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Praetorium Honoris

Friday, October 12, 2018

Fools

War memorial in Gembloux, Belgium
(Source)
One hundred years ago the First World War in Europe was still raging. Though men on both sides were starting to look at ending the war, thousands more would die before the guns finally fell silent at 11 o'clock in the morning on the 11th of November, 1918, a Monday.

In the time between the start of the war in July of 1914, until its end in November of 1918, nearly 39,000,000 human beings were dead or badly injured. Nearly eight million of those thirty-nine million were civilians.

Mostly because the leaders of five great powers failed miserably. Russia, Austro-Hungary, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom were all (with the exception of France) led by monarchs, assisted by civilian politicians, and advised by the military leadership of their respective armed forces.

The assassination of the Austrian heir to the throne in Sarajevo started a chain of events which the top military leaders all advised their leaders couldn't be stopped once set in motion.

Austria-Hungary issued an almost impossible to meet set of demands on Serbia (which was suspected to be behind the murders of the Archduke Ferdinand, that Austrian heir, and his wife). Once the time limit on their ultimatum to the Serbs expired, Austria-Hungary declared war. They did so having been assured by the Germans that they would be supported should Russia back the Serbs. Which they did.

In short order Austria-Hungary, Serbia, Russia, Germany, and then France (which was allied with Russia) were at war. When German armies crossed into Belgium on their way to France, the United Kingdom entered the war.


Throughout Western Europe there are monuments to the dead of World War I, as can be seen in the photo above, additions were made to many of those monuments to commemorate the dead of World War II, a war which was, again, the result of failures by the leaders in Western Europe to really end World War I. Rather they sought to punish Germany for her aggression which only led to resentment. It also led to the rise of an obscure Austrian former corporal named Adolf Hitler and all that followed.


My ancestors left Europe to get away from monarchs and nearly unceasing warfare. No doubt many of yours did as well. Now we have people advocating for violence here in the United States due to a failure by many to understand the system which we live in, for which many Americans died to maintain, and which over 200 years ago many men dedicated their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to establish.

We live in a constitutional republic, not a democracy. Democracy is mob rule, the Founders knew what they were doing when they gave us this system of government. Yes, some of those men were flawed, but show me a human who is not.


I saw a photo on Facebook recently of an old friend of mine, and his daughter, standing in front of the White House. He is wearing a t-shirt which says "Resist," clenched fist raised in the air. She has the middle fingers of both hands extended towards the camera, but obviously intended for the man who currently resides in the White House and is the duly elected President of the United States.

I was appalled, even more so when his wife, her mother, had a comment indicating the pride she felt in her family. Pride? For what? Being politically naive? Being fundamentally stupid as regards the way our system works?

Resist. I occasionally see that bumper sticker here in Little Rhody. Usually (I kid you not) affixed to a Prius being driven by a couple of middle aged hippies who, no doubt, work for the state, the city, or perhaps they are tenured professors at that famous leftist university in Providence, which used to be an excellent school.

What is it exactly that these fools are resisting? Freedom? The right to a political opinion different than theirs?

I despise them and their ilk.

Do you think we of a more conservative bent enjoyed living through the farce of the last administration? Nope, didn't. But hey, he won fair and square. We dealt with it, eventually he and his party were shown the door. It happens, sometimes we get leaders we didn't choose, but we don't start wars over it. No, we go to the polls when it's time and make our voices heard.

Resist?

Fools, all of 'em.



80 comments:

  1. Those fools are intolerant of opinions and thoughts and beliefs different than of their own. What's worse they are increasingly willing to show violence to others of a conservative bent, the tackling of Rand Paul and the ASSASSINATION attempt on the Republican baseball practice. Despise is a good choice Sarge, agree with this post 110%.

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    1. They are getting out of control and if we're not careful, things could go south in a hurry.

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  2. Agree 100%. And you are so correct about the cars, and drivers, attached to those bumper stickers. I grin and shake my head.

    I hate to wish my life away, but I can't wait til Election Day when I can go and vote. Then I am going home, popping some popcorn, and sitting back to watch (I am hopeful) the temper tantrum continue. There are more and more adults looking up from their productive lives, saying "Enough" and acting accordingly.

    There is a real fear, among both political stripes, that this degrades into bullet box use instead of stopping at the ballot box. My fear is what happens when the congresscritter leaders finally decide it is in their best interest to stop throwing gas on the fire and have to tell their ramped-up hangers-on to cool their jets. Gangs and mobs have a strong tendency to get out of control pretty easily.

