Friends, this week's Newsmaker Show is -- you guessed it -- a tour de force certain to induce fits of ecstasy.
Historically, Brian and I talk about "North Korean exceptionalism" and the incredible career of "Great Leader" Kim Il-Sung; the role of General Douglas MacArthur in WWII and the Korean War, and whether he could have become U.S. President; Ernest Hemingway and why leftism was en vogue for most of the 20th century; and the relevance of the Liberty Bell in this age of America-hating "progressivism".
In terms of current events, we cover the Supreme Court's rebuke to faithless electors, the myth of a "worsening" coronavirus pandemic, President Trump's brilliant patriotic speech at Mount Rushmore, and the crime wave that is washing over our big cities.
Don't miss even a second of our hard-hitting commentary!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I7baR7g7BE&feature=youtu.be
This is probably my last comment for a while, since I have picked up some additional, and unexpected, but welcomed, job responsibilities recently.
ReplyDeleteWhy has leftism been in vogue for most of the 20th Century? Always a good question and subject to be sure. I can tell you that the film industry in this country was infiltrated when a lot of leftist film personalities and academic types were kicked out of Europe in the 1930s, where their ideology was no longer en vogue. Of course we already had hard left types like the American John Reed who participated in The Russian Revolution of 1917, and is buried in the Kremlin, if that tells you anything. Add to this the American historians Charles and Mary Beard who suggested that the founders were far more interested in real estate deals than human rights. These types are now in COMPLETE control of Academia, Film, and The Media in this country.
My main point here is that in this country, the LEFT has COMPLETE (or almost complete) control of The Media, Film Industry, and Academia, and has had for decades now. I hope Trump wins in November 2020, because with the Bidenistas in The White House, things will be back to abnormal again.
ReplyDeleteBut even with Trump around, the same poison permeates our society BECAUSE the left controls the most important institutions in our society. UNLESS the right can control these "organs" we will continue to go downhill into the Socialist quagmire.
These people have also infiltrated religion as well, meaning many Christian churches are leaning in a left direction. If that sounds grim, thats because it is, and the worse may yet come.
Looks like a clear cut case of FUBAR to me.
And for those of you who can remember the difference, take a look around you at the malls and super markets and tell me what you see. Sure looks like a lot of genetic deterioration out there! And hey, I'm talking about White people. Lots of fat slobs with tattoos, and pug ugly to boot.
ReplyDeleteMaybe all those wars we have been involved in have "done a job on our DNA?" Just isn't like back in the day when even poor Whites wanted to look clean and dress as nice as possible. And don't forget about those lip and tongue rings and related adornments inspired by the guru world. Anyway, all these morons walking around are easier to control aren't they?
Ray et al: Here is my view only of the reasons for American Taliban leftist far reaching influence today: First, the Depression during which so many senior '60's faculty members were warped by Comintern lies (eg Potemkin villages) and by their summary conclusions (as naive post juveniles) that the Depression condemned capitalism. Now during WW2 they would have been ill advised indeed to express their screed to the girlfriends of the servicemen who were most of the university students of that time. Even they had the sense to lie low even if they as much as served. After the war; oh yes, the fashionistas in their consummate wisdom doted on Stalinist Russia for it wartime courage and the "now redeemed" wisdom of its ways. EHH, but it would have been dangerous indeed to tell veterans of Tarawa and Omaha Beach, in the rarified setting of the academy to which so many vets flocked, to a setting theretofore reserved for "swells" even, that totalitarianism of any stripe was OK, yes. THey who had seen Manila and Dachau with eyes unclouded by academic myopia?
ReplyDeleteRay et al: But then, the baby boom of such understandably voluptuous and joyous origin: yet radicals stuck to their lofts and coffee houses during the '50's but they had the sense to see in the now college age, overwhelmingly multitudinous ehh, product of the late '40's Greatest Generation, a VERY OBVIOUS MARK! Persuaded of Marx's admonition to reject all moral standards prior to his revelation, they thought themselves freed of all restraint in pursuance of unimpeachable goals.
ReplyDeleteRay: And so we of of 1965 advanced to an American academy polluted by now inspired, theretofore despised, radicals fairly slavering at this unanticipated main chance. No need to detail pervasive, corrosive, onerous effect they have had on our culture and society or two reasons: we early boomers were so stupid because we had not experienced the harrowing trials that had made our parents wise AND there were so GD many of us. And that influence extends to this day, as our children and grandchildren recklessly bustle, too many of them.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: As usual, so much of pith and value in your comments.
ReplyDeleteI would suggest that Federal charges against those who attacked a Federal officer in Buffalo (NY afterall) were absolutely necessary. Cuomo and his radical AG would certainly have taken the Officer to task. Let this be a followup on the precedents set in the '60's in the South. Let there be very much more rightful incursion of Federal power against lawless American Taliban left "Governors" (as if their presumption qualifies at all for the term "governance" in other than an entirely cynical way .
Dr. Waddy: I am so encouraged by your account of the President's speech. I'm glad it was "music" to your ears! MAGA was a great inspiration in 2016. Let"do you love America or don't you" do us the same in 2020.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: In considering Mary Trump's remarks I am reminded of the silly protestations Reagan's daughter made against him ( her disingenuous appearance at his otherwise magnificent funeral notwithstanding).
