(One of my biggest beefs with FoxNews is how they frame a solid finding as a question, in part to appear a little snarky, but also to be able to walk it back, should that “fact” meet approbation, as when the rest of the media, or Harry Reid, cries “Ouch!”. (We should never forget that like Hollywood actors, media types’ self-image depends on the approval of others.)
(Homey don’t play dat, still here I am with a chicken-s**t question for a title, in part, to get more readers, but also because I just hate believing what I’m saying here can actually be true.
(Still…we been moving in this direction for a long time.)
This is in a part a commentary of the issues raised in Hogan’s FP article about Texas being singled out by Congress for special rules concerning the distribution of education funds. It’s a great read, and the debate/comments that follow it are very informative. Pay attention especially to the comments of Erinmist, a Redstater, like me, of less than a year. I invite you read them and ponder, oh ye of little faith and Lost Causes, for they play heavily on what I am about to say.
Our view, as laid out last year, is that the Democrat Party, Barack Obama and the Executive Branch and other fellow travelers are committed to ensuring that November does not happen, or, if it does, that the new Congress will not be seated in January, 2011.
I hinted this was coming on RS in Dec 2009
So, I want to sound a kind of cautionary tone here, for things, as we see them unfolding, are very close to getting ugly, whether we win or we lose in the coming months.
Our profession is to predict the probable “natural” outcome of events, then, when possible, to lay out various alternatives that might change the course of that outcome.
My mission here is to forewarn you that the way things are breaking out, the forces on this side, and theirs, and how they are aligned, with each passing day, lall of which lead to the conclusion that ugly events lay ahead.
I believed then there was a 25% probability that the unthinkable was thinkable. There has been a quickening, as predicted, as we approach the November elections, and I now upgrade that to close to 50%. I’ll check in again in September, as Bernie and I are tracking this much like a hurricane, and God knows, you know how accurate those guys are. Still, we’ve upgraded this from a Tropical Notion to a Cat 1 Possibility.
There are several scenarios you can work out in your own minds, and if you’d like, please list them here (below) as Bernie’s compiling a list. Maybe Heritage should too, if they’re listening in. (They have better staff.) Every scenario is pertinent now.
You can disagree if you wish, but all your life you’ve known people to do things, sometimes little things, but nonetheless tell-tale things, which you know they cannot walk back. In other words, they have gone “all in”. (Men who take up an affair with another woman do this all the time.) By those signals you know they have decided they must win completely, or they will lose completely, even if it means the hoosegow or the gallows. And in doing so, once all-in, they will (try to) remove every impediment as it confronts them, almost as if hypnotized. You can feel this in your bones. Every fiber of common sense tells you you are right………………………most of the time. And there’s the rub.
The Evidence
I’d give worlds to sugarcoat this, but I can’t. Me? I’m glad it’s now, rather than a couple of years down the road. But since at least the Health Care vote in March, when Lady Nan condescendingly commented that they “had to pass the bill in order to know what was in it”, we have been entertained to a progression of bodacious and outlandish acts and lies (make you own list, and again, compile them here, if you wish) which cannot be walked back, and which, if ever offered in any court of law supporting criminal charges ranging from treason, to malfeasance in office, to larceny, fraud and perjury (the US Code lists about 300, but God only lists about 6…a lot of covets included…plus a few that are not punishable by the USC, but which can still smart like hell for eons) would easily condemn a defendant to jail, jail, jail, not just public humiliation or retirement. That is the elephant in the national parlor right now, that what we have been witnessing for several years now has been a progression of ever-widening crimes, not lies, not slip-ups, not oopses, or political shucky-derns.
While Michele Antoinette is on her “Let them eat hubris” tour, Pres Obama is galavanting around, sneaking smokes and burgers, but also making statements and comments about the economy about jobs creation which are so made-from-whole-cloth they defy defense, even by the slack-jawed Gibbs. They are criminal in nature. And I do mean criminal, not just impeachable, without so much as a scintilla of a hint of a fact to back them up. They are spoken to hide a series of crimes, not political blunders or missteps. On his horniest of days, Bill Clinton would never have concocted such whoppers on what are so-easy-to-disprove claims. Bill had to have wiggle room. It’s the audacity of the lies that tells us there is no intention to retreat from them.
The Congress is now openly speaking of going back on most of pledges (as if we didn’t know) on Health care, such as single payer, rationing, and the entire panoply of costs issues. Anything to remove the impediment-of-the-moment, that’s all. The EPA threatens to implement Cap and Trade via regulation and trial balloons are being floated to implement Immigration “reform” by executive order, also bypassing Congress, and no doubt fast-tracking those illegals into a voting block by 2012. A massive retribution agenda is threatened in the lame duck session if they are thrown from office in November. (I would suggest you prepare for far worse.)
More and more members of Congress and the Administration, including Obama, are openly speaking out against the Constitution, including all those “rights of man” that make up its foundation. They are especially offended about where those rights purport to come from. They are even hinting at a national religion to not so much replace, but subordinate that Source, a religion of “collective salvation” (group rates to Paradise anyone?) based on a non-existent religion (The Church of What’s Happening Now), liberation theology. Large blue states are now considering legislation to suspend the electoral college by requiring their electors to cast all votes for whoever gets the majority of votes in a general election, thus making the five largest states the sole determiners of presidents in the US. Unconstitutional or a loop hole? Either way…all in. Finally, two unqualified, get-even anti-constitutionalists with the legal qualifications of a fish-monger’s wife, have even been promoted to the Supreme Court. These were both all-in nominations. (A little humorous irony-in-the-making here, for when we win, they stand to be a perpetual 7-2 minority on the Court, their opinions, their scholarship (sic) so empty as to be irrelevantly tendered and irreverently read for many years to come. May they both serve 50 years…in abject isolation and embarrassment, our first justices-by-sinecure.)
On smaller scales, these and other crimes have been going on since the Clinton years, and none, or very few, of them walked back in the Bush years, which makes the Republican Party complicit, adding credence to the “Ruling Class” definition of both parties floating around these days. I’m convinced this is the class arrangement we all face, making this a three-sided civil war we are now engaged in, not two, for if offered the choice between a return to a constitutional republican-style (little “r”) government and maintaining the Ruling Class even as erstwhile junior partners…well, I don’t think they can walk that back either, as currently constituted. They’ve already made their choice, I fear. (This is why RedState’s own ColdWarrior may very well be the most important Republican in America right now. He leads the “process” by which the People will seize the GOP once again.)
But you have to understand the enormity of these things they have done, as seen from their viewpoint. It is how they see themselves as they stride to the brink that matters, not how we wish it were, or history tells us it probably will work out. Everything about where America stands now in history is a case of first instance. When people did these kinds of things in the past, when they lost, we held trials in Nuremburg after they were rounded up. It’s that kind of “all-in”. The gallows or a thousand year Reich.
The only real question then, if you are still with me on this, is: Is there any way they can be deterred from that without open civil war? Can the people, or the states, collectively or severally force them to desist and back away, legally, constitutionally and through “process”?
Short answer: Maybe, for only they can decide the next steps leading up to each tomorrow between now and January. But the answer lies with the states, not the People as little units. (Read on.)
Understand, being a seemingly filibuster proof majority in Congress, the Democrats can dictate “process” for another 170 days or so. They can force any issue, and issue any force…simply by slapping a badge on any criminal they like (I like to recall when Sheriff Behan deputized the Cowboys to go after Wyatt Earp) and simply saying “Sic ‘em.”
The Criminal State of Mind
I know there are more ways than one to look at this than mere criminality. Self-delusion comes to mind, the perfect self-destructive storm, Obama and the Congress and the media all lying to one another, each believing the other one actually knows what they are really doing, the perfect circular firing squad. And then there is also the first rule of gangsterdom, in Congress and the White House, and that is when you find a pigeon (the GOP) you pluck it for all its worth. You never let that bird go. And I am sure many of you believe that on the last day, if the Dems marched Mitch McConnell and Lindsay Graham out before a firing squad, blindfolded, and just as the “Ready, Aim” were called, Harry Reid strode forward to remove Graham’s blindfold and said, “You’re free to go, Lindsay”, only then would Mitch get it. Mitch’s last breathing words would be, “Why Harry, you lying sob, I’ve finally figured out what you…” – Fire.
I’ve considered these accidents-do-happen, mistaken identity, and politics-gone-wrong theories and while plausible, believe No, this is a full scale socialist takeover…armed if necessary…in process. The evidence is pretty clear.
Let’s say for arguments sake you agree with my analysis, that dictatorship is the Democrat’s final ambition, and that we are now in the midst of a virtual coup d’etat against the Republic and the Constitution. If that is the case, how much of heaven and hell are they willing to move in order to achieve it, looking at the coming November cataclysm?
Do your own math.
To be sure, there is the “old GOP”, the third rail of this civil war. Perhaps they are the only deterrence to a rabid reprisal by the Dems. (I smell Talleyrand.) This seems to have taken on almost religious-like dedication by GOP moderates, namely that they are a big government-lite alternative to Democrat excesses. Mensheviki ne bolsheviki. The Dems may be convinced to believe that if the “old GOP” takes power they will be allowed to lie low for awhile, with no major shakeups at Fannie Mac, etc., still in default but not in receivership. General Motors will still be Gubmint Motors, and Health Care will still be Obamacare maintaining some level of federal mandates over what from the beginning was believed to be the province of the citizens and the states. The temporary stewardship of some miserly penny pinchers like Paul Ryan will streamline and fine tune it, but its (unconstitutional) soul will remain intact waiting for the eventual return of the Democrats (Sort of like Halloween Part IV). Having the culture safely in their pockets this Tea Party thing will eventually get old, and happy days will be here again in a few years. The way things are going in film, in the schools, there will always be millions of American who hate America for whatever reason. That idiot army will survive. You can make book on it.
That’s one fail-safe scenario, and as a few moderates are piping up this very minute to comment here, a helluva better choice than Texas throwing down and going all Alamo on everybody (great piece by one of my favorite Texans only today) and Galveston being blockaded. What’s that all about?
First I don’t think the Dems can ever be dissuaded from their current track by even the smoothest talking forked tongued devils on the GOP side, giants such as Lindsay, “Suzy Cockroach” Graham. (Now he knows what one other JAG thinks about his jagship.)
The People, The States and…Via Processo (The way of Process)
Understand, mine is not the official opinion of RedState or its owners, Eagle Publishing. To a great degree I agree with their position here, because RedState has invested itself in the notion that we will take back our country “by process”, namely through the November elections. My only disagreement is whether “process” will be allowed to proceed normally. I think, as I opened, that there is now a 50% chance it may not, and at that level, even the most rigid, jug-headed conservative had better start considering other options, if only with pencil on a yellow legal pad. We are in uncharted waters here, all of us.
The early SEIU attacks on Tea Partiers, the lies of N-word and spit (poor John Lewis, he was a giant…once upon a time…but like John Glenn, allowed smaller men to chisel him down to their size) were all provocations. So far we have not taken the bait. You know my position on this. Rule No 1, never strike the first punch. Teatty your cards. We the People must stick to process…at least until a new Congress is seated in January. If they come out in naked aggression before then, whether by plan or sheer frustration, they are finished. Then it will all be finished on our terms. (I know some of you are secretly yelling “Hoo-ah!)
