McClanahan on What Was Lincoln's Plan for Freed Slaves?
SNL Weekend Update
Hornberger on Immigration
Choose Life
Political Cartoon
Courtesy of AF Branco via Townhall
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2003
Beyoncé, "Crazy in Love" ft. JAY Z
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Monday, February 27, 2023
Post #6132 M: Trump Train Visit; Town Wants Mural Torn Down Because it Shows ... Donuts; Prof. Antony Davies Answers the Most Googled Economics Questions (Part 1)
Quote of the Day
He gains everyone's approval who mixes the pleasant with the useful.Horace 
Trump Train Visit
Town Wants Mural Torn Down Because it Shows ... Donuts
Prof. Antony Davies Answers the Most Googled Economics Questions (Part 1)
Choose Life
Political Cartoon
Courtesy of Gary Varvel via Townhall
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2003
Clay Aiken, "This Is the Night"
Sunday, February 26, 2023
Post #6131 Social Media Digest
The Constitution is silent on the question of secession. The general government is limited to enumerated powers. Some states specifically noted their right to withdraw, and states have equal rights. Note that President Buchanan didn't invade 7 states.https://t.co/CGh0czhocy
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
It's humorous when leftists cite SCOTUS for settling the question of constitutional secession (Texas v White). Victor's justice. Ask me how many times SCOTUS has had to overturn bad precedents. It's like an abusive husband arguing that marriage is perpetual.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
I really don't care what MTG thinks about a national divorce. I think she's all about yanking leftists' chains and using it to promote her political career. Me, I don't care if she comes to a SOTU wearing Hulk Hogan's boa.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
Well, we know Ann Coulter checks out Drudge Report; the photo is still up. The right-wingers are all griping one of 2 things they see as higher priority: the Southern borders; the Ohio train disaster.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
I get whipsawed between leftists and Trumpkins, each group claiming I'm in the other camp. They don't acknowledge they are different sides of the same Big Government coin, and there are a lot of us who are both Never Trump and Never Biden.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
Update: Lincoln is still dead. H/T Chevy Chase
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
Um, who gets custody of the federal government and the $31.5T debt after we divorce?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
MTG https://t.co/7v2v2hYFPB
This is Soft Rock America. Time for classic Little Peggy March: https://t.co/aMJDal3zGb
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
James O'Keefe https://t.co/IxSoMfNZ2V
However hypocritical you may judge pastor Osteen's lifestyle, from the IRS:
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
"Regardless of whether you're a minister performing ministerial services as an employee or a self-employed person, all of your earnings../ are subject to income tax."https://t.co/WvHJJTuzfk.
Just a reminder: Ken Burns is not a credentialed historian.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
"He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in film studies and design."https://t.co/vdiJqB1TZC
#IKnewIWasRightAbout Democrats and Republicans are all Big Government shills with unsustainable deficits and debt.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
#IKnewIWasRightAbout Democrats and Republicans are all Big Government shills with unsustainable deficits and debt.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
I didn't expect Kevin Owens to reject Sami Zahn's offer to team against the Usos at Wrestlemania, especially after Owens intervened against Zahn's post-match beatdown at Elimination Chamber. Maybe he's playing hard to get?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
#TheReasonIJoinedTwitter is I needed something else to do on my dateless Saturday nights.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
I earned my BA in San Antonio, and a few years returned there to start my IT career. It was impossible to watch local TV without his car dealership commercials. And imagine the surprise of this rare Vikings fan Texan when he bought the team.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
"Red McCombs"
Well, I did think that an Omos/Lesnar match was inevitable but I didn't think it would be at Wrestlemania. I expected a no holds barred Lesnar/Lashley feud finale. I'm not sure Lashley wants Omos fighting his battles for him.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Voting for either Trump or Biden #WasAHugeMistake
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
No, the purported undocumented claim from Trump has been widely debunked. This seems to be a distortion of Trump's concern his supporters were going to be attacked by Antifa. The House Sergeant of Arms is one of 3 members of the Capitol Police Board.https://t.co/M8CgTYMWmY
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
No, the purported undocumented claim from Trump has been widely debunked. This seems to be a distortion of Trump's concern his supporters were going to be attacked by Antifa. The House Sergeant of Arms is one of 3 members of the Capitol Police Board.https://t.co/M8CgTYMWmY
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
"Even CNN knows Biden's Kyiv visit was staged!"
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Great. Hillary claimed to have survived sniper fire in Bosnia, and now Joe Biden survived a missile attack in Kiev... #sarcasm
Business taxes, globally noncompetitive at 35%, was reduced to 21% under Trump. Have corporate tax revenues dropped off a cliff? Nope: now expected 3.8T versus pre-cut 3.9T in revenues over a decade. Not to mention increased investments, more jobs, income tax revenues.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
It's hard to overestimate the economic illiteracy of these disingenuous leftists. Take the talking point that the Trump tax cuts would add $2T to the deficits over a decade. Yet under Trump the national debt grew nearly $8T over 4 years.https://t.co/KhoIxQTGMf
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
FNC: "Putin blames the West for starting the war in Ukraine."
