I really needed to hear and heed this: “You’re gonna live in your cramped, filthy hovel of a world with grievance and anger and resentment, which ain’t gonna affect your ideological enemies very much, but it will eat up your insides.”
I let 24+ hours pass to figure out my primary Tucker question (yes, I have read Matt's reply to Lauren, but that's not where I'm coming from). I, like Matt, have friends other people find unappealing. But I see redeeming qualities in them that merit friendship. I'm not the friendship police, and Matt gets to pick and choose according to Matt's merit scale.
Matt, are you able to candidly explain if Tucker believes what he says publicly on Fox? Or Laura Ingraham for that matter. My father-in-law listens to Tucker and Laura. If they told my father-in-law that an oak tree threatens his way of life (that oak tree hates you!, that oak tree wants to replace you!), then my father-in-law would use his walker to attack the oak tree until his heart rate stops.
People are not constant. People evolve. The Tucker Matt knew at the Weekly Standard in 1995 is not the Tucker of today. Media personalities evolve based on audience feedback / growth and reward / compensation. Audience / fan service feed ego, ego emboldens speech and sensationalizes conduct, audience receives more rage input it craves, audience grows and leads to higher ratings, and TV opinion host / info warrior's compensation increases into considerable personal wealth.
So, do Tucker and Laura actually believe that they say publicly on Fox? Or, some of it yes, some of it no...? Is it all or mostly a game for ratings and sport and personal wealth? No need to answer that if you can't do so candidly in order to preserve a friendship you value.
I understand the curiosity, and people's inherent need to psychoanalyze TC. There's gotta be a subreddit for that somewhere. But it's against my personal code to put people I know on the rack for analysis in a comments section. His name came up in the interview due to the interviewer. So did about a hundred other subjects. It was 5,000 words long.
acknowledged, thank you. if / when you decide to proceed with non-public rack procedures, kindly acquire advisory & assistance services from independent contractor Gina Haspell, who has the requisite skills, knowledge and ability to mete out justice.
One thought on Glengary glenross, was The Machine was once like Ricky Roma? An evern better question, "Is Ricky Roma's future going to look like The Machine 's present?
"I swear, it is not a world of men." Great line. Gotta watch the movie again, as it's been too long.
You're getting a lot of grief over your friendship with Tucker, Matt. I'm sorry about that, because honestly, I really appreciated what you had to say. Over the past few years, I've seen some of my relationships become strained due to politics (largely with family members, occupying opposing sides of the political spectrum too), and it was largely me who started to pull away, and mumble to my wife, "Screw them."
Unpleasant, un-Christian, and overall just uncool. So really, thanks for fleshing that out a bit for us. Others may be pissed off, but I'm appreciative.
Matt, loved this and agreed with most of it (as usual). You knew there was a BUT coming right?
I admit that I have no perspective on this because I have no famous/powerful friends, but I would like to better understand the Tucker situation. I realize there may often be a difference between the public/private personas of celebrities and friends/friendships evolve, but it seems Tucker has morphed too much to remain in the realm of normal deviation.
In the past (prior to 2015) I thought Tucker often made good points, even if he did it in a rude/egotistical way. There is nothing wrong with having strong/different opinions or forcefully challenging an interview subject. There is also no need for friends to agree on what are considered important topics (EX. Iraq war, abortion, TP roll over/under). But what Tucker has become in the Post-Orange-Era is too much. Just look at the way he treats Russia/Putin. Whether he believes what he is advocating for (my guess is mostly, not) or is just ginning up the rubes for power, fun, and profit does not matter IMO. It is wrong. And if I was a longtime friend, I don’t see how it would not affect my perception of the friendship.
Character matters. He is using his considerable platform in a way that assists Russia. No matter if he is doing it out of sincere belief or cynical manipulation, it displays a willingness to work against the best interest of his/my country. This is an unfair (to Tucker) comparison, but could you be friends with Noam Chomsky? I would think not. You could share fishing stories if you met up at the lake, but I don’t think you would actively look for ways to spend time together.
