I said yesterday that I'd be on Monday's "Tucker Carlson Tonight", "Air Canada permitting". Well, Air Canada didn't permit, and gave me one of the worst travel days of my life. But Tucker was kind enough to invite me on Tuesday's show in lieu, and, fingers crossed, I'll be there live across America tonight at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific.
~As an update to my piece on the fourth anniversary of National Review going ape, here's the Permanent Bipartisan Consensus in action:
On the left of the screen is Wajahat Ali, a New York Times contributor who writes on "our growing need for cultural unity, racial diversity, and inclusion to fight forces of hate and division"; on the right is Rick Wilson, "longtime Republican political strategist", Bush field director, Cheney staffer, Giuliani ad-man, etc, who regards me as a sniveling milquetoast pantywaist who didn't have the cojones to go mano a mano. In the center is Don Lemon of "the most trusted name in news". Click below to watch:
More Proof that CNN is utter trash, and hates half the country.
Rick Wilson: those dumb southern guys liking trump hur durr durr
Don Lemon: laughing out of controlpic.twitter.com/y3U7Zaw8Sh
— Kyle Kashuv (@KyleKashuv) 28 January 2020
I've been to Ukraine - so long ago now it was still "The" Ukraine, back before that hotshot oligarch gave Hunter the definite article as his Christmas bonus and he wired it to that bank in Cyprus in case his child-support case went south. So I can find it on a map. And more generally at SteynOnline we attend to what I believe the official State Department maps mark as "The Rest of the World". Indeed, one of the reasons why CRTV chairman Joe Kakaty, Mark Levin and others wanted me fired was that my show had "too many foreigners".
So I don't think I'm a typical member of what Mr Wilson calls "the credulous boomer rube demo": As Song of the Week patrons know, I'm no great enthusiast for country music; I generally eschew "barbecue"; for a while I did drive a pick-up truck in a forlorn attempt to fit in, but a contractor working on my house found a Judy Garland album in its CD player and all his chaps started laughing at me. I cannot speak to Mr Wilson's mockery of the credulous rubes' accents, because all American accents sound the same to me. Bottom line: As I told Tucker the other night, I'm as effete and hoity-toity a foreigner as you can find. If they ever make a musical of Deliverance, I'll be strapped to the third tree on the left.
But I do wonder if, in a democratic age, it is politic to mock half the country as stump-toothed knuckle-dragging bozos who know no more of the world than where to go for a jigger of moonshine and a bunk-up with your cousin. Especially when they're the half of the country that won the election. The Demo-media line has always been that GOP presidents - Eisenhower, Reagan, both Bushes - are dull-witted and ignorant. To extend that contempt to the electorate would not seem prudent - and rather un-self-aware surely for a chap who advertises himself as committed to "the growing need for inclusion to fight the forces of hate and division". If you want more Trump, this is the way to get it.
~The likes of Rick Wilson are a big part of why voters looked elsewhere. Here's me in July 2015:
The 'normal rules' of American politics have delivered America into the hands of a permanent ruling class content to preside over a hyper-regulated, corrupt, cronyist, indebted borderless ruin mitigated according to taste by a deranged hyper-sexualized identity-politics totalitarianism hunting down homophobic bakers and confederate-flag decals... Your mileage may vary. But the fact is that in a two-party system the Democratic Party is relatively effective at delivering to its voters the world they want to live in. The Republican Party not so much. Responding to my attack on the GOP's consultant class, one of its most eminent members, Rick Wilson, responds:
'@WillvonKaenel @MarkSteynOnline Weird. There are twice as many elected Rs in the county [sic] today than 15 years ago. Yeah, we built that.'
Built what? If the purpose of a political party is to elect officeholders to sit in offices, you're doing great. But that's kind of Trump's point, isn't it?
