Right As Usual

Fans of the old show The Brady Bunch will get that reference. I found a good list of questions to ask about the "Russian Influence on the 2016 Election" story - emphasis on the word STORY. To me, # 5 is the most critical: 5. Precisely what meddling occurred?  Somebody meeting with a Russian does not constitute proof of anything. rather, this is the classic witch-hunt accusation of the McCarthyite "Red Scare" of the 1950s-- guilt by association: you were seen conversing with a Communist, thus you must also be a Communist --or at a minimum, you are tainted by association and thus  under a cloud of suspicion that can never be cleared because no accusation of guilt in a court of law is ever made. Guilt by association is insidious because it can't be cleared in court.  Those accused of guilt by association are not innocent until proven guilty-- they are guilty until proven innocent, a proof that can never satisfy the accusers. A precisely defined chain of...

I started thinking about that misunderstanding while reading this post. Now, if you only watch ONE online video, make it THIS ONE. I promise, you won't be disappointed. The David Brooks article about the cultural divide between working class and upper class people really struck a chord with many, particularly those that, like I did, shifted between classes during my life. Read Rod Dreher's take on the controversy, and take the time to read the comments. Share

Should have put it here first: Just watched the HRC acceptance speech. She hit all the right notes. But, she doesn't sing. Her delivery is flat - she is too monotone (yes, that DOES count). She has several gestures that grate - that nodding her head like a bobblehead, her pinched hand pointing, that - Oh, yeah, smile! - thing. She has been coached, so it's all smooth enough, but she does not sound authentic. She sounds as though she is remembering to tick off specific points - mention grandkids, thank  other Democrats, put in some reference to Trump - and contrast it with my position. Sorry, she just didn't soar. The positives: she didn't stumble her words, she paced herself appropriately - not too fast, left time for audience responses, pleasant facial features (no pulled down mouth - ages a woman HUGELY), no big surprises (the leadership hates when you go off-topic), she didn't dig a hole that she'll have to fill later. Share