General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA tip of the hat to DU's The Magistrate.
One of DU's most unique and well-informed personalities. And undoubtedly its most well-spoken.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,593 posts)I celebrate his presence here!
madokie
(51,076 posts)cprise
(8,445 posts)by using SPAM to drown out the comments are pretty impolite and unbecoming a supposed intellectual.
Those, along with Huffpo and Alternet, are representative of sites that have taken a critical view of the pro-NATO/anti-Russian narrative circulating in the US mass media.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697273#post4
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697276#post1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697285#post1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697261#post1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697264
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697262#post1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697271#post1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697278#post1
http://www.democraticunderground.com/101697270#post1
He apparently regards diverse, respected authors from these sites as "propaganda drivel" outlets because they tend to question the Washington consensus. Even if an infamous person is quoted with qualification of general disagreement, this is something DUers do constantly to point out that even opponents are forced to acknowledge facts on occasion.
Response to cprise (Reply #56)
Ken Burch This message was self-deleted by its author.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)But there are several people, including a pair of budding teen-aged grandsons, who would be surprised to learn that of the bearded old thing that shags them in to do the dishes....
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)Sorry about that.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Lord knows I have done it often enough....
Samantha
(9,314 posts)There just are not enough of them.
Sam
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,181 posts)What spam!
littlemissmartypants
(22,632 posts)The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)cprise
(8,445 posts)Using Orwell himself to drown out discussion then pontificate about "democracy" is itself Orwellian, esp. from a poster who defended voting for the Iraq War Resolution as a political necessity.
It puts this Magistrate quote in an interesting light:
Remember the media RW refrain about "Blame America First liberals" during the runup to the Iraq War? I do. This is a patently neocon talking point.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)This?
"Suppose, just for the sake of argument, that the proposed resolution had been rejected by all Democrats in the Senate plus Jeffords. Do you really thnk this would have halted the thing? The preparations, the deployments, all would have gone on on the same schedule. The '02 election would have been fought on the slogan "Voting for a Democrat is voting for Saddam!" The losses in the Senate would have been far worse than they actually were, and the first business of the new Congress would have been the triumphant passage of the enabling reolution. The invasion would have taken place on the same day planned for the previous autumn; there would not even have been a delay. We both know this would have been the outcome."
That is flat accurate analysis of what anyone with the sense to come in out of the rain knows would have happened. It certainly does not reflect support for invading Iraq; you would not be able to find any expression of support for that by me. But that resolution was a political trap, and was intended to be a political trap, and as with any well constructed trap, there really were no good moves for people caught in it.
cprise
(8,445 posts)His only "political reality" was accepting the invasion after the fact and supporting a surge.
So that's what the grand Magistrate analytic prowess boils down to... Justifying the political psychosis of the Iraq War for the sake of "political reality". And yes, the Bush admin's "proofs" of WMD were known to be fakes before the invasion.
I'm not impressed.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)So of course he did not vote for it....
And you are, as you have done before, merely making the point I pressed in what you cited above:
"A lot of the problem stems from how long the left has been effectively barred from power and influence on political life here. This means leftist commentators and true believers come to live in a world where they no what they say will never have any real effect and this inculcates an attitude in which irresponsibility, and not only a lack of concern with possible consequence, will flourish. An illustration of this is the strident defense of Nader in 2000 one can still see from leftists of the 'purer than thou' variety --- in this case, their 'not a dime's worth of difference' line, and a few tens of thousands actually acting on it, had the great and grave consequence of putting the reactionary right into power. So unconcerned have such people become with the possible consequences of their positions that they deny this, the one real consequence their views have had for a long time, ever actually occurred...."
Your only concern is whether an act or expression tallies with a pure ideological view, regardless of what the practical consequences might be, and which people in any position of responsibility would, if they acted as you would insist, would have to face, in spheres ranging from actual policy to their careers. That the pure ideological view you insist on is one that is not usually widely popular, and can in a pinch be made very unpopular by a skilled politician, is just icing on the cake.
cprise
(8,445 posts)Obama came out against the IWR when it was up for vote, even if he wasn't voting on it. That issue was on everyone's mind at that time and Obama had a political career to worry about.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)And doubtless it impressed a number of people who do not think very deeply about national and political events. There was so little real difference between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton, in terms of positions and likely policies when elected, that it was necessary in the primary campaign to resort to half-truths and insinuendoes to whip up the spirits of the partisan crowds. If recollection serves, Sen. Obama denounced including an employer mandate in a health insurance reform program, as Sen. Clinton had proposed....
cprise
(8,445 posts)The justifications do not add up, morally or politically. They could have spoken up about Bush's fabrications.
