1. Your "transcription" of Summers remarks may be the single greatest thing ever written on Unfogged (and, by obvious extension, the internets). I reserve the right to change my mind when Bob or Alemeida posts next.
2. Cripes. Is there a more useless, stereotypically puffed-up man in all of existence than West? Sometimes I wonder if he's a Republican plant inserted so they always have something asinine to point at.
That's your best shot at Summers? Probably best to respond in elementary-school fashion: lame-o.
I have it on good authority that, off the record, Summers also said "My name's Slick Rick/if you don't like it eat a dick." That's the sort of comment that makes the rest of his statements easier to, well, swallow.
On a serious note, then: I guess this means the end of "off the record." Summers and Eason Jordan have gotten tagged for saying things that they believed were off the record. When you take away a person's ability to express him or herself in a raw, impolitic style, you hamper the ability to formulate and galvanize opinion. This is especially necessary in academia and in journalism, where the mere expression is part of the process of being a professional in that field. You don't always say a provocative thing to be provocative; sometimes you say it to find out if it's provocative.
So great job, right wing nutjobs: you've coarsened the debate AND restricted critical thinking all in one act. Fuckers.
Diddy, Summers didn't think it was off the record.
Q: Well, I don't want to take up much time because I know other people have questions, so, first of all I'd like to say thank you for your input. It's very interesting-I noticed it's being recorded so I hope that we'll be able to have a copy of it. That would be nice.
LHS: We'll see. (LAUGHTER)
And do we know for sure that Jordan thought his remarks were off the record?
Jordan was speaking in front of a crowd at a televised conference, n'est pas? I'm fairly certain I watched a video of him making his statement.
"Off-the-record" things are recorded all the time - but use "not for public dissemination" if you prefer.
r-fan, that change of quotes wasn't intended at a dig at Summers at all. Since it was a "replace what he really said with something genuinely offensive" thing, it's sort of meant to mock the outcry more than anything.
Ok, FL, maybe this blog is just too subtle for me. Given the correct interpretation I now find your comment clever. But was it worth making me feel dumb? Can't we appoint an Unfogged blogger to represent the stupid people (dang, can't even find the right quote on google)?
Oh, you mean Unf? He can't figure out to post.
are we advocating an ombudsman (or "omdumbsman") for unfogged? I realized they were liberal here, but didn't know they'd turned into the NYT...
Ben, I think they call that an "own goal."
R-fan, perhaps you'd like us to ban you, just for your own good?
Do you guys ban people?
So I was trying to quote Senator Roman Hruska of Nebraska on Harold Carswell: "Even if he was mediocre, there are a lot of mediocre judges and people and lawyers. They are entitled to a little representation, aren't they, and a little chance?"
Am I not entitled to a little chance?
I mean, we can't all be Wrong-Way w-lfs-ns...
Do you guys ban people?
Not really. We're easy; and it's too damn hard anyway. I did ask abc123 not to comment anymore, and he's abided by that.
Seems to me you've brought this on yourself R-fan, what with all your self-flagellation up there at #9. We're willing to forgive and forget, but if you need to be protected from yourself, I can try to ban you.
I think you could further than that, ogged. Many would argue that self-flagellation is what your site is all about.
(Did I beat (or "beat") Apostropher?)
That was me. (Friggin' trying to get the jump on Apo on the joke made hit "Post" ... prematurely).
Many would argue
Now you're the New York Times?
You asked abc123 to go on "hiatus"? Wow. I suspect there is a story there that I missed. Come to think of it, I haven't seen 'ol ABC around.
And as for Cornel West, I supose that comment was a lovely dish served cold.
I've wondered whether he'd have a really amazing blog had the phenomenon come along some time prior to his decision to record a rap album.
Did you tell baa to go on hiatus too? Where is that guy?
I think baa is away for a few weeks on a variety of business trips.
And which variety of business trips would that be?
Ben A, from the bandarlog:
I have been a dreadful blogger of late, and as I decamp Sunday for the South Seas my comments will be even thinnner for a few weeks. If I find an internet cafe offering rum-filled coconuts, you may hear from me.
So how did he get you to act as his secretary?