If you're hot for Obamacare, diversity, open borders, gay marriage, the Democrats, as I note above, deliver. By contrast, to reprise another line from the summer of 2015:
The Republican Party has become the party of 'Nothing Can Be Done.' It's the Council of Despair. Donald Trump is the symptom, but the disease is a do-nothing Republican Party.
Nothing says "credulous rube" like writing a check to the GOP knowing they're passing it straight to Rick Wilson.
That CNN clip is how these guys think of you. Don Lemon is dancing with tears in his eyes 'cause the rube in Trump's arms isn't U. (That's a Nancy Mitford crack - they're always surefire crowd-pleasers with the boob-bait demo.)
~If you prefer yours truly in non-visual formats, I'll be back in audio only tomorrow, Wednesday, with the great John Oakley on Toronto's Global News Radio 640 live at 5pm Eastern.
On the other hand, if you're one of that brave band who enjoy me on camera, don't miss a rare semi-video Tale for Our Time - The White Silence by Jack London, as rendered by me before a live audience on last year's Mark Steyn Cruise.
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Oh, and do give a thought to our Third Annual Steyn Cruise sailing the Med next year and with Michele Bachmann, Conrad Black and Douglas Murray among our shipmates. We'll be attempting some seaboard versions of The Mark Steyn Show, Tales for Our Time, our Sunday Poem and other favorite features. If you're minded to give it a go, don't leave it too late, as the price is more favorable the earlier you book - and the cabins are going fast.
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"... for a while I did drive a pick-up truck in a forlorn attempt to fit in, but a contractor working on my house found a Judy Garland album in its CD player and all his chaps started laughing at me."
Funniest thing ever!
This reminds me that when Bill Clinton was president, Hillary Clinton was complaining about the "Vast Right-wing Conspiracy" What she forgot when she was running for president and called us deplorables is that our numbers are Vast.
(It seems Don LeMon et al. have forgotten that we "rubes" are Vast and we vote.)
When the great Buddy Rich checked in to hospital and asked if he was allergic to anything, I understand his reply was "only Country music".
It's a line I have stolen and used many times!
Wonder what Mr. Wilson thinks of rubes when Liz Warren panders to them?
Even from here in Australia, this CNN clip shows the smug arrogance and scornful elitism of your ruling class - and we have the same types here in our MSM - refusing to accept Australia's conservative May electoral win and mocking everyone who voted so as ignorant self-interested dopes or dupes of Rupert Murdoch. As you say Mark, if you want more Trump, this is the way to get it. The self-satisfied smugness of these guys is just sickening. From far far away here, I hope President Trump will get his second term.
"I'm no great enthusiast for country music"...hoping I won't offend here, but we are clearly soul brothers from another mother. I too eschewed pickup trucks so far on my rural 8-1/2 acres and the closest thing to Judy Garland they might find in the CD player in the SUV would be Suzanne Vega, Indigo Girls or more likely Heart or Pat Benitar... Great rant all around but sounds like you could use a few nights off with a few MSC members and some GOOD scotch and/or bourbon, my friend. Don't let the turkeys get to you!
Wilson is a Twitter pipsqueak with all the machismo of baby Yoda. Quite the self-made eunuch and definitely not a threat to anyone with an IQ higher than a fish.
Beautifully phrased, T.
"But man, proud man,
Dress'd in a little brief authority,
Most ignorant of what he's most assur'd—
His glassy essence—like an angry ape
Plays such fantastic tricks before high heaven
As makes the angels weep; who, with our spleens,
Would all themselves laugh mortal."
Wilson's detest for Trump and his base stems from the fact that Trump in 2016 eviscerated the demand for hack political strategists, like Wilson himself, who spend campaign money like water and garner few votes for their employer-candidate. So, now he has turned to generating notoriety with his remarks on cable in order to hawk his new book. Street pimps have more honorable line of work than he does. Of course, if one is that desperate, why do it on CNN where the chance of anyone seeing it is essentially non-existent?
