On the grounds that Indy authors simply must help each other, I recommend New River (Images of America) by Marcy J. Miller – a great and kind lady who lives in Arizona. I’ve interacted with her on Twitter for quite some time and she’s just a wonderful person who lives out “back of beyond” in some beautiful Arizona countryside. I admit to being insanely jealous when she posts pictures of sunsets and desert thunderstorms…and of her horseback rides. Check it out – you won’t be disappointed.
As for my book, I’m past 30,000 words, now – I’ve got my characters in a bit of a jam, but a friend of mine suggested a way out, so I’m going to give it a shot. It’s really a rip-roaring story, or at least I think so. Hope people like it!
So, PM May’s gamble on a snap election came up snake eyes. I admit to not paying too much attention to the British election as it unfolded. Most polls, right up to the end, showed the Tories making substantial gains against Labour run by a completely out-there leftwing kook. But, didn’t work out that way – the Tories still gained the most votes and seats, but lost their majority and will now have to work with the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland for a working majority. And, man oh man, the DUP is quite the Conservative party! I can see why the Tories would prefer to stay a mile away from them. I’m naturally suspicious of the DUP given its anti-Catholic roots, but the anti-Catholicism seems to have moderated over the past couple decades. Main thing, they are very socially Conservative and Euro-skeptic. This means Brexit is still very much on track – but I suspect the Brits will have another election in a year or two to sort things out. A better Tory program more pitched to middle and working class people, I think, would do the trick…a great deal of UKIP votes slipped over to Labour (when everyone expected it all to go Tory) because Corbyn was at least smart enough to offer them some goodies. Tories will have to do that, as well, to bring them back.
That leaker who got arrested – main question: how in heck did she get a security clearance? Robert Stacy McCain boils down her background and it is pretty much a compendium of every lunatic position imaginable.
The House has passed a repeal of the misbegotten Dodd-Frank law, but it’s future in the Senate is murky. John Hindraker says that this is a good time to get rid of the Senate filibuster completely – it may be the only way we really get reform done. I realize that we Conservatives are naturally unwilling to tamper with something like the filibuster…but we don’t live in a world where political compromise is possible. Maybe some day in the future we shall, but for now we have to exercise every ounce of legal power we have to get our way.
Our little Progs were all eagerly watching the Comey hearings…and somebody caught their crestfallen looks on camera. Its not quite a fun as their election night meltdown, but its pretty good.
Bernie Sanders glided really close to demanding a religious test for public office – something banned by the Constitution. The man’s offense? He pointed out (in something entirely unrelated to the job he’s being appointed to) that in Christian dogma, you have to believe in Christ. Horror of horrors! Sanders seems to think that holding such a view is disqualifying…that it is bigotry against all non-Christians. But that would be as if I were to say that a Jewish guy can’t be my Senator because he doesn’t accept Christ as savior. Balderdash. I fully expect my Congresscritters to uphold the laws of our nation, regardless of their personal faith. I don’t expect them to tell me that their faith is false in order to make me feel good.
American oil exports continue to grow. This is the key to America’s industrial resurgence. In addition to that, it also cuts at the financial power of a great number of nations which wish us ill.
Blogs For Victory 
Little tip. A terrific way to help your indy author, Marcy J. Miller, would be to leave a short (or long) review of her book New River on Amazon. Right now she doesn’t have any reviews. It helps a lot. As you shall find out when you get your book done!
You’re right about that – and I’ll be doing that; here and there. But, gotta read the whole book, first!
I don’t expect them to tell me that their faith is false in order to make me feel good.
To me, claiming to belong to a faith and then not accepting its teachings or standing by them is a disqualifier for my vote and/or my respect. This is what bugs me about Pelosi and Biden—they piously claim to be Catholics while openly and passionately working to pass legislation, and shove down our throats, things that are against Catholic teachings.
Just curious—isn’t it about time we started to link the word “subvert” and/or “subversion” in comments about the efforts of the Deep State ? As usual, conservative lemmings latch onto the vocabulary of the opposition and therefore strengthen it by using its own words, such as “resistance”. And don’t forget our willingness to keep referring to riots as “protests”.
We have a legally elected Constitutionally consistent administration in place, and the Left is trying to subvert it, overthrow it by working to undermine it and erode its authority, trying to generate public opposition to it. And we are all delicately tippy-toeing around it, using their own words to describe what they are doing.
