth]

Trump will fix it.

[Heroic Mulatto]

I'm miss Alan Rickman.

Nice to meet you Miss Rickman.

[Florida Hipster]

I was fixing it, damn you!

[AddictionMyth]

Will you play with me, Hero?

[Florida Hipster]

Also you're link brings me back here. I've gone through the circle three times.

[Florida Hipster]

Your link. I had a brain tumor for breakfast, evidently.

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

You should stick to traditional, wholesome diet of meth, Mountain Dew and self-abuse. It's what made Florida great!

[Florida Hipster]

I'm off the sugar, the other two I still do.

[commodious is retromingent]

They dew diet Mt. Do, but what's the point?

[Swiss Servator]

caffeine

[MarkLastname]

Well, maybe he really is Link?

[commodious is retromingent]

We'll always have Mr. Bean.

[Florida Hipster]

Great scene.

[commodious is retromingent]

Also, his hot secretary with the father fetish.

[Florida Hipster]

Yeah, I love Emma Thompson and all, but I would have rekt that chick.

[Charles Easterly]

After careful review of the two , FH, I think I'd prefer the "saint" of a wife rather than the lass in the devil dress.

Although I admit that I can recognize the temptation.

Regardless - another great scene displaying the thought/writing that went into sections of the movie (husband tells his wife she's a saint and immediately after she leaves his assistant in a devilish costume taps him on the shoulder* to tempt him).

*Remember Animal House with the angelic figure on one shoulder and the devilish figure on the other?

I don't usually enjoy these types of movies, yet I enjoyed several parts of this one for the "layers", for lack of a more descriptive word.

[Florida Hipster]

In real life I like to believe I would shut the secretary down after the first inappropriate comment. Luckily I don't have women half my age throwing themselves at me.

[commodious is retromingent]

I believe in good problems and bad problems, and that... that would be a good problem to have.

[Florida Hipster]

I believe in good problems and bad problems, and that... that would be a good problem to have.

If I was single, you betcha it's a good problem.

[commodious is retromingent]

How much of Mia's attraction was his having a (relatively) homely, faithful wife? It's been awhile since I've seen the movie, but I never got the impression Mia was attracted to Rickman's character but to his respectable, staid demeanor. I'm betting Rickman the single lonely wanker wouldn't be nearly the challenge Mia wanted. Rickman the faithful husband and father was exactly what Mia wanted.

[Charles Easterly]

In that event, FH, everyone who isn't behaving inappropriately "wins" in my estimation.

[Florida Hipster]

Edit: I am not a young female unmarried Alan Rickman. I miss the actor, Alan Rickman.

[Crusty Juggler]

Me too. He was great in Galaxy Quest, but makes sense because he was great in everything.

[You ARE a Prog (MJG)]

By Grabthar's Hammer, what a fuck-up.

[Crusty Juggler]

If it's good enough for HM it's good enough for me.

[AlmightyJB]

That was a good look for Sigourney

[Florida Hipster]

Your link doesn't work for me, so I'm imagining his monologue from Quigly Down under, before he gunfights Tom Selleck.

[Crusty Juggler]

It is just a link to a few scenes from Galaxy Quest. There is always Die Hard if you want to get your thin Rickman on.

[Florida Hipster]

https://youtu.be/rwDmV1KWrKQ

[Robert]

I miss Allen L. Rickman. Haven't seen him in a while on screen, on stage, politically, or socially.

[Suicidy]

Probably just being chill, laying low and loving life.

[Ted S.]

The last movie I watched was S.O.B., in which Mary Poppins bears her breasts.

(Seriously.)

[Florida Hipster]

What is SOB?

[Crusty Juggler]

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

[Florida Hipster]

Thnx for the NSFW warning, ass.

[Ted S.]

Florida Man works?

[Florida Hipster]

Meth ain't free, player.

[Crusty Juggler]

Sincere apologies; I forgot some people have real jobs. If you get in some hot water because of it just use the "Mary Poppins' Titties" defense.

[Florida Hipster]

Ah yes, MPTD.

[commodious is retromingent]

"But... it was Crusty Juggler! Crusty Juggler!"

[John Titor]

"Nice try, but Crusty Juggler is just a myth we made up to scare children, like The Warty Under The Bed."

[Suicidy]

"I am the Warty Under the Bed, and I shall never harm the person under whose bed I sleep. But I might put myself in your mouth while you sleep."

[Slumbrew]

"I am the Warty Under the Bed, and I shall never harm the person under whose bed I sleep. But I might put myself in your mouth while you sleep."

