Hitchens' turn to the right was. to say the least, disappointing, but he stayed a figure of principle, terrible and noble.oliver wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 11:16amChristopher Hitchens took the same challengeDr. Medulla wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 10:49amI remember Hannity saying he'd be waterboarded live on tv to show it isn't that bad. Someday his schedule will open up enough for that to happen, I'm sure.JennyB wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 9:55amYep. I'd also like to see any of them even try to WALK across a four inch wide beam and see what happens. If they can even hoist themselves up on it in the first place.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑02 Aug 2021, 7:09pmGuys who are traumatized by just the idea of discussion of systemic racism are willing to call a woman who was abused by her coach and also possesses the physical and mental toughness to compete and succeed at the highest, most public stage. It also takes an amazing toughness and sense of self to step away in such a public forum. If you want to understand white and male privilege, that's a good example to start with.
It was like all of the people who made fun of Greg Louganis when he hit his head.
No way is Hannity doing that.
The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
There's a huge difference in waterboarding someone in a controlled environment where you're being carefully watched and wanting to portray a specific agenda.
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
I love Hitchens dearly, the quality of his writing and the way he continually questions himself, so while it was very dispiriting to see him morph into a hawk, I genuinely find it hard to be angry with him about it.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 11:48amHitchens' turn to the right was. to say the least, disappointing, but he stayed a figure of principle, terrible and noble.oliver wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 11:16amChristopher Hitchens took the same challengeDr. Medulla wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 10:49amI remember Hannity saying he'd be waterboarded live on tv to show it isn't that bad. Someday his schedule will open up enough for that to happen, I'm sure.JennyB wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 9:55amYep. I'd also like to see any of them even try to WALK across a four inch wide beam and see what happens. If they can even hoist themselves up on it in the first place.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑02 Aug 2021, 7:09pm
Guys who are traumatized by just the idea of discussion of systemic racism are willing to call a woman who was abused by her coach and also possesses the physical and mental toughness to compete and succeed at the highest, most public stage. It also takes an amazing toughness and sense of self to step away in such a public forum. If you want to understand white and male privilege, that's a good example to start with.
It was like all of the people who made fun of Greg Louganis when he hit his head.
No way is Hannity doing that.
On that waterboarding I believe after the video ended and the camera was removed, hitch asked for them to do it again which they duly obliged.
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
His writing was something to savour. Such purpose in his prose. I remember his piece on Jerry Falwell's death, he refers to Falwell's "carcass" being discovered. That word choice alone conveys so damned much about his opinion of Falwell and it's so damned succinct.Low Down Low wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 1:47pmI love Hitchens dearly, the quality of his writing and the way he continually questions himself, so while it was very dispiriting to see him morph into a hawk, I genuinely find it hard to be angry with him about it.
My understanding of his turn to the right was that it was fueled by both his antitheism, which for whatever reason he saw militant Islam as more dangerous than militant Christianity, but even more so that he'd spent his entire life on the loser's side of events, and finally wanted to be with the winners. If this is true, what a sad and shallow reason. And an especially dumb time to switch, as the Iraq occupation is understood to be a key event in the collapse of American influence.
But, damn, that writing.
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a bowl of soup
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a rolling hoop
Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle like a ton of lead
Wiggle - you can raise the dead
Pex Lives!
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
Is there evidence that he was racist? That is, I'm not saying you're wrong, but I haven't come across claims that his perspective was motivated by race.
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
I'm reading Martin Amis' (weird) not-quite-novel-not-quite-memoir at the moment and he -or the Amis character at least - tries to defend Hitchens on the basis he was so desperate to see regime change in Iraq that the support for Bush and the neocons was no more than an arrangement of convenience; because he simply couldn't trust Kerry or other Dems to do it so threw his weight behind the other side. Really, that he never fundamentally quit the left at all. Sounds very tenuous. I think i mentioned last week that he had a weird thing for Thatcher too. So I'm just inclined to think he was a very complex, irascible character who at times got drunk on his own power and fame, which led him down some questionable paths. But, as you say, that writing. At his best, he was simply peerless.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 2:12pmHis writing was something to savour. Such purpose in his prose. I remember his piece on Jerry Falwell's death, he refers to Falwell's "carcass" being discovered. That word choice alone conveys so damned much about his opinion of Falwell and it's so damned succinct.Low Down Low wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 1:47pmI love Hitchens dearly, the quality of his writing and the way he continually questions himself, so while it was very dispiriting to see him morph into a hawk, I genuinely find it hard to be angry with him about it.
My understanding of his turn to the right was that it was fueled by both his antitheism, which for whatever reason he saw militant Islam as more dangerous than militant Christianity, but even more so that he'd spent his entire life on the loser's side of events, and finally wanted to be with the winners. If this is true, what a sad and shallow reason. And an especially dumb time to switch, as the Iraq occupation is understood to be a key event in the collapse of American influence.