No. They are calling for the overthrow of a properly elected administration and trying to subvert the government. Call it what it is. And cite the laws against it.
Maybe, while the Left is trying to generate outrage and support by constantly howling about “obstruction of justice” we should start to make them worry if we are serious about investigating and prosecuting subversive acts designed to overthrow the government. They are already freaking out about the idea of prosecuting that woman who sent all that classified information to a media outlet—let’s stir them up a little more, and get THEM backing up and defensive for a change.
I keep saying it—–having consequences for actions often has a limiting effect on those actions. If an oath of office is binding, and violation means loss of the job and benefits and pensions, those who took the oath are probably going to examine their words and actions and decide if they are willing to defend them in a court of law and take the associated risks. Ditto for those who have so freely, without consequence, revealed confidential and classified information. We can’t keep going along with the Left as they claim that laws are just words on paper, and don’t really mean anything.
A law without a penalty is exactly the same as no law at all.
”A law without a penalty is exactly the same as no law at all.”
Except when it favors the left. Then they’re all for it and demand full prosecution for any offense. This of course excludes anyone on the left in violation of the same.
Then there’s this:
At least they are being open about it – but, it means we have a lot of swamp draining to do.
“The election of Donald Trump was an assault on the federal bureaucracy,”
Boy, he’s got that right!
Agreed, Spook. But he openly admits to things I consider subversive if not treasonous.
…whether to encourage the growth of the “deep state” resistance inside the government .. jumped out at me, as did “We hear a lot of language about draining the swamp and this idea about a deep state that somehow was going to thwart the intentions or the political mandate of the president,” Michaels said. “I kind of embrace this notion of the ‘deep state.’”
This man (Trump) was elected, by people who support and believe in his agendas and intentions. There is no legitimate foundation for the defeated side to simply try to destroy the agendas voted in by the people. Our entire system of governance is based on having two of the three branches of government elected by the people. Attempting to subvert this foundational concept of government is simply wrong.
Substitute any other administration for Trump’s and any other reason for trying to undermine it and their whole argument falls apart.
For example, let’s say that many people “..believe deeply in the importance of public service….” in the context of public service as seen by the Founders. That is, of citizens who serve the nation as it was created and as it is laid out in the Constitution. That would be how they would describe and define their “values” regarding their “commitment to public service”. I wonder how Michaels and the rest of his “forlorn Liberals” would react to these dedicated public servants fighting for their values by working in concert to undermine the Obama administration and erode its authority in efforts to force him from his elected position as President and interfere with his agendas.
It’s a silly analogy, as people who believe that the nation must be run in accordance with its Constitution could not at the same time work to undermine it. But the point is, Liberals believe, wholeheartedly, that their political views are the only ones that are valid, are legitimate, and are virtuous. And their self-satisfied self-congratulatory and self-indulgent views are all that matter to them.
We see this as well in the attitude that it is OK to disseminate classified information if doing so will harm the opposition. Just as they want to rewrite the Constitution as they go along, to accommodate their latest inclinations, they want to rewrite the laws as well.
How many companies allow their employees to make their own decisions, on the fly, about how the company should be run? If a restaurant has the agenda of serving food to paying customers, no employee can just give food away because his “values” include feeding everyone without regard for ability or willingness to pay.
I think where these Lefties run off the rails is their definition of “public service”—they see the government of the source of all that anyone needs, which translates in their minds as “public service” meaning making this happen. But what they are talking about is charity, not government.
Except when it favors the left. Then they’re all for it and demand full prosecution for any offense. This of course excludes anyone on the left in violation of the same.
I think the key word here is “offense”.
Which is why they think Trump should be prosecuted for (allegedly) communicating with Russians before the election. It is not against the law, but it OFFENDS them, and therefore must be punished.
When Obama did this prior to his election in ’08 it was OK. They were not offended by this.
They are trying to reframe the entire country in terms of what they find offensive, not about what is legal. Legality has no weight with the Left, only how they feel about things.