    There are many many folks in this country who have never seen blood, nor smelled death, especially in the amounts brought by war, or even a "conflict"...who have never had to sacrifice anything at all, never mind lose a loved one. That have always lived a cushy, protected life. They are the ones, I notice, who are agitating and trying to stir the pot up. I pray they do not get what they are trying for, but sometimes, a small part of me wishes they get what they deserve.

    Who was it that said those who do not read/understand history are doomed to repeat it? I just don't want them to drag those of us who have read and understand history to be dragged along with the above yahoos.

    PS. Is it Thursday yet?? Are you keeping the doc happy? Important activity--keeping docs happy---just saying ;)

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    1. Thanks Suz!

      As to the eye, doc was happy with what he saw, says everything is healing nicely. The bubble should be gone in a couple of days and if things continue as they are, I can return to work on Monday. Only one eye drop (other than the glaucoma drops) need be taken rather than three. When it's gone, no more will be needed. No more eye shield at night and I can sleep any old way I'd like. Things are looking good. Pun intended.

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    2. Well,I, for one, hope you return to work Tuesday. I intednd to collect my back ration of grog on Monday.

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    3. Good news about your Mk 1, mod 0 eyeball. Happy to hear. I'm sure you're tired of reading only the right side of your screen and the odd-numbered pages of a book!

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    4. Juvat - I am taking Monday afternoon off, whether the company likes it or not!

      Rest assured, ye'll get yer grog.

      ;)

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    5. Tuna - Hahaha! Now I have to go back and read the even-numbered pages!

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  3. I find it hard to understand as well. Is it the record low unemploment? Is it the return of pride from earning your money instead of getting it from Uncle Sugar? Is it the pride in America that is resurgent among those who would conserve first American principles? Is it the rule of law beginning to be observed again? Is it the trade agreement realignments brining more jobs to the US? Is it the desire to see our flag respected? Is it the truth that is being told from our CIC? I don't understand.

    But I watched a mob assault an elderly couple in Portland. And I ordered a "rapid response" tool to deal with that if it happens to me. The mentally weak are eating up the poison, and think it's milk. I sure hope we don't experience the end throes of balkanization. Not a happy picture.

    Rest that eye. Aye?

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    1. Right now Portland is a fascist/socialist shitehole. If they local constabulary can't enforce the law, the Guard should be sent in and place that shitehole under martial law.

      The problem is that these simpering idiots have been brainwashed, most of them were never really big into thinking for themselves so they bought whatever leftist garbage was fed to them.

      The number of stupid people in the world never ceases to amaze (and sicken) me.

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    2. It's not that the local constabulary can't enforce the law, it's that they won't. Somewhere their superiors or political masters will not allow enforcement of the law.

      It is time for Committees of Vigilance to take over. Or the Guard. When the fundamental rights of free traffic, basic safety and citizenship are de-facto made illegal, it is time to strip the current government of it's powers. It is what Uncle Sugar should do.

      Heck, I am for US takeover of California, and turning it back into a territory until such time it can prove that it is more responsible as a governmental power than Puerto Rico. Same with Oregon and Washington. Those places have lost the rule of law and entered the rule of mob, which worked so well for the French Republic...

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    3. Wholeheartedly agree! Those three states are under mob rule at the moment, no other explanation for it.

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    4. I am considering sending my nephews wife in portland a HD riot control dispenser of CN/CS I have laying around. she can put it in her truck for good luck. It is a bit old but still hold pressure with a dual safety valve. The solvent is one of the methyl blah blah keytones but I forget which. hell of a lot better than pepper spray just not as fast acting. Its about the size of a 2 lb fire extinguisher and has an effective stream of roughly ten meters. should work well for calming the masses.

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    5. Heh, might cool their ardor a bit.

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  4. “Resistance” is what a toddler does when they don’t want to go to bed.

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    1. Chris - Saw your rendition on Facebook, like the use of the "Resist" t-shirt as a graphic.

