Tagged: america

The Left’s Only Sound Play

Like how comedians must stick to particulars to be funny, the Left must stick to generalities to regain power.

The Left’s only sound play is to claim as a baseline, “Well, whichever Republican was elected after Biden would be perceived as doing well, comparatively.”

This is sound because it is essentially true, it concedes reality, and, importantly, it provides the currently missing foundation for the future. It also undercuts the “cult of Trump” with exacting precision, no small desire of the Left, though not essential to the cause. For readers with the ability to see nuance, it also offers a distracting element. No one is talking anymore about whether Trump is even a Republican. But the Left should want that debate to resume because any interruption of focus counts in the quest for power.

Will the Left use such sage advice? Of course not. Why not? Because they, as we all saw for four years, are not of sound mind.

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Why share such sage advice? Why spend time considering it? Because I desire the history books (which will draw heavily from this blog…) to show how even the meekest of those with common sense knew what the Left needed to do, but the Left was intrinsically weak.

We Are Trump’s Loving Wife

The classic American marriage contains the beautiful scene of a husband unexpectedly finding that his wife has granted permission to “go big”.

My favorite illustration of this was captured by a commercial, some years ago, where after the husband puts the new big screen TV into the TV stand, he stands back, admiring his TV. The wife walks in and is not immediately impressed.

Baffled, and fearing the worst, he asks her, with trepidation, “What?”

She answers, “It’s just that there is a lot of…space.”

The scene continues with the husband microscopically examining the fit of the new bigger screen TV. He is squinting and running his hand along border between the TV and the TV stand. His wife comes in this time, and is visibly strained.

She says, “It is fine.”

He responds and concludes the anecdote with, “I can still see light!”

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As you no doubt have seen, there are red/blue county maps of America making their way around the web and one headline I saw claimed, “There are no blue states.”

Translation: there are blue counties in otherwise red states, and there are states composed entirely of red counties.

Implication: All of the United States of America, not merely the 75,000,000 voters and electoral college, just told Trump, like a loving wife, “Treat yourself!”

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Yes, that’s the best analogy of the passing scene, I should think.

Power Vs. Acquiring Power

Trump is about to be the man who defeated the first female nominee and the first Black female nominee. I do not come across many, if any, comments on this fact of the election cycle.

It seems to me that there is a continuum of reasons why this is not discussed. On one end, there is the noble (and therefore extremely unlikely) notion that the formerly fun “men vs. woman” schtick is so abhorrent to us woke folks that it is unworthy of our time. On the other end, there is the sober fact that leadership in Republics has never been about sex.

Leadership, I propose, is about power. And while there are many different types of power, there is only one way to gain power: you must take it.

Hillary Clinton did not take the power. Kamala Harris’ entire political career seems to be defined by accepting power.

As for Trump? His career, his notoriety, and his very real power comes solely from his constant belief that there is a power vacuum and he is the man to fill it.

We’ve all seen the clip of 30-something Trump declare he just may have to run for president. And whatever he was thinking until 2008, by the time he saw Obama’s lack of power, Trump obviously convinced himself that there was more power for the taking—and he took it. Who can forget Obama’s smug, “At least I will go down as a president”? Would a powerful man say that?

So ladies, take note. In not having been president, it has never been about you being women. People care that you are weak, just like Obama was weak. And people want power in the presidency. That’s all it is about.

Two Church-Related Thoughts On a Sunday

1. About the Bible: Us Christians love the underdog. We teach ourselves the Bible through this perspective. As a seminarian, I prefer to read the Bible from as neutral of a stance as possible and see what it has to say—and persuade others to do the same. For example, Moses made his tribe (the Levites) the priests (or, cynically, the tribe that doesn’t have to work for their food). Another big not-underdog is David’s Mighty Men. Forget the whole “demonstrated proficiency with a weapon of war” aspect of the infamous David and Goliath battle. Instead move to the fact that, in the same inspired account, he kept mighty men around him.

I ask you, dear sensitive snowflake reader, can you see how, in and of themselves, these facts merely dethrone your love of the underdog, and have nothing to say about the content of Scripture still?

Content, people. Content.

2. The Black Baptists were at it again this morning. Many, I’d say most, are veterans, and so the whole Arlington thing was naturally on their mind. Obviously it was brought up as evidence against Trump. As I sat among them, I couldn’t help but imagine what I would say if given a chance to speak. (Keep in mind, I am not voting for Trump. I just maintain that he had this thing won for a long time. And I’m white.)

