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Post by One on Jul 20, 2022 11:40:24 GMT -5
You didn't ask the smart one ( ) but I'll answer that question. Constitutional Convention. Reset the rules and (attempt) to cripple the bureaucracy, aka deep state. Place term limits not only on the elected, but the appointed and the hired. Make government accountable to the people as was intended. With the Lord's help, maybe we can also find a way to make the people responsible.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 20, 2022 17:00:24 GMT -5
My life's motto is "integrity above all else." When I was a little boy my dad told me that "Character is what you have and what you do when no one is looking." It's my goal to do the right thing, the moral thing, each time . . . every time. I have fallen short of that ideal many times, nonetheless it remains the standard and the goal. So my point was . . . if it becomes necessary to become a cheater/stealer to beat the cheating stealers we oppose - then I'm not interested in descending to their level. Once I've done so - they've won, because at that point we're all cheaters/stealers . . . just possibly with different policy preferences. So at that point, the world is run by cheaters/stealers - and the original cheaters/stealers have won, even if their preferred policies are (temporarily) stymied. So I would be interested to hear what you think we should do now. What is the proper stance, the proper behavior, for Conservatives who believe as you and I (apparently) do? in the words of the Presbyterian scholar and Christian apologist Francis A Schaeffer IV - "How Shall We Then Live?" To flesh it out a little further - in light of the facts upon which we agree, and based on the environment in which we find ourselves, how shall we now conduct ourselves in order to pursue the best possible outcome? The left has used our values against us for decades, and this is the end result - and believe me, they haven't hit rock bottom yet. The problem is you equate doing what is necessary to "becoming like them." I see no shame or fault in defending our civilization from those who would destroy it. I don't know when your father said that to you, but presumably it wasn't in a time period where 6-year olds were taken to drag queen shows, and anyone who complained was labeled a bigot and doxxed. In fact, I'd love to hear his take on current events. I agree with what he told you, but where we differ is I think we have a moral duty to fight filth by any means necessary. History is very clear on where this ends up. People drunk on power will act as they act, until people say they can't anymore. I shouldn't have to get more graphic than that.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 20, 2022 17:01:56 GMT -5
You didn't ask the smart one ( ) but I'll answer that question. Constitutional Convention. Reset the rules and (attempt) to cripple the bureaucracy, aka deep state. Place term limits not only on the elected, but the appointed and the hired. Make government accountable to the people as was intended. With the Lord's help, maybe we can also find a way to make the people responsible. I'd agree in principle, but I think we're past the point where that would fix anything. Our rulers hate us, most of them hate the country, and they believe they should rule as kings and queens over us. As long as they're the ones at the table what good would it do?
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md717
Pro Bowler
Posts: 275
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Post by md717 on Jul 20, 2022 21:57:08 GMT -5
You didn't ask the smart one ( ) but I'll answer that question. Constitutional Convention. Reset the rules and (attempt) to cripple the bureaucracy, aka deep state. Place term limits not only on the elected, but the appointed and the hired. Make government accountable to the people as was intended. With the Lord's help, maybe we can also find a way to make the people responsible. I was giggling like a little boy fresh off a "silent but deadly" when I wrote that line. (About one of you being smart. hehehehehehe. There I go again.) What most people don't understand (but you and Mike probably do by now) is that on this or any other forum - I write primarily to amuse myself. I long ago gave up the delusion that I was going to change anyone's mind on the core issues at hand. I remember once you told me (in person or online, I forget which) that I was a good writer . . . well you're a damn good writer in your own right, sir. (A secondary motivator of my writing on forums like this one is procrastination . . . I have a particularly distasteful job to do and I'm doing anything I can think of to delay my need to engage in the task I really don't want to do.) I share your enthusiasm for the Convention of States.