I do love how Trump has put guys like Wilson out of business. No doubt, in 2024, Wilson will run a Jeb Bush-like campaign and obtain the same results as in 2016.
After watching the impeachment it appears that being a constitutional scholar is pretty easy work. I've done some extensive research (going to page 5 on Google search results) to learn about high misdemeanors. The Federalist Society asserts that it means a breach of fiduciary duty.
According to them High Misdemeanors are not limited to the commission of crimes, but they do not include mere political differences. Examples of breaches of fiduciary duty might be such things as concluding a peace agreement with a hostile foreign power that includes palettes of cash but with no intent to get the agreement ratified by the Senate. Another might be self dealing as evidenced by bragging that you got a prosecutor fired by threatening to withhold big money from a foreign government. Other breaches might be using a government taxing agency to attack your political opponents, creating de facto legislation allowing illegal aliens to remain in the country without going through Congress, or breaking Federal laws to sell arms to America's enemies on the southern border. Delaying court proceedings, giving false information or refusing to carry out one's duties could also potentially qualify.
Of course, these breaches of duty must be quite serious to rise to the level of impeachable offenses. On a practical level I would say that the seriousness of the offenses must be clearly recognized by at least three quarters of the public and that it is clear that two thirds of the Senate will be willing to vote to convict if the charges are proven, otherwise impeachment is just a wasteful exercise that harms the republic.
Yeah, this seems like easy work but I am just a credulous, Boomer rube who can find The Ukraine on a geophysical world map without boundary lines.
P.S. I don't think it is proper to use both eschew and BBQ in the same sentence.
May the truth keep coming out. May these people keep facing their hypocrisy and arrogance.
And may the real people of this country remain strong and keep voting.
I fear the intent of Schiff's comment about the 2020 election. (could it be that he's too stupid to know what his words might mean?)
And Mark these recent tirades are great! Keep 'em coming...just don't bust a blood vessel.
The Democrats perform the impossible sexual contortion again. I fully expect to see that CNN clip incorporated in a Republican election advertisement.
Your suggested election ad would mean that Republicans want to win and that's not at all clear. Many if not most of the GOP seem to prefer to let Dems do their dirty work privileging the Washington and global elite at the expense of the country class (to use Angelo de Codevilla's terms) while Repubs act out kabuki theater pretending to oppose them but actually sharing in the ill gotten loot as junior partners.
With CNN ratings in the toilet, er I mean, outhouse, you'd think they wouldn't be be yucking it up so much. I found that clip deplorable, to borrow a word from their side.
How can three years pass and they still haven't figured it out? And BTW, I accept that new moniker and am a proud Boomer Rube. I am still laughing as in my case I may not be "draggin' " my knuckles, but since I found on Ancestry that my husband and I share a common set of grandparents (albeit 9 times great) I guess I do "enjoy a bunk-up" with my cousin!!
That required some steadfastness digging to find that out, Janet. I did finally find some moonshine along the border after thirty years living here, but two hours west in Lordsburg at a little liquor store between the post office and the interstate. I only went in because I was looking for something to jazz up my Christmas mincemeat pie. They had cherries soaked in moonshine. I never saw such a combination.
That CNN segment is likely to Boomer Rang. :-)
Someone might point out to these twits that Atlanta-based CNN was created by one such "Southern Guy" - Ted Turner, who in the process created 24-hour cable news. Ted's politics are horrible and his creations are now pathetic, but when it was worth watching, it was a product of the South.
If you want to know what "privilege" really means, it is disparaging half the country while being employed by a network based in the region you are insulting, but without zero worry that you will face any repercussions for the insult.
*with zero. I need to proof these better.
Wow, Rick Wilson is a 'Republican' strategist - I guess he successfully planned many losing operations.