In like manner, the states, Virginia and some others by challenging the Health Care bill, Arizona by challenging the notorious and open abandonment of federal responsibilities along our borders, and Texas by setting stipulations of the use of federal education dollars, have all used “process” to vent their claims against the feds. Each will win in due course…and this the government also knows.
And in the meantime, Texas, Arizona, Virginia and all the other states may have to suffer all sorts of federal indignity the next 180 or so days. In the immortal words of the imminently quotable Joe Biden, “BFD”. It won’t destroy them. They should already have contingency plans in place. After all, Obama has already turned a relatively “minor” BP-caused hundred million dollar oil spill into a government-mandated economic catastrophe of immense proportions, in the billions, and totally ignored one entire state when the Cumberland River flooded everything but Al Gore’s home in Tennessee. But you know what? They weathered the storm and already are on the march back. As the old Hoagy Carmichael song goes, “I’ll get along without you very well.” Tennessee has proved it, and so has the Gulf states. It seems Obama & Co think they can win wars electronically, by denying people and states money. Phfft! Considering that hoosegow or long walk to swing city that lies just over the horizon, that may be the biggest mistake they could possibly make.
Still, the fact that Washington doesn’t care is one of those tell-tale signs they are all in.
What to do? What to do?
Odds? Ten years ago what I am saying here would have been filed away in the flat-earth, holocaust-denier cabinet. At the RNC it still is. But those tell tale signs, all of them criminal, even treasonous, in any other time in our history, tells me clearly what the intentions of the Dems and Administration are. Those baby steps keep getting bigger and bigger, because at each step, there is no one there to stop them. And despite all their known prestidigitations with voting irregularities, they know the potential magnitude of the November election, in part, because local registrars, who actually have to deliver and certify those mysterious votes, are already having nightmarish dreams of themselves doing a Mussolini danse macabre hanging by the ankles over a billboard outside of town. Chill, baby, chill.
Call it what you will, a coup d’etat, a criminal gang, fascism on the march, socialism, no matter, this country is already in a state of civil war. It began with the first lie that no one ever intended to walk back, from which there was no retreat. My view that was the first stimulus under Bush, when Barney and Dodd and others decided that rather than be caught for a tiny heist, they’d raise the ante. That is the sort of thing historians will debate in fifty years, but which is of no moment now.
My analysis is not based on what we will do, or should do, either by the People such as Tea Parties, or the states, but what THEY, the Left already are compelled to do. They cannot turn back, i think…unless…
In light of that, I think we have to deny them, from now til a new Congress is seated in Jan 2011, any pretext for suspending the normal constitutional method passing of power. And pray that China or Iran or the KKK (no, really, just one of their hidden weapons…and we’re working on it) will not oblige them an excuse.
So talk of secession is not only silly, it is playing into their hands. Want to suspend the Constitution and see martial law declared? That would be it. I cannot see what a New Lone Star Republic can ever do in restoring the original Republic. Texas can make their own way, maybe for a few years, but that’s a helluva “we’re all in this together” thing to say to the other 55 states, don’t you think? Besides, i have no intention of letting a Russian lightweight like Igor Panarin out to be a mystic seer. Texas doesn’t either.
The federal government fears the People…a little…yes, only a little, but it fears the states, and a resurgence of federalism under the 10th Amendment mightily. Right now, the People, via the local Tea Parties headed only by local captains, with no real name recognition (an asset) nor desire to become a third party except to those with dreams of grandeur, are giant movers in the States. This is as God ordained it, at least i think. so. That is why ColdWarrior is my Republican of the Decade, 2010-2020. This is federalism on the hoof.
Backed by the power of the People, the states can say No, hell no, or even go to hell, no (all a form of nullification) to the federal government…
….and peace, ugly, dirty, chaotic, non-slave type peace will ensue and reign forever and forever, Amen.
Still, with just a few Georgia goobers in my teeth, the hair on the back of my neck stands up when I read other conservatives here at RedState speak of “we” or “us” putting down any state should they try to secede. Self-interest and the preservation of the Republic (and telling the aforementioned Panarin to kiss my sister’s black cat’s behind), not the fear of an absolutely impossible replay of the 1860s, will be why clearer heads will prevail in this. I’m at a total loss to understand why the actions of the militaries 1861-1865 have anything to do with any gauntlet being thrown down by the states in 2010. I’m a great war gamer, having actually having won at Gettysburg twice (out of 20 tries, app 200 hours) by being the North. There are some great minds here, and this Secession Game 2010 is one that should be rendered to the Board, so we can actually see how Texas would fare against “we”, “thee” and “us”. But on the board, please.
My only real question about this sidebar: I think Erinmist asked it as well in the Hogan article: at what point do “we” and “us” change sides when the other we’s and us’s turn mean? We’ve drawn our line in the sand.
Respectfully submitted
Moe Lane
PG DeFreese
Victoria Coates
Daniel Horowitz
Dan Spencer
Excellent Vassar!
eastbaylarry (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 6:22PM EST (link)Let us focus on playing by the rules, (The Constitution), but be sure to keep the powder dry.
2+2=4 dammit!
You ask "What to do? What to do?"
txgho1911 Sunday, August 8th at 6:33PM EST (link)Are you now trying to entrap people into conspiracy levels of prosecution by some court system of the future?
One possible outcome...
acat (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 6:48PM EST (link)Check me if I’m wrong here, but …
If we end up in a situation where the States are ascendant and the Fed is (finally!) in decline, i.e. where the 10th is re-interpreted a bit more rationally, one logical conclusion is that States where personal liberty is more recognized are likely to be more successful…
Trying to look for the silver lining in this storm is really tough, VB, but I think it’s in there.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
Perhaps, acat, we will then come to that
janis (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 6:57PM EST (link)previously apocryphal country wherein those states who wish to allow gay marriage, sanctuary cities, abortion on demand, unlimited entitlements, and all the other things that we couldn’t have imagined 100 years ago in America can actually have them.
And the rest of us will live in states where people are free in all the traditional definitions of that word. The only thing I’d demand would be very high fences across the borders of any of those states with the rest of us. They’re going to get hungry one of these days…..
I'd add mandatory firearms training... but .. yeah.
acat (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 9:51PM EST (link)It’s great to have fences. It’s better to have men and women who understand why the fences are there, and are prepared to take actions as required by the cold equations…
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
If we are free as we used to be in this country, acat,
janis (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 10:07PM EST (link)then those men and women will understand fully the necessity of those fences and the actions required to defend them. Having regained our freedom once more, we would not let it slip away a second time.
So, Vassar, what happens when/if there are elected
janis (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 6:50PM EST (link)enough Governors in this round of voting to stand up to the Feds and thumb their noses at them? That’s supposing that we have more Rick Perrys than what’s her name out in Hawaii. If we have 25+ states who stand up on their hind legs and tell the Feds to get stuffed, what then will the Feds do? And what if there are more than just 25?
If that many people are in what passes for open revolt against their government, what can the gov. do that won’t make it look like Iran on given Sunday?
The states are key (in my mind) Janis
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:43AM EST (link)Secession talk is silly, as I said, and conjures up more Lost cause sentiment that anything else. But 20+ states pushing back, versus a 1000 Tea Parties? No comparison. That’s why I’m such a big supporter of what CW is doing, as those people will control state legislatures. That would be one of those kinds of tides that would last a generation or more (and the Dems know it). I have no problem with any state telling the feds (or a judge) where to stuff it. You ruled on it, now enforce it. Most Lefty impositions on the state involve them having to spend money. I think courts have already ruled on that, still they do it. Fed Power can be eroded rather quickly I think…but step-by-step and the first step in Nov, then Jan, then beyond.
hogan and/or VB, before I get into this, a question: Did Gov Perry do anything more than "say no"?
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 10:43AM EST (link)Did Texas accept Federal funds and spend them in contravention of federal law? If so, then it would be proper for Congress to single Texas out since Texas singled itself out.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Moreover, if Texas is promising to violate federal law with education funds, Wouldn't Congress
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 11:47AM EST (link)again be justified in singling Texas out?
Wouldn’t it be better to not take the education funds?
Or maybe I could be persuaded by an argument about having to pay the taxes for education funds so therefore, we will decide how to spend them?
Trying to prepare a nullification column and seeking info from hogan, VB and others, if any, that have written columns related to Texas and Gov Perry that know what Texas has actually DONE in addition to what Perry has SAID, although I would say that if Perry has stated an intent to violate federal law, then Congress would be justified in their action? right?
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Good questions, GC
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 5:15PM EST (link)…I’m inclined to defer to the Texas crowd, which are numerous hereabouts, but if you don’t get an answer ask me again via email and I’ll find out. I’m not an insider about the “Texas Stipulation”…only if you read the comments to Hogan’s piece, it did bring out a predictable kind of rancor.
You seem to be hinting that it may in fact have been justified. Hell, maybe it was/is. I framed it here in terms of secession talk, not merits. I can’t wait to read what you have to say about nullification, as I’m a “qualified nullification” fiend…can’t get enough of it…only after Jan 2011. Politics, you see.
I;m way late I had to put in appearance at day job,
cactusjack Tuesday, August 10th at 7:54PM EST (link)but VB and Gamecock here is what I am informed from a radio interv iew given by a state senator in TX: what this is about is power more than the money, really. In most states including TX, the budget must be balanced annually (because states can’t print money like the feds )and by state constitution in TX, the legislature not the Governor determines and votes on the budget but it’s only good to the next legislature. The Governor is constitutionally prohibited from promising anyone – the feds included – that he will intervene in the legislature’s job to keep state educational spending up at a certain level in order to keep the fed funding – even if he were a libDem and wanted to. He cant without violating his own state constitution. As I understand it, Obama understood this perfectly well and intgentionally threw a monkey wrench into the state finance gears – which apparently Perry and crew were quite well expecting and so responded as they have. The feds are testing state powers and resolve, pure and simple.
Mike, remember Mark Sanford tried that last year...
yoyo (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 9:25AM EST (link)and the state legislature and SCSC overruled him.
It actually got to the point where the Illustrious Majority Whip James Clyburn was talking to the Only-Slightly-Less-Illustrious Charleston City Mayor Joe Riley to have the Stinkulus Funds given directly to the Cities, thus bypassing the State Governorship and Legislature all together.
And we all know how that worked out. SC forced Mark Sanford to take the money, on the last day, and as predicted – go figure – SC is staring down a massive budget shortfall now that the Fed monies are gone.
Mark the person may be an adulterous home wrecker, but he was one helluva Governor. Some stink just won’t wash away….
Nemo me impune lacesset
“No one will provoke me with impunity!”
=============================
Pukin’ Dogs – The Fighting 143
Sans Reproache
=============================
The ‘yoyo’ replaced my cigarettes January 22, 2006….
yes, I remember but also suspect that Perry may have a better legislature? - time will tell - nt
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 10:27AM EST (link)Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
To misquote Matthew Quigley
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:21PM EST (link)Texas ain’t South Carolina.
And Sanford ain’t Perry.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
EPU, shouldn't you have said...
yoyo (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 4:47PM EST (link)“And Perry ain’t Sanford.” instead?
Semantics, I know. But….
Nemo me impune lacesset
“No one will provoke me with impunity!”
