Taxing My Patience And My Practice Time

A Connecticut state legislator has introduced a bill (House Bill (HB) 5700) taxing ammunition, with the goal of reducing gun violence:

A Connecticut state representative is proposing a 50-percent tax increase on ammunition, breaking new ground in the gun control debate.

...

“Currently ammunition is taxed at the same rate as other products,” Gilchrest says. “We want to increase it by 50 percent because we see it as a prevention measure.”

Gilchrest also said that her tax wouldn’t apply to law enforcement or members of the military, but claims it’s necessary for civilians. Gilchrest compares her ammunition tax to conventional “sin taxes” like those implemented on cigarettes and tobacco.

“We see this as a public health measure,” Gilchrest. “When we [increased taxes on cigarettes], we’ve seen a reduction in use. We want to continue Connecticut’s legacy of being the leader in preventing and addressing gun violence and we see this as another step forward in that direction.”

And her tweet includes this:

I’m hearing push back about the need to protect one's home... but how much ammunition does someone really need to do that?

How many bullets does a typical armed citizen use in a typical year shooting at would-be perps? For the vast majority, the number is zero, or close to it. And even those unlucky enough to actually need to fire their weapon aren't normally spraying the landscape (this Houston home invasion was an outlier.)

This is a tax on practice, not "gun violence". I am not sure how much time street thugs spend at the practice range, but this bill may reduce it. I doubt it will change the economics of armed robbery and I have a hard time picturing a would-be suicide thinking "I'd shoot myself but the taxes would kill me".

The NRA response seems to grasp the "Don't tax practice" issue:

“This dreadful legislation punishes law-abiding citizens and makes it harder to learn how to safely use firearms,” the NRA said on Twitter Tuesday morning.

There is also a Constitutional "infringement" question, a good discussion of which I cannot seem to find right now. The theme is that end runs around a Constitutional right are not allowed. For example, an exorbitant tax on ink is not really censorship but it would be an infringement of the free press. Similarly, allowing guns but banning ammunition would not (or should not) be acceptable under Heller.

 

Comments

[hrtshpdbox]

Good morning, JOM.

[rse]

Does this mean a run on reloading equipment in CT's future?

Out and about yesterday morning I saw two car tractor trailer rigs picking up the exotic cars sent to atlanta for the super bowl and now headed back to miai. Took pictures for red. Two brightly painted ferraris, one lotus, and a rolls royce sedan. Looked like they had room for at least 10 more.

[clarice]

Happy Birthday,, JIB!

[MissMarple2]

Maria Bartiromo
‏Verified account @MariaBartiromo
1m1 minute ago

Happening now: @SenToomey "the cloud on the horizon is a deteriorating trade situation is the biggest risk for the economy. . on #USMCA I do not see a path forward. I will not vote for it in current form" @MorningsMaria @FoxBusiness

====================================

Well, what's his objection?

[Another Bob]

Re. gang bangers practicing? It happens.

For years, I shot at an outdoor public range in a state park. Unsupervised. Just drive up, take your stuff to whoever open lane you liked and shoot. Self clearing. Worked just fine.

The bangers from the nearby city started showing up. Now since literally everyone was armed, the bangers were model citizens. Well, except for their gun-handling practices. First, the dads bringing the kids stopped. Then the older guys. Then me.

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

"There is also a Constitutional "infringement" question, a good discussion of which I cannot seem to find right now."

I think Insty has a link.

[clarice]

Philip Wegmann
‏
Verified account

@PhilipWegmann
Follow Follow @PhilipWegmann
More
Asked Joe Manchin why he stood when Trump called for a 20 week abortion ban: “Late term abortions are just horrific...totally just wrong.”

[Account Deleted]

MM posted this link on the last thread. It is very good - https://amgreatness.com/2019/02/04/why-liberals-dont-call-out-democrat-hate/

[Jane]

Happy B-day JIB.

[Buckeye]

Most of the gang banger shootings are fights over turf.

Seems like a feature, not a bug.

[Buckeye]

Happy birthday Jack!

[Buckeye]

First they took my ammo, then they took my gun.