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
I think Putin ate too many magic mushrooms in Wonderland. #sarcasm
Is Tom Brady the Harold Stassen of the NFL? I think not...
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
"Stassen ran for the Republican nomination for President of the United States in 1940, 1944, 1948, 1952, 1964, 1968, 1980, 1984, 1988, and 1992. " https://t.co/KQloiTTJA8
"The nation’s annual budget deficits are projected to average $2 trillion over roughly the next decade, according to figures released by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Wednesday."
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
And yet Biden refuses to negotiate over the debt ceiling. https://t.co/t3s7s6y5fs
Nobody ever taught leftists two wrongs don't make a right.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
If anyone had more access to national secrets than Hillary Clinton, it was probably Obama. Using a private account for USG purposes violated government policy. She indisputably had classified info on her server. https://t.co/o7xKs3oy17
@elonmusk I don't like criticism but I'm used to the give and take from my days in academia. However, in a reply to a tweet I wrote on Tom Brady, I seemed to get an unrelated spam reply: pic.twitter.com/X8x3t8aCDK
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
I don't think one can generalize a trend from a couple of datapoints, but Walmart is selling its budget box of 60 eggs for 9.92 down from 13.xx and 19.xx Over the last couple of weeks at Lidl from about $5/dozen to 3.52. Not cheap, compared to less than $1 a couple of years back https://t.co/t1P0Q8Id7r
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Isn't it Mardi Gras today? I thought for sure it would be trending on Twitter.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
The postal service eventually committed to universal delivery service but demanded the protection of Private Express Statutes, arguing that private carriers would skim off profitable urban routes. https://t.co/CvQ74iuZOv
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
The USPS is a constitutional anachronism. On home delivery: "In practice, the post offices of these days did not generally deliver mail to households or businesses directly, but only from post office to post office."https://t.co/1JcCv7KuFw
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Their core revenue services are essentially in a death spiral and they expect to lose $160B over the coming decade. They're dumping retiree healthcare into Medicare & are hoping Congress will cut their retirement share.https://t.co/kEbRwem35p
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Not to mention I've had close relatives who have worked for USPS and are not particularly happy with my privatization views.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Times I've watched MSNBC over the past 10 years: zero.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Times I'll watch Psaki on MSNBC over the next 10 years: zero. https://t.co/y4oFawrNTO
The American Corollary to Thatcher on socialism:
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
The problem with democratic socialists is they run out of the upper 1%'s assets, but the bills never stop.
or
Once you eat the hen laying the golden eggs, no more eggs.
"Asked whether the jurors had recommended indicting Mr. Trump, Ms. Kohrs gave a cryptic answer: “You’re not going to be shocked. It’s not rocket science,” adding, “you won’t be too surprised.”https://t.co/Rhu6ah2z7W
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
DeSantis got 59% of the vote over former Gov. Crist, the biggest percentage in 40 years.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 21, 2023
Trump got 46.1% of the vote against Clinton. He got 46.8% of the vote against Biden.
The Flaming' Hot Cheeto got tired of "winning". https://t.co/TGKr3YvkhN
I'm sure you'll both enjoy your time together in prison.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Nope. There's a reason he was called 'Silent Cal'.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
The progressives are going to demand a lot of alimony.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Why is Kinzinger afraid of transparency?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Unlike Biden, Paul McCartney never needed to plagiarize.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Just hearing Paul McCartney play on a Stones album is worth the price of the album. But it staggers the imagination what would be possible from the Stones and the Beatles collaborating on songs together.https://t.co/jbPdDeOzUY
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
All the money you'll save not being admitted to the ICU. #OtherVaxxSideEffects
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Just a reminder how you end up with a Trump or Biden... pic.twitter.com/xuIRAkpf2r
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Yes, I despise Biden, but no, I despise Trump just as much.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
I guess Trump wants to see what his rollback of the ECP brakes mandate meant for East Palestine. https://t.co/T0zetKd8EI
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Anti-vaxxers are like if doubting Thomas met the risen Christ and later attributed it to some wild mushrooms he ate at lunch.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
"Damar Hamlin"
John Lennon is trending, and one of my favorite covers of his songs is the Lettermen's version of "Love". I have to admit I missed the infectious early Beatles' love songs. Harrison's "Something" is the only exception I recall from their later material.https://t.co/bbH4NDkBrf
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
I've never met Jacob Hornberger, but I was a high school classmate of his little brother, Charles. I supported his candidacy for the LP nomination in 2020, and I'm supporting him in this coming election also.https://t.co/BjmtpnRCYK
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Remy is back with "Uncle Sugar".https://t.co/mfJcxavnFj
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
I agree when Hannity had RINO-in-Chief Trump on his show, he sold out his conservative street cred. Pence, however, is not a traitor; Trump is.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
I've never understood this politically correct obsession with symbols and team names. Personally, if I hear 'Uncle Ben' or 'Aunt Jemima', I think of them as part of my ethnically diverse extended family. (I also have biracial grandnephews/nieces.)
