A Large Regular: Lyndon Johnson

Showing posts with label Lyndon Johnson. Show all posts

Thursday, June 15, 2023

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Thursday, December 22, 2022

LBJ and Political Corruption

Interesting post about Lyndon Baines Johnson and how he may have been the model for political corruption today.

When Johnson entered Congress, he was dirt poor and obsessed with money. He remained an elected federal official until his term as President ended in 1969 - an unbroken string spanning more than three decades - and yet managed to retire with a fortune that would be valued well in excess of $100 million today.

You could replace the name "Johnson" with the name "Pelosi" and the statement would be equally true today.

Normalization of behavior like Johnson's has led to a continuing debasement of US politics to the point where scandals that would have previously ended careers are now routinely blown off as standard operating procedure.

Well maybe depending on which party the offending elected officials belongs to. You can even sleep with Chinese spies or employ a Chinese spy as your personal driver for years if you're a Democrat.

As the cancer of corruption grows , so too does the government's need to corral the outrage and the activities of ordinary citizens.

That's where the censorship of social media, the drive for a government controlled digital currency and other means of government control comes in. I hope Americans don't stand for it.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Sunday, March 21, 2021

Flotsam and Jetsam

Miscellaneous thoughts and observations.

During his speech at the 1964 Democratic National Convention - LBJ never once mentioned Vietnam. Guessing the MSM of the day never pressed him on it either. The more things change the more they stay the same... Rudolph Diesel is a man who doesn't get enough credit for his contributions to the modern world... Funny how this works out but L. Ron Hubbard was able to create a cult while Charlie Sheen failed in his attempt. From the outside you'd think that "Tiger Blood" and "Winning!" would be more attractive than space aliens but go figure... Did McDonald's skip the Shamrock shake this year? Never saw any ads for it... Heh heh - "Oral Roberts has more wins over Ohio State than Jim Harbaugh." - Ross Tucker...

Tuesday, January 19, 2021

LBJ Orders Pants

Monday, November 23, 2020

On This Day in 1963

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

LBJ in Texas

Love this picture of LBJ at his ranch in Texas in 1965 for several reasons. But chief among them is the lady in the background taking a picture of her husband. The President of the United States is smiling while holding a large rattlesnake but this lady doesn't care. Was this such a common experience to generate such nonchalance? LBJ was an odd duck.

HT Traces of Texas

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Day the Democratic Party Died and New Democratic Party Was Born

Today is an anniversary that I expect will pass with little fanfare. The historical significance of the anniversary should not be underestimated though.

On January 22, 1973, former president Lyndon Johnson died and with him died the old ways of the Democratic Party. The backroom deals and arm twisting. The acknowledgement that the Democratic Party was first and foremost the party of the working man and his family. "God, country and a fair wage" could easily have been the motto of the old Democratic Party.

On that same day, 47-years ago the new Democratic Party was also born. On that day, 47-years ago, the Supreme Court handed down its Roe v Wade decision which in effect decriminalized abortion and magically turned it from a medical procedure into a woman's right in the process. Since Roe v Wade the Democratic Party has never been the same. Where do you stand on abortion is the first and foremost question any candidate for any office is asked. The abortion party has also become the protest party. "Judge - you and your wife have kids - so you obviously are against having abortions - therefore we must protest you and we must do it naked while throwing pies." Make no mistake this new Democratic Party is about abortion first (although immigration is creeping up the list) - every other issue is secondary - including the economy and national defense.

Since January 22, 1973 the Democratic Party has not run a candidate for President who has not been pro-abortion. This includes John Kerry who said he's a Catholic but that doesn't make sense since the Catholic Church is staunchly pro-life. I'm not optimistic that I'll see a pro-life Democratic candidate in my life.

The fact that the anniversary of the death of the old and birth of the new Democratic Party does not get any recognition is not surprising. Nobody celebrates or notes May 30th as the birth of the Republican Party.

Friday, January 17, 2020

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Anger is temporary madness: The Stoics knew how to curb it. "...other vices affect our judgment, anger affects our sanity."

- Google wants the Supreme Court to ignore copyright law. I'm going to have to go back and read that first link again because companies and people that keep thinking and acting as if the law doesn't apply to them makes me angry. And I'm not alone in that.

- 12 Fucking Rules for Success

- I'm an awful person for laughing at this - a woman passes out after having 12 Heinekens (I hope she's OK)

- This is a pretty damning stat.

- Why LBJ's Great Society failed and what it means for the 2020 election.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

On This Day in 1963

Friday, November 23, 2018

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- On needing to find something to worry about. I'm not a worrier by nature but I understand this can be a real issue for many.

- Amazon bids on Disney's 22 regional sports networks including the YES Network. This will be a very interesting story to watch unfold.

- 34-years ago today!

- On this day in 1963

- This Farnam Street podcast with Naval Ravikant is worth re-listening to every once and a while.

- Interesting - Universal Quantum Phenomenon found in Strange Metals

- Is there an Alzheimer's vaccine on the horizon?

Wednesday, October 03, 2018

50 Years Ago

50-years ago the National Trails Act was signed into existence by Lyndon Johnson. This Act created the first two National Scenic Trails; the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail.

Here's what it's like to hike the Appalachian Trail distilled down to just 5-minutes. If you think about it - Sam and Frodo basically traveled the distance of the AT going from the Shire to Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings (love that little tidbit).

I've always wanted to thru-hike the AT. Someday...

Monday, January 22, 2018

The Day the Democratic Party Died and a New Democratic Party Was Born

Today is an anniversary that I expect will pass with little fanfare. The historical significance of the anniversary should not be underestimated though.