[Account Deleted]

That someone that says this, can be given a political commentator job on a national TV program is unbelievable.

"CNN Political Commentator Van Jones criticized President Trump’s State of the Union as “a psychotically incoherent speech with cookies and dog poop.”

Jones said, “I saw this as a psychotically incoherent speech with cookies and dog poop. He tries to put together, in the same speech, these warm, kind things about humanitarianism and caring about children, at the same time, he is demonizing people who are immigrants in a way that was appalling.”"

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2019/02/05/van-jones-trumps-sotu-was-a-psychotically-incoherent-speech-with-cookies-and-dog-poop/

The leftist talking heads are so childish and .......stupid. It's hard to believe they are paid to give their views.

President Trump didn't demonize immigrants at all.
I guess Jones doesn't understand the difference between legal immigrants & citizens of other countries that did NOT immigrate, but just illegally invaded America.

[Threadkiller]

Gilchrest also said that her tax wouldn’t apply to law enforcement or members of the military, but claims it’s necessary for civilians.

Two Americas. This type of bribery is why I don't see an armed revolution as possible. The heroes will follow the money. Just like with their pensions.

[Threadkiller]

Happy Birthday, JiB

[Neo]

Pelosi's 'Giant Papers' At State Of The Union Address Go Viral

I just assumed that she can't hear worth a brick and was reading the speech in LARGE form.

[Neo]

https://twitter.com/MrPeanut/status/1092246875837812736

[hrtshpdbox]

Was RBG seen in public, or not?

[lurkersusie]

Shameless fraud

Stacey Abrams didn't watch SOTU address before delivering Democratic rebuttal

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/stacey-abrams-didnt-watch-sotu-address-before-delivering-democratic-rebuttal

[Account Deleted]

((Was RBG seen in public, or not?))

No pictures. The supposed sighting at some play was just on say-so.

[Account Deleted]

I won't believe she is alive or even reasonable well, until she makes a public appearance & opens a jar of pickles.

[hrtshpdbox]

..opens a jar of pickles.

That's right, a page from OJ's defense team - if she can't open the jar, she must be disbarred.

[Neo]

Earth to Democrats. Jobs aren’t scarce, workers are.

Where I thought the Democrats reasoning for open borders was because workers are scarce.

To turn around and say that jobs are scarce, would indicate that open borders is the completely wrong path forward.

[henry]

@pzf

JUST IN: Sen. Amy Klobuchar to make 2020 announcement on Sunday.

[henry]

Bro, nothing else the Dems day makes any sense. Why would that?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--I’ll have to take your word for it that French said something worthwhile.--

James, you misunderstood.
When I said "you won't be disappointed" I meant he's his usual horse's ass.

[henry]

Auto cucumber turned neo into bro

[Dave (in MA)]

Nice old-fashioned fisking over here:
http://lileks.com/bleats/archive/19/0219/020619.html

[Tom R]

It's the NY Times but doesn't look like Fake News. If the anonymous sources are correct, the federal investigation into Tony Podesta, Greg Craig and Vin Weber is heating up.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/05/us/politics/paul-manafort-news-ukraine.html

[GUS]

I suggest Gilchrist come to my house and attempt to take my ammo and guns.
I'll tax her breath.

[James D.]

Got it, Ig. Thanks!

[Tom R]

https://www.newyorker.com/news/current/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-captured-the-horror-of-the-state-of-the-union

The "horror" the writer is referring to is probably the picture shown in the article. This was likely the moment when Trump was talking about late term abortions. Manchin was one of the few Democrats who applauded Trump's comments. The look on AOC's face as well as all the other female Democrats who support late term abortion is one of the images that will last well into the 2020 election cycle.

