I’ll be 63 soon. Except for one semester in college when jobs were scarce, and a six-month period when I was between jobs, but job-hunting every day, I’ve worked, hard, since I was 18. Despite some health challenges, I still put in 50-hour weeks, and haven’t called in sick in seven or eight years. I make a good salary, but I didn’t inherit my job or my income, and I worked to get where I am. Given the economy, there’s no retirement in sight, and I’m tired. Very tired.
I’m tired of being told that I have to “spread the wealth around” to people who don’t have my work ethic. I’m tired of being told the government will take the money I earned, by force if necessary, and give it to people too lazy or stupid to earn it.
I’m tired of being told that I have to pay more taxes to “keep people in their homes.” Sure, if they lost their jobs or got sick, I’m willing to help. But if they bought McMansions at three times the price of our paid-off, $250,000 condo, on one-third of my salary, then let the leftwing Congresscritters who passed Fannie and Freddie and the Community Reinvestment Act that created the bubble help them—with their own money.
I’m tired of being told how bad America is by leftwing millionaires like Michael Moore, George Soros and Hollywood entertainers who live in luxury because of the opportunities America offers. In thirty years, if they get their way, the United States will have the religious freedom and women’s rights of Saudi Arabia, the economy of Zimbabwe, the freedom of the press of China, the crime and violence of Mexico, the tolerance for Gay people of Iran, and the freedom of speech of Venezuela. Won’t multiculturalism be beautiful?
I’m tired of being told that Islam is a “Religion of Peace,” when every day I can read dozens of stories of Muslim men killing their sisters, wives and daughters for their family “honor;” of Muslims rioting over some slight offense; of Muslims murdering Christian and Jews because they aren’t “believers;” of Muslims burning schools for girls; of Muslims stoning teenage rape victims to death for “adultery;” of Muslims mutilating the genitals of little girls; all in the name of Allah, because the Qur’an and Shari’a law tells them to.
I believe “a man should be judged by the content of his character, not by the color of his skin.” I’m tired of being told that “race doesn’t matter” in the post-racial world of President Obama, when it’s all that matters in affirmative action jobs, lower college admission and graduation standards for minorities (harming them the most), government contract set-asides, tolerance for the ghetto culture of violence and fatherless children that hurts minorities more than anyone, and in the appointment of US Senators from Illinois. I think it’s very cool that we have a black president and that a black child is doing her homework at the desk where Lincoln wrote the emancipation proclamation. I just wish the black president was Condi Rice, or someone who believes more in freedom and the individual and less in an all-knowing government.
I’m tired of a news media that thinks Bush’s fundraising and inaugural expenses were obscene, but that think Obama’s, at triple the cost, were wonderful. That thinks Bush exercising daily was a waste of presidential time, but Obama exercising is a great example for the public to control weight and stress, that picked over every line of Bush’s military records, but never demanded that Kerry release his, that slammed Palin with two years as governor for being too inexperienced for VP, but touted Obama with three years as senator as potentially the best president ever.
Wonder why people are dropping their subscriptions or switching to Fox News? Get a clue. I didn’t vote for Bush in 2000, but the media and Kerry drove me to his camp in 2004.
I’m tired of being told that out of “tolerance for other cultures” we must let Saudi Arabia use our oil money to fund mosques and madrassa Islamic schools to preach hate in America, while no American group is allowed to fund a church, synagogue or religious school in Saudi Arabia to teach love and tolerance.
I’m tired of being told I must lower my living standard to fight global warming, which no one is allowed to debate. My wife and I live in a two-bedroom apartment and carpool together five miles to our jobs. We also own a three-bedroom condo where our daughter and granddaughter live. Our carbon footprint is about 5% of Al Gore’s, and if you’re greener than Gore, you’re green enough.
I’m tired of being told that drug addicts have a disease, and I must help support and treat them, and pay for the damage they do. Did a giant germ rush out of a dark alley, grab them, and stuff white powder up their noses while they tried to fight it off? I don’t think Gay people choose to be Gay, but I damn sure think druggies chose to take drugs. And I’m tired of harassment from cool people treating me like a freak when I tell them I never tried marijuana. Update: People have written to tell me I'd have more sympathy if this was close to me. It is exactly having seen the destruction of alcoholism and heroin addiction in my own family that makes me pretty intolerant of people who are willing to destroy the people around them to indulge themselves.
I’m tired of illegal aliens being called “undocumented workers,” especially the ones who aren’t working, but are living on welfare or crime. What’s next? Calling drug dealers, “Undocumented Pharmacists”? And, no, I’m not against Hispanics. Most of them are Catholic and it’s been a few hundred years since Catholics wanted to kill me for my religion. I’m willing to fast track for citizenship any Hispanic person who can speak English, doesn’t have a criminal record and who is self-supporting without family on welfare, or who serves honorably for three years in our military. Those are the citizens we need. Update: A few people have taken this to indicate some bias against Catholics, based on events 400 years ago. While I think they are either too touchy or fail to understand, I was only trying to say that I have zero problem with Catholics wanting to come to the US, but that I have great concerns about Muslims, as a good % of them do want to kill me, or force their religion and moral code on me.
I’m tired of latte liberals and journalists, who would never wear the uniform of the Republic themselves, or let their entitlement-handicapped kids near a recruiting station, trashing our military. They and their kids can sit at home, never having to make split-second decisions under life and death circumstances, and bad mouth better people than themselves. Do bad things happen in war? You bet. Do our troops sometimes misbehave? Sure. Does this compare with the atrocities that were the policy of our enemies for the last fifty years—and still are? Not even close. So here’s the deal. I’ll let myself be subjected to all the humiliation and abuse that was heaped on terrorists at Abu Ghraib or Gitmo, and the critics can let themselves be subject to captivity by the Muslims who tortured and beheaded Daniel Pearl in Pakistan, or the Muslims who tortured and murdered Marine Lt. Col. William Higgins in Lebanon, or the Muslims who ran the blood-spattered Al Qaeda torture rooms our troops found in Iraq, or the Muslims who cut off the heads of schoolgirls in Indonesia, because the girls were Christian. Then we’ll compare notes. British and American soldiers are the only troops in history that civilians came to for help and handouts, instead of hiding from in fear. UPDATE: It has rightly been pointed out to me, several times, that I should have included Canadian, Australian and New Zealand troops here. My apologies for slighting these gallant allies of freedom.
I’m tired of people telling me that their party has a corner on virtue and the other party has a corner on corruption. Read the papers—bums are bi-partisan. And I’m tired of people telling me we need bi-partisanship. I live in Illinois, where the “Illinois Combine” of Democrats and Republicans has worked together harmoniously to loot the public for years. And I notice that the tax cheats in Obama’s cabinet are bi-partisan as well.
I’m tired of hearing wealthy athletes, entertainers and politicians of both parties talking about innocent mistakes, stupid mistakes or youthful mistakes, when we all know they think their only mistake was getting caught. I’m tired of people with a sense of entitlement, rich or poor.
Speaking of poor, I’m tired of hearing people with air-conditioned homes, color TVs and two cars called poor. The majority of Americans didn’t have that in 1970, but we didn’t know we were “poor.” The poverty pimps have to keep changing the definition of poor to keep the dollars flowing.
I’m real tired of people who don’t take responsibility for their lives and actions. I’m tired of hearing them blame the government, or discrimination, or big-whatever for their problems.
Yes, I’m damn tired. But I’m also glad to be 63. Because, mostly, I’m not going to get to see the world these people are making. I’m just sorry for my granddaughter.
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts state senate. He blogs at www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com Update: Someone attached a picture of Robert D. Hall, an actor, to some versions and forwarded it on, saying that I was on CSI. We are two different people, and I am not an actor--unless you count running for public office.
And to the folks who said I'm Old and should die and get out of the way, I have IPF, so will comply soon enough.
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query i'm tired. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query i'm tired. Sort by date Show all posts
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
The comments are fun
I get e-mail’s referring to government “Ponzi Schemes.” Let’s stop calling them “Ponzi Schemes” and call them “Madoff Schemes.” Compared to Bernie, Ponzi was a Piker.
Many critics took—or pretended to take—my piece “I’m Tired” to mean I was worn out, or giving up. But in common usage, “I’m tired of” has a different meaning than “I’m tired.” People can say, “I’m tired of beans,” without implying they are physically weary, just as saying “I’m sick of beans” doesn’t mean they are physically ill. The different usages in English are so common and well understood that, if I was feeling uncharitable, I might think they were deliberately misinterpreting me in order to criticize. So, to be charitable, I’ll put it down to poor reading skills.
“I’m Tired” is here, if you missed it:
http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/2009/02/robert.html
A few folks complained that I was just complaining—apparently it’s so wrong for me to complain about the problems I see in our country, they have to complain about me doing so. One guy (you know who you are, Jack) wrote a long piece griping about “I’m tired,” then ended with, “Please remember that while griping may make you feel better, it doesn't accomplish much.” Writing that probably made him feel better.
Another thing I’m suddenly tired of: Critics claiming I said something I didn’t, then criticizing the thing they made up. That’s for professional journalists, kids, don’t try it at home. I have never said that all the members of any group, white, black, brown, yellow, red, green, gay, straight, male, female, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Republicans or Democrats were evil. Not even Lawyers or Congress. Or that all members of any of these groups were virtuous. Quite the contrary. Learn to read. Makes me want to smack them in the snotlocker—not that I’m a violent person. Marines are gentle like flowers in the spring.
The fellow who translated “I’m Tired” into Portuguese has a great post on his blog called “Brazil for Beginners.” Very educational reading about this important southern neighbor.
http://deslumieres.blogspot.com/2008/06/brazil-for-beginners-i-phantom-menace.html
Probably my favorite blog response was the person who told me I had made a “misstake” (sic) on Gays in “This I Believe” because I obviously was not “edgucated (sic) in this area.”
But this e-mail was an honour:
Dear Mr. Robert Hall,
Your article about your being tired was forwarded to me here in London by my friend Si F. in Los Angeles.
