The one thing that kept people semi-sane in the old USSR were jokes about the ineptitude and utter ridiculousness of their government. Could it be that the undermining of the utterly pathetic group of clowns (a patently senile fabulist pretending to be president) and freaks (Biden's cabinet features dwarves, pixies, and even a faux sailo…
The one thing that kept people semi-sane in the old USSR were jokes about the ineptitude and utter ridiculousness of their government. Could it be that the undermining of the utterly pathetic group of clowns (a patently senile fabulist pretending to be president) and freaks (Biden's cabinet features dwarves, pixies, and even a faux sailor in a dress) who purport to rule over us begins with subversive jokes? One can only hope. Fighting back with ridicule and derision sure beats a real shooting war.
Trump has given comics so much material to ridicule him with for the past twelve years (starting with Seth Myers and Obama himself at that infamous 2011 White House Correspondents dinner), it's only fair play for Biden and his dream team to give other subversive comics some rope. Funny thing was, all that comedy mocking Trump and his 'pathetic group of clowns' only served to shore up his support among the voters he needed, and still does. So I don't think the subversive comedy in this case will hurt Aviator Man - but it's funny nonetheless..
Hey Bruce, thanks for your comment! Do you think the Biden admin is really comparable to the USSR? I don’t see that where I live; it seems like people are still free to assemble, speak freely, criticize the government, etc. Could it be possible that there are also some decent folks in Biden’s inner circle, just as there was in Trumps? HR McMaster comes to mind...
I live in Los Angeles. People who are not woke cannot assembly freely in public or the woke brownshirts will go violent on us and the mayor, DA and governor will enjoy the view. This is the case in every city of any size. Speak freely, assemble freely - who are you kidding?
Not sure if you're naive, trolling, or a time traveler from the 1980s, but the current political climate is becoming increasingly and disturbingly Soviet. The closer people are to the centers of power, the more they fear deviating from the Party line. "Almost half (44%) of Americans with post‐graduate degrees say they are worried their careers could be harmed if others discovered their political opinions." Found here: https://www.cato.org/survey-reports/poll-62-americans-say-they-have-political-views-theyre-afraid-share
I like time traveler from the 80’s! Count me as a part of the 56% on the Cato survey; I don’t feel as though my freedom of speech has been restricted in any way; however, I’m sure others feel different. Toeing the party line the closer one gets to control and power is certainly nothing new and is a bi-partisan issue, one that speaks to bad incentives and lack of courage more than anything. All that said, I am not super plugged in to all of the actions of the current administration so I’m sure there are things I’m missing.
When you can tell me what the FBI, CIA, NSA are really doing to monitor our communications, what the Justice Department was doing with its letter about parents, what all the nonsense is about "white supremacists," about the infiltration by agencies of various conservative groups is all about we can have a discussion.
Glenn Greenwald has pointed out that you can tell a lot about a society by the way it treats its dissenters. He has said that people who live in totalitarian societies, even in North Korea, who don't speak out against the government or challenge government diktats probably won't be harassed or jailed by the government and will most likely be left alone.
Think of the Evil Empire in the 1970s and early 80s. Doddering, sclerotic leaders. Losing wars. Economy stuck and pricing goods out of the reach of the people. The arts and sciences in the grasp of political dogma. The media laughed at and ridiculed for parroting the lies of the cabal in charge. The elites riding to their dachas in Zils, slurping caviar and vodka and laughing at the workers in bread lines.
There is an excellent interview on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast with Jacob Smirnoff where he talks about his time doing comedy in the USSR, and his family’s escape from Russia. He said that comedians did not do their own jokes. There was a government ministry that wrote the jokes, and the comedians were expected to deliver them. So, the jokes you are talking about were not ones that people would have heard in comedy clubs. That said, I’ve heard a few Russian jokes, and they are hilarious. I love the dark humor. (Probably going to butcher these.) “Q: Can you eat an apple from a tree near Chernobyl? A: Of course you can eat an apple from a tree near Chernobyl, but your sh- you must bury in the ground 6 meters.” “The happiest day of my life was when there was a knock at my door, and it was the KGB. That was the happiest day of your life?? Yes, because they were looking for my neighbor.”