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md717
Pro Bowler
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Post by md717 on Jul 20, 2022 22:39:45 GMT -5
My life's motto is "integrity above all else." When I was a little boy my dad told me that "Character is what you have and what you do when no one is looking." It's my goal to do the right thing, the moral thing, each time . . . every time. I have fallen short of that ideal many times, nonetheless it remains the standard and the goal. So my point was . . . if it becomes necessary to become a cheater/stealer to beat the cheating stealers we oppose - then I'm not interested in descending to their level. Once I've done so - they've won, because at that point we're all cheaters/stealers . . . just possibly with different policy preferences. So at that point, the world is run by cheaters/stealers - and the original cheaters/stealers have won, even if their preferred policies are (temporarily) stymied. So I would be interested to hear what you think we should do now. What is the proper stance, the proper behavior, for Conservatives who believe as you and I (apparently) do? in the words of the Presbyterian scholar and Christian apologist Francis A Schaeffer IV - "How Shall We Then Live?" To flesh it out a little further - in light of the facts upon which we agree, and based on the environment in which we find ourselves, how shall we now conduct ourselves in order to pursue the best possible outcome? The left has used our values against us for decades, and this is the end result - and believe me, they haven't hit rock bottom yet. The problem is you equate doing what is necessary to "becoming like them." I see no shame or fault in defending our civilization from those who would destroy it. I don't know when your father said that to you, but presumably it wasn't in a time period where 6-year olds were taken to drag queen shows, and anyone who complained was labeled a bigot and doxxed. In fact, I'd love to hear his take on current events. I agree with what he told you, but where we differ is I think we have a moral duty to fight filth by any means necessary. History is very clear on where this ends up. People drunk on power will act as they act, until people say they can't anymore. I shouldn't have to get more graphic than that. Well I think this is very interesting. Maybe half a dozen people on the planet are following it, but I'm happy to have this conversation whenever and wherever it crops up. You asked about my father and when he gave me the advice I quoted. He is a paragon of moral virtue. The fun thing about principled moral standards is that they don't change over time - they're transcendental. There were similar moral outrages to the ones you cited when he said those things to me when I was a boy. I have been wrestling with these issues for many decades. I understand where you're coming from. I worry that refusing to engage in the dishonest and immoral tactics of our opponents insures our ultimate defeat. So must we descend to our opponents' moral ambiguity to engage with them? if we do, have we not ceded the moral upper ground? Are we not now engaged (after we surrender moral principles) in a raw struggle for power? I noticed that you didn't answer my question about how we should behave as conservatives going forward. Should we adopt the Left's tactics? Or?
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Post by One on Jul 21, 2022 11:30:52 GMT -5
In response to a couple of different points above, I encourage all three of you to watch this interview with Tina Peters and Sherronna Bishop. I'm sure at least two of you are familiar with the story, but before watching this I honestly didn't grasp the extent to which this country has moved to tyranny. What these women experienced, and at least Peters still does, is reminiscent of nightmares like Nazi Germany, Lenin and Mao. It's certainly not the America I remember in my younger years and it's not likely the America the majority of our citizens honestly believe still exists. Although it appears so, this really isn't a diversion from the original topic. I fear that we may have already gone over the proverbial cliff, but if not, evidence is building that to avoid that plunge may require something more than jurisprudence and politics. COVID, by many accounts, falls decidedly within the game plan. Forced submission of the populace, crippled economies and dramatic division of the people.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 21, 2022 17:57:56 GMT -5
COVID, by many accounts, falls decidedly within the game plan. Forced submission of the populace, crippled economies and dramatic division of the people. Not to mention tens of millions of shady mail-in ballots. As soon as they told me McDonald's and Amazon could stay open, but my store couldn't, I knew it was all horseshit. And now we're paying the price, and we deserve it.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 21, 2022 18:01:53 GMT -5
I noticed that you didn't answer my question about how we should behave as conservatives going forward. Should we adopt the Left's tactics? Or? I'm not ignoring the question, more I'm trying to lead you to the answer without spilling my guts. Merriam-Webster has just changed the definition of "female." 6-year olds are being taken to drag shows. Teachers proudly brag about their students adopting preferred pronouns. All of these things, and a thousand more examples, are precisely because people like you have allowed it to happen. Because you're a good person, who's values allow you to willingly see yourself destroyed, albeit while shouting at the tv. And again, I don't consider fighting filth to be "immoral" - as far as mob attacks and intimidation go, yes, I'm all for them receiving it as well.