Supporters of the IWR vote are culpable for the ruin this and other countries have experienced since.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)About the posting of an essay by Orwell in response to someone, someone now suspended yet again, for spamming the board with pro-Kremlin swill, and whether that was thuggery, and heavens knows what else.
A casual observer might easily leap to the conclusion you do not like me very much....
cprise
(8,445 posts)OTOH, you do like to accuse DUers of being 'insufficiently patriotic'.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)I have pointed out before, and doubtless will again, that in a democracy, for a political party or tendency to gain the name of 'anti-patriot' is a heavy burden, since most people do, without thinking about it much, love their country, and will not feel much fellowship with someone who they believe does not share that feeling.
cprise
(8,445 posts)Trivializing appeals to facts, and counting on reactions to "feelings"?
What lovely political 'realism'.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)cprise
(8,445 posts)Then they must govern through irrationality.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)But we are so deep into 'say something once, why say it again?' territory that I cannot must the interest necessary to continue the exchange....
xfundy
(5,105 posts)that you need a whole thread praising you like a baby needs a bottle.
cprise
(8,445 posts)That's not MY custom...
Gidney N Cloyd
(19,833 posts)Eleanors38
(18,318 posts)joshcryer
(62,270 posts)Igel
(35,300 posts)That allows one to agree impolitely--or to take a poignard to an idea and deftly disembowel it while fully respecting decorum.
There is a vast difference between according one respect and according one courtesy.
Response to cprise (Reply #56)
KoKo This message was self-deleted by its author.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)Warpy
(111,252 posts)Magistrate, I am glad you are here. Please never mellow.
snagglepuss
(12,704 posts)3 cheers for the Magistrate.
sheshe2
(83,746 posts)ChisolmTrailDem
(9,463 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)I do remember clearly that he does airplanes...
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)with the model airplanes. Very detailed.
Brother Buzz
(36,417 posts)The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Here a couple you might like.
The first was completed fairly recently, the second was done a good while back:
It is a Polikarpov I-153, of the 127th IAP, flown by Lt.Zhukovskiy from Avgustove, who was credited with several German aircraft destroyed on the first day of Barbarossa.
This is a Polikarpov I-15bis, operating on the Lagoda sector during the Siege of Leningrad early in 1942, as a ground attack machine. Unit is un-known, but things were pretty ad hoc then in any case; there is a good photograph of the thing, however.
mopinko
(70,088 posts)these look like fun.
you know, if you go to any granite counter top fabricator, they will give you the cutouts from the sinks. for a couple bucks they might even polish the edges for you.
rock on old man. it is our sad duty to keep these trolls in the real world.
kids these days.....
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)It has certainly been a while.
That is an interesting idea about the granite remnants. The things I use for the bases are intended for wall plaques, I gather. My usual shop has just now closed down, though it is to move, fortunately, not to shutter up completely. Its new location, though, will not be nearly so convenient....
mopinko
(70,088 posts)took a small private class. stuffed a pheasant.
big fun. very tactile.
they handed out little slices of logs.
i have a small flock of chickens now, is what made me want to take the class. hoping to sell some feathers. have lovely birds.
i immediately started being flooded ideas for the hilarious things one could pose a stuffed chicken on/in.
i thought it was super easy, but very complicated at the same time. but in my wheelhouse.
i turned the worst pelt in the class, not my fault, into a decent stuffed pheasant.
chauncy-
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=700317563323259&set=pb.410796658942019.-2207520000.1405109120.&type=3&theater
rocking chair aint got me yet, tho, so i dont have much time for hobbies.
wont be able to help myself come time to cull the flock, tho.
and yeah, meet up. maybe we could do a dinner cruise on the lake.
or y'all could come to the farm.
bigtree
(85,990 posts)immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
CTyankee
(63,903 posts)The Magistrate is my idea of a gentleman! Bravo.
Cali_Democrat
(30,439 posts)Coventina
(27,105 posts)MoonRiver
(36,926 posts)The Magistrate rocks!
H2O Man
(73,536 posts)Recommended.
n2doc
(47,953 posts)And with style!
lunatica
(53,410 posts)justhanginon
(3,290 posts)Rowdyboy
(22,057 posts)An asset to any community.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)kcr
(15,315 posts)littlemissmartypants
(22,632 posts)bravenak
(34,648 posts)I like the Magistrate.
riqster
(13,986 posts)A toast as well!
calimary
(81,220 posts)And so elegantly well-mannered, too. Agreed!!!!
greatauntoftriplets
(175,731 posts)In fact, I've had a drink with him!