[Account Deleted]

Transcript - https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2019/02/05/president-trump-2019-state-of-the-union-speech-transcript/

[Jim Eagle]

Thanks All, Just finishing up a nice birthday breakfast furnished by Mrs. JiB. Today is also the birthday of Ronaldus Maximus, Babe Ruth, Bob Marley, Aaron Burr, and Eva Braun. We really are a mixed bag:-)

I guess there were no surprises last night. GOP and Indies loved it, Dems sort of hated it, and the full commie, was apoplectic.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--This type of bribery is why I don't see an armed revolution as possible. The heroes will follow the money. Just like with their pensions.--

Do you know anyone who has served in the military or any gun owners?
Have you ever studied the history of insurrections and revolutions?
That you keep saying the same thing indicates to me that you haven't, at least not enough to understand the subject.
I'm not going to engage in an endless discussion of the matter since we've been around this bend before but I will simply point out as I have before that a ragtag bunch of goatsuckers in Afghanistan fought not only the US, but the Soviets before them and the British Empire before them until they all left pretty much defeated.
You have this idea in your head which seems more informed by your low opinion of cops and the military, while wrongly assuming their choice will decide the fate of any rebellion. It won't. If every cop and soldier turned against the citizenry [which they won't] they would still lose.
I'll leave Daniel Webster to make the proper argument;

Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States.

It was true then and is even more true today.

[Buckeye]

As usual, Iggy says it far better than I possibly could.

[Buckeye]

Military is mostly "regular guys"

Do you really think they would disarm their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and cousins?

NFW

[Threadkiller]

I have perused the internet to see how Trump's "you weren't supposed to do that" comment was being reported. The most repeated headline was that he said it as the Dem women started a USA chant.

Pelosi made it out to be that Trump was upset at the success of the women.

Although I know these scum have come to the wrong conclusion, I am still unsure what he meant. During the speech I thought he was pointing out that their gestures were inappropriate for the venue, as if he was told that they would abide by a certain decorum which they didn't follow.

This morning I wondered if he was telling them that they have been told for so long that they won't succeed that their "rule breaking " should be acknowledged.

What is everyone else's take on his comment?

[Jim Eagle]

That photo in the Lileks essay, of the bartender pulling a beer for Martin Milner raised a question with me: Is he a Cicerone Certified Beer Server?

https://www.cicerone.org/us-en/cicerone-certification-levels

Our young lady bartender at the club has achieved level one status as a Certified Beer Server, and is working toward A Master Cicerone level. It may involve a couple of weeks in Belgium, the UK and Germany.

How many of you beer guys even knew this Professional certification even existed?

[Extraneus]

I thought he meant that they weren't supposed to stand up and applaud at any of his lines.

[Tom R]

Iggy @ 10:18

Well said. If I had wanted to follow the money I wouldn't have voluntarily joined the Army. I would have gotten a different degree that would have allowed me to make a lot more money in the corporate world than I made as an enlisted soldier and then later as an officer.

[sbwaters]

Puleeze, TK, Pelosi can only stretch reality so far.

Trump was obviously poking fun at the Dem demonstration in favor of something that he said and supported.

[hrtshpdbox]

What is everyone else's take on his comment?

Was he just saying that women candidates (mostly Dems) hadn't been expected to do as well as they did? A gracious acknowledgement of their electoral success, which he'll posit as a plus even though it's not what he'd have preferred?

[Threadkiller]

I appreciate you not engaging in this anymore. Your misrepresentations are tough to debate.

Please don't assume you know who I must know and who I must not know. And that I have no knowledge of history.

We both live with assumptions on how some future event may or may not play out. I don't diminish you character or attack you personally to form my reasoning as to why I don't see your scenario playing out.

[sbwaters]

TK, to whom was that directed?

[Threadkiller]

Thanks Ext, SBW, and Hrt

Cheering during his speech is the most likely crime the Dems committed. I agree with that.

[Threadkiller]

That was to Iggy, SBW.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

I thought he meant that they weren't supposed to stand up and applaud at any of his lines.

^^^ This.

[hrtshpdbox]

"Look at this hillbilly, suit probably right off the rack. And OMG look at that haircut. When the revolution comes we'll put him on a dirt farm where no one can see him"

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I didn't diminish your character or attack you personally.
I said you don't seem well informed on the subject. And I based that on the things you have said. I served in the military, know hundreds of gun owners and have been a student of insurrections, rebellions and uprisings for decades.
We do both have our opinions, but the opinions you voice seem as uninformed on this subject as I'm sure mine sound to you regarding car repair.

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

I can't take credit for this. I saw it earlier.