=============================
Pukin’ Dogs – The Fighting 143
Sans Reproache
=============================
The ‘yoyo’ replaced my cigarettes January 22, 2006….
janis, I think nullification and other forms of civil disobedience can win the Civil War ObamaDems
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 10:47AM EST (link)have already started!
more later in pending column
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
I would like your thoughts on
NoDoze Monday, August 9th at 7:49PM EST (link)the “Velvet Revolution” idea for the Lame Duck session.
Haven't heard of those concepts being combined. Czech/Havel? Send a link
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:17AM EST (link)or explain the concept, as applied, and I will think on it.
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
Here is one link.
NoDoze Tuesday, August 10th at 11:14PM EST (link)There are many others on StartPage search on Velvet Revolution.
http://www.answers.com/topic/velvet-revolution
I would appreciate the thoughts of someone more politically informed than I am on this matter.
I have proposed the Twenty Million American March
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:24PM EST (link)And gotten plenty of ridicule for it..
It is this in a nutshell. After we destroy them on Nov 2, then on the day the Lame Duck session is called to order, we start chartering every bus, filling every flight, driving and otherwise start descending onto Washington.
Don’t riot. don’t even particularly rally. Just go, and fill every patch of space within 5 miles of where Congress is meeting.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
EPU from my viewpoint,
NoDoze Wednesday, August 11th at 11:35AM EST (link)I can think of no other way to stop this madness. The current incumbent RINOs will not stop anything. Progressives on their way out the door have no reason not to push through all of their Socialist agenda. Only the people can stop it. The mid-terms will be over, so no threat of martial law can prevent the election.
The people must not engage in any violence, however we must face the possibility (probability?) of a Tienanmen Square type reaction by the current Communist regime.
The only other option left is to let it happen, and try to clean up the mess after Jan. 11. Lots of luck with that.
I remember that post in December and the 25% number.
penguin2 (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 7:07PM EST (link)I believed you then, I believe you now. They’ve upped the ante in 8-9 months, and we are at that 50% possibility.
And for our resolve:
http://www.redstate.com/vassar/2010/08/05/from-where-the-sun-now-stands-we-will-not-be-moved/
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills
Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List
Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots
Though, in some ways the Obama administration....
penguin2 (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 7:44PM EST (link)has achieved almost all that it set out to. As you noted, they can make their final moves under the Czars and departments he already has doing his will. Not much left to do, so maybe he doesn’t have to mess with the election as he can finalize things in a lame duck session.
Your analysis really has brought you to thinking upward 50% possibility? Scary. But I think they’ll leave it alone, except for the cheating that is expected to go on.
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills
Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List
Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots
Depends on the margins of victory in both houses of Congress,
The_Gadfly (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:48PM EST (link)And who the particulars are that win big. If there is a significant conservative House block, and we get real conservatives for Republican leaders in the House, the lame duck session won’t mean anything. The House has always had the ultimate power: the power of the purse. Neither the Big 0 nor any of his Czars can spend a dime if the House doesn’t appropriate it. Follow that up with actual hard hitting investigations into what the various Secretaries and Czars are doing and nothing moves. Depending on the depth and intensity of the investigation, you could even cut them off from their natural support in the paid cogs ranks. Even the cogs that want to remain anonymous still want enough recognition to get a promotion to make more money. Getting caught in an investigative crossfire is a sure way to get negative attention.
Win enough seats in the Senate and they can monkey wrench too, although not as much unless the Lame Duck session goes nuclear. Of course going nuclear in a lame duck session is more stupid than even most politicians can muster.
Origin of "fellow traveler"
barrypopik (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 7:12PM EST (link)“Our view, as laid out last year, is that the Democrat Party, Barack Obama and the Executive Branch and other fellow travelers are committed to ensuring that November does not happen…”
FYI, I was working today on the origin or the Russian term “poputckik” (not “Popik”), or “fellow traveler.” It’s come to signify a Communist sympathizer.
Leon Trotsky popularized the term “poputchik”/”fellow traveler,” but I was wondering if Maxim Gorky’s story, “My Fellow-Traveler,” had any influence.
Thanks Barry. i didn't know that, but will sure use it.
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:45AM EST (link)I love Commie words.
I especially liked the Fox News timidity intro...but still thinking
Mike gamecock DeVine (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 11:51AM EST (link)about the probabilities of the CXL of the Constitution writ large…
Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” – Andrew Jackson
ditto!
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 12:14PM EST (link)great job, Barry. nice!
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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LOL, Barry!
SoFiMil (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:52AM EST (link)FYI, I was working today on the origin or the Russian term “poputckik” (not “Popik”),
www.suvstrategery.blogspot.com
VB you've been right about everything else
cactusjack Sunday, August 8th at 7:15PM EST (link)in forecasting this kind of stuff, as incredible as the subject matter seems – even 18 months ago. So I plow through your article grateful there is this place RS where people of like minds can read, comment, share concern for the Republic and plan political response accordingly.
Privately, CJ,
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:46AM EST (link)…let’s pray I’m wrong. It;s not like a meteor hurtling to earth, it can be deflected.
Furthermore, I have a broad definition of suspending elections.
cactusjack Wednesday, August 11th at 7:30PM EST (link)It does not have to be the Dear Leader Obama waving to adoring crowds from the second storey of the WH on Nov 6, announcing elections are suspended. It does not have to be Seven Days in May style takeovers with tanks and planes. No these Alinsky-ites are masters of incrementalism, of small economic moves to get the camel’s nose under the tent. Surely we remember 2000, all it takes is a close result and a good team of lawyers and a willing panel of lib Dem state justices, or a willing federal judge (a la Bolton) with the right cause of action – in a key state or contested election – and you have injunction, chaos, delay, leading to sitting legislatures having to appoint officers for government to keep functioning, then comes ultimate chaos and We The People lose all faith in the government before it actually dissolves. Scenario plays out in three to six months. The effect is just the same.
Me too, Cactusjack and Vassar; it won't be a dramatic "cancelling" of elections.
Achance (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 7:51PM EST (link)It will be a thwarting of elections be fraud, judicial action, or by simply finding a way to refuse to seat members.
In Vino Veritas
Oh, I agree Achance, but-------
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:04PM EST (link)how do you think the American citizens will react when Nancy’s promise that the House will stay in D’s hands plays out? That is the million dollar question. I know you believe in the cartridge box, but, do you think other’s will be with you to any large degree?
I don't know
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:23PM EST (link)My read is that Obama is less a slick, debonair sophisticate who thinks three moves ahead, and more of a Salvador Allende type: an “educated” socialite surprised by the events of the past 18 months ineptly grasping at ways to remain in power. He’ll probably give it his passive aggressive best, as he did when he won the Chicago primary unopposed based on a technicality. However, I just don’t see him as smart or subtle enough to do well; just look at how brash and clumsy his foreign policy has been, even if you look at it through the eyes of a progressive. Looking at how much of the progressive agenda has been thwarted by so small a minority doesn’t evince Alexander’s strategic genius incarnate in Obama or the rest of the Dems.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Look at the Drudge report with thousands lining up for applications for Sec. 8 housing
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 7:52PM EST (link)in Georgia. They brought out the Riot police to contain the crowd.
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/30-00030-000-line-up-589653.html
There was another picture/article recently with long lines applying for food stamps. The report stated that there are record numbers of people now seeking foodstamps. The Congress chose to bail out the Teachers Unions, and, cut the funding for the foodstamp program.
Vassar was not “paranoid” to say that it will/is coming to a head. It is not a speed bump in the road of history. The Greeks are fighting for their juicy union benefits, idle time, and lazy attitudes. Many, many here in the US are fighting for survival, with a roof over their heads, and, food to eat, because of the O’s “let me destroy the country as we knew it” agenda.
There has not been a period in our last 50 year, at least, history that has been as inciteful as these past 18 months. It will not last. I have faith in my neighbors that we will take our country back. To think otherwise is to give in to the defeatists attitude that the Progressives are banking on.
A bit off topic, but contrast that picture from Drudge
The_Rebel (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:30PM EST (link)with this picture also linked by Drudge:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=6894887&id=361997510504&comments
A picture really does speak a thousand words.
OK, in for a penny, in for a pound (of brass and lead - maybe).
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 8:06PM EST (link)Some people, myself included, have been saying since before the election of ’08 that the current administration (if elected) would do exactly what they’re doing (vis-a-vis destruction of The Constitution and Rights) by building an impenetrable shell around the documents – which will still exist, but be meaningless, as the administration wouldn’t care and put things in place to stay in power perma……
Ahhhh, it doesn’t matter.
Vassar, fantastic writing as always.
I was very close to being banned from RS a few times, when I first joined up for saying exactly what you’ve done here. However, my words were in not such a perfectly written missive as yours.
My one question (and it’s gaining more and more import as the days unfold)…….. How in the name of all that is peaceful is this administration going to disarm over 85 million Americans (and their families) from close to 200 million legally owned firearms and other weapons ?
Or is what I call “it” what they want to happen ?
Also consider the following: At this moment in time, with all that’s going on, we are literally ‘one-of-the-five’ Constitutionally sane SCOTUS justices ‘having an accident’ away from serious problems in our nation.
No, I don’t think this administration is capable of that.
In my gut, I know they are.
Nudge.
5^nth
qixlqatl (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 8:35PM EST (link)you have expressed my deepest concern right there, Kenny, that gut level knowledge.
“Yet, Freedom! yet thy banner, torn, but flying,
Streams like the thunderstorm against the wind.”
George Gordon Noel Byron
I remember your comment to that effect, Kenny
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 5:21PM EST (link)back in January. Yeah, we’ve been there, both of us. Always glad to see you.
All In is All In
tex41lb Tuesday, August 10th at 7:01PM EST (link)Assuming vb’s insights have merit, and assuming Obama has no limit on his push toward dictatorship, history shows us a reasonable expection for violence toward any power attempting to check his progress.
One Supreme Court Justice would hardly be an inpedimet to power. Look at history. Death has always proved an easy tactic for demagoges to impose upon their opposition, be they powerful, or merely distasteful.
well
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:12PM EST (link)guns is what will keep us from being slaughtered.
That’s what the ignorant and swayable anti-gun ppl don’t understand. If you look at any holocaust, genocide or mass killing, the victims were not allowed guns to defend themselves.
This war on gun ownership cannot, under any circumstances, be lost.
And on your question, I’m of the opinion they understand history — which dictates you cut off the head and kill the organization.
Heads, as in leaders, going down to the level of you and me. That’d be enough to freak the rest of the population.
Organization via infiltration.
Need to clean houe with the NRA if need be. What do they know, how long have they known and how did they know it? Who are they colluding with? And who’s colluding with them?
.. then again, these are just my theories and opinions.
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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Veronica......
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:00PM EST (link)“Heads, as in leaders, going down to the level of you and me. That’d be enough to freak the rest of the population.”
———–
Yessum, ma;am, that’d be my guess as well.
Tea Party organizers are known.
Bloggers ?…… ID’s are easily obtained….. don’t any of you think otherwise.
So are all local and regional Republican and Conservative leaders – elected officials included.
I put nothing past this administration.
Nothing.
Vassar.....excellent post as usual
fpete13527 (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 8:51PM EST (link)I think that you are right that the Obama regime WILL try something very radical and completely illegal to delay new Congress and max damage during lame duck. They will attempt to extend forced rule in order to illegally push their funding lines forward through CZARs. This group is that extreme, that arrogant, that crazy, that illegal and that communist.
