Jean-Francois Revel, How Democracies Perish

*BUMPED.*

A classic book, with lessons for the current era.

Inexpensive used copies available at Amazon, Jean-Francois Revel, How Democracies Perish.

Alyson Michalka Playing Miniature Golf

At Taxi Driver, "Aly Michalka Mini Golfing."

Sasha Polakow-Suransky, Go Back to Where You Came From

I'm posting this FWIW, because I fear that leftists and center-leftists continue to "not get it" about the rise of populist nationalism.

At Amazon, Sasha Polakow-Suransky, Go Back to Where You Came From: The Backlash Against Immigration and the Fate of Western Democracy.

'Social media, metrics, bad faith readers, columnists, instant and bad takes, blogosphere nostalgia, and online abuse have created an op-ed internet culture...'

At n + 1, "The New Reading Environment":

Grouchy / interesting piece in @nplusonemag on the op-ed's post-Trump renaissance and the weird longevity of op-ed pages — "Everything is an op-ed now. The op-edization of all writing should have rendered its traditional purveyors redundant....."https://t.co/VDWCg246of pic.twitter.com/2Kr1hG26Hr

— james crabtree (@jamescrabtree) August 28, 2018

Since Donald Trump’s election, new prominence has been given to an otherwise deranged and degraded form: the op-ed. The Times op-ed page — along with its basic best friend, the Washington Post op-ed page, and its evil, basement-dwelling older brother, the Wall Street Journal op-ed page — should have gone the way of the classifieds section. Instead it exerts a malevolent gravitational pull, delivering with punishing regularity an endless stream of annoying and offensive provocations.

The irony of the op-ed’s depressing reemergence is that everything is an op-ed now. The op-edization of all writing should have rendered its traditional purveyors redundant. Why read a Times columnist when you can read the same opinion delivered with more style and energy almost anywhere else? But even as internet writers refine and defend and reiterate their opinions — an archipelago of converging takes — so-called traditional outlets have consolidated their influence...

RTWT.

In-N-Out Boycott

The stupidest thing ever.

At LAT, "Democratic leader's call for In-N-Out Burger boycott meets its own resistance."

And on Twitter:

In-N-Out Burger responds to #BoycottInNOut. The Executive VP says In-N-Out donated to both political parties not just the California Republican Party. Here’s the official statement. @KPIXtv pic.twitter.com/r3eejM5B8N

— Mary Lee (@MaryKPIX) August 30, 2018

Boycott of #California's iconic burger is another colossal #Democrat fail.#InNOutBurger #InNout #BoycottInNOut #MAGA #Burger pic.twitter.com/ttG5zRSzCN

— Deborah Pauly (@YnotDebPauly) September 1, 2018

Abolish ICE.
Coddle Antifa.
Defend MS-13.
Demonize cops.
Ban Straws.
Boycott In-N-Out.#WinningDemocratPartyPlatform !

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) August 30, 2018

Accusations of Emotional Abuse Against Keith Ellison

I just can't stand that guy, and I seriously hope the allegations derail his political career.

He's a jihadist. He's vile.

At NYT, "A Broken Relationship and Accusations of Emotional Abuse: The Case of Keith Ellison":

Karen Monahan's allegations against Representative Keith Ellison are turning into a test among many liberals for where to draw the line between a messy relationship and an emotionally abusive one https://t.co/lKYJUGkYJb

— The New York Times (@nytimes) August 30, 2018

MINNEAPOLIS — When Keith Ellison became the first Muslim elected to Congress in 2006, it made him an instant national star: a charismatic young black leader who was now a symbol of the Democratic Party’s commitment to diversity and equal rights.

Back home in Minneapolis, Mr. Ellison was revered in a close-knit circle of progressive activists. He began a romantic relationship with one of them, an environmental organizer named Karen Monahan, who later moved in with him in 2015.

Ms. Monahan posted happy photos on social media of the two of them hiking, traveling and even attending a party at the White House with President Barack Obama and the first lady.

Behind the scenes, though, their relationship was rocky. Ms. Monahan often accused Mr. Ellison of cheating on her, leading to blowout arguments, according to more than a dozen people who knew the couple.

Now, as Mr. Ellison runs for attorney general in Minnesota, Ms. Monahan has accused her former boyfriend of emotional abuse and says he once shouted profanities at her, while trying to drag her off a bed.

Mr. Ellison denies abusing Ms. Monahan and said in a statement after the allegations emerged that he cares “deeply for her well-being.” Democratic Party leaders in Minnesota have asked a lawyer to look into Ms. Monahan’s allegations, but continue to support Mr. Ellison’s bid to become attorney general.

RTWT.