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md717
Pro Bowler
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Post by md717 on Jul 21, 2022 20:42:39 GMT -5
I noticed that you didn't answer my question about how we should behave as conservatives going forward. Should we adopt the Left's tactics? Or? I'm not ignoring the question, more I'm trying to lead you to the answer without spilling my guts. Merriam-Webster has just changed the definition of "female." 6-year olds are being taken to drag shows. Teachers proudly brag about their students adopting preferred pronouns. All of these things, and a thousand more examples, are precisely because people like you have allowed it to happen. Because you're a good person, who's values allow you to willingly see yourself destroyed, albeit while shouting at the tv. And again, I don't consider fighting filth to be "immoral" - as far as mob attacks and intimidation go, yes, I'm all for them receiving it as well. I see. That's a pretty arrogant thing to say, don't you think? As if I'm a student sitting at the feet of a great intellect in need of being "led" into a higher degree of understanding? And then you go on to say that "people like [me] have allowed it [long list of terrible cultural decays] to happen." If we were sitting on adjacent bar stools, that would be a very gutsy thing to say. So you did finally answer my question, your pretentious posturing over "leading me" to the right conclusion notwithstanding. You said that you are "all for" mob attacks and intimidation. You didn't flesh that out to say what else you may be "all for" so I won't presume to put words in your mouth. But what you're "all for" are tried-and-true leftist tactics. Are you also "all for" lying, censorship, judicial activism, media cheerleading . . . etc? These are all the tactics of the left that have allowed them to achieve the list of terrible outcomes you listed. Must we adopt their deplorable tactics to avoid their reprehensible ends? If your answer is yes - then we've BECOME them, and the only difference is policy preferences. Otherwise the tyranny is the same. I refuse to engage in their disgusting methodology. There may come a time when violence is necessary and unavoidable. At that time it must be undertaken morally, as Jefferson so eloquently laid out in the Declaration. I do not think that time has yet come. But it may not be far off. In the meantime, maintaining a moral difference between us and our opponents is of utmost importance, in my view.
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Post by One on Jul 21, 2022 21:46:50 GMT -5
And here we begin to see what's inside the frog - poor reference to my 9th grade biology class, and probably more confusing. Morality, truthfully the foundation of civilization in my opinion, or tribe? I think most of us want the answer to be morals but we all don't read the same book and we're being pushed closer to our tribes by charlatans and grifters.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 21, 2022 22:05:42 GMT -5
Many people need to hear it - and I'm part of it too. It's not like I'm doing anything about it other than talking. You continue to equate fighting back with "lying and cheating." We don't live in reality anymore. We are surrounded by lies, and people telling us "the sky is green." God help you if you argue with them. So yes, we should be bullying them back to get the truth out, as DeSantis has done in Florida. Start seizing company assets who follow their agenda. Seize Soros's assets. Jail his DA's. Tax the holy hell out of our sports leagues. Again, Merriam-Webster has just changed the definition of "female." How would you fight that? Asking nicely? Talking about the importance of morality?
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Post by One on Jul 22, 2022 6:14:48 GMT -5
Morality is always necessary. That shouldn't be confused with fighting back, and fighting lying and cheating with lying and cheating would make us just as wrong as those we're fighting. I agree we need to take the fight to them, but the initial weapons need to be truth and justice, what DeSantis is using.
Going back to an earlier response of yours, you referred to "our rulers." Therein lies our problem, our Republic demands that the voters are the "rulers" and we are lackadaisical at best in that responsibility, more realistically we are mostly disinterested and absent. The elected discourage us from communication (masks anyone?) and both sides are instrumental in creating dysfunction and tribal allegiance. This illustrates a major difference between what I've seen from DeSantis and what we saw from Trump. Pointing his finger and telling his accusers they're an embarrassment, fake news, etc. fuels disunity and empowers "our rulers", whereas responding with facts and verifiable evidence as DeSantis mostly does, exposes and emasculates the lies and the cheating.