So someone open fired on a GOP Congressional softball practice and Rep. Steve Scalise has been shot. I wonder if the media and the Democrats will take any responsibility for going too far in demonizing the GOP and dividing this country. I will just sit here and wait ……………
Hot take. Maybe let the blood dry before going full partisan.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. The Left is certainly going to be conflicted over this. How to reconcile the blind rage and hatred we’re seeing for Republicans with gun control? Tough choice.
gun control
If you’re talking about a quick and steady aim and having your weapon under control at all times, I couldn’t agree more. If you’re talking about disarming the men who stopped this shooter before it resulted in mass casualties — well, I think you know the answer to that.
Per reports he was stopped by police. I am fine with them having guns. But gun control is a lost cause. Have as many as you want.
The dilemma is that 99% of gun owners are law abiding citizens. Several recent studies, the most notable being in Florida and Texas, show that concealed carry holders have a substantially lower incidence of both misdemeanors and felonies that do law enforcement officers. If you have a way to get guns out of the hands of people who would misuse them and/or preventing them from getting them to begin I think just about everyone would be receptive to that.
I wish there was a way. But like terrorism, if someone wants to do bad things with a gun it is very hard to stop them.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.
“Let the blood dry before going full partisan” ….. and wait for it …….. “gun control!!!!”
Spoken like a full blown progressive……
Of course we all know how measured and restrained progressives are with their rhetoric and reactions.
did you read the rest?
Have as many guns as you want.
Oh well my mistake. Obviously by “allowing” others to “have as many guns as you want”, you have established your conservative credentials.
And you supporting Trump establishes yours. LOL
Just a question for you field, why are progressives so hateful and violent? Do you not have the emotional maturity to coexist with those who do not share your opinions? Is that where the left has taken this country? Shameful.
Congress baseball gunman was a Trump-hating Bernie supporter
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4604130/Steve-Scalise-baseball-gunman-James-T-Hodgkinson-pictured.html#ixzz4jzgQjLgc
yes all progressives are hateful and violent…
Oh, “Fielding”, get a grip. We are so tired of that bogus smirky non-response that seems to be a staple of Leftist “discourse”. If a conservative comments on Islamic violence, the SNR (smirky non-response) is “Yes, all Muslims are hateful and violent…” and so on.
It is actually an acknowledgement that (1) the first comment was true, (2) that the Lib has no real response to it, but (3) is compelled to try to respond in a way designed to, hopefully, make the first commenter look stupid. We see it all the time. And BTW, (3) never works. It’s a cheap tactic.
Since he has been president, President Trump has acted, in his actions as the Chief Executive, in accordance with basic conservative principles. This is one reason (in addition to the general wall-kicking temper tantrum of Lefties simply not getting their own way and pitching screeching hissy fits about it) the Left is getting loonier by the day. Having to face the fact that so many of the things have allowed the Left to gain so much power are being swept away is terrifying, prompting the frantic hysteria we keep seeing. Clearly, nothing is as threatening to the Left as a return to Constitutional governance, personal responsibility and individual freedoms.
No one is going to make you get a gun. Given your propensity for emotional overreaction, I don’t think anyone wants you to have a gun. But this is a great example of what we see going on in this country, in every arena.
The Left, when it spies something it does not like—–public displays of religion, gun ownership, public displays of patriotism, etc.—automatically wants to impose its outrage on others by denying them the right to do what matters to them. But the Right, when it comes to things like public displays of religion, gun ownership, public displays of patriotism, etc. simply says “You don’t have to engage in any of these things, we don’t want to force you to do anything, so just do what matters to you and we’ll do what matters to us”.
The Left is, from its pure political structure all the way down to the mentality of its followers, tyrannical.
The Left is, from its pure political structure all the way down to the mentality of its followers, tyrannical.
That’s it in a nutshell.
And yes, Cluster, that IS where the Left has taken this country. And it didn’t just kind of happen on the way to getting another Democrat elected. It is and always has been a basic strategy of the Left, which can only thrive in chaos and discord. We are at this point because it has been a destination of the Left.
Well, we are not quite at their desired destination, but this is an indication of what that will look like, if we don’t stop it.
I wonder if there will be any contrition today on behalf of the media, NeverTrumpers, and Democrats for their inexcusable and hateful rhetoric and actions directed towards half the population of this country who don’t subscribe to their big government, elitist world views.