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
"Aunt Jemima"
South Park couldn't get better publicity than a thin-skinned estranged royal couple in exile. https://t.co/Fi1xunCJUV
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
This is Soft Rock America. Our American-born Duchess of Sussex has words for South Park: https://t.co/1HPJC1Zynj
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
The problem during the pandemic has always been what I call the Typhoid Mary problem. Some people can get infected and transmit the disease without their knowledge; like Mary herself, they can be in a state of denial. Obviously, you need to be cautious around symptomatic people.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
Let me be clear: there are problems with masking in public policy: people often don't mask effectively; often used cloth masks have limited utility (especially against bioaerosols); they are morally hazardous; policy tends to be paternalistic.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
"The Mask Mandates Did Nothing"
If FNC viewers are wondering why Martha MacCallum has a smudge in the middle of her forehead, it's Ash Wednesday. I don't think Wikipedia lists her faith, but she got married in a Catholic church.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
OMG, there really are Trumpkins of color. I was waiting for my Walmart pharmacy to reopen after lunch when a senior gentleman started a conversion. He likes Trump's direct style, dislikes Biden putting Ukraine over the Ohio train disaster, ranted about Hunter's laptop, etc.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
(continued) Dan was distraught how his parents who claimed to love him couldn't accept the love of his life and their own grandchildren by blood, part of them. I didn't know what to say; racism is not only stupid and ugly, but sad and tragic.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
All I see is an elderly self-serving incompetent twice-impeached plutocrat.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 22, 2023
"Real President" my ass. He's an ink stain on American history.
There is no such thing as "the best President of our time". There is only 1 Sorest Loser, Twice-Impeached Ink Spot on American History who has never won 47% of the national vote and never will.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
This may be the stupidest lying meme on the Internet. The Sore Loser-in-Chief promised to eliminate the national debt of $20T. Not only did he fail to reduce it by a single penny, but added 7.8T in one term, setting q new Presidential record. It takes a lot to outspend Obama.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
Imagine the dude who is responsible for rollback of the ECP brake mandate, which exacerbated the damage of the Norfolk Southern derailment disaster, having the audacity to show his face and try to exploit political opportunity out of Biden's absence!
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
Not the Best President Ever https://t.co/5J2gaBOgfU
"Nor have rail regulators in Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg's department proposed reinstating the safety rule in question...A spokesperson for the FRA told the outlet that it was continuing to evaluate ECP brakes to improve safety."https://t.co/ltdA0qMcHJ
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
Biden is losing the stupid PR war to Trump. Not only did Biden fail to get to East Palestine before Trump, but he's in the doghouse with the national football champ Georgia Bulldogs with no invitation to the White House.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
I speak with some authority on dorm food. My first semester at OLL I worked my way up from dishwasher to assistant cook. We would deep fry fish filets with slices of lemon, also mix in prior leftover filets. The latter lemon slices would pucker up. I avoided the fish.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
I'll tell you what. I once worked for a college software company and visited Biola University; I had to eat at the college cafeteria. OMG! Not like I remember dorm food. They had a burgers-and-fries island, a bread island, two buffet lines, one with more natural entrees.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
he wasn't going to get any sleep that night if I didn't give him the answer to that particular question.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
Writing good exams is an art & a science. I am one of the best in my discipline. It's hard work; I've read literally thousands of research articles in psychology & education
It turns out Bill Clinton and Trump have another thing in common besides pissing off Hillary.https://t.co/yWoTqHTnIS
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
McDonalds
Hmmm.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
"It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world;"
The REAL President: George Washingtonhttps://t.co/74wioW3E70
No, Trump cannot bribe me with a 44 G. carb Big Mac. Maybe Bill Clinton.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
"Big Macs"
You mean. this isn't a Trump nickname for the Transportation Secretary?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
"Sneaky Pete"
I'm not a Dem or Republican, but the Dems have been politically exploiting and propagandizing Jan. 6 events for 2 years. What are Dems trying to hide? I do think Speaker McCarthy should avoid the appearance of bias in support of transparency and disclosure.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
"Aaron Rodgers has emerged from his darkness retreat." What the hell does this mean? Did he see his shadow? Does Packers training camp open later than expected this summer?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 23, 2023
Norfolk Southern is responsible for the hell in East Palestine. The fact remains, the accident occurred on Biden's watch, after 2 years of 1-party rule in Congress and the Obama ECP rule did not apply to Class 2 flammable gases, i.e., the relevant cargo.https://t.co/Xkbri8aD2n https://t.co/rQTQpQN5oI
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
Let's see if Biden can lead a bipartisan consensus for a more comprehensive ECB brake mandate over all flammable cargoes, with industry tax incentives if necessary. https://t.co/LzfseJ9e99
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
Leftist trolls are not telling folks in trying to blame the Trump Admin for the Obama 2015 ECP mandate rollback is in 2014 NTSB wanted comprehensive flammable cargo coverage, not just Class 3 flammables like ethanol and crude oil. So, let's scrutinize that admin's motives.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
Oh, wow. Marianne Williamson had about 1% support in 2020's Dem primary. Biden must be worried.https://t.co/NtlB8qTvpC https://t.co/30o9mTOT0H
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