There will always be opposing sides in politics, but the majority of America falls in the middle. Its the task of our elected to reach and increase the majority. Alienation, fight without moral grounding, will not accomplish that end. Preparation, truth and justice will.
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md717
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Post by md717 on Jul 22, 2022 20:44:24 GMT -5
Many people need to hear it - and I'm part of it too. It's not like I'm doing anything about it other than talking. You continue to equate fighting back with "lying and cheating." We don't live in reality anymore. We are surrounded by lies, and people telling us "the sky is green." God help you if you argue with them. So yes, we should be bullying them back to get the truth out, as DeSantis has done in Florida. Start seizing company assets who follow their agenda. Seize Soros's assets. Jail his DA's. Tax the holy hell out of our sports leagues. Again, Merriam-Webster has just changed the definition of "female." How would you fight that? Asking nicely? Talking about the importance of morality? I appreciate part of this post - there's an element of humility where you admit that you're not doing anything measurable to push back on the list of deplorable societal phenomena that have surfaced lately. So you're saying it's no more my fault than yours - and I appreciate that. And I further agree that the assault on basic truth is over-the-top and unabashed. Up is down and down is up - crazy times. I don't know your background, but if you've never heard of Randy Stonehill look up a song of his from the 80's called "Stop the World, I wanna get off." Fair warning, he was an evangelical Christian musician. One of the lines from that song is "Well it's OK to murder babies, but we really oughta save the whales." It's an amusing, entertaining, depressing, and prognosticative song. (He also has a really touching ballad called "Turning Thirty" which I just sent to my youngest boy on the eve of his 30th birthday - the last of four where I'll have that nostalgic opportunity.) But your third paragraph goes off the rails a little bit, and resurrects the reason I chose to engage with you on this point in the first place. Ron DeSantis hasn't done any of the things you "credit" him for. I think you're confusing strong rhetorical pushback with the truth on the one hand, with politically illegal guerilla tactics on the other. You can't just seize the assets of corporations who don't agree with you politically. If you could, what would stop the Biden administration from seizing Tesla or SpaceX - just because Elon was going a little flaky on the "woke" thing? And as much fun as it would be, you can't just seize the assets of George Soros just because he's funded the campaigns of DAs that have caused so much pain with their policies. Otherwise our opponents could seize Koch brothers' assets, yes? Tax the piss out of sports leagues because you don't like their political messages? Man. You can't use the power of the state to punish your political enemies without abandoning the concept of a Constitutional Republic. (I'm not saying that our enemies haven't tried to do exactly that - but if we join them in that effort, we seal the fate of this most excellent experiment.) Honest to God I'm not trying to be mean to you. I'm trying to reason with you. From what I've read of your posts to this point it seems to me that you are very (and perhaps understandably) bitter with the losses we've taken lately. Perhaps (a hint I read in an earlier post) the left's tactics and policy proscriptions have hurt you economically in ways from which you will never truly recover. I sympathize. But you can't let that cloud your moral or objective judgement.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 23, 2022 13:51:22 GMT -5
You can't just seize the assets of corporations who don't agree with you politically. If you could, what would stop the Biden administration from seizing Tesla or SpaceX - just because Elon was going a little flaky on the "woke" thing? And as much fun as it would be, you can't just seize the assets of George Soros just because he's funded the campaigns of DAs that have caused so much pain with their policies. Otherwise our opponents could seize Koch brothers' assets, yes? Tax the piss out of sports leagues because you don't like their political messages? Man. You can't use the power of the state to punish your political enemies without abandoning the concept of a Constitutional Republic. (I'm not saying that our enemies haven't tried to do exactly that - but if we join them in that effort, we seal the fate of this most excellent experiment.) This paragraph basically sums up this whole thread. You admit your opponents use their political power to crush their enemies (you). Then in the same sentence say we can't do the same thing, for some nostalgic fantasy about being the "good guys." In the mean time, the FBI is going after parents who complain at school board meetings, while searching for information on conceal-carry permit holders. Oh, and the other day the GOP candidate for governor in NY was attacked by a man with a sharp object - he was processed and immediately released. Elsewhere, Steve Bannon is likely going to jail, to be followed by several others. You play on their field, by their rules, with their referees. And then wonder why you've lost.
