For those who don't read twitter, here's the money quote:
Trump was asked, “If the Electoral College votes for Joe Biden, will you concede?”
Trump answered by screaming at the reporter, “If they do, they made a mistake because this election — This election was a fraud. Just so you understand, this election was a fraud. They have Biden beating Obama on Obama’s vote in areas that mattered in terms of the election, in swing states. And yet he’s losing to Obama all over the place. But he’s beating Obama in swing states, which of the states that matter for the purposes of the election, so no, I can’t say that at all. I think it’s a possibility — they are trying to — look, between your people — don’t talk to me that way. You’re just a lightweight. Don’t talk to me that what — I’m the President Of United States, don’t ever talk to the president that way.”
Matt, I’m so glad you let one of us youngs on board. As a senior in college who started listening to/reading you four years ago I’m ecstatic for Marc to keep you from getting tooooo dusty.
On a more serious note—as I come up to the end of my time in college, I’m really thankful for the many writers and thinkers who have helped me better understand the world around me, sharpened my arguments, and challenged me. I started listening to The Weeds in 2016, and have been keeping up with you more or less ever since. What I enjoy most about your thinking is your ability to frame an argument in an interesting and ultimately useful way. Thank you for all the work you’ve done, it’s massively improved the way I frame questions in my own life, academic and otherwise.
I'm very thankful for you Matt. After Sean Spicer's first press conference in January 2017, the world didn't seem to make much sense anymore. I have read your Twitter nearly everyday since and it grounded me in voice that is rational, thoughtful, human, funny, and willing to question orthodoxy of any kind. You speak for those of us who want ideas, pragmatism, and basic human goodness to win the day. Thank you.
I'm thankful that Republican judges still follow the law, and not the whims of Republican politicians.
I'm thankful that our distributed, federalist, chaotic election system does seem to produce reliable election results, at least when people are patient enough to let them finish counting.
Most of all, I'm thankful that over 80 million Americans made it a priority to vote Trump out of office.
Today is also a good day to consider the worst Thanksgiving in living memory; unfortunately, most Americans living have no memory of it, if they ever knew it, which most of them don't since this history mostly doesn't get taught.
I'm talking about Thanksgiving 70 years ago, in 1950. The day that 400,000 Chinese troops forcibly educated America that we weren't the biggest boy on the block, as we thought (and still mistakenly think) we are. Secretary of State Dean Acheson called the Chinese intervention in the Korean War "the greatest defeat of American arms since the Second Battle of Bull Run." British historian Sir Martin Gilbert called it "the greatest defeat of a previously-victorious army in recorded history."
A month earlier, when questioned about Chinese warnings of possible intervention if the US continued to advance into North Korea, General MacArthur responded "I would remind the Chinese leadership that no Asian army has ever successfully stood against a Western army." That was the day the first Chinese troops crossed the Yalu, carrying everything on their backs, hiding in the forests by day, "invisible" to American reconnaissance since they didn't move like we did.
The US units retreated out of North Korea in what was called at the time "The Big Big-out" so fast that they outran their pursuers. Those that didn't suffered the fate of Second Division in "the death ride to Kuni-ri" in which the division was caught in a 2-mile long pass with a single dirt road for all their vehicles, with the Chinese in the hills on either side after they had moved through US lines. 3,000 Americans died in the 24 hours it took to get out, and the division took six months to rebuild.
70 years later, China has been celebrating this year as the anniversary of the "return" of a China the rest of the world was forced to respect. In their view of the Korean War, they won. That's because ever since, the United States has been forced to take them seriously, and has never come close to provoking them again. (Throughout the Vietnam war, every decision about "escalation" was framed through the question, would this provoke China? "American intelligence" - there's an oxymoron! - being unable to discover that China in the throes of the Cultural Revolution was incapable of doing anything)
And the US still hasn't learned the lesson of that Thanksgiving 70 years ago, as witness all the wars since.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. "The Forgotten War" is one that should be remembered.
