Clowns to the left, jokers to the right
Clowns to the left, jokers to the right
but I am nowhere near the middle of all this nonsense
Our precious “democracy” denies a man (or woman) the choice to cast his or her ballot with a vote of “no confidence.”
If democracy were in fact the fairest system in all the land, one would think such a reasonable option should be on the table.
More than several times, I’ve filled in the write-in candidate’s box and printed “Eliminate the Position.”
Clowns to the left of me and jokers to the right, as Gerry Rafferty once sung.
There are multitudes more clowns than jokers in the political arena, however, from my perspective.
The entire political apparatus in Washington is a clown show. Meanwhile, at the local level, with herds of barely-trained animals cavorting about statehouses and such, a requirement to tent such circi should be at least considered.
“Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage,” wrote Mencken. Pretty much.
Let’s take one of the latest “battles” going on in Washington, “Climate Action” so-called.
Elephants, donkeys, and other foul creatures abound in a Capitol Hill hearing last week whereby Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky exposed Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg as a bumbling ignoramus.
The erstwhile mayor attempted to tout his department’s proposed policy: the complete cessation of “fossil fuel” usage. The idea is non-rivalrous in its stupidity nonetheless championed by the current presidential administration.
Rep. Massie, who drives an electric car and has an “off-grid” home that runs on solar power and other alternative forms of electricity, is a believer in the ability of this technology to benefit humanity.
However, Massie is not so foolish as to push the nonsensical idea that a “fossil fuel free” economy is necessary, let alone that it will become a reality by 2030. Such are the twin aims of the current administration.
“Mayor” Pete’s command of the material is trivial. Opportunism is the coin of his realm—a political hack in the purest sense.
The average American—while generally holding a position against “climate change”—and probably more sympathetic to the Buttigieg position, is also largely ignorant to the subject matter at hand.
There is not a huge amount of blame for the American to shoulder, either, for it is the corporate media and its lackeys in government—though, to be fair, it could be the other way around—who have been pushing a doomsday scenario on the public for over 40 years.
This same fellow, after all, has been taught and now believes that a firm handshake means the other guy is always honest and decent.
Furthermore, the man is also averse to stepping on a crack in the pavement in fear of a spontaneous vertebral fracture.
This archetype is yet still considered a serious person by the masses.
As such, he naturally believes in the perils of climate change or the “justice” of climate action.
Recall: the next ice age was once imminent, then came the “acid rain” interlude, and now the co-religionists on the left simply profess as a matter of faith that our planet is burning up with no hope of salvation…unless we sacrifice our ordinary fuel sources…and all by the end of this decade.
The nonsense captivates the minds of scores of millions of Americans—true believers in the eschatology of “climate.”
Along these lines, Alex Epstein wrote an open letter to Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia the other day. Epstein published it on his Substack.
What is controversial here?
That the Buttigieg-Biden policies will not abide the laws of supply and demand, and therefore increase energy prices?
That solar and wind are not as reliable as its backers want you to believe?
That propping up failing industries in the energy sector with loads of new government money won’t trigger or exacerbate a recession?
Epstein’s letter is worth reading. Kind of long, but certainly worth it if you are not versed in any of the arguments against the Biden Administration’s hair-brained plan to save the earth.
“The Administration's declaration of “climate emergency” is totally invalid because while there is “climate change,” there is no “climate emergency.” Fossil fuels actually make us far safer from climate. That's why climate disaster deaths have decreased 98% over the last century.”
Epstein goes on to outline a “5-part energy freedom platform for America’s future.”
Who is Epstein after all? He is an energy expert who wrote a sober analysis of the “fossil fuel” issue in 2014 with The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels.
The book lays waste to most of the propaganda you get from the corporate media and political left.
The essence is that fossil fuels so-called—by the way, not “dinosaur byproduct” either—contribute to human flourishing. The negatives of such fuels—which he grants that there are plenty—are far outweighed by the positives.
One myth Epstein busts rather easily in this book:
Myth: Fossil fuels are hurting the developing world.
Truth: Fossil fuels are the key to improving the quality of life for billions of people in the developing world. If we withhold them, access to clean water plummets, critical medical machines like incubators become impossible to operate, and life expectancy drops significantly. Calls to “get off fossil fuels” are calls to degrade the lives of innocent people who merely want the same opportunities we enjoy in the West.
Epstein has just published another book called Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas—Not Less.
I have not read this book yet, but I have heard Epstein speak on it in a few podcast appearances.
The thesis is sound:
any negative impacts of fossil fuel use on our climate will be outweighed by the unique benefits of fossil fuels to human flourishing--including their unrivaled ability to provide low-cost, reliable energy to billions of people around the world, especially the world’s poorest people.
But to criticize the leftist climate agenda, let alone the ineptitude of Biden and his lackeys who trumpet such green agitprop, is tantamount to treason.
Render me Benedict if that’s the case.
The gatekeepers in the corporate media establishment these days won’t have it. Yet, Trump has always been fair game though and continues to be.
I have no quarrel with taking on a president. It should be done more.
The benefit would have been monumental for Americans if every single president from Bush 1 through Biden served his term from the comfort of a jail cell rather than the White House…but that’s for another day.
Nevertheless, the decline of Ol’ Vacant Eyes Biden has been rapid. He’s a sad figure to look at these days. The botox-addled forehead, while attempting to convey alertness, instead relates his confusion and lack of understanding of the physical world.
Firm handshakes given to ersatz humans, for instance.
In the 1980s and 90s, Biden was simply a loudmouth jerk. A lot of bark but no bite. Easy to make fun of because he was such a comical failure. Now he’s a troubled old man.
And still rare is the riposte on behalf of the mainstream press in opposition to Joseph Robinette Biden.
While the “late night shows” aren’t the press per se, they all operate in the same milieu.
Last week, the great Dana Carvey, no right-winger he, guest-hosted Jimmy Kimmel’s show, and became one of the first late night hosts to take off the kid gloves when it comes to the Biden White House. Good comedy as always from Carv.
The attack-mode in the four years under Trump just got silly and unwatchable. I stopped watching years before that, however. Letterman, Leno, and Conan were staples of my television consumption. Once that fizzled-out, I really didn’t care anymore.
I now only watch the clips on occasion.
Trump was ripe for ridicule, don’t get me wrong, here, it’s just that the anti-Trump comedy ceased to be funny after it morphed into large-scale vitriolic hatred.
As for Carvey, he nails Trump as well as Biden in the second clip. Funny.
Carvey’s monologue on Biden:
The Biden – Trump 2024 Presidential Debates…
Carvey has done plenty of impressions of politicians over the years. All great.
What else is great?
Sausage Slammers from Southside Market & Barbecue.
In honor of ending the last three months of (almost) “pure carnivore,” I ordered myself a 12-pack of Sausage Slammers from Southside.
I may be mistaken, but I don’t think I’ve ingested a vegetable since the beginning of May. I have not been left wanting, either.
Sausage Slammers are crazy good. Jalapeño stuffed with cheddar, wrapped in sausage, coated in bacon and smoked to perfection.
I think it shall be worth having a taste of veg come next Monday.
Southside will have the Slammers on sale again in a few days.
Right now, the Jalapeño Cheddar Sausage Value Package is just $10. Similar ingredients as the Slammers, but a different deal altogether. You can’t go wrong with any of it.
Happy eating.
Brian O’Leary