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md717
Pro Bowler
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Post by md717 on Jul 23, 2022 19:45:01 GMT -5
You can't just seize the assets of corporations who don't agree with you politically. If you could, what would stop the Biden administration from seizing Tesla or SpaceX - just because Elon was going a little flaky on the "woke" thing? And as much fun as it would be, you can't just seize the assets of George Soros just because he's funded the campaigns of DAs that have caused so much pain with their policies. Otherwise our opponents could seize Koch brothers' assets, yes? Tax the piss out of sports leagues because you don't like their political messages? Man. You can't use the power of the state to punish your political enemies without abandoning the concept of a Constitutional Republic. (I'm not saying that our enemies haven't tried to do exactly that - but if we join them in that effort, we seal the fate of this most excellent experiment.) This paragraph basically sums up this whole thread. You admit your opponents use their political power to crush their enemies (you). Then in the same sentence say we can't do the same thing, for some nostalgic fantasy about being the "good guys." In the mean time, the FBI is going after parents who complain at school board meetings, while searching for information on conceal-carry permit holders. Oh, and the other day the GOP candidate for governor in NY was attacked by a man with a sharp object - he was processed and immediately released. Elsewhere, Steve Bannon is likely going to jail, to be followed by several others. You play on their field, by their rules, with their referees. And then wonder why you've lost. Here we agree once again. It does sum up the whole thread, since it's what I've been saying in each and every post in this thread. I'll type this slowly, so maybe you'll understand it this time: If we adopt their tactics, we BECOME them, and then it no longer matters who wins - the Constitutional Republic is lost. The Rule of Law is no more, and we're back to "might is right" as if the enlightenment and the American Revolution had never happened. Another Dark Ages is truly upon us. I don't know how to say it any differently. I understand your anger and your bitterness - believe me. But giving in to that and engaging on their level creates a contest in which both contestants are equal in their tyranny. And no one cares any more who wins, once that happens.
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Post by nephillymike on Jul 24, 2022 9:31:20 GMT -5
Good stuff. I love healthy debate, but wish I had more time to get into the fray.
Remember when debates like this used to happen all the time around here back in the day?
When is the MD- Eyrie climate change discussion going to start up again? LOL.
One minor point I have is the US vs Them.
I think it boils down more to those in power at the time versus those not in power at the time.
The Republican Nixon administration was no tower of virtue and they did things because they were in power and they could.
Until they got caught and couldn’t.
Trump May get caught up in this latest dust up.
But we need to make sure that the Dems get caught and prosecuted for Russia gate and any blame they should bear for Jan 6th.
The only way to do that, As Adrienne said to Rocky, is WIN.
Win in November is step one.
Finding a viable candidate and winning in ‘24 is step two.
Step three could be payback if so desired, or taking the high road if deemed favorable.
Only possible with a win.
Robbie, seems like COVID lock downs got your company.
What type of business and what happened?
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Post by eyrie on Jul 24, 2022 10:42:20 GMT -5
When is the MD- Eyrie climate change discussion going to start up again? LOL. I have too much respect and liking for MD to want him to embarrass himself like that
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 24, 2022 11:55:06 GMT -5
I'll type this slowly, so maybe you'll understand it this time: If we adopt their tactics, we BECOME them, and then it no longer matters who wins - the Constitutional Republic is lost. The Rule of Law is no more, and we're back to "might is right" as if the enlightenment and the American Revolution had never happened. Another Dark Ages is truly upon us. It's over. You've lost. You've let them win. Maybe there's enough people left in the country to take it back - we're sure as hell going to find out in our lifetimes. But for now, we're just going through the motions until the inevitable happens. Because rest assured, they show no signs of slowing down. Get ready for the monkeypox lockdowns. Or who knows, maybe MAP (minor attracted persons) will join the protected-class alphabet next. Enjoy the ride.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 24, 2022 11:58:37 GMT -5
Robbie, seems like COVID lock downs got your company. What type of business and what happened? They didn't. I said "my business" as a generic term for people who own small businesses. I'm an independent contractor in Florida. Technically we were locked down for a couple weeks, but I never stopped working, and to his credit after the initial scare DeSantis told Washington to fuck off.