First of all let me say that I LIKED IT. EVERY WORD THAT YOU WROTE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
Please permit me to make a few comments:--
I am glad that London is still the capital of England and is not yet called Londonabad and that England is not yet called Anglistan, and I doubt that I shall live to see that happen. But there is a serious danger that it may come about !
Because you see I am 92, a veteran of World War 2. But unless more of us speak
out as you have done, it will surely come about, as our British politicians, no less
than yours in the USA, are still living in the spirit of Neville Chamberlain, (who turned a blind eye to the obviously approaching danger of a "gentleman" called Herr Adolf Hitler),
instead of that of Winston Churchill ("We shall NEVER surrender").
Our financiers and politicians are just as corrupt as yours.
Our so-called "leaders" fall over themselves to be "fair minded" to the Islamist terrorists, and protect their "human rights", releasing murderers in a spirit of "Justice" while completely ignoring the human rights (no quotation marks this time) of their quite innocent victims, such as those who were slaughtered in New York on 9/11
It is now midnight (GMT) and I, too, am now tired and shall very soon be in bed, but we must all exert ourselves to try to prevent another catastrophic world war.
So I will conclude, in, I hope, English, instead of the stupid habit of teenagers to use their texting slang and say that I admire you, but we must all pull together to make a serious effort to save the world from disaster, (and in what is probably considered "old fashioned" style),
You may certainly post my comments on your site (not "sight", with your permission I correct you), and as you have no fear of your name and full address being quoted, I shall have the same lack of fear.
Best wishes
Yours very sincerely,
Michael Sherbourne (d.o.b. 22nd Feb.,1917)
32, Cissbury Ring South, Woodside Park,
N.Finchley, LONDON, N.12 7BE
England, UK e-mail maiklsher@googlemail.com
Note he caught a typo in my e-mail to him. Michael is a guy you'd want at your back in a rough house!
They were the Greatest Generation in Britain, too. Who will save our world now, as they did then? Imagine Churchill and Roosevelt trying to lock up all those Nazi POWs (enemy combatants) today, without giving them lawyers and their constitutional rights? Makes you tired to think about it.
Thanks for reading.
Many critics took—or pretended to take—my piece “I’m Tired” to mean I was worn out, or giving up. But in common usage, “I’m tired of” has a different meaning than “I’m tired.” People can say, “I’m tired of beans,” without implying they are physically weary, just as saying “I’m sick of beans” doesn’t mean they are physically ill. The different usages in English are so common and well understood that, if I was feeling uncharitable, I might think they were deliberately misinterpreting me in order to criticize. So, to be charitable, I’ll put it down to poor reading skills.
“I’m Tired” is here, if you missed it:
http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/2009/02/robert.html
A few folks complained that I was just complaining—apparently it’s so wrong for me to complain about the problems I see in our country, they have to complain about me doing so. One guy (you know who you are, Jack) wrote a long piece griping about “I’m tired,” then ended with, “Please remember that while griping may make you feel better, it doesn't accomplish much.” Writing that probably made him feel better.
Another thing I’m suddenly tired of: Critics claiming I said something I didn’t, then criticizing the thing they made up. That’s for professional journalists, kids, don’t try it at home. I have never said that all the members of any group, white, black, brown, yellow, red, green, gay, straight, male, female, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Republicans or Democrats were evil. Not even Lawyers or Congress. Or that all members of any of these groups were virtuous. Quite the contrary. Learn to read. Makes me want to smack them in the snotlocker—not that I’m a violent person. Marines are gentle like flowers in the spring.
The fellow who translated “I’m Tired” into Portuguese has a great post on his blog called “Brazil for Beginners.” Very educational reading about this important southern neighbor.
http://deslumieres.blogspot.com/2008/06/brazil-for-beginners-i-phantom-menace.html
Probably my favorite blog response was the person who told me I had made a “misstake” (sic) on Gays in “This I Believe” because I obviously was not “edgucated (sic) in this area.”
But this e-mail was an honour:
Dear Mr. Robert Hall,
Your article about your being tired was forwarded to me here in London by my friend Si F. in Los Angeles.
First of all let me say that I LIKED IT. EVERY WORD THAT YOU WROTE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
Please permit me to make a few comments:--
I am glad that London is still the capital of England and is not yet called Londonabad and that England is not yet called Anglistan, and I doubt that I shall live to see that happen. But there is a serious danger that it may come about !
Because you see I am 92, a veteran of World War 2. But unless more of us speak
out as you have done, it will surely come about, as our British politicians, no less
than yours in the USA, are still living in the spirit of Neville Chamberlain, (who turned a blind eye to the obviously approaching danger of a "gentleman" called Herr Adolf Hitler),
instead of that of Winston Churchill ("We shall NEVER surrender").
Our financiers and politicians are just as corrupt as yours.
Our so-called "leaders" fall over themselves to be "fair minded" to the Islamist terrorists, and protect their "human rights", releasing murderers in a spirit of "Justice" while completely ignoring the human rights (no quotation marks this time) of their quite innocent victims, such as those who were slaughtered in New York on 9/11
It is now midnight (GMT) and I, too, am now tired and shall very soon be in bed, but we must all exert ourselves to try to prevent another catastrophic world war.
So I will conclude, in, I hope, English, instead of the stupid habit of teenagers to use their texting slang and say that I admire you, but we must all pull together to make a serious effort to save the world from disaster, (and in what is probably considered "old fashioned" style),
You may certainly post my comments on your site (not "sight", with your permission I correct you), and as you have no fear of your name and full address being quoted, I shall have the same lack of fear.
Best wishes
Yours very sincerely,
Michael Sherbourne (d.o.b. 22nd Feb.,1917)
32, Cissbury Ring South, Woodside Park,
N.Finchley, LONDON, N.12 7BE
England, UK e-mail maiklsher@googlemail.com
Note he caught a typo in my e-mail to him. Michael is a guy you'd want at your back in a rough house!
They were the Greatest Generation in Britain, too. Who will save our world now, as they did then? Imagine Churchill and Roosevelt trying to lock up all those Nazi POWs (enemy combatants) today, without giving them lawyers and their constitutional rights? Makes you tired to think about it.
Thanks for reading.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Random Thoughts
I’m on vacation and may not post for awhile, so left this for your late evening entertainment:
People who text or talk on distracting cell phones, even hands free, while driving are idiots. Period. They apparently think their conversations or messages are important enough to put a child’s life at serious risk.
But I suppose I’m a dinosaur because I think texting and tweeting are time-wasters for twits. If the telephone and e-mail were good enough for George Washington and Abe Lincoln, they’re good enough for me.
My PDA is a spiral notebook and pen in my top pocket.
I do have a cell phone. I use it to make phone calls. I think it takes pictures, but I don’t want to clog up the lines with them.
Someone said that people who want to tell you their views on religion are seldom interested in spending the time to hear your views on the subject. Apparently it’s even more true of religious e-mails.
I’m inclined to vote straight Republican on the theory that Republicans are ruining the country, but at a slower rate than Democrats.
A Middle East without Israel will not be safer for anyone, and people who think so are blinded by their hatred of Jews. It will be especially dangerous for the millions of Muslims who want to live their lives without being thrust into war and destruction by the religious fanatics who have the guns and run their governments. I fear the world will get to learn this in a few years.
There was a stomach-churning irony in Helen Thomas, who came to the US from Lebanon, saying that Israelis born in Israel should go back to the countries that murdered their grandparents, “where they came from.” I didn’t see her packing for Beirut.
My essay, “I’m Tired,” continues to get posted on new blogs and sent to new readers each week. I’m not really sure why. I think other pieces I wrote, like, “This I Believe,” “Why I’m a Republican” and “The Coming Collapse of America” are at least as good. You never know what will take off.
About half the postings of “I’m Tired” get attributed to an actor, Robert D. Hall, with a similar name, due I think to one confused person attaching his photo to the piece and sending it on. I often wonder what he thinks of it. I’d think it was his popularity pushing it, but about half the posting don’t mention him.
“I’m Tired” has drawn thousands of comments on my blog and many others. I think a majority are positive, but a lot are negative. In the way of net cowards who don’t have to give their real name, a number are downright vicious. Lucky I have a thick skin. The one I still like best said, “The man makes some points, but clearly he’s a lunatic!”
Those who don’t like “I’m Tired,” tend to attack what they think I said, or who they think I am, a rich guy drawing a fat pension from the Marines and the Massachusetts Senate, and royalties from my books. So far, I don’t have a penny from those sources, but I have a new book coming out that might make me $50 if I’m lucky.
When I started my blog, a friend told me there were seven million blogs and only two million readers. So if you are reading this, I think you for the compliment.
I’ve noticed that people prefer to make up something they claim you said, and attack that, as it’s easier than challenging what you really believe. For example, if you are for limited government, the statists say, “Oh, you are against the government doing anything. So don’t call they police if you have a crime, the fire department if you have a fire or take Social Security (even though we made you pay into it).” It is possible to believe there is a role for government without believing that the government should be the first answer to every problem. Because I don’t want the chaos of anarchy, doesn’t mean I want to live in the Soviet Union or the Third Reich.
Now that I’m on Oxygen for my IPF, I feel better, but pulling a tank everywhere, I find I have one less hand for carrying things and opening car doors. My cat likes the moving hose, though.
I’ve noticed that the people who loudly claimed Hurricane Katrina proved Global warming now say that a decade of steady temps doesn’t prove anything.
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. --Euripides. Update: Whom the gods would destroy, they first give a sense of entitlement. --R. A. Hall
There's an old military axiom that if you defend everywhere, you defend nowhere. Equally, if you praise everything, you praise nothing. If you want to ruin your kids’ lives, heap them up with unearned self-esteem. Let them feel entitled to receive honors and rewards without work or accomplishment. Assure them they are entitled to live at someone else’s expense, that they deserve the fruits of others’ labor. Unfortunately, this is so prevalent, it’s ruining the country as well as the lives of the spoiled generations, starting with us baby boomers and growing into a tsunami as it went. In twenty years, the Jamestown Rule will be in effect: Only those who work will eat.
