Nikki Haley Wants to Test Old Candidates, Mississippi Wants an All-White Empire, New Study Gets Anti-Maskers Giddy, Matt Gaetz Promotes China Propaganda, Another Republican Lies on Resume, and More
Nikki Haley Wants to Test Old Candidates, Mississippi Wants an All-White Empire, New Study Gets Anti-Maskers Giddy, Matt Gaetz Promotes China Propaganda, Another Republican Lies on Resume, and More
kareem.substack.com
My thoughts on the top--and top-ish--stories in this week's political, sports, and pop culture news.
Abraham Lincoln said it well in his Lyceum address, (something I think everyone should read.):
"At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?-- Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."
A simple message for what it's worth. I, like many of my generation were well aware of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an Iconic figure "because" of basketball. Recently, I have been reading this newsletter and I must say, it is wonderful! Perhaps in 10 more years, a young generation will appreciate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a wonderful and insightful commentator...not knowing he ever played basketball!!!
I'd stack my competency against any of the the Gaetz, Greene, etc. witless mob - and I'm 91!!
Good stuff as usual, Kareem. Gaetz's dad, Don, was a conservative (pretty far right) pol in the Fl panhandle - in Matt, the apple fell off the tree and rotted!
You write really good. And you speak the truth. I don’t right good ( as you can tell)
But I do recognize the truth. Truth and facts are important - the cynicism of constant lying and disregard for facts and science has led to people giving up on fighting for truth. When there are no consequences for lying, then it becomes more common and more acceptable. We need people like you who are telling the truth talking about facts and science and calling out liars. This will make our country a better country in a more perfect union.
We also need to laugh at beavers, and listen to beautiful love songs. Best song recommendation so far. I also like your video recommendations. I don’t know anything about them, but I will check them out.
My son who works at google, and plays rocket league at a premium level recommended this video. It has a lot of bad language and is funny as fuck.
1952, the peak year of the post WW2 baby boom, the year I was born, so my fellow boomers of '52 ilk have been the #1 age group of that generation, and as I hit 71 recently, my fellow gumba seniors face being "othered" in this toxic societal ageism war! Fine, so be it, but, when faced with down by some young punk, I can still rip his fkn throat out! As you well know, Bruce Lee's lessons have no expiration date and came with a lifetime warranty! I spoke with the great Benjamin Ferencz 2 years ago, his first words to me were, "I'm 100 years old and I did 100 push-ups today!" Seniors are a very large and well informed voting bloc, so choose your battles wisely against such a lethal rag tag group, Social Security has always been the 3rd rail of politics, touch it and die! Gaetz and Santos and their pathetic ilk wouldn't last 30 seconds in the Octagon with either of us, and you and I both know this as a truth!
It is always a pleasure to read thoughtful takes on what is going on. I laugh, I cry and I feel like I am connected to the kind of people I keep knowing in my heart are actually out in the world working to make it a better place for everyone and paying attention to the things that matter. Thank you for being an avenue for connecting us!
With respect to the cancellation of Black History Month and while recognizing it as another attempt to right a wrong, I think Black History Month is yet another example of separate and not equal. Until the experience not only of blacks but also the experience of native (or first, or if you really prefer Indian) Americans, Hispanic, Chinese and Japanese Americans are all fully embedded in our history texts, we will not have history, we have myth. Of course myth is sooo much more comfortable...
for sure jumping the gun here and for sure your column will attack this head on next week Kareem but the bill in the DeSantis Fl. legislature outlined in Times editorial today which will basically put a giant muzzle over the media with threats of defamation on reporting without having to prove "malice" is as we all know the tip of iceburg of what DeSantis is striving for: not to mention his inability to play well with others resulting in a mini Mussolini thang goin on he will attampt to win the presidency without giving ANY interviews to the media (something which has never been done but post -Trump toss all THAT wonderment aside) he despises and of course that means any "media" employing relatively sane human beings dedicated to reporting unbiased truth.....that bill passes and it opens the door to just the kind of take-over these idiots are still angling for....not on ALL Our f....ckin watch nope
I wonder what these anti-mask folks would say if they were rolled into any operating room for major surgery and none of the doctors or attending staff had on masks or had scrubbed in?
The facts are clear on this...masks stop germs from spreading. Hard to believe this isn't clear by now.
Face masks have been used in medical settings for at least 100 years now.
Thank you for your fabulous newsletter... I love seeing it in my inbox!
Logan's Run reference reminds us of the future foreseen by PK Dick, H Ellison, and others and depicted in literature and film! Soylent Green, Silent Running, etc - a bleak snowy day film-fest!
In answer to your question, why didn’t they include the comma after Goodnight in “Goodnight My Love” it is because song and book titles typically exclude commas and periods but include hyphens and question marks. See, Dennis Lehane's GONE BABY GONE and HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (first edition; later ones added a hyphen or space between HITCH and HIKERS—and then removed them—and added the apostrophe). All that said, you can be creative when it comes to titles!
I fully advocate for “mental clarity” exams for ALL candidates, as well as a test on civics, akin to the test all applicants for citizenship must pass. I want to know our elected officials know how government works and what the constitution actually says. Our federal and state governments are peopled by too many proudly ignorant and intellectually incurious individuals.
The beaver video was adorable but, really, who rescues beavers? They are wild animals, they cannot be domesticated, and they deserve to live in a beaver society. That beaver could have been dragging in chair legs and tables!
Kareem,
RE "Only In Mississippi"
Abraham Lincoln said it well in his Lyceum address, (something I think everyone should read.):
"At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it?-- Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the Ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never!--All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.
