Get this: now he's blaming Hurricane Sandy and that bloated Springsteen-loving Jersey retard -- as if we wouldn't be totally f*cked anyway because impressionable independents are even stupider than we thought.
After all that money, does it really come down to a bunch of impressionable idiots watching pictures on TV?
C'mon. When was it ever any different?
Oh well. At least the country will be ungovernable now that Obama has waged the most expensive campaign of character assassination in world history.
Yeah, he got his revenge against us, we'll give him that. Well done, assoul. Finally you've earned your Peace Prize and can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Yasser Arafat without feeling a little embarrassed. Welcome to the club. You've made your bones.
But it's going to be a bit like Michael Corleone staring out over Lake Tahoe after whacking everyone who stood in his way. One of those... something victories. What's the word, Jeeves? Yes, pyrrhic.
One consolation is that a Romney victory would have hardly augured a pleasant four years. Rather, journalists would have suddenly remembered their vocation, and their latent Bush Derangement virus would have again become florid.
Homelessness would have suddenly been rediscovered. Al Qaeda would again be on the move. The dramatic increase in Black poverty would be a scandal. Snatching defeat from victory in Iraq. Nuclear mullahfolkers. An unsustainable level of government debt would provoke shock, shock.
To say nothing of the new War on Women, the rampant racism, the Mormon Theocracy, our outraged frenemies in Old Europe.... Pulitzers all around!
I'm with Taranto, but then I'm always with Taranto. In any event, if the Cosmos sees fit to grant our modern-day Lincoln a second term, he asks, "how bad could it be?"
"Obama has spent the past four years explaining away his failings by essentially arguing he is the best of all possible presidents -- that he has done as well as any man could given the 'mess' he 'inherited' from his predecessor."
Yes, but "things are about to get a lot worse because of decisions taken but deferred during the Obama years." If he thought the Bushmess was bad, wait until he gets a load of the Obamamess.
The mess "includes not only high unemployment and slow growth but impending policy changes that threaten to make those problems worse. On Jan. 1, unless Congress acts, the Bush tax cuts expire" -- or in Obama's more accurate words, we're about to be hit with "massive, job-killing tax increases."
And ObamaCare was of course written so deceptively "that most of its provisions would not take effect until the next presidential term," not the least of which being "an additional massive, job-killing tax increase (on investment income), also scheduled to take effect Jan. 1."
The state-run media will have its laziness cut out for it this time, but it would be a mistake to underestimate their determination to lie and deceive. With this presidential campaign they crossed a rubiconjob from merely shaping and imposing their narrative to outright fabrication and brazen denial of reality.
The election proved that a lot of semiconscious Americans still take the MSMistry of Truth seriously.
As a result, I would say that we'll really have to reach bottom in a completely undeniable way before things can turn around -- like a guy who finally stops chewing tobacco after they remove his jaw.
Look at California, which is totally run by Democrats who betray absolutely no ability to see that yawning fiscal abyss up ahead or to take their foot off the gas. For them, a red inklight means gun it!
But if things cannot go on, they will not go on. It's just a matter of when, which cannot be predicted by any linear model. Rather, it's going to be like chaos theory, and occur with no hiatus, allofasudden: a fold catastrophe.
Of course, no one knows the hour, but Petey still thinks it will be on or about 12.12.12.
I didn't want this post to be about the election, but what can you do? I don't want pretend it's not on my mind, and try to write around it. It takes a moment to gather yourself after you've been kicked in the nuts. But I promise that tomorrow everything around here will be back to abnormal. And this is the last time I'll forget to gird myself with the Cup of Righteousness.
102 comments:
I was actually tempted to move cash to equities based upon Petey's prediction. At least he won't have that on his conscience.
And you're blaming Petey!
Absolutely. I inherited his mess, and now I'm left to deal with it.
Is Petey also the one recommending a Bread album? :)
"But I promise that tomorrow everything around here will be back to abnormal. "
Yea... Abby normal. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH97lImrr0Q
Ted -- Nostalgia and kitsch have their legitimate rights, especially on a trying day such as this! You'd be regressing too.
Besides, I like to expose myself to a little bit of everything, and I'd only heard their handful of hits. I'd read elsewhere that the hits didn't tell the whole story, and that they actually produced a lot of finely honed pop gems, similar, in a way, to the much maligned Carpenters. Besides, I found a cheap used copy of that highly sought after out-of-print release, and now I can sell it back at triple the price to some nostalgic loser.
One consolation is that a Romney victory would have hardly augured a pleasant four years. Rather, journalists would have suddenly remembered their vocation, and their latent Bush Derangement virus would have again become florid.