The prof actually thinks that if whites are equally likely (1.0 times) to get life sentences as shown by the sentencing guidelines but blacks are 1.8 times as likely under the sentencing guidelines to get a life sentence but only 1.6 times as like actually to get a life sentence, then blacks are being discriminated against. You can't make this up And he's allowed to teach college students.
"Jeez but you're analytically challenged. Did you miss the part about black offenders being 1.8 times more likely to be given life sentences under the sentencing guidelines than white offenders. With Hispanics being 1.6 times more likely under the sentencing guidelines????? " - Bruce Miller.
"The prof actually thinks that if whites are equally likely (1.0 times) to get life sentences as shown by the sentencing guidelines but blacks are 1.8 times as likely under the sentencing guidelines to get a life sentence but only 1.6 times as like actually to get a life sentence, then blacks are being discriminated against. You can't make this up And he's allowed to teach college students." - Bruce Miller
The one thing that kept people semi-sane in the old USSR were jokes about the ineptitude and utter ridiculousness of their government. Could it be that the undermining of the utterly pathetic group of clowns (a patently senile fabulist pretending to be president) and freaks (Biden's cabinet features dwarves, pixies, and even a faux sailor in a dress) who purport to rule over us begins with subversive jokes? One can only hope. Fighting back with ridicule and derision sure beats a real shooting war.
Here's to equal opportunity, Bruce:
Trump has given comics so much material to ridicule him with for the past twelve years (starting with Seth Myers and Obama himself at that infamous 2011 White House Correspondents dinner), it's only fair play for Biden and his dream team to give other subversive comics some rope. Funny thing was, all that comedy mocking Trump and his 'pathetic group of clowns' only served to shore up his support among the voters he needed, and still does. So I don't think the subversive comedy in this case will hurt Aviator Man - but it's funny nonetheless..
Let's raise a glass to free speech.
Hey Bruce, thanks for your comment! Do you think the Biden admin is really comparable to the USSR? I don’t see that where I live; it seems like people are still free to assemble, speak freely, criticize the government, etc. Could it be possible that there are also some decent folks in Biden’s inner circle, just as there was in Trumps? HR McMaster comes to mind...
I live in Los Angeles. People who are not woke cannot assembly freely in public or the woke brownshirts will go violent on us and the mayor, DA and governor will enjoy the view. This is the case in every city of any size. Speak freely, assemble freely - who are you kidding?
Not sure if you're naive, trolling, or a time traveler from the 1980s, but the current political climate is becoming increasingly and disturbingly Soviet. The closer people are to the centers of power, the more they fear deviating from the Party line. "Almost half (44%) of Americans with post‐graduate degrees say they are worried their careers could be harmed if others discovered their political opinions." Found here: https://www.cato.org/survey-reports/poll-62-americans-say-they-have-political-views-theyre-afraid-share
Dissenters are being jailed. Julian Assange is in prison for the crime of good journalism and a member of congress threatened Matt Taibbi with the same. Then there's this: https://nypost.com/2023/04/21/socialists-charged-with-aiding-russia-after-fbi-raids/
I like time traveler from the 80’s! Count me as a part of the 56% on the Cato survey; I don’t feel as though my freedom of speech has been restricted in any way; however, I’m sure others feel different. Toeing the party line the closer one gets to control and power is certainly nothing new and is a bi-partisan issue, one that speaks to bad incentives and lack of courage more than anything. All that said, I am not super plugged in to all of the actions of the current administration so I’m sure there are things I’m missing.
When you can tell me what the FBI, CIA, NSA are really doing to monitor our communications, what the Justice Department was doing with its letter about parents, what all the nonsense is about "white supremacists," about the infiltration by agencies of various conservative groups is all about we can have a discussion.