After some consideration, I think I would say, “I will happily list many, many negative aspects of Trump and the Republican Party as a whole (though I do not know much about the Republican Party) which will be seen when they serve in the administration next term. I am curious if you all would do the same about Kamala. I am under the impression that Blacks think she is perfect. I know you think she is beautiful. I know you think she is smart. I know you think she is joyful. I know you think she is kind. I know you think she is good. I know you think she is sexy. I know you think she is strong. I know you think she is motherly. I also know that those all *might* actually be true descriptions. But I just heard that you believe in one god, and you just said his name is Jesus. Please list some negatives.”

Plain Sentences Uttered By Kamala Harris

In order to help her (Trump wins, but it isn’t glorious unless he has real competition), I have compiled the plainly spoken sentences uttered by Kamala Harris during the interview. Naturally, I have kept them grouped by question. And, “Yes, I am largely relying on CNN’s punctuation.”

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Q1 (Day One Actions?): Well, there are a number of things. I will tell you first and foremost one of my highest priorities is to do what we can to support and strengthen the middle class. 

Q2 (Repeat: Day One Actions?): There’s the work that we’re gonna do that is about investing in the American family around affordable housing, a big issue in our country right now.

Q3 (People Want To Go Back To Certain Relevant Aspects of the Past. Will You Help Them?): Well, let’s start with the fact that when Joe Biden and I came in office during the height of a pandemic, we saw over 10 million jobs were lost. Hundreds of people a day were dying because of COVID. The economy had crashed. When we came in, our highest priority was to do what we could to rescue America. And today, we know that we have inflation at under 3%. A lot of our policies have led to the reality that America recovered faster than any wealthy nation around the world. Prices in particular for groceries are still too high. The American people know it. I know it. Which is why my agenda includes what we need to do to bring down the price of groceries.

Q4 (Are Three Years Really Enough For Successful Administrations To Achieve Results?): Well, first of all, we had to recover as an economy, and we have done that. Donald Trump said he was gonna do a number of things, including allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. We did it. She’s not doing that any longer.

Q5 (You’ve Never Erred?): There’s more to do, but that’s good work.

Q6 (Is Pennsylvania a Must-Win State?): Sure.

Q7 (Do You Still Want To Ban Fracking?): As vice president, I did not ban fracking. As president, I will not ban fracking.

Q8 (Do You Still Want To Ban Fracking?): I kept my word, and I will keep my word.

Q9 (Gotcha!): Well, let’s be clear. My values have not changed. I believe it is very important that we take seriously what we must do to guard against what is a clear crisis in terms of the climate. That tells me from my experience as vice president we can do it without banning fracking. In fact, Dana — Dana, excuse me — I cast the tie-breaking vote that actually increased leases for fracking as vice president. So I’m very clear about where I stand.

Q10 (Have You Ever Used Reasoning Skills On Fracking?): What I have seen is that we can — we can grow and we can increase a thriving clean energy economy without banning fracking.

Q11 (Is Immigration Feather Or Black Mark?): Well, first of all, the root causes work that I did as vice president, that I was asked to do by the president has actually resulted in a number of benefits, including historic investments by American businesses in that region. He killed the bill: a border security bill that would’ve put 1,500 more agents on the border. The Border Patrol endorsed the bill. That bill would have allowed us to increase seizures of fentanyl.

Q12 (Is Immigration Feather Or Black Mark?): (There was not a plain spoken sentence.)

Q13 (Is Immigration Feather Or Black Mark?): I believe there should be consequence. We have laws that have to be followed and enforced that address and deal with people who cross our border illegally. I’m the only person in this race who actually served a border state as attorney general to enforce our laws. I recognize the problem.

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Reader, making determinations about plain spoken sentences is hard work. As is all hard work, it is worthy. But I am not sure if my reach is broad enough to make the effort efficient. If you would like me to finish the interview, please comment below. I need three encouraging comments to finish. Let’s Help Kamala!

Today Is The Greatest Day For MAGA Since the Escalator

You’ve been sweatin’ it, I know. Or at least that’s what I felt like the media wanted me to believe.

But with Walz as VP, it is time to shower and go on vacation. I wouldn’t even take the inconvenience to vote anymore. Yes, that’s how in the bag this election just became for Trump.

For those not paying attention, the MAGA folks’ thoughts on how Kamala of all people was chosen include “the dems know they lost this one, so they offer her up as sacrifice and will be back in ‘28 with a real candidate.”

Walz fits this bill perfectly too. My guess is they’ll have two folks in ‘28 that will be billed as “moderate”.

One cautionary note: Walz is a bit of a siren, in the Homer sense. Something in his speech inspires Whites to think, “Oh, good. Someone who knows.” And by knows they of course mean, someone who will stop racial integration, all immigration, financial regulation, and public intoxication. And then they will have their little slice of heaven on earth.

How else can you explain the Nordic Minnesotans turning a blind on to the full on invasion of their state by Somalia? It certainly isn’t happening because these Vikings (Skol!!) desire it.