Gregg Jarrett, The Russia Hoax

This is well done.

 At Amazon, Gregg Jarrett, The Russia Hoax: The Illicit Scheme to Clear Hillary Clinton and Frame Donald Trump.

Grifters and Candace Owens

This is great.

From Melissa Mackenzie, at the American Spectator:

My thoughts on @RealCandaceO 's activism: https://t.co/25A1wJAOPQ

— Melissa Mackenzie 🌐 (@MelissaTweets) August 28, 2018

'And I don't want the world to see me...'

My fall semester started yesterday, and I should be posting some drive-time music entries in the weeks to come.

Meanwhile, I heard the Goo Goo Dolls sometime over the summer, and I've had this song on my mind. When I looked it up I found this amazing live performance from July 4th, 2004, in Buffalo, New York. As noted at the Wikipedia page, "Over 60,000 fans attended the performance, braving a torrential downpour. The rain cleared in time for the Goo Goo Dolls to start the show, but during their performance of "January Friend", the rain began pouring down again, harder than before. The band played on, finishing the set, despite being pulled off stage briefly for a safety precaution and skipping three songs* that were on the original set list."

Pretty amazing:

Shop Amazon

Here's my generic Amazon link.

I'll post more specialized deals later.

Meanwhile, see Margaret Walker, Jubilee (50th Anniversary Edition).

'It does not behoove us to celebrate defeat and losers are not generally regarded as heroes in politics. John McCain was a loser, and the particular way he went about losing deserves to be studied as an example of what not to do in politics...'

John McCain was Robert Stacy McCain's very distant cousin, and those who've been reading the Other McCain for years probably remember some of the latter's musings on the "crazy" Arizona senator from time to time.

But with his passing it behooves us to take a a fresh and critical look at the "Maverick's" political legacy. Why, for example, is the grief and outpouring so profound among leftists, who during the campaign in 2008 demonized Senator McCain as a racist warmonger?

Well, check the long and compelling entry at the Other McCain, "Every Liberal’s Favorite Republican, and the Problem With ‘Bipartisan Reform’."

All that is necessary for any Republican to win praise from the liberal media is for him to endorse their negative opinion of the GOP, and this is how John McCain became every liberal’s favorite Republican.

This is not how winners play the game. Nor can the kind of “bipartisan reform” agenda with which John McCain made his name synonymous ever do anything to help elect Republicans. There are three basic problems with “bipartisan reform,” first, that GOP officials who support such efforts are always doing so to curry favor with the liberal media; second, that these “reform” schemes always have the political effect of alienating the Republican Party’s conservative grassroots; and third, that Democrats will never support any “reform” unless they believe it will help them win elections (and thus obtain greater power) in the future...

RTWT.

Purge the Cruise-Ship 'Conservatives'

This is great, from Kurt Schlichter, "It’s Time for a Conservative Purge."

And buy his new book, out on October 2nd, at Amazon, Militant Normals: How Regular Americans Are Rebelling Against the Elite to Reclaim Our Democracy.

Sunday Cartoons

At Flopping Aces, "Sunday Funnies."

And at Theo's, "Cartoon Roundup..."

#FridayFeeling #BenGarrison #cartoon #FakeNewsMedia Missing the Target-The #DeepState propaganda machine— formerly known as the ‘Mainstream Media,’ continues to throw darts of hysteria at the President in the hopes that one of them will hit the target. https://t.co/0NFYfoghQ1 pic.twitter.com/wt8Euqir0r

— GrrrGraphics Cartoons (@GrrrGraphics) August 24, 2018

Dakota Fanning Photographed

At Drunken Stepfather, "Dakota Fanning of the Day."

Happy Birthday Claudia Schiffer!

The superstar supermodel turned 48 yesterday.

At RealClearLife, "Celebrate Timeless Supermodel Claudia Schiffer, Who Turns 48 This Weekend."

Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington in 1994 for Versace pic.twitter.com/tFPMzr4ZlO

— History Lovers Club (@historylvrsclub) August 24, 2018

Vogue rounds up Claudia Schiffer's best runway moments from the 1990s. https://t.co/QjMTg2wIOm

— British Vogue (@BritishVogue) August 22, 2018

Happy birthday to timeless, gorgeous supermodel Claudia Schiffer, who is 48 today. https://t.co/znYFt5iqha

— Maxim (@MaximMag) August 25, 2018

John McCain, Faith of My Fathers

At Amazon, John McCain, Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir.

John McCain, The Restless Wave

At Amazon, John McCain, The Restless Wave: Good Times, Just Causes, Great Fights, and Other Appreciations.

John McCain, 'Maverick' War Hero, Senator, and Presidential Candidate, Dies at 81

By now you've heard the sad news.