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  5. Hey Old AFSarge;

    You are correct, I didn't vote for the last occupant in the white house, but I accepted the results of the election because I understood how the system works, and I told myself that eventually the ass party would be shown the door and we can see how things goes. The left has been throwing temper tantrums the past 2 presidential cycles, first in 2000 where they convinced a huge swath of the electorate that President Bush was illegitimate and he accepted the media hanging that on his administration and didn't fight it, he was trying to be "Nice" and it caused problems that were unnecessary. Well the messiah got annointed according to the media and the democrats and the age of utopia was upon us. Well we didn't like the great American apology tour or Obunglercare and we starting protesting, but we never called his administration "Illegitimate". Now the Orange one is in charge and the media and the democrats are frothing at the mouth. Apparently they are trying to take out the electoral college because it is against the wishes of "Democracy", yep mob rule. The republic protects the rights of the minority whereas democracy is 2 wolves and one sheep voting on "supper". I am not sure how it will play out but the democrat meltdown in November will be epic.

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  6. The "resist" is against the man in the White House who is not part of the group that governs the US. Remember Eisenhower's warning in his departure speech? They won.
    92% of the msm news about Trump is negative & a great many people actually believe what they hear from the msm. They hear "democracy" all the time, the word "Republic" is hardly ever used...

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    1. I often wondered when the American people would get sick and tired of this self-anointed new aristocracy. Mr. Trump was the answer to that question.

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  7. I'm with Suz. All those agitating and "resisting" have never seen, and do not appreciate the color of blood.

    But so help me, I'm of the school that says, should the fools elevate this to that level, "War is the remedy the enemy has chosen, and I say we give him all he wants." William Tecumseh Sherman.

    Or, as Chaos said, "...I say to you with tears in my eyes, 'don't [bleep] with me, or I'll kill you all.'"

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    1. They really do need to be careful what they wish for, they really don't understand the real world.

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    2. Sherman, well, a most apropos choice of military leader. As bad a taste he left in the South, well, he did his job, most thoroughly.

      Sloshing wogs with Martinis would be the old British Empire way of what Sherman did.

      Let us hope things don't devolve into the need for another Shermanizing.

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    3. Indeed, I hope it doesn't come to that.

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  8. Oh, right. I thought we setteled that when we had our last election. When we elected a corporatist. But, it is coming on time to revolt again. This time to elect the underling branches of our government. Remember get out and revolt. VOTE.
    Support the revolution of your choice. Remember, we served, to support our right to be revolutionary. Remember what we came from. No choices, dictatorships, monarchy, intolerant societies. ItsI part of the light of freedom.

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    1. Voting is the only correct answer.

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    2. Learned revolution, that of discourse, of shaping minds using logical thought, and then, if that works, shooting the dufii in the face, is what our nation was founded on.

      Not mob violence and political and social assassination.

      What The South did in 1861, that was an attempt at a version of revolution. What John Wilkes Booth did, that was political assassination (by assassinating the politician) that was hoped to lead to mob violence. Which it did, in a way. I think we all can agree that Reconstruction was probably one of the worst political concepts ever used on the American People. (Quite frankly, it would have just been kinder in some ways to actually decimate (in the Roman way) the South instead of inflicting the evils of Reconstruction on it.)(Lincoln may have been a rat-bastige, but he wanted all the hate to go away after the surrender, and he wanted to forge ahead with an undivided nation. Reconstruction, the way it occurred, was a pimp-slap and a kick to the groin, much like what France did to Germany in 1919.)

      The last time we actually had a "Man of the People" in the White House was, maybe Ronald Reagan, but really I think Harry Truman. Now we have one. Sure, he plays with the corporations, as corporations are who hires many people, but President Trump really actually seems to care about the little people. People who have worked for Trump in the past, from his early real-estate days, to even those who were nicely let go recently, all say good things about him. Unlike those who worked under the last one or the anointed female candidate, or her husband.

      And, dammit, we are Americans. We have the right, and responsibility, to vote with our hearts and minds. And the responsibility to suck it up if 'the other guy' wins. To forget that responsibility is to turn our citizens into subjects.

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  9. With the actions of the Democratic and Progressive leadership, I find myself becoming more and more afraid that Mr. Trump will not survive his term in office. I also fear that there will be large numbers of fools that will rejoice it that happening.

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    1. If that happens, God help them. For I won't.

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    2. If that happens, God help us. For they have already given up on God. And nobody's going to like the fallout from an American Sarejevo.

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    3. It would be nasty.

      We have shown a great talent for slaughtering each other before, don't want to do that again. Ever.

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    4. need to load more thirty and forty five caliber as that actually makes me calm and thoughtful. don't want to be all fire and brimstone and cold inside. not a good feeling. can indeed get that way given provocation but no. don't want it. so tomorrow is another day and I hope for a good day for all. I remain optimistic but the realist in me needs more range time at the KD.