Nope. The Minnesotans are stupid (sorry, friends but heartiness in cold weather only scores so many points). Somalis are more stupid, and add the double sins of lazy and Old Testament horny. And you, faithful reader, need to guard yourself. Walz may look like a duck and sound like a duck, but, like the Sirens of old, he is only interested in destruction.

The Interesting News I Want to Read About Trump 2024

No news articles, op/eds, or even letters to the editors about Trump 2024 satisfy.

The cycle has been on repeat since before 2016. Nobody has anything new to say. In sum, …just kidding. I wouldn’t be so cruel as to repeat it once again.

Instead, I would like to offer and record my fantasy. Unbelievable as it is, despite all the coverage of Trump since before I was born, I want more. Isn’t that crazy? Crazy, but true.

This fantasy of mine isn’t knowing the outcome of the election ahead of time. It isn’t knowing some more details about Jan 6 that keep exonerating him of any wrongdoing or learning about more indictments which he uniformly evades unscathed or hearing more locker room talk that is fairly tame compared to any group of sporting men I have ever been among.

My fantasy is that some professional writer or journalist will research and write a long-form article about why and how Trump has consistently caused the news itself to resort to lying. Why do they lie?

Whether democracy can recover is boring. Whether Trump becomes worse than Hitler is boring. Whether Trump commits adultery is boring. But, for me, how one man caused every single journalist to lie is endlessly fascinating. Isn’t it?

From his political opponents who maliciously lie, to the mainstream journalists who lie to protect us, to his fan base who inflate every assertion into coming-of-Christ evangelism, the entire industry is unable to report the truth. Why?

I don’t know for sure. But I’m interested to learn.

I Believe I Speak for All of Us

I believe I speak for all of us when I say, “Sorry, but you’re wrong, Mr. US Official. This is like Top Gun. Shoot it down.”

How do I know we’re right?

First, I became a US military pilot because of Top Gun.

Second, anytime a representative of China speaks, they are lying.

Third, on the topic of espionage, anytime any government official from any nation, even our great USA, speaks, they are lying.

Fourth, what great patriots they would be who sacrificed their lives to the falling debris.

Fifth, instincts have a role in decision making. And we all have an instinct that the puny Chinese believe they’d win if they fought us. We have an opportunity here. I’m talking send up a B actor or X Games “has been” with an Air Soft to bring it down. Doesn’t anyone desire glory anymore?

In any case, I repeat, I believe I speak for all of us when I say, “Sorry, but you’re wrong, Mr. US Official. This is like Top Gun. Shoot it down.”

The LORD’s Air Traffic Control

This morning I found myself wondering an uncommon question.

“Just when is the sun coming up?”

I left the house at 5:30 with the aim to arrive in Wisconsin around 8. The “wintry mix” that had fallen all night proved to be more ice than mix, and traffic was slow. I figured I’d be safe because I’d only be in the dark for the first hour of my ride as surely BMNT (beginning of morning nautical twilight) would happen around 0630.

“My calculations must be off,” I finally conceded.

It hit me that BMCT is what matters when driving (civil twilight—sun at 6 degrees below horizon, not the 12 of nautical twilight).

No problem. But even at 7am, there was still no sign of our nearest star, and quite a bit more roadway to go than I could squeeze into one hour.

Then it happened as it always does—suddenly.

Suddenly, dawn made her appearance.

A few minutes later, the true miracles occurred.

Miracle Number 1: I saw a headless bird eating road kill.

“Wait-a-minute!! That’s no headless bird, that’s a BALD EAGLE! And it’s so close!”

Zoom. I passed within feet of him.

“And to think I saw him in Wisconsin USA,” I further thought to myself.

I mean, seeing a bald eagle is one thing, but seeing one in the great state of Wisconsin, USA elevates the experience well into the clouds, if not all the way to the heavens.

Next, it happened again.

Miracle Number 2: I looked and saw a bald eagle on the tippy top of a leafless tree. His chest was as broad as the Rocky Mountains.

Unlike last sighting from a few posts back, we’ll call that one The Sentinel, this treetop eagle had the pleasure of directing traffic.

Upon entering Wisconsin, I observed that the wintry mix had stopped at the state line and now there were only enormous snow flakes. Enormous snow flakes in need of some direction. And I was staring at the divinely appointed tower controller as he was directing traffic.

“Cleared for landing, Uniform Sierra Foxtrot.”

“Yes, sir. Come on down.”

“Wonderful flare, way to go!”

“Last calling, you’re number two for that branch on your right, keep your speed up, I’ve got two more behind ya.”

“Sierra Foxtrot Heavy, I’ve got a spot for you on the virgin mantle two hundred yards from centerline.”

And on and on he went. It was like listening to the soothing crackle of George Washington’s torch as it illuminated the unimaginable freedom just on the other side of the darkness.