Comments on: Open thread 12/17/2024

By: R2L

R2L — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 02:54:12 +0000

That America the Improbable video triggered this question:
Although a very large number of people have been indoctrinated into DEI/Woke/Marxist/Progressive mindsets, what kept all of us from being so indoctrinated?

They controlled the bulk of the educational system almost root and branch, successful enough to significantly infect corporate managers and boardrooms, with the media and Hollywood largely in their camp. But it was not quite enough!

By: Karmi

Karmi — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 14:28:42 +0000

The more things change, the more they stay the same… America the Improbable - ‘America’s success was far from guaranteed’

By: Karmi

Karmi — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 11:18:53 +0000

Karoline Leavitt strikes…again. Karoline Leavitt tears into 'toothless' move by Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren - Warren used to be so formidable:

'President Trump has assembled the most impressive and qualified team of innovators, entrepreneurs, and geniuses to advise and staff our government,' Leavitt in a statement to DailyMail.com. 'Pocahontas can play political games and send toothless letters, but the Trump-Vance transition will continue to be held to the highest ethical and legal standards possible—a standard unfamiliar to a career politician whose societal impact is 1/1024th of Elon Musk's,' she continued.

Staff of our Government’ is looking great; however, Michael Ramirez seems to believe Trump has ulterior motives - “Federal Bureau of Intimidation”:

So they’re going to end the WEAPONIZATION of the JUSTICE DEPARTMENT by USING it to go after THEIR POLITICAL ENEMIES?

By: Niketas Choniates

Niketas Choniates — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 02:24:58 +0000

@Paul Iin Boston: Venice was never conquered and looted

It was, by Napoleon, in 1797. The bronze horses, for example, were taken to Paris. They were returned after Napoleon’s defeat in 1815. Not everything looted made its way back. I’m not sure if Venice was looted again by the Austrians.

Of course the horses had been looted from Constantinople, and are so old no one is sure how old they are, but Constantine or Theodosius II or some other emperor had possibly looted them first. The Pala d’Oro was commissioned and paid for, not looted, if I remember correctly.

There is a head of Justinian in purple stone kind of stuck on the roof of St Marks, looking out to sea, and not far from there at ground level are the Four Tetrarchs, minus one Imperial foot, also looted from Constantinople. Not long ago the foot was found, still in place from where it was looted.

By: Liz

Liz — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 02:01:59 +0000

Canada is having issues – everyone is quitting and I hope that Trudeau follows their lead. It is bad when the finance person quits before giving the finance report.

Check out this 11 minute speech by Pierre Poiliervre. It is worth it to go to the end of the video. In particular, watch the people behind Pierre – they are all nodding in agreement.

https://x.com/PierrePoilievre/status/1868818117679628343

By: Miguel cervantes

Miguel cervantes — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:47:27 +0000

Dont get me started on mcguirk he could get loose in a broom closet but if not the sdf who the druze up to a point this was part of the problem with the northern alliance in afghan which was hazara tadjik and uzbek in a predominant moslem country

Trust the sultan not a smart move since 2003 at least

By: Paul In Boston

Paul In Boston — Wed, 18 Dec 2024 00:19:40 +0000

I saw Venice when I was young and unsophisticated. It was truly awe inspiring with treasures that I never knew existed. The most important sight is the great church, San Marco. The Venetians looked east to Constantinople for their religious leaders so the decorations are Byzantine unlike the great cathedrals of Europe. The decorations on the ceilings are over the top pictures of saints covered in gold leaf and complicated decoration. The two greatest pieces are the four bronze horses from ancient Greece and the Pala D’Oro behind the alter, which has to be seen to be believed. Lucky for them and us, Venice was never conquered and looted as happened to so many other churches, though the Venetians did their part in conquering and looting other churches, c.f., the Fourth Crusade

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pala_d'Oro

By: sdferr

sdferr — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 21:32:50 +0000

As Doran puts it: betting on a losing horse (the PKK led US proxy SDF, thus rewarding Israel with otherwise avoidable additional Turkish enmity) after the race has already been run and lost (i.e. the Turks are on a glide-slope to the destruction of the SDF/YGP/PKK); so incurring unnecessary damage from that needless decision. This, all due to Israeli inattention leading to a misunderstanding of the PKK masquerade induced by Obama’s institution of an “American”-YPG alliance in north-east Syria (at the suggestion of Brett McGurk).

But better to listen to the conversation by using the time slider to leap over unnecessary bits to get down to the meat.

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 20:23:27 +0000

sdferr, if I don’t have an hour, what’s the self-defeating trap?

By: Kate

Kate — Tue, 17 Dec 2024 20:21:33 +0000

Ah, good to know you were just quoting the shooter.