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  10. There was a Facebook poster using, "We survived Bush, You will survive Obama" as his identifier. I suppose I should now go with, "We survived Obama, You will survive Trump". History suggests the Constitution our Founders created will outlive all of us.

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    1. Assholes, the lot of 'em.

      And you're right, the Constitution will outlive us all, IF WE SUPPORT AND DEFEND IT!

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  11. Thinking back to a comment and responses from yesterday, democracy is what we have in California.
    A few cities have entirely too much to say about how the rest of the state is run.
    I would venture there are New Yorkers who feel much the same.

    The Electoral College has proven Time and again to be an effective barrier to domination by a single faction.
    It’s unfortunate that larger states don’t have “electoral high schools” to do the same.

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    1. Exactly Skip.

      The Electoral College may have been the smartest thing the Founders created.

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    2. The EC has been a boon to this country. Funny, the only time I ever hear about getting rid of it is when the Dems lose.

      And the lefty oligarchs have removed the electoral high schools from many state constitutions, just like they've managed to infringe upon property rights, armament rights, taxation without representation...

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    3. Yup. The Electoral College was put in place to save us from the oligarchs.

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  12. I see that once again we are of like minds.

    Thanks for the post.
    Paul L. Quandt

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  13. Amen, Sarge. Have my mail in ballots in hand and turning them in today. Not a single leftist resister will ever get my votes.

    If, as I fear due to the massive voter registration efforts and sophisticated followup-turnout efforts they have in place, there will be hordes of newly registered "no information voters" mostly high school kids and millenials who are ignorant of candidates or their policies and will simply vote as their manipulators tell them. These are even more dangerous than the "low information" voters normally herded to the polls by the left, driven by false tales of victimization and lured by promises of "free stuff." The "no information" voters are more idealistic, and clueless about the realities of the world around them, outside of their social media accounts.
    We need literacy tests and poll taxes again!
    John Blackshoe

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  14. This, and moreso! Yeesh, a bee got under your bonnet yesterday, didn't it?

    We have some asshat in Gainesvilegrad, in the Democratic People's Republic of Alachuastan, who drives around in a Tesla with a Bernie bumper sticker on it. Man, never wanted to see a Tesla go up in smoke so quickly...

    I have had spirited discussions with people who show socialistic and anarchistic bumper stickers or outerwear. Mainly I usually ask them how much of their salary and monies have they given to the people? And why are they driving around in expensive cars, and went to expensive schools? I mean, if you support socialism, shouldn't that mean that your stuff is the people's stuff? Hey, give me that guitar, I don't have one... The scary thing is, the cognitive idiots they are producing today don't get it. They all want socialism, as long as some other kulak suffers.

    Baaah. I wonder if this is how the people in Weimar Germany or in the last days of the Tsar felt, if you know what I mean.

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    1. It's odd but I recall things being far worse back during the latter days of the Vietnam War. The Weathermen, SNCC, and a number of other fellow travelers were all set to bring down the republic to please their masters in Moscow. (They were the paymasters back then, the people fomenting the riots were either cognizant of that or were the standard "useful idiots" that Lenin knew he could count on. Now Soros and others of the "New World Order" are behind this nonsense.)

      That photo I mentioned really set me off. But rather than post in haste, I let it simmer awhile.

      All of these people are truly idiots who have no idea how the world works. None. They need to be damned careful of where they tread.

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    2. Well, instead of Moscow the paymaster is an ex-Nazi assistant (by his own words) named Soros. So many studies follow the money to that bloated toad of an evil man.

      And The Weatherman (via the Clintons and Obanskis) and the Black Panthers, BLM, Antifa, and other groups are just as bad, plus we have active muslim terror cells working openly in our country, with the full approval of certain government employees and activist judges. And we have active foreign enemy units working in our nation (MS-13, Mexican Cartels, etc.)

      So. Well. I think things are heading towards Kent State and Chicago Democratic Convention fun levels.

      As to the reporting of the unpleasantness during the 60's, well, the media was actively reporting in order to disrupt things then. Now they are actively not reporting in order to disrupt things today.

      So, well, are things as now as then? Yes. Maybe worse. Even though we have President Trump in the White House and Republicans finding their spines suddenly, there are a lot of entrenched bureaucrats and pretty much the whole Democratic party in active revolt against the lawful government, including encouragement of violence. Local and state governments actively revolting agianst the rule of law (sanctuary cities and such.) Seriously.