At minimum, I believe Obama, Jarrett, and Soros will attempt to induce another false financial crisis of high magnitude and or force through some completely ungodly law. Also, there will be something that happens in August that will be covertly planned by this regime that may not appear on unset to be financial but turns that way.
I believe that the success and or magnitude of their attempts will depend on the volume of resistance from the American people and the resistance from the currently spineless GOP. If the people stay strong, and I believe they will, I think that Obama won’t get away with it. The GOP must be willing to stand up at least to the minimal standards of leadership though.
Currently I would say that junior Camp Fire Girls have more courage than 99% of the GOP Congress, but I pray that they begin to shift….now, not after November. It could happen if the GOP grew a pair and more importantly grew some integrity. For them to be so meek right now……even if public opinion is shifting against the Dems…..is a disgrace!!!
The GOP could be filibustering, indicting, sound biting, Breitbart-ing and YouTube-ing, every trip to the water fountain that the Socialists are doing. But they still seem willing to simply wait it out distance the Tea Party mindset, and continue with their “moderacy” attitude. This MUST change.
Oh…and if there is a big conservative businessman or conservative benefactor out there…….now is the time to get moving and throw some money in the fight. Your money won’t mean much if Obama and Jarrett complete their plan to crash the stock market down to around 3,000 or so for starters.
BTW Vassar, are you actually a real person or are you a genetically designed advanced writing computer in the form of a human? I have a goal to be able to write at least one tenth of a percent as good as you some day:)
Thanks for your great work.
Thanks, Pete
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:52AM EST (link)I’m pretty much genetically designed all right. Seems to me you write well enough, from scanning the above. Most of my posts look better than they are because of the fine writing of the comments. Putting a little lipstick on the pig…? But thanks a lot. We do start some conversations here, don’t we though?
fpete- I agree with Vassar
Scope (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 9:33AM EST (link)your comment is terrific, and well stated. Yes, the current GOP members in DC are acting as though they were lobotomized when the Dems, and the O won their elections. Before that, they seemed to be functioning on just 2 brain cells firing at a time, and they were not the brain cells that controlled any rational fiscal discipline.
I had to laugh when you asked if Vassar was a “genetically designed advanced writing computer in the form of a human”, that made me laugh out loud. I thought man, that computer sure has had a long life of vastly diverging experiences, travels, and, the human element always creeps in, always in the correct places. I have been thinking seriously though that the O has been a Lab experiment, very similar to Frankenstein, and, with the same evil end product.
They are in denial, scared, and shell shocked
Common_Cents (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:08PM EST (link)We need a new crop that are willing to take action.
I think we can send the most well intentioned to DC but chances are they get corrupted by the machine. The machine of DC needs to be shut down. It is very powerful especially socially that gives R’s and D’s some common bond against the will of the people.
Obama=Golfer in Chief, Leading from,
behind, the Back Nine.Leaders don’t create movements. Movements create leaders. Get involved. Your future depends on it.
Govt “invests” YOUR tax money for POLITICAL return rather than economic return.
Common Cents- Your posting name is very appropriate
Scope (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 8:14PM EST (link)and, the problem with the “new” 2011 Congress will be, too many that have been there for far too long will return. They will retain their senior positions in the committees, where bills survive or die. Unfortunately, the old guard, the most moderate of them, will survive their elections, or, are not up for re-election this cycle. If you look at the Senate elections, the prognosticators are guessing that the R’s may be able to pick up 6 Senate seats. That would put it at 47 R, and, 53 Dem. We will still have Snowe, Collins, Brown, Graham, and unfortunately probably McCain, who want everyone to get along, and, Big Government on a little slower pace. Since the pace has drastically picked up, those rogue R’s may just well be looking at their slower ideas, put on steroids. They are most definately part of the Ruling class, that has invaded DC for way way too long. The kool-aid is now a part of the blood that pumps through their veins.
From what I understand, the most we could hope to win in 2010, with miracles involved, would be 10 Senate seats. That is the only way the R’s have any chance at turning this O administration on it’s head. It doesn’t seem likely, most especially with some DC R’s now going with replace only parts of Ocare.
If the R’s in DC keep doing what they are doing, and, the new Congress, even with a majority in one house for the R’s, there is no question at all whatsoever that, if the R’s don’t at least make a better PR campaign, use every procedural option available, there will be no doubt that a third party will most definately put the R party to bed for ever.
"The federal government fears the People…a little…yes, only a little . . . ."
ColdWarrior (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 9:22PM EST (link)The Libturds would fear the People much more if “we the[conservative] people” invaded our local GOP committee meetings in sufficient numbers to fill up every vacant precinct committeeman slot and thereby create conservative working majorities to thereby elect conservative leadership within the Party (only precinct committeemen may vote for the Party leaders) and ensure that the BEST conservatives win the all-important, traditionally-very-low-turnout primary elections:
www.redstate.com/coldwarrior/2010/07/21/what-do-you-want-in-the-next-104-days-i-know-what-i-want/
As Hugh Hewitt says about an election, “They can’t steal it if it isn’t close.”
We have the numbers to do this. Seems we don’t have enough, though, who are willing to act. It’s not hard. Doesn’t take a lot of time. But you do have to show up.
For Liberty,
ColdWarrior, PC (that’s “precinct committeeman,” not “political child!”)
Conservatives, UNITE! CHANGE the Republican Party and save the world by UNITING INSIDE the Party as precinct committeemen. NOW! (85 days until Nov. 2 — what are YOU DOING to help get out the vote in your precinct?)
In 2012, will YOU become a “voting member” of the Republican Party in your precinct?
Where it all started. Twitter @kaltkrieger
Unified Patriots.
Learn how to GOTV at The Concord Project and at Procinct and
If we can just get you and a few others here the money, CW
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:53AM EST (link)this will all be over in a lot fewer years than i first imagined when I came to RS.
Social justice? Nope. Just justice...
rbdwiggins (Diary) Sunday, August 8th at 10:39PM EST (link)Liberalism’s greatest fear of the modern era…
Is about to be realized…
“Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant, but that they know so much that isn’t so.” – Ronald Reagan
Let's pray that it's so, Mr Wiggins
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 8:32AM EST (link)VB
Excellent as always Vassar
Ben Howe (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 9:57AM EST (link)My one exception to your tone is that while I do agree that talk of secession would not make sense in the current environment, I think “silly” is the wrong word to describe it.
Secession is an important part of the states power of the fed and while we can debate when using that power makes sense, it is way to important to ever think of as “silly” imho.
You can always find people to give you the answers that you think reinforce the facts you’ve already decided are true.
Follow @Ben_Howe
Exception noted, Ben.
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 10:40AM EST (link)I’m a big “right up to secession” type of a guy. I love the use of the threat as leverage. Neil is right that the case was settled in Lincoln v Davis but like Roe v Wade, I have no problem with revisiting it. Silly was probably a bad choice of words, but any use of extraordinary measures while the Left enjoys the kind of power they do now would be pretty…well, you choose the word. I just know, should they deny us our vote or our Congress I’m for moving straight into the gallows phase.
Some of things I write here, as you’ve guessed, are preemptive in nature. A lot of times a bank robber won;t try if you tell him you know where and how he’s going to hit the bank.
Some might call that the Bush doctrine?
Ben Howe (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 11:08AM EST (link)Also, I’m all for staying unified and going straight for the gallows as well if given the choice. After all, we as a country, indivisible or not, are certainly better off together than apart.
(I posted this below, meant to post it in reply to this comment)
You can always find people to give you the answers that you think reinforce the facts you’ve already decided are true.
Follow @Ben_Howe
Some might call that the Bush doctrine?
Ben Howe (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 10:45AM EST (link)Also, I’m all for staying unified and going straight for the gallows as well if given the choice. After all, we as a country, indivisible or not, are certainly better off together than apart.
You can always find people to give you the answers that you think reinforce the facts you’ve already decided are true.
Follow @Ben_Howe
In 1972, the lefties were sure Nixon was going to cancel the 72 elections
renny (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 11:32AM EST (link)as it turned out, Nixon didn’t have to and won all electoral votes except MA, DC, and Guam.
So, I don’t think even the nuttiest Dems. think they can stop an election. Lincoln suspended habeas corpus but did not interfere with elections even in the hot civil war.
We are now in a virtual civil war, and the states are fighting for themselves and their citizens. We need more to join. I would think AZ and Louisiana would be natural nay-sayers. Louisiana is not as big and diversified as TX, but it does have energy and agriculture, huge fishing industry and gambling, and tourist attractions in N. Orleans and Baton Rouge. AZ doesn’t have the oil or natural gas supplies of TX and LA, but it has 10,000 farms and a wealth of minerals, including significant mining of silver and gold.
But if you don’t have a gun(s), get one before any “balance” in the Sup. Ct. occurs.
I'm inclined to agree
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:33PM EST (link)Not for lack of desire on Pres Obama’s part (a review of his colorful history electioneering in the Windy City makes that evident), but because of the strength of our tarnished, but still strong, institutions.
They said the same thing about Bush the Lesser, as well.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
There's no way ...
sarg01 Monday, August 9th at 5:09PM EST (link)Even assuming anyone was crazy enough to do so, do you really think Justice Kennedy won’t consider any such action to be unconstitutional? Even the liberals on the Court will probably reluctantly have to agree.
Getting to the SC is easy enough, just have a Congressman from Scalia’s territory file the lawsuit. It only takes one justice to expedite consideration. Remember how fast Bush v Gore hit the SC? It’s pretty clear there’d be no trouble rounding up the 4 votes necessary for certiori. I have a hard time finding the rationale behind an executive prohibition against the assembly of Congress that would convince Justice Kennedy – short of terrorists blowing up the Capitol. Even that’s a stretch, as the states all have the capacity to replace members, and there’s no requirement that Congress assemble in DC.
Once there’s a Supreme Court order to convene Congress – even if it’s only for the “once per year” provision outright stated in the Constitution – then the only mechanism available to stop them would be the military.
Obama isn’t exactly Mr. Popular with the military, whose officers are not just empowered to, but REQUIRED to refuse illegal orders. What could be a better definition of an illegal order than something the Supreme Court has already overruled?
Any President trying to prevent a slightly-hostile Congress from being seated would be impeached as one of the first orders of business after he failed. Nothing quite so resembles a spoiled child as a politician not allowed to wield power … including Democratic ones.
Heck, we should welcome such a blatant attempt, the progressives would be tossed out of government wholesale for the next 20 years.
Maybe Obama and the Democrats are trying the "Fear and Loathing" strategy
Finrod (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 5:49PM EST (link)From Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, part two, chapter 10, page 173:
And so is the mentality of Washington, D.C., I would argue. I think that the plan of Obama and Washington Democrats is to do so much and to such an extreme that the voters won’t believe it, and Republicans will never be able to undo it all.
We’re going to need someone with the strength and cleverness of Hercules to deal with the Augean Stables that the federal government has become and will have become as of January 2013.
Let’s get down to brass tacks here. How much for the ape?
Daniels.