One of the (very few) things I was looking forward to was an end to the media veneration of TOTUS and FLOTUS (Fat-ass Loudmouth of the United States). Now we have another four years of children starving at the local government indoctrination centers.
There's obviously been a demographic shift toward people who like that sort of thing.
No worries, I've been known to be a "nostalgic loser" from time to time. Still listen to old "Men At Work" albums every so often (I'm definitely an 80s child).
Awwww... Bob. I thought the Abby normal quote kinda funny. :(
Oh Well...
"As a result, I would say that we'll really have to reach bottom in a completely undeniable way before things can turn around -- like a guy who finally stops chewing tobacco after they remove his jaw.
Look at California, which is totally run by Democrats who betray absolutely no ability to see that yawning fiscal abyss up ahead or to take their foot off the gas. For them, a red inklight means gun it!"
Well said, Bob.
Who knew that film, Idiocracy, was so phophetic?
And that, it turns out is perhaps being optimistic, since the alternative means that most (the takers) are far more selfish, generally speaking, than most of us ever expected.
I mean, selfishness is not unexpected at all. That's easy to predict.
But the kind of selfishness that doesn't even pretend to care about the crushing debt our children and grandchildren will inherit (if we last that long)...
Or perhaps it's simply a perfect storm of selfish retards.
In any event, the inmates get to run the asylum for 4 more years and the fools that voted for the Joker (and jokers) again will need to see for themselves what happens to friends of the Joker.
Rock bottom will either mean a severe wake up call or udder destruction, depending on how folks repond to reality...as always.
graceful post full of sharp points, Bob
Wait, Bread?
Well...as long as you make a hefty profit.
I want to thank you for addressing the election. I don't come here for political news, but I needed to have my dismay mirrored, so to speak.
This really was...breathtaking! (and I don't even have nuts...)
...they crossed a rubiconjob from merely shaping and imposing their narrative to outright fabrication and brazen denial of reality.
Obviously, since they are in the majority, reality has been repealed. I'm sure it will work out -- just recalibrate your calculator so that 1+1=4.
I feel bad for children. Otherwise, I'm almost inclined to say, "Bring it on."
See Is. 10:21 for a consoling thought.
What gets me are the idiots on the right who think Romney was the reason the Joker got reelected.
At this point, I doubt Reagan himself could get elected.
The left, since it consists of blocs instead of individuals, is much easier to organize to get out the vote. Also much easier to tailor the message to various blocheads.
If you like Bread is it okay if I like the Bee Gees?
Critical opinion has actually come around on the Bee Gees, who are now highly regarded for their melodies, harmonies, and general song craft.
Mushroom, same here.
The geniuses who elected four more years of Smug (Smaug's retarded little brother) obviously don't realize that their future will one day be in the hands of the children they are stealing from.
I really don't think that the children will be all that sympathetic to the "but we had good intentions" and "how were we to know that we couldn't just print more money?" excuses.
Future headline:
President Honey Boo Boo says old people are gross and passes a new executive order to put them out of her misery.
landrewc -- Don't start spreading rumors! I didn't say I liked Bread, only that I was listening to that collection. It's the kind of thing I listen to on headphones in order to fall asleep. Other groups that do the trick are ELP, Yes, and Pink Floyd.
Funny, 'cause last night I was tempted to move my cash to tequila.
And, Mush, correction:
1+1=0.5
And until yesterday America did the trick.
@Bob: That is noted. I will not tell anyone that you actually like Bread and own a signed special edition gold album of their deepest cuts and rarities that is available only through their fan club.
To be clear, I was only tempted to increase my equities, but didn't, and a good thing, because I think we're going to see a capital strike. In other words, the people who don't build anything are going to stop building things.
landrewc -- didn't even feel that one, because I'm wearing the Cup of Righteousness.
[beegees a-ok]-- that robin's quaking emoting voice was a marvel! ['i started a joke']
Full disclosure -- I actually own an original green shag copy of the Have a Nice Decade box set. But it only comes out when I'm real stressed, and need to deny all history subsequent to 1975 or so.
Falling asleep music?
I can see that.
['i started a joke']
Good choice, ge. I'da picked that one.
"Staying Alive" does have staying power.
America is in the drunken girl scout bar room brawl stage, as depicted in Airplane!
A four-disc box set came out around 20 years ago, called Tales of the Brothers Gibb, and it only scratches the surface. They did a lot of great stuff, in a variety of styles.
"deny all history subsequent to 1975 or so"
Speaking of jokes, last night it occurred to me why Carter didn't get the second term.