I prefer shopping at Goodwill to Macy’s, eating at a local family restaurant to expensive fine dining, the VFW or an Irish pub to Club 21, jeans to tuxes, the “girl next door” look to Vegas showgirls with implants and Daisies and Thistles to Roses and Orchids. Clearly I was not cut out for the aristocracy. No wonder purple is far from my favorite color.
Since teen girls pay big bucks for jeans pre-ripped at the knees, how come my wife tears up a perfectly good undershirt of mine if it has a tiny hole?
My Garnddaughter, Britnye, who is 9, recently said that this year has sure gone fast, "and my friend who is older says it goes even faster once you're ten!" Yup.
Since he’s so strong for “Green Energy,” I want to see President Obama take off in a solar-powered Air Force One. Or wind powered.
Star athletes may be worth their salaries, but I prefer the dollars not come from my wallet. Pretty much the only pro sport that I watch a bit of is football. On TV and with a book in my hand, thanks to instant replay of the good stuff.
The primary victims of black and Hispanic thugs and gangs in our cities are decent black and Hispanic folks. The primary victims of Islamic fanatics—of whom there are far more than the “tiny minority” claimed by leftist multi-culturalists—are decent Muslims who just want to be let alone to live peaceful lives. But it’s still condemned as “racist” to crack down on the thugs to protect the decent folks.
Islam is not a race, and criticism of it is not “racist.” Anyone, of any race can become a Muslim by making the declaration of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammad is his Prophet." Criticism of Islam is no more racist than is criticism of any other faith, and is protected by the First Amendment. But it can still get you killed. (See van Gogh, Theo.)
I notice that some folks work really hard and get little done, while others seem to hardly work and get a lot done. Of course, most of us have to plod along working hard to get much done. And some folks are content to live off others hard work, though if they put as much effort and imagination into a career, they'd probably be successful.
When I want to feel really old, I recall that when I was a boy, you could mail a letter for three cents. And we had only one phone in the house. It was black, attached to the wall and several other families used the same party line. We lived at a lake and not only did I ride a bike without a helmet, I had a rowboat I could row to my friend’s house, by myself, without a life jacket. I was in third and fourth grade there.
A friend told me that, “When liberals win, they advance liberalism. When conservatives win, they only postpone liberalism.” I would change it to, “When statists (Nazis, Fascists, Communists, Socialists, Liberals, Progressives) win, the state grows. When individualists win, they slow but don’t reverse the growth of the state, as every government program creates it own vocal and activist constituency.” Since a state, like any organism, can only grow so far, eventually you have totalitarianism, then a Soviet-style collapse. Or worse.
I don’t think things are going to get better, because anyone running on a platform of doing what needs to be done would be soundly defeated by the special interests who would be hurt. “Special interests” includes 100% of the voters. We all belong to some groups that will be hurt or helped by government action. Which is why the bloated government has produced a bloated lobbying effort. And 99% of lobbying is to preserve or expand programs, spending and benefits.
Have you noticed that the folks who don’t want you to have a gun to protect yourself often have bodyguards to protect them?
Looking at the fiscal crisis in Europe, I’ve been saying that we are just Greece twenty years out. But, based on this Gibbon quote, we are perhaps the capital of Greece: “In the end more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free.” —Edward Gibbon.
Things are going bad so fast, I’m sure in 20 years no one will give a fig about Global Warming, regardless if it’s hotter or cooler. But they might kill you for that fig.
Politicians are rewarded in the next election, for doing things that sound good but have pernicious economic effects in 10 or 20 years. The seeds of our troubles now were planted—by both parties I might add—in the 1990s.
What the public really wants is more government spending, less taxes and no deficits. Which is why you seldom see a government that isn’t experiencing some sort of fiscal crisis.
I guess it makes me a RINO, but I can’t see how a couple of Gay people getting hitched threatens my marriage. But then, I never was so mad at a woman I gave a thought to dating guys, so those people who think being Gay is a choice must have thought seriously about making that choice. Otherwise, on what evidence?
I can tell what section of the country a person came from and their age group, when they ask me if I ever owned a clothing store. Yes, I can still sing the Robert Hall Clothing Store jingles, albeit off key.
If it wasn’t for micromanagement, some places would have no management at all.
If you think there are no differences between men and women, try to imagine a guy at a formal event saying to his wife, “Honey, we have to leave. That guy over there is wearing the same tux I am.”
If I understand what is happening in Washington, Democrats are angry and frustrated that Republicans are using against President Obama the same kind of tactics they, including then-Senator Obama, used against President Bush. Both sides say, “They started it.” It’s not like the Hatfields and the McCoys, almost impossible to stop.
If being in the KKK still had majority support in the country, I think Sen. Byrd would have been buried in a white sheet.
If justice was fair, anyone convicted of perjury would get the same punishment as Bill Clinton—millions on the book and speaking circuit.
I get most of my news by reading, both the Chicago Trib and a lot of on-line news sources. I do watch the local news on TV while getting ready in the morning. Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t watch Fox cable news much as people shouting over each other are not much more enlightening there than on MSNBC.
They used to call black folks who didn’t toe the party thought line, “Oreos.” (Black on the outside, white on the inside.) I like the new term “Watermelons” for a lot of the enviro-extremists. You know, green on the outside, red on the inside.
We are all suffragists now, but it’s been little more than 100 years since the majority of men, and no small number of women, opposed giving the vote to women.. We are all Abolitionists now, but it’s only been 170 years or so since a majority of American, North or South, opposed the abolition of slavery and thought that at the least, it was a necessary evil. That’s an eye-blink in history.
Only in Western Civilization did slavery become an issue. In all other cultures it was accepted as the natural order of things. Thomas Sowell has studied the economics of slavery in detail. He reports that over about 300 years, twice as many white Europeans were captured and taken as slaves to Muslim countries as black Africans were sold by fellow Africans to be brought to what became the United States. I wonder if the Saudis will give us reparations?
Trivia question: Who was William Wilberforce? Our civilization is indebted to him.
I’ve never attended a Tea Party protest. I’m far too busy between work, my blog, my on-going education through books, and coping with life to consider it. And I don’t belong to any Tea Party group. But I think using the loaded sexual term “teabaggers” to describe people exercising their First Amendment Rights, mostly peacefully from what I see on TV, is as offensive as using the “N” word to describe the President. Besides, I’ve read that “teabagging” is primarily a gay male sexual practice. Isn’t using that as a pejorative as offensive to gays as using “retarded” as a pejorative, as Rahm Emanuel did, is to people with mental disabilities? (Or, more accurately, offensive to their advocates.)
When did “Press Conferences” start being called “Pressers”? (And aren’t they really “News Conferences,” given that both the print media (the press) and the electronic media attend?) I suppose it’s shorter and sounds cutting edge. I guess the next shortening will be to “P-ers,” which might be more accurate, come to think of it.
I recently heard an economist speak who said the recession was started by banks giving housing loans to folks who couldn’t afford them. Ninja loans, he called them (no job, no income, no assets). He apparently had not heard of the Community Reinvestment Act, Fannie or Freddie, at least he didn’t mention them.
If no one is bleeding or about to die, it’s not an emergency.
When people tell me that “everything works out for the best,” I ask them to explain the holocaust.
Recently read books I’d recommend: Money for Nothing, Applied Economics, Race and Culture, The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran, A Question of Command, Triumph Forsaken, Shakedown, Liberty and Tyranny, Children of Jihad and The Road to Serfdom.
And I read a few years ago, for folks who want to try, repeat try, to understand the Middle East: Sowing the Wind. Great history of the region, easy to read, but hard to track all the players, none, repeat none, with clean hands.
When people use the phrase, “Well, to be honest…” I often interrupt to ask, “Aren’t you always?”
Postponing a problem, as Congress loves to do, if far different from solving a problem. Usually it makes it worse, though often it makes it someone else’s worse problem.
The fact that you are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, white, black, brown, red or yellow (yes, I know Asians aren’t really yellow and native Americans aren’t really red. I’m hardly snow white, inside or out.), old or young, male or female, American or non-American, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist or other faith, doesn’t mean you are not a jerk or worse. I’ve even met Marines who are jerks, it pains me to say.
I can’t afford to be a big political contributor, but I had a history of sending $25 to a candidate I liked, when I could. I hesitate now. The political fund raising effort of all candidates means they will likely spend $200 in postage, printing and staff time asking me for more.
“Central Planning” of the economy is not only terribly inefficient, but it inevitably leads to tyranny, as the planners have to increasingly coerce people into doing things for “their own good” that they don’t want to do.
Have you noticed that when a candidate or political group sends you a survey, they don’t want your opinion, they think they already know your opinion on the issues and want your money.
And modern fund raising letters all are cut from the same cloth. There’s the emotional appeal on the envelope. “I’m taking on Attila the Hun. Won’t you stand with me?” There’s the short, often one-sentence, bullet-point paragraphs. There’s the donor form, headed, “Yes, I hate Attila too, enclosed is my contribution for…..” “Attila” may be Sarah Palin or Nancy Pelosi, whomever resonates with the targeted donor base at that moment.
We should take bets on how soon after election day the first political fund raising appeal for 2012 will arrive in our mailboxes.
It’s pretty well accepted that Hoover signing the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Bill turned a recession into the great depression, when world trade collapsed in the face of protectionism. But politicians still work to kill free trade, despite the damage to the economy that does, because it’s popular with economically-ignorant voters and unions in the protected industries. And the vast numbers of people who suffer don’t know why, and bless and vote for the perpetrators.
A politician admitting he was wrong is like bleeding in shark-infested waters.
Someone should run for president on the platform of requiring all adult citizens not disqualified by felonies or mental disability to purchase and carry a gun. If requiring people to buy health insurance for their own good is constitutional, so would this be.