Relevant

[Florida Hipster]

*cries as cardboard box of desk contents is thrown into street*

[LurkinInaBuildin]

Titz o' Poppins?

[Ted S.]

And you'll never hear the song "Polly Wolly Doodle" in the same way again.

[Ted S.]

Standard Operational Bullshit, in the context of the movie.

[Charles Easterly]

S.O.B.

It is a link to IMDb.

[The Hyperbole]

Ah Blake Edwards, the poor man's Mel Brooks.

[Ted S.]

I was reminded more of the Norman Lear/Bud Yorkin movies of the 60s, in that the movie winds up being rather less than the sum of its parts.

[Ted S.]

Or bares them. I'm surprised nobody noticed this. They were probably too shocked by seeing Mary Poppins' breasts.

[TheZeitgeist]

I watched "Bottle Shock" today. I'm miss Alan Rickman. I can't believe that movie was well received at Sundance. It was cliche and predictable.

I was in Century City today at the mall. The 'Nakatomi Plaza' skyscraper from Die Hard is a block down, and thinking of Rickman's performance from that movie (GOON: "Asian...Dawn?" GRUBER: "I read about them in Time Magazine") I got a good laugh just standing there looking at the building.

He is missed.

[GILMORE?]

This just reminds me that I was on a boycott of all podcasts until Matt resumes posting 5th Column episodes.

I feel dirty, lied to, betrayed.

[Florida Hipster]

You know every time there is some D-bag company doing something stupid and I want to boycott them, I find I didn't buy their products anyways.

[Crusty Juggler]

I listened to the podcast earlier today - Kat Timpf was drunk and slightly annoying/flirty/sexual (example: "no ringy no dingy"), Moynihan was egging her on and randomly doing impersonations, Matt was pretending he was not inebriated (he did a good job) and Kmele was trying to keep the podcast together. I am annoyed by how much I like listening to those three for an hour each week.

[GILMORE?]

Oh, they did it? i didn't see any post here.... or is he not doing that, so as not to compete with nicks flailing project?

[GILMORE?]

Am listening to it now. I am glad that they also took the opportunity to mock/abuse the Weistein/Mr-Fields guy.

[Crusty Juggler]

Yes, they stopped before they spoke too much about it. Sad! Don't be polite - be trashy insiders!

She could have come out ahead on that entire situation if she resigned and wrote about it (the problem with this solution is that she isn't a writer) after her bosses told her to shut up. It would have been some decent exposure into the scummy minds at Breitbart and the Trump campaign. Instead it turned into a he said/she said clusterfuck of fruitless fuckery, and now the Breitbart editor is a presidential advisor.

Way to go, Fields.

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

Eh, hindsight... I bet nbc wishes they released pussy-grabbing video 16 months ago.

[GILMORE?]

that whole situation made me feel like Arnold Schwartzenegger in kindergarten cop

I couldn't stand people talking about it. it was so fucking trivial and yet each side latched onto it like it was the bombing of hiroshima and the side you chose was going to change history.

[MarkLastname]

Flirty Kat Timpf. Mmm, I may have to start listening to this podcast. Russ Roberts never does anything sexy on the econtalk podcast :(.

[Slumbrew]

Saw Timpf for the first time when I caught 'Kennedy' last night - she's a bit of alright. I'm a sucker for glasses. Totally irrational, I know.

[MarkLastname]

I read some of her articles mocking SJW types before I ever saw what she looked like, so I was predisposed to her before I even knew what she looked like.

[AddictionMyth]

I promise to give each American a muslim or illegal of the age and sex of their choice. Can I count on your vote?

[AddictionMyth]

The scariest thing about Nazis is that they are completely humorless.

[0x90]

(no comment)

[AddictionMyth]

Hero! Clown rap for us:

[AlmightyJB]

Someone needs a wall to keep people in

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

I want to believe Maduro screamed out "Mendoozaaaaaaa!" before he gave the order.

[commodious is retromingent]

Someone needs a wall to keep people in

Just use reasonable. It's added a lot of white space to the comments tonight.

[Rufus The Monocled]

You guys need to step up your game.

I just came back from the grocery store where my daughter proceeded to junk it up.

I indulged. She's acing school.

[Florida Hipster]

I'm not familiar with Canadian slang. Is "junk it up" how you guys say twerking?

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

He's talking about drugs.

[Florida Hipster]

Man, I haven't heard smack called junk since naught six.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Are we done? Must we complicate EVERYTHING?