None of this comes as a surprise to me. I stopped contributing to the GOP following the '12 election. I'm still a nominal member of the party because it's the least worst choice available. John Bolton (whom I greatly admired once upon a time) is but the latest example of turncoat conservatives. Donald Trump ran the most unique presidential campaign in history running against BOTH political parties and somehow pulled it off. Bernie Sanders is learning the same lesson as to the consequences when challenging your parties orthodoxy. Both political parties are corrupt to their core It truly is amazing watching CNN hosts all now reading from the same script handed down from the DNC suddenly demonizing the old commie after years of hero worship. National Review and CNN have much in common if you think about it. Sanders and Trump must be destroyed and for the very same reason.
It's true, RAC, Donald Trump did run one of the most unique campaigns. He seemed to be tireless on the trail. He and his team seemed to do a full court press up until Election Day, if I'm not mistaken. Hillary seemed to be faltering the last four or five months. I don't think her energy could come close to marching Trump's. It was something to behold. I felt very optimistic that November day. I also share your sentiments about Bolton.
It stings Fran. I felt he was the strongest UN ambassador since the great Jeane Kirkpatrick and greatly admired the man back then. Bolton is a committed interventionist and a man out of his time. We can still hope he won't stab the president in the back. Trump should have been more gracious in firing John - the cheap shots were a low blow - hopefully Trump has learned a lesson here.
Well, people in the political arena change to suit the way the wind is blowing, don't they, R.? When I hear of all these candidates who have changed positions over the past few decades, I have to give credit to DJT because he really hasn't changed his positions. Primarily because he was a businessman and not a politician. I think Bolton's bullish style and Trump's brashish style seemed to be a harbinger of a good compatible working relationship but apparently it was not meant to be. In the end, it's every man for himself, big strong dog eats little weak dog. The last one standing will be the man the American electorate votes into office. The Democrats will find every way possible to extend the damage and I hope the electorate is waking up to a media and shadow government colluding to make them obsolete.
I may be wrong but in all the stories I've read, heard and watched this week I have yet to come across an actual Bolton quote. How long until we find out this is just another NYT wildly exaggerated case of hearsay of hearsay of some out of context nothingburger? Bolton may just be making lemons out of lemonade, selling a pig in a poke, on a book no one can read or review yet.
It will be interesting to see how many Democrat incumbents running for reelection in purplish and red states this November sound like ignorant and illiterate rubes while campaigning. They can laugh at and mock the "deplorables" all they want until it's time to ask for their votes. Then the rules will change, won't they. We'll revisit when the time comes.
Interesting the commenter on the left calls for unity through diversity (a seemingly challenging concept) but limits diversity to "racial diversity"-- in other words we need people of all races as long as they all think just like him.
Jared Taylor wrote the definitive piece on the "diversity" fraud back in 1997: https://www.amren.com/news/2010/06/the_myth_of_div/
While I'm at it ...
Q: What's the opposite of diversity?
A: University!
Thanks for the Mitford reference. We had Red Jessica's "The American Way of Death" - an expose of the funeral industry - in the house when I was in my early teens. Being a history buff, I received Nancy's "The Sun King" for Christmas when I was a high school senior, and went on to acquire her biographies of Madame de Pompadour and Frederick the Great. Then her novels when they were reissued after her death. And then finally, I learned about the entire family - and what a family! a distillation of the political and social conflicts of Britain in the 1930's. I highly recommend "The Sisters' by Mary S. Lovell, which came out about 20 years ago. Anyway, Nancy was a snooty, upper-class - or U - leftie who despised Americans - but an excellent writer.
Mark - On the same theme as this piece, in this impeachment farce the senate Republicans have once again proven how useless they are . As Professor Dershowitz argued yesterday, and has been arguing for weeks, the impeachment articles should have been dismissed without a word from the "managers" for failing to state an impeachable offense - or any offense. The Biden's are corrupt and the President has every right to have them investigated and foreign policy is virtually entirely within the President's purview. Of course, the senate Republicans didn't have the guts to throw out these ridiculous charges. By letting this go on, they've dealt us another loss. When the shoe is on the other foot some time in the future, watch how quickly a Democrat controlled senate tosses the charges, no matter how well-founded. As I've been saying for years now, the national Republican party needs to go the way of the Whigs and something better needs to take its place.