If I had a famous friend that appeared to be using his platform to the country’s detriment, I think the friendship would whither on the vine. Again, I admit that I have no perspective here, and everyone’s situation is different.
Thank you for responding. Based on your characterization of disagreements with him, it sounds like I am wrong about Tucker’s sincerity.
My bias when it comes to celebrities (and embarrassingly, toward most public people that I don’t know; i.e. politicians) is usually is cynicism. Everyone is a hypocrite on some level, including myself, I’m just not smart enough to find a way to monetize it 😁. But it sounds like Tucker believes his talking points. I don’t know what is worse, the fact that this proves my cynicism is misplaced or that someone who I assume to be intelligent, believes those type of things.
I have no problem being wrong, happens all the time, but it is scary to think that Russian propaganda can take hold like that. I’m sure that Tucker’s arguments are more nuanced, but I am NOT sure that a majority of his audience picks up on that nuance. It likely gets filed as “Woke Liberal Bad” and “America First” in their minds, but maybe I am wrong about that too. 🤷♂️
I'm new here, love the excitement of receiving an email with your latest writing. Still working my way through your back catalogue, but can already appreciate the challenge of choosing a piece of which your most proud. Among your recent writings, your Fireflies piece is a standout for me. I've read it several times -- the concluding paragraph on "good moments" is outstanding. Before your piece, I didn't even like friggin' fireflies! Yet now I spend a few minutes each night looking out into my yard, watching as they fly around with the light of God in their asses.
Omni magazine was my magazine back in the day and Bob Guccione should be entitled to many indulgences for producing something so formative to my adolescence. Otherwise, I’ve always been more of a book guy than a magazine guy but it’s still a nice tall cool glass of water for my soul to read a good paean to writers and their craft. People are too mesmerized by their screens to read much anymore, especially men, and we are the worse for it.
I just love a good read! You do that for us ! We pick our own sides, you throw out the fodder. It’s like sitting in the woods and if you want, just don’t think!
One thing that makes me a fan of yours and Hitchens is the ability to disagree on matters of extreme importance, to refrain from infantilizing people by refusing to give them your real thoughts and opinions for fear of giving offense, and yet remain friendly with those with whom you have vehement disagreements.
David French just went on the Making Sense podcast with Sam Harris and it was delightful - dialogue, friendship, and forbearance are really the key items in the toolbox of a free people for navigating disputes and disagreements. Either we use those tools or we follow our darker instincts towards totalitarianism - I think it really is that simple.
As a recovering statistician, I’m skeptical of statistics posted by people who don’t cite sources nor provide their identities. Ergo, your post is unpersuasive. 😎
I’m a hell of a good “get to the point” writer, so I can’t compete with the artistic stuff. I’m not so much jealous as I wish I just had that talent in my gun belt. Tom Wolfe’s work is amazing…..I’m not worthy. And this might be random, but you Maryland people strike me as people that can’t quite commit to Virginia (obviously the correct choice) or somewhere farther north. I guess y’all like to live on the edge….
You are a bit too hard on Mamet. I bought his last book of essays- wasn’t too bad. Paid real money for it. I wouldn’t pay anything for some not so insightful criticism of the orange man- that is available everywhere for free. We have bigger things to worry about than beating the (almost) dead horse.
You’ve earned your coffee. Merry Christmas!
Every time I print out the latest Slack Tide, and sit down to read it, I am never disappointed.
Glengarry Glen Ross is a true work of art. And like some of your pieces you are most proud of, so many don’t know it.
Glad I have a witness! I can basically spin to any point in that film, and immediately start watching, interested, once more.
I really needed to hear and heed this: “You’re gonna live in your cramped, filthy hovel of a world with grievance and anger and resentment, which ain’t gonna affect your ideological enemies very much, but it will eat up your insides.”