Speaking of everything,

"You get it, right, we're pro-choice in EVERYTHING."

Rape and moider it is!

Anyway, she insists on Doritos.

[Florida Hipster]

Doritos being crank? I don't really understand how it works up there.

[AlmightyJB]

I wish I had some Doritos.

[AlmightyJB]

Think I'll make some popcorn.

[Rhywun]

These euphemisms are getting colourful.

[TheZeitgeist]

Racist.

[Swiss Servator]

"Euphemisms of Color"

[DenverJ]

Doritos are not junk food. They are one of the four food groups.

[Swiss Servator]

Salt. Carbs. Fat and Alcohol?

[DenverJ]

Sure. I was gonna say bacon, but fat is same same

[Rufus The Monocled]

For soccer fans eyes only.

What a dysfunctional mess the Argentina Federation is.

http://www.foxsports.com/socce.....-to-111816

[The Hyperbole]

the national team's security guards told Messi that they hadn't been paid in six months

Don't pay me for one month...shame on you. Don't pay me for six month... who the fuck can go six months without pay? , something does't add up.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Yeah, the equation is = Ar + gent - tina = Argentina.

[Ted S.]

I think the Argentine team only had two sets of World Cup qualifying in that time. I don't know who handled security at the Copa America which was held in the US. I'd assume the security has other jobs in the meantime.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Until their last win over Colombia, they weren't even in a WC playoff spot.

[Rhywun]

That puts a dent in the tatting and hair-frosting budget.

[AlmightyJB]

When did the NYT go alt right?

[0x90]

The problem with lefties trying to wake up to this, and cast off their divisive, sneering identity-wrangling, is that at some point they will realize that they adopted it for a reason: they don't have much else to run on. They can try to fall back on class warfare, tweeting their Robin Hood message out to poor kids' iphones, but without being able to browbeat people with [fill-in-the-blank]'s rights, what else do they have? To throw off identity politics, they would be left left to arguing for civil rights (e.g. abortion) without qualification.

The right doesn't have this problem; they can always rally people against Eurasia or Eastasia, or the leviathan federal state. They can worry people on the basis of religious morality, and real or perceived threats to it. Their arguments have not been tied to identity in the same way as those of the left; a right fighting abortion in a post-identity left is no longer "trying to control what women do with their bodies" any more than they're trying to control what men do with theirs; it needs the left's identity-lens to become a specifically "women's rights" issue.

In other words, I see no possible way for the left to jettison identity politics, because division has become the essential core of their model.

[AlmightyJB]

Yes, I do wonder what the impact will be after the last 8 years when Hope and Change were never delivered and the next 4 years where Armageddon doesn't come. Will that impact the dynamic? I don't know.

[TheZeitgeist]

I think all the kids with huge debts for worthless degrees is just about big enough to become self-sufficient political market looking for Uncle 'co-signer' Sam to bail them out. That will, I suspect, become a new Social Justice cause.

Another one on the deck is public pensions; Illinois for instance is basically an Enron nobody wants to admit, and California is a stock-market downturn away from insolvency on many levels.

[AlmightyJB]

So the shits about to hit the fan then

[thrakkorzog]

Trump already won with white people without degrees. I doubt "Vote for me and I'll take your money and use it to pay off a Womyns Study major $250,000 student loan," is going to help the dems win Michigan back.

[John Titor]

You get it, right, we're pro-choice in EVERYTHING.

You heard him folks, the libertarian military filibuster is on!

BYOG, uniforms and/or clothes optional. I suggest we go for one of those Central American countries with glorified police forces as military.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

I hear Venezuela is ripe for the taking

[Swiss Servator]

Bring food and toilet paper.

[Ken Shultz]

I'm hoping Trump is as a lagging indicator that the latest social justice warrior revival is now behind us. It's taking people a while to catch on, but the social justice warrior game in the mainstream is probably over for now.

Yesterday, I linked to that "Boxxy" chick calling social justice warriors out on their hate. For further evidence, I give you the Chive:

"Is it just me, or has the world become insanely sensitive?"

http://thechive.com/2016/11/18.....34-photos/

Millennials who became politically aware during the Obama administration might have come to imagine that the last eight years were the new normal--but we've been through this before. It's sort of like the religious revivals or "Great Awakenings" that hit America periodically.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakening

In fact, progressives have their roots in evangelical Christianity. The 40-hour work week and child labor laws came from the same place as abolitionism, the suffragettes, and Prohibition. These revivals come and go in phases.

