Ghost of LL

And that’s going to hurt at the top of the ticket. Because a lack of enthusiasm is contagious right up and down a ticket.

Fuck, man—he’s going to make me cry.

I mean, in fairness there’s only one office that’s higher.

And damned if it isn’t true. This campaign just feels a lot better than 2016 or 2020.

That’s exactly the direction from which we would be coming were we to go down into Sudtirol.

What's this shit I'm seeing about no in-and-outs? And yeah, spare me the I didn't--this shit was news to me.

The experience I had as a kid/young man was reconfirmed by the experience my son had: baseball attracts assholes. I don't know why it is, but my high school baseball team was all of the biggest assholes in school. And it was ultimately what led me to give up playing (yeah--the fact that I couldn't hit a fastball that had any movement on it had nothing to do with it at all). Playing hockey was the exact opposite experience. Not that there isn't assholish behavior. And not that I never got into a fight in a parking lot after a game. But on balance, it was just a bunch of chill dudes who understood that we're all on the same team and we're all looking forward to going out drinking after the game.

Boy, the guns on this thread sure swerved from Greg Swindell over to Huston Street in a hurry.

I don't see an Austria thread, so I guess I'll just toss these thoughts into here. I'm thinking of 2-3 weeks bouncing around the country--perhaps flying into Munich and out Vienna. I figure maybe 3 days in Munich, 2-3 days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 4-5 days in Tirol (I found a place that looks like the Austrian version of a Great Wolf Lodge, which the kids would probably enjoy), a handful of days in Salzburg, and then 4 days or so in Vienna. But nothing is booked, and I'm obviously up for suggestions. The kids like stuff that is more active (e.g., canyoning and rafting in Tirol). Mrs.LL is going to like just spending an afternoon at the Viktuelenmarkt eating breadroll sandwiches and drinking beer. I'm the dad--I'm good with whatever. So fire away. @texasdago--thoughts on a day trip down to Bolzen? Anybody else have thoughts on a day trip from Vienna to Bratislava?

These are exactly the values supported by Nixon and Ford. And the Republican Party under Nixon and Ford was a "conservative" party. You're right that Reagan (I'm not sure that I will concede Bush) started the change in direction from "conservative" to "reactionary." But for the most part, it was reactionary in rhetoric only. The Republicans of the 80s and 90s had the good political sense not to actually do anything to ban abortion, no matter how much they might talk of doing so. And they had the good political sense to manage immigration and create paths to citizenship (though Pete Wilson thought racial scapegoating of Hispanics was the way to go, resulting in the destruction of the Republican Party in California). As you go from Nixon to Trump, there is clearly a reactionary creep to the Republican Party. But I'd argue that that is really only clear in retrospect. It was just a Dole or McCain win away from remaining firmly tied to conservativism. I mean, maybe.

. . . that is never enforced, in part because there are major First Amendment issues with it. But anyway, yeah--go on you fun Palestinian protestors and tell me how awful "Genocide Joe" and the Democrats are.

Is conservative. Not "sounds." Is. I'm still pretty damned conservative. I favor free trade and the international financial order that has made the United States of America the dominant financial and mercantile power in the world. I don't want to repeal our free-trade agreements, rethink the monetary policies that have made the Dollar the world's reserve currency, or entertain the idea of defaulting on our debts. I favor adhering to our international obligations, from Europe to East Asia. NATO is the strongest mutual-defense organization in the history of the world, and has preserved the peace in Europe for nearly 80 years, which is the longest that continent has gone without a major war since . . . ever. And in East Asia, our defense treaties with Japan and South Korea have fostered an economic environment that has led to an economic expansion throughout Asia while enriching Americans. I favor preserving freedom of thought and expression. Of ensuring Americans are free to make their own decisions about their property, their religion, and their bodies. At the same time, I favor preserving the social safety net that we have built up over the past 90 years. And where there are holes in that safety net, either in its original construction or because new economic developments have torn holes in it, it should be repaired. All of these are conservative values. These are the values that would be supported by any conservative party. But the GQP today is not a conservative party. It is a reactionary party. And reactionism is not "conservativism." Don't. People know they don't like it even if they don't know precisely what it is. "Project 2025" has just become a buzzword for "scary shit that Trumpublicans are going to do if they get back into power." Use that. Feed it. Say "Project 2025" over and over again with ominous and foreboding music in the background. Just please, for the love of god, don't go into a discussion of Schedule F trying to reach people who you think don't know enough about Project 2025.

Mmmmm, Jasmine.

This is part of the point. Demoralize them. Let them know that they're losing. They're losing in part because Harris has vastly more money to spend on ads than Trump does. These people view electoral politics as entertainment and sport. But if their team isn't winning, they're not going to show up for it in November. Because why would you bother showing up for a loser? Demoralize them now; they'll stay home in November.

And no--we're not having any fucking fires.

Why would I invite you? Every time I'm in New York, you find some excuse not to hang out with me. "I'm in London that week." "I'm in Cape Town that month." Yeah--likely story. It fucking feels like high school again every goddamned time I got to New York.

My brother--you don't need an invite. You're always welcome at Casa GOLL. Ummm, I'm gonna have to think about that.

Hey, are you and @Pescado_Rojo and @Kyrie Eleison coming over to my house for Election Night drink-a-thon against this year? If so, you better bring your top-drawer hot dish, my friend.

Of the many things I am looking forward to being rid of when Kamala Harris beats Donald Trump, somewhere on the list is the phrase "Trump World."

Yep--the main blow is definitely coming in the Pas-de-Calais direction. I still consider the strike in the Normandy region to be a distraction. Much more soberly, I'm really worried that this offensive into Kursk has the whiff of Operation Michael in the Spring of 1918. It just feels like it might be a last throw of the dice while there are still dice to throw.