4life (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 8:54PM EST (link)n/t
Daniels? Really?
acat (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 9:05AM EST (link)Sorry, Mitch “Let’s declare a truce!” is not hardcore enough. Indiana is a relatively “Red” state, despite their populist tendencies (see also Iowa) and their poor taste in Senators.
I don’t see Mitch as having near the experience of going balls-out that’s going to be needed. Pawlenty would be a better choice..
Mew
p.s. – SteveLA – the Repub primary hasn’t even started yet, so I can happily bash the candidates I don’t like all I want.
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Caveat Suffragator
He is pro-life.
4life (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 1:41PM EST (link)And he is hardcore about cutting spending. His record is amazing in a state that has lost the same manufacturing base as IL, MI and OH. He is a proven winner in my book when it comes to fiscal matters. I heard his explination of his call for a truce on Mike Wallace’s show last Sunday. It sounded to me like he was asking pro-choicers to put their abortion convictions on the back burner and join with the pro-lifers to help fix this economy, not the other way around. Most of the people who would put him into office will be pro-life after all. He wasn’t talking to them.
From Aug. 8 w/ Mike Wallace:
“This was simply an expression of this fundamental idea — I truly believe for the first time in my life our nation is facing challenges that threaten the survival of America as we’ve known it.
“And to do the very difficult things, things like we were just discussing — reforming Medicare and Social Security, disciplining federal spending, creating the conditions for long-term growth in our country — we’re going to have to get together an unusual consensus of people.
Stop dividing people as these issues do — as this administration likes to do, sadly — and try to come together in concert to do some very difficult and novel things. And this was really just an expression of the — of the hope that we might, at least temporarily — nobody changing their mind, nobody surrendering their principles — put first things first.”
He can’t really come out and say “You pro-choicers need to stop voting on just this issue and join with us to fix this economy.” So he made a more generic statement.
And Pawlenty would be good too, he did bring Minnesota out of the top ten highest taxed states.
Good explanation
aesthete (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 2:06PM EST (link)Mitch didn’t get the nickname “the blade” for nothing, and he signed every piece of pro-life legislation that came across his desk. All that his statement was meant to convey is that seeing as how resolutions to social issues are either untenable short term (abortion) or are being handled at a state level (Everything Else), those who want resolutions to our various entitlement problems should hold hands, smile, and shut up about how they hate each other. In essence, it was a call for unity, and an olive branch for anti-SoCons to support the GOP nominee on those issues.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
Except that...
acat (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:20PM EST (link)By the time Daniels took over, the steel industry in Gary had been dead and gone a while and the economy had hit rock bottom and started to drift upward…
The rest of Indiana isn’t exactly a manufacturing powerhouse…. Indiana is much more agriculture focused.
He’s got some interesting ideas – “selling” the state tollway system comes to mind.
I don’t think Daniels would be a bad POTUS, but I think the truce thing was a faceplant right out of the gate, and that he’s going to be running the rest of the race with a bloody nose because of it. He’s basically said “Hey Dems, look! Please hit me with *this* wedge issue!”.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
Indiana was hit just as much as
4life (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 12:20AM EST (link)IL, MI, and OH. The main thing to keep in mind is that under Daniels, Indiana is doing well despite all the empty factories throughout the state. Sure there are awesome farms in Indiana, but that is no different than IL or OH. Indiana was a huge manufacturing state and not just the NW corner.
The fact that Indiana is doing well is largely because of Daniel’s leadership and not because of a ‘drift upward’.
Here’s a good read:
http://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/ride-along-mitch
And also from Human Events:
“When he was sworn into office in January 2005, the state of Indiana faced a $600 million deficit and a subpar AA S&P credit rating. While other states like Illinois and Michigan wildly increased spending in good economic times, Gov. Daniels did the opposite. Between 2005 and 2008, he reduced the state’s rate of spending growth from 5.9% to 2.8% saving $450 million.
Per-capita state government spending in Indiana has fallen eight spots and is now the sixth lowest in the nation. By 2009, the state sported $1.3 billion in cash reserves and an AAA rating. All this was accomplished while Daniels, working with an opposition-controlled lower house, enacted the largest tax cut in Indiana history, slashing property taxes by a third.”
from: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=38225
And as far as abortion goes, every candidate will be hit with the issue, for or against, truce or no truce. I still think it is his way of reaching out to the pro-abortion voter without compromising his own values. Scott Brown did it by not saying he is pro-life, and yet voting pro-life at every opportunity.
If he wasn’t openly pro-life, I would feel differently. But I still think he has a great track record and should be in serious contention.
Not convincing.
acat (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 9:59AM EST (link)My reference to an economy “drifting upward” was specific to the Gary area.
Indiana is a much smaller state than, from your sample comparatives, Illinois – and Indiana is much more focused on agriculture. Illinois’ GDP is over 3 times larger than Indiana, the population is just over half that of Illinois, etc. etc.
It does appear that Indiana have dispersed manufacturing, i.e. one or two factories per small city, rather than concentrating all manufacturing in one location. This is a good thing, and contributes to the strength of the state, but it’s hardly something Daniels can take credit for.
Based on your username, 4life, I’m guessing pro-life is the major guiding issue for you in voting. That’s fine, but it’s not the guiding issue for all Repubs, and – if Team Daniels wants to win the brass ring – y’all supporters are going to have to do better at winning over voters who are apathetic or who associate anti-abortion with pro-christianity and who don’t agree.
My major concern is actually whether Daniels could effectively take on the entrenched Dem interests inside every Federal agency – from the Czars on down – and win. That’s not beanbag, and running a mid-size relatively red state like Indiana does not appear to be the best proving ground.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
It's a comparative game, not an absolute one
aesthete (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 9:26PM EST (link)Though a hypothetical candidate who does well in a blue state would be ideal, such a candidate isn’t in the running for 2012 (discounting the improbable Chris Christie run). Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee have records of appeasing their Democratic opposition, while getting little in the conservative agenda enacted. Newt Gingrich, Tim Pawlenty, and others have done some good work, but that work is marred by other parts of their careers.
Haley Barbour is a good Governor, but the state that he was Governor of (Mississippi) is much more red and rural than Indiana, thus making it an even worse point of comparison with the federal government than Indiana as far as management is concerned. The only Governor who mostly meets your qualifications and is in the running, Gary Johnson, did a great job running blue New Mexico, but his views on drug decriminalization and abortion, and his status as a divorcée, put him permanently at odds with social conservatives; ditto Rudy Guiliani on abortion, gay marriage, and immigration.
Quite frankly, the only Governors in the running who pushed the ball towards the conservative ideal of governance in a practical sense while they were executives were Haley Barbour, Gary Johnson, and Mitch Daniels. Unfortunately, we have no one who has the requisite experience or past of dealing with entrenched Federal interests (though Mitch and Haley both have experience in DC as Director of OMB under Bush for 2 years, and Chairman of the RNC between 1993-7, respectively), but the gains that all three of those men made for their respective states are the closest analogue we have. All three have made these gains under Democratic legislatures. If one of them is not on the ticket, it is likely that Republican gains will not correspondingly be conservative gains. That should be cause for concern, and should inspire all conservatives to go out and work to get one of those three on the ballot when primary season begins, rather than wishing on a star for a perfect candidate to show up. Alas, I fear that we will do what we always do, and nominate either Romney or Huckabee for the Republican ticket.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
One thing I really like about Daniels,
4life (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 10:19PM EST (link)being from the Midwest myself, is his personality. He is the anti-Obama. He is just good old Midwest – understated and direct. He is obviously very sharp, but not smooth, and I am very tired of smooth. Maybe the country is tired of smooth as well. If he decides to run, I will really look forward to seeing him campaign and to watching the debates.
Funny, I view Barbours' time at the RNC as a detriment.
acat (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 1:28AM EST (link)Not sure why, since I don’t think it would really matter, but .. it’s kind of got the same ring that Obama running on the merits of his ability to manage a campaign…
That said, of a field of Romney, Huck, Palin, Daniels, Pawlenty, Gingrich, and Jindal, Daniels is in the top three.
Romney is the master of the unforced error, and will have Romneycare hung ’round his neck if the rational Dems take back their party. Make a decent Veep, though – he’s respected as a “numbers guy”, and he’d bring in some New England votes.
Huck is a populist and a hack. Let him go run HUD. Afraid he’s going to run.
Palin lacks executive and, more importantly, DC insider experience. She’ll do great at Interior. Seriously hoping she doesn’t run.
Gingrich has too much baggage, and has lost touch with his conservative roots. Let him go run a small college somewhere.
I’m left with three governors, two from very blue states.
Jindal needs to recover his national stage presence – but he didn’t take things as far as he ought to have during the oil spill. For example, the Coast Guard delaying tactics should have been met with State-issued waivers and lawsuits asserting State rights. Alas. Kinda hoping he doesn’t run.
Pawlenty lacks the kind of “star power” or “it factor” that we’ve come to require of our Presidents. He’s a bit .. dull… but he’s scoring off the Dem legislature regularly…
Daniels needs to raise his game if he wants this to work. I think he could do it, but .. he’s not the shoo-in I fear y’all are hoping.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
I'm thinking he's potentially Coolidge material
aesthete (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 5:19AM EST (link)I.e., a great, understated President who will actively work to cut government and taxes. I’m not really sure if he even wants the job, but my thought has always been that someone who thinks he’s a shoo-in for leading the civilized world, or who otherwise thinks that it’s just another step up the political ladder, should be summarily disqualified from running.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
asthete - I can agree with your qualification for office.
acat (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 7:52AM EST (link)President should be by draft only, no volunteers.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
No, he's not a shoo-in
4life (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 8:46PM EST (link)but if he runs, I’m leaning heavily toward voting for him. I don’t know him well enough to say for sure, but I like what he has done so far.
Getting back to selling the turnpike, I know some very conservative Indiana folks who think it was a great move. Apparently work on the turnpike was a favor goldmine, rife with waste.
You're forgetting the auto industry in Indiana
Finrod (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 2:36PM EST (link)Two out of three of the big US auto manufacturers got bailed out by the government, and Indiana has a *lot* of automobile parts factories. I don’t know for certain how much the auto industry bailout benefited Indiana factories, but I would guess that it significantly helped the state overall.
Let’s get down to brass tacks here. How much for the ape?
I'm sure it helped the ones that are still around.
4life (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 10:30PM EST (link)Quite a few had already lost out to China, etc., before the bailout. Surely there is a study of Indiana manufacturing over the last 10 years. I wonder how many factories have been shuttered, destroyed, or sold for pennies and sitting empty? It would be interesting to know even just the list of GM plants closed. I know of one plant that was leveled instead of sold, apparently because of environmental concerns. I wonder if GM does that to all its closed plants? Daniels inherited a state with many problems, and has done well, very well.
My Toyota truck was built in Indiana.
acat (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 1:13AM EST (link)No UAW labor.
Very solid truck, decent gas mileage, and low repair bills.
Mew
——
Caveat Suffragator
You know, I think
4life (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 8:37PM EST (link)alot of the union plants have closed, and non-union ones have opened. I don’t have the data, other than what I have heard from people I know in Indiana. Indiana manufacturing was heavily unionized.
Pawlenty did heavy lifting against our heavily
eburke (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 9:42PM EST (link)Dem legislature as far as taxes and spending but he’s about as bland as oatmeal, and his support of and by Johnny Mac leaves be deeply suspicious, and I won’t get in his corner during the primary until he renounces his belief in AGW and cap and trade.