We've had social justice "great awakenings" ever since the Civil War. There were big ones in the 60s and early 70s, we had another big does of it in the early '90s--especially in the wake of Anita Hill, the LA Riots, etc. These things are always simmering under the surface to some extent, and they come exploding into the mainstream culture periodically--but it's not the new normal. It's temporary.

[AlmightyJB]

I thought they were already woke?

[Ted S.]

"Is it just me, or has the world become insanely sensitive?"

That's just your Chive talking.

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

A chive of scum and villainy?

[Swiss Servator]

A *narrowed gaze*?

[AlmightyJB]

Some pretty funny pics there.

[MarkLastname]

I dunno, I'm thinking the opposite: the pendulum is swinging faster now, and when it swings back (kinda already is) it's gonna swing harder and further in the opposite direction than before. I think, unfortunately, we may be getting drawn into the Weimar cycle. The center no longer holds.

But maybe I just want the end of the world to happen to ameliorate by malaise.

[Slumbrew]

ameliorate [m]y malaise.

Check out Jimmy Carter over here.

[Ken Shultz]

Those guys at the Chive are like hipster mainstream and not politically oriented. Everywhere I look, it seems like the fire is going out.

The media hit Trump with every social justice warrior smear they could and then some--racist, misogynist, xenophobe, sexual assault--and it didn't make any difference. That's gotta be indicative of something.

I'm hoping Trump winning signals that this social justice warrior "great awakening" cycle has played itself out.

Hallelujah!

[AlmightyJB]

See my NYT Alt Right link above about the end of identity politics. Which I don't remotely believe.

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

Read the comments. They are almost entirely attacking the author, mostly for being a white male

[Stickler in the Comments(PanZ)]

Until the last feminist is triggered by the iPhone case we took of the last hipster, mankind will never be free!

[Ken Shultz]

It'll still be a thing. It just won't be a socially acceptable thing as much anymore.

There are still Trekkies and Furries and lumbersexuals, too.

They're just not on the front page anymore.

The next gamergate happens everyday--it's just that hardly anyone cares anymore.

The social justice warriors are just all squanched out.

[Suicidy]

So no SJW wedding squanchers?

[MarkLastname]

Diderot? Jacobin! Off to the guillotine you!

[Sevo]

"The media hit Trump with every social justice warrior smear they could and then some--racist, misogynist, xenophobe, sexual assault-"

They're not done:
"Trump may be setting a record for broken promises"
http://www.sfgate.com/news/pol.....623216.php

Ms. Dwyer has just awakened from an 8-year sleep!

[Ken Shultz]

The social justice warrior revival will die last in San Francisco.

[Sevo]

"SF leaders on hate crimes: 'The fear in the community is real'"
http://www.sfgate.com/crime/ar.....624138.php

Well, since every one of the "leaders" is a D who is still butt-hurt from the election, is it surprising they make up stories about how bad it is?

[Rufus The Monocled]

I was reading the comments. Are S-Franciscans that insufferable?

I remember when I visited the city it boasted everyone wants to move there (and it is a wonderful city) but I wouldn't be able to handle the progtardation.

[Sevo]

" ... In San Francisco, where 84 percent of voters supported Hillary Clinton for president, district officials widely distributed a strongly opinionated, optional lesson plan to help students process the Trump win. ... "
In which, the gov't school teachers were instructed to call Trump "racist", "xenophobic", "bigoted", "sexist", all in the name of "inclusiveness".
(paywalled,so you get the click bait) http://www.sfgate.com/search/?.....esson+plan

Suffice to say, unless you prefer conflict, it's worth *selecting* your friends and what you discuss.

[Austrian Anarchy]

This is why the government will never get out of the school business.

[Rhywun]

the progtardation

I left SF for NYC, that's how bad it is. I'm a city boy and I can deal with progs up to a certain point, especially here in the outer outer boroughs where it's considerably less retarded. But in SF you just can not escape it.

[Sevo]

Crab season opened two days ago; the one we ate came off the boat at noon.
Licking my fingers from dipping crab meat in melted butter with sourdough bread and a crisp Chardonnay.
Yep, there are some real imbeciles here and some damn good eats!

[Rhywun]

Sea bugs... gross

[Lurk Diggler]

Are crabs unique to SF?

[Derp-o-Matic 5000]

100%

You certainly can't get them in Louisiana, Mississippi, or Maryland.

[Suthenboy]

"...the golem we assume..."

You know what they say about assumptions.

[straffinrun]

The disclaimer on this one was slightly different than usual. Trump is awful but Hillary was worse in all areas.