MTG and Trump have been to McDonald's too many times. #sarcasm https://t.co/MkuDlKoM8D
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
WRONG! I was BOTH Never Trump and Never Clinton. https://t.co/uCUHFqRbAO
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
East Palestine citizens could use more breathing room. https://t.co/yJWX7jTao5
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
He flushed his fair share down the toilet.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
It's like government spending. https://t.co/GOp6XyY8CN
The Trump Administration needs to explain why instead of rolling back the limited ECP brake mandate it didn't broaden it to cover East Palestine relevant hazardous cargo. Norfolk Southern essentially transferred part of its risks to the general public.https://t.co/kpWwdR5d9H https://t.co/Sis1ioHUWk
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 24, 2023
Democrats are usually savvy about symbolic appearances, but Biden seems to be satisfied with his Administration's "early" response to the East Palestine train disaster and doesn't seem to have any near-term plans to visit the area. I'm not a political pundit, but this is mistaken
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
Well, Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, infamously called Trump a "clown genius". I thought of Dilbert as a weird dude who can't wear ties, a clever cartoon mocking the corporate workplace. One instinctively knows sooner or later a satirist would be victimized by cancel culture.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
Selected clips from the PC police. What's your point?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
Biden says if anyone of color doesn't vote for him, he "ain't black". Pete Buttigieg is probably more worried about the racial cross breaks of first responders than the health and safety of East Palestine residents. You have a military hierarchy obsessed with minority rights.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
I knew the area had a reputation. One of my former MIS students noticed me coming out of Cougar Place one day and asked me to escort her to satellite parking a few blocks away. I agreed. She told me she was newly married since our class.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
An unprovoked random crime of violence. I reported it to campus security, but there was little they could do. It was dark and I wasn't looking at them as they passed other than keeping my distance from their path. There was no warning; I could feel his knuckle on my eyeball.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
I don't give a damn what other people think or when demand me to do something. As far as I'm concerned, they can do something that won't perpetuate the species. (Twitter Mommy doesn't like me to be direct, but it's a common saying.)
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
This is Soft Rock America. Here's the Queen of Soul: https://t.co/s3C0IF7RAl https://t.co/DNneg2Og4h
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
What the HELL does Biden mean here? He has erotic dreams of the East Palestine train disaster?https://t.co/OAxH3n8Saj. https://t.co/DNneg2Og4h
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
I didn't know Harrison did remakes but this song was originally from the 60's. I told my niece recently that whenever I hear this one, I think of her adorably dancing to it back when she was 3.https://t.co/4fdlDbCuK8
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
I remember one of the first times I heard myself on radio was calling in a request to an Austin radio on George Harrison's birthday. Here's a favorite:https://t.co/hX9PCrkIs0
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
#YoureOutOfTouchWhen I compare today's "pop music" to what I listened to growing up. But don't remind me of the disco era. It killed the Bee Gees' career.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
Some of my earliest music album purchases were from black artists like Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis, and the Four Tops. My best friend in fifth grade was a black dude Henry whose dad was also in the USAF.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
Scott Adams should know better than to take a single poll seriously.
I bet a lot of Twitter users are like me: what the hell is Slack? Apparently, an enhanced text messaging system analogous to Microsoft Teams, which I've used at work for years.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
"Libs of TikTok"
Well, the first thing I noticed was this tiresome leftist troll's censorship rant/tweet is nearly 900 characters long; it's apparently something known as a Twitter note that is available to a select number of users. So now these hypocrites get to filibuster us.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
"Libs of Tiktok" https://t.co/bD3SinN3DY
Boy, did I get this trend wrong. I thought Google's browser was trending...
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 25, 2023
#Chrome23
This is Soft Rock America. Linda Ronstadt is trending. My Navy supervising officer heard "Poor, poor pitiful me" one too many times. But my adorable niece M loved Fievel and this remains my favorite Ronstadt tune.https://t.co/Jq89b8C7II
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 26, 2023
"Linda Ronstadt"
I haven't cared about British politics since the War of 1812. But, in my opinion, the real Queen was headed by Freddie Mercury.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 26, 2023
"Queen Consort"
This is Soft Rock America. I'm not sure if WHO (COVID-19) or "My Generation" is trending. A former Brazilian girlfriend once giggled to me, "Your eyes are SO BLUE." So, I guess that's why this tune is my favorite...https://t.co/qNDsjOSh6F
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 26, 2023
This is Soft Rock America. For some reason, I felt like playing the B-52's biggest hit...https://t.co/qtTKz0EDkq pic.twitter.com/sA3Zu8Ruwa
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 26, 2023
Pence is right. What is Trump going to say? He already threw Pence under the bus on Jan. 6. I'm thinking of becoming a Republican for a day just to vote for Pence over Trump.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 26, 2023
‘We’ll Have Better Choices Than My Old Running Mate’
Post #6130 M: Why Jack Dorsey is backing a new social media protocol; The Economics of National Divorce, Part II; Sea Navigation | Johan Norberg’s New and Improved
Quote of the Day
This is your world.Shape it or someone else will.
Gary Lew
Why Jack Dorsey is backing a new social media protocol
The Economics of National Divorce, Part II
I picked this clip off the Mises Institute, not off Tom Woods' channel. This is a brief pause in the personal feud I have with Woods, described in a prior post. In part, this exception has to do with Woods' scholarship on the topic of secession.