MacArthur was wrong on just about everything, ever. He "forecast" that the Japanese wouldn't invade the Philippines until April 1942, despite the fact that the weather in SE Asia dictated that they do so between December 1941-January 1942 in order to avoid the monsoon, and then when they did invade he decamped to his bedroom in his quarters above the Army-Navy Club in Manila, and wouldn't talk to anyone but his CoS for the crucial two weeks it took for the invasion to become a disaster. "The Bataan Gang" as they were known, the staff that surrounded him from 1940-1951 when he was finally gotten rid of, were known throughout the army as incompetent sychophants. The reason he's so well-regarded historically is because - as Dwight Eisenhower (who served under him in the Philippines until 1941) noted, 3/4 of his staff worked in the public relations office. He's the most overrated general in American military history.
Thanks to Matt and to many other bloggers who think more than they rant (yes, everyone should be allowed a little ranting). But most of all to the people who bring us our video conferencing apps. Introverted though I am, I have to see faces now and then, preferably unmasked, and hear familiar voices and personalities.
Yes, all those things and all those people are highly worthy of being grateful for.
Myself, I am most grateful for all those people who lived up to my hopes rather than down to my expectations and delivered the best Thanksgiving gift any Americans have received since 1945: a still-functioning (even if sometimes barely) democratic constitutional republic, in which we can still engage in the lifelong effort to bring the country and the country's ideals into closer harmony - without being worried about being "locked up" for so doing.
I can assure all of you that those ancestors of mine, who helped found the Republic when he crossed the Delaware with General Washington, who saved the Republic when he celebrated his 16th birthday at Little Round Top, and who survived to help transform the country when he was sunk by the kamikazes 75 years ago, all appreciate you efforts to keep their sacrifice worth the effort.
Matt - thank you for having the courage to create this forum. The comments section here is the first internet discussion I've taken part in since 2008. It's not only because of the depth and clarity of your analysis but also because of its underlying humanity and humility that leaves it open to further discussion and persuasion that comes from an underlying moral center (and patriotism!).
So I'm maybe even more thankful to everyone who's reading this comment section and participating and supporting Matt on this endeavor. Thank you to you all. I came (paid) for the writing and stayed for the comments.
Welcome Marc - excited to see your contributions and what's next!
Yeah, the comments here are right up there with the comments at Heather Cox Richardson's substack community (I highly recommend "Letters From An American" to you all).
I am thankful to wake up breathing. But also for the pleasures that life affords not the least of which is reading smart observations written by smart people. And also for the smart questions they ask. So I will allocate more than a bit of my thanksgiving to the fact that you took the plunge. The results are impressive and I am particularly grateful for the paywall that looks like it is going to keep the hoards of trolls that plagued the old blogs. I never imagined myself as a gated community kind of guy bug I have to admit I like it.
I also solemnly promise not to give the new kid a hard time.
Thankful for Matt, whose work on the Weeds in particular has given me a window into interesting political discussions. Can’t wait to keep up with SB.
Matt:
I just wrapped up 1B Americans and am keen to learn more about the network effects of cities. I’ve read both Triumph of the City and Scale, which were both incredibly interesting. Any recommendations?
I'm not sure this is exactly along those lines, but if you are interested in urban development, I highly recommend "Downtown: Its Rise and Fall 1880-1950" by Robert Fogelson. Explains a lot about how we got the cities we have in the US!
Congratulations, and welcome, Marc!
FatsoFuckwit finally blew his gasket yesterday. If he wasn't the piece of shit traitor he is, this would be pathetic.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1332112524360216584
For those who don't read twitter, here's the money quote:
Trump was asked, “If the Electoral College votes for Joe Biden, will you concede?”