[Palin's Buttplug]

I like how conservative dumbasses falsely believe name calling will have an effect on radical Islamists.

HEY BOYS, CALL THEM "RADICAL ISLAMISTS" AND IT WILL SHAME THEM INTO SURRENDERING!! CUZ MERICA IS GREAT AGIN!

[straffinrun]

So says "Palin's Buttplug".

[Palin's Buttplug]

Actually, every dumbass conservative believes (or says) that load of bullshit.

[Swiss Servator]

Get tired of being ignored as "Addiction Myth" did you?

[A frilly pink thing]

Sure looks like it.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Over/under date on when Herr Sessions seizes the assets of pot companies and locks up the employees?

anyone?

[Sevo]

Fuck off, turd.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Shut up, you fucking NAZI symp.

[Sevo]

Fuck off, turd.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Anyway, before the proto-fascist Sevo tried to distract us, I predict by June 1 Herr Sessions will have arrested and shut down West Coast pot growers who are hurting no one today.

[Sevo]

Fuck off, turd.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Pot should remain legal (at least in the states that voted so), Sevo. You fascists have no business regulating our personal lives.

You're probably an Aborto-Freak too. All conservatives are.

[Sevo]

Fuck off, turd.

[Suicidy]

Yet Chocolate Stalin won't reclassify it and continues to have his EPA knock over medical dispensaries.

[straffinrun]

You seem to have a gambling problem.

[Sevo]

And a stupidity problem and an honesty problem and a problem in that it thinks anyone gives a shit about some D-apologist's opinion about anything.
Fuck off, turd. You lost.

[straffinrun]

From Jeb! to $600 gold to Playa's bet, it's amazing how wrong PB has consistently been. He actually serves a useful purpose: bet against whatever he's saying.

[Palin's Buttplug]

I wasn't wrong on JEB! He was my pick to win the nom if Trump didn't. My opponent (Florida Man) picked Lil' Taco. But Trump won.

$700 gold is coming - as I have been consistently right on the strong US Dollar and the goldbugs wrong about hyperinflation (still funny that they thought that).

My pick against Compton boy (CNX) did just fine. His did better.

Get something right for once, asshole.

[Sevo]

Fuck off, turd.

[straffinrun]

So Jeb! would've won if Trump didn't? Got any polling evidence to back that?
$700 gold is coming? It hasn't, yet you claim that as a win.
Your Playa bet? Hey, I bet on the Indians and the Cubs won. But the Indians played well, so Win!

[Sevo]

"$700 gold is coming? It hasn't, yet you claim that as a win."

I'm predicting $200.00 gold! And $2000.00 gold!
I'm just not saying when, just like turd.

[Swiss Servator]

Note: 3 years of raving about $600/oz gold has morphed into $700/oz now with vauge "its coming" claim.

Toss in extra bigotry and error and we have the essence of a frustrated and alone lefty.

[Sevo]

With daddy issues...

[A frilly pink thing]

"I wasn't wrong on JEB! He was my pick to win "

That's the truth. Stop with the "if Trump? " garbage, you know it's in the archives.

You were wrong on Jeb.. Be a god damned man for one time and just stop lying about it.

[Sevo]

"Be a god damned man for one time and just stop lying about it."

From your handle, I can't tell how long you've been here. From your post, I'm guessing not long. Over 8 years or so, turd has perhaps been 'right' not quite as often as a stopped clock and turd has never once admitted it.
Judging by what turd has admitted, we have a middle-aged day-trading failure with a coke habit and daddy issues, hoping (HOPING!) for some redemption on a web site.
And not getting it.

[MarkLastname]

Haha, right, because Jeb was polling a close 2nd behind Trump.

[John Titor]

Perhaps you should pay your previous bets before you make new ones.

[Swiss Servator]

Shriek's bet, amsoc's mortgage...

[Austrian Anarchy]

I miss Gary Johnson already!

The third Democrat in the race. Jeez.

[commodious is retromingent]

Anyone remember A Scanner Darkly? I saw it once when it came out (never read the book). Watching it again tonight for whatever reason. Robert Downy Jr. sounds exactly like Jeff Goldblum sped up by 1.25.

[AlmightyJB]

I don't think I have seen that one. Looks interesting.

[commodious is retromingent]

It's a bit scattered. So... proper Dick.

[Rhywun]

I read the book (and saw the movie). Had no idea what was going on, so yeah.

