A Crony Island of the Mime
Austin Dispatches | No. 184 | Aug. 25, 2015 |
In August 1999, as I browsed
the soda aisle of a Scottsdale, Ariz., grocery, the store’s sound system emitted
a prerecorded advertisement for a new book chronicling the turbulent marriage of
Bill and Hillary Clinton.[1]
Me and the other customer in the aisle looked at each other and united in
laughter at the couple’s continuing foibles.
Despite decades of repeated
humiliations in the national spotlight, La Clinton persists in grasping for
power as if it’s owed her.[2]
Since she declared her new presidential candidacy, she’s contended with
repeated, damaging leaks, containing information hitherto unavailable to her
usual detractors.[3]
Who specifically did she
antagonize badly enough to leak this information, and what specifically
antagonized the leaker(s)?
Meanwhile, Clinton faces a
notable challenge from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.[4]
Though Sanders caucuses with the Democrats, he was elected to Congress as an
independent, had never sought office on the Democratic ticket, and hasn’t even
bothered to change his voter affiliation to Democratic.[5]
Why do party officials and
activists put up with this impudence? Even the Greens lost patience with their
two-time nominee Ralph Nader for doing the same.[6]
By and by, at lunch my
Israeli friend and I got around to discussing “short-fingered vulgarian” Donald
Trump’s campaign. In this, he’s become the real-life version of a movie script
idea my best friend and I had in eighth grade: Rodney Dangerfield as president,
playing yet another crass arriviste causing the snooty doyennes of the Beltway
status quo to clutch their pearls in shock and revulsion.[7]
Despite Trump on the stump
taking lumps from humps and thumping clumps of chumps who belong in a sump and
grump he’ll make the GOP a rump, nobody really knows if he’s serious
(ba-da-bump).[8]
My speculation, which I haven’t seen elsewhere: He’s learned he has a terminal
illness. Deciding to give back to America, he’s running to wreck and humiliate
the Boston-New York-D.C. political-media axis that’s parasitically destroying
the country and which he’s always hated.[9]
Dismayingly, even
libertarians have mimicked that axis Trump so agitates. His candidacy entered
its second month before I read any libertarian’s opinion that even assessed the
opportunity it created.[10]
Everyone else has expressed disapproval in the same tone as the prissy ninnies
of the statist quo libertarians are supposed to overthrow. The contrast to the
open calculations for advantage during Ross Perot’s 1992 campaign reflects
poorly on the present libertarian movement (but that’s another issue).[11]
Further Political Follies
Statesman management decided
to run an insubstantial piece about the 50th anniversaries of
Medicare and Medicaid prominently in its July 31 edition.[12]
The Statesman’s cheerleading contrasts markedly with 25th anniversary
articles that pointed out what the experts in 1965 confidently predicted would
be the program costs in 1990 – and what those 1990 costs really were.[13]
If your golf swing were that off, you’d quit playing.[14]
Zimbabwe dictator Robert
Mugabe took the lead among African leaders, and Africans generally, in resisting
Obama’s pro-homosexual pontificating in his home continent.[15]
On the Town
July 31: On the night of a blue moon, I attended the first of Go Dance’s 20th anniversary parties.[16] Despite the South Austin event being free, with ample parking, sufficient air conditioning, and an excellent wood floor, it was relatively underattended.
Aug. 9:
Wes Benedict returned to Austin for a political
conference. We caught up at Poke-e-Jo’s in South Austin.[17]
Cultural Canapés
At Spec’s, I discovered Bob
Marley brand coffee and tea – the drinkable kind – the labels of which work in
as many song references as possible, thereby preempting my quips.[18]
A Texas blog has devised a
new rating system for Tex-Mex restaurants.[19]
Miss KT’s method was to order the chile relleno from the menu as gauge of an
eatery’s quality.[20]
Austin Death Watch
Speaking of food, the
Z’Tejas restaurant chain has filed for bankruptcy.[21]
At this rate, the newest entire issue of restaurant
recommendations will be obsolete.[22]
Meanwhile, residents are suing a barbecue joint over smoke that wafts onto their
properties.[23]
However, a City Council committee rejected the idea of creating regulations for
barbecue smoke – a rare display of good sense in this thumb-sucking Hooverville.[24]
Since April, city police
have issued thousands of citations against drivers edging into the intersection
to make unprotected left turns, something I’ve noted about local drivers for a
long time. Austin’s message: “Don’t Block the Box,” which I learned of as a New
York expression years ago.[25]
The parties involved in the MoPac Expressway improvements are blaming each other
for the delays that’ll push completion back to late 2016.[26]
The Chronicle finally brings itself to defend private property when it can
denounce Texas Transportation Department plans for the U.S. Highway 290-Highway
71 intersection at Oak Hill.[27]
Indonesian police captured
an ex-Austin cop suspected in the murder of a pregnant Kyle woman.[28]
The Aug. 6 Statesman reports Austin’s auto and pedestrian death counts are
rising rapidly.[29]
Rising rents closed three
Red River District clubs, two of which I’d patronized.[30]
Neighborhood News
A Japanese government agency
is giving the University of Texas $13 million to install a solar-powered
supercomputer at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus.[31]
In the real world, on Aug. 3, the power ceased at my apartment building for
about an hour.