At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide."
Here's a link to the Lyceum address:
https://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/lyceum.htm
Thank you,
Rob
A simple message for what it's worth. I, like many of my generation were well aware of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as an Iconic figure "because" of basketball. Recently, I have been reading this newsletter and I must say, it is wonderful! Perhaps in 10 more years, a young generation will appreciate Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as a wonderful and insightful commentator...not knowing he ever played basketball!!!
Quite a lot of horrible news from the political front but I took strength from the beaver video. Well played, sir.
I'd stack my competency against any of the the Gaetz, Greene, etc. witless mob - and I'm 91!!
Good stuff as usual, Kareem. Gaetz's dad, Don, was a conservative (pretty far right) pol in the Fl panhandle - in Matt, the apple fell off the tree and rotted!
You write really good. And you speak the truth. I don’t right good ( as you can tell)
But I do recognize the truth. Truth and facts are important - the cynicism of constant lying and disregard for facts and science has led to people giving up on fighting for truth. When there are no consequences for lying, then it becomes more common and more acceptable. We need people like you who are telling the truth talking about facts and science and calling out liars. This will make our country a better country in a more perfect union.
We also need to laugh at beavers, and listen to beautiful love songs. Best song recommendation so far. I also like your video recommendations. I don’t know anything about them, but I will check them out.
My son who works at google, and plays rocket league at a premium level recommended this video. It has a lot of bad language and is funny as fuck.
Video break for the comments section
https://youtu.be/Ovi1pz89U6o
“Will there be moats? “
Bwa ha ha ha ha ha
Perfect!
Hi Kareem - love your Jukebox pick - one small typo - the singer is Rachael Price. Thanks!
1952, the peak year of the post WW2 baby boom, the year I was born, so my fellow boomers of '52 ilk have been the #1 age group of that generation, and as I hit 71 recently, my fellow gumba seniors face being "othered" in this toxic societal ageism war! Fine, so be it, but, when faced with down by some young punk, I can still rip his fkn throat out! As you well know, Bruce Lee's lessons have no expiration date and came with a lifetime warranty! I spoke with the great Benjamin Ferencz 2 years ago, his first words to me were, "I'm 100 years old and I did 100 push-ups today!" Seniors are a very large and well informed voting bloc, so choose your battles wisely against such a lethal rag tag group, Social Security has always been the 3rd rail of politics, touch it and die! Gaetz and Santos and their pathetic ilk wouldn't last 30 seconds in the Octagon with either of us, and you and I both know this as a truth!
It is always a pleasure to read thoughtful takes on what is going on. I laugh, I cry and I feel like I am connected to the kind of people I keep knowing in my heart are actually out in the world working to make it a better place for everyone and paying attention to the things that matter. Thank you for being an avenue for connecting us!
With respect to the cancellation of Black History Month and while recognizing it as another attempt to right a wrong, I think Black History Month is yet another example of separate and not equal. Until the experience not only of blacks but also the experience of native (or first, or if you really prefer Indian) Americans, Hispanic, Chinese and Japanese Americans are all fully embedded in our history texts, we will not have history, we have myth. Of course myth is sooo much more comfortable...
for sure jumping the gun here and for sure your column will attack this head on next week Kareem but the bill in the DeSantis Fl. legislature outlined in Times editorial today which will basically put a giant muzzle over the media with threats of defamation on reporting without having to prove "malice" is as we all know the tip of iceburg of what DeSantis is striving for: not to mention his inability to play well with others resulting in a mini Mussolini thang goin on he will attampt to win the presidency without giving ANY interviews to the media (something which has never been done but post -Trump toss all THAT wonderment aside) he despises and of course that means any "media" employing relatively sane human beings dedicated to reporting unbiased truth.....that bill passes and it opens the door to just the kind of take-over these idiots are still angling for....not on ALL Our f....ckin watch nope
Kareem,
RE "Why All the Fuss Over Masks—Still"
I wonder what these anti-mask folks would say if they were rolled into any operating room for major surgery and none of the doctors or attending staff had on masks or had scrubbed in?
The facts are clear on this...masks stop germs from spreading. Hard to believe this isn't clear by now.
Face masks have been used in medical settings for at least 100 years now.
Thank you for your fabulous newsletter... I love seeing it in my inbox!
Tim
Wayne Shorter 89 years
Gone today
R. I. P.
Logan's Run reference reminds us of the future foreseen by PK Dick, H Ellison, and others and depicted in literature and film! Soylent Green, Silent Running, etc - a bleak snowy day film-fest!
And as they say in parts of Oregon: Go Beavers!
Another great essay! Thank you.
In answer to your question, why didn’t they include the comma after Goodnight in “Goodnight My Love” it is because song and book titles typically exclude commas and periods but include hyphens and question marks. See, Dennis Lehane's GONE BABY GONE and HITCHHIKERS GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (first edition; later ones added a hyphen or space between HITCH and HIKERS—and then removed them—and added the apostrophe). All that said, you can be creative when it comes to titles!
I fully advocate for “mental clarity” exams for ALL candidates, as well as a test on civics, akin to the test all applicants for citizenship must pass. I want to know our elected officials know how government works and what the constitution actually says. Our federal and state governments are peopled by too many proudly ignorant and intellectually incurious individuals.
The beaver video was adorable but, really, who rescues beavers? They are wild animals, they cannot be domesticated, and they deserve to live in a beaver society. That beaver could have been dragging in chair legs and tables!