[commodious is retromingent]

Not bad. Wasn't bad. I'm not a Dick aficionado. It wrapped up at the end. A little clinical about the emotional impact, but then again Hollywood loves playing up unimportant emotional excursions, and this was pretty contained. Points for that. The anti-drug-war message was evident. Points for that. Interesting, maybe unique, aesthetic, points for that. Interesting portrayals of drug use and addiction and paranoia, very Requiem. Points for that. My score is points out of points. Definitely worth seeing if you think that sort of thing is worth your time.

[Rhywun]

My score is points out of points.

How Dickian.

[AlmightyJB]

Silly voters

http://abc6onyourside.com/news.....-posession

[Sevo]

Trump's fault. Ask turd.

[The Fusionist]

Do they need a grand jury indictment to prosecute for pot possession in New Jersey? If so, wouldn't it be unfortunate if grand juries in Newark simply didn't indict anyone for possession. Chaos!

[The Fusionist]

(but I forgot that grand juries are racist institutions which exist to shield police from accountability. /sarc)

[The Fusionist]

Wait, this is Newark, *Ohio*?

[AlmightyJB]

Newark, OH. Podunk town. Ohio's implementing medical but not recreational.

[DenverJ]

Medical is the gateway to rec. By the time rec became legal, medical was bullshit and everybody knew it. Anybody who could find a doc to write him a scrip was too fucking stupid to need it.

[DenverJ]

*couldn't
Jeebuz, talk about stupid.

[Jickerson]

"Are you saying to me now you want it to be legal in the City of Newark to sniff glue?" Sassen said. "I rather doubt that."

Yes, it should be legal. Now what, retard?

I love it when people ask you a question thinking it's absurd for you to answer in any way but the way they want you to answer, and then you give them an answer they weren't expecting and their ridiculous tactic fails them.

[Austrian Anarchy]

Mark Geragos was just saying the same thing about Los Angeles. Local prosecutor going ahead with pot prosecutions aven after prop 64 adopted.

[R C Dean]

Sugarfree: been catching up on your blog. Great stuff. Mad props, as the kids used to say.

[straffinrun]

Block quote something. I'm at work and my company mainframe will meltdown if I go there.

[Swiss Servator]

Yeah, save that for later. He almost done killed my soul back a bit ago.

[Swiss Servator]

Yeah, save that for later. He almost done killed my soul back a bit ago.

[Swiss Servator]

Yeah, save that for later. He almost done killed my soul back a bit ago.

[straffinrun]

You've summoned something evil.

[Swiss Servator]

Squirrel of SugarFree?!

[0x90]

I think I should write a context-aware autocorrect for twitter...

James Dahl ?@JamesGDahl 8h8 hours ago

@Snowden don't forget the EPA head who doesn't believe in anthropomorphic climate change

[GILMORE?]

anthropomorphic climate change

I always knew these bastards were responsible

[Rufus The Monocled]

Anyone have insights on Boaz?

http://amzn.to/2gslSFR

[AlmightyJB]

Haven't read any of his books. I occasionally dowload the Cato Policy Report to read. He always used to have an article when he was Chairman. Not sure gow far back that was. You can probably search the site and find some articles from him. I always liked what he had to say. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of his books. Policy Reports

[Rufus The Monocled]

Thank you sir. You'e a credit to threads. Unlike some around here.

[straffinrun]

Fine. *Stomps Off*

[AlmightyJB]

Thanks:) That book seems more like reference manual like a an encyclopedia so not sure if that's what you're expecting.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Just snooping around.

[AlmightyJB]

I actually have a earier edition (or different cover) of that same book that I've never gotten around to reading.

[AlmightyJB]

Forgot the internet hyperbole disclaimer.

http://nbc4i.com/2016/11/18/oh.....ect-trump/

[Rhywun]

Five years for "making threats". WTF?

[GILMORE?]

RIP Sharon Jones

[Rufus The Monocled]

Fucken Trump.

[Rhywun]

I loved her on Partridge Family.

[Austrian Anarchy]

Was that before the Manson Family got to her?

[Rufus The Monocled]

Hockey players are the toughest sons of bitches around:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8KoaHSRcQA

Matt Calvert got 30 stitches...and came back....and scored a goal.

[Rufus The Monocled]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roG7YvPtlKg

[GILMORE?]

Is there some reason he's wearing a civil war kepi cap?

[commodious is retromingent]

Barbaric sport. At least football players are padded all over so their demons only come out a decade or so off the field.

[Swiss Servator]

Duncan Keith had 7 teeth knocked out....came back and finished the game.

http://www.espn.com/chicago/nh.....id=5216190

[Rhywun]

two of the teeth knocked out were fake

LMAO

[Swiss Servator]

Hockey #2, Rugby #1....

