Election

“Wanted: A New Ronald Reagan?” No thank you. Barely the lesser of evils, just easier to stomach.

Wanted: A New Ronald Reagan | Standpoint [hat tip to dangerousmeta]

The Republican Party has long been a coalition of businessmen, Christians, foreign policy hawks and ideological free-marketeers. Of course it’s perfectly possible to be all four at once, indeed many Republicans are, but in this election each of these tendencies has had a different paladin who has made each position his personal fiefdom: Romney speaks for business, Gingrich for the hawks, Santorum for the social and religious conservatives and Paul for the libertarian head-bangers who want to put America back on the gold standard. Sadly, no one speaks, like Ronald Reagan managed to, for all four strands of the party simultaneously, and sounds as though he means it.

Wanted: A New Ronald Reagan | Standpoint

Election

In a campaign full of stupid remarks, one old white guy deserves a fist in the face and a knee to the groin

What’s the opposite of progress? The GOP.

Back to the ‘days’ of knees and aspirin – Leonard Pitts Jr. – MiamiHerald.com

By Leonard Pitts Jr.
lpitts@MiamiHerald.com

You know, back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees . . . — Foster Friess, Feb. 16, 2012

Friess, a major financial supporter of presidential wannabe Rick Santorum, managed to capture something telling and important about the way he and other social conservatives see this country.

It has been argued that they seek to forestall the future, to interdict social and demographic trends suggesting tomorrow’s America will be gayer, browner and more Islamic than today’s.

But that’s only half the story, isn’t it? Friess’ “joke” suggests they seek not just to challenge tomorrow’s changes, but also yesterday’s. They seek to re-impose what they regard as “the good old days,” as in a time when women were “gals” to be lectured by doctors on their sexual morality.

That should be an eye-opener for those who feel yesterday’s victories are impervious to challenge or change. Maybe it is time to wonder if that assurance is not misplaced. The very fact that we are debating contraception in 2012 suggests that it is — and that those who are sanguine about battles won 40 years ago might do well to reconsider.

Back to the ‘days’ of knees and aspirin – Leonard Pitts Jr. – MiamiHerald.com

other voices, Theirs

New Mexico’s official flag until 1925, plus a beautiful interpretation of “crescit eundo”

I missed these two items when they were timely, a month ago. Just stumbled upon them in my archives.

original NM flagNew Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan

That flag photo accompanying today’s lead piece may not look familiar, but it was in our state’s early days. From 1912 to 1925 it was the official state flag. Since then the easily recognizable Zia symbol flag has flown proudly.

posted by mjh at December 3, 2004 11:13 AM

ABQjournal: Letters to the Editor

Thunderbolt in Motion

THE MUCH-CRITICIZED state motto "crescit eundo" is actually a quotation from the first-century B.C. Latin poet Lucretius in his epic poem De Rerum Natura, "On The Nature of Things," book 6.

In context it refers to the motion of a thunderbolt across the sky, which acquires power and momentum as it goes. Whoever chose that as a state motto in the old frontier days obviously knew the classics.

Once one realizes that the motto is comparing the state of New Mexico to a mighty thunderbolt flashing across the sky, it gives a whole new meaning to the expression.

WARREN SMITH
Professor of classics, University of New Mexico
Albuquerque

Other entry by mjh at March 22, 2005 11:19 AM

Election

News Flash! “GOP thinking is stuck in the past.” – David Brooks

hat tip to @jfleck

America Is Europe – NYTimes.com

Republicans are perpetually trying to do what Ronald Reagan did. But top tax rates today aren’t as onerous as they were in 1980, so lowering them won’t produce as many benefits. Imagine if Reagan ran for office promising to recreate the glory days of Thomas Dewey and you get a sense of how much G.O.P. thinking is stuck in the past.

America Is Europe – NYTimes.com

Uncategorized

Can the Scent of Rosemary Make You Smarter?

The study measures blood levels of a compound from rosemary; presumably eating it also raises those levels. I add rosemary to my roasted veggies (brussel sprouts, onion, garlic, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet potatoes, etc, tossed in olive oil, curry, red and black pepper, and salt). The smoke from rosemary twigs on the barbeque enhances grilled meats (and *may* reduce mutagens).

Can the Scent of Rosemary Make You Smarter?

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." — Sam Adams