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Post by jodak on Mar 23, 2016 10:02:11 GMT -6
Sort of along the lines of all of the above, here is a humorous (but accurate) article about the rise of Trump -
It Cometh from the Pit:And Hath a Knout Posted on March 23, 2016 by Fred Reed
Once upon a time there was a fairy kingdom that lived inside a place called The Beltway, and was surrounded on all four sides by a land called America. The Beltway was aligned with another kingdom called Manhattan, inhabited by disembodied heads that spoke from the walls of bars, and with with yet another closed kingdom called Hollywood, the abode of half-educated narcissists. These kingdoms were in eternal political syzygy, and spoke not with the people of the surrounding lands, of whom they knew nothing. The following is a chronicle of what befell them, and why.
After years of peace, the Kingdoms were taken greatly aback by the rise of the Trump Monster, their surprise being proof that they knew nothing of the surrounding lands. They knew nothing for good reasons, of which there were two. The first was that they passed their lives with each other and among each other and talking to each other and writing about each other and reading about each other behind the high walls of their kingdoms. In organs like National Review and The Weekly Standard they endlessly wrote stories of the form “A soothsayer in Manhattan replies to what some other sayer of sooths said about yet another’s attack on someone else.”
They had all dwelt in monasteries called Harvard and Princeton, where they learned that they were the wisest of men, and inerrant. They had no idea that they were hated in the strange lands without the walls, which on their maps were drawn as fog with notations such as “Here dwelleth dragons.” They did not know that there were people who agreed not with them. For were they not right about all things?
The other reason for their puzzlement was a powerful spell called “Political Correctness.” This strong magic prevented the outlanders from saying anything that the Three Kingdoms did not want to hear. Anyone who engaged incantations called “slurs,” which were truthful thoughts about sacred tribes, or who said Inappropriate Things about a certain little country whose only importance was being that little country [Note: I assume he is speaking of Israel here], was thrown into durance vile. Thus the Three Kingdoms never heard anything they didn’t like, and so believed that almost everyone without the walls loved them. They had scarce an idea what furies were roiling and boiling and stirring under the surface of the Outer Realms.
Now, until the Trump Monster appeared, the America was ruled by a pseudo-democracy of one bicephalous party with two names. The Only Party consisted of blackguards and Quislings and pickpockets bought and paid for by the plutocratic oligarchy of large corporations, AIPAC, and the. very rich. These told the two halves of the One Party what to do. Every four years there was played a great tournament in which candidates of the Two Names of the One Party engaged in the most savage combat imaginable. This was to distract the people outside the walls . Afterwards nothing changed and all went on as before, though the division of the spoils shifted a bit.
And in their ignorance and pride the Three Kingdoms engendered a monster called Trump, and it bit them.
The Only Party had always controlled the villeins because it controlled the choice of pretenders to the throne. A pretender gained the Presidency by buying it, and the rich who provided that money controlled as vassals those who accepted it. The pretenders were as straw and melons sold in a market.
Furthermore, the scribes and oracles of the Kingdoms said aloud only those things that were meet for the surrounding peasantry to hear. The puissant spell of Political Correctness amounted to a societal mute button and prevented the Holy Orders within the Three Kingdoms from noticing what stirred without.
Until the Trump Monster came raging, slouching toward Bethlehem, with which the Kingdoms confused themselves.
And there was afright and desperation and rending of teeth and gnashing of hair for many were the rice bowls threatened.
The darkest of horrors was that the serfs might come to choose the manner of their government. For long years the Bicephalous Party had presided over that most desirable form of democracy in which the people had no power. This laudable state they had maintained by never talking about anything of substance, such as unending wars in remote lands beyond the edges of the maps, or the importation of slaves from curious and unwholesome countries or the manufactures of all things by foreign dwarves.
A great broil ensured. The people saw for the first time a chance to manage their destinies and rose up for the Trump Monster. Inside the Beltway, the Wise and Good–for did they not so denominate themselves?–were greatly astonished. “What manner of wight can this be?” they asked in wonder. They said that the Trump Monster was beguiling fools, the cracked, and those who represented the worst in America. And the scribes and oracles were sore afraid, for most of the outlying populace appeared to belong to these tribes.
One of the Two Names of the One Party, the Democrats, sent forth a dreadful creature called Hillary to fight in single combat with the Trump Monster. Her very visage turned men to stone, it was said. She was held to be of one blood with Boadicea, Jean d’Arc, Lucretia Borgia, and Bonnie Parker.