Don’t hold your breath
These are people so righteous in their self-involvement they feel justified in anything they say and anything they do. Remember, Leftism is quite dependent on the concept that the end justifies the means. When one of theirs does something so despicable and degenerate as making a mock-up of the president’s head, drenching it in fake blood, and holding it up with a smug self-satisfied smirk, even the few Lefties who found it offensive tended to add, parenthetically, something along the lines of “..but he did deserve it..”
Doing something totally dishonest, such as editing out part of a statement so what is left can be spun to indicate that the speaker actually did joke that grabbing a woman by her genitals is OK, because the Left Crystal Ball says he did do this, or wanted to do this, or would do this, or thought it OK to do this, is fine because it is OK to lie to get people to share their opinion of him.
And so on, ad nauseum.
I think that once the truth comes out, as it is starting to, that this shooter was motivated by visceral hatred of Trump and by extension of Republicans—which will be an uphill battle because the media will do anything they can to provide cover for this inconvenient truth—we will see a lot of this. We will see “but who can blame him for hating Republicans, they are so evil” and similar comments. There will be no admission of culpability in working to generate this kind of vicious, violent hatred. And after all, they will think even if they don’t dare come out and say it, all they are trying to accomplish by these efforts to create distrust and hatred and retaliation (what they coyly call “resistance”) is to subvert the government and cause the overthrow of a legally elected president and his whole administration, not necessarily to have people SHOT.
Re: Fields comment on “letting the blood dry ….” – does everyone remember the Gabbie Giffords shooting? And the restraint Democrats and the media had in waiting for “the blood to dry” before going partisan on that issue?
Neither do I
You are correct since those dopes did it, it is fine for you. That is a hot take.
Just pointing out the hypocrisy, double standards, and the mental illness of progressives. Just to be clear Fielding – I consider you and people like you to be the greatest single threat to this country.
you would be wrong
Oh, “Fielding”, please check out the Rule of Holes. The first is, when you are in a hole stop digging.
You’ve made your point. That is, that you are so defensive about having the attacker identified as a Liberal you feel uncontrollably compelled to try to malign those who actually see a connection between first identifying the political identity of a group of people and the subsequent act of shooting those people. Gee, evidently according to you there is absolutely no rational reason to think the two acts—the confirmation that these people were Republicans and then the shooting of those people—were related.
What amazes me about people like you is your willingness, often your eagerness. to emphasize your foolishness because the most important thing is just to snarl, no matter how bad it makes you look.
“Fielding”, in what way do you consider yourself to be making a contribution to the country?
In what way do you think Progressives are making a contribution to the country?
i’m a high school math teacher.
What is a “hot take”? Is this some new Lefty buzzword? “Fielding” seems to like it.
I know when I read Lefty comments I think of the term “hot mess”. Is it anything like that? You know, like an introspective self evaluation of his commentary?
i’m a high school math teacher.
Wow. Somehow I think of math teachers as being logical and analytical. There goes another stereotype down the drain.
When you are teaching math, do you limit yourself to mathematics, or do you take advantage of your captive audience of impressionable young minds to expound on the evils or inadequacies of conservative political philosophy?
I just caught myself in another assumption—that I know your political philosophy and/or your attitude toward mine. Will you please define yours for me? No lengthy disposition necessary, just a sentence or two.
My own is quite clear and coherent, and I believe it is summarized in one sentence.
So Fielding is a math teacher, makes perfect sense considering the woeful level of engineering and math skills our kids have today. Additionally, that is a government secured, tenured job where he can’t be fired and never held accountable. It’s the perfect progressive employment.
You do realize that traditional math is racist, don’t you? It depends on the hierarchy of white privilege imposing a static worldview and rejects freedom of expression, creating a sense of shame and inadequacy by implying inferiority in those who do not accept the implicit slavery of —-oh, hell, I guess I’m not very good at this. Where is Matt Walsh when I need him?
LOL. Yes that is hard to fit all in one equation.
Here is a short lesson in what passes for “discourse” with people like “Fielding”.
In logic, reductio ad absurdum (Latin for “reduction to absurdity”; or argumentum ad absurdum, “argument to absurdity”) is a form of argument which attempts to disprove a statement by expanding it to a ridiculous, absurd, or impractical conclusion
A tactic similar to reductio ad absurdum is the straw man logical fallacy. A straw man argument attempts to refute a given proposition by showing that a slightly different or inaccurate form of the proposition (the “straw man”) has an absurd, unpleasant, or ridiculous consequence or meaning.
