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In My Humble Opinion

Open Thread - 07-31-26 - Land of Confusion

Truth is the first casualty of war. Considering propaganda, censorship, and control as factors that blind us from the truth, We The People are left guessing about the real reason/s for the war with Iran. Questions abound in the political corners of the internet, that crown jewel of hypertensive FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). We are bombarded daily by experts who tell us this or tell us that, but, the bottom line is, do any of them, or us, really know why?

One thing is for sure, confusion rules the land.

Please allow me to show you just how confusing it can be.

The Official Narrative

President Trump (March 2): “Our objectives are clear. First, we’re destroying Iran’s missile capabilities… and their capacity to produce brand new ones — pretty good ones they make. Second, we’re annihilating their navy… Third, we’re ensuring that the world’s number one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon… And finally, we’re ensuring that the Iranian regime cannot continue to arm, fund, and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

Source

Open Thread - 07-24-26 - One More Time to Live

It's happening, all around the world. People have had enough and they're standing against authority. You wont hear much about it in the main stream media, but it's happening none the less. People are waking up about out of control governments that ignore its constituencies and focuses on its own continuity.

Long gone are the ideals of governmental subservience to the people, in its place we have self serving lackeys whose only concern is how to better the world in their favor by compromising their souls and furthering their careers by selling out to the monied class, with reelection as their singular goal.

People are fed up and taking to the streets in protest.

Open Thread - 07-10-26 - Let Me Get this Off My Chest

It's been a good while since I've let loose the dogs of a good rant, so allow me to expand the parenthesis of my mind into what is hopefully a cogent stream of whatever.

Both political parties aren't worth the time or effort to flush them down the toilet.

They do not represent We the People.

We just celebrated the 250th anniversary of this country that fought a war because of a repressive governance and a lack of representation, and here we are 250 years later, facing the same unflushable situation.

We have no voice, we aren't being heard above the din of propaganda. And, oh man, is that propaganda thick. Like Custer at Greasy Grass (Little Bighorn) we are surrounded by it. And it's all leading in one direction, total sheepish acquiescence to the iron fist.

Open Thread - 07-03-26 - Almost Independence Day

In the Spirit of '76

I spent 10 months, this past year, undergoing chemo and radiation therapy in my battle against cancer. It was the lowest point of my life. But I didn't let it break my spirit.

I made the decision early on that I would concentrate on the task at hand and avoid the depression that can so very easily set in under those conditions. The struggle ahead was as much of a battle with the disease that was attacking my body as it was a battle with the gloom and doom that could attack my mind if I allowed it. I couldn't control the disease but I could control my spirit. And it was that spirit that drove my will to not lose hope in that fight for my life.

To beat the depression within, I had to beat the depression without. I did this mostly by limiting my time on that great instrument of despair, the internet. I'd wake up in the morning, take a quick look at the news headlines and then find other ways to occupy my time. I diligently researched everything I could find about the malady I was facing. I talked with old friends and family on the phone. I forced myself to eat as much as I could. I spent a lot of time watching the birds at the birdfeeder. I did a lot of looking out the window in general, and contemplating. I practiced my dobro to keep my fingers nimble, stiffness being a side affect from the chemo. I slept, oh boy, did I sleep. But most of all I would stretch out on the recliner and watch my rather large collection of old documentaries, TV shows and old movies, mostly old westerns, one after another. It was cathartic watching the good guys beat the bad guys, and emblematic of my struggle to beat the cancer within.

Open Thread - 11-22-24 - The Battle of Evermore

It's been a little over two weeks since the election. Things are moving at a breakneck pace. We're in the midst of one of the most dangerous periods in this nation's history, both on the geopolitical and national political fronts.

I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that a sitting president would sabotage an incoming president-elect. A president that was too feeble to run for a second term because of his cognitive impairment, yet is competent enough to start world war III by allowing Ukraine to launch long range missiles into Russia. He's gambling with everyone's lives, for what? This has got to be one of the most despicable presidencies in a long line of despicable presidents.

We hear nary a word from congress about stopping him, or whomever is in charge. Then again if congress were to take action and impeach him that would mean that Kamala Harris would become the president. What's that old maxim, something about vice presidents being picked as an insurance policy to dissuade congress from impeaching sitting presidents?

Hmmmm.

Anyway, nice precedent you've established mr. president (I purposely use lower case). Is the new normal laying booby traps for the incoming president now? That ought to be quite fun in the future, if we have one.

I'm seeing a pattern. Trump's most controversial cabinet picks aren't going to be approved. If they aren't picked off by public opinion then they'll be picked off by the senate who won't approve them. I hate to tell the Trump fans but they've been played. All the chest thumping, back slapping, shading the opposition and rose colored futuristics has all been for naught. I'll be surprised if Tulsi Gabbard and RFK, Jr. get approved as well.

It will be the same old same old. Oh, Ukraine may disengage from Russia and come to an end, but then reengage through Iran. I doubt much of Trump's agenda will be realized, just like his first term. There's a good chance it may be even worse. There's so many things that can go sideways in the next four years. We're going to need some luck.

In retrospect I'm glad I didn't vote for either one of them.

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