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Post by nephillymike on Jul 24, 2022 12:20:48 GMT -5
Glad you weren’t impacted financially.
The people I feel worst for were the bar and restaurant businesses. Well meaning but procedurally incompetent Senators created a impact of the PPP rules that didn’t do them any favors. They corrected it during the first PPP, but it was too late in the game to be helpful by then. They opened up PPP2 and restaurant revitalization plans to help, but by that time, many of them had to cal it quits. If they had more professional financial guidance, a lot more could have stayed in business.
Now that landlords are allowed to kick deadbeats out, it’s no wonder why they’ve raised rents significantly to make up for some losses. Not sure what PPP help was available to that sector.
A surprise to many is,despite COVID, the GDP returned to pre COVID levels fairly quickly and up until recently had healthy increases from there. Government intervention, as imperfect that it was, helped out a lot. Back in 2008, there was no help, only for the favored too big to fail crooks. The rest of us business owners took it on the chin, big time.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 24, 2022 15:06:30 GMT -5
Government intervention, as imperfect that it was, helped out a lot. Yeah, our rulers shut down our entire economy over the flu, and then printed trillions of dollars out of thin air and paid people to stay home and do nothing. Now, we're paying 20-30% or more for just about everything, $5 a gallon at the pump, and this is just the beginning. Yeah, thank god the government helped out. In a few years people on bread lines will be thanking the govt. for funding them. Just like they did 90 years ago.
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Post by One on Jul 24, 2022 16:56:53 GMT -5
I'll type this slowly, so maybe you'll understand it this time: If we adopt their tactics, we BECOME them, and then it no longer matters who wins - the Constitutional Republic is lost. The Rule of Law is no more, and we're back to "might is right" as if the enlightenment and the American Revolution had never happened. Another Dark Ages is truly upon us. It's over. You've lost. You've let them win. Maybe there's enough people left in the country to take it back - we're sure as hell going to find out in our lifetimes. But for now, we're just going through the motions until the inevitable happens. Because rest assured, they show no signs of slowing down. Get ready for the monkeypox lockdowns. Or who knows, maybe MAP (minor attracted persons) will join the protected-class alphabet next. Enjoy the ride. You and I feel the same way, but I agree with md717. We have to keep trying to hold the proverbial high ground until all options are exhausted. I fear that time is coming, but there's still a sliver of hope that the 2022 and 2024 elections produce strong Americans who will fight to save our Republic. In the face of what has been happening, if there is a increase in progressive victories the time may be upon us.
