Let's see. I steal from someone. And then someone records me doing so. And then I get caught. So now, rather than focusing on my crime, I take offense at the person who recorded me.
If the DNC has any success redirecting attention from itself to the Russians (and to Trump) in the wake of the latest email scandal, that would be just amazing. Artfully done, to be sure. But amazing.
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Thursday, July 21, 2016
Fear Mongering? Really?!?
This would be hilarious if it weren't so tragically and dangerously sad. Giuliani and Gingrich take the podium to worry us about barely (or maybe non-) human cretins blowing us up, and that's then labeled as "fear mongering."
OK, so here's the way this really shakes out. If someone says to you, "Don't go outside because there might be bad people afoot who want to hurt you," that may well be conspiracy-theory fear mongering. I get that. But if someone says, "Steer clear of Charles Manson," well, that's simply good, smart advice. Newsflash - if someone says to you, "Run, there's someone coming after you with a machete," then you . . . ahem . . . run. It's just not fear mongering if it's true.*
Hey, guess what? These crazies DO want to blow us up. And they DO have the resolve to do so. And they DO have the ability to do so. 1+1+1=3. This is not fear mongering, but rather is simply good, smart caution.
I'll go you one step further: the opposite approach is irresponsible complacency. And, indeed, that irresponsible complacency starts with the demagogic, dismissive labeling of on-the-money cautionary statements about extremist jihadi terrorists as being "fear mongering."
Geez, when will the politically-correct apologists wake the heck up?!? I would've thought that the umpteenth incomprehensible set of pointless mass (and other) murders might have been a sufficient wake-up call . . . but I guess not.
_________
* Shades of Seinfeld's notion that, if you believe it, it's not a lie?
OK, so here's the way this really shakes out. If someone says to you, "Don't go outside because there might be bad people afoot who want to hurt you," that may well be conspiracy-theory fear mongering. I get that. But if someone says, "Steer clear of Charles Manson," well, that's simply good, smart advice. Newsflash - if someone says to you, "Run, there's someone coming after you with a machete," then you . . . ahem . . . run. It's just not fear mongering if it's true.*
Hey, guess what? These crazies DO want to blow us up. And they DO have the resolve to do so. And they DO have the ability to do so. 1+1+1=3. This is not fear mongering, but rather is simply good, smart caution.
I'll go you one step further: the opposite approach is irresponsible complacency. And, indeed, that irresponsible complacency starts with the demagogic, dismissive labeling of on-the-money cautionary statements about extremist jihadi terrorists as being "fear mongering."
Geez, when will the politically-correct apologists wake the heck up?!? I would've thought that the umpteenth incomprehensible set of pointless mass (and other) murders might have been a sufficient wake-up call . . . but I guess not.
_________
* Shades of Seinfeld's notion that, if you believe it, it's not a lie?
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
The Melania Dust-Up
So let's assume (without deciding) that "the" passage from Melania's beautiful speech was indeed lifted from Michelle Obama's. If that's the case, then I believe that (i) no professional would make that mistake and (ii) no double-agent intentionally torpedoed Melania. So, if all that's right, . . . what the heck happened?
I imagine the following backstory. At a point at which Melania's speech was almost done, she pulled up Obama's powerful and effective words from 2008. I think that they resonated with Melania. I'm guessing that, at that critical juncture, Melania decided that she would use those words - unaware that, in the world she has now entered, doing so is considered to be inappropriate (to say the least) plagiarism.
If my imagined world indeed reflects reality, Melania and the Trump camp had a way out. Moreover, I think that way out is still available, although I acknowledge that it won't be available for long. My path forward? It would be for Melania say something along the lines of:
"I would like to explain what happened regarding my speech of the other night. I am still learning the rules of the world that I have now entered. I do not have a background or the education that would fully prepare me for my new role. I was working to finalize my speech, which had been prepared by me with the help of others. I came upon Michelle Obama's beautiful words from 2008. They spoke to me, and I wanted to honor and use them. I finished my speech by adding those words. I meant no disrespect and, quite the opposite, I meant only the utmost respect. I see now that what I did was wrong. But it was done with the best of intentions, and I hope you understand. All of this is hard for me to admit now, especially with all that's been said, but I want to be open and honest with everyone. My apologies to Michelle and to all of you, and I wish you all the best."
I do still think that there's time for something like this. I hope it happens. There is nothing wrong with praising Obama's elegant presentation of several years ago, and, frankly, there's a lot right about doing so. Melania should be oh-so-proud of her own presentation, and I look forward to a time at which she is again back in the saddle.
I imagine the following backstory. At a point at which Melania's speech was almost done, she pulled up Obama's powerful and effective words from 2008. I think that they resonated with Melania. I'm guessing that, at that critical juncture, Melania decided that she would use those words - unaware that, in the world she has now entered, doing so is considered to be inappropriate (to say the least) plagiarism.
If my imagined world indeed reflects reality, Melania and the Trump camp had a way out. Moreover, I think that way out is still available, although I acknowledge that it won't be available for long. My path forward? It would be for Melania say something along the lines of:
"I would like to explain what happened regarding my speech of the other night. I am still learning the rules of the world that I have now entered. I do not have a background or the education that would fully prepare me for my new role. I was working to finalize my speech, which had been prepared by me with the help of others. I came upon Michelle Obama's beautiful words from 2008. They spoke to me, and I wanted to honor and use them. I finished my speech by adding those words. I meant no disrespect and, quite the opposite, I meant only the utmost respect. I see now that what I did was wrong. But it was done with the best of intentions, and I hope you understand. All of this is hard for me to admit now, especially with all that's been said, but I want to be open and honest with everyone. My apologies to Michelle and to all of you, and I wish you all the best."
I do still think that there's time for something like this. I hope it happens. There is nothing wrong with praising Obama's elegant presentation of several years ago, and, frankly, there's a lot right about doing so. Melania should be oh-so-proud of her own presentation, and I look forward to a time at which she is again back in the saddle.
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