The Three Kingdoms were at one with her, as she was corrupt, mendacious, criminal, and ugly, as well as suffering coughing fits and dizzy spells. Surely, said the scribes and oracles, any monster must fly screaming from her mere presence.
Yet it seemed that the Trump was no common monster. Every time he was beset by the scribes and oracles of the Beltway, he grew stronger, and a sulfurous smoke breathed from his mouth. With drawn swords the Trump Monster and the crumbling ruin yclept Hillary circled each other.
And beyond the parapets and crenellations of the Three Kingdoms the sky grew darker. Inside the Beltway and in Manhattan, the disembodied heads railed and raged, but with every blast the helots jointed the Trump Monster in larger numbers, for they hated the Insiders. In Hollywood the Half-Educated Narcissists said ever stupider things, but these had not their usual effect.
In their pride the Three Kingdoms had engendered Nemesis, and they watched in terror behind the ramparts as the sky grew darker and strange shapes twisted in the looming clouds and the Trump Monster strode ever nearer, breathing fire.
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Post by dave on Mar 23, 2016 10:53:15 GMT -6
jodak I appreciate the post. I laughed so hard that I had to change my Depends but it was worth the trouble. I don't know the writer but if you do please convey to him my enjoyment of his prowess. Regards Dave
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Post by crzhrs on Mar 23, 2016 11:43:49 GMT -6
How about George Bush telling Americans to go shopping after 9/11?!?!
Let's not forget how Isis and the Middle East has gotten to this point: The Bush Administrations ineptness and/or misleading and/or lying to the American People that Iraq had WMDs. Then the idiotic bungling of Iraq after Hussein was taken out. Bush was the one that negotiated that US troops leave and Obama was honoring that pledge. Then the complete collapse of Iraq opened up the door to terrorists getting a foothold there, a brutal dictator in Syria killing his own people and turning them to terrorists affiliations.
European nations have failed to take leadership in fighting terrorism there, allowing Muslin into their countries, then telling them you have to live in desginated areas, you cannot assimilate into their societies, causing discrimination, bigotry, poverty, disenfranching them and turning them into "Others".
And when a people have no options they take matters into their own hands. Europe has turned potential friends into enemies and we have "leaders" in the GOP who want to do the same thing: patrol Muslim communities, alienate them and making it easier for radicalization to take place.
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Post by jodak on Mar 23, 2016 11:56:36 GMT -6
Dave,
This is the latest post from a blog (or whatever you call it) called Fred on Everything, by a guy named Fred Reed, who, as the title suggests, holds forth on various subjects of whatever strikes his fancy at the moment. He comes across as a cudmudgeon (and probably is) and is usually giving someone or something/idea hell. He is equal opportunity in that, with neither Democrats or Republicans or anyone or anything else being excepted. However, he should not be confused as some blow hard redneck, as it is apparent that he is very intelligent, educated, and "knows things", particularly about the military where he served as a marine and spent many years as a writer/correspondent for several military related publications. He also served as a police beat reporter for one of the Washington newspapers and, I believe, had some other journalistic jobs. I've gathered all of this just from reading his posts, as I have for a number of years now, so I may not be remembering everything exactly correctly.
As with the one I posted above, I find his posts to be generally entertaining, insightful, and right on the money. This is the link to his blog, and if you scroll down you will see his last few posts before this one. There is an "All Columns" button at the top of the page, that will give you access to all of his posts.
fredoneverything.org/
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Post by Beth on Mar 23, 2016 13:48:40 GMT -6
Not without being slapped and beaten by Beth! Regards Dave Dave you misjudge me. I only threat to slap someone baldheaded or when really provoked to tear someone's arm out and beat them with the bloody stump but I am actually a non violent person who relies on a well nuanced statement like "Fine" or "whatever" combined with icy stares to convey my point. Beth
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Post by dave on Mar 23, 2016 14:00:34 GMT -6
crzhrs Not wanting to hijack, no pun intended, this thread I would just mention a few things. 1) since the 18th century Muslim politics have been active in resisting Colonial Powers---Europe and Russia---not the US. We backed and supported the Shah of Iran and suffered for it 2) Iraq invaded Kuwait leading to the 1st Gulf War 3) WTC 1st bombed in 1993 Clinton in office for 11 months 4) 911 happened when Bush had been office 9 months 5) The Iraq Resolution passed with bipartisan support
I would suggest these last few posts which are not USMC related be moved to its own thread. Respectively Dave
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Post by Beth on Mar 23, 2016 14:20:18 GMT -6
Or playing golf 15 minutes after announcing the beheading of an American journalist or attending a baseball game after another terrorist attack in a European airport where over 30 are killed. I realize he can not do anything to prevent past attacks but he could at least act like he is engaged in the current events. Is NATO not designed to provide support and protection for its member nations? Could we not encourage NATO members to unite and respond to ISIS's actions? Regards Dave When you let the terrorist actions dictate or change your behavior then they have won the war--especially if they are getting world leaders to drop everything they are doing to react to their actions. Obama was engaged in a current event by attending that baseball game-it was not like he was in Washington attending a Senator's game for his own pleasure--diplomacy has many faces after all. I would suspect that even though a President may be engaged in one activity, doesn't mean that they are uninformed about what is going on with other events. After all Bush felt comfortable enough with his ability to stay informed that he set the record (previously held by Reagan) for days on vacation while being President--including vacationing while a national tragedy like Katrina was unfolding.