Me, I'm an irredeemable Irredeemable. (Cue music to either "Unforgettable" or "Call Me Irresponsible".)
I'm beyond irredeemable, deplorable and boomer rube. Yuck, even former Tea Partier. Can't get lower on the Warren totem pole than that.
I've noticed a lot of "strategists" on cable news. In this case, Rick Wilson is a self identified member of one of the two most non-exclusive clubs in America. These look like great gigs. Where can I sign up?
I would like to see Mark's contractor and his "chaps" in a live audience when this clip was recorded. The audience reaction would be must see TV.
BTW, if you ever need a reference from a blue collar redneck stating that you're OK for an effete foreigner, just let me know
I second the motion, Walt.
It certainly appears that the inversion of reality and projection have become the absolute default positions of all leftist media, politics, and social media. You can take that to the bank. This has all become the emperors new clothes on steroids.
You're right to point out that this prejudice against Republicans goes back at least to Eisenhower. It is a part of post-WWII liberals' identity to think that all liberals are smarter than all Republicans; and that all liberals are good people, while all Republicans are evil. Thus, Bush 43 was both a stupid chimp and the evil genius who stole the 2000 election and masterminded 9/11 to expand his totalitarian grip on America.
I have stopped sending money to the RNC and their various sub-divisions and for the very reason Mark mentions - Why support a party that, once in office, treats it's supporters as "credulous boomer rubes" and never delivers on any of the "promises" that that got them elected in the first place? It's one thing to be held in contempt but it is quite another to be held in contempt and never get anything out of it. .I should also offer a mea cupla and full disclosure here. Four years ago, I agreed with NR's "Against Trump" stand and thought that their were being extremely "principled." and were holding conservative ground holding their ground like the II Corps on the third day at Gettysburg. How wrong can a guy get? I was a supporter of John Kasich to the end. (How wrong can a guy get?)
It is Trump who has delivered on what professional Inside-the-Beltway Republicans say that they want - Controlled and safe border, economic prosperity, a repudiation of the ridiculous Paris climate agreement, support for pro-life groups and effective trade agreement with other nations. And he has done this, quite literally with political jackals and media hyenas attacking him 24/7 without letup.. It raises the question - "What do guys like Rick Wilson really want?" I believe that they just want to be considered indispensable and "political insiders" much in demand by the talking-head media. Wilson doesn't care about results - He just cares about running campaign for some "electable" lightweight from start right up to "Gracious-and-Dignified-Concession-Speech."
I admit that supporting Trump is sort of like pulling for the great 19th century tightrope walker, Charles Blondin,when he made one of walks across Niagara Gorge. Will he slip? Will he make it? Blondin always always made it and added flair to his act by crossing on stilts, crossing with a man on his back and finally carrying kitchen equipment with him so that he could cook, sit and eat an omelette high over the Falls. I'm the nervous type and I would have probably been one of those big-hatted society women who would scream and faint if Blondin Wobbled on his tightrope. (Note - if I WERE a woman I would have liked to be the Constance Collier type.)
Well, that's what we have signed up for. In conclusion I will strain my metaphor and note that Trump;'s Blondin act would be more precise if we could envision Blondin crossing the falls and nearly everyone - the press, other tightrope walkers and his his own party - in the crowd booing him and hoping that he would fall into the gorge. . . .
.
... and sawing on the rope!
I claim first dibs on designation as
The Second Rube on the Right.
Shines with a light that's rare,
And all that jazz . . .
It's almost impossible to describe how wonderful it is for CNN to have helpfully provided the Trump campaign with this campaign's "deplorables" A-roll. Jeff Zucker et all, thank you so, so much. Didn't know you were on the Trump payroll.