And with that…it’s back to the 2010 elections which actually matter right now.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Great quote, Finrod!
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 8:20AM EST (link)A sign you misspent your youth well.
hose who vote decide nothing; those who count the votes decide everything. - Joseph Stalin
Common_Cents (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 7:09PM EST (link)We have to be mindful of this angle as well. It would be less obvious and less in your face than some event to cancel an election.
Obama=Golfer in Chief, Leading from,
behind, the Back Nine.Leaders don’t create movements. Movements create leaders. Get involved. Your future depends on it.
Govt “invests” YOUR tax money for POLITICAL return rather than economic return.
Yes, that has been on my mind quite a bit.
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:28PM EST (link)I believe some of them think they can pull it off, and not have a revolution (the real kind, with guns, bullets, and bombs) not take place beneath their feet.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
I'm for sending greeting cards
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:09PM EST (link)…with Mussolini doing his dance, asa kind of wakeup call
It's kinda like contact sports with girls used to be.
Achance (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:40PM EST (link)I was raised an outdoor country kid, and country boys fought and roughoused constantly, which people once thought was normal. Country boys never fought or roughhoused with girls or played any kind of contact sport with them because the closest girls got to contact sports was girls basketball, a minor diversion in high school sports.
I started college just as the more enlightened era we’re in today was beginning. We still had mandatory PE and the girls had their strictly enforced gym outfits that they could only wear during PE, so you always saw girls in their London Fog coats walking around campus to cover their nakedness while wearing that gym suit. And this was a state school, not some Bible College. But, the intermural sports we had in PE were becoming co-ed, pretty radical in The South, and we were even playing foreign sports like soccer.
Now by that time, I’d played HS sports, the boy kind, with boys; I’d been hit many times and hurt many times, a couple of times quite badly. Since all the other boys, pretty much, had also been hit and hurt lots of times, we understood the “boy rule:” you didn’t hit and hurt people unnecessarily because they would do it to you – and it HURT!
And then I was introduced to co-ed soccer, and I’ve never had such a buttwhipping in my life! On a sports field, no guy had ever tried to knee me in the groin, and every girl did. No guy had ever willfully tried to kick me in the head, or anywhere else, and every girl did. And, at least at first, we couldn’t, wouldn’t, retaliate because you couldn’t hurt girls. Eventually, we learned that you had to just use your, usually, superior size and skill to either avoid them or just bowl them over. You’d get a foul for just plowing through a girl that defiantly got in your way, but they learned from it.
On reflection, it was apparent that the girls had never done this kind of physical stuff and had never really been hurt. They really didn’t know what it was like to be on the receiving end of what they tried to dish out. A more modern version of it is the callousness today’s kids have towards blood, gore, and violence; they’ve never seen it except in a video game.
The left is the same as those girls in the ’60s or those 15 yr. old boys who think they’re tough because they play video games well. Sure, lefties get violent and threatening, but they do it in places controlled by lefties. They know the cops in DC, SF, LA, NYC aren’t really going to do anything to them, won’t even arrest them usually, and if they do, they just haul them off out of camera range and let them go.
I think the left is imminently capable of both very corrupt acts such as stealing elections or refusing to seat members of Congress but also they are capable of significant violence because they really don’t know what violence is. Yeah, they’ve burned cars and trash cans and thrown rocks at riot gear equipped cops, and maybe beat up a few innocent and unarmed bystanders, rare but it happens, but they’ve never had their violence effectively opposed by either the cops or private citizens.
Now typically, they put the girls out front; there’s a natural reticence to use force on them, most of them are braver, or dumber, than the boys, and if the cops use force on them, they curl up in fetal and complain that the cop fondled their breasts. And in lefty controlled places, the authorities believe the complaints, so the cops are very reticent to mess with the girls. We’ll be hampered by the same reticence to use force against them even when they come on our turf, but, just as boys had to all those years ago, we’ll have to learn to hurt girls and castrati boys too. And when they get hurt, they’re really, really going to howl about it. We’ll get some fouls, but when you hurt enough of them, they’ll behave better.
In Vino Veritas
Critical Analysis: Preventing January
Achance (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 8:30PM EST (link)I had a passing familiarity with von Clauswitz from reading history, but I became a real disciple in the late ’80s, early ’90s when Alaska was engaged in, variously, concessionary or hold the line bargaining with its unionized workforce. The most critical piece of the employer’s efforts in concessionary or static bargaining is the will of your political principals. My first governor was a, relatively, conservative Democrat who was objective enough to understand the hand he’d been dealt. The unions thought they owned him, but with the State’s financial condition in the wake of the mid-80s oil price collapse meant that he just couldn’t give them stuff. The second Governor was a fairly liberal/populist Republican who wanted concessions from them mostly for ideological reasons but with some pretty good economic justifications as well; we were still broke.
I learned quickly that politicians are more skittish than any dumpster-raised cat. Any loud sound or sudden movement makes a politician, especially Republican politicians, dive for cover. So, we who had to be the spearcarriers and spear catchers in carrying out the agenda had to find a way to manage our principals. And thus I became probably Clauswitz’ greatest fan who didn’t, usually, carry a gun.
The method we adopted for manageing our principals was making very, very detailed plans, getting them to accept those plans, and then when there was a loud noise or a sudden movement, we could get them out of fetal position by saying, “we anticipated this and have a plan” and showing them where it was in the plan. I did the heavy lifting because I had the best combination of both political skills and labor relations skills. I had the great good fortune of having a boss who knew I knew more about strategy and tactics than she did but who also had a Ph.D in Rhetoric and Argumentation and would find any logical flaw in your planning like a heat-seeking missle.
I wrote many hundreds of pages of IF-THEN statements. You started out with the premise of you wanted certain things and then you set out your strategy and tactics for getting those things. Then you set beside that your anticipated range of options for the adversary’s response to your action, and your response to their response and on, and on, almost to infinity or to the place where both sides run out of moves – at least moves you can think out. It is an elaborate, constantly moving, game of three dimensional chess. But, when a TRO comes in at 5 PM on a Friday telling the Governor he can’t do what he planned to do on Monday, it really settles nerves to say, “See, we figured we’d get a TRO, so this is what we do next.”
WE DON’T HAVE ANYBODY IN REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DOING THIS!!!!!!!
Vassar, you and I are about the only people I’ve seen write out stuff about how “they’re going to do this, so we have to do that.” Hell, I feel like Cassandra; I can see the future, I can tell you what is going to happen, and nobody who can do anything much about it will listen to me. They simply refuse to understand who and what we are dealing with.
I’m going to start on those IF-THENs for a diary in a few days or a week. We can take comfort in the fact that lefties never do this; they believe they’re annointed so they never, ever plan for what their opponent will do. They expect us to respond ineptly and they expect to win. They will be shocked to senselessness when they lose and that is the time to strike; there’s no better time to kick somebody than when they’re down. If we lose, get thee to the range and practice. And I’ll keep my IF-THENs so if we lose I can trot them out with the teary eyed old expatriates and slur out; see, I tried to warn ‘em!
In Vino Veritas
There are a couple
aesthete (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 11:07PM EST (link)of examples that could be emulated by Republicans that would go a long way towards achieving our aims. Rudy Guiliani is one who had management and message control down pat; having liberals running for the hills in deep enemy territory is a claim few can make. Chris Christie, likewise, has done a good job of enacting his policies in a state that, until recently, was “governed” by Corzine. Interestingly enough, leftists haven’t been able to make a compelling narrative for either of those two: Rudy, and to some extent Christie, gets tarred as a “mean” Republican every once in a while, but the charge rarely sticks.
To borrow a tired truism, the “good ol’ boys” are masters at avoiding confrontation: even in our states, they excel at finding ways to spend money, time, and resources on the wrong things, and get cheers from the peanut gallery for their “bravery” on some procedural or symbolic vote.
The act of defending any of the cardinal virtues has today all the exhilaration of a vice – G.K. Chesterton
I hope the GOP is listening in, Art
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 8:18AM EST (link)…maybe I can coax them over just to hear you out. What you propose by way of a diary, the GOP needs by way of a strategy.
Yep. Dead serious about that
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:33PM EST (link)There are a couple of mean sonsabitches in high places. Nowhere near enough. And that gives me unrest.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Looking forward to that entry!
BA Cyclone (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 3:24PM EST (link)And I completely agree with you on GOP “strategy”…or vision and the lack thereof.
There are wide open fields of fertile ground laying out there. Easy points a conservative with any backbone could make against even the best a leftist could offer – even in their most sanctimonius trumpets and upwardly tilted noses.
Because the calmly and firmly articulated vision of conservatism owns the equal value of appealing to common American sense. Even the left knows this because they couch all their visions upon words that sound conservative.
I am so tired of watching “conservative leaders” giving the left the field and seeking to be magnanimous or the table of compromise. This strategy is how we have gotten to the forsaken place. The pain of walking this monster back deepens with every day we fail to get down to brass tacks.
“If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions.” — James Madison
“Electing Republicans who don’t have the courage of their convictions may be easier in some circumstances, but it won’t save our country.” — Jim DeMint
BA Cyclone’s blog
BA Cyclone on Twitter
VB, care to make a wager?
leftylurker (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 8:44PM EST (link)If the november elections are canceled, or the congress is not seated at the usual time, I will make a donation of five hundred dollars to the charity of your choosing.
Since you’re only 50% sure of this outcome, I’ll give you 2 to 1 odds on your donation to the charity of my choosing.
I was thinking more along the lines of a tontine,
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 8:13AM EST (link)so I could put my grandson thru college. I’d like someone else to hold the money. Besides 50-50 in politics is more like weather forecasting than picking the Pass Line in craps. You lay good odds, which means the “dare you” part of this piece may be working. But after losing 40 years on the KY-Tenn football game, I’ve learned it is not good to bet your heart. You see, I want you to win.
Agreed
leftylurker (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 10:44AM EST (link)I want to win, and it’s not a fair bet, because if I lose, I’m going to make that payment and then find out where to go underground.
Believe me, I am a lifelong lefty, but I am an American and a patriot first. The day after a canceled election or a non seated congress, the people in power become occupiers, not my leaders.
Hey Leftylurker - Good to see you again.
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:00AM EST (link)You have no idea how much I and others appreciate your honesty.
I’d alter your last sentence slightly…. It would be more like a nano-second after elections were canceled or Congress not being seated.
I shudder to think of the physical response from many in our nation if either would become reality.
There would be ‘problems’.
Thank you Kenny!
leftylurker (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 3:39PM EST (link)It would be bad.
I have a very clever little girl who has a very remedial sense of self preservation, so the heaviest thing I’m packing at home is a taser and a bad attitude.
I need to get armed.
Dithering
pamela1631 (Diary) Monday, August 9th at 9:50PM EST (link)The Lefts’ mindset is that of a bully on the playground.
Tries to pound on anyone and when caught, blames the poundee made him do it. I was defending myself claims the left.
Unfortunately, Leadership of the Right is a bunch of men acting like dithering old women out of a Victorian novel waiting to be rescued.
Save Me! Save Me! All while wringing their hands.
I truly would love to grab them by their proverbial collars and seat of the trousers, tossing their raggedy trash butts out the doors.