The Statesman’s Traffic Web
page reported traffic incidents at Highway 183 and Burnet Road on Aug. 3, Braker
Lane between Metric Boulevard and Kramer Lane on Aug. 7, Burnet between McHale
Court and Braker on Aug. 13, Burnet at Rutland Drive on Aug. 19, and at Metric
and Braker on Aug. 19. On July 30, city workers restriped Gracy Farms Lane
between Metric and the Burnet-Duval Road-Farm-to-Market Road 1325 intersection.
A realty trust bought out
IBM’s ownership of its Broadmoor Campus, a.k.a. “the Pink Palace,” off Burnet,
with plans to convert it to a mixed-use development.[32]
On campus, Charles Schwab Corp. plans to move into the former Tivoli
headquarters.[33] Across
Burnet, ownership changed hands again for part of The Domain.[34]
Paging Alvy Singer
Astronomers now claim the
stars are dying across an ancient, entropic universe, thereby halfway confirming
the concern expressed in the greatest science fiction movie ever, “Annie Hall.”[35]
Meanwhile, in medical
matters, Texas’ Board of Pharmacy is cracking down on pharmacies that compound,
or specially mix, drugs for customers – something pharmacists are trained to do.[36]
Media Indigest
Confirming the customer
demographic, The Villager, one of Austin’s two black newspapers, is now
available at the Tech Ridge Center shopping plaza’s H-E-B.
Notes in the Margins
The music industry succeeded
in shutting down Grooveshark, which was a terrific source for audio clips.[37]
Home | Archives |
[1] Andersen,
Christopher. Bill and Hillary: The Marriage.
[2] Allen,
Jonathan, and Amie Parnes. HRC: State Secrets and the Rebirth of
Hillary Clinton. New York City: Crown Publishers, 2014; Barr, Bob.
The Meaning of Is: The Squandered Impeachment and Wasted Legacy of
William Jefferson Clinton. Atlanta: Stroud & Hall Publishers, 2004:
Ch. 4-7; Bovard, James. "Feeling Your Pain": The Explosion and Abuse
of Government Power in the Clinton-Gore Years, rev. ed. New York
City: Palgrave, 2001; Campos, Paul. The Obesity Myth: Why America's
Obsession With Weight Is Hazardous to Your Health. New York City:
Gotham Books, 2004: Ch. 15; Eszterhas, Joe. American Rhapsody.
[3] Schweizer,
Peter. Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign
Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich. New
York City: Harper, 2015; Von Drehle, David. “Clinton’s Stalled Bandwagon
Exposes a Deeper Problem for Democrats.” Time 31 Aug. 2015: 9-11.
[4] Chozick,
Amy, and Patrick Healey. “Sanders Momentum in Iowa Leaves Clinton Camp
on Edge.” NYT 7 Jul. 2015: A1+.
[5] Costa,
Robert, and Dan Balz. “Sanders to Toss Hat Into Presidential Ring.” WP
29 Apr. 2015, final ed.: A2; Merica, Dan. “The Democratic Presidential
Nominee That Doesn’t Have to Be a Registered Democrat.” CNN 10
Feb. 2015 <
http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/10/politics/bernie-sanders-democrat-or-independent/index.html>.
[6]
Rewiring Politics: Presidential Nominating Conventions in the Media Age.
Ed. Costas Panagopoulos. Baton Rouge, La.: Louisiana State UP, 2007:
100-112; Sifry, Micah L. Spoiling for a Fight: Third-Party Politics
in America. New York City: Routledge, 2002: 304.
[7]
“Datebook.” Spy Feb. 1988: 20; Dangerfield, Rodney [Jacob Cohen].
It’s Not Easy Bein’ Me: A Lifetime of No Respect but Plenty of Sex
and Drugs. New York City: HarperEntertainment, 2004: 193-201;
Gilmore, Scott. “Prepare to Get Trumped.” Maclean’s 29 Jun. 2015:
41.
[8] Foster,
Daniel. “Trump the Temp.” NR 10 Aug. 2015: 52; Kroll, Andy. “An Endeavor
to Take Trump Seriously.” NJ 1 Aug. 2015: 1; Partridge, Eric, Tom
Dalzell, and Terry Victor. The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and
Unconventional English, rev. ed. London: Routledge, 2014: I, 1,204;
Powell, Bill. “The Greatest Candidate.” Newsweek Global 14 Aug.
2015: 28-35; Roller, Emma. “Rand Paul Calls Donald Trump an ‘Empty
Suit.’ ” Government Executive 11 Aug. 2015: 1.
[9] Leibovich,
Mark. This Town: Two Parties and a Funeral — Plus Plenty of Valet
Parking! — in America's Gilded Capital, rev. ed. New York City: Blue
Rider Press, 2014.