The performance of Lemon and co is a practical admission that nobody watches them, even though these clips have a habit of achieving a circulation well beyond the original viewer numbers, with exactly the result you describe.
And yet Ali, Lemon, Wilson, &c., ad nauseam, don't understand why the "the credulous boomer rube demo" don't believe them.
Rick Wilson was some distant, blurry memory to most of us, if we recall him at all, and most of us don't watch CNN. He certainly has an excellent look for Radio. I'm glad to see some negative reaction across the board to this clip, because Trump voters are so often disparaged from all sides, with no reaction. Rick was a bit too open in public, as were his hosts, but I suspect there are many who share his impression, but are too polite to reveal. This is not unlike most strong, summary prejudices people harbor -- and it only comes out when among friends.
I am no longer amazed at how an effete foreign content provider just cuts right to the heart of the matter, unlike most of the talking heads today. I would be willing to bet I have more hard science college degrees than the three half wits from the CNN news clip, and the place my neighbors and I thrive in would kill those hapless children. I have two large screen TVs here on our ranch and neither has been turned on since the middle of the last decade. Apparently, I haven't missed much. The last time I gave money to the Republicans, I was helping to campaign for Bob Dole and a conservative who should have had, but didn't have, a chance in our district, because the Dems were already well on their way to transforming California. It has been quite a while since the Rick Wilson Rs have been significantly different from the Obama Ds, except not liking that, many of the Ds have taken a hard left turn into Venezuela. Watching that arrogant, hapless bunch congratulate themselves on how much smarter they are than normal people, I am reminded that the last time I watched CNN was in an airport...another reason I detest flying. Having kin (another flyover word?) scattered from the west coast clear to western Europe, I have to admit (at my advanced age) more than a little disquiet about their future. We have done what we can to provide a little security, but never underestimate the ability of people to make a wreck of things, even good things. The best I seem able to do these days is help my neighbors, enjoy the grandchildren, and try to stay out of trouble.
Two apologies...first, being a hillbilly I had to remind myself what effete means by looking it up on my phone dictionary...sort of a mean word, really. Second, I really would like to try one of your most excellent cruises, but this time I will be, at the time of embarkation, getting packed to return from England on a different ship.
My best to you, Mark. I just finished listening to After America while working on one of my retirement hobbies. It was excellent. Oddly enough, I have been reading NRs Kevin Williamson and Victor Davis Hanson quite a lot lately, and it is worth noting the contrast between the two based on your last two days content. One writer seems vaguely embarrassed by his origins and by being American, and the other makes a pretty vigorous case that America, and especially middle America, shouldn't have to be embarrassed about wanting to survive. Interesting times when people on the right side of history have to apologize for resisting evil. God bless.
"That CNN clip is how these guys think of you." Exactly. To be honest, I prefer when these folks are authentic and show us who they really are.
Trump tweeted a meme awhile back, him in a more modern Uncle Sam pose, text reading "In reality they're not after me, they're after you. I'm just in the way." Like the man himself, the method of delivery was not exactly eloquent, but the actual message was succinct and spot-on. Doesn't matter if you're the POTUS, baking cakes in Colorado or slinging pizzas in Indiana - if the media finds out you're not in total ideological lockstep, they will find you and destroy you.
Excellent comment! . I would add that people like Mr. Wilson here take the positions they do because they don't want the same people that are going after the cake-bakers, wedding photographers, pizza restaurants, Jordan Peterson and Trump coming after THEM!. Far easier to maintain your status as a "political consultant" and favorite of the talk-show bookers by hunkering down and joining the mob. It's their own form of "electability." As to Trump - Churchill he is not. He expresses his ideas with a raw (often crude) directness that leaves little room for doubt. He doesn't engage in the officious, have-it-both-ways "bureau-speak" that is the obsession of the governing classes. This form of speaking is sort of like a verbal Masonic handshake that tells the other party that you are "one of them." A person who does not speak this way is considered "ill bred" and outside the precincts of respectable discourse - Unless you are a member of a protected class like Maxine Waters or Al Green. Then you can be as crude as you want.