2018. The year the SOTU was better than the Superbowl. 😁

[Neo]

When the National Enquirer published explicit text messages between Amazon founder Jeffrey P. Bezos and the woman he was having an affair with, the world’s richest man made clear he wanted to find out how the tabloid got hold of his private communications.

Bezos commissioned an investigation into the Enquirer’s investigation of his love life, thereby leaping into a roiling mix of political attacks and conspiracy theories featuring the president of the United States, key figures in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, minor Hollywood celebrities and the owner of The Washington Post, Bezos himself.

Depending on whom you believe, the Enquirer’s exposé on Bezos’s affair was a political hit inspired by President Trump’s allies, an inside job by people seeking to protect Bezos’s marriage, or no conspiracy at all, simply a juicy gossip story.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/was-tabloid-expose-of-bezos-affair-just-juicy-gossip-or-a-political-hit-job/2019/02/05/03d2f716-2633-11e9-90cd-dedb0c92dc17_story.html

I'd like to see them prove any of this

[Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma]

President Donald Trump's campaign on Wednesday said that he will have a rally in El Paso on Feb. 11, an announcement that comes hours after the he referenced the city in his State of the Union speech to support his push for a border wall.

The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the El Paso County Coliseum, according to the campaign. It will be his seventh rally in Texas and his first in El Paso.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I see numerous MSM outlets joyously headlining Nancy's "exquisite rudeness", "exquisite shade" and being the "Queen of condescension".
I thought those were bad traits, starting in 2016.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

The noose seems to be tightening around Jussie Smollet's neck.

[D]

Steph:
Great news about the rally.
I enjoyed your post on how much fun you had the other day while playing with Ariel.
Bela1 and Neo:
Glad for your insights on the SOTU.
Happy Birthday JIB!
When is Frederick’s spring break?
I assume you saw the article of more catholic high schools in New York closing.
Pelosi looked ghoulish and really ill.
The all white attire was creepy.
They looked like a cult.
Who comes up with these goofy ideas or thinks for one minute it is effective?
They have the majority and they look like a bunch of rebellious kids.

[sbwaters]

To our wire service:

When will the Associated Press learn that judgmental reporting ABOUT an event is not reporting the event?

Clearly, Julie Pace and Catherine Lucey must have misunderstand what they were called upon to report.

On short notice we were obliged to write our own news summary.

Also, we searched AP for “transcript” and did not find a copy of Trump’s address. Later, we inadvertently stumbled over it labeled as “Text”. Next time, please call it a transcript and provide a short online link for our print edition. We were obliged to create our own link to the White House.

AP wrote:

Headline: Trump claims 'ridiculous partisan' probes may upset progress
By JULIE PACE and CATHERINE LUCEY, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a divided Congress for the first time, President Donald Trump warned emboldened Democrats in his State of the Union speech Tuesday that "ridiculous partisan investigations" could derail economic progress.

Trump peppered his speech with calls for bipartisanship, urging Washington to govern "not as two parties, but as one nation." But his message clashed with the rancorous atmosphere he has helped cultivate in the nation's capital, as well as the desire of most Democrats to block his path during his next two years in office

What we wrote:

Headline: America is strong but much yet to do

WASHINGTON — Speaking directly to Americans and rank and file senators and representatives President Donald Trump worked to bypass the media narratives to push for unified action to meet explicit needs for the country.

Reporting after the speech, many in the mainstream media, including the Associated Press, reported on previous acrimony between the Democrat leadership and Trump rather than focus on the numerous times during the speech that Trump earned applause, some standing, from both sides of the aisle, including from Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi. ...

[Jane]

I wonder how many people watched. So far I'm the only one here who did.

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

"Good morning, JOM.
Posted by: hrtshpdbox"

(Carp! I forgot to respond! Quick, before I get called a fooker again ...)

Good morning, box!
Congrats on being first. I liked the line about the pickle jar :)

[sbwaters]

Jane, past their bed times.

[Dave (in MA)]

Never heard of it, Birthday Boy. (HB, and many more!)