Benton D Struckcheon
(2,347 posts)but I'll dedicate this ice cold scotch & soda to him. He's a pleasure to have around.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Quite a sundress you had on, I recall....
Be well!
greatauntoftriplets
(175,731 posts)Be well youself.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Ah, well, good to have noticed soon, anyway.
Glorfindel
(9,727 posts)Articulate and civilized.
Squinch
(50,949 posts)Spazito
(50,325 posts)Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)But there is an exception to every rule.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)I have a great respect for your comments here, and always am glad to come upon them.
Lochloosa
(16,063 posts)SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
DinahMoeHum
(21,784 posts)I always enjoy reading his comments.
Bobbie Jo
(14,341 posts)One of my faves.
tenderfoot
(8,426 posts)To you Magistrate.
William769
(55,145 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,721 posts)leftstreet
(36,106 posts)DURec
On the Road
(20,783 posts)composed an extremely long, well-written piece on the history of the area going back centuries.
A poster chimed in to say "you forgot to provide a citation." Another poster then replied "Um, I think The Magistrate actually wrote that himself." Which turned out to be the case.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Thank you.
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)rocktivity
(44,576 posts)rocktivity
randome
(34,845 posts)WHY DON'T YOU PEOPLE TELL ME ANYTHING?!
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)!!
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)I have been recalling you a bit recently, as I recently ventured into the current incarnation of our old 'sand trap' for a few posts....
"Law west of the Pecos."
Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)To the law West of the Pecos . . .
[center]
[/center][font size="1"]Image from WP ClipArt
Terms of Use, Public Domain
[/font]
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)What would The Magistrate Post?
I think I'll try to take that to heart from now on when responding to all threads.
steve2470
(37,457 posts)I can envision him wearing black judicial robes as he types.
LongTomH
(8,636 posts)sinkingfeeling
(51,448 posts)Skidmore
(37,364 posts)while taking no prisoners. I always look forward to reading his posts.
Hekate
(90,656 posts)The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)You will, I expect recall these bits....
http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2011/03/when-its-not-your-turn-the-quintessentially-victorian-vision-of-ogdens-the-wire/
Tommy_Carcetti
(43,181 posts)Loved the reads!
NuclearDem
(16,184 posts)TheCowsCameHome
(40,168 posts)hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)sufrommich
(22,871 posts)cry baby
(6,682 posts)freshwest
(53,661 posts)mcar
(42,306 posts)The Magistrate is great!
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Thank you.
Here is a bit from Mr. H. H. Munro, an especial favorite of mine....
CLOVIS ON PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
MARION EGGELBY sat talking to Clovis on the only subject that she ever willingly talked about her offspring and their varied perfections and accomplishments. Clovis was not in what could be called a receptive mood; the younger generation of Eggelby, depicted in the glowing improbable colours of parent impressionism, aroused in him no enthusiasm. Mrs. Eggelby, on the other hand, was furnished with enthusiasm enough for two.
You would like Eric, she said, argumentatively rather than hopefully. Clovis had intimated very unmistakably that he was unlikely to care extravagantly for either Amy or Willie. Yes, I feel sure you would like Eric. Every one takes to him at once. You know, he always reminds me of that famous picture of the youthful David I forget who its by, but its very well known.
That would be sufficient to set me against him, if I saw much of him, said Clovis. Just imagine at auction bridge, for instance, when one was trying to concentrate ones mind on what ones partners original declaration had been, and to remember what suits ones opponents had originally discarded, what it would be like to have some one persistently reminding one of a picture of the youthful David. It would be simply maddening. If Eric did that I should detest him.
Eric doesnt play bridge, said Mrs. Eggelby with dignity.
Doesnt he? asked Clovis; why not?
None of my children have been brought up to play card games, said Mrs. Eggelby; draughts and halma and those sorts of games I encourage. Eric is considered quite a wonderful draughts-player.
You are strewing dreadful risks in the path of your family, said Clovis; a friend of mine who is a prison chaplain told me that among the worst criminal cases that have come under his notice, men condemned to death or to long periods of penal servitude, there was not a single bridge-player. On the other hand, he knew at least two expert draughts-players among them.
I really dont see what my boys have got to do with the criminal classes, said Mrs. Eggelby resentfully. They have been most carefully brought up, I can assure you that.
That shows that you were nervous as to how they would turn out, said Clovis. Now, my mother never bothered about bringing me up. She just saw to it that I got whacked at decent intervals and was taught the difference between right and wrong; there is some difference, you know, but Ive forgotten what it is.