Punch line after the break...
...wasn't horrible enough.
Tales From the Brothers Gibb. I'll bet you didn't know that Barry wrote "To Love Somebody" for labelmate Otis Redding, but he died before he could record it.
Rick, plus the giant rabbit got in his way.
The one in the middle?
"S.N.A.F.U."
Perfect. Not the end of history, but the midst of it. Carry on.
I moved from a short position to cash.
I guess that's like you moving from cash to equities.
I'm so glad we don't have elections here in theocratic Upper Tonga.
Thanks, all you guys. Things aren't so bad if we can still hang out in Upper Tonga making wiseasscracks.
Rick @ 10:11 - :D
Well Mushroom & Ben already pulled my quotes and left me nothing more to add.
Except this:
"Nuclear mullahfolkers."
Bwa-ha-hahahaha!
Gagdad said "The left, since it consists of blocs instead of individuals, is much easier to organize to get out the vote."
Speaking of which, I don't have a link at the moment, but a friend passed this along:
""Here is the attitude of those who stand against you. Yours should be no less resolute.. Email from the SEIU: You did it! I could not be prouder of the incredible work SEIU members did to make last night a reality. More than 100,000 SEIU members volunteered during this campaign. Together, we knocked on 5 million doors and made 13 million phone calls for President Obama and pro-working family candidates up and down the ballot. This victory is your victory. Leaders like President Obama, Senator-Elect Elizabeth Warren, Senator-Elect Tammy Baldwin and other champions we helped elect represent exactly what we need from our leaders. We need a country where the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share. We need good jobs, we need to need to protect the vital services that millions of American rely on and we need to provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. And we’re not done yet. In the days ahead, we’ll be working to make sure our government gets the job done for working families. It’s our duty to hold our leaders accountable 365 days a year, not just on Election Day. Our work will continue and we’re going to be in this together every step of the way. In Solidarity, Mary Kay Henry President SEIU""
On the bright side, there are now 30 something Right minded Governors, such as with Wisconsin's Scott Walker, where SEIU famously failed to make any headway against.
Punched. Roll. Punch.
"Fairness" - a prettier word for "envy."
Ugh! That's it. Did the door-to-door, made the calls, worked the polls. Forget it, the floodwaters of stupid are too great and I'm no longer going to fill sandbags. Going put that effort into building a boat.
It is so nice to hang out here. The first thing I did last night after my wife told me OIHO had gone down the rabbit hole was to delete all my links to various forums and sites where I knew I would be tempted to read all the moaning and indignation.
(In-Dig-Nation -- Dig-In-Nation might be better -- @katzxy, thank you, and a response also from Isaiah, 26:20 -- Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.)
John said "That's it. Did the door-to-door, made the calls, worked the polls. Forget it, the floodwaters of stupid are too great and I'm no longer going to fill sandbags."
I hear ya. I've been doing the phone banking, and so forth and more, but anticipating Mushroom's excellent ref: "Isaiah, 26:20 -- Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by.", I, except for a quick glance at Sandy, I stopped watching or reading any News two weeks ago, and cut all else down to the bare minimum needed to function in doing what I was doing to at least try and stave off the inevitable.
A couple comments by friends prompted a reply from me that I'll pass on here:
"Sigh. Mitt was never a conservative, but that's really beside the point. Look, we're offering Liberty. It is being being repackaged and branded as cold, heartless assaults upon We The People. Worse, what truly is cold, heartless and a vicious assault upon We The People - tyranny - is being repackaged and branded as 'Liberty'.
It really doesn't matter that much (well... it does... but, bear with me) that the media is repackaging and branding things that way, what really matters is that the repackaging and branding are being bought! Eagerly!
Against all easily available evidence to the contrary. We are being sold nothing... and asking for more! Unless people become able to recognize that deception for what it is, all else is for naught.
That is not a political issue, or one of marketing, it is an issue of thinking and people's willing inability to do it.
A friend posted a decent, short, snopsis of that today:
"...We decided that Prussian military training was an appropriate model for the classroom. Follow your leader without question. The collective is what's important. Uniformity equals efficiency which is the most desirable state.
We taught generations to idolize Edward Bernays who felt that manipulation of society was necessary, because we suffer from the 'herd instinct' which he said was irrational and dangerous. We decided not to teach that Joseph Goebbels agreed with Bernays and gave the world Nazis..."
And people are not only surprised at the results, but want to blame candidates and elections for the results.
Sorry, not impressed.
Elections don't cause change, they reflect it. Or not. Don't come whining to me about the lack of change you see, when you're not willing to do anything about what prevents it."