I never met John McCain, but during the 2008 presidential campaign, he was my personal hero. My longtime blog readers will know why. "American Power" was among the very first of conservative blogw to come out in support of McCain's bid for the GOP nomination in 2007. That's when I basically went into full-time politics blog mode, and when McCain won the nomination I felt a sense of euphoria and accomplishment. I hope in some small way that I contributed to his success. That, of course, can't be said of the general election campaign in 2008. When the Kenyan interloper won the election I was in a funk not unlike the one that afflicted leftists after Shrillary's loss in 2016. I know the feeling.

In any case, at the New York Times, via Memorandum, "John McCain, War Hero, Senator, Presidential Contender, Dies at 81," and "John McCain to Lie in State at Capitols in Washington and Arizona."

And do read Mark Barabak's excellent obituary, at the Los Angeles Times:

He was described (and described himself) as a charmer, a wise guy, an underachiever, a warrior, a hero, a coward, a straight-talker, a shape-shifter and, perhaps more than any label, a maverick. John McCain dead at age 81. https://t.co/GEnDLAB80F

— Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) August 26, 2018

I’ve covered a lot of campaigns, but some of my best memories go back to 2000 and John McCain’s first run for president. Riding on the Straight Talk Express was unlike anything I’ve experienced, before or since…1/

— Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) August 24, 2018

Mecum's 2018 Dodge SRT Demon Offering

This is fantastic!

A hammer price of $240,000 takes home the 2018 @Dodge SRT Demon Offering!

Both cars had under 80 miles with the dealer plastic still intact. Click the link for all the details: https://t.co/T7OyhBndse#MecumMonterey #Monterey #CarWeek #Mecum #ThatsMyDodge #WhereTheCarsAre pic.twitter.com/pue0PXWsMo

— Mecum Auctions (@mecum) August 24, 2018

'Lady Justice does not wear a blindfold over only one eye...'

From the inimitable Kim Strassel, at WSJ, "When Justice Is Partial" (and here):

"Prosecutors can claim all they want that they are applying the law equally, but if they only apply it to half the suspects, justice is not served. . . .Lady Justice does not wear a blindfold over only one eye."
https://t.co/UNrzX1Avi5 via @WSJOpinion

— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) August 24, 2018

The country has watched the FBI treat one presidential campaign with kid gloves, the other with informants, warrants and eavesdropping. They’ve seen the Justice Department resist all efforts at accountability, even as it fails to hold its own accountable. And don’t get them started on the one-sided media.

And they are now witnessing unequal treatment in special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. Yes, the former FBI director deserves credit for smoking out the Russian trolls who interfered in 2016. And one can argue he is obliged to pursue any evidence of criminal acts, even those unrelated to Russia. But what cannot be justified is the one-sided nature of his probe.

Consider Mr. Cohen, the former Trump lawyer who this week pleaded guilty to eight felony charges. Six related to his personal business dealings; the other two involved campaign-finance violations arising from payments to women claiming affairs with Donald Trump. The criminal prosecution of campaign-finance offenses is exceptionally rare (most charges are civil), but let’s take Mr. Khuzami’s word for it when he says Mr. Cohen’s crimes are “particularly significant” because he’s a lawyer who should know better, and also because the payments were for the purpose of “influencing an election” and undermining its “integrity.”

If there is only “one set of rules,” where is Mr. Mueller’s referral of a case against Hillary for America? Federal law requires campaigns to disclose the recipient and purpose of any payments. The Clinton campaign paid Fusion GPS to compile a dossier against Mr. Trump, a document that became the basis of the Russia narrative Mr. Mueller now investigates. But the campaign funneled the money to law firm Perkins Coie, which in turn paid Fusion. The campaign falsely described the money as payment for “legal services.” The Democratic National Committee did the same. A Perkins Coie spokesperson has claimed that neither the Clinton campaign nor the DNC was aware that Fusion GPS had been hired to conduct the research, and maybe so. But a lot of lawyers here seemed to have been ignoring a clear statute, presumably with the intent of influencing an election.

Prosecutions under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) are also exceptionally rare, though Mr. Mueller is getting media kudos for hammering the likes of Paul Manafort and Rick Gates for failing to register as lobbyists for foreign entities. The law is the law.

But under this standard, where are the charges against the principals of Fusion GPS, who Sen. Chuck Grassley has said look to have been lobbying on behalf of powerful Russians against a U.S. sanctions law, with its payment again funneled through a law firm? This was a sideline to its dossier work, but Mr. Mueller usually has no issue with sideline charges.

Or what about an evenhanded look at dossier author Christopher Steele?

Keep reading.