Free Republic

An in depth post. It was a somewhat difficult time for me in that respect.

Back then, I was in no way configured to view the Bush Administration in any light other than a positive one. The reason is mostly simple: With each news event, every speech, every military action taken, I immediately visualized the alternative of a nation being run by the likes of Gore and Kerry.

In addition, I had grown up in a Navy family (and served as well) and had a built-in deference to authority, especially military. I can’t change that, just how I was. It didn’t cause me as much of an issue with any other politician as it did with McCain.

I had served in his squadron he flew in when he was shot down (VA-46) and had served in a Navy RAG squadron for a month or two when I came out of Jet School in Memphis. He was my commanding officer, and I had occasionally, as a Plane Captain trainee, been his Plane Captain. I could not criticize him. Just my upbringing.

I am very grateful to some wise and considerate Freeper who sent me some private messages, telling me that he understood all that, but I had to look at him as a politician without that consideration, or I would be making a mistake.

But he did it so gently and carefully, that I was able to consider it. Normally, I am a bit of a hothead, and I can dig my heels in before I have a reason to do so, and will dig them in even if there is no reason at all. I am simply hot-headed and stubborn, a bad combination.

But he was right, and I was able to step out of that. I do feel anger now when I consider him, and I will leave it at that.

And I think, for me, it was like the crumbling of a dam, because I surely don’t subscribe to those outlooks now.

That said, I don’t regret my vote for Bush as I pointed out above, I only had to think of the alternative and feel justified.

I still do feel justified, but I also take into account that there is an element of moral corrosion that goes along with choosing the “lesser of two evils”, the reason being that in supporting people who align with hostile values, one gives them credibility.

Yours is the correct response.

They’d buy him, like they did other RAT politicians.

Not buying it without a credible source.

I’ll say it’s pure BS.

I wouldn’t think an old rebel like yourself you need a list to keep track of this yankee.

I am more surprised that you know how to write a list.

then she’s got no business being president.

Likely; but apparently women from a few areas left over in the world are reputed to be “old-school” feminine, which is like catnip to men in general, and a gasp worth of oxygen to men crushed by the last 50 years of gender feminism in the West.

well... now we know why dems are against President Trump cleaning up the streets and evicting the drug dealers...

Trump is the greatest

Hmm, “partner” ?

IC cohabitates with Populism

Too cute. Cohabitation makes for a bad marriage. and, ge this: never marry a Hoity-Toity.

Trump is trying to get the money out before the robed iackasses on the Kangaroo SCOTUS does something stupid. The means thing is a throw away to reduce flack.

https://www.fox4news.com/news/aide-mass-gov-healey-lamar-cook-charged-cocaine-trafficking-scheme

It’s real. Just to wild to believe.

Democrats do crimey things!

5:09

FBI & DEA Raids Governor’s Office in Massachusetts — 1.2 Tons Drug, 129 Guns Seized | US Military Breaking operation in Massachusetts.

Five minutes later—

5:14

It was actually a wino busted for snorting MonkeyGrip Tire glue in the alley behind the Governor’s Office in Massachusetts.

You could probably move it with a dolly if it looked like boxes of files.

As usual, rlmorel unleashes a post that requires a proper concurrence (for the most part…we are all individuals after all).

Intellectual Conservatism (hereafter IC) hit its heyday in the Reagan Era. In essence, William F Buckley, Jr., Thomas Sowell, Milton Friedman et al helped usher in demand for free markets, free minds, and a free society. In short, we had empirical evidence that All That Hoity-Toity stuff worked.

Then..well…Bush the Senior came to power. That lot seduced the people who prospered in the 80s, that barriers to entry was a great way to preserve their gains. Those in power rejected all those IC gains, and turned in their Milton Friedman Fan Club cards for regulated markets, Ivy League minds, and a controlled society.

Small wonder Bush lost to Clinton, who ushered in the Boomer Presidency. IC had a chance with Newt and the Contract With America, but they lost their nerve. The 2000 election was the closest ever, perhaps reflecting with perfect hindsight that America was offered a non-choice choice between the dumbest and smarmiest of the Boomer generation. IC was nowhere to be found.

With Dubya, however, we had some scary purges. Let’s roll some video tape:

Analysis: A mini-Tet offensive in Iraq? UPI ^ | 4/6/2004 | Arnaud de Borchgrave Posted on 4/7/2004, 7:08:52 PM by Cannoneer No. 4
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1113369/posts

Lurking 20 years ago, what struck me was an almost dogmatic sentiment of Bush and Iraq right, everyone else wrong. Sure, the quantity of analytical posts was higher (somewhat…more on that later) but I saw a lot more Zots back then. Parenthetically, I’ve seen TONS of FReeper confessionals since 2016 apologizing for reflexively defending Iraq and Bush, so going so far as to say that they wish they’d never voted for Dubya.

So….the economy craters in 2008, Obama presents a charismatic candidacy and McCain stabs Palin in the back. Government is back in fashion. IC is nowhere to be found until the Tea Party electro-shocks the movement back into vogue. It’s not Firing Line, but at least freedom is being discussed.

By 2012, we wanted a return to supply side economics, lower taxes, less regulation. What does the RNC give the renewed IC movement? Perhaps the worst candidacy couple in recent times: Willard and Eddie Munster. Hopes are dashed.

Then, this happened.

Trump GOP Candidacy Blows Up: Refuses to Rule Out Third Party Bid (Bushies “We’ve finally got him”) The Weekly Standard ^ | July 18, 2015 | Stephen F. Hayes Posted on 7/18/2015, 6:58:51 PM by 2ndDivisionVet
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-gop/3313652/posts

10 years ago, when Trump came down that escalator there were tons of anti-Trumpers. Even the old thread I posted, which was when Trump was the front runner (he didn’t catch fire until a speech in mid-July 2015) had a mix of pros and antis. If this had been a Bush thread in 2005, my guess is dissent wouldn’t have been tolerated. Many NeverTrumpers just left FR.

While Trump hardly ushered in a return to Reagan-levels of IC, at least IC cohabitates with Populism. Trump is the ONLY Republican Prez since Reagan where the spirit of the Man can coexist with IC.

Again,
The holy Ukieland is the only country in the world who officially has neo-Nazis in their military!
What don't you understand?
Would you like me to explain it to you in the holy Ukie language?

Question. Since Trump made a verbal commitment to pay each American $2000 and the Supreme Court has taken up a case of the legality of a President implementing tariffs, if the Supreme Court rules against Trump, we all sue in a class action against the $2000 per person? Return LawFare is great!

Unfortunately it has been 80 years since we had a pro tariff Republican POTUS. So all of this success is confusing to FreeTraitors. Listen, I know the score. You and your globalist ilk would be complaining either way, pay debt or rebate. Your false religion of one sided free trade has control of your pathetic soul.