Is that actually Milner there? Lileks will sometimes refer to a person in a picture by the name of a celebrity he or she resembles. Here is the original photo, that I tracked down while I was on a boring conference call. :^)
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/257408934937009374/

[I got logged out of Typepad while I was typing...]

[Threadkiller]

Iggy, I don't share your faith that their will be an organized group large enough to physically topple tyranny in some future revolution because I don't see that group passively toppling anything at the ballot box.

Trump is a major win, but it is was a squeaker that was hamstrung by a loss of the House in 2018.

Where are these people.?

My network includes many veterans and LEO. Not so many fire fighters(2). I have faith in these people, but not in the 2 dozen feds that made a spectacle at Roger Stone's arrest. I have no faith in the LEOs that blasted the paper ladies when Dorner was on the loose. I have no faith in the fire fighters and sheriffs that stopped their community from saving their own homes during the Cedar fire.

I have shared the story before. One of my construction customers made several trips into the fire with his water truck and saved several houses on his own. The fire was still manageable but the first responders followed orders and retreated.

Those same public employees raised my property tax so this wouldn't happen again. Except in 2007 it happened again.

I do not presume that all these people are bad, but I also don't accept that they are all saints, let alone constitutional adherents.

Why? Because of history.

[Threadkiller]

I forgot the crucial part of the retreating public employees. They stopped all private water trucks from going back to the houses before they burned. The guarded the hydrants at the bottom of the hill and threatened arrest if any private citizen wished to take matters into their own hands.

[hrtshpdbox]

Jim, thanks and no worries - my attorney has finally convinced me I have suffered no actionable injury when people ignore me (back to the drawing board).

[Threadkiller]

Watched what, Jane?

[pagar]

sbwaters, had it right. Past my bedtime. I figured the fine posters at JOM would tell me in the morning what I needed to know. But I would sure like to see the official numbers of how many watched?

[Marlene]

Happy Birthday Jack!

The white outfits were weird. Did you notice the Democrat men wore white ribbons? The facial expressions were worthy of sullen teen-agers,not the legislative body of the United States.

[Old Lurker]

Iggy, sadly I have to agree with TK on suspecting that there are not enough Iggys to get the ball rolling to oppose our being consumed by the blob.

If Trump is unsuccessful, then like any decent drunk, I think we will have to hit rock bottom before we can rebuild from the wreckage.

In that respect, I see the current outrageous abortion moves as proof positive that not only is a lot of our population not just "indifferent" but are downright fine with what to us seems laughably wrong. Ditto the opposition to open borders and one world government. Not just "indifferent" but perfectly OK. I don't know how you save a population that will kill perfectly good babies and will hand over their lunch money to all the bullies on the playground.

[Captain Hate]

Trump is a major win, but it is was a squeaker that was hamstrung by a loss of the House in 2018.

I don't view that as a loss. The GOP is as compromised of an entity as the DoJ and State Department and in just as much in need of a purge. Even though I don't obsess about polls, the reaction to last night's speech is a clear indication that the public firmly supports the direction that DJT is taking the country.

[Neo]

“I thought it was great. I think he's scared,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told reporters when asked about Trump’s remarks. “He sees that everything is closing in on him and he knows that he's losing the battle of public opinion.”

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/428663-ocasio-cortez-progressives-accuse-trump-of-using-socialism-as-scare-tactic

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

TK; "two Americas"
Ig: "Have you ever studied the history of insurrections and revolutions? ... I will simply point out as I have before that a ragtag bunch of goatsuckers in Afghanistan fought not only the US, but the Soviets before them and the British Empire before them"

I've, of course, highly snipped both posts.
I haven't come to a conclusion on this issue but as an exercise, let me play a bit of Devil's Advocate.
It's true that the Afghanis successfully resisted. It's true that US conservatives are well armed.
But let's enumerate some of the other points.
1) Some US citizens are brave and well-informed. Others are spending all their time on the Kardashians and watching sports on the couch. Is the US citizenry as tough as the primitive Afghanis?
2) Cops and the military are full of exemplary people. But there are plenty of bad cops. There are plenty of time-servers with no moral position. There are plenty of ex-military that run as Dems. My oldest friend, a burly, beer-drinking ex-Marine, voted for Obama and is deeply disappointed that I support Trump.
3) Did you ever expect:
School teachers to willingly become propagandists?
Doctors to put the gov't ahead of the Hippocratic Oath, for example by asking patients if they own a gun?
Banks to consider not providing services to clients whose political views they disagree with?
Universities who consider Republicans to be controversial? Too controversial to be allowed on campus despite being half the population.
No one if the FBI willing to step forward on the shenanigans going on?
Did you ever expect the military to become a bastion of political correctness to the point where ships crash and basic combat training suffers?