Have you noticed that bleeding heart politicians who say they want to help people in developing countries didn’t mean they thought those poor, non-white people should have jobs, just handouts? (And that usually the foreign aid handouts were pocketed by the ruling dictators?)
It doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do, if you aren’t reading widely outside your own field, you are massively ignorant. Those of us who are reading widely are only mildly ignorant.
If you can find a government program that cost only what its supporters predicted when it was passed, it should be covered by the endangered species act. And I wish my life expectancy was as good of that as most temporary government programs.
When Massachusetts lowered its state income tax, by popular vote, about 40% of voters favored keeping it higher. So they left both rates on the form, and you can choose to pay the higher rate. Turns out those voters meant the rates should be higher for other folks, as few select the more expensive rate.
Never mind Iran. Shouldn’t we have sanctions against Mali for that World Cup phony foul call by Koman Coulibaly against the US? Clausewitz said, “War is politics by other means.” (The actual quote is longer.) For many years now, international sports are also politics by other means, however much we wish it wasn’t so. So I saw the replay on the news, but not the game.
I’ve read that the Soviet Union used to cheat at Chess, because of the prestige involved. How, you ask? They had so many Grand Masters in a tournament, that they could instruct many of the lower ranked ones to throw their games to their top guy. Since many games at that level end in a draw, this gave the top Soviet player a lot of extra points. And with a surplus of talent, when their First Board had an adjourned position, a couple of Grand Masters could sit up all night and analyze the position to give him potential lines of play in the morning.
E-mail that is ALL IN CAPS, that you MUST READ and IMMEDIATELY FORWARD TO YOUR ENTIRE ADDRESS BOOK may be safely deleted without opening.
I get patriotic e-mails that say, “I’m not breaking this is I have to forward it 1,000 times> Any one who forwards the same e-mail to friends 1,000 times isn’t patriotic, he’s an idiot. And probably blocked by those former friends after 20 times or so.
If I could have dinner with anyone in the country, It would be with Dr. Thomas Sowell, the brilliant economist, though reading his books always reminds me that I don’t have a first class—or well disciplined—mind. But I fear it would be like having dinner with a recipient of the Medal of Honor and bringing along my Good Conduct Medal to try to impress him.
If Alan West or the other black Republicans running for Congress win, it should liven up the Congressional Black Caucus meetings.
I think Newt Gingrich is the smartest Republican in the field, and would make the best president, not that I agree with him (or, frankly, many people) 100% of the time. But his baggage is so heavy.
I still think The Notebooks of Lazarus Long by the great Science Fiction writer Robert Heinlein beat any philosophy text I read in college. You can find them on line through Google. Very short, but very wise. As Heinlein says, the Game is always fixed, but you should play anyway.
If someone doesn't treat his subordinates well, he's not a good person, regardless of his other contributions to the world.
If you were born in the United States, you have such opportunities for having a good life and high standard of living compared to millions, regardless of your economic status at birth, race, class or ethnicity, it’s like you won the lottery. It’s a shame that so many throw away that lottery ticket by choosing drugs over education, victimization over effort, manipulation to live over developing a career.
At 64, as a middle class American, I have already lived longer and better than 98% of the humans ever born. That doesn’t stop me from shooting for 99%.
In a confrontation with an intruder in my home, I’ll feel more confident of my negotiating skills to convince him of sweet reason if I’m holding a Smith and Wesson 9mm auto loaded with hollow points.
People responding to my blog often very defensively attack the fact that I say I’m a Marine Vietnam veteran. I suspect that Samuel Johnson was right when he said, “Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier.” I was hardly a hero, missed a lot of the worst and was mostly with regimental HQ, so for a Marine I had an easy tour. If you aren’t a veteran, it doesn’t make you a bad person, but you wouldn’t understand. If you didn’t serve in Vietnam, you wouldn’t understand and have probably been fed with media myths. And if you aren’t a Marine, you don’t understand how Marines feel. Servings as a Marine was a privilege, not a sacrifice. I owe all my success in life to my three Marine Drill Instructors. And, no, I won’t shut up about it.
And spare me the, “I almost joined the Marines” line. I almost won the lotto this week. I had three numbers out of six, which paid $3. I was almost born good looking, rich and talented. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
People who text or talk on distracting cell phones, even hands free, while driving are idiots. Period. They apparently think their conversations or messages are important enough to put a child’s life at serious risk.
But I suppose I’m a dinosaur because I think texting and tweeting are time-wasters for twits. If the telephone and e-mail were good enough for George Washington and Abe Lincoln, they’re good enough for me.
My PDA is a spiral notebook and pen in my top pocket.
I do have a cell phone. I use it to make phone calls. I think it takes pictures, but I don’t want to clog up the lines with them.
Someone said that people who want to tell you their views on religion are seldom interested in spending the time to hear your views on the subject. Apparently it’s even more true of religious e-mails.
I’m inclined to vote straight Republican on the theory that Republicans are ruining the country, but at a slower rate than Democrats.
A Middle East without Israel will not be safer for anyone, and people who think so are blinded by their hatred of Jews. It will be especially dangerous for the millions of Muslims who want to live their lives without being thrust into war and destruction by the religious fanatics who have the guns and run their governments. I fear the world will get to learn this in a few years.
There was a stomach-churning irony in Helen Thomas, who came to the US from Lebanon, saying that Israelis born in Israel should go back to the countries that murdered their grandparents, “where they came from.” I didn’t see her packing for Beirut.
My essay, “I’m Tired,” continues to get posted on new blogs and sent to new readers each week. I’m not really sure why. I think other pieces I wrote, like, “This I Believe,” “Why I’m a Republican” and “The Coming Collapse of America” are at least as good. You never know what will take off.
About half the postings of “I’m Tired” get attributed to an actor, Robert D. Hall, with a similar name, due I think to one confused person attaching his photo to the piece and sending it on. I often wonder what he thinks of it. I’d think it was his popularity pushing it, but about half the posting don’t mention him.
“I’m Tired” has drawn thousands of comments on my blog and many others. I think a majority are positive, but a lot are negative. In the way of net cowards who don’t have to give their real name, a number are downright vicious. Lucky I have a thick skin. The one I still like best said, “The man makes some points, but clearly he’s a lunatic!”
Those who don’t like “I’m Tired,” tend to attack what they think I said, or who they think I am, a rich guy drawing a fat pension from the Marines and the Massachusetts Senate, and royalties from my books. So far, I don’t have a penny from those sources, but I have a new book coming out that might make me $50 if I’m lucky.
When I started my blog, a friend told me there were seven million blogs and only two million readers. So if you are reading this, I think you for the compliment.
I’ve noticed that people prefer to make up something they claim you said, and attack that, as it’s easier than challenging what you really believe. For example, if you are for limited government, the statists say, “Oh, you are against the government doing anything. So don’t call they police if you have a crime, the fire department if you have a fire or take Social Security (even though we made you pay into it).” It is possible to believe there is a role for government without believing that the government should be the first answer to every problem. Because I don’t want the chaos of anarchy, doesn’t mean I want to live in the Soviet Union or the Third Reich.
Now that I’m on Oxygen for my IPF, I feel better, but pulling a tank everywhere, I find I have one less hand for carrying things and opening car doors. My cat likes the moving hose, though.
I’ve noticed that the people who loudly claimed Hurricane Katrina proved Global warming now say that a decade of steady temps doesn’t prove anything.
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad. --Euripides. Update: Whom the gods would destroy, they first give a sense of entitlement. --R. A. Hall
There's an old military axiom that if you defend everywhere, you defend nowhere. Equally, if you praise everything, you praise nothing. If you want to ruin your kids’ lives, heap them up with unearned self-esteem. Let them feel entitled to receive honors and rewards without work or accomplishment. Assure them they are entitled to live at someone else’s expense, that they deserve the fruits of others’ labor. Unfortunately, this is so prevalent, it’s ruining the country as well as the lives of the spoiled generations, starting with us baby boomers and growing into a tsunami as it went. In twenty years, the Jamestown Rule will be in effect: Only those who work will eat.
I prefer shopping at Goodwill to Macy’s, eating at a local family restaurant to expensive fine dining, the VFW or an Irish pub to Club 21, jeans to tuxes, the “girl next door” look to Vegas showgirls with implants and Daisies and Thistles to Roses and Orchids. Clearly I was not cut out for the aristocracy. No wonder purple is far from my favorite color.
Since teen girls pay big bucks for jeans pre-ripped at the knees, how come my wife tears up a perfectly good undershirt of mine if it has a tiny hole?
My Garnddaughter, Britnye, who is 9, recently said that this year has sure gone fast, "and my friend who is older says it goes even faster once you're ten!" Yup.
Since he’s so strong for “Green Energy,” I want to see President Obama take off in a solar-powered Air Force One. Or wind powered.
Star athletes may be worth their salaries, but I prefer the dollars not come from my wallet. Pretty much the only pro sport that I watch a bit of is football. On TV and with a book in my hand, thanks to instant replay of the good stuff.
The primary victims of black and Hispanic thugs and gangs in our cities are decent black and Hispanic folks. The primary victims of Islamic fanatics—of whom there are far more than the “tiny minority” claimed by leftist multi-culturalists—are decent Muslims who just want to be let alone to live peaceful lives. But it’s still condemned as “racist” to crack down on the thugs to protect the decent folks.
Islam is not a race, and criticism of it is not “racist.” Anyone, of any race can become a Muslim by making the declaration of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Mohammad is his Prophet." Criticism of Islam is no more racist than is criticism of any other faith, and is protected by the First Amendment. But it can still get you killed. (See van Gogh, Theo.)
I notice that some folks work really hard and get little done, while others seem to hardly work and get a lot done. Of course, most of us have to plod along working hard to get much done. And some folks are content to live off others hard work, though if they put as much effort and imagination into a career, they'd probably be successful.
When I want to feel really old, I recall that when I was a boy, you could mail a letter for three cents. And we had only one phone in the house. It was black, attached to the wall and several other families used the same party line. We lived at a lake and not only did I ride a bike without a helmet, I had a rowboat I could row to my friend’s house, by myself, without a life jacket. I was in third and fourth grade there.