People speak of passing the tipping point where there are more takers than makers. However, I think what has been illustrated in this election is that tipping point means more than economics. It also means culture.
A bright 30-something whose thinking I generally respect told me that she voted for O again primarily because of his position on women and gay marriage.
Stick a fork in us, we're done.
John - Make that a really big boat and I'm in. Think I have some specs here somewhere...oh yeah, Gen 6:14-16.
I used to be a kind of optimystic evolutionist, but can see now that I was just a crypto-Hegelian. Now I would agree with Joey the Rat, who suggested a few years ago -- before being named Pope -- that
"Maybe we are facing a new and different kind of epoch in the church’s history, where Christianity will again be characterized more by the mustard seed, where it will exist in small, seemingly insignificant groups that nonetheless live an intense struggle against evil and bring good into the world –- that let God in."
re 'I Started a Joke', some lines seem like they could be from Jesus' POV [my sister even pointed this pop gossip out back when it came out in '60s]
and i recently saw an old video [damned if relocable!] where after the last word in lieu of a bow, Robin sticks his arms out crucifixion-style... a classical orchestra was backing him not the band, B&W footage on an outside stage, if you stumble onto it
I started a joke, which started the whole world crying,
but I didn't see that the joke was on me, oh no.
I started to cry, which started the whole world laughing,
oh, if I'd only seen that the joke was on me.
I looked at the skies, running my hands over my eyes,
and I fell out of bed, hurting my head from things that I'd said.
Til I finally died, which started the whole world living,
oh, if I'd only seen that the joke was on me.
Yes, I've been thinking along those lines for a while. It's sad, though - letting go of the things that were possible for previous generations, and knowing that our kids are inheriting a smaller world in all the worst ways.
Nomo - one of DH's colleagues said essentially the same: she's a fiscal conservative, but socially liberal. Believed the war on women bs, and so voted for more of the same.
Heh - 0 + 0 is also < 0...
Sign me up.
Nomo said "Stick a fork in us, we're done...Make that a really big boat and I'm in."
Nomo, I hope you've cornered the market on gopher wood.
Culture isn't something you stick a fork in or walk away from. It's not an option. Sorry, but I'm so fed up with the "It's OOOOVERRRR!!!! and the "I'm going Galt!"'rs, and the "We just need a REAL ___ (conservative, tea partier, libertarian, savior)!".
No, you don't. You need to stop looking for easy answers that fit with your drive-through time frame, and just do what needs to be done.
What's that?
Exactly what we're doing here in Upper Tonga. Renewing the culture, here, in each of us, and spreading it to those who are willing to accept it. There are no shortcuts. That's the plan.
Do what you can to stem the tide, of course, never stop fighing... but stop pouting or looking for easy answers. They don't exist. Never have. Which makes it just a wee bit difficult to find them, let alone implement them.
I just read an email from a group whose messages I rarely read, but which hits the nail on the head. It notes the fate of the easy answer brigade in Jeremiah 28, and goes into the real answer in Jeremiah 29, that Exile is the means of restoring the culture:
"4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.
10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."
I've always said real change would always take at least 50 years, Jeremiah apparently thinks that optimistic, which I tend to agree with as well.
Deal with it. We have been exiled to a place within our culture. Deal with it. "seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried". Build. Live. Plant. Eat what fruits you can.
Do it honestly, without heading false prophets, and our culture just might be restored.
I don't recommend the shortcuts.
:)
I think you're preaching to the choir here, Van.
Julie,
Nah, just safely ranting amongst friends.
Pass the beer please.
;-)
Whoa, Van, man, here's a nice IPA.
I'm not about the shortcuts but about the comic relief.
I definitely get that its taken quite some time to get where we are and could take quite some time to get where we were and it won't be easy nor is there any guarantee. Whew.
Wanna share that IPA?
Gopher wood? Dang, I thought I just needed a big herd of swimming gophers. They'll have to supply their own wood.
The urge to throw in the towel is strong even though I know it would simply be sticking my head in the sand.
Reality is.
But then the irrepressible optimism I've been so blessed to have throughout my life kicks in and I think hopeful thoughts. I rationalize there are still more fellow Americans that post-Americans and it's simply a matter of informing the heretofore uninformed and/or misinformed.
I truly believe the main problem has been, for a long time, media malfeasance and that too many fellow Americans aren't aware they're not getting unbiased news. The new media is doing a good job but it doesn't reach enough people.
I don't have the answer. I hope smarter people than I will find a way to reach our fellow Americans.