On January 22, 1973, former president Lyndon Johnson died and with him died the old ways of the Democratic Party. The backroom deals and arm twisting. The acknowledgement that the Democratic Party was first and foremost the party of the working man and his family. "God, country and a fair wage" could easily have been the motto of the old Democratic Party.

On that same day, 44-years ago the new Democratic Party was also born. On that day, 44-years ago, the Supreme Court handed down its Roe v Wade decision which in effect decriminalized abortion and magically turned it from a medical procedure into a woman's right in the process. Since Roe v Wade the Democratic Party has never been the same. Where do you stand on abortion is the first and foremost question any candidate for any office is asked. The abortion party has also become the protest party. "Judge - you and your wife have kids - so you obviously are against having abortions - therefore we must protest you and we must do it naked while throwing pies." Make no mistake this new Democratic Party is about abortion first (although immigration is creeping up the list) - every other issue is secondary - including the economy and national defense.

Since January 22, 1973 the Democratic Party has not run a candidate for President who has not been pro-abortion. This includes John Kerry who said he's a Catholic but that doesn't make sense since the Catholic Church is staunchly pro-life. I'm not optimistic that I'll see a pro-life Democratic candidate in my life.

The fact that the anniversary of the death of the old and birth of the new Democratic Party does not get any recognition is not surprising. Nobody celebrates or notes May 30th as the birth of the Republican Party.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Linky Links

Stuff I found interesting or amusing and thought I'd share.

- Did you get a "free cruise" robocall? You might be owed up to $900

- Heh heh

- Very cool - Mike Bossy's letter to my younger self

- Heh heh. Busted!

- I saw this picture of LBJ and I thought "Jeez Oliver Stone looks like crap!" I think the real conspiracy theory is that LBJ is actually Stone's father.

Monday, January 23, 2017

The Day the Democratic Party Died and a New Democratic Party Was Born

An anniversary passed yesterday with little fanfare. The historical significance of the anniversary should not be underestimated though.

On January 22, 1973, former president Lyndon Johnson died and with him died the old ways of the Democratic Party. The backroom deals and arm twisting. The acknowledgement that the Democratic Party was first and foremost the party of the working man and his family. "God, country and a fair wage" could easily have been the motto of the old Democratic Party.

On that same day, 44-years ago the new Democratic Party was also born. On that day, 44-years ago, the Supreme Court handed down its Roe v Wade decision which in effect decriminalized abortion and magically turned it from a medical procedure into a woman's right in the process. Since Roe v Wade the Democratic Party has never been the same. Where do you stand on abortion is the first and foremost question any candidate for any office is asked. The abortion party has also become the protest party. "Judge - you and you wife have kids - so you obviously are against having abortions - therefore we must protest you and we must do it naked while throwing pies." Make no mistake this new Democratic Party is about abortion first - every other issue is secondary - including the economy and national defense.

Since January 22, 1973 the Democratic Party has not run a candidate for President who has not been pro-abortion. This includes John Kerry who said he's a Catholic but that doesn't make sense since the Catholic Church is staunchly pro-life. I'm not optimistic that I'll see a pro-life Democratic candidate in my life.

The fact that the anniversary of the death of the old and birth of the new Democratic Party does not get any recognition is not surprising. Nobody celebrates or notes May 30th as the birth of the Republican Party.

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

2016 Election Parallels 1968

Hill-Err-Ray, Hill-Err-Ray - How many emails did you release today?

Maybe not as dramatic or as serious a charge (maybe) as;

L-B-J, L-B-J - How many kids did you kill today?

But I keep thinking that 2016 feels a lot like 1968 as far as the Democratic Presidential nominating process is concerned. Hillary Clinton is the presumptive Democratic Party Candidate but as the scandal of her unsecured private email server (among other things) continues a drip drip of bad news she is looking very vulnerable. Bernie Sanders is gaining ground and proving much more popular to the Party's hard left.

In 1968 it was Eugene McCarthy that was the darling of the far left and who eventually forced sitting President Lyndon Johnson from the race. Will Hillary eventually also decide that discretion in dropping out is the better part of valor like Lyndon Baines Johnson decided 47-years ago? In 1968 it was sitting Vice President Hubert Humphrey who eventually carried the Party Standard in the November election but not until after a lot of contentious primaries. Will Joe Biden likewise take on the role of Hubert Humphrey in 2016?

Only half-kidding but who will be the Republican Richard Nixon in 2016?

No matter what happens it will be great theater but my only hope nobody has to play the role of Robert Kennedy.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Train Wreck

Chris Jones is a very good writer. That's what makes efforts like this piece on Bobby Valentine all the more disappointing.

Jones must be wading through Robert Caro's epic biography of LBJ which somehow made him think Bobby V is LBJ-like. The comparison is stupid. Jones might as well been stealing money from ESPN instead of passing off that piece as any sort of effort that required even the minimum of thought.

Lyndon Baines Johnson as an allegory for Bobby Valentine? What's next? Dustin Pedroia as John Quincy Adams?

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Red Sox Magic Number - 36

The Red Sox are in Texas to play the Rangers. Lyndon Johnson was was from Texas and he was the 36th President of the United States but he only became President because of the death of John Kennedy who along with the rest of the Kennedy's are as identified with Boston as the Red Sox. The Kennedy's in general did not get along with Lyndon Johnson or Texas and the Red Sox likewise have issues with the Rangers. It is hot as hell at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington during summer. If you add up the sum of the integers between 1 and 36 - you would have 666 which is the mark of the beast. Tonight's game is on ESPN which is also the mark of the beast. The number 36 is the atomic number of krypton. The Rangers have been like kryptonite to the Red Sox. Coincidences? So many omens - not all of them good.

I'm scared. Hold me.