A friend told me that, “When liberals win, they advance liberalism. When conservatives win, they only postpone liberalism.” I would change it to, “When statists (Nazis, Fascists, Communists, Socialists, Liberals, Progressives) win, the state grows. When individualists win, they slow but don’t reverse the growth of the state, as every government program creates it own vocal and activist constituency.” Since a state, like any organism, can only grow so far, eventually you have totalitarianism, then a Soviet-style collapse. Or worse.
I don’t think things are going to get better, because anyone running on a platform of doing what needs to be done would be soundly defeated by the special interests who would be hurt. “Special interests” includes 100% of the voters. We all belong to some groups that will be hurt or helped by government action. Which is why the bloated government has produced a bloated lobbying effort. And 99% of lobbying is to preserve or expand programs, spending and benefits.
Have you noticed that the folks who don’t want you to have a gun to protect yourself often have bodyguards to protect them?
Looking at the fiscal crisis in Europe, I’ve been saying that we are just Greece twenty years out. But, based on this Gibbon quote, we are perhaps the capital of Greece: “In the end more than they wanted freedom, they wanted security. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free.” —Edward Gibbon.
Things are going bad so fast, I’m sure in 20 years no one will give a fig about Global Warming, regardless if it’s hotter or cooler. But they might kill you for that fig.
Politicians are rewarded in the next election, for doing things that sound good but have pernicious economic effects in 10 or 20 years. The seeds of our troubles now were planted—by both parties I might add—in the 1990s.
What the public really wants is more government spending, less taxes and no deficits. Which is why you seldom see a government that isn’t experiencing some sort of fiscal crisis.
I guess it makes me a RINO, but I can’t see how a couple of Gay people getting hitched threatens my marriage. But then, I never was so mad at a woman I gave a thought to dating guys, so those people who think being Gay is a choice must have thought seriously about making that choice. Otherwise, on what evidence?
I can tell what section of the country a person came from and their age group, when they ask me if I ever owned a clothing store. Yes, I can still sing the Robert Hall Clothing Store jingles, albeit off key.
If it wasn’t for micromanagement, some places would have no management at all.
If you think there are no differences between men and women, try to imagine a guy at a formal event saying to his wife, “Honey, we have to leave. That guy over there is wearing the same tux I am.”
If I understand what is happening in Washington, Democrats are angry and frustrated that Republicans are using against President Obama the same kind of tactics they, including then-Senator Obama, used against President Bush. Both sides say, “They started it.” It’s not like the Hatfields and the McCoys, almost impossible to stop.
If being in the KKK still had majority support in the country, I think Sen. Byrd would have been buried in a white sheet.
If justice was fair, anyone convicted of perjury would get the same punishment as Bill Clinton—millions on the book and speaking circuit.
I get most of my news by reading, both the Chicago Trib and a lot of on-line news sources. I do watch the local news on TV while getting ready in the morning. Contrary to popular opinion, I don’t watch Fox cable news much as people shouting over each other are not much more enlightening there than on MSNBC.
They used to call black folks who didn’t toe the party thought line, “Oreos.” (Black on the outside, white on the inside.) I like the new term “Watermelons” for a lot of the enviro-extremists. You know, green on the outside, red on the inside.
We are all suffragists now, but it’s been little more than 100 years since the majority of men, and no small number of women, opposed giving the vote to women.. We are all Abolitionists now, but it’s only been 170 years or so since a majority of American, North or South, opposed the abolition of slavery and thought that at the least, it was a necessary evil. That’s an eye-blink in history.
Only in Western Civilization did slavery become an issue. In all other cultures it was accepted as the natural order of things. Thomas Sowell has studied the economics of slavery in detail. He reports that over about 300 years, twice as many white Europeans were captured and taken as slaves to Muslim countries as black Africans were sold by fellow Africans to be brought to what became the United States. I wonder if the Saudis will give us reparations?
Trivia question: Who was William Wilberforce? Our civilization is indebted to him.
I’ve never attended a Tea Party protest. I’m far too busy between work, my blog, my on-going education through books, and coping with life to consider it. And I don’t belong to any Tea Party group. But I think using the loaded sexual term “teabaggers” to describe people exercising their First Amendment Rights, mostly peacefully from what I see on TV, is as offensive as using the “N” word to describe the President. Besides, I’ve read that “teabagging” is primarily a gay male sexual practice. Isn’t using that as a pejorative as offensive to gays as using “retarded” as a pejorative, as Rahm Emanuel did, is to people with mental disabilities? (Or, more accurately, offensive to their advocates.)
When did “Press Conferences” start being called “Pressers”? (And aren’t they really “News Conferences,” given that both the print media (the press) and the electronic media attend?) I suppose it’s shorter and sounds cutting edge. I guess the next shortening will be to “P-ers,” which might be more accurate, come to think of it.
I recently heard an economist speak who said the recession was started by banks giving housing loans to folks who couldn’t afford them. Ninja loans, he called them (no job, no income, no assets). He apparently had not heard of the Community Reinvestment Act, Fannie or Freddie, at least he didn’t mention them.
If no one is bleeding or about to die, it’s not an emergency.
When people tell me that “everything works out for the best,” I ask them to explain the holocaust.
Recently read books I’d recommend: Money for Nothing, Applied Economics, Race and Culture, The Complete Infidel’s Guide to the Koran, A Question of Command, Triumph Forsaken, Shakedown, Liberty and Tyranny, Children of Jihad and The Road to Serfdom.
And I read a few years ago, for folks who want to try, repeat try, to understand the Middle East: Sowing the Wind. Great history of the region, easy to read, but hard to track all the players, none, repeat none, with clean hands.
When people use the phrase, “Well, to be honest…” I often interrupt to ask, “Aren’t you always?”
Postponing a problem, as Congress loves to do, if far different from solving a problem. Usually it makes it worse, though often it makes it someone else’s worse problem.
The fact that you are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, white, black, brown, red or yellow (yes, I know Asians aren’t really yellow and native Americans aren’t really red. I’m hardly snow white, inside or out.), old or young, male or female, American or non-American, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Atheist or other faith, doesn’t mean you are not a jerk or worse. I’ve even met Marines who are jerks, it pains me to say.
I can’t afford to be a big political contributor, but I had a history of sending $25 to a candidate I liked, when I could. I hesitate now. The political fund raising effort of all candidates means they will likely spend $200 in postage, printing and staff time asking me for more.
“Central Planning” of the economy is not only terribly inefficient, but it inevitably leads to tyranny, as the planners have to increasingly coerce people into doing things for “their own good” that they don’t want to do.
Have you noticed that when a candidate or political group sends you a survey, they don’t want your opinion, they think they already know your opinion on the issues and want your money.
And modern fund raising letters all are cut from the same cloth. There’s the emotional appeal on the envelope. “I’m taking on Attila the Hun. Won’t you stand with me?” There’s the short, often one-sentence, bullet-point paragraphs. There’s the donor form, headed, “Yes, I hate Attila too, enclosed is my contribution for…..” “Attila” may be Sarah Palin or Nancy Pelosi, whomever resonates with the targeted donor base at that moment.
We should take bets on how soon after election day the first political fund raising appeal for 2012 will arrive in our mailboxes.
It’s pretty well accepted that Hoover signing the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Bill turned a recession into the great depression, when world trade collapsed in the face of protectionism. But politicians still work to kill free trade, despite the damage to the economy that does, because it’s popular with economically-ignorant voters and unions in the protected industries. And the vast numbers of people who suffer don’t know why, and bless and vote for the perpetrators.
A politician admitting he was wrong is like bleeding in shark-infested waters.
Someone should run for president on the platform of requiring all adult citizens not disqualified by felonies or mental disability to purchase and carry a gun. If requiring people to buy health insurance for their own good is constitutional, so would this be.
Have you noticed that bleeding heart politicians who say they want to help people in developing countries didn’t mean they thought those poor, non-white people should have jobs, just handouts? (And that usually the foreign aid handouts were pocketed by the ruling dictators?)
It doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do, if you aren’t reading widely outside your own field, you are massively ignorant. Those of us who are reading widely are only mildly ignorant.
If you can find a government program that cost only what its supporters predicted when it was passed, it should be covered by the endangered species act. And I wish my life expectancy was as good of that as most temporary government programs.
When Massachusetts lowered its state income tax, by popular vote, about 40% of voters favored keeping it higher. So they left both rates on the form, and you can choose to pay the higher rate. Turns out those voters meant the rates should be higher for other folks, as few select the more expensive rate.
Never mind Iran. Shouldn’t we have sanctions against Mali for that World Cup phony foul call by Koman Coulibaly against the US? Clausewitz said, “War is politics by other means.” (The actual quote is longer.) For many years now, international sports are also politics by other means, however much we wish it wasn’t so. So I saw the replay on the news, but not the game.
I’ve read that the Soviet Union used to cheat at Chess, because of the prestige involved. How, you ask? They had so many Grand Masters in a tournament, that they could instruct many of the lower ranked ones to throw their games to their top guy. Since many games at that level end in a draw, this gave the top Soviet player a lot of extra points. And with a surplus of talent, when their First Board had an adjourned position, a couple of Grand Masters could sit up all night and analyze the position to give him potential lines of play in the morning.
E-mail that is ALL IN CAPS, that you MUST READ and IMMEDIATELY FORWARD TO YOUR ENTIRE ADDRESS BOOK may be safely deleted without opening.
I get patriotic e-mails that say, “I’m not breaking this is I have to forward it 1,000 times> Any one who forwards the same e-mail to friends 1,000 times isn’t patriotic, he’s an idiot. And probably blocked by those former friends after 20 times or so.
If I could have dinner with anyone in the country, It would be with Dr. Thomas Sowell, the brilliant economist, though reading his books always reminds me that I don’t have a first class—or well disciplined—mind. But I fear it would be like having dinner with a recipient of the Medal of Honor and bringing along my Good Conduct Medal to try to impress him.