Matt,
I know this is OT and it's paywalled, but if there's anyone to change this guy's mind, it's you !
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/15/metro/fly-fishing-is-dumb-change-my-mind/
I let 24+ hours pass to figure out my primary Tucker question (yes, I have read Matt's reply to Lauren, but that's not where I'm coming from). I, like Matt, have friends other people find unappealing. But I see redeeming qualities in them that merit friendship. I'm not the friendship police, and Matt gets to pick and choose according to Matt's merit scale.
Matt, are you able to candidly explain if Tucker believes what he says publicly on Fox? Or Laura Ingraham for that matter. My father-in-law listens to Tucker and Laura. If they told my father-in-law that an oak tree threatens his way of life (that oak tree hates you!, that oak tree wants to replace you!), then my father-in-law would use his walker to attack the oak tree until his heart rate stops.
People are not constant. People evolve. The Tucker Matt knew at the Weekly Standard in 1995 is not the Tucker of today. Media personalities evolve based on audience feedback / growth and reward / compensation. Audience / fan service feed ego, ego emboldens speech and sensationalizes conduct, audience receives more rage input it craves, audience grows and leads to higher ratings, and TV opinion host / info warrior's compensation increases into considerable personal wealth.
So, do Tucker and Laura actually believe that they say publicly on Fox? Or, some of it yes, some of it no...? Is it all or mostly a game for ratings and sport and personal wealth? No need to answer that if you can't do so candidly in order to preserve a friendship you value.
I understand the curiosity, and people's inherent need to psychoanalyze TC. There's gotta be a subreddit for that somewhere. But it's against my personal code to put people I know on the rack for analysis in a comments section. His name came up in the interview due to the interviewer. So did about a hundred other subjects. It was 5,000 words long.
acknowledged, thank you. if / when you decide to proceed with non-public rack procedures, kindly acquire advisory & assistance services from independent contractor Gina Haspell, who has the requisite skills, knowledge and ability to mete out justice.
One thought on Glengary glenross, was The Machine was once like Ricky Roma? An evern better question, "Is Ricky Roma's future going to look like The Machine 's present?
"I swear, it is not a world of men." Great line. Gotta watch the movie again, as it's been too long.
You're getting a lot of grief over your friendship with Tucker, Matt. I'm sorry about that, because honestly, I really appreciated what you had to say. Over the past few years, I've seen some of my relationships become strained due to politics (largely with family members, occupying opposing sides of the political spectrum too), and it was largely me who started to pull away, and mumble to my wife, "Screw them."
Unpleasant, un-Christian, and overall just uncool. So really, thanks for fleshing that out a bit for us. Others may be pissed off, but I'm appreciative.
Matt, loved this and agreed with most of it (as usual). You knew there was a BUT coming right?
I admit that I have no perspective on this because I have no famous/powerful friends, but I would like to better understand the Tucker situation. I realize there may often be a difference between the public/private personas of celebrities and friends/friendships evolve, but it seems Tucker has morphed too much to remain in the realm of normal deviation.
In the past (prior to 2015) I thought Tucker often made good points, even if he did it in a rude/egotistical way. There is nothing wrong with having strong/different opinions or forcefully challenging an interview subject. There is also no need for friends to agree on what are considered important topics (EX. Iraq war, abortion, TP roll over/under). But what Tucker has become in the Post-Orange-Era is too much. Just look at the way he treats Russia/Putin. Whether he believes what he is advocating for (my guess is mostly, not) or is just ginning up the rubes for power, fun, and profit does not matter IMO. It is wrong. And if I was a longtime friend, I don’t see how it would not affect my perception of the friendship.
Character matters. He is using his considerable platform in a way that assists Russia. No matter if he is doing it out of sincere belief or cynical manipulation, it displays a willingness to work against the best interest of his/my country. This is an unfair (to Tucker) comparison, but could you be friends with Noam Chomsky? I would think not. You could share fishing stories if you met up at the lake, but I don’t think you would actively look for ways to spend time together.