Media + College = Moronosphere
From the look on his teacher's face, we seem to be the only parents who don't really care if their kid goes to college. I would, however, be grievously disappointed if he were as uneducated as most college grads.
To be clear, I was only tempted to increase my equities, but didn't, and a good thing, because I think we're going to see a capital strike. In other words, the people who don't build anything are going to stop building things.
And here I was about to seriously order this.
I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
Sorry Nomo... pent up commentitis... been a few weeks... something had to blow.
;-)
Gagdad said "we seem to be the only parents who don't really care if their kid goes to college."
Heh, same here. Really pisses them off too. Especially when you say
"No, I'm not worried about their going to college, I'd rather they get a good Education.
But if what they want to do requires some sort of bureaucratic accreditation for that profession, I suppose we might risk it."
Smoke. From. The. Ears.
Bob, I'm with you on college. I could care less if they have degrees, I'm far more concerned that they know how to support themselves. My brother is doing pretty well after learning to be useful at tech school; he may not know how to write very well, but he's nobody's fool and that's much more important. I'd be happy if my kids develop those traits.
On the other and, I would be overjoyed if he were to attend a place like Hillsdale. If I have one regret in life, it's that I wasn't the beneficiary of that kind of real education, and instead had to be a do-it-yoursopher. The recovery is ongoing.
Although I did luck out in my PhD program.
Tristan will be 18 in 10.5 years. By then I'm sure he'll have enough in his college account to go where he wants. But what if he could take the same money and start a small business, or just invest it? If it were me, I'd go for the cheapest and best education, and hold on to as much money as possible.
Good advice my man. I was thinking along the same lines. I have a 16 yr old cousin in the UK, who is not very political, but loosely admiring of obba , has been fed some propaganda at school etc. I am motivated to live free, work at a trade as a vertical access worker , do expeditions in Alaska etc, in part so as to inspire Her to live free and not be a herd animal .
And getting all bitter and such is not going to impress such people.
Good advice my man. I have a 16 yr old cousin in the UK , who is sweet and not very political, but goes with the flow in loose admiration of obama. Also has had some socialist propaganda at school. Sent her " the secret knowledge" by mamet to expose her to a different viewpoint.. and wish to show her liberty and self-reliance via my example. Working on oil rigs and such around the world, sea kayaking in Alaska etc. And importantly, not being bitter and twisted re obbie etc. That wld only play into the hands of leftie brainwashers.
A bit like the Christians singing while the lions circle them in the arena, we need to impress by being steadfast and calmly state our views.
ge, I thought so to about that song, and mentioned it to Bob.
There doesn't seem to be any evidence that that was their intent, but I think sometimes, if one is fortunate, a writer or some other artist, may tap into the stream, and the truth takes care of the rest. You just think you're driving. And hearing another song.
On what to do now, Bill Whittle has some ideas (long presentation, but well worth watching in its entirety).
"A bit like the Christians singing while the lions circle them in the arena, we need to impress by being steadfast and calmly state our views."
While not habitually a "happy warrior" I am beginning to see that it is the only real choice to our current state of affairs is for me to do better to become one. Without, of course, denying the reality of the situation.
"If I have one regret in life, it's that I wasn't the beneficiary of that kind of real education, and instead had to be a do-it-yoursopher. The recovery is ongoing.
Amen.
Thanks for the info about the "Tales From The Brothers Gibb" cd. I am tracking it down. Also the have a nice decade that sounds like a must purchase.
Apparently college was spiritual boot camp for me.I wouldn't be commenting here if I hadn't gone to college.
That being said, it had nothing to do with anything the college actually taught and more to do with my associates there.
The guy across the hall from me became a Benedictine monk.
However, for the most part, college was a complete waste of time.
Is a catacomb culture unavoidable? Rene Guenon insisted that we are in the grips of the Reign of Quantity. I've been wondering if leftism was a forgone conclusion the moment modernity came to be.
We all know the John Adams quote:
“Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Where are the morality and religious levels at across the fruited plain? Are we still above the level required to keep our republic?
Gagdad said "I would be overjoyed if he were to attend a place like Hillsdale."
You and me both. As an alternative, their online courses, especially on the constitution, are not only top-notch, but enjoyable.
Hillsdale online courses
Hillsdale's President, Larry Arn's book "The Founders Key", is also one of the best, and briefest, overviews of not only the Constitution, but human nature.
Jules said "Sent her " the secret knowledge" by mamet to expose her to a different viewpoint."
Excellent choice; lots to chew on in that, and flavorful as well.
Our parish just had the nephew of the late Cardinal Kung to lecture.