Sea Navigation | Johan Norberg’s New and Improved
Choose Life
Political Cartoon
Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Townhall
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2003
50 Cent, "21 Questions" ft. Nate Dogg
Saturday, February 25, 2023
Post #6129 J
Pandemic Report
The latest stats from WaPo:
The latest from CDC:
The overall stats are roughly holding steady at about 38.6K new cases daily and 340 deaths. Probably the biggest news over the past week is the CDC seems to be leaning into a recommendation likely for an annual COVID-19 booster. There seems to be some early evidence for a more natural treatment:
The study found that the natural amino acid called ‘5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA)’ is an effective way to reduce the expression of ACE2, which is the receptor for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a strain of the COVID-19 virus, which allows the virus to infect a cell. Therefore, this amino acid can reduce the infectivity of COVID.
ALA can be found in spinach, tomatoes, Shitake mushrooms, potatoes, squid, ground beef, wine and soy sauce, according to clinicaltrials.gov.
There's some interesting data that the common Typ4 2 diabetic oral medication Metformin may help lower viral load. China reports its recent major surge seems to be under control although not completely over and it has expanded critical treatment capacity. George Mason University announced a recent study claiming urban vaccine mandates had little effect in reducing COVID-19 caseload. There is evidence of liberalized public policy such as Marine restrictions on unvaccinated soldiers' deployments overseas.
Other Notes
Blog readership has somewhat improved over the last week, and I have a shot at reaching a level that I used to achieve by mid-month but only achieved once in the last 6 months or so. Twitter is improving since earlier this month when I had a long streak of single-digit tweets. Still, I wonder what's going on with some tweets. For example, I was the victim of a violent crime while a UH grad student, and as I write, that tweet only has 3 impressions. I got more impressions tweeting about an older George Harrison song tweet. Nevertheless, it explains why I stopped jogging in the 80's.
Well, I finally tried something I had once swore I would never do: buy a plant-based "meat"' in this case. Beyond Hot Sausage, Lidl had a discount on it. Not bad; it's a lot better than meatless stuff I've tasted in the past. But I prefer the taste of "real" hot sausage. Of course, I generally avoid processed meat like sausage, hot dogs, cold cuts, etc. It turns out after weeks of illness in December, I had rebounded back to my last doctor visit weigh-in. Probably a 20-lb. bounce. Most of that was dehydration, but for several days I couldn't keep anything down and I had to go off a prescription.
The Walmart Pharmacy I use is pretty good, but I had a weird process this week when I noticed I had an email of a list of multiple generics to pick up. Usually, I get a text asking me if I want a refill. Ane then the day after pickup I got a text saying I had 2 of the same 90-day prescriptions to pick up. I called in and yes, it wasn't a delayed notification but a duplicate one. On a separate earlier occasion, they mentioned one of the same notifications but it was really a different off-schedule refill. On a separate note, one of my patient portals is showing I need my pneumonia and shingles shots and I've done those over the past few weeks. I'm not sure why they didn't get updated by Walmart or my health insurer. They had a button to schedule, but none to say I've had these.
Post #6128 M: Wired is WRONG - Billionaires are not Bad for the Economy; Alien Confused After Being Taken to Our Leader President Biden
Quote of the Day
Individually, we are one drop.Together, we are an ocean.
Ryunosuke Satoro 
Wired is WRONG - Billionaires are not Bad for the Economy
Alien Confused After Being Taken to Our Leader President Biden
Abbeville Institute This Week
Choose Life
Political Cartoon
Courtesy of Tom Stiglich via Townhall
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2003
Sean Paul, "Get Busy/Like Glue"
Friday, February 24, 2023
Post #6127 M: McClanahan on Family Demands Woke University Return Their Money; Polyamory Explained in 15 Seconds; Why MTG Is Right About National Divorce
Quote of the Day
Never seem more learned than the people you are with.Wear your learning like a pocket watch and keep it hidden.
Do not pull it out to count the hours,
but give the time when you are asked.
Lord Chesterfield
Polyamory Explained in 15 Seconds
McClanahan on Family Demands Woke University Return Their Money
Why MTG Is Right About National Divorce
Choose Life
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2003
50 Cent, "In Da Club"
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Post #6126 M: Jacob Hornberger for POTUS; McClanahan on Is Secession Workable and Would it Preserve Liberty? ; Remy: Uncle Sugar
Quote of the Day
We should nevër permit ourselves to do anythingthat we are not willing to see our children do.
Brigham Young 
Jacob Hornberger for POTUS
McClanahan on Is Secession Workable and Would it Preserve Liberty?
Remy: Uncle Sugar
Choose Life
Political Cartoon
Courtesy of Michael Ramirez via Townhall
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2003
Jennifer Lopez, "All I Have" ft. LL Cool J
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Post #6125 M: McClanahan on The Best President at Handling a Crisis is? ; Stossel on Classified Data; Biden Solving the Big Problems
Quote of the Day
It's a misnomer that our talents make us a success.They help, but it's not what we do well that enables us to achieve in the long run.
It's what we do wrong and how we correct it that ensures our long-lasting success.
