RAG Perspective: An American Pro-Liberty Conservative

Sunday, August 30, 2026

Post #7829 Social Media Digest

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My first August essay criticizes Rand Paul's inexcusable obsession with Fauci.https://t.co/UIqfgZpVy5
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

Trump is a scientific illiterate who knows zero about vaccination, whose abysmal vaccine-skeptic administration has badly damaged CDC/FDA integrity and credibility. Even respected medical organizations are distancing themselves from Trump's politicization of public health. https://t.co/5VU33MzIwE
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

Vance used to believe in free trade. Then he converted to Trumpism for political ambition. https://t.co/fT6IePRa5A pic.twitter.com/TnD2poq4c0
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

Vance doesn't know much about history. Canada repelled a US invasion in the nineteenth century. https://t.co/ZG7bnXVjJh pic.twitter.com/QfZBQB2dtC
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

The fact is, the American dollar has lost value on Bessent's watch. https://t.co/cgehgVcT5c pic.twitter.com/DERybVGwIp
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

I think the Dumbass-in-Chief forgot that his term egan with the aim of eliminating the Dept. of Education. Recall there's not a word in the Constitution empowering him as Superintendent-in-Chief. Public education is a statr/local, not federal responsibility. https://t.co/rRQ6oGQe7a
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

One pet peeve I have about the R-word-in-Chief is his idiotic pattern of saying other nations (Canada) have "ripped us off". This is the dimwit's disingenuous way of describing a trading ally with net exports to the US. Americans buy foreign goods or services if they find value.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

I didn't realize Trumpkins had multiple memes portraying Trump as a Christ figure. But all it really shows here is sh*t floats. https://t.co/woPIPYuJj0 pic.twitter.com/OkSBTZ2LzY
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

Trump's insane hubris in unilaterally renaming internationally recognized historical names has now targeted Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes.

Just because the Art of the Deal hypocrite can't fix his unprovoked trade war with Canada doesn't mean we have to humor the idiot. pic.twitter.com/ObFwv9NIPF
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. I was a huge fan of Dolly Parton when she was promoting laundry detergent on the Porter Wagoner Show. She has passed; remembering one of her big duet hits: https://t.co/OJ1mF5snpC
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

It's rare for me to approve of any Trump trade initiative. The policy of lower barriers to beef imports is good for Americans facing skyrocketing costs due to beef shortages. Meat imports are subject to USG checks. I've routinely & safely consumed foreign-sourced grass-fed beef. pic.twitter.com/EMM6TzFOOg
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

Fear-mongering about competitive imports is misleading and irresponsible. Both domestic and foreign goods are inspected and have (rarely) been recalled. https://t.co/PZFMq4t5ux pic.twitter.com/kHXDF5wX5N
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

This is Soft Rock America. Time for a Paul Simon classic: https://t.co/iaeS2xztmr https://t.co/u54GAjlMA9
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

This is merely another predictable Trump anti-Canadian talking point because Ontario is a Canadian province. https://t.co/I1em1kbKWE
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

I heard CNN repeat an old Partooon myth that 2 of her biggest hits, "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You," were written the same day; Parton herself debunked it. https://t.co/aGf8T52jTz
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

I find it remarkable that CNN has devoted blanket coverage to Dolly Parton's passing. She did not use her celebrity for partisan politics. She was very generous in her philanthropy. pic.twitter.com/qZuvtystDT
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

Most people don't realize that "I Will Always Love You" was Parton's declaration of independence from, and tribute to, former co-host, duet partner, and mentor Porter Wagoner. pic.twitter.com/9D15513Sys
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

My favorite supermarket, Lidl (a Twist on Aldi without the quarter carts), sources its beef domestically. I've bought Australian beef from ShopRite. Walmart uses both domestic and international suppliers, including Australian or New Zealand lamb. pic.twitter.com/mTTxsxbfng
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

Some countries, e.g., Brazil, have comparative advantages in producing sugar. Just because the US can produce sugar doesn't mean it should at the expense of US businesses and consumers, just because wealthy domestic producers have political connections.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

I'm always dismayed by fellow libertarians like Judge Napolitano & Massie, who are against free trade in Trump's Argentinian beef deal. I understand Trump's argument of suffering Argentinians is bogus, but the idea of manipulating supply at the expense of consumers is immoral.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 27, 2026

I've written an executive order renaming Donald Trump to Donald Ontario. #satire
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 27, 2026

Trump's anti-vaxxer scientific illiteracy has made measles deadly again.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 27, 2026

Nope. Trump's insane authority extends until we elect a sane successor POTUS. Trump has no such global authority, nor compel any media source to repeat this nonsense. https://t.co/BVpC3ePLOZ pic.twitter.com/onrzSO83dP
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 28, 2026

Apparently Trump will not show up at 9/11 Ground Zero on its silver anniversary next month because he demanded to give a speech. The sheer narcissism of this political whore: the anniversary is not about him & I would mute any Trump speech, including his at the Pentagon.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 28, 2026

Great video over the foreign beef kerfuffle. HINT: Bastiat was/is righthttps://t.co/PurGjourmV
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 28, 2026

The new Internet meme of "Donald Ducks" after Trump's pathetic renaming of Lake Ontario (which no one recognizes beyond r-word Trumpkins) reminds me my former suburban Chicago employer used to attract Canadian geese. They did crap a lot on sidewalks. I agree: Donald Ducks. pic.twitter.com/4bbStnH6oU
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 30, 2026

CVS just texted me they expect the new XFG variant 2026/27 COVID vaccines in stock over the coming week. With infections rising in 48 states, If you haven't been boosted over the last few months (<6), protect yourself and others by getting scheduled at your local provider.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 30, 2026

Doesn't everybody pull over to snip off a dead raccoon's penis?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