Inside Munich, almost everything you're going to want to see is inside the old city walls (which are gone, but are marked by various gates). You can take the S-Bahn to Marienplatz, and that puts you right at the main town square. Fronting on the Marienplatz is the Neues Rathouse (New City Hall) with the glockenspiel in the clock tower. Across the way is St. Peter's Church, which is worth a hike up to the tower for a great view (you can see the Alps in the distance) and the full skeleton of some saint (southern German Catholics are very big on the display of relics). I also like walking back behind St. Peter's to the Viktuelenmarkt, which is a big farmers market with a beer garten. If you get up in the morning, walk around the old town, and then go over to the beer garten and grab a lunch of some sandwiches on a bread roll and end up sitting there the rest of the day drinking beer, . . . that's not a wasted day in my book. The Residenz--the in-town residence of the kings of Bavaria, roughly the equivalent of Buckingham Palace--is a few blocks north. And near that is the Odeonsplatz with the Theatinerkirche, which is itself worth a stop. The Odeonsplatz is interesting because it is where the showdown between the Bavarian state police and the Nazis occurred that ended the Beer Hall Putsch. On the left side of the Feldherrenhalle, which is the loggia on the south side of the square, is where the gunbattle took place. There was a Nazi memorial there, at which everyone passing had to give the Nazi salute. That's obviously gone. Still remaining is a memorial to the police officers killed by the Nazis. If you're interested in the Nazi spots, Munich has a lot of them. I'd recommend the website https://www.thirdreichruins.com/munich.htm, which will show you a number of spots that were significant to the Nazis, Munich being the birthplace of the party. And there are plenty of spots where you can still see the remnants of Nazi decorations. Just outside the city center is Schloss Nymphenburg, which is another of King Ludwig's castles and was kind of the suburban royal residence (akin to Windsor Castle). There's no nearby subway stop, but the bus goes there. The Olympic stadium and athlete's village is a short subway ride from the city center. That's worth a look. The BMW headquarters and Museum are a short walk away (right across the Autobahn). Go to the Hofbrauhaus if you want. But the Augustinerkeller just north of the main train station is where it's at. The food and beer are both better, and there's a great garden. Also have a liter at the beer garden at the Englishergarten.

I guess I'm lucky. I got one for a month from now. All I have to do is drive out to fucking Bastrop first thing in the morning. We get the government we vote for, friends.

As fortune would have it, I just wrote up a day-trip itinerary to King Ludwig's castles for a colleague who is going to Munich next month: Leave Munich by 8:00, and take the Autobahn A-95 south toward Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Exit at the town of Oberau on the B-2 and turn onto the B-23 toward Ettal. On the right side of road at the town of Ettal is the Ettal Monastery, which is worth a short stop. And on the left side of the road is a bakery that is a great stop for a quick breakfast. Just after Ettal you’d turn left toward Schloss Linderhof (https://www.schlosslinderhof.de/englisch/tourist/index.htm). It opens at 10:00 AM, and it’s best to be early to avoid the big crowds. It is built as a tiny version of Versailles, and the real interesting stuff is the grotto and the gardens. The grotto was built for Ludwig to enjoy Wagner’s operas in an immersive environment, and is really very cool. All in, it'll probably take 2-3 hours. After Linderhof, you go back out to the road and turn left (i.e., not back in the direction you came), and you get a nice little drive through the Alps and into Austria. Eventually you get to the town of Reutte, where you turn right on Highway 179 toward Fussen. Just before Fussen, you cross back into Germany and then in a couple miles you come to a T intersection. Right takes you to Schloss Neuschwanstein, left takes you into town. Personally, at this point I’d go into town and grab lunch. It’s a cute little Bavarian town with a pretty little pedestrian area in the center. There are a bunch of restaurants around. After that, you can head over to Schloss Neuschwanstein (https://www.neuschwanstein.de/englisch/tourist/). This is the castle on which Walt Disney modeled Cinderella’s Castle, and the exterior is pretty famous. The interior, however, is unremarkable. Basically, the Bavarian treasury was emptied before Ludwig could finish it, so there’s not just a whole lot to see inside. It’s definitely worth hiking up to the courtyard and then around to the side where there’s a bridge from which you can get great photos. I’m not sure going inside is a great expenditure of time. From Neuschwanstein, you can look down and see Castle Hohenschwangau, which is the previous royal palace where Ludwig was born. Again—I’m not sure it’s worth going down there. Finished with Neuschwanstein, go back out to Highway 17 and turn right. At Steingaden, turn right on Ammergauer Strasse and follow the signs to the Wieskirche (https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/271/). It’s a rococo church in the middle of a meadow (“Wies” is “meadow” in German) that marks a miraculous spring. Even if you’re not a church person, this one is worth a stop. After that, head back to Ammergauer Strasse, take a right, and that will take you right back to Highway 23 (take a right), which goes back to the Autobahn and Munich. On the way, you’re going to pass back through Ettal. I will tell you that the monastery has a brewery (as most monasteries in Germany do). And across the street is the hotel Ludwig der Bayer, which has a very good restaurant with a patio overlooking the monastery, which you may want to stop at for a snack and a beer or for dinner, depending on the hour. If you want to take an extra day and stay in the area, I think it is worth the area. You can hike around the Partnachklamm, which is a cool little canyon. Or you can take the gondola up the Zugspitze to the highest spot in Germany. Also in the town is the stadium and ski jumps from the 1936 Winter Olympics (somehow Germany got both the Winter and Summer Olympics in 1936)--really great look for the IOC in retrospect.

Back in the 90s when I was a Republican, I fucking hated Bill Clinton and thought he was a complete sleazeball sexual predator. I still fucking hate Bill Clinton and think he is a complete sleazeball sexual predator.