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: The electoral college: It is abundantly obvious that the American Taliban left's objection to the institution is that it prevents NY State and California from taking over the U.S. And that is just what it was designed for: to prevent populous areas with values inimical to those of less settled areas from dictating to those they ignorantly disdain. Well, this decision puts another roadblock in your way and as this is an existential battle, we take heart.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: One of several qualities Truman and Churchill shared was their ability to take hard decisions courageously and forthrightly. With Churchill: the sarice of the Calais garrison to buy time for the BEF; the assault on the French ships at Mers el Kebir; not warning Coventry for fear of revealing the breaking of German code. For Truman, use of the bomb and (I hate to say it) the firing of Mac Arthur.
ReplyDeleteMacarthur certainly had an at times offputting manner but he was a brilliant leader. He lost fewer men in the Pacific than were lost in the Italian Campaign alone. Inchon was a masterpiece.
His benevolent rule of post war Japan bespoke a towering intellect and consummate humanity. It leads me to think he would have made a fine President
Dr. Waddy: But Truman did his duty and I'll bet MacArthur respected him for it. America was not ready for WWIII and the principle of civilian rule, sorely tried at times, had to be upheld.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy: Hemingway: I am not nearly well read enough in American lit or its criticism to have an informed opinion on his writing. I've tried to read him but except for the Nick Adams stories I found him pretentious and uncomprehendable.
ReplyDeleteHe had a personal life as destructive as to cast serious doubt on his sense of judgement. He drank staggering amounts of alcohol each day.By the premature end of his life he was a wastefully burnt out husk of a human He summarily dismissed any possibility of an afterlife (who, pray, knows enough to be able to do that that creditably?) Didn't he celebrate bull fighting? IF he was antiwar what does that mean?.What about 2oth century totalitarianism; how was that to be dealt with? By unstable voluptuaries like he appeared to be or by millions of ordinary people far outside of his disdainful and rareified circle.
Ray, congrats on your employment windfall!
ReplyDeleteThat the Left began to seize control of the intelligencia and pop culture long ago is clear. Why they were able to do so is less obvious. Why did the right willingly, or semi-willingly, concede control of these vital organs of Western Civilization? Did we think that success in the business world would make up for our cultural isolation? And why have so many smart people been attracted to leftism? That is still something of a mystery to me. Basically, what we see on the Left is a smug elite ruling, or trying to rule, through an ideology of (phony) egalitarianism... A curious choice.
Did the Depression discredit capitalism? Maybe to a point, but fascism could just as easily have been the preferred alternative instead of socialism/communism. We might also have veered in the direction of religious fundamentalism, for that matter. Maybe the appeal of leftism lies partly in its alignment with modern "democratic" values? Of course, you and I know that nothing could be further from democracy than Marxism, but apparently an awful lot of eggheads haven't figured that out...
Jack, as far as I know federal power has not yet been exerted against any blue state governor for enforcing policies that cultivate, and even require, disobedience to federal law. This is a MAJOR OVERSIGHT! Man up, Barr and Co.!
Jack, I'm no MacArthur expert, but I believe you're right that he had great potential as a would-be President. I would love to know how he REALLY would have dealt with the Soviets and the Red Chinese. We can only guess. He was a more complicated man than most history books suggest.
Jack, are you sure MacArthur defied civilian control...or did he merely speak truth to power? One wonders whether he could have been set up.
Jack: you're right that Hemingway was typical for a 20th century creative type, insofar as he was rootless, hopeless, and completely dysfunctional. Probably there were equally talented writers with a healthier, more affirming worldview, and much better morals, who the publishing world sneered at as right-wing buffoons.
Dr. Waddy: How MacArthur would have dealt with the Commies as President? How indeed. Eg. How might he have responded to the Hungarian atrocity or perhaps Dien Bien Phu. And what about Stalin's Hbomb? His enlightened stewardship of Japan bespeaks great sagacity and very considerable knowledge of E. Asia. Andyet he might have misjudged China in 1950. Nothing in his experience could have suggested to him the possibility of the formidable Chinese army which thrust into Korea.China's WW2 experience on balance gave little reason for respect for main Chinese armies. No one, including him, could know how effective the Abomb would have been on Mao's China. Mao himself affected indifference: "go ahead and Abomb us, we are a rural culture". To this day it hasn't been used on ground troops. Stalin had his bomb by then and he might have intervened. "THese people stuck with me thru all my "Mother Russia tufta(BS)and a zillion casualties and back to my games afterward. So we take more casualties? I couldn't care less, you may have guessed by now. I'm going back to hell anyway". Truman had to act on his best judgement of MacArthur's behavior. What if MacArthur had presented him with a fait accompli? I've read the B29s and the bombs were nearby.
ReplyDeleteJack, again these matters are not within my area of expertise, but I believe the popular notion that MacArthur wanted to use nukes against China is false. If you read what Wikipedia says (admittedly, not the last word), many actors were CONSIDERING the use of nukes in Asia should the need arise, but it looks as though there is no evidence that M wanted to pull the trigger -- and he appears not to have controlled the nukes anyway. M was fired for insubordination -- essentially for loose talk with diplomats and politicians advocating a tough policy versus China -- not for wanting to nuke China.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_MacArthur#Korean_War
Dr. Waddy: Apparently this dismissive medium dismissed my eply which was:"You have given me much reason for pause; I need to do much more reading on this."
ReplyDelete