In Civil War I, the South expected to win because of some combination of
1) being right
2) fighting on home soil
3) living an outdoor life with shooting
Didn't turn out that way. The North eventually smothered them with industrial production.

We should be wary of expecting CWII to be a slam dunk when the other side has so many of the institutions under their control ... and, frankly, is the strength of character and willingness to sacrifice on our side so strong? Or will many of us slumber and choose not to rise up ... should the time come?

Also, keep in mind that tech gives gov't many more weapons, both actual weapons and psychological and propaganda weapons to control an unruly population.

Like I say, I haven't come to a conclusion. Still, while Iggy's post contains good points, I don't think they are the only points.

[Jim Eagle]

Dave,

Thanks for the followup on the beer pulling. But that guy sure does look like Milner (Route 66). Maybe he was modeling before he got his big gig in TV and movies.

I agree with OL, and TK. Unless, we the constitutionalists are pre-emptively attacked, I don't see law-abiding, gun owners starting a revolution unless it is the prepers, white supremists, or a posse comitatas type outfit. Not that I wouldn't like to see them try it, the full commie, baby killing, open borders crowd.

All they have now is Antifa, and they are a bunch of chicken-shit cowards who so far have attacked from behind. For me its still the ballot box, and reforming how we educate our kids in Civics, History, and political philosophy, which may be a moutain to high.

[MissMarple2]

Old Lurker,

You and TK do not live in my neighborhood, which is working class southside Indy, comprised of people who are mosrly descended from the Appalachian folks who moved up here after WWII to work at Allison's or the Ford plant.

These are people who are mostly armed, and do not like people telling them what to do.

As far as the abortion question, I think most people weren't aware of the procedure's details and were horrified when they learned of it. My daughter certainly was. I thought it very good that President Trump emphasized prohibiting it "after the baby can feel pain." That hit them square between the eyes.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Where are these people.?--

Where were they in 1760? Fighting with the British against the Frogs.
Where were they in France before the Bastille was stormed?
Where were they in Moscow until the dumbass Krauts sent Lenin back to Russia instead of executing the bastard?
And a hundred or a thousand other examples, including many virtually unarmed populaces overthrowing tyrants.

There is a vast, loose subculture of heavily armed, defiant people, far better armed and trained than any previous potential insurrection in history. It of course is not a majority of voters. It doesn't have to be and never is until the rebellion succeeds, when suddenly everyone says they were manning the barricades.
There is no population that can't be pushed too far. Some of them are unarmed and have no history of defiance of authority and tyranny and they seldom rebel. That's not the US.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Iggy, sadly I have to agree with TK on suspecting that there are not enough Iggys to get the ball rolling to oppose our being consumed by the blob.--

I hope you don't mind if I'm not convinced by a guy who swims in the polluted seas of Nantucket and DC. :)

[President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA]

Steph Nene: 2018. The year the SOTU was better than the Superbowl.

Funny! But should be 2019, right?

[hrtshpdbox]

It's understandable that people embrace conspiracy theories when the world is so damned odd. Did you know, for instance, that in 1893 an American author wrote a book titled "Baron Trump's Marvellous Underground Journey", where young Baron is shown around Russia by his mentor, named Don? And that the same obscure author wrote another book a couple of years later about the last President, and that a member of the (unnamed) President's cabinet was Pence? True, true (even Snopes says so); the link goes to the Library of Congress' download of "Baron".

https://archive.org/details/barontrumpsmarve00lock/page/n8

[MissMarple2]

That Lileks column reminded me of my dad, who every February (which usually has crummy weather here) would say , "You know, the Indians always referred to this as the Starvation Moon."

