Sublime
An inspiration engine for ideas
The pattern of pragmatism, cynicism and ruthlessness that pervaded Lyndon Johnson’s entire early political career was marked by a lack of any discernible limits. Pragmatism shaded into the morality of the ballot box, a morality in which any maneuver is justified by the end of victory—into a morality that is amorality. In the 1948 campaign, this pat
... See moreRobert A. Caro • Means of Ascent: The Years of Lyndon Johnson II
If Thom had a love language, it would be ratfucking—settling scores and taking out hits on behalf of the people he cared about.
Liz Bowery • Love, Hate & Clickbait: A Novel
Lynch’s most important tool was his telephone, not his computer. He’d regularly call, or sometimes visit, a network of well-placed executives, asking for updates on their businesses, competitors, suppliers, customers, and more. These were legal tactics at the time, even though smaller investors couldn ’t access the same information.
Gregory Zuckerman • The Man Who Solved the Market
shivering twelve-year-old and suddenly had no taste for a public fight, agreeing with the boy’s flaky-scalped lawyer, Doc Solomon, that this was essentially a mercy killing and, so, made a quick deal for manslaughter—a two- or three-year jolt at the most for, as the ADA described him, “an otherwise decent kid like this one.”
Scott Frank • Shaker: A novel
Emboldened with brandy and its attendant stupidity,
Patrick deWitt • The Sisters Brothers
Five months earlier, Johnson had decreed that the Senate would not take up Brownell’s civil rights bill until after the House had passed it, and for months that bill, labelled H.R. 6127, had been blocked by the House Rules Committee. Johnson’s ally Rayburn could have intervened, but he had not done so. Now, suddenly, he did—with an unexpected serie
... See moreRobert A. Caro • Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson III
During the court fight over the contested election, Rauh recalls, “Corcoran called to get me on the defense team and said, ‘This wonderful congressman …’ In [Abe] Fortas’ office these people were talking about what a great man we were defending. I just sort of automatically assumed it.… But it soon became clear that Johnson was not the shining knig
... See moreRobert A. Caro • Master of the Senate: The Years of Lyndon Johnson III
Next to it was an untouched Scotch and soda. Its bubbles were dead. Stewart Buntline wasn't forty yet. He was the best looking man in town, a cross, somebody once said, between Cary Grant and a German shepherd. On his lean midsection lay a fifty-seven-dollar book, a railroad atlas of the Civil War, which his wife had given to him. That was his only
... See moreKurt Vonnegut • God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater: A Novel
The battle lines were now drawn: Eisenhower and Senate liberals against the conservative blocs in both parties. Lyndon Johnson, the Senate minority leader, held the key.