Trump answered by screaming at the reporter, “If they do, they made a mistake because this election — This election was a fraud. Just so you understand, this election was a fraud. They have Biden beating Obama on Obama’s vote in areas that mattered in terms of the election, in swing states. And yet he’s losing to Obama all over the place. But he’s beating Obama in swing states, which of the states that matter for the purposes of the election, so no, I can’t say that at all. I think it’s a possibility — they are trying to — look, between your people — don’t talk to me that way. You’re just a lightweight. Don’t talk to me that what — I’m the President Of United States, don’t ever talk to the president that way.”
I think Matt is writing under a pseudonym. https://www.insider.com/why-you-should-skip-turkey-for-thanksgiving-dinner-2020-11?amp
Matt, I’m so glad you let one of us youngs on board. As a senior in college who started listening to/reading you four years ago I’m ecstatic for Marc to keep you from getting tooooo dusty.
On a more serious note—as I come up to the end of my time in college, I’m really thankful for the many writers and thinkers who have helped me better understand the world around me, sharpened my arguments, and challenged me. I started listening to The Weeds in 2016, and have been keeping up with you more or less ever since. What I enjoy most about your thinking is your ability to frame an argument in an interesting and ultimately useful way. Thank you for all the work you’ve done, it’s massively improved the way I frame questions in my own life, academic and otherwise.
Consider the blog undusted!
I'm very thankful for you Matt. After Sean Spicer's first press conference in January 2017, the world didn't seem to make much sense anymore. I have read your Twitter nearly everyday since and it grounded me in voice that is rational, thoughtful, human, funny, and willing to question orthodoxy of any kind. You speak for those of us who want ideas, pragmatism, and basic human goodness to win the day. Thank you.
Welcome Marc!
And thank you Matt for starting Slow Boring and creating this community along with it.
I'm thankful that Republican judges still follow the law, and not the whims of Republican politicians.
I'm thankful that our distributed, federalist, chaotic election system does seem to produce reliable election results, at least when people are patient enough to let them finish counting.
Most of all, I'm thankful that over 80 million Americans made it a priority to vote Trump out of office.
Hi Matt!!!!! (Say hi back!!!)
Matt and everyone in comments I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.
Welcome Marc! I hope you learn much from Matt. Try not to let his bad takes warp your young impressionable mind
(I'm kidding Matt's my favorite journalist).
I'll try to stay an independent thinker...
I’m thankful for the return of the classic inconsequential Yglesias typos and malapropisms like “long hall.” Happy holiday to all!
As long as this is an open thread...
Today is also a good day to consider the worst Thanksgiving in living memory; unfortunately, most Americans living have no memory of it, if they ever knew it, which most of them don't since this history mostly doesn't get taught.
I'm talking about Thanksgiving 70 years ago, in 1950. The day that 400,000 Chinese troops forcibly educated America that we weren't the biggest boy on the block, as we thought (and still mistakenly think) we are. Secretary of State Dean Acheson called the Chinese intervention in the Korean War "the greatest defeat of American arms since the Second Battle of Bull Run." British historian Sir Martin Gilbert called it "the greatest defeat of a previously-victorious army in recorded history."
A month earlier, when questioned about Chinese warnings of possible intervention if the US continued to advance into North Korea, General MacArthur responded "I would remind the Chinese leadership that no Asian army has ever successfully stood against a Western army." That was the day the first Chinese troops crossed the Yalu, carrying everything on their backs, hiding in the forests by day, "invisible" to American reconnaissance since they didn't move like we did.
The US units retreated out of North Korea in what was called at the time "The Big Big-out" so fast that they outran their pursuers. Those that didn't suffered the fate of Second Division in "the death ride to Kuni-ri" in which the division was caught in a 2-mile long pass with a single dirt road for all their vehicles, with the Chinese in the hills on either side after they had moved through US lines. 3,000 Americans died in the 24 hours it took to get out, and the division took six months to rebuild.
70 years later, China has been celebrating this year as the anniversary of the "return" of a China the rest of the world was forced to respect. In their view of the Korean War, they won. That's because ever since, the United States has been forced to take them seriously, and has never come close to provoking them again. (Throughout the Vietnam war, every decision about "escalation" was framed through the question, would this provoke China? "American intelligence" - there's an oxymoron! - being unable to discover that China in the throes of the Cultural Revolution was incapable of doing anything)
And the US still hasn't learned the lesson of that Thanksgiving 70 years ago, as witness all the wars since.