Where did she get that — from her $60 Trump Bible?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

Well, to be honest, there's a reason Biden pardoned his son--a blatant breach of nepotism violating the rule of law.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

If there is any such poll, it's a convenience poll of Trumpkins. pic.twitter.com/oyQsGLpuIz
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

American livestock are at a multi-year low for various reasons, including disease and feed costs. Trump's tariffs do little to increase livestock in the short term; even sky-high beef prices at groceries aren't enough in the short run. Trump's illegal tariffs are inconsistent. pic.twitter.com/qiRe1gQZSR
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

By law, Congress must invest in net reserves using low-earning Treasuries, not assets like a higher-earning index fund. However, note there is no "lockbox" for payroll taxes: SS is on a pay-go basis, and current taxes are insufficient to cover the program, depending on reserves
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

Trump f*cked up international trade with his illegal tariffs.
Trump f*cked up the Middle East/Gulf region.
Trump f*cked up our alliances.
Trump f*cked up the domestic economy by increasing economic uncertainty
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

This is utterly clueless. Trump has unilaterally violated his own USMCA agreement. pic.twitter.com/ux2uJSA0UH
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

This is a fake quote. pic.twitter.com/zbpmSai5l3
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 23, 2026

The percentage of farmers is about 78% in farm counties. Not sure what the socialists are referencing: loosened protectionism on beef imports, Trump's tariff wars on agricultural exports, or Trump's tariffs on fertilizer imports. Trump's attacks on USAID programs, etc.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

The increase in measles cases has more to do with unvaccinated American kids traveling to foreign countries with infections than with low numbers of recent immigrants. pic.twitter.com/bAmVdbRiuo
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

Canada's response to Trump's unprovoked trade war is consistent with the nonaggression principle, but I don't think taxing Canadian citizens for Trump's sins is good public policy.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 24, 2026

Trump should be held accountable for any and all misconduct. No one is above the law.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

If I had the money and her prid accepts the help.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

A yellow dog in the Whte House wouldn't have started a war on Iran or started a global trae war.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

ICE is an abomination.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 25, 2026

No. Only for stuff where he violated federal or state law. He sucks at being a family man and a decent human being; he cheats at golf.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

Exercise Google: "United States primarily imports beef and cattle from Canada, Mexico, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, Argentina, and Nicaragua."
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

Some countries, e.g., Brazil, have comparative advantages in producing sugar. Just because the US can produce sugar doesn't mean it should at the expense of US businesses and consumers, just because wealthy domestic producers have political connections.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 26, 2026

Wrong number.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) August 30, 2026

Post #7828 M: WNBA Calls In The Experts To Decide What Is A Woman; Talking to your wife about Lindsay Clancy; Flock CEO VS Mayor Kane Rap Battle: Safety or Surveillance?

Quote of the Day

We didn't lose the game;

we just ran out of time.

Vince Lombardi

WNBA Calls In The Experts To Decide What Is A Woman

Talking to your wife about Lindsay Clancy

Flock CEO VS Mayor Kane Rap Battle: Safety or Surveillance?

Choose Life

Musical Interlude: 1965 Top 100 Hits

Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter - Herman’s Hermits

Saturday, August 29, 2026

Post #7827 J

Endemic Report

The latest weekly CDC stats:

The Sick Times:

The summer surge, although the shallowest in the post-pandemic era, is still increasing in all states except DC and one state (IA). In fact, we have seen short-term school closures in Texas and Louisiana. By far, the biggest news over the past week is the FDA/CDC approval of the XFG variant 2026/2027 vaccine shot for the major vaccine producers- Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax. The vaccine is already authorized for senior Americans and other high-risk/immunocompromised individuals.

COVID news items include:

"The Lasting Effects of COVID-19 on Kids"
"mRNA COVID vaccine linked to lower risk of myocarditis in teens, young adults"
"IVAC Researchers Inform Global Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccines"
"Mayo Clinic recommends the 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccine for these groups: All individuals 6 months and older. All pregnant individuals."
"Doctors see COVID-19 spike with new symptoms. Here’s what they’re seeing: “We’re still seeing people with fevers, cough [and] upper respiratory-type symptoms, but a lot of people are coming in with gastrointestinal symptoms - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sometimes to the point of mild dehydration,” said Dr. James Black"
"Part of Dolly Parton's legacy: How she helped fund a COVID-19 vaccine"
"COVID-19 Alters Sleep Breathing Patterns"
"Researchers tested dozens of clues for long COVID. One finding stood out"
"Study finds that cognitive decline after omicron infection is largely reversible"
COVID relief fraud/other crimes:

"Massachusetts Rep. Francisco Paulino indicted on wire fraud, money laundering charges for alleged misuse of COVID-19 funds, officials say"
"Former Loretto Hospital CFO indicted again, accused in COVID-19 testing fraud scheme"

Political/legal issues:

"Hungary files a criminal complaint over $965M COVID-19 ventilator deal, citing possible fraud"
"NC appeals court re-examines enforcement of Covid-era ‘social distancing’ orders"
"The Ohio Supreme Court again rejects a $900M COVID checks case, but an attorney says it’s not over yet"
"Doctor linked to RFK Jr. wins immunity from lawsuit over Connecticut man’s COVID treatment death"
"Records dispute key claim in Ramaswamy ad targeting Acton"

Other Notes

The blog returned to an unlikely 1K+ pageview pace. No recovery of weeks-long follower losses on X/Twitter, but I got my first 1K+ tweet in several weeks, a critical tweet on Trump's decision not to visit ground zero in NYC on the silver anniversary of 9/ll because he demanded to give a speech.

Good to see college football finally back on TV again, although most teams, including my alma mater, I think, kick off next week.