Thanks John!
Yeah, 'cause that AOC, flagbearer of the Democrats, is sooooo smart.
"strapped to the third tree on the left"
I reckon I must be a dadgummed heeick, 'cause that's awful danged funny. But, scuse me if I don't let that there mental picture be a'lingerin' fer too long!
"I'm no great enthusiast for country music; I generally eschew "barbecue"; for a while I did drive a pick-up truck in a forlorn attempt to fit in, but a contractor working on my house found a Judy Garland album in its CD player and all his chaps started laughing at me." Just too funny!
"I cannot speak to Mr Wilson's mockery of the credulous rubes' accents, because all American accents sound the same to me."
Mark, I know 2 southern businessmen/attorneys who use their southern accent as a negotiating tool when dealing with northerners (and Europeans). They use it to appear harmless, simple, and yes, ignorant. All the while they are playing with the language in complex contracts and skinning their opponents alive, usually without the enlightened, brilliant, knowledgeable sophisticates being aware they are being skinned. One, a businessman from southern Alabama (his favorite hobby: turkey hunting), who possessed a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT and an MBA from Harvard, could sound and look like a country rube. He once skinned 3 high-price NY attorneys so badly that it took them over a year to find out all the ways he cheated them. Wilbur (his real name) could turn on and off his accent with the same ease as flipping a light switch. And he used it only on people who were susceptible to it, in other words, whose biases were honed and carefully held.
Believe me when I say you are blessed to not be able to distinguish US accents. People like Wilbur cannot pull the wool over your eyes with your blessing! Ignorance is not only bliss, but can be a shield from serious bias!
I grew up in the South. Your observation is spot on.
Now this fits in nicely with a movie reference that the great Kathy Shaidle will likely get. The movie is The Wheeler Dealers (1963), with terrific performances by James Garner and Lee Remick. Garner is a good ol' Texas wild-catter (Princeton educated) who wheels and deals his way through Wall Street. I particularly like Louis Nye as a very realistic and cynical painter who gets Garner to be the curator for a bunch of paintings (or as he explains it, the "wrangler"). Nye also explains how donating the paintings to a museum and claiming the costs as a deduction is just like the depletion allowance, just for a different type of "oil".
Garner turns on and off his Southern accent and charm as needed. It wasn't too much of a stretch for him as I believe that he was from the neighboring state of Oklahoma, with a lot more Cherokee blood than a certain presidential candidate.
The few times I've crossed the Smith & Wesson Line I've found a Southern accent is purt near catnip to a Yankee.
"Mark, I know 2 southern businessmen/attorneys who use their southern accent as a negotiating tool when dealing with northerners (and Europeans). They use it to appear harmless, simple, and yes, ignorant. All the while they are playing with the language in complex contracts and skinning their opponents alive, usually without the enlightened, brilliant, knowledgeable sophisticates being aware they are being skinned. One, a businessman from southern Alabama (his favorite hobby: turkey hunting), who possessed a BS in mechanical engineering from MIT and an MBA from Harvard, could sound and look like a country rube."
Moderately arousing! But then again, I'm a redneck Jew.
I wanted my son to name my first grandson William Robert after his two great grandfathers but alas, no Billy Bob.
Yep. At a hospital, I remember overhearing a big city doctor who had lost a patient complaining loudly about the unsophisticated country rubes (who were from my neck of the woods). He went on and on about how they just couldn't seem to understand his explanations and required him to explain it "over and over and over again."
I remember thinking that the doctor must have screwed up and the family was playing him to get evidence. I'm sure he got a nasty surprise later.
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Mark, please see my rather lengthy question I just submitted on the previous "Going Ape" column, this column just appeared. Wilson fits nicely in the group I asked about. See you on Tucker!