[Rufus The Monocled]

Dunno much about rugby other than what I've seen on and off over the years and some friends who played. Don't doubt its reputation as being filled with tough players.

Stanley Cup playoff run though, brah. All I'm gonna say.

[Swiss Servator]

Oh, top 2 toughest sports, period. But rugby doesn't have shifts off.....and rugby players are out there for 80 minutes of 80 minutes of play. Both ways - offense/defense and damned few stoppages. No pads or helmets either.

But hockey does have the skates accelerating everything, and getting hit by sticks....

End result - I loves me both sports.

[Rufus The Monocled]

Rugby does look exhausting.

[David Emami]

"And yet, we must ask: Is Donald Trump bad for the libertarians, that weird, growing, dominant tribe of folks who increasingly comprise a plurality of all Americans?"

I don't normally partake, but I want some of whatever Mr. Gillespie is smoking.

Libertarian sentiment peaked back in the 90s, when public opinion forced a Democratic president to proclaim (however disingenuously) that "the era of Big Government is over", when Forestry officials resigned because the locals made them feel like Nazis (http://www.hcn.org/issues/167/5393), and when our various economic freedom scores were climbing rather than falling. Maybe freedom will make a comeback, but it's lower now than it was then. Sorry, I don't give a crap about how many gender options you have on Tumblr.

[Crusty Juggler]

Someone* isn't getting invited to my ey/em/eir party.

*That someone is David Emami.

[David Emami]

To clarify: I wish I could agree with Nick. I really really do. And perhaps my comparison is colored by my having been younger then. But I don't see how things were less libertarian after we dodged Hillarycare than after we got smacked with Obamacare.

[GILMORE?]

huh. Hey man, i think some puerto rican guys are looking for you. i swear they were saying your name over and over.

[The Fusionist]

Shapiro v. Snowflakes, Part XXXVIII: University of Wisconsin-Madison

[Rufus The Monocled]

They kinda deserve it. And then some.

[The Fusionist]

Quick summary of the event

[DenverJ]

That may be the ugliest queer I've ever seen.

[The Fusionist]

"Klein said the protesters notified UWPD about their intention to interrupt Shapiro's speech and established boundaries of what they could and couldn't do, such as using megaphones or surrounding attendees."

So did the cops say "you can't try to shout down the speaker" - and if they said that, why didn't they enforce it?

[DenverJ]

Because there was only three of them?

[The Fusionist]

I bet they're jealous of De Paul which was able to summon 20 cops to stop Shapiro from speaking.

[The Fusionist]

Incidentally, why not call in some real-world cops if your own security can't handle a disruptive mob?

[DenverJ]

Because the cops feel that their job is to violate rights, not enforce said rights?

[DenverJ]

Also, what if DenverJ actually answered Eddie's questions instead of responding with more questions? What if Eddie stopped posting weekend links? What if DenverJ really is Judge Napolitano?

[The Fusionist]

"What if Eddie stopped posting weekend links?"

Oh, I'm just getting warmed up!

[DenverJ]

Not a criticism, bra, just wanted another question to make it sound more judgey.

[The Fusionist]

Tune in tomorrow...I haven't even covered deep dish pizza yet.

[Austrian Anarchy]

So did the cops say "you can't try to shout down the speaker"

Funniest rhetorical of the thread!

[Austrian Anarchy]

Since the job of the police is to drive around and cash a paycheck, I don't see why you are surprised. Video evidence from Baltimore.

[Bill Adams]

Remember, he can be the total douchebag he appears to be, and do many of those stupid things which Congress won't stop him from doing (as they will stop, for instance, the wall), and if he merely cancels all Obama's climate initiatives and avoids Obama's level of warfare (which, admittedly, means reining in some of his advisors), he will save trillions of dollars and perhaps millions of lives. Not a bad legacy for a douchebag.

[Sevo]

As of now, I doubt he knows what he's going to do WRT all those issues and many more. No way he is directed by a libertarian POV; he's nothing if not 'pragmatic'.
Regardless, he ran against a D candidate who was so pathetic that, even given the dominance of D registration, she lost. And lost badly (Hey Tony! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!)
I'm sure he'll manage to piss off the commentariat, but I'm guessing he'll do so far less than (THAT FUCKING HAG WHO WAS TOLD BY THE VOTERS TO JAM IT UP HER BUTT!--- oops, sorry...) HRC.