Note that both depend on evasion of the actual, original, statement, either by recasting it in different terms to try to make it look ridiculous or absurd or by pretending to address it but veering off a few degrees so what is said is really not addressing the statement at all.
Knee-jerk Libs like “Fielding” are so used to automatically snapping to one or both of these default positions they often don’t even realize what they are doing. This is, to them, actually discussing what is said, even when it is obvious that their words are designed to avoid discussing what is said. This is what happens when peoples’ emotions are so inflamed they feel compelled to say SOMETHING but have nothing of substance to say and just flail around trying to find a way to express how they FEEL.
keep f**king that chicken “Zona”
It sure doesn’t take long for the thin veneer of decency to fall away when talking with a Lib, does it?
BTW, “Fielding”, great intellectual repartee there. Love the way you proved me wrong by addressing, analyzing and challenging my commentary. Just think, I kind of thought whatever you might say would prove me right.
Silly me.
And right on cue! (Fielding, not Amazona)
LOL – Amazona clearly defines the mental illness of progressives and Fielding proves her analysis absolutely correct in one short response.
Well, to be honest I did use some big words, evidently too much for a high school teacher, and we know how exposure to ideas prompts rage and the inevitable F-bomb from Libs.
What is a “hot take”? Is this some new Lefty buzzword? “Fielding” seems to like it.
I know when I read Lefty comments I think of the term “hot mess”. Is it anything like that?
Still waiting to hear some contrition and self analysis from the media…………..
And in related news, I heard that the Democrats held a prayer circle on the House floor. Doesn’t that violate something?
SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE!!!!
I know, I know—it’s right there in the Constitution! Right, uh, maybe over there…….. Pretty sure it is in there somewhere, probably right next to the parts where it says hooray for slavery and women can’t vote.
Are you sure it was a prayer circle and not another of their dramatic and oh-so-effective sit-ins? Or, as the Dems do it, “sprawl-ins”?
Was Bernie there?
There are two ways this can go from here. This shooting can spawn more of the same, or it can serve as a wake-up call to the Left that violence is not an acceptable form of political discourse. I’m hoping for the latter, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
Hey, what can you do when people deserve to be shot? (Just channeling a Lib here.)
BTW, isn’t “Fielding” a hoot? He writes like he tried fielding a claymore and caught it in the forehead. Does anyone believe he actually teaches a subject that requires analysis and logic?
Liberals support muslims, so I’m inclined to believe that they see violence as the answer. Just like Muslim terrorists, liberals have to have it their way, and those who don’t submit to their way must die. Thankfully, we live in a country where most people believe in having a better society than the one liberals want for us, and will protect each other from these liberal terrorists. Liberals are the equivalent of foreign invaders, only they’re domestically grown. We can thank our colleges and universities for that.
Hey, Jeremiah! Good to hear from you! How are your eyes?
You say, so rightly, “Liberals are the equivalent of foreign invaders, only they’re domestically grown.” The Founders knew this might happen, which is why they and all Congresses since then, and the armed forces, and many other oaths of office, say:
I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
Liberals claim what they are fighting for IS “a better society” but when we examine what they want we find intolerance, tyranny, bigotry, hatred and willingness to use violence to impose their will on others. We also find contempt for this country and willingness to put it in danger to advance their agendas.
Hi Amazona,
My eyes are doing good. A little weak in my right eye, but other than that their good. Thank you for asking. I’ve been working on making a snake cane…carving from wood. So, it makes it look like it’s snake wrapped around a stick. Haha! 😉
Yes, I agree. Of the things you mentioned, intolerance and tyranny are the two biggest aspects of liberalism that liberals cling to. These traits are most vehemently seen in the most vociferous factions of the Democrat party, most notably the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer organization. And of course, most of them being backed and funded by George Soros, who has spent millions if not billions to silence Christians and people of faith. But when the law is not on their side, we see their desperation for power becomes one of bloodshed. Therefore, they kick against freedom and the rule of law.
Todd Starnes reminds us of the kind of Leftwing rhetoric that led to this tragedy.
He hit the nail on the head. Something needs to be done about our schools, or fear for our country’s future.