If Alan West or the other black Republicans running for Congress win, it should liven up the Congressional Black Caucus meetings.
I think Newt Gingrich is the smartest Republican in the field, and would make the best president, not that I agree with him (or, frankly, many people) 100% of the time. But his baggage is so heavy.
I still think The Notebooks of Lazarus Long by the great Science Fiction writer Robert Heinlein beat any philosophy text I read in college. You can find them on line through Google. Very short, but very wise. As Heinlein says, the Game is always fixed, but you should play anyway.
If someone doesn't treat his subordinates well, he's not a good person, regardless of his other contributions to the world.
If you were born in the United States, you have such opportunities for having a good life and high standard of living compared to millions, regardless of your economic status at birth, race, class or ethnicity, it’s like you won the lottery. It’s a shame that so many throw away that lottery ticket by choosing drugs over education, victimization over effort, manipulation to live over developing a career.
At 64, as a middle class American, I have already lived longer and better than 98% of the humans ever born. That doesn’t stop me from shooting for 99%.
In a confrontation with an intruder in my home, I’ll feel more confident of my negotiating skills to convince him of sweet reason if I’m holding a Smith and Wesson 9mm auto loaded with hollow points.
People responding to my blog often very defensively attack the fact that I say I’m a Marine Vietnam veteran. I suspect that Samuel Johnson was right when he said, “Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier.” I was hardly a hero, missed a lot of the worst and was mostly with regimental HQ, so for a Marine I had an easy tour. If you aren’t a veteran, it doesn’t make you a bad person, but you wouldn’t understand. If you didn’t serve in Vietnam, you wouldn’t understand and have probably been fed with media myths. And if you aren’t a Marine, you don’t understand how Marines feel. Servings as a Marine was a privilege, not a sacrifice. I owe all my success in life to my three Marine Drill Instructors. And, no, I won’t shut up about it.
And spare me the, “I almost joined the Marines” line. I almost won the lotto this week. I had three numbers out of six, which paid $3. I was almost born good looking, rich and talented. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Random Thoughts for November 2020
Random Thoughts for November 2020
Robert A. Hall
Feel free to post or forward.
Health update. I’m about the same. I had an appointment with my surgeon and NP last week. My weight was 152.3. the NP said I was too focused on it and should only weigh myself once a week. I picked Sunday. Today, 11/1, I’m 148.2. I’ve been averaging 2500 calories a day, so go figure. My wife thinks I burn calories coughing and labored breathing after the least little exertion. I’m still tired a lot, sleeping 10-11 hours a day. My surgeon says the anti-fungal I’m on can cause fatigue. I should go off this month. Stomach has been so-so. On the plus side, I’m till doing MLMS interviews for the VA, four last week. One was 3200 words so I had to also write a 1500-word version to go in his records. Good Marine, saw a lot of combat in Vietnam, wounded twice.
Here’s a thought. Announce that ICE Agents will be stationed at all polling places.
I asked a doctor what he thought of the election. He said, “I think the light is going out in the world.”
If the media wasn’t protecting him, the Biden campaign would have collapsed weeks ago.
Want to make liberals squirm? Ask them if they are patriots.
Increasingly politicians and the public believe that playing by the rules is for suckers.
If you want to ban hate speech, you want to ban freedom of speech.
My wife likes the “Murdock Mysteries.” Feeling too fried to read, I watched two of them with her. The commercial breaks are now long enough to write a small novel.
People say, “Well, 2020 is almost over with.” As thought January 1, 2021, will bring about a miracle. I suspect more of the same.
We like a working-class pub about 20 miles from Madison. We have a friend there, works with his hands, two sons in the Marines, pickup. Probably owns more guns than ties. Big Trump supporter. I asked what he thought of the debate. He said, “I turned it off. It was a disgrace to the nation.” I haven’t talked to one who watched it all the way through.
One of his sons was in Salt Lake on the way to duty in California. A thief broke into his car, stole his laptop, money, uniforms, civilian clothes, and military paperwork. His brother set up a Go Fund Me page to help him.:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/269wii995c?sharetype=teams&member=6247828&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&rcid=2dafa906a4bf4d78bfff56295d48908f
“The free market must exist to encourage the able to reveal themselves.” –Milton Friedman
Liberalism, “…produces government that sees the nation as a mere aggregation of clamorous constituencies with material itches that it is Washington’s duty to scratch.” –Barry Goldwater.
I was the best man at my brother Mark’s wedding on October 4th. I looked at the pictures. No denying, I’m now an old man.
I didn’t let myself go. But apparently I went anyway.
If you do a poll on line, don’t give your cell number. Apparently I did and I now get six or eight fund raising texts every day.
“I don’t believe in superstitions. They’re bad luck.” –Then-Mets Coach Bobby Valentine.
Trying to reason with a progressive is like trying to reason with your dog to stop him from barking.
By the time my grandson is my age, I think Soccer will have displaced Football.
“Ingratitude is a shabby failing.” –Historian David McCullough
Police cars should have bumper stickers saying, “You loot, we shoot.”
“The greatest threat to civility—and ultimately to civilization—is an excess of certitude.” –George Will
If you go back 20 centuries, we all had trillions of ancestors. Slavery was present in every society. Since there were maybe a billion people on earth, we are all descended from slaves. And from slave owners.
In 30 years, windfarms will be rusting relics.
Morning is not a sufficient reason to get up. Getting up is not a sufficient reason to get dressed.
When I see “Ancient Grains” on a bakery product, I wonder if the “ancient grains” were in their warehouse for ten years and they had to get rid of them.
Republicans believe in God. Democrats believe in government.
If you don't believe in freedom of expression for speech you hate, you don't believe in Freedom.
If Biden becomes president, and someone tries to assassinate him, will the Secret Service be required to shoot the perp in the leg?
The Chinese have named a new dish in honor of Hunter Biden: Dim Son.
If Joe Biden wins, Mandarin will be the most popular language course in the universities.
From a friend: "Biden's Laptop Matters."
At 18, I took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic. It hasn’t expired. But what do you do when the people elect enemies of the Constitution?
Math scores have been going down. Kids need to memorize the Times Tables as we did in school. I hated it then, but it has been a tool that has served me well throughout my life.
The Democrats’ slogan should be: “We want it both ways.”
Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard. –H. L. Mencken
If you are a candidate for local office, and the week before the election you find yourself talking to a small group of your party’s faithful, you are probably going to lose.
The Democrats used to be the party of big government. Now they are the party of enormous, all-controlling government. Republicans are the party of big government
Get the collection! My “Random Thoughts” from 2009 through July, 2013 are collected in this book: The Old Jarhead's Journal: Random Thoughts on Life, Liberty, and Leadership by Robert A. Hall
http://www.amazon.com/Old-Jarheads-Journal-Thoughts-Leadership/dp/1490500162/ref=sr_1_1?s=booksandie=UTF8andqid=1373907206andsr=1-1andkeywords=Old+Jarhead%27s+Journal
The Old Jarhead’s Journal is a collection of Random Thoughts on politics and life and Conservative Political Essays, mostly published on the author’s blog, including the essay “I’m Tired” which went viral on the Internet in 2009, “The Hall Platform,” “This I Believe,” and “Why I’m a Republican.” While they will be of interest to conservative thinkers, they are collected here in book form as a service to readers who wish to give a copy to favorite liberals and watch their heads explode. All royalties are donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
*****
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam Veteran who served five terms in the Massachusetts State Senate. He is the author of The Coming Collapse of the American Republic. http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Collapse-American-Republic-prevent/dp/1461122538/ref=sr_1_5?s=booksandie=UTF8andqid=1304815980andsr=1-5 For a free PDF of Collapse, e-mail him at tartanmarine(at)gmail.com. Hall’s twelve books are listed here: http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-book-published.html. His blog of political news and conservative comment is www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com. He currently works part-time as a writer-editor in the My Life, My Story program as the Madison VA hospital, interviewing vets and writing up their life histories. During the crisis he is working from home.
Sunday, September 27, 2020
Random Thoughts for October 2020
Random Thoughts for October
2020
Robert A. Hall
Feel free to post or forward.
Health Update: For those following my progress since my left lung was removed in June, I’m doing some better. Still working from home interviewing veterans and getting this life stories for their families and medical records. My weight, which was 158.5 on the day of the operation, dropped to 137.7, is now back in the low 150s. I’m still sleeping more than I did and tired a lot. I’m not sure I’ll get back to the status quo ante. My mobility is increasing impaired by the arthritis in my right hip. And I feel weaker and feebler. But at 74, I have a lot to be thankful for. Including you. I continue to march.
If Biden doesn't pee his pants on stage in the first debate, the media will declare him the winner.
How bad do you have to be when your party is finding reasons you shouldn’t debate Donald Trump.
“Forever Stamps” are at least honest about when the letter will arrive.” –James Lilaks
Saw a yard sign that said, “Defund Career Politicians.”
It’s racist to expect black students to go to class, take tests, write papers and compete with privileged white students. Any black who applies to a university should be accepted, given free tuition, and issued a degree in four years.
Apparently, in today’s politics, the bigger asshole you are the more you succeed
“Andrew Cuomo has done the impossible: make us miss Mario Cuomo.” –National Review.
At 74, there are few things I’d rather do than sleep.
Progressives want to ban hate speech. Unless the hate comes from Jihadists, BLM or Antifa.
“The urge to save humanity is almost always a false face for the urge to rule it.” H. L. Mencken
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for God made man in his own image.” [Gen 9:6]
At the start of Labor Day weekend, I had a list of things I wanted to get done. At the end, I still had a list, about half carried-over.
As I get older, I’m getting more sedentary in my life and more active in my dreams.
Press Gangs had a bad name in American history. Their name is just as bad today.
It beggars belief that voters would believe that Trump slandered vets two years ago, and it just came out now from anonymous sources.
If Trump is reelected, the riots and violence at the inaugural will be like WWIII. 50 dead across the country.
Can anyone who knows the history of the collapse of Rome look at our country and not see parallels?