Although most didn't say it, we were taking mental notes, in a "things to come" kind of way. What I find most disorienting about all this is that I now calmly think things and consider possibilities I would have mercilessly hoorawed myself for before.
Singing before the lions- might have to go on the fridge, next to Bob's quote about avoiding the infrahuman tide of ugliness.
Thanks, all. OC is a tonic and a refuge.
Thank you, Sal.
The night before, when it all went down, I was sad in a strange way. My wife went to bed and I told her I would be right up, but I kept finding myself stopping. Like, stopping in the middle of the kitchen. Then in the hallway on the way to the bathroom. Then leaning with my back against the counter.
Yesterday was release of emotion. We can't fault for that. Only if it lasts for 4 years. We're not the type to remain that way.
But I've been trying to figure out what precisely I was sad about.
The next day I really didn't want to be around anyone but my wife. I went to work and worked and it was good therapy. To think about something else. Since then I think the sadness was for my son. If I'd had kids it would be for them. But what was it? It was that, and I've been knowing it, that's why a write about the world my father-in-law knew. What stories, and mind you, he's not a story-teller, he would just tell me little things when he was reminded of them. He wasn't trying to teach me. His life was very much like a Norman Rockwell painting. When he told how when he was a boy in Fall River many of the streets were unpaved. When he went swimming with the boys they stripped their clothes and jumped into the river from a tree limb. They would swim across the Taunton River. Which must be half a mile if not a full mile.
The sadness for my boy was that he wasn't going to know the America I knew as a boy. I grew up in the 70s and maybe it felt like this for my parents. I remember the gas lines and the odd and even license plate days. But otherwise I was very insulated from what was going on. It was good to be nine. And to be insulated. My son though was nine on 9/11. More or less.
Nothing happened on 6/11. Maybe we can use that as our Jesus Fish scratched in the sand - to let the other know "I'm one of you.". The quickening was always going on. On 6/11 it just got quicker.
Where?
In our eyes. It became actual. We saw it no longer as only a vision. But the other side was doing what they've been doing all along. If we'd have won on 6/11 we would not have seen it. Things would have gone on, right along with all those on the other side who, forgive them Father, they know not what they do."
Maybe that's what Bill Whittle meant when he said in his video that, "No. America was BORN last night." But I've only watched about 10 minutes of it so far.
Alright, so what do we do about it. I don't know yet. What do you do during a quickening quickening?
A recent thought, since I've been seeing a lot of people on our side being called unpatriotic, and cowards for suggesting they feel like leaving the country or really, to move to a red state, or to the hills or whatever. I wish I was that kind of coward. Anyway, if they are unpatriotic or cowards, so were the people on the Mayflower and Noah, those who wrote our Constitution, or anyone who goes to a church. Noah gathered what was good. Noah preserved.
Heh - Mayans: Quit exploiting our calendar! It's not the end of the world, it's just that everything is going to change!
Rick - yes, just so.
Van-
Thank you for the Hillsdale link! I have just signed myself up.
I read a quote somewhere that things reveal themselves in passing away. That describes the sadness for me. You can't truly know what you've got -- or had -- until its gone.
I helped count absentee ballots in my county the other night. All the Republicans were ahead in those counts. I was quietly happy about that. But I felt inexplicably subdued when I went home and I went straight to bed, without consulting any news. I think I already knew somehow.
I had a sinking feeling when I heard the third debate on the radio. (We have no tv.) I was not looking at the appearances of the candidates. I was listening to their words, and my heart sank when Romney didn't fight. Other than that, I think he and Ryan did as well as could be expected. I feel no amnosity towards them.
On the morning after election night, I woke up and I heard John Paul Jones words in my head: "I have not yet begun to fight."
And that's the way I feel about all of this. I have not yet begun to fight. (And I have fought long and hard these last few years.)
Doc Zero/Selwyn Duke @ American Thinker says we have to change the culture. I'm doing that tonight by sitting in on the school board meeting. My husband says no to homeschooling, and his arguements makes sense, so we're working where we can.
Van, does the online course take up a lot of bandwidth? I have been so wanting to take Hillsdale courses online. Could I use the WiFi at the library or McDonalds?
Chris, ditto. It means something that Bob Dylan was right and the GOP pundit experts were wrong.
Chris_M "I had a sinking feeling when I heard the third debate on the radio. "
Chris, I had the same reaction. I was driving to the airport & back to pick up our oldest (just returned from deployment), and listening only to their voices, all I heard were the missed opportunities and the weakness of the responses... not only the lack of fight, the the absense of a sense of something being there to fight for.