If I had a famous friend that appeared to be using his platform to the country’s detriment, I think the friendship would whither on the vine. Again, I admit that I have no perspective here, and everyone’s situation is different.
Thanks, Eric. See my post to Lauren below.
Thank you for responding. Based on your characterization of disagreements with him, it sounds like I am wrong about Tucker’s sincerity.
My bias when it comes to celebrities (and embarrassingly, toward most public people that I don’t know; i.e. politicians) is usually is cynicism. Everyone is a hypocrite on some level, including myself, I’m just not smart enough to find a way to monetize it 😁. But it sounds like Tucker believes his talking points. I don’t know what is worse, the fact that this proves my cynicism is misplaced or that someone who I assume to be intelligent, believes those type of things.
I have no problem being wrong, happens all the time, but it is scary to think that Russian propaganda can take hold like that. I’m sure that Tucker’s arguments are more nuanced, but I am NOT sure that a majority of his audience picks up on that nuance. It likely gets filed as “Woke Liberal Bad” and “America First” in their minds, but maybe I am wrong about that too. 🤷♂️
I'm new here, love the excitement of receiving an email with your latest writing. Still working my way through your back catalogue, but can already appreciate the challenge of choosing a piece of which your most proud. Among your recent writings, your Fireflies piece is a standout for me. I've read it several times -- the concluding paragraph on "good moments" is outstanding. Before your piece, I didn't even like friggin' fireflies! Yet now I spend a few minutes each night looking out into my yard, watching as they fly around with the light of God in their asses.
Very cool, Jeff. Glad to hear it.
Welcome Jeff.
The Firefly piece was great. IMO, wait until you get to the Bluebird piece, that is even better!
https://mattlabash.substack.com/p/kind-of-blue
Omni magazine was my magazine back in the day and Bob Guccione should be entitled to many indulgences for producing something so formative to my adolescence. Otherwise, I’ve always been more of a book guy than a magazine guy but it’s still a nice tall cool glass of water for my soul to read a good paean to writers and their craft. People are too mesmerized by their screens to read much anymore, especially men, and we are the worse for it.
I just love a good read! You do that for us ! We pick our own sides, you throw out the fodder. It’s like sitting in the woods and if you want, just don’t think!
Onomatopoeia? Seriously? Do you really think that your readers want to hear about your prostate issues!
One thing that makes me a fan of yours and Hitchens is the ability to disagree on matters of extreme importance, to refrain from infantilizing people by refusing to give them your real thoughts and opinions for fear of giving offense, and yet remain friendly with those with whom you have vehement disagreements.
David French just went on the Making Sense podcast with Sam Harris and it was delightful - dialogue, friendship, and forbearance are really the key items in the toolbox of a free people for navigating disputes and disagreements. Either we use those tools or we follow our darker instincts towards totalitarianism - I think it really is that simple.
Amen as usual, Counterpoint.
Treeamigo—
As a recovering statistician, I’m skeptical of statistics posted by people who don’t cite sources nor provide their identities. Ergo, your post is unpersuasive. 😎
Don’t you love the internet? Every sales guy can pretend he is a statistician.
I’m a hell of a good “get to the point” writer, so I can’t compete with the artistic stuff. I’m not so much jealous as I wish I just had that talent in my gun belt. Tom Wolfe’s work is amazing…..I’m not worthy. And this might be random, but you Maryland people strike me as people that can’t quite commit to Virginia (obviously the correct choice) or somewhere farther north. I guess y’all like to live on the edge….
Wonderful vignettes, thanks!
You are a bit too hard on Mamet. I bought his last book of essays- wasn’t too bad. Paid real money for it. I wouldn’t pay anything for some not so insightful criticism of the orange man- that is available everywhere for free. We have bigger things to worry about than beating the (almost) dead horse.