Glenn Greenwald has pointed out that you can tell a lot about a society by the way it treats its dissenters. He has said that people who live in totalitarian societies, even in North Korea, who don't speak out against the government or challenge government diktats probably won't be harassed or jailed by the government and will most likely be left alone.
In levels of incompetence, yes. Just look at Homeland Secretary Mayorkas and Treasury Secretary Yellen.
Comedy hour at its best, Joe should get those two into the Mothership!!!
He wasn't comparing the Biden administration to the USSR. He was describing the HUMOR to get us through this fiasco of our current government.
Hi Theresa! You could be right. I guess I read Bruce’s comment in a different light. Hope you have a good day today.
Think of the Evil Empire in the 1970s and early 80s. Doddering, sclerotic leaders. Losing wars. Economy stuck and pricing goods out of the reach of the people. The arts and sciences in the grasp of political dogma. The media laughed at and ridiculed for parroting the lies of the cabal in charge. The elites riding to their dachas in Zils, slurping caviar and vodka and laughing at the workers in bread lines.
Far off. Maybe not.
There is an excellent interview on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast with Jacob Smirnoff where he talks about his time doing comedy in the USSR, and his family’s escape from Russia. He said that comedians did not do their own jokes. There was a government ministry that wrote the jokes, and the comedians were expected to deliver them. So, the jokes you are talking about were not ones that people would have heard in comedy clubs. That said, I’ve heard a few Russian jokes, and they are hilarious. I love the dark humor. (Probably going to butcher these.) “Q: Can you eat an apple from a tree near Chernobyl? A: Of course you can eat an apple from a tree near Chernobyl, but your sh- you must bury in the ground 6 meters.” “The happiest day of my life was when there was a knock at my door, and it was the KGB. That was the happiest day of your life?? Yes, because they were looking for my neighbor.”
Where'd you go, Bruce?
Hockey was on Prof.
Time to get a life?
Why talk to it?
Nah. Time to keep owning you.
Is 1.8 more than 0, Bruce? :)
The flea doesn't own the dog. It is just a parasite.
Awww...back up for your buddy. How sweet of you. Lol. Blah...blah...
If the dog attacks, he should expect to get put down. ;)
Is 1.8 more than 0, Steven?
I'll wait, Rover. Do you have next? Step up, then.
The prof actually thinks that if whites are equally likely (1.0 times) to get life sentences as shown by the sentencing guidelines but blacks are 1.8 times as likely under the sentencing guidelines to get a life sentence but only 1.6 times as like actually to get a life sentence, then blacks are being discriminated against. You can't make this up And he's allowed to teach college students.
Nope. 1.6 is for Hispanics, Bruce. Stop lying :) And whites are not equally as likely, Bruce. Stop lying :)
Discriminated against? Yep, Bruce. Every single study and data sets produced confirm that.
Lol. We are never moving off this.
Is 1.8 more than zero, Bruce?
Try reading comp, Prof. Doubling down on stupidity is, well, just stupid.
Lol!!
"Jeez but you're analytically challenged. Did you miss the part about black offenders being 1.8 times more likely to be given life sentences under the sentencing guidelines than white offenders. With Hispanics being 1.6 times more likely under the sentencing guidelines????? " - Bruce Miller.
"The prof actually thinks that if whites are equally likely (1.0 times) to get life sentences as shown by the sentencing guidelines but blacks are 1.8 times as likely under the sentencing guidelines to get a life sentence but only 1.6 times as like actually to get a life sentence, then blacks are being discriminated against. You can't make this up And he's allowed to teach college students." - Bruce Miller
Is 1.8 more than zero, Bruce?
Yes - Biden’s cabinet is a veritable freak show - it’s frightening.
Well said, Bruce. On top of Joes comedy, Memes are the best forms of ridicule. I have compiled a bunch mocking “the science” and “the resistance” on my humble samizdat: https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/how-to-follow-the-science-join-the-resistanc
Brilliant Yuri!!!