Followed with a resounding “Stay Away and Never Come Back!”
Then get out the burning barrel and go to town cleaning out all that
liberal progressives version of porn.
I’m really tired of being totally torqued off at the abuse being heaped on We The People. Can that lot be arrested?
I see them casting dice to see who wins the robe.
This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it. ~~Elmer Davis
I am stone forged from the fires of creation into flesh ~~Pamela1631
The greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced.~~Maj. L. Caudill, USMC (Ret.)
Great analogies, Pamela, esp the
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 8:08AM EST (link)Hand over the forehead, Grace Atherton “Begone!” retort.
Vassar
pamela1631 (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 8:33PM EST (link)Since a politician never believes what he says, he is quite surprised to be taken at his word.
Charles de Gaulle ~1890-1970~
He has a point.
This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it. ~~Elmer Davis
I am stone forged from the fires of creation into flesh ~~Pamela1631
The greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced.~~Maj. L. Caudill, USMC (Ret.)
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance plus
Castor (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 2:59PM EST (link)THE WILLINGNESS, NO THE COJONES, TO DO STEP 2 WHEN THAT VIGILANCE REVEALS SOMETHING.
GUNS UP!!
mustangsally (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 8:00PM EST (link)THATS TEXAS SPEAK. REASON #1 WHY TEXAS IS HATED. REASON #2 IS THAT TEXAS’S CONSERVATIVES SET PRESIDENCE FOR TEXT BOOKS FOR ALL OF THE GREAT USA. SO FAR THEY STILL HAVE A MAJORITY THE LAST I HEARD, THAT COULD CHANGE, BUT THE LIBS ARE PISSED OFF. THEY WANT LOTS OF STUFF CHANGED. IE:LETS CHANGE HISTORY. THIS SERIOUSLY NEEDS TO BE CLOSELY MONITORED BY GUYS LIKE YOU AT RED STATE, AND KEPT IN THE FOREFRONT. IT HAPPENS EVERY TEN YEARS. IT’S WHAT OUR KIDS LEARN IN SCHOOL. FROM ELEMENTRAY TO HIGH SCHOOL. F——-COLLEGE, THE LIBS OWN THAT. BUT WE NEED TO SUPPORT TEXAS, AND YES THE GUNS UP IS A GREAT MOTTO!! I WISH I LIVED IN TEXAS.
Vassar, a very sobering essay here
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Tuesday, August 10th at 11:45PM EST (link)I agree with the huge majority, and what I don’t agree with, my position is not solid.
I do not believe the secessionist talk is silly. And I don’t think it plays into the Democrats’ hands. My reasons are as follows.
I believe it presents a conundrum they have no answer for. The talk is not coming from official quarters, so you can’t pre-emptively squelch it. They also cannot allow it to happen. Their empire falls if all the wealthy and healthy “donor” states desert. And finally, they have not solidified their control over the military and the flow of public information, and they know it. They cannot stop it if it happens.
So all this loose talk, by my thinking, it reminds them, very starkly, that they are not the wolves, and Americans are not the sheep. Possibly the Texas-style saber-rattling can move them off the brink.
Either way……
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
I was wrong to use "silly" EPU
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:19AM EST (link)Ben set me straight, although I was only speaking of the next 170 days. After that, it’s gang-buster. I’d use secession/nullification talk like a sling blade, if need be. It’;s not like we;re talking about birth certificates or anythings.
Well, I kinda knew what you meant
E Pluribus Unum (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:44PM EST (link)But being one of the Texas delegates, I had to point out what a difficulty Texas provides for these Chavez-in-training-pants kids.
Kill the Terrorists
Protect the Borders
Punch the Hippies h/t IMAO
Will you please, please learn how to write????
Plumb_Bob (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 6:15AM EST (link)If you have something important to say, I can’t find it. I’ve read, what, 7 paragraphs already and all I’ve gotten out of it is a bunch of coy CRAP and a vague promise that you think the Democrats might be up to something (wow, that’s news.) You need to learn how to write.
You need to start by boiling down what you want to say into a few, pithy statements, stated as clearly and simply as possible. Then you have to provide support for each of them. You’re not ready to write anything until you can do this clearly with your ideas.
Here’s how that looks with what I THINK you’re trying to say:
Sentence 1 in paragraph 1: The Democrats are building toward preventing the next election from occurring.
Sentence 2 in paragraph 1: If they cannot prevent the election, they will move to prevent the next Congress from being seated.
Sentence 3: I can prove this. (Or, I can’t prove this, but there are disturbing facts that point in this direction.)
There. I’ve written your first paragraph for you. The next thing you need to do is provide support for the first paragraph, so we know you’re not just making it up.
To write the way you do, blathering on forever in coy fashion about nothing when you have something important to say, is a WASTE OF MY TIME and a disservice to your idea.
Oh, and just by the way: If your sentence 3 reads “I dont’ have any solid evidence that this is what they intend, but I feel like that’s what they’re up to,” you don’t have anything worth writing.
Please, please, please, please, PLEASE. LEARN HOW TO FRAKKING WRITE!!!!!!!
(Unrelated to this topic, please visit my political blog, “Plumb Bob Blog: Squaring the Culture,” at http://www.plumbbobblog.com. Thanks.)
You must enjoy wasting time,
Steph C (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 7:33AM EST (link)considering you wasted more of it to write your critique.
You might disagree with him on the merits. A lot of people do, some of whom actually respect the author of the diary. Your critique was unnecessary and a waste of time by your own admission so why?
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
I'll try to write by your rules
mriggio (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 7:45AM EST (link)1. RedState diaries are ranked by recommends.
2. Vassar’s diaries consistently occupy the top 10, often with more than one at a time.
3. Your sole diary, after 2 years, got no recommends, and no comments.
4. You need to learn how to write.
5. Thank you for your attention.
mriggio
SMSgt, USAF (Ret)
Precinct Committeeman (R)
Tazewell County, Illinois
Save the
CheerleaderParty, save the World! (Heroes, ed.)Plum Bob, Please....
juana Wednesday, August 11th at 8:28AM EST (link)Your critique of Vassar’s style of writing is petty and unnecessary. I find his diaries illuminating, often prophetic. If his style offends you, please pass his articles by. I know I’ll take a pass on your blog.
Plum_Bob, a lot of nerve, but no manners.
penguin2 (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:50AM EST (link)There’s a lot of rudeness out there these days, and yes, unfortunately, some of it is here as you have ably demonstrated.
It is obvious you aren’t a thinking man, or you would appreciate thinking through ideas, concepts, concerns, posits, and just about anything else that gets written here at RS, it is for the thinking individual.
One of the rules of writing, is that the author wants their reader to be able to think. Sorry if thinking frustrates you.
If you had a point to make on the theme of the diary, it was lost in your display of bad manners.
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills
Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List
Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots
Hey Plumb, that was the funniest thing
LisaDe (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:56AM EST (link)I think I have ever read here on Redstate. I have been cracking up for the last 10 minutes. My advise, take about a week and read ALL of Vasser’s diaries. And then, just for good measure, do it again.
Deliberate Ass-Hattery
Repair_Man_Jack (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 9:03AM EST (link)Rudeness implies a certain degree of ignorance that good ‘ol Plum_Bob may or may not possess. This reeked more of pure ass-hattery. He was deliberately obnoxious. He wanted to urinate in Vassar’s Cheerios. Real class act, that Plum_Bob!
Mr. Obama is pretending that an economic “recovery” is underway when he knows damn well that the banking system is just blowing smoke up the shredded *** of what’s left of that economy – James Howard Kunstler
Would say Repairman, that folks who come along and ....
penguin2 (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 9:21AM EST (link)do that, have ulterior motives for being here. RS is for promotion of Conservative/Republican causes and candidates. Can’t see that as the motive for Plum_Bob’s presence. He strikes me as a someone who doesn’t want us to engage in reasoning and reflective thought and logic.
Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God. – Benjamin Franklin
When Good stands up to Evil, Evil blinks. – Vassar Bushmills
Conservative Education: Suggested Reading List
Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots
Thanks for the comment on rudeness
earlgrey (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 11:43AM EST (link)we can’t underestimate the importance of simple good manners. It is one of the many things that separates us from the left. Let’s keep it that way.
Will you please, please get a clue.
eburke (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:56AM EST (link)Let’s see Vassar is very likely *the* most promoted diarist on RS. He currently has two diaries on the Recco list, which beats the number of diaries you’ve *ever* had on said Recco list by…..two.
Your criticism of Vassar’s writing reeks of arrogance and jealousy and is somewhat akin to Bill Clinton having lectured Mother Theresa on the virtues of chastity and morality.
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Oooooh - sounds like somebody just finished their summer school course in Journalism 101.
Teresa in Fort Worth, TX (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 12:07PM EST (link)No doubt they had to repeat the course after failing it during the regular school year…..
Thanks fer puttin’ us rubes some knowledge there, Skippy. Appreciate it -
Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride…..
well, I'll be rude.
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 12:33PM EST (link)Your blog should be titled “Plumb Dumb Bob Blog” — which would be more aligned to your writing style, which, by the way, is very, very inefficient.
I’d suspect it took you about 1/2 hour to come up with your comeuppance.
There are online dictionaries for you to look that word up.
NM the substance. Too many “I”s and “thinks” — your blog is rife with them. This tells me you’re;
1. Very self-interested and don’t give a damn about your audience, proven by your petty comments.
2. Are a contrarian, hence the “you” attacks.
3. You take things personally.
3. You like to play victim.
I also know you attacked Vassar to outdo your 65-hits-per diem, after watching him awhile to figure out how to recapture whatever you *think* you had for that ’08 weblog finalist.
Hell, that could be a copy and paste, for all we know.
I’d say worse, but out of deference and respect to Vassar and his post, I limit myself.
You’re a punk, Blob.
Guys like you make the world a sad place.
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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Thanks everyone. The Piranha Pack has
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:28PM EST (link)grown exponentially. Shoulder to shoulder I think we can lick anyone. I really do.
Plumb Tool
pamela1631 (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 11:37PM EST (link)Yo Bob
Any true SciFi aficionado knows there are two correct swear words:
Frelling or Smegging
A waste of your time? Maybe your time would be better served in offering some type of personal service.
Say, oh, how about cleaning belly button lint.
This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it. ~~Elmer Davis
I am stone forged from the fires of creation into flesh ~~Pamela1631
The greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced.~~Maj. L. Caudill, USMC (Ret.)
Mark Twain once said, after he'd met Rudyard Kipling
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:22AM EST (link)that “Kipling knew everything that could be known,
…and I know everything else.”
I’ve just met my Kipling. One more tic-off on my life list.
Thanks Steph and MrRiggio
That's funny right there, I don't care who you are.
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:41AM EST (link)Git-r-done, Mr. B.
Well, it would've been if Vassar knew how to write.
eburke (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 9:06AM EST (link)/rolls eyes
“All that need be done for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Unified Patriots
Vassar- Dumb Bob
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 9:57AM EST (link)is in competition with Obama, and, ErinMist, as to their hat sizes. Back in the day, we used to call that conceited, which has now morphed into Narcissistic.