[10]
Stephenson, Jay, and Llewellyn H. Rockwell Jr. “Conservative
Infighting.” LewRockwell.com 21 Aug. 2015
<https://www.lewrockwell.com/political-theatre/conservative-infighting/>.
[11] “Arthur,
Chester Alan” [R.W. Bradford]. “Odd Man In.” Liberty Sep. 1992:
16.
[12] Roser,
Mary Ann. “Medicare Milestone.” AAS 31 Jul. 2015: B1.
[13] Browne,
Harry. Why Government Doesn’t Work.
[14] Penick,
Harvey, and Edwin “Bud” Shrake. Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book:
Lessons and Teachings From a Lifetime in Golf. New York City: Simon
& Schuster, 1992: 43-45.
[15] Hall,
John. “Mugabe Taunts US With ‘Marry Me, Obama’ Jibe.” The Daily Mail
1 Jul. 2015: 32; Page, Clarence. “Obama Frees His Inner Kenyan.”
Chicago Tribune 29 Jul. 2015: 21; Parsons, Christi, and Robyn Dixon.
“Obama’s Push for Gay Rights Meets Cold Wall.” LAT 26 Jul. 2015: A1+;
Smith, David. “Obama Blasts African Leaders for Life Who Put Progress at
Risk.” The Guardian 29 Jul. 2015: 35; Zwane, Ackel. “Obama’s
Girls May As Well Be Gay.” Swazi Observer 31 Jul. 2015: 18.
[16]
“Skywatch.” AAS 31 Jul. 2015: B12.
[17] “Wes
Benedict Added As Christians for Liberty 2015 Conference Speaker.” AL 26
Jul. 2015: 1; “Wes Benedict Meet-and-Great Today (Aug. 9) – You’re
Invited!” AL 9 Aug. 2015: 1.
[18] AD No.
179n13 (Nov. 26, 2014); Benes,
Ross. “Marley & We.” Crain’s Detroit Business 2 Sep. 2013: M009;
Partridge et al., op. cit., II, 2,229; Jacobsen, Jessica. “ ‘Stirring It
Up.’ ” Beverage Industry Jan. 2014: 38-39.
[19] Taylor,
Rachel. “The Ideal Tex-Mex Restaurant.” From Texas to Beyond 18
Mar. 2015 <
http://www.fromtexastobeyond.com/the-ideal-tex-mex-restaurant/>.
[20] Sedlar,
John Rivera. The Great Chile Relleno Book. Berkeley, Calif.: Ten
Speed Press, 1999.
[21] “Reader’s
Picks.” ABJ 31 Jul. 2015: 2.
[22]
Whitehorse, Adrienne. “Out of the Ashes.” AC 31 Jul. 2015: 38.
[23] Barragan,
James. “Eatery’s Smoke Sparks Lawsuit.” AAS 31 Jul. 2015: B1+.
[24] AD No. 42n1
(Oct. 30, 2002); Lim, Andra. “Panel Douses Smoke Rules.” AAS 5 Aug.
2015: B1+; Selby, W. Gardner. “Austin Isn’t Banning Barbecue
Restaurants.” AAS 5 Aug. 2015: B1+.
[25] AD No. 55n6
(Sep. 3, 2003); Wear, Ben. “Will ‘Box Blocking’ Lessons Endure?” AAS 10
Aug. 2015: B1+.
[26] Wear.
“MoPac Delays Generate Dispute.” AAS 30 Jul. 2015: A1+.
[27] Wolf,
Vicki. “Paving Over Paraidse to Put Up a Parkway.” AC 31 Jul. 2015:
22-23.
[28]
Plohetski, Tony. “Ex-Cop Tied to Killing Detained in Indonesia.” AAS 5
Aug. 2015: A1+.
[29] Chavez,
Nicole. “Traffic Fatalities Surge Beyond Total for 2014.” AAS 6 Aug.
2015: A1+.
[30] AD No. 76n10
(Jan. 17, 2005); AD No. 89n26
(March 29, 2006); Swiatecki, Chad. “New Partnership to Revamp and
Rebrand the Storied Red Eye Fly Club.” ABJ 14 Aug. 2015: A8.
[31] Chang,
Julie. “Japan to Give UT $13M ‘Super’ Gift.” AAS 11 Aug. 2015: B1+.
[32] Novak,
Shonda. “IBM Broadmoor Will Be Mixed-Use Development.” AAS 5 Aug. 2015:
B7-8.
[33] “Schwab
Set for Big North Austin Move.” ABJ 14 Aug. 2015: A4.
[34] “Tier
REIT Takes Domain Assets.” ABJ 8 Aug. 2015: 7.
[35] Annie
Hall. Rollins-Joffe Productions, 1977; Sample, Ian. “Starlight Is
Dimming As Universe Shows Its Age.” The Guardian Weekly 21
Aug. 2015: 34.
[36] Roser,
Mary Ann. “Firm That Combines Drugs Is Penalized.” AAS 23 Aug. 2015:
B1+.
[37] Peoples,
Glenn. “Grooveshark’s Big Cash Burn.” Billboard 16 May 2015: 10.