How many homes do you see with Biden signs that are also flying American flags?
Want to stand above the crowd? Be reliable, be honest, be on time.
On the 19th anniversary of 9/11, I couldn’t hep thinking the terrorists won.
If a freight train without a caboose still looks odd to you, you’re old.
Black businesses matter.
Or in Amish country: Black Buggies Matter.
Have the hiccups? Think of Kamala Harris as president.
I was interviewed for the “Older Veterans Project” (Who you calling “older”?) by a woman writing a PhD dissertation on resiliency in older vets. She said of the 45 vets she had interviewed, every one said being in the service was a positive experience in their lives.
If you asked Kamela Harris about the Jacob Blake rape allegations, would she say, “Boys will be boys”?
Defund the police, fund the vigilantes.
You get new powers as you get older. I can now stare off into space for five or ten minutes at a time.
I’m sneezing a lot lately. I wonder if I’m allergic to my allergy meds?
I’m not interested in lectures on climate change from people who fly by private jet.
Dear Progressives: If you manage to elect Hidin’ Biden and a Democrat congress, your great grandchildren will live in poverty, oppression and fear. And they will hate you.
When most Americans think about politics they are engaging in an activity that they are not trained or equipped to do.
I’m always finding these cryptic notes which don’t mean anything to me. Which is annoying because they’re in my handwriting.
Rules for voice mail: 1. Clearly leave your name, spelling it if it’s difficult. Clearly and slowly leave your phone number. 3. Leave a clear, short message. Hang up.
From Facebook: What if NFL helmets showed the names of all the women they beat up?
First world problems: Electing people who will turn your country into a third-world socialist shithole, because they promise free stuff.
I’m 74 with a lot of health issues, but I still go to my office every day. Okay, it’s three steps off the living room, but still…
If Biden is elected president, will it be okay to touch little girls and sniff women’s hair again? Asking for a friend.
From the Net: "The White liberal differs from the White conservative only in one (1) way; the liberal is more deceitful, more hypocritical, than the conservative. Both want power, but the White liberal is the one (1) who has perfected the art of posing as the Negro's friend and benefactor and by winning the friendship and support of the Negro, the White liberal is able to use the Negro as a pawn or a weapon in this political football game, that is constantly raging, between the White liberals and the White conservatives. The American Negro is nothing, but a political football." --Malcolm Little; aka 'Malcolm X'
Next episode of Chicago PD: In this thrilling story, cops are ordered to ignore seven murders in the city to beef up the crackdown on churches and guarding the mayor’s neighborhood.
Want to get off on the wrong foot?
When a person answers the phone with, “Hello,” say,
“Who’s This?!”
Liberal: It’s a tragedy that poor
man died in accident being chased by police.
Conservative: He didn’t have a
driver’s license, was drunk, and doing 110 mph in a stolen car.
Liberal: Or sure, blame the victim.
If you get in a traffic accident,
jump out of your car and yell, “Allah Akbar!” You’ll get off with a warning.
Get the collection! My
“Random Thoughts” from 2009 through July, 2013 are collected in this book: The Old Jarhead's
Journal: Random Thoughts on Life, Liberty, and Leadership by Robert
A. Hall
The Old Jarhead’s
Journal is a collection of Random Thoughts on politics and life and
Conservative Political Essays, mostly published on the author’s blog, including
the essay “I’m Tired” which went viral on the Internet in 2009, “The Hall
Platform,” “This I Believe,” and “Why I’m a Republican.” While they will be of
interest to conservative thinkers, they are collected here in book form as a
service to readers who wish to give a copy to favorite liberals and watch their
heads explode. All
royalties are donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
*****
Robert A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam Veteran who served five
terms in the Massachusetts State Senate. He is the author of The Coming Collapse of the American Republic.
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Collapse-American-Republic-prevent/dp/1461122538/ref=sr_1_5?s=booksandie=UTF8andqid=1304815980andsr=1-5
For a free PDF of Collapse, e-mail
him at tartanmarine(at)gmail.com. Hall’s twelve books are listed here: http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-book-published.html.
His blog of political news and conservative comment is www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com. He currently works
part-time as a writer-editor in the My Life, My Story program as the Madison VA
hospital, interviewing vets and writing up their life histories. During the
crisis he is working from home.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thanks for Reading and Responding
I’m a tad over-whelmed with the number of posts, followers and e-mail messages that have resulted from my “I’m tired” post, below. I’m sorry that I haven’t been able to answer all the messages. I’ve worked 12 days straight, over 120 hours, so it’s been hard to keep up. (And one guy responded that I should get a real job! No thanks--this is enough.)
I have the weekend off to do shopping and chores and go to a Marine vets dinner, so I should get to a few more of the in-box.
I moderate the comments to try to avoid most foul languages (I let some mild ones through, as I hate to reject comments, but it doesn’t help the writer’s case). I try to reject double posts.
For those who thought “I’m Tired” meant I had “given up,” or was just “bitching,” I’m sorry I don’t write well enough to get my message across. What I was trying to do was to inspire people to support change. Change that would defend free markets, which despite their flaws, have giving us a life style that tens of millions would trade places with you to get. There are a lot more people trying to get into America than out. Change to support limited government, because the larger our government, the less our freedom. Change to support individual responsibility. Change to support protecting our country and freedoms against forces that, as so often in the past, would obliterate it.
And, yes, I know Republicans are part of the problem. They are among the worst offenders using our money to buy our votes through "earmarks." Yeah, I remember the good old days, back last fall when even Barack Obama was against earmarks. Welcome to Washington, Mr. O.
For those who would like to understand the corrupt politics here in Blagobamaville, I recommend reading the columns of John Kass in the Chicago Tribune.
They are on line at http://www.chicagotribune.com/. Search for Kass.
Here are a couple:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-05-mar05,0,6490448.column
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-bd01-mar01,0,5255665.column
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-27-feb27,0,4458821.column
For those concerned about the future of freedom, I recommend America Alone, by Mark Steyn. Entertaining but scary to read, Steyn looks at the unfunded social liability programs in Europe through deficit spending, the declining birth rates of the native population, and the growth of the “guest worker” Muslim population (many on welfare as well). With the native populations all having children below the replacement rate, and with Muhammad being the most common baby boy’s name in large European cities, the chances are that European freedoms will be extinguished by the tyranny of Shari’a law in the not distant future. Buy a burka for your granddaughter—she’ll probably need it.
Don't believe it? Google "Honor Killing."
For those who would like to understand economics better, I think Dr. Thomas Sowell’s terrific book Basic Economics should be required reading to graduate from college or hold public office. His autobiography, A Personal Odyssey, about growing up in a poor black family in NC, working his way through Harvard, and becoming perhaps the most respected market economist in the country, is inspiring. Also not to be missed are his Economic Facts and Fallacies, The Quest for Cosmic Justice and Black Rednecks and White Liberals. His website is www.tsowell.com.
For those who urged me to run for office again, thanks for your support. I did that five times from 1972 to 1980, successfully, for the Massachusetts Senate. But I live in Chicago now, my chances would be zero, and I have a family to support.
And at 63, with a persistent cough, bad ankles and a tad over my fighting weight, I probably can’t take up a rifle for Uncle Sam again. So I do what I can: vote, contribute a few dollars to good candidates, urge people to get involved and write.
Thank you for reading. You do me honor—even those who disagree with my points of view. Isn’t it great to live in a country where you can still speak your mind? They are going to try to outlaw that, as well. They’ll call it “Hate Speech.” Meaning you are saying things they don’t like.
And to all my brother Marines who wrote, it was a privilege to wear the same uniform you did. I thank everyone who served, in all branches.
I have the weekend off to do shopping and chores and go to a Marine vets dinner, so I should get to a few more of the in-box.
I moderate the comments to try to avoid most foul languages (I let some mild ones through, as I hate to reject comments, but it doesn’t help the writer’s case). I try to reject double posts.
For those who thought “I’m Tired” meant I had “given up,” or was just “bitching,” I’m sorry I don’t write well enough to get my message across. What I was trying to do was to inspire people to support change. Change that would defend free markets, which despite their flaws, have giving us a life style that tens of millions would trade places with you to get. There are a lot more people trying to get into America than out. Change to support limited government, because the larger our government, the less our freedom. Change to support individual responsibility. Change to support protecting our country and freedoms against forces that, as so often in the past, would obliterate it.
And, yes, I know Republicans are part of the problem. They are among the worst offenders using our money to buy our votes through "earmarks." Yeah, I remember the good old days, back last fall when even Barack Obama was against earmarks. Welcome to Washington, Mr. O.
For those who would like to understand the corrupt politics here in Blagobamaville, I recommend reading the columns of John Kass in the Chicago Tribune.
They are on line at http://www.chicagotribune.com/. Search for Kass.
Here are a couple:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-05-mar05,0,6490448.column
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-bd01-mar01,0,5255665.column
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-kass-27-feb27,0,4458821.column
For those concerned about the future of freedom, I recommend America Alone, by Mark Steyn. Entertaining but scary to read, Steyn looks at the unfunded social liability programs in Europe through deficit spending, the declining birth rates of the native population, and the growth of the “guest worker” Muslim population (many on welfare as well). With the native populations all having children below the replacement rate, and with Muhammad being the most common baby boy’s name in large European cities, the chances are that European freedoms will be extinguished by the tyranny of Shari’a law in the not distant future. Buy a burka for your granddaughter—she’ll probably need it.
Don't believe it? Google "Honor Killing."
For those who would like to understand economics better, I think Dr. Thomas Sowell’s terrific book Basic Economics should be required reading to graduate from college or hold public office. His autobiography, A Personal Odyssey, about growing up in a poor black family in NC, working his way through Harvard, and becoming perhaps the most respected market economist in the country, is inspiring. Also not to be missed are his Economic Facts and Fallacies, The Quest for Cosmic Justice and Black Rednecks and White Liberals. His website is www.tsowell.com.