      Bad times. We are in bad times.

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    3. I am calmly awaiting the day for the announcement of George Soro's death notice. hoping for natural causes but I can accept anything that is offered. Please don't tell me the bastard found the fountain of youth.

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    4. While I don't wish for the death of any man, that one might be an exception.

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  15. When I (and many here) was in grade school, my dad was a WWII vet. The old guys had fought in WWI. The Civil War was ancient history 100 years past. I highly recommend the book 'A Rifleman Went To War' by Herbert W. McBride.

    Our history is not taught in our schools. Civics is not taught. What is taught is a twisted version cultivated by losers. "You OWE us, man!".

    To borrow a well worn quote, "Life is hard. It's harder when you're stupid". Stupid people think it's a good idea to give out participation trophies.

    Dry feet and full bellies for too long.

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  16. No reason to comment. It has all been said and said well. Frustration abounds.

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  17. They hate him, much because of the media which is on a 24/7 Trump-bashing binge, and no good news is allowed in Pravda-USA, and because they are all so much smarter than him: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/22478

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  18. This is funny, and painfully true.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQTqB5jZ4Lc

    Here is one you can use to make SJW heads explode--

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYzAqHD1gHc

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    1. Yup. First one is funny, second one is intriguing.

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  19. Sad state of affairs on the left. recognize that they usually went to school, why had they not learned history? political power comes and goes. the same with fame, power, and love. why do you suppose the left has such cognitive dissonance? liberty is the best one could wish for from a government. why does the left not get that???

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    1. That's a puzzle to me as well.

      It's almost as if they have learned nothing.

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    2. The young ones were taught Zimm's version of history. His A People's History of the United States is used as a textbook in many schools.

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  20. Bottom line for me is I may have grey hair but there is nothing wrong with my reflexes. My genes include lots of Scottish, Irish and a hefty dollop of Swede. I have a very long fuse, but it can go off. In the past, it has gone off with an almighty large bang.

    You leave me and mine alone, I will smile, and nod in passing by. You try to start something with me, I will finish it and you will not enjoy that process. I am not afraid of hard work, pain, blood, guts, or general mess. It all washes out with either soap and water or hydrogen peroxide. I know of all sorts of ways to make someone hurt and several other ways to cause death. And my aim is improving weekly, thanks to Hubbie's tutoring, and my practicing. Someone tries to start something around here, my response will be Bring It! I have shovels, a front end loader and a bulldozer. Gives a whole new meaning to the 3 S's.

    My family, on both sides, immigrated here over the years. Those immigrations were instituted by the strong minded females in the family, wanting better for their children. One was a widow with a young son. They fought to get here. I have no problem fighting to keep what they worked so hard to make for me and my children.

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  21. I have never had dreams, recently, of hiding behind the barriers and repelling the hordes of leftist mobs and idiots. Nope. No dreams of the armed fall of our Nation because a bunch of people too childish to be trusted to use a microwave properly, let alone a voting booth. Nope. Not me.

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    1. You didn't have too. You acted out your fantasies of repelling the hordes by...well...repelling the hordes. Ok, so when ya got done, everyone sat down and quaffed a pint. Maybe that would help, to institute mandatory Medieval jousting and malee fighting for all. I've had days at work that when it was all over, I was ready to go bash on something.
      After, everyone can compare bruises and bent armor.
      Might work...maybe...
      Naw, someone would get their feelings hurt by losing...sigh...

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    2. Well, lately I am having dreams of being in my armor with my .270 and Mr. 870 ready to blast the masses, at the barriers.

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  22. I can understand the angst of having friends and relatives in low places. a younger twin sister of mine is a thoroughly indoctrinated democrat whose trapdoor like mind has the hinges welded into the closed position. while she does admit to certain excesses(!) of the democrats, her opinion never waivers. gotta love a woman who stands her ground. of course, the other twin sister more than makes up for it by getting MAGA stenciled on her car and she just smiles at her sister when she visits. twin sisters, what can you do?

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    1. I'll bet your family reunions are interesting. To say the least!

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  23. I feel the future of the US is changing and maybe not for the good. Violence is a poor solution to most problems and this is one that it is a extremely poor solution for. Having said that I do feel at some time in the near future we will see an uprising of a faction that changes our lives as we know it. I am an not a hostile guy but can defend myself and family properly, if society pushes it that far I'm afraid they may not like the outcome, I know I will not. Russell

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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