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Post by dave on Mar 23, 2016 16:03:44 GMT -6
Beth When you act and behave like you are detached from the threats that we as a Nation and individuals face then it is a problem of perception if not reality. It matters not what Busch did or not did it is Obama's actions that we are dealing with today. I know of very few Presidents we have had that I would wish for again maybe Truman, Teddy and Abe.
Belgium and France are allies and are located just a plane ride away. Today we no longer enjoy the safety of 2 large oceans protecting us from enemies. In fact many of our enemies are citizens like you and I. A 51 second sound bite does not project an image of a chief executive aware of and dealing with threats. If you remember the White House admitted they did not respond correctly after the Paris massacre and I don't see any difference publicly with this tragedy.
When both the White House and the Secretary of State fail to a high ranking official to the solidarity march in France after the Paris attack but instead send a singer to perform “You’ve Got a Friend", I think that is a perception problem. Global warming is not the greatest concern facing Americans today, just look at all the survey and polling numbers.
I have no axe to grind for either party or the candidates we are presented with just concerned for my children's and grandchildren's futures. I wish for them the same rights and benefits we have experienced in our lives and pine for the return of peace and security I had as a child of the 1950'and 60's. Pipe dream perhaps but we can always wish and hope. Regards Dave
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Post by crzhrs on Mar 24, 2016 7:08:23 GMT -6
It may be best to keep politics off this forum, after all it's a LBH Forum not a Politics Today Forum. There are a number of people on this forum who have different political views and affiliations, but in the end we are all on the same side.
Let's keep the politics where they belong . . . on talk shows where people can yell, scream, call each other names, and make nasty accusations!
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Post by dave on Mar 24, 2016 9:51:41 GMT -6
crzhrs I agree completely that we should deal with the USMC solely on this thread. I have no hard feelings regarding politics and believe we can agree to disagree civil manner. Regards Dave
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Post by fred on Mar 24, 2016 10:12:38 GMT -6
... but in the end we are all on the same side. One might hope this to be the case. For the first time in my life I have doubt it is true. I have never seen such divisiveness and so little effort to control or denounce it. If what I am seeing today is the result of everything some people have striven for, I shall seriously regret what I have done for my country. Best wishes, Fred.
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Post by dave on Mar 24, 2016 13:44:18 GMT -6
I wonder if the antics of today are much different than before the internet, social media, 24 hours news coverage and the "if it bleeds it leads" mantra of today. In the past politicians had the opportunity to mull things over before speaking and don't have mics shoved into their face as today's crop experience.
Never regret your sacrifice and service Fred as it is the life's blood of America from 1776 to today! Politicians come and go and the future we will have as many incompetent ones like now. Regards Dave
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Post by benteen on Mar 24, 2016 14:01:33 GMT -6
Dave, Thank you. Very nice of you to post it my friend. Semper Fi from Steve and I Be Well Dan
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Post by benteen on Mar 24, 2016 14:03:19 GMT -6
I wonder if they can make it retroactive so Steve and Dan could attend and become more attuned to their feminine side? Regards Dave Dave, I will attend the classes if Steve will... Be Well Dan
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Post by benteen on Mar 24, 2016 14:06:36 GMT -6
Unfortunately regarding my phallic symbol, it has always been considered a carbine by my wife, she does like the fact that I reload quickly. We have been married 45 years and her weapon has a hair trigger. Jodak, no political correctness here, my friend. Regards, Tom Tom, Your a fine man. My wife told me I reminded her of Joe Namath. I said handsome and strong. She said no. weak knees and a quick release. Be Well Dan
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