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md717
Pro Bowler
Posts: 275
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Post by md717 on Jul 24, 2022 20:54:26 GMT -5
When is the MD- Eyrie climate change discussion going to start up again? LOL. I have too much respect and liking for MD to want him to embarrass himself like that The feeling is mutual! While it was great fun "back in the day," I think you absorbed all of the embarrassment a human being should be expected to endure in one short, brutish lifetime. (To cite your countryman, half a millennium ago. )
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md717
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Post by md717 on Jul 24, 2022 21:33:58 GMT -5
I'll type this slowly, so maybe you'll understand it this time: If we adopt their tactics, we BECOME them, and then it no longer matters who wins - the Constitutional Republic is lost. The Rule of Law is no more, and we're back to "might is right" as if the enlightenment and the American Revolution had never happened. Another Dark Ages is truly upon us. It's over. You've lost. You've let them win. Maybe there's enough people left in the country to take it back - we're sure as hell going to find out in our lifetimes. But for now, we're just going through the motions until the inevitable happens. Because rest assured, they show no signs of slowing down. Get ready for the monkeypox lockdowns. Or who knows, maybe MAP (minor attracted persons) will join the protected-class alphabet next. Enjoy the ride. It's not over. We've not lost. I've not "let" them win any more than you have. To the contrary, I have been fighting them for decades, and I will not stop while I can still draw breath. I will thank you for one thing - I thought I was the bitterest, most "get off my lawn", most cynical and pessimistic old man that there ever was. But you've got me beat in every one of those categories - so I feel as if I have a new lease on life! I will never bend the knee, I will never use "they" when "she" is the appropriate pronoun. But let's not lose focus on the primary point of this debate, which you accurately identified last night. We are fighting for truth and justice. If we forsake truth and justice to achieve our vision of same - then we've lost by our relinquishing of the very things for which we claim to be fighting. I'm having a hard time understanding why you're so resistant to the obvious truth of that statement. You seem to be really, perhaps unhealthily bitter about some of these erosions of our civil society. I get it. These are really ugly developments. The idea that biological men should be able to declare themselves to be women and then compete against real women in the pool or use the same restrooms - it's just nuts! So I get it, I really do. I'd encourage you to take a step back and see things from a broader perspective - 100 or 1000 years instead of 5 or 10. The pendulum swings - the more people push to one extreme or another, the harder the pendulum will swing back in the other direction. It's never as bad (or as good) as it seems at first glance.
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Post by nephillymike on Jul 24, 2022 22:42:02 GMT -5
Government intervention, as imperfect that it was, helped out a lot. Yeah, our rulers shut down our entire economy over the flu, and then printed trillions of dollars out of thin air and paid people to stay home and do nothing. Now, we're paying 20-30% or more for just about everything, $5 a gallon at the pump, and this is just the beginning. Yeah, thank god the government helped out. In a few years people on bread lines will be thanking the govt. for funding them. Just like they did 90 years ago. It was imperfect but it was a vast improvement over 2008. Not sure where you were in life back then, but I was in the thick of it and it sucked real bad. If I remember correctly, FLA got zapped in that one pretty good.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 25, 2022 8:48:50 GMT -5
Yeah, our rulers shut down our entire economy over the flu, and then printed trillions of dollars out of thin air and paid people to stay home and do nothing. Now, we're paying 20-30% or more for just about everything, $5 a gallon at the pump, and this is just the beginning. Yeah, thank god the government helped out. In a few years people on bread lines will be thanking the govt. for funding them. Just like they did 90 years ago. It was imperfect but it was a vast improvement over 2008. Not sure where you were in life back then, but I was in the thick of it and it sucked real bad. If I remember correctly, FLA got zapped in that one pretty good. I was in the financial world back then, so I remember it as probably being worse than you do. It was another govt.-created fiasco, but not as blatant as with covid. If I slashed your stomach with a sword and then offered you a dirty band-aid, would you thank me for it? That's about the equivalent here.
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Post by robbieratchet on Jul 25, 2022 8:49:37 GMT -5
I will thank you for one thing - I thought I was the bitterest, most "get off my lawn", most cynical and pessimistic old man that there ever was. But you've got me beat in every one of those categories - so I feel as if I have a new lease on life! And I'm only 40 - imagine what I'll be like when I'm your age in 50 years.
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md717
Pro Bowler
Posts: 275
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Post by md717 on Jul 25, 2022 19:33:02 GMT -5
I will thank you for one thing - I thought I was the bitterest, most "get off my lawn", most cynical and pessimistic old man that there ever was. But you've got me beat in every one of those categories - so I feel as if I have a new lease on life! And I'm only 40 - imagine what I'll be like when I'm your age in 50 years. LOL - well played. Only my brain (and my outlook) is 90. Or maybe 900. My body is chronologically 55.