Depressed the heck out of me.
That's about when I tuned out and just went through the motions as needed.
Regarding the bandwidth issue with Hillsdale, no I haven't noticed it being any different than something such as YouTube. They've got a channel on YouTube btw, chalk full of goodness.
Sorry, had to scoot.
Thanks, Julie.
I don't want to give the wrong impression. I'm not thinking of packing up. Going to live somewhere pretending it's 1918 or pick a year. Well, to be precise, I'm thinking through it. I see some common thing in the people I mentioned who "separated". Like the Obama phone lady looks like she's holding the golden calf. That's what it looks like to me. She didn't change. I did on 6/11. I am very sad to see her at her age and in this age like that. She knows no better. My friends who voted "against me" the other night. And against themselves. I tried to talk to them. In very brief-, polite-, sober-, simple logic-ways. The absolute basics. They could not hear it. They cut it off. They're too invested. It wasn't sour grapes with me when I lost the other night. I think Romney was the perfect candidate for that time and these people. That was the tipping point. When the perfectly reasonable guy - when the other side could not hear him, that was the tipping point.
I've read 100 times more books, the kinds of books we read here, history, you name it, all the good ones, since I found this place on 27 Jan 2007 than I had my whole life previous. I don't need more Hillsadale lectures (no offense) -- not compared to the folks who voted on the other side. That's my point. I've got plenty of work to do to me, but it's not the Hillsdale basics. They need the basics. They're dying of thirst and they don't know it.
How would Noah live in this age. That's what I'm trying to do. Today.
Nomo said "It means something that Bob Dylan was right and the GOP pundit experts were wrong." I haven't gone into the details myself yet, but it seems that it turns out that the voter turnout was significantly less than in 2008, for Dems, and even worse for Reps. Think about that. There were a lot of people who, even last election cycle, said that they'd never vote for Romney because of the obvious lack (even violation) of those core principles that conservatives typically look for.
I looked beyond that, deciding that even if I couldn't vote for Romney/Ryan, I needed to oppose Obama via Romney/Ryan, and I did my best to convince others that that was the right thing to do.
And the GOP assumed everyone would do that as well, because they would have no other option. They felt so confident in that, that they muscled grassroots and Ron Paul types, etc, out of leadership positions and input, during the RNC convention.
I can't tell you how many people that p/o'd, and they all vowed "You'll be sorry!".
If you total up the ballots this week, the largest ever turnout of Libertarian votes (which would have secured the election, had they gone for Romney/Ryan), it's apparent that voters didn't see that they had 'no other option'. They either stayed home, or voted libertarian.
Even more telling, in my state, Missouri, we had a candidate, Todd Akin, who shoved his foot so deep into his mouth that he booted himself out of an untouchable lead against the Dem incumbent. Romney/Ryan swept Missouri by huge margins... but looking at the ballots, there were a large percentage of those who voted for Romney/Ryan, that didn't even vote for the libertarian candidate in the senate race (who is a felon, druggie, twit), but skipped the Senate vote entirely.
There's a message in there for the GOP... which has a very real possibility of vanishing in the very near future.
Rick said "I've read 100 times more books, the kinds of books we read here, history, you name it, all the good ones, since I found this place on 27 Jan 2007 than I had my whole life previous. I don't need more Hillsadale lectures (no offense)"
Certainly no offense taken here. I enjoy seeing the different ways people present the same information I learned a gajillion years ago (and teaching those same basic ideas myself... over and over and over again), but I realize that's a quirk that's far from the norm.
And Yep on the rest of your comment.
Rick, "She didn't change. I did on 6/11. I am very sad to see her at her age and in this age like that. She knows no better. My friends who voted "against me" the other night. And against themselves. I tried to talk to them. In very brief-, polite-, sober-, simple logic-ways. The absolute basics. They could not hear it. They cut it off. "
Yes, that's what I experienced, too. This is the first time an election has had the possibility of coming between me and family. Not because I want it to, nor because I am bitter, but because certain of them are like you said, and one in particular has taken the step of taking our political ideas as an implication that my husband and I might be very bad people. I wouldn't care what he thinks, except that he's married to someone important to me, and as such she may take his side. And for my part, I admit that all of this - the inability to acknowledge any good character or motive in those with whom one politically disagrees - does make me think less of them.
She taught me better than that.
All the things my family has been through over the years, and this is what may convict me in their eyes. And this, too, is part of the world my kids will inherit. This, too, is part of the sadness.