[Crusty Juggler]

The New Republic attempts to take down JD Vance, instead makes me buy JD Vance's book

[SIV]

I hear it reads well. Still, J.D. Vance is a fraud and a cuck.

[GILMORE?]

my mom gave it to me for my birthday. i read the first half of it on a plane. I'm not sure why its so popular. It reads like a very-long Atlantic article. I suspect behind all the chin-stroking amateur sociology and class-empathy, yuppies have been buying the book in droves because they really enjoy having people to to look down on. Its like "Jerry Springer" for the kindle-owning/starbucks-card wielding set.

[Florida Hipster]

I read "born fighting" by Jim Webb. If you want to read about scots-Irish hillbillies, I can suggest that one.

[Sevo]

Losers gonna lose!

"Mike Pence went to see 'Hamilton' and got booed"
[...]
"Video shows Pence walking through the crowd amid boos and some scattered applause:"
http://www.sfgate.com/technolo.....624659.php

Hmm. Wonder why a lefty rag would focus on the boos? Maybe butt-hurt!

[SIV]

Ms. Trump's presence also disturbed some current and former State Department officials, including Moira Whelan, who left the department in July after serving as a deputy assistant secretary of state for public affairs.

Anyone present for such a conversation between two heads of state should, at a minimum, have security clearance, Ms. Whelan said, and should also be an expert in Japanese affairs

"Meeting of two heads of state is never an informal occurrence," Ms. Whelan said. "Even a casual mention or a nod of agreement or an assertion left unchallenged can be interpreted in different ways."

Everyone at State who believes this should swing at the end of a rope.

[Sevo]

"Anyone present for such a conversation between two heads of state should, at a minimum, have security clearance, Ms. Whelan said, and should also be an expert in Japanese affairs"
I'm sure the photogers and 'journalists' have all been cleared, right Ms. Whelan?

"Meeting of two heads of state is never an informal occurrence," Ms. Whelan said. "Even a casual mention or a nod of agreement or an assertion left unchallenged can be interpreted in different ways."
At this point, what does it matter?
Ms. Whelan, SHE LOST!

[Slumbrew]

Plus, you know those Japanese are so inscrutable - who knows how they might interpret the head nods of some hot blond Ms. Trump.

[The Fusionist]

JAPANESE DELEGATE (In Japanese): We were hoping you guys could triple our foreign aid.

MELANIA (walking in): Hi!

[SIV]

Everything is a secret. Only Top.Men allowed.

[DenverJ]

I prefer to be a top man, although occasionally it's fun to lie back and let the woman do the work for a change. Lazy womyns.

[ammyt0645]

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[DenverJ]

Dumbass. This is America. Spam bots in America lie in dollars, not pounds sterling. Stoopit bot.

[DenverJ]

Great. Now I'm on another government list.

[Suthenboy]

Yeah? Me too.

They are on my list too.

[DenverJ]

She's doing Satan's own work, but might be doable out of that uniform. But what I really want to know is WHAT IS THE GUY BEHIND HER LOOKING AT???!!!!?????

[DenverJ]

So, a little drunker; she's definitely doable, now.
Also:
1. I don't think he knows what he's looking at either.
2. Look at his expression. Look at the little piggy eyes behind the wire frames. Now, tell me, will he ever be able to comprehend whatever it is that he is looking at?

[DenverJ]

Oh, forgot:
Why does the border crossing look like a public restroom?

[Florida Hipster]

It looks like some sort of melon. Maybe a cantaloupe.

[Sanjuro Tsubaki]

Umzin! He will protect the shtetl and the ghetto from nefarious gentiles and other shmucks!

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[VictorDJackson]

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[DWC]

Let's see - Bolton, Sessions, Pompeo, Ghouliani, real libertarian moment you got there. I'm having a little trouble with the optimism thing.

[NYer]

I just have this terrible feeling that Trump and Sessions are gonna make me miss Obama and Lynch/Holder. Damn it!

Alright Senators Paul, Lee, and Flake time to show us just how Libertarian y'all are. Also for the Congressmen and Senators of CO, CA, NV, AK, MA, ME, OR, and WA time to show that you actually care about the interests of your states and their citizens more than federal power and special interests........I won't hold my breath.

[Peter Verkooijen]

Trump is the Gollum we assume; a big government authoritarian who will go down with the inevitably collapsing bankrupt welfare state. Stay away! Work on a viable alternative; individual liberty, limited government, equal opportunity under rule of law. Don't let the neosocialists own the opposition.

[Bra Ket]

But we may need him to show us the secret entrance into Mordor.