Combat! - Page 158 of 406 - A blog by Dan Brooks

Opponents of nude bike ride address council for 90 min., revealing flaw in democracy

By Dan Brooks in Montana Politics August 6, 2014 2 Comments

“Bare As You Dare” ride organizer Nita Maddux. Photo by Michael Gallacher of the Missoulian

When I heard that Nita Maddux had organized a clothing-optional bike ride in Missoula “as a way for people to demonstrate acceptance of their bodies and express their inner child,” I did nothing. I have no opinion on this issue, partly because I have the internet and can see as many naked people as I want, and partly because I burn easily. Also I will be out of town. Apart from reading about it in the Missoulian, my experience is exactly as if the naked bike ride were not happening at all. I consider that relevant, since a bunch of people are having the same experience and freaking out.

Results of red-state “experiment” look bad for Kansas, but theory remains

By Dan Brooks in conservatism August 5, 2014 1 Comment

Kansas Governor Sam Brownback

One of the problems of contemporary conservatism is that it is largely theoretical. A lot of ideas now fashionable in the Republican Party are hard to evaluate on their merits, because they have never been tried. Some, like abolishing the Federal Reserve or income tax, remain theoretical because they would require us to reverse history. Others, like the belief that lowering taxes on the wealthy stimulates economic growth, are unfalsifiable because they have been stymied by political opposition. But no such opposition has existed in Kansas, where former Senator Sam Brownback was elected governor in 2010. For almost four years now, Brownback has conducted a “red-state experiment,” cutting taxes, restricting abortion, and dramatically reducing spending on schools. He put conservative theory into practice, and the results are in: poverty went up, the state budget faces a $300 million shortfall, and the Kansas economy has grown at half the rate of its four neighbors.

On last adult night of summer, city rents Splash Montana to private party

By Dan Brooks in Montana Politics August 4, 2014 1 Comment

Some water slides and a lazy river I didn’t get to go on last night.

If you saw me last week, you already knew I was going to Adult Night at Splash Montana water park. It was the last Adult Night of the summer, and my friend Kelly organized an outing. “I’m going to Splash Montana,” I told several disinterested people in my yoga class. “I’m going to eat pizza.” I also planned to walk on those logs that are soft and inflatable but still easy to fall off of. I would of course go down the water slides, and probably I would take a turn around the lazy river. It was a whole experience I had laid out in my head, and as the weather got hotter and Sunday night drew nearer, I began to think of it as the centerpiece of my week. Which is too bad, since when I got there I joined another 35 people who were denied admission because the park had been rented to a private party.

Friday links! Sincere beliefs edition

By Dan Brooks in Friday Links August 1, 2014 1 Comment

Lesbians

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that this country is falling apart for lack of religious belief. Think of America’s finest moments—our Nazi-stompin’, steam engineerin’, self-evident truthin’ glory days: they all came at moments when we were at our most religious. From curing polio to integrating the public schools, church has been the principle contributor to this nation’s success. And yet it has become unpopular. After childhoods witnessing our parents’ delirious happiness with traditional values, a new generation of Americans has turned from spiritual pursuits to heartless science, admittedly fun but empty internet dating, and leaving gay people alone. Today is Friday, and we have hidden our light under a bushel. Won’t you let it shine with me?

Pentagon, War College claim authority in Walsh case

By Dan Brooks in Uncategorized July 31, 2014 0 Comment

The National Republican Senatorial Committee maintains its standards of discourse, puns.

The Departments of Defense and the Army will exercise final review over accusations of plagiarism against Sen. John Walsh (D–MT,) according to Army War College spokeswoman Carol Kerr. Walsh is a sitting lawmaker and veteran, so the DOD has claimed jurisdiction over any investigation. This news caps a confusing couple of days for the AP, which also reported that the War College claimed final authority. If the War College revokes Walsh’s master’s degree, it’s hard to envision a situation in which Defense can plausibly restore it. Any other punishments, though, appear to be up to the Pentagon, which I’m sure will not do anything weird or biased in the end. While we wait to see how much our military procurers care about academic honesty, you could read my column for the Missoula Independent, in which I excoriate Walsh and his relentless ineptitude. Yes, he fought in a war, but we’re not electing someone to send to Iraq. We’re electing someone to send to Washington, and I cannot believe that Walsh is the best option among a million Montanans. At this point, though, we’re choosing the best option between him and Steve Daines. I’m not encouraging voters to stay home on election day, but I am urging voters to build time machines and get nominated in 2013. Anybody.