Van, thanks. I meant truly no disrespect by it. I don't see yours as as a quirk. I see it as a very important role.
and Julie:
"and this is what may convict me in their eyes"
Yes. And truly the BEST days we've spent together. They know not...
I know they'll forgive me someday.
This may be stating the obvious but it is the best I can do. I think it is incumbent upon all of us to find ways we can keep the torch lit when and if future generations desire to live as free people again.
Part of that is to pass the tradition on from person to person. Children are an obvious way. Though not limited to one's offspring. Basically to live as a remnant or in the catacombs, even if also in plain sight.
In my darker moments I am afraid this may not be enough. I will once again recommend--for all such a recommendation may be worth--the book "A Canticle for Leibowitz" as I think it is very relevant to our situation, though the particulars may be somewhat different.
This may sound a bit crazy, but I think that there is a need for a new monasticism. One who's goal is to keep the great achievements of Western Civilization alive. I think it should be as compressed as possible and widely distributed.
Also, I don't think the Western Canon can depend on the survival of the humans guarding it. It should be hidden yet still ultimately accessible when it is eventually(?) needed again.
That's the best I've got so far. Needs more thought. Maybe it's too crazy to work. Maybe there isn't enough time. Yet, I think it's something I would like to dedicate the rest of my time here to achieving.
Jack said "a recommendation may be worth--the book "A Canticle for Leibowitz" as I think it is very relevant to our situation"
Agreed, an excellent book. Just read it in whole this summer. Bitter sweetly loved it.
"One who's goal is to keep the great achievements of Western Civilization alive. I think it should be as compressed as possible and widely distributed."
Although saddled with the vagaries of electronic media, you can request a complimentary copy of the Portable Library of Liberty DVD - which is one of the best online sources for the learned wealth of Western Civilization, from the Online Library of Liberty.
Similarly for Project Gutenberg.org, which has an even wider and larger selection... their target is digitizing everything ever printed, and they are well on their way to achieving it.
And... if you look at my profile pic, you can see I've got one hardcopy copy of the greats of Western Civ (and another copy in our guest room/bunker).
Spread it.
When the improving economy succeeds in tanking the company I'm working with now, I'm going to use my unemployed time to finally finish the e-reader/teaching app I've been envisioning for a decade - the hardware is finally here (the new crop of Windows, Android & Apple tablets) to make it practical... wish me... luck. ahem.
Thanks for the replies NoMo and Van. Van as you were picking up your returning soldier, we were driving to the Army recruiter office with our oldest to hear a discussions of his options. He is interested in joining the Army, like his dad, before him.
We went to the school board meeting last night, arrived late, and walked in just as the board was finishing up an enthusiastic discription of Bill Ayers' Common Core Curriculum, which my husband describes as "making little sceptics," and I call, "producing feral children." Ugh.
Chris M said " Bill Ayers' Common Core Curriculum, which my husband describes as "making little sceptics," and I call, "producing feral children.""
And which I call downright evil, and in its roots, the source of the world we face today.
Heh, you've no idea how many thousands of words are fighting to fly out of my figertips at the mention of that. In one of my earlier comments on this page, I ref'd this: "posted a decent, short, snopsis of that today", which is from a post by some friends of mine who run "Missouri Education Watchdog". Gretchen & Annie have been working with parents, teachers and others from around the country who've reluctantly become activists, trying to wake up school boards & legislators to the fraud which that, and Race To The Top, are.
And believe it or not, as discouraging as the going has been, they have had a surprising amount of success. It is well worth reading through their posts and following their links; comment or send them an email (pretty sure it's on their page), and they can probably put you in touch with someone in your area willing and able to give pointers on what to look out for and how to combat it.
Or for a few thousand of my words that I've already let fly on the subject, Our School Curriculum's Rotten Common Core - pt.1"
Van,
Thank you, thank you. In trying to find an old article on Common Core, I stumbled onto this:
http://www.invisibleserfscollar.com/blending-sustainability-and-education-to-gain-arational-nonlinear-minds-and-new-behaviors/
It's a very good blog on the whole subject with the perfect photo at the top.
Thanks very much for the links. I will check them all out. I have a lot of reading to do.
It is heartening to know that there are already people engaged in this battle and that it is not impossible.
Van,
Thank you, thank you. In looking for an old article I had read a while back, I stumbled onto this blog:
http://www.invisibleserfscollar.com/blending-sustainability-and-education-to-gain-arational-nonlinear-minds-and-new-behaviors/
Very appropriate photo at the top.
Thank you very much for the links. I'm going to check them all out. I have a lot of reading to do.
It's heatening to know it's not an impossible task.
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