Back in January, Dumb Bob wrote a comment to EE’s diary- Healthcare Suicide Bombers: Instead of 72 virginis, they get Ambassadorships. His comment-
Secede Now
A system of self-government requiring political compromise presupposes opponents who are moral, who agree to the terms of the system, and who are willing participants. With each new tactic, we seem more reasons why it is INSANE to continue to cooperate in a political system with Democrats. No good can possibly come from participating in a system where the opponent 1) is going to break the system permanently at every opportunity, and 2) is going to end the system as soon as they have obtain enough power.
We should divide the nation, let them have their corruptocracy, and form a new union based properly on America’s founding principles. That is the only way we can save any part of the good thing that America once was. Without secession, it’s all going to collapse, and soon.
________________________________________________
What a convoluted way of saying, if you don’t agree with me, than you are all just a bunch of Twains.
Dumb Bob says Now Now Now, the sky is falling. If you don’t just say, the sky is falling, then you don’t know how to write. No thinking, or alternate ideas, just listen to me, because I am Kipling.
Erinmist says let’s just wait and see if the Marxists that have invaded DC really do become the next Hitler’s, or if they really are just a bump in the road. Because the D’s have gone all in, they have hastened their demise, and will pay the price this November, but, even if we do win big in November, it won’t matter, because the Marxists will still be in charge. To secede is the only “peaceful” “rational” and “intelligent” way to save the country, and what complete fools everyone is that does not see that. But, we have a generation or two before we have to push the sky back up, and implement that plan.
Somehow I just know that you will not be losing any sleep, or pounds over these brainiacks, that just yak yak yak.
What a collosal mis-reading of what I said...
erinmist (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 10:25AM EST (link)Since Vassar and I essentially agree on what is happening, if not its conclusion, I’m not entirely sure you’ve grasped what’s been said here.
And I specifically spelled out the words I DO NOT ADVOCATE SECESSION which somehow you missed, I’d have to argue that any other conclusions you might have drawn would be similarly mis-informed.
What I was talking about had nothing whatsoever to do with the elections this November — it was a thought experiment about what we’re going to do 50, 100 or 200 years from now.
Sheesh….get a grip.
Michael Shea
you backtracked
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:22PM EST (link)then you made it clear, after tossing about words like “federal bombs.”
If she picked that impression up, that’s your fault, not hers.
And then she can’t get a grip, because she doesn’t have one.
We all understand the sense of urgency of this situation, Michael, because we’re all feeling this. Imagine if everyone struck your tone, especially against those who are our friends and are on the same side.
Chaos.
Scope is an ally, as are most of us here, minus Dumb Blob.
And if you’re with that guy .. dear Lord.
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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Try to be charitable, Scope
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 11:33AM EST (link)…at least to Erinmist. Personally, i like him, and even hope to win a bet from him someday. Thanks for the research on Plumb Bob. Had I known he were a “Lost Causer”..well, you said it anyway, and saved me the trouble.
Erinmist makes the case that there is a non-Lost cause, non-Civil War, non-get-even side to secession. That is scholarly and sound, only, and we all agree on this, just not now. Hopefully we can discuss this at a later date…in a purely academic context.
5*5*5*5*5.
Steph C (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 11:58AM EST (link)I thought it was a well laid out alternative response. While he and Vassar might disagree on the when and the form such an undertaking might have, neither is in favor of taking it completely off the table.
“[I]f the public are bound to yield obedience to laws to which they cannot give their approbation, they are slaves to those who make such laws and enforce them.” –Candidus in the Boston Gazette, 1772
Hillbilly Politics
yes, Vassar
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:33PM EST (link)on discussing this at a later date,
I’d ask you to consider what happened with the Laredo incident and the mini-insurrection that almost happened in South Texas.
A whole sub-culture thing with not very many of them loyal to any one standard.
What’s reported in the blogosphere and in the Examiner doesn’t do it justice.
I want to get past November 2010.
I’m not even sure this discussion should happen in public. It brings out the freaks and heightens .. things.
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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Vassar- You can hold your own
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 2:28PM EST (link)with no need for anyone to come to your defense. I found it interesting when you were “mocked” because you said there was a 50/50 chance that the Nov. elections may be halted, or the elected not be be seated in Jan., and called “paranoid” for the ideas you threw out there. I happen to agree fully that, because the D’s have gone “all in” they will not quietly cower in the corner, and allow their agenda, and what they see as their major accomplishments to take a back seat, or to see any elected officials to slow their march to something the majority in this country despise. You see the utter anger of the citizens as well as I do. Will it come to a civil war, or a major revolution? That is yet to be seen. The economy is not improving, we are now ready to monitize our own debt, jobs are not coming back, and DC just voted to bail out the teachers unions, and, cut the funds for foodstamps, which will make alot of people very hungry. Those millions of hungry and unemployed people will not sit back and continue to allow the government to ignore them, they are already ready to boil over.
The D’s are master manipulators, they manufacture one crisis after the next, and unfortunately, many people will still buy their goods. I have no doubt that there will be some kind of Sept. or Oct. surprise, and, just as the price tags on their bills, it will be big. I believe it. I laugh when some say the D’s are scared to death of what is coming in Nov. I take Nan at her word when she says things like “I guarantee the D’s will keep the House.” A few months before the 08 election she also said that “she guaranteed that the O would win.” These people have had plans, and contingency plans, for a long time, and they now have the government checkbook to insure their success.
As to Erinmist’s diary, what made my hair stand up first was “But so what?” He talks about how the D’s have spent their wad, since Mr. Failure and Despair took office. He cites their “expenditure of resources, capital and credibility for naught, leaving them drained, poor, and lacking the ability to make a serious argument. They have cried wolf once too often.” Yes, that is true, but, those borrowed monies still must be paid back, with an enormous amount of taxation on every citizen now living, and those not yet born. The expenditure in American respect, around the world, will not automatically come back once the O is gone. No one trusts us anymore, and, no one has any faith in the Americans to do the right thing- after all it is our citizens that put the most dangerous and evil man in the WH. It will take years and years to earn back the trust that our allies once had with us.
Erinmist claimed “So while the Nov. 2010 elections are critical, they are, in the sweep of history a mere speed bump towards this governments eventual, inevitable and utterly unavoidable demise.”
Why? I prefer to believe that we learn from history, and have learned what doesn’t work, and, therefore avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, like not following in Hitler or Mao’s footsteps. If I had to believe that Rome is just around the corner, and, I can mark the date on my calendar, then yes, why bother voting for a speed bump, because our demise is inevitable. Sorry, I can’t go their with those of little faith in the exceptional Americans. If I don’t have that faith to hold onto, what do I hold onto? I do believe that a majority of Americans will hold onto that faith as well, and, will correct the disastrous path we are now on.
As to succession, Art Chance had the greatest comment on how foolish the idea is. If Texas broke off, would it then be the country of Texas with no Americans living there, only Texans? Would I need a passport to get into that country?
Here are the comments I was referring to
Scope (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 4:53PM EST (link)from Achance-
“What happens if one of the states formed from the Louisiana Purchase, the Mexican Cession, or one of the territories outright conquered or bought secedes? The US granted statehood and the rights appurtaining thereto to all or some part of those territories. If the state secedes, does it get to keep the US’s property, and if not, it ain’t much of a state. I submit that if any of the states formed from the territories secedes, it is still the property of the US, its citizens are still US citizens under the 14th Amendment, and it goes back to being a territory or military district. So, the only thing you get for secession is giving up your right to self-government.”
the Amish Mafia
tngal (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 10:13AM EST (link)We need to get Vassar some protection here. Serious protection, heavy, strong, unified, determined, protection. But non-aggressive and friendly. He needs an Amish mafia.
Texas is the keystone state.
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 12:54PM EST (link)If she goes, she’s taking the 34-electoral votes with her.
The nation will fall permanently into the hands of the progressives — permanently.
Then the world.
There are too many of them, and they’re too far ahead and we’re finally, but barely getting our barings, barefly finding out what they’ve been doing all these years.
And that’s just this past year or so, since Obama has been elected.
Imagine the countless FOIA requests we’d all have to do find the depths of corruption. There are books out now, but you’re talking about a few researchers over the course of years. What we have is access to online docs, and this just touches the surface.
Vassar was right — the Republicans are complicit, tacitly or otherwise — and only a few are showing signs of becoming stalwarts for the rest of us who want core conservative values and a return to constitutional legitimacy and governance.
You also have to remember that they’re aware of everything. Everything we do is electronic, everything is online. Our words are inventoried, as are our positions.
The progressive view on this is, yes, to watch history, and be prepared for an uprising.
This is why Napolitano put out that document last spring and why we’re openly called Nazis by most of them — it’s mean to convince those who haven’t established a position, are just glued to the tube, whatever. Don’t align yourself, American Idol watcher, stay in your home, keep your job.
But the solution isn’t suceeding. It’s unfair. Not all of us are Texans.
And we have to remember Lincoln fought to keep the Union together.
We’re going to overcome this hump — and remember this begins in our own homes and among our friends, because some of these races will come down to the wire.
Being nice to your neighbor is probably the best ammo at this point, which is why your delivery is so appreciated with this lady, Vassar. Cordial and amicable, with an ease of the tongue — an example for all of us.
2010. 2012.
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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Thanks, Veronica. Just visited your site...
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:20PM EST (link)..you do good things there, as well as here.
VB
:)
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:35PM EST (link)You sure you aren’t my long-lost uncle?
Are you Michael Savage in disguise?
ty, Vassar.
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Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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and I should really say "our." /nt
Veronica (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 1:42PM EST (link)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on us. – St. Augustine
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Maybe
ywhyvon1 Wednesday, August 11th at 1:24PM EST (link)I’m no t sure how much time is left for “Constitutional, Freedom Loving American” thinking people to get into the game.
But I will say, that the numbers are on their side(left) only because there are a whole lot of people that aren’t even aware that they should be “playing the game”.
Good Morning AMERICA: wake up and smell the coffee.
What are we going to do about it without sounding like merenge on a pie?
That’s not a rhetorical question!!
Socialist with fork looking for Socialist with pork pie-unknown
Read my previous post, ywhyvon1
Vassar Bushmills (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 5:03PM EST (link)..I think you’ll get a sense of where we all stand. better than you surmise.
Oh, sorry we lost leftlurker. I tried.
A book recommendation.
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Wednesday, August 11th at 8:15PM EST (link)Find it, read it.
Title: “Patriots: A novel of survival during the coming collapse.”
Author: James Wesley Rawles.
(Yeah, that James Wesley Rawles – The survival blog dude.)
Oh wait.
I forgot.
It can’t happen here.
Never mind.
November our last elections in the U.S.
txgeekgirl (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 9:03PM EST (link)It wouldn’t surprise me if November were the last elections in the U.S.
http://lenamargita.com
It's in the interests of all Americans, including Barrack Obama, to have fair, honest, normal elections.
David123 (Diary) Thursday, August 12th at 9:18PM EST (link)In either January 2013 or January 2017, he will become ex-president Obama. Clinton, the Bushes, even Herbert Hoover, and most other ex-presidents left the White House for very prosperous lives as former presidents. Adams, and then Jefferson, and then other presidents successfully transitioned power peacefully – it’s the American way, and everyone is better off because of it.
Of course there are other ways too … just ask Leon Trotsky. If I were president, I’d rather follow in the footsteps of John Adams.
David123