Free Republic

I don't see why there seems to be so much disruption and confusion over natural communication problems due to aging related cognitive decline. This is not an occasion for shock and dismay. Father time is doing his natural work. Bright smiles and positive loving messages for the family are in order. Our finest educators and scientists continued in their roles as anchors of their institutions and bright stars in in the faculty of premier universities for many years after their years of productivity. Give Joe Biden a party, a good-sounding title (One is mentioned in the title) and let's move...

Israel is now fighting a war for survival. Israel has been in this same position for most of its 75-year existence. It hasn't been fighting that whole time, but the threat to its existence has been there for pretty much every minute of every day of every year since formation of the country. How, in the name of Heaven, can we spend so much press and opinion on what we "think" about that. How can we even imagine the Israeli leadership cares what we think. Israeli leadership probably cares what kind of support they are likely to get from our...

Being from Virginia, I have had a solid year of thinking about a good word for the coalition of voters that Glenn Younkin pulled together to shift a state with a pretty blue voting history into the Republican column. "MAGA"is good for Trump supporters, but the coalition is broader than people who really like Trump. "Deplorables" is my personal favorite, but that is because I enjoy the irony of turning a clear insult into a good rally cry. Ruy Texeira, who is a Democrat kind of writer, noted that Hispanic voters are "Normie" voters, "Normie" being a mildly dismissive term...

When people are making statements that are dramatically different than those of others experiencing the same world and the same events, we regard those statements as indicative of psychiatric disfunction. It is hard for me to see our President's last speech as anything other than delusion. I am aware that many other folks interpret the reality gap as mere political posturing, but I can't really endorse that view. Psychiatric conditions in functioning individuals don't diagnose themselves. Children and adults both wander some in the accuracy of their assessments of the world. A careful psychiatrist puts together as broad a picture...

I have a mental model of American voters. For instance-- A lot of Republican voters are pretty fixed MAGA voters (even if Trump isn't their cup of tea). This election, next, whatever, that's the way they are going to vote. On the other hand-- A lot of Democrat voters are progressive, but another big bunch are just media followers. Whatever the NY Times is selling works for them. The result is a set of voters that aren't really under much stress in most election seasons. Convinced MAGA voters aren't going to change much. Progressives and media followers are working from...

I was struck with a memory of the first "Hunger Games" movie. This memory came while I was wondering about how foolish and corrupt Washington D.C. and the media seem to me. These are actually my people- I'm a multi-degree former Democrat. I was thinking about how to tell folks in the academic and urban bubble what they look like to folks who live and work where I live and work. Maybe I could help them understand why much of the country is so disgusted by our government and much of media which purports to cover our government. The movie...

The sad case of lost lives in Uvalde belongs in the category of suicide among American adolescents. The shooter went out in blaze of something only the insane would see as glory. He was insane, of course. Tens of thousands are going out from the same causes. They are lost with no pathway to the future. They kill themselves far too often and take others with them, perhaps by violence, as in Uvalde; but sometimes by despair on the part of their parents, siblings and friends. It is worth noting that many of the other disturbing patterns that are saddening...

I have been conservative in my politics for years--maybe the outcomes of the Reagan foreign policy pushed me that way; Or maybe, my experience working with social work clients. In any case, my political affiliation is a long-term thing. Reagan, Gingrich, the tea party, Trump have all been major players in my feelings about elections. Donald Trump has been a great champion for my side in the political arena. A lot of other people must agree with me if we are to judge by the results of the Republican primaries. The national media seem to believe that my politics follows...

I haven't hear anyone else use this word, but surely anyone with a traditional-type education must be tempted. I mean-for Heaven's sake- why else did I ever take a Latin class. I watch Supreme Court protesters with disbelief. Surely, dislike of babies or fondness for abortion can't explain their emotional emeshment. Phobia works much better as a term for what we're seeing. They are terrified by the prospect of bearing, nurturing and living with a child.

I've gotten a copy of an important election day communication that went to Democrative candidates. Hundreds of containers of needed Democratic votes are held up in shipping containers off the coast in Long Beach, Ca. Ordinarily these would be received in Fairfax, VA on a just-in-time basis, and then distributed late on election night in key districts, but a shortage of truckers and blue collar equipment operators has meant that critical votes may not be received until after the electoral race is called. Similar problems in New Jersey are not quite so severe. Candidates needing Democratic votes may be able...

The Biden campaign is weathering a little squall right now so I thought I would help. If those aren't Hunter's emails then say that. If they are misrepresented, or out-of-context, say that. If they are accurate, you could just say that Hunter is a sad mess see if Americans will sympathize. If Joe is guilty as suggested by the references in the emails, then put a lid on the campaign and hunker down until Thursday. Nobody expects Joe to defend himself. He is too old and frail.

Today I listened to a man coming out of a basement with a mask, telling me that he has ideas that would help my country. He does not. He doesn't even attempt to tell me that his ideas would help me. He doesn't seem to know me, or anybody like me. He has given up on me. I'm afraid that his party has given up on the country. The Democrats have certainly given up on our jobs. They have given up on my business. They think that I need regulation to keep the environment clean. They have given up on...