Bernie Marcus
McClanahan on The Best President at Handling a Crisis is?...
Stossel on Classified Data
Biden Solving the Big Problems
Choose Life
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2003
B2K, P. Diddy, "Bump, Bump, Bump"
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
Post #6124 M: McClanahan on a Federal or National Republic? ; Did this New York Times reporter commit statistical ‘torture’? ; Localism and Federalism
Quote of the Day
Man is ready to die for an idea,provided that idea is not quite clear to him.
Paul Eldridge
McClanahan on a Federal or National Republic?
Did this New York Times reporter commit statistical ‘torture’?
Localism and Federalism
Choose Life
Political Cartoon
Courtesy of Gary Varvel via Townhall
Musical Interlude: #1 Hits of 2002
Eminem, "Lose Yourself" And that's a wrap on 2002.
Monday, February 20, 2023
Post #6123 Social Media Digest
Congratulations to the KC Chiefs for their come-from-behind victory with a solid second half. I thought Mahomes was done near the end of the first half. However, I'm not a fan of the strategy to run off the clock for a chip shot field and the win. It's not sporting.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 13, 2023
It's embarrassing to hear revisionist Dems gushing over Jimmy "Lust in my Heart" Carter. There are reasons why Carter got wiped out in his reelection, even worse than Trump.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 13, 2023
@elonmusk I'm still getting shadowbanned. You are losing credibility with me.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 13, 2023
Yeah, everybody knows Jesus had a policy against swords. That why, during the Passion, He told apostle Peter to stand down.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 13, 2023
Matthew 26:52 #sarcasm
Because Musk's Twitter has been shadowbanning me, I'm not sure who is able to read my tweets (maybe my followers?). Leaving Twitter is an option. I may resurrect my abridged messages blog (https://t.co/Wr6khzhnKc) and/or migrate content to a different blogging platform.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 13, 2023
This is Soft Rock America. The Biden Administration is telling Americans after object shootdowns not to worry about aliens (from outer space). They stumbled upon a Carpenters' hit song: https://t.co/iF4HEDFbnk#sarcasm
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 13, 2023
Carter was good on airline and trucking deregulation. He appointed Volcker to head the Fed. On pretty much everything else he sucked. Ted Kennedy ran against his reelection, and he got his ass kicked by Reagan.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 13, 2023
"President Carter"
This is the same economically illiterate rubbish behind Wickard v. Filburn. FDR wanted to restrict food supplies to support prices, reassuring farm solvency (servicing loans). If struggling people and charities get cheaper supplies, it diminishes demand.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 14, 2023
"Atlas Shrugged" https://t.co/c3fsVIR8mD
It is a shock when a classmate suddenly dies, a life done too soon. During one's years as a young adult, mortality is something that seems to happen to older people, not ourselves. I was not close friends with SG (RIP), but class was different without him and he was missed.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 14, 2023
Former Gov./Ambassador Nikki Haley is the first new generation GOP candidate alternative to Trump for the 2024 Presidential nomination. As governor, she did something Trump never did--balance the budget.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 14, 2023
This partisan battle over which party has been more authentically anti-Chinese economically and militarily is very troubling; be very careful of what you wish for.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 14, 2023
The CORRECT response to Boebert is that football games have nothing to do with anthems or nationalism, period.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 14, 2023
No, the Confederate flag has nothing to do with division. It, like the original US flag, had to do with free association of states.
Some Civil War Republicans were slave owners: pic.twitter.com/BUhT98k9jK
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 14, 2023
Just a reminder: there were 4 slave states in the Union during the Civil War.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 14, 2023
"On December 18, 1865, the 13th Amendment was adopted...immediately freed more than 100,000 enslaved people, from Kentucky to Delaware."
Delaware adopted the 13th in 1901.https://t.co/PdpglpixVl
This is Soft Rock America. It's time for Simply Red's signature hit: https://t.co/7OEaHdCOi6 https://t.co/yg2wucqbIY
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
I can just Imagine Palin saying, "I could see that Chinese balloon from my house... I almost shot it down on my own."
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
"Sarah Palin"
Yes, although arguably in better health. He hasn't formally announced for reelection yet. Trump has.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
Isn't Biden 80 ?
— Molly Marsh (@IamMOLLYMarsh) February 15, 2023
I'm not sure of the prosecutor's reasoning behind issuing a subpoena. Trump's position on Pence violates the 12th Amendment and the Electoral Count Act, but I don't think it's been addressed in court.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
No. "Pence is expected to make arguments raising the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause." Trump is expected to cite Executive Privilege. But Pence's argument that his tie-breaking vote makes him a legislator benefiting from Speech or Debate exclusion is dubious at best. https://t.co/0y04JBdUdM
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
I see Sen. Feinstein has finally announced she will not seek reelection next year. The fact that at least 2 Congressmen already announced their candidacies already signaled the aging senator's vulnerability, but her job approvals (around 30) made her retirement inevitable.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
The US remains obsessed with Biden shooting sporting clays. #sarcasm
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
What? Are we talking about Biden's lifetime scholastic record in studying economics?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
"0.0 GPA"
Apparently, the 0.0 GPA trend is taken from a Tucker Carlson show guest's discussion of comedienne Chelsea Handler's bit on the joys of being a childless woman. I'm a childless bachelor, and it's sad, because I love my 6 younger siblings and 21 nephews and nieces.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
I am somewhat amused by all these indignant progressives tweeting about a Tucker Carlson show clip when you know they've never watched an episode. I used to like Carlson back when he was a conservative and used to wear bow ties.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
I've been following the East Palestine, Ohio rail tragedy, but the partisan sniping on both sides is nauseating. Dems try to point fingers at Trumpist deregulation, and the GOP is reborn environmentalism. Give me a break!