Thanks for taking the time to read this. "The Forgotten War" is one that should be remembered.
McArthur was also wrong on this history, unless he considered Imperial Russia to not be Western.
MacArthur was wrong on just about everything, ever. He "forecast" that the Japanese wouldn't invade the Philippines until April 1942, despite the fact that the weather in SE Asia dictated that they do so between December 1941-January 1942 in order to avoid the monsoon, and then when they did invade he decamped to his bedroom in his quarters above the Army-Navy Club in Manila, and wouldn't talk to anyone but his CoS for the crucial two weeks it took for the invasion to become a disaster. "The Bataan Gang" as they were known, the staff that surrounded him from 1940-1951 when he was finally gotten rid of, were known throughout the army as incompetent sychophants. The reason he's so well-regarded historically is because - as Dwight Eisenhower (who served under him in the Philippines until 1941) noted, 3/4 of his staff worked in the public relations office. He's the most overrated general in American military history.
Thanks to Matt and to many other bloggers who think more than they rant (yes, everyone should be allowed a little ranting). But most of all to the people who bring us our video conferencing apps. Introverted though I am, I have to see faces now and then, preferably unmasked, and hear familiar voices and personalities.
Yes, all those things and all those people are highly worthy of being grateful for.
Myself, I am most grateful for all those people who lived up to my hopes rather than down to my expectations and delivered the best Thanksgiving gift any Americans have received since 1945: a still-functioning (even if sometimes barely) democratic constitutional republic, in which we can still engage in the lifelong effort to bring the country and the country's ideals into closer harmony - without being worried about being "locked up" for so doing.
I can assure all of you that those ancestors of mine, who helped found the Republic when he crossed the Delaware with General Washington, who saved the Republic when he celebrated his 16th birthday at Little Round Top, and who survived to help transform the country when he was sunk by the kamikazes 75 years ago, all appreciate you efforts to keep their sacrifice worth the effort.
Matt - thank you for having the courage to create this forum. The comments section here is the first internet discussion I've taken part in since 2008. It's not only because of the depth and clarity of your analysis but also because of its underlying humanity and humility that leaves it open to further discussion and persuasion that comes from an underlying moral center (and patriotism!).
So I'm maybe even more thankful to everyone who's reading this comment section and participating and supporting Matt on this endeavor. Thank you to you all. I came (paid) for the writing and stayed for the comments.
Welcome Marc - excited to see your contributions and what's next!
Thanks for the welcome and glad you're enjoying it so far!
Yeah, the comments here are right up there with the comments at Heather Cox Richardson's substack community (I highly recommend "Letters From An American" to you all).
I am thankful to wake up breathing. But also for the pleasures that life affords not the least of which is reading smart observations written by smart people. And also for the smart questions they ask. So I will allocate more than a bit of my thanksgiving to the fact that you took the plunge. The results are impressive and I am particularly grateful for the paywall that looks like it is going to keep the hoards of trolls that plagued the old blogs. I never imagined myself as a gated community kind of guy bug I have to admit I like it.
I also solemnly promise not to give the new kid a hard time.
"Pay the writer!" is a good idea for many reasons. :-)
Hello Marc!
Thankful for Matt, whose work on the Weeds in particular has given me a window into interesting political discussions. Can’t wait to keep up with SB.
Matt:
I just wrapped up 1B Americans and am keen to learn more about the network effects of cities. I’ve read both Triumph of the City and Scale, which were both incredibly interesting. Any recommendations?
I'm not sure this is exactly along those lines, but if you are interested in urban development, I highly recommend "Downtown: Its Rise and Fall 1880-1950" by Robert Fogelson. Explains a lot about how we got the cities we have in the US!
Cool, I’ll check it out. Thanks!