For those who urged me to run for office again, thanks for your support. I did that five times from 1972 to 1980, successfully, for the Massachusetts Senate. But I live in Chicago now, my chances would be zero, and I have a family to support.
And at 63, with a persistent cough, bad ankles and a tad over my fighting weight, I probably can’t take up a rifle for Uncle Sam again. So I do what I can: vote, contribute a few dollars to good candidates, urge people to get involved and write.
Thank you for reading. You do me honor—even those who disagree with my points of view. Isn’t it great to live in a country where you can still speak your mind? They are going to try to outlaw that, as well. They’ll call it “Hate Speech.” Meaning you are saying things they don’t like.
And to all my brother Marines who wrote, it was a privilege to wear the same uniform you did. I thank everyone who served, in all branches.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
What Randa Jarrar Teaches by Craig Bernthal
What Randa Jarrar Teaches by Craig Bernthal.
Excerpt: Since Randa Jarrar fired off her disgusting tweet about “the witch,” Barbara Bush, being a racist, I, like other members of the Fresno State English Department, have received about a dozen emails asking, alternatively, how we could have participated in hiring her, and then, what we would do to get her fired. For the record, I had no part in the former and am impotent with regard to the later. This is now President Castro’s baby, and all I can say is, good luck, sir. I suspect she will be the albatross around Fresno State’s neck for as long as she wants to stay. The Barbara Bush tweet, which is clearly protected political speech under the First Amendment, and for which Jarrar should not and cannot be fired, doesn’t really get at the problem she poses, which is how the university deals with racial hatred aimed at whites? To fully understand why Jarrar poses this question, you have to look beyond the Barbara Bush tweet to her other declarations on twitter and Youtube. Here are a few: “I can’t wait for the old white guard of literary writers and ‘critics’ to die. Their time is fucking up too.” She refers to “fucking white women” in one tweet and in another says “fuck outta here with your white feminism. I said don’t at me bitch. I’m a professor.” “I’m buying guns, I’m an American. I’m buying guns. You know the other side is doing some stupid shit, I’m going to do some stupid shit. I’m tired of like being the bigger person. I literally am usually, but like, I’m also just tired of the left being fucking stupid, and like, we have to be gentle. No, don’t be fucking gentle. OK, you know resistance fighters in the 60 and 70s didn’t kill anyone but they scared the shit out of people, you know, they would hijack a plane and be like, they wouldn’t hurt anyone on this plane, but like, we’re going to hijack this plane. Like why is censor’s [?] house still standing? Like it needs to be fucking broken into, people need to throw fucking grenades into it. I don’t give a fuck.” (I have transcribed this to the best of my ability: see the speech as she gives it on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVGk7Ar6tfA.
Thursday, November 1, 2018
Random Thoughts for November
Random Thoughts for November, 2018.
By
Robert A. Hall
Feel
free to post or forward.
54
Years ago this Saturday I graduated from Parris Island, SC, having
earned the title “Marine.” Joining the Corps was the best
decision I ever made.
I
wasn’t surprised that Joe Biden was in Madison to boost Tony Evers
for governor. Both have “Plagiarist” on their resumes.
Put
me down as not impressed with Sen. Warren’s DNA test. I had both My
Heritage and Ancestry do mine. Read like different people. My
Heritage says I’m 3.3% Ashkenazi Jewish, 5.5% middle Eastern, and
16.1% Scandinavian. Ancestry doesn’t mention any Jewish heritage
and says I’m 4% Scandinavian, and 1% Middle Eastern. My heritage
says I’m 75.1% from Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. Ancestry
says 21%. None go down to 1/64th, never mind to 1/1,028th. Tends to
make one lose faith. You can shop around until you find a DNA test
that suits you.
To
really be an expert on how to run the military or the police, you
must have never worn a uniform or carried a gun. And you must be
appalled at the thought that any of your kids might serve.
My
Costco magazine has an article about Sally Fields. She’s my age
(72) but in the pictures, she’s still cute, looks about 37. Yes, I
know she can afford veneers and
Botox, but still…
If
you were able to know 100th
of one percent of what there is to know, you’d
be the wisest person on earth. We are all more ignorant than
knowledgeable. But some people revel in their ignorance.
I
didn’t like the 20th
century and I’m not crazy about how this one has gone so far.
We
could vastly reduce the amount of carbon being released into the
atmosphere if the members of the hard left would hold their breaths
and count to infinity.
Note
to the Right: Not ever thing Trump says or does is right or
admirable. Note to the left: Not everything Trump says or does is
wrong or despicable.
Saw
an ad
in a
convenience
store: “All licensed caps is on unbeatable prices.”
Recently
in a convenience store, the clerk didn’t
know how to
print the lottery jackpots list.
I know help is hard to get, but I still expect them to know their
jobs. Silly me.
My
next selfie, my next cigarette, or
my
next joint will be my first.
Naturally,
big cities vote Democrat. They are run by Democrats and are such
paradises to live in, they want to share the joy.
I’m
thinking of marketing a new aftershave for conservatives called
“Liberal Tears.”
“Too
weak to govern and too strong to be governed.” Speransky on Tsar
Alexander
Many
people have everything they need, but very few have everything they
want.
Old
age is the wreck of what was.
Much
that is done in the name of God will be condemned by God if he is
half
as
decent and compassionate as we are taught.
The
low quota
for Christian immigrants from Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran and other
Islamist autocracies is the moral equivalent of the low quota
for Jews to immigrate from Nazi Germany in 1933-1941.
Burma
Shave-type signs on I-55 in Illinois: “Criminals menacing/A
lady alone/Deterrence
requires/More than a phone. GunsSavelives.com.
If
everything that pops into your head comes out your mouth, you will
say a lot of very stupid things.
America
used to be known for innovation and excellence. Now, thanks to the
social engineers, it is known for institutionalized
mediocrity.
Since
the left keeps declaring “sanctuary cities” for those who break
the immigration laws, maybe the right will take over small cities or
towns and declare them “sanctuary cities” for those who break gun
laws, or break the laws on assault by attacking progressives. The
idea that local or state government can “nullify” federal law was
tested in the 1860s.
650,000 died establishing that they couldn’t.
“When
you are your own priest, it’s always easier to get a dispensation
for whatever it
is
you want to do.”
--Jonah
Goldberg
Some
people don’t use paper to “save the trees.” They shouldn’t
eat bread to “save the wheat.” Like wheat, trees for paper are
grown as a renewable crop.
Bullying
by the crazies in both parties has become the new norm, so much so
that people are not surprised when the opposition does it and not
censorious when their side does.
Progressives
are so vested in black inferiority they will never admit that blacks
might be able to compete with whites
on a level playing field in a meritocracy.
When
did mutts become “designer puppies”?
Car
in front of me had two bumper stickers. One said “clowns” with an
arrow pointing left. The other said “jokers” with an arrow
pointing right.
I
know “shit happens,” but does it have to happen all at once?
I
read in “An edible History of Humanity” that it takes seven
gallons of fossil fuels to make ten gallons of ethanol. Which of
course drives up food prices and gets worse gas millage. But
politicians need to carry Iowa. I wonder how much fossil fuel it
takes to mine and smelt the metal, build, deliver, install, and
service one windmill.
Some
days I wonder if half the country has gone stupid and 3/4th has gone
soft. Other days I’m sure of it.
Tony
Evers, the Democrat candidate for governor in Wisconsin, admitted to
plagiarism. It was the bottom story on the local section. Had it been
the Republican Governor, Scott Walker, it would have been the top
story on page one. And thus they try to shape the debate.
Talked
to a guy who
told
me he was getting divorced. I asked why. He said their
Internet was out for two weeks and they had to talk to each other.
:-)
Mental
illness has become a coveted possession.
Every
institution created by flawed humans is flawed. But none more so than
governments promising utopia in exchange for freedom.
You
know you’re old when you get nine hours of sleep and are still
tired.
“Innocent
until proven guilty” now only applies to members of your own party.
Saw
election signs here in Wisconsin for Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Rep. Mark
Pocan, both far left pols who represent me. The signs said, “Restore
Wisconsin Values.” They are already in office. Why didn’t they
already restore Wisconsin values? Whatever they are.
When
a restaurant puts packets of Equal and Splenda sweetener on the
table, it’s not there for you to shove eight or ten in your pocket
to take home. That’s called stealing. And it makes the restaurant
reluctant to put it out, due to rising costs. So they put out pink
poison instead.
If
I ever adopt a Gray Hound, I’m going to name him Cassius.
Few
self-inflicted disasters are as
bad
as believing you are always right.
I
don’t wish anyone ill, but if the people
making
robo calls to my cell and home phones trip and smash their faces, I
won’t lose sleep grieving either.
Get
the collection! My “Random
Thoughts” from 2008 through July, 2013 are collected in this book:
The Old Jarhead's Journal: Random
Thoughts on Life, Liberty, and Leadership by Robert
A. Hall
The
Old Jarhead’s Journal is a collection of Random Thoughts on
politics and life and Conservative Political Essays, mostly published
on the author’s blog, including the essay “I’m Tired” which
went viral on the Internet in 2009, “The Hall Platform,” “This
I Believe,” and “Why I’m a Republican.” While they will be of
interest to conservative thinkers, they are collected here in book
form as a service to readers who wish to give a copy to favorite
liberals and watch their heads explode. All
royalties are donated to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.
*****
Robert
A. Hall is a Marine Vietnam Veteran who served five terms in the
Massachusetts State Senate. He is the author of The Coming
Collapse of the American Republic.
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Collapse-American-Republic-prevent/dp/1461122538/ref=sr_1_5?s=booksandie=UTF8andqid=1304815980andsr=1-5
For a free PDF of Collapse, e-mail him at
tartanmarine(at)gmail.com. Hall’s twelve books are listed here:
http://tartanmarine.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-book-published.html.
His blog of political news and conservative comment is
www.tartanmarine.blogspot.com.
He currently works part-time as a writer-editor in the My Life, My
Story program as the Madison VA hospital, interviewing vets and
writing up their life histories.
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