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
First of all, you are assuming a POTUS has anything to do with economic growth. Dem policies of high taxation, debt and regulation are a drag on growth. Dems were in control of the House during the most recent recessions. Reagan, unlike Obama, inherited sky-high interest rates.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
I'm getting annoyed at economically illiterate pro-Biden trolls disingenuously taking credit for the economy. The fact is we had record low growth under the Obama "recovery" and even Biden's own budget assumes similar lackluster growth.https://t.co/Yom2nWFrkt
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
Leftist trolls cherry-pick and distort statistics. McCarthy just went through an unprecedented week-long Speaker election process, Statistica shows Pelosi with both higher and lower favorables, more undecideds on McCarthy.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
Just stating exams can be misleading. My MIS comprehensive was literally 2 days long. I'm a lefty with a natural hook writing style. The outer edge of my cramped hand was stained purple at the end of each day. The accounting (minor) exam was more humane, like 3 hours
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
Joe Biden started his career in the Senate while Haley was in diapers. Trump hadn't bankrupted his daddy's company for the first time yet when Nikki was born. 12 years as legislator and governor doesn't equal Biden's 36 as senator plus 8 as VP. Plus her 2 years as UN ambassador.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
For UT, I didn't take an exam. I ran into academic politics during my first year and lost my grad school stipend; I needed financial assistance to go beyond the Master's. I think, though, UT at the time saw a glut of math PhD's on the market and did its part to restrict ABD's.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
The coursework, comp exams (I had 3: major, minor, oral), and residency can be brutal.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
But to give an example, I originally intended to seek a PhD in math. UT/Austin then required 6 math exams to get to ABD. I knew one couple: the wife made it; the hubby stalled at 5.
Um, this is Bo Derek, not Raquel Welch. Trust me, I'm straight.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
Source your tribute images. One person posted an image of Bo Derek. Believe me, as a straight Boomer, I know the difference
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 15, 2023
"Raquel Welch"
Since when in a country which explicitly espouses religious tolerance is it necessary for Damar Hamlin to apologize for expressing his religious beliefs? https://t.co/Dp19kktnLt
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
The last I heard; it was a likely case of commotio cordis, more typically in sports with projectiles like hockey. It accounts for about 20% of sudden cardiac deaths among young athletes.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
Damar Hamlin
I loathe crackpot conspiracy theorists and anti-vaxxers. Pfizer shares vaccine revenue with a partner and competes against others in the space, and it was a giant pharmaceutical company before COVID-19. Millions have been vaccinated/boosted without serious health issues. https://t.co/QQgiUKZ5BR
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
Not a Gaetz fan, but these leftist trolls are out for right-wing blood. There are reasons prosecutors decide not to pursue a case including evidence or lack thereof, unreliability of witnesses, or whether they can win a jury trial. Gaetz has denied charges.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
"Merrick Garland"
The math doesn't work. There are 51 Dems and independents. Two Senators did not vote. According to your logic, Nelson should have gotten 54 votes.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
Wow! Biden, Schumer and Jeffries are playing Russian roulette rejecting any concession to fiscal discipline. In real life, you can't raise your credit card limit without the means to pay it off. https://t.co/HikKtu7qjs
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
I see Meathead Trumpkins attacking Nikki Haley as a "RINO". Never mind the fact that Trump the Twice-Impeached One is the very definition of RINO. Haley was a South Carolina GOP legislator while Trump was a registered Dem supporting Hillary Clinton & Barry Obama.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
"John McCain"
Personally, I don't care for abstract art and I wouldn't buy the Kanye West jacket in question. But as a Catholic and Christian, I care more about people finding Christ in a way meaningful to them. If the Kanye West design speaks to Hamlin's faith, good for him.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
I thought Biden said something stupid again.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
"Congrats Brandon"
Just a reminder Lemon is older than Haley.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
"Don Lemon"
What the hell? How does medical data of any person not fall under the constraints on state searches under Article 1 Section 10 of the Virginia Constitution?https://t.co/zY1t3UxxrF
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
I do think voters have a right to know about the general health of POTUS and relevant candidates; I think that's clear from the context of the 25th Amendment. We have the recent example of stroke victim Sen. Fetterman (D-PA)
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 16, 2023
I have personally known and interacted with people diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's. I have issues with Biden's politics, but I know he doesn't suffer from dementia.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
Coolidge was indisputably the best POTUS of the twentieth century. I do disagree with his immigration restrictionist policies. He is not responsible for disastrous Fed Reserve policies. Harding and he made the post-WWI depression short-lived. Hoover and FDR's policies prolonged. https://t.co/Fsg68CJfdw
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
Dems are desperately trying to blame the Trump Administration for the Ohio train disaster. The fact is Congress in 2016 required cost/benefit analysis of expensive new rules like the ECP braking system mandate.https://t.co/00aeyrqqoz
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
"President Barack Obama"
You have a reading comprehension problem. The Trump Administration did not pass the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. Obama himself signed the BIPARTISAN FAST Act into law on 12/4/15. The Trump Administration simply completed the cost-benefit analysis required by law.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
Price-gouging is a fake crime. When demand exceeds supply like last year, prices go up and so do profits. It doesn't imply profits are sustainable. Why aren't we still paying $5.02/gallon for gas?