Forgotten the difference between right and wrong! exclaimed Mrs. Eggelby.
Well, you see, I took up natural history and a whole lot of other subjects at the same time, and one cant remember everything, can one? I used to know the difference between the Sardinian dormouse and the ordinary kind, and whether the wry-neck arrives at our shores earlier than the cuckoo, or the other way round, and how long the walrus takes in growing to maturity; I daresay you knew all those sorts of things once, but I bet youve forgotten them.
Those things are not important, said Mrs. Eggelby, but
The fact that weve both forgotten them proves that they are important, said Clovis; you must have noticed that its always the important things that one forgets, while the trivial, unnecessary facts of life stick in ones memory. Theres my cousin, Editha Clubberley, for instance; I can never forget that her birthday is on the 12th of October. Its a matter of utter indifference to me on what date her birthday falls, or whether she was born at all; either fact seems to me absolutely trivial, or unnecessary Ive heaps of other cousins to go on with. On the other hand, when Im staying with Hildegarde Shrubley I can never remember the important circumstance whether her first husband got his unenviable reputation on the Turf or the Stock Exchange, and that uncertainty rules Sport and Finance out of the conversation at once. One can never mention travel, either, because her second husband had to live permanently abroad.
Mrs. Shrubley and I move in very different circles, said Mrs. Eggelby stiffly.
No one who knows Hildegarde could possibly accuse her of moving in a circle, said Clovis; her view of life seems to be a non-stop run with an inexhaustible supply of petrol. If she can get some one else to pay for the petrol so much the better. I dont mind confessing to you that she has taught me more than any other woman I can think of.
What kind of knowledge? demanded Mrs. Eggelby, with the air a jury might collectively wear when finding a verdict without leaving the box.
Well, among other things, shes introduced me to at least four different ways of cooking lobster, said Clovis gratefully. That, of course, wouldnt appeal to you; people who abstain from the pleasures of the card- table never really appreciate the finer possibilities of the dining-table. I suppose their powers of enlightened enjoyment get atrophied from disuse.
An aunt of mine was very ill after eating a lobster, said Mrs. Eggelby.
I daresay, if we knew more of her history, we should find out that shed often been ill before eating the lobster. Arent you concealing the fact that shed had measles and influenza and nervous headache and hysteria, and other things that aunts do have, long before she ate the lobster? Aunts that have never known a days illness are very rare; in fact, I dont personally know of any. Of course if she ate it as a child of two weeks old it might have been her first illness and her last. But if that was the case I think you should have said so.
I must be going, said Mrs. Eggelby, in a tone which had been thoroughly sterilised of even perfunctory regret.
Clovis rose with an air of graceful reluctance.
I have so enjoyed our little talk about Eric, he said; I quite look forward to meeting him some day.
Good-bye, said Mrs. Eggelby frostily; the supplementary remark which she made at the back of her throat was -
Ill take care that you never shall!
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)I personally don't care for the whole ma'am/sir routine. It is performed without any inquiry as to the gender identity of the person being addressed and that is rude and should not be imitated by anyone. If you don't know, don't presume. Ask.
Rex
(65,616 posts)Puts me to shame as far as manners go.
Hat tip to you too TC for a classy thread!
malaise
(268,950 posts)indeed
Sissyk
(12,665 posts)90-percent
(6,829 posts)And give thanks to the great contribution's Octafish has made to DU over the years.
The Magistrate is not on my radar, but he will be now. That is all.
-90% Jimmy
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)We do not always agree, mind, but he fights his corner well, and makes a valuable contribution here.
navarth
(5,927 posts)ColesCountyDem
(6,943 posts)You are, sir, courtly, witty and always incisive. You remind me very much of my favorite Illinois Supreme Court Justice, the late Joseph Goldenhersh.
Still Sensible
(2,870 posts)mac56
(17,566 posts)blogslut
(37,999 posts)KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)I can truly say that I love him unconditionally.
I am instantly cheered whenever I see a post by him, whatever the topic, whatever he has to say. His incisive intelligence and dry wit are invaluable, and DU would be a much poorer place without him. Behind the persona there is an honest heart of great compassion and tireless commitment to integrity and truth.
to The Magistrate!
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)You are coming very near to making me blush, and may be sure the feelings are reciprocated. I value your friendship here very much.
scarletwoman
(31,893 posts)Then my work here is done.
Duckhunter935
(16,974 posts)JI7
(89,247 posts)Threedifferentones
(1,070 posts)But then again I've often been called an inconsiderate jerk. Probably I just prefer to people to treat me the way I treat them.