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Post by nephillymike on Aug 1, 2022 19:28:28 GMT -5
Good stuff. I love healthy debate, but wish I had more time to get into the fray. Remember when debates like this used to happen all the time around here back in the day? When is the MD- Eyrie climate change discussion going to start up again? LOL. One minor point I have is the US vs Them. I think it boils down more to those in power at the time versus those not in power at the time. The Republican Nixon administration was no tower of virtue and they did things because they were in power and they could. Until they got caught and couldn’t. Trump May get caught up in this latest dust up. But we need to make sure that the Dems get caught and prosecuted for Russia gate and any blame they should bear for Jan 6th. The only way to do that, As Adrienne said to Rocky, is WIN. Win in November is step one. Finding a viable candidate and winning in ‘24 is step two. Step three could be payback if so desired, or taking the high road if deemed favorable. Only possible with a win. Robbie, seems like COVID lock downs got your company. What type of business and what happened? Here’s what could happen if we win in November. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. The key is, they are all corrupt mother fuckers. Shame you can’t hold a people’s court and cleanse the shit from both the left and the right at the same time. But we have to choose alternating scandals every four years. thehill.com/opinion/3582064-juan-williams-gop-will-stop-at-nothing-if-it-wins-midterms/
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md717
Pro Bowler
Posts: 275
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Post by md717 on Aug 2, 2022 0:40:11 GMT -5
Good stuff. I love healthy debate, but wish I had more time to get into the fray. Remember when debates like this used to happen all the time around here back in the day? When is the MD- Eyrie climate change discussion going to start up again? LOL. One minor point I have is the US vs Them. I think it boils down more to those in power at the time versus those not in power at the time. The Republican Nixon administration was no tower of virtue and they did things because they were in power and they could. Until they got caught and couldn’t. Trump May get caught up in this latest dust up. But we need to make sure that the Dems get caught and prosecuted for Russia gate and any blame they should bear for Jan 6th. The only way to do that, As Adrienne said to Rocky, is WIN. Win in November is step one. Finding a viable candidate and winning in ‘24 is step two. Step three could be payback if so desired, or taking the high road if deemed favorable. Only possible with a win. Robbie, seems like COVID lock downs got your company. What type of business and what happened? Here’s what could happen if we win in November. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. The key is, they are all corrupt mother fuckers. Shame you can’t hold a people’s court and cleanse the shit from both the left and the right at the same time. But we have to choose alternating scandals every four years. thehill.com/opinion/3582064-juan-williams-gop-will-stop-at-nothing-if-it-wins-midterms/Holy cow. Did you really just post an article by Juan Williams? Why?! I didn't know he could read, let alone write. Juan Williams is the dumbest man in the political opinion business on television - and it's not even close. Next runner up? Geraldo. And he at least has the excuse of being older than dirt. When Williams begins speaking on any show I happen to be watching, I mute the TV. Not a joke. (Thanks, Joe!) I don't want the IQ point vacuum he creates to syphon off some of mine. It's a stupendously powerful black hole of stupid whenever he opens his mouth. He only has a job because Rupert Murdock felt sorry for him after NPR fired him for saying that he gets nervous when he's on a plane with Muslims. (Most people forget that - it was 12 years ago.) That being said, let's examine just two of the "substantive" points that that Mr. Williams' ghost writer makes in this piece, more-or-less at random: "They will charge any news outlet that is not conservative with hiding information and silencing conservative voices." Many news outlets did exactly that, without regard to their political orientation. The stifling of the New York Post's story on Hunter's laptop might have changed the outcome of the election. "All signs point to Paul using his subpoena power on Fauci as he seeks to counter memories of Trump’s failure to keep Americans safe from COVID-19." Wow. Fauci opposed the travel restrictions that Trump imposed on China and later Europe. As if any president could "keep Americans safe from Covid." Bitterness and disdain drips from every word of this sentence. Fauci deserves to be investigated and held to account. Next time you come across something "written" by Juan Williams - keep scrolling. In the timeless words of Bugs Bunny - "What a maroon."
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