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
Wow! I'll have to settle for charging my phone the old fashioned way--at home without paying $66K for an EV.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
My first MIS prof used to mock people paying $3K to buy a computer to store recipes when a 99-cent recipe box would do the job. https://t.co/5IxzoG52m6
You're too stupid to read the FAST Act that Obama signed into law.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
Ms. Coulter seems to have forgotten the whole birther kerfuffle...
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 17, 2023
Only native-born citizens are eligible to run for POTUS. Ms. Haley was born in Bamberg, SC.
"Ann Coulter tells Nikki Haley to ‘go back to your own country'"
My latest essay takes on long-overdue senior entitlement reform, and I attempt to flesh out a practical solution comparable to the 1983 compromise.https://t.co/bKoLAmatLt
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 18, 2023
Leftist wingnuts are resurrecting the discredited crackpot October Surprise conspiracy theory. https://t.co/iWszmlw9u9
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
For a second there, I thought WWE might book Carmella over Asuka. A Bianca/Carmella Wrestlemania match would suck. Be careful, Bianca: the green mist is coming.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
Contrast that to Joe Biden, who had policy responsibility over Ukraine while the US was investigating the Burisma oligarch and looked the other way when his own son took a lucrative seat on the Burisma board. Off the charts unethical Biden.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
The insane hero worship of Carter due to post-Presidential charity work is understandable, because he sucked as POTUS.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
"Jimmy Carter"
It's odd what one remembers about past Presidents. For me, it was a photo op involving Carter and Adm. Rickover. (I once had an interview with Rickover.) Rickover told POTUS Carter where to stand, and Carter meekly complied. Dude, that's NOT how the chain of command works.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
I thought he was more of a Flamin' Hot Cheeto.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
I figured that the Lesnar/Lashley rubber match wouldn't be decided at WWE Eliminator Chamber and the WWE would book some kind of inconclusive finish. But disqualifying Lesnar for a backwards low blow while Lesnar's head was locked in a full nelson? First time I've seen it called.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
I wish Jimmy Carter comfort and peace in his final days as he says his goodbyes to loved ones. My thoughts and prayers for Jimmy and his extended family.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
No one expected the WWE to put Sami Zahn over Roman Reigns. They did make Sami look credible with near-falls. I cringed when the Uso brother attacked Zahn and draped an unconscious Reigns over him. Not again. Most intriguing: for a second there I thought Uso was going to turn.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
PROVABLY WRONG, STUPID!
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
The quote came straight from the Social Security Administration. You weren't smart enough to Google it. https://t.co/jtppGeu3TA.
You're not smart enough to know I've ALWAYS been Never Trump, literally hundreds of anti-Trump tweets and blog posts.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
I'm a conservative (Trump isn't). And I know more about social security than most people; I read trustee reports.
Everyone knows or should know that there was a social security fix signed into law by Reagan in 1983. This included increases in payroll taxes, deferred eligibility and progressive taxation of benefits after a certain income threshold. This deals with its self-financed nature.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
After I go through the process of blogging on social security, I find myself trolled by leftist know-nothings who don't know the basics. Senior entitlements are a self-financing pay-as-you-go system funded primarily by payroll taxes and if necessary, from the reserve.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
This meme is factually wrong on so many levels. First, the upper rate cut to 28% was part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (not 1984), and that rate wasn't phased in until 1988. Taxation of social security benefits for some was signed into law in 1983 and those dollars went to SSA.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
Not really. Most Republicans see themselves as championing small businesses. Many small businesses during the early pandemic faced existential threats from public policy shutdowns.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 19, 2023
Now why Scott mentioned senior entitlements was a tactical error, except in this sense: Medicare reserves will be exhausted by 2028. I don't see a sharp cutback as politically viable and if reform is not addressed in the short run, I could see general revenues tapped.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
Obviously, the pay-as-you-go model of senior entitlements is vulnerable to economic shocks (unemployed people don't pay payroll taxes). But the reserves should ride out the bumps. The point is, these expenditures don't rely on general revenues and don't contribute to deficits.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
The most interesting thing I'm seeing in RCP averages:
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
1) Trump is only leading Biden by 0.1% and with worse percentage than in 2016 and 2020;
2) Biden is only winning his own primary with just over a third of the vote.
It sounds like VP Harris' racial identity hasn't made much difference in the Biden USDA.
— raguillemette (@raguillemette) February 20, 2023
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