But, damn, that writing.
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
Several years ago I read Daniel Oppenheimer's Exit Right, a collection of short biographies of liberals/leftists who turned to the right. Hitchens was the last chapter. I don't recall his assessment, but I do recall the Thatcher thing. It was an almost lust thing, her confidence and brutality. Which, yeah, I guess for a Trotskyite. And American neoconservatism was founded by disillusioned Trotskyites back in the 60s/70s, so there is an intellectual path there, a way to channel that romance for revolution.Low Down Low wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 3:28pmI'm reading Martin Amis' (weird) not-quite-novel-not-quite-memoir at the moment and he -or the Amis character at least - tries to defend Hitchens on the basis he was so desperate to see regime change in Iraq that the support for Bush and the neocons was no more than an arrangement of convenience; because he simply couldn't trust Kerry or other Dems to do it so threw his weight behind the other side. Really, that he never fundamentally quit the left at all. Sounds very tenuous. I think i mentioned last week that he had a weird thing for Thatcher too. So I'm just inclined to think he was a very complex, irascible character who at times got drunk on his own power and fame, which led him down some questionable paths. But, as you say, that writing. At his best, he was simply peerless.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 2:12pmHis writing was something to savour. Such purpose in his prose. I remember his piece on Jerry Falwell's death, he refers to Falwell's "carcass" being discovered. That word choice alone conveys so damned much about his opinion of Falwell and it's so damned succinct.Low Down Low wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 1:47pmI love Hitchens dearly, the quality of his writing and the way he continually questions himself, so while it was very dispiriting to see him morph into a hawk, I genuinely find it hard to be angry with him about it.
My understanding of his turn to the right was that it was fueled by both his antitheism, which for whatever reason he saw militant Islam as more dangerous than militant Christianity, but even more so that he'd spent his entire life on the loser's side of events, and finally wanted to be with the winners. If this is true, what a sad and shallow reason. And an especially dumb time to switch, as the Iraq occupation is understood to be a key event in the collapse of American influence.
But, damn, that writing.
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
Very interesting perspective. The thing with Thatcher was lust alright, he once famously bent over so she could spank him, believe it or not. Plain weird and creepy, he actually had the hots for her!Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 3:53pmSeveral years ago I read Daniel Oppenheimer's Exit Right, a collection of short biographies of liberals/leftists who turned to the right. Hitchens was the last chapter. I don't recall his assessment, but I do recall the Thatcher thing. It was an almost lust thing, her confidence and brutality. Which, yeah, I guess for a Trotskyite. And American neoconservatism was founded by disillusioned Trotskyites back in the 60s/70s, so there is an intellectual path there, a way to channel that romance for revolution.Low Down Low wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 3:28pmI'm reading Martin Amis' (weird) not-quite-novel-not-quite-memoir at the moment and he -or the Amis character at least - tries to defend Hitchens on the basis he was so desperate to see regime change in Iraq that the support for Bush and the neocons was no more than an arrangement of convenience; because he simply couldn't trust Kerry or other Dems to do it so threw his weight behind the other side. Really, that he never fundamentally quit the left at all. Sounds very tenuous. I think i mentioned last week that he had a weird thing for Thatcher too. So I'm just inclined to think he was a very complex, irascible character who at times got drunk on his own power and fame, which led him down some questionable paths. But, as you say, that writing. At his best, he was simply peerless.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 2:12pmHis writing was something to savour. Such purpose in his prose. I remember his piece on Jerry Falwell's death, he refers to Falwell's "carcass" being discovered. That word choice alone conveys so damned much about his opinion of Falwell and it's so damned succinct.Low Down Low wrote: ↑03 Aug 2021, 1:47pmI love Hitchens dearly, the quality of his writing and the way he continually questions himself, so while it was very dispiriting to see him morph into a hawk, I genuinely find it hard to be angry with him about it.
My understanding of his turn to the right was that it was fueled by both his antitheism, which for whatever reason he saw militant Islam as more dangerous than militant Christianity, but even more so that he'd spent his entire life on the loser's side of events, and finally wanted to be with the winners. If this is true, what a sad and shallow reason. And an especially dumb time to switch, as the Iraq occupation is understood to be a key event in the collapse of American influence.
But, damn, that writing.
Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
I wasnt a fan, even before his switch.
Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
Sounds like the makings of a Derek and Clive sketch
Putting a little stick about. Putting the frighteners on flash little twerps
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
This is pure gold: https://thehardtimes.net/culture/metall ... teenagers/
"I used to bullseye womp rats in my T-16 back in Whittier, they're not much bigger than two meters.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
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Re: The Mighty America's Finest News Source Thread
"Teach viewers how to be in a band." Fuck sake. Pay off line is great.Dr. Medulla wrote: ↑19 Nov 2021, 11:52amThis is pure gold: https://thehardtimes.net/culture/metall ... teenagers/