But, his views generally seem well informed, and his arguments logically sound, which I guess is what really counts.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)We've got many great people here at DU and The Magistrate is most certainly one of them. I enjoy reading all his posts. Even the arguments in which he is sometimes a part provide food for thought and a model on how to disagree without being a jerk. Bravo!
DoBotherMe
(2,339 posts)Cheers to The Magistrate Dana ; )
Enrique
(27,461 posts)IronLionZion
(45,433 posts)One of DU's most polite and patient gentlemen. I enjoy reading his posts.
And I've wondered how to tell if someone is a sir or madam if its not obvious from their profile or handle. How does one address androgynous posters in a post gender world?
WilliamPitt
(58,179 posts)The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)azurnoir
(45,850 posts)in the nonvirtual world does the Magistrate speak in the manner he writes or something like it?
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)My diction and vocabulary are what they are, but I can certainly get a bit to the blue, which generally I do avoid here.
azurnoir
(45,850 posts)but a bit of blue properly used could add a certain flair
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)I do not hold with those who say profanity is the recourse of those who cannot think of anything else to say. It can be very useful in the proper circumstances, and there are meanings and imports nothing else can convey.
grahamhgreen
(15,741 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)Last I saw he was ALIVE AND WELL...with No "Time Outs" or anything against him. He "holds his own" when a post offends him.
I find him a great person to Debate With and not in Need of any "Extra Help" here on DU.
What is this post about?
Surya Gayatri
(15,445 posts)post right to the end. No skimming or scanning.
When The Magistrate puts fingers to keyboard, you know it's worth the read.
Billy Budd
(310 posts)but once I read more I started smirking and sneering ...can't stand the egotism....Sir yes Sir
MADem
(135,425 posts)flying rabbit
(4,632 posts)MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)We all need a little humility now and then and need to pay attention to what and how he posts.
KnR
Liberal_Dog
(11,075 posts)I don't always agree with The Magistrate, but he is definitely an asset to our little community.
tishaLA
(14,176 posts)Even when I disagree with him. He is, to me, the very best f DU.
Barack_America
(28,876 posts)A "memory lane" bit on the subject:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=3659016
Lithos
(26,403 posts)He served on Samar!
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)And nice to see the old toast recalled.
As you may have noted, I was briefly down in the old haunt under press of current events. A bad business all around....
Lithos
(26,403 posts)Was good to see your comments. It's truly a bad business.
"Between two evils, choose neither; between two goods, choose both." - Tryon Edwards
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Certainly so long as Likud governments are put in place, it is a fair summary of Israeli policy to call its aim 'one land between the river and the sea', and its tool annexation in all but name of the portions of the Jordan valley over-run in '67. It did not have to be like that. I suspect Netanyahu will go down in history as the man who did more damage than anyone else to the future of the state of Israel.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)Don't ever change.
maced666
(771 posts)Tried selling that off to the Dos Equis people but they weren't buying - humbly apply it to - Magistrate
Ellipsis
(9,124 posts)DeSwiss
(27,137 posts)...The Magistrate is the epitome of civility.
- K&R, indeed.
Violet_Crumble
(35,961 posts)The Magistrate and I go way back to the dinosaur days of DU1. I'm a volatile and sometimes slow learner, but he taught me something when he gave me some home truths back at DU2 about the way I'd been behaving, and he was right about it and I learnt from it. I don't always agree with him on some issues, but I can forgive that in someone who has the knowledge of Middle East history that he's got. Plus he's a genuinely great person.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)Glad to have you as a friend.
BumRushDaShow
(128,895 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)A voice of reason
egduj
(805 posts)The Green Manalishi
(1,054 posts)I may not always agree with him, but I can count on a well reasoned and properly composed explication of his point of view; free from histrionics, germane as to the issue at hand and addressing the burden of rejoinder if there is one at play.
Response to Tommy_Carcetti (Original post)
Post removed
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)You seem to take the term 'bullying' as meaning 'disagreeing forcefully and effectively with your views'. It seems of a family with the people who cry they are 'being silenced' when they encounter comments that do not agree with the views they express.
The rest of your comment says much more about you than about me....
nyabingi
(1,145 posts)hidden from view, then I think that would be rightfully called "being silenced".
This is your world man, I'm just a squirrel trying to get a nut.
The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)And you imagine I somehow orchestrated the thing, packed the jury, solicited alerts, what?
Populist_Prole
(5,364 posts)burrowowl
(17,639 posts)The Magistrate
(95,247 posts)I appreciate the kind words very much....