[Jane]

"

"Jane, past their bed times."

Certainly past mine, but bed time is definately not sleep time except for Kiwi.

Saw it a 2nd time in the middle of the night.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I have a hard time figuring out the argument that we never could have foreseen our fellow citizens believing this or doing that and therefore we're doomed.
When do you think rebellions occur, when everyone is happy, content and sharing tea and crumpets?
They happen when the authorities and/or our fellow citizens lose their minds and require shooting.
We're gettin' there.

[Threadkiller]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/election-results/indiana-7th-congressional-district/

[Jane]

What the hell is wrong with pelosi's mouth. I've been watching that shit for years. We deserve to have a medical report.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Still on the generator so I'm heading out for some more gasoline and to do some other useful stuff.
Don't start the revolution without me. :)

[Old Lurker]

Iggy "I hope you don't mind if I'm not convinced by a guy who swims in the polluted seas of Nantucket and DC. :)"

Not at all. You know I count on all of you guys to keep reminding me that I wouldn't know what clean water even tastes like anymore.

Except for Clarice, Janet, James and Rich, I do hate all of my neighbors so that's a start.

:-)

[Threadkiller]

Don't start the revolution without me. :)

You have plenty of time.

[Tom R]

We should be wary of expecting CWII to be a slam dunk when the other side has so many of the institutions under their control ... and, frankly, is the strength of character and willingness to sacrifice on our side so strong? Or will many of us slumber and choose not to rise up ... should the time come?

Jim @ 11:36

That was a good post.

The Eeyores apparently believe there aren't enough American patriots that will display the courage and will necessary to win an existential struggle that so many here believe is already in progress or inevitable. My personal opinion is that if the SHTF and the bullets start flying, the American patriots with a sense of conviction, duty and willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice required to win a war will easily crush the Progtard/SJWs. Does anyone really think a group of people typified by pussy beta males are going to put up any kind of resistance against American patriots? My prediction is they will shit their pants and flee at the first sign of danger.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-02-06/urgent-virginia-ag-says-he-wore-blackface-at-college-party?utm_content=politics&utm_source=twitter&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-politics&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_medium

The democrat AG.

[Captain Hate]

What was Pelosi doing shuffling through papers last night? She looked like Jen Rubin on Tucker Carlson's show, searching for something which apparently wasn't there.

[Tom R]

Preliminary TV ratings are very good for Trump.

https://deadline.com/2019/02/state-of-the-union-ratings-cable-broadcast-donald-trump-address-1202550542/

[MissMarple2]

TK,

You can post that but it proves nothing. The 7th district (which I am just barely in) was gerrymandered to pick up the black population and the artsy and liberal neighborhoods. The map looks like a spider.

[hrtshpdbox]

It's apparently a long-guarded rite of passage that every Virginian male must make with the mud at some point before they're thirty.

[Threadkiller]

My personal opinion is that if the SHTF and the bullets start flying, the American patriots with a sense of conviction, duty and willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice required to win a war will easily crush the Progtard/SJWs.

Natural Born Citizen proved impossible for you to define so I'm not holding my breath for your definition of Shit Hitting The Fan and bullets flying. I am curious though.

You seem to think that someone is making the argument that they wouldn't shoot back. That is ridiculous.

We are discussing which patriots will start an armed insurgency.

[MissMarple2]

https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/06/trumps-first-2020-rally-to-be-less-than-1000-feet-from-border-wall/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=atdailycaller

[Old Lurker]

MM "TK, You can post that but it proves nothing."

Nothing can be proven by anything any of us at JOM can post. Everything we each offers is simply to reinforce one guess vs another. MM, I don't think anything you post "proves" anything either, though of course most of it is interesting and impacts the moving target of what I think might happen.

[Threadkiller]

.

[Tom R]

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-05/cnn-finally-discovers-where-all-those-us-saudi-coalition-weapons-end

If Saudi Arabia and UAE infiltrated members of their own special forces commando units into Yemen disguised as insurgents, how would anyone be able to tell them apart from actual Al Qaeda/ISIS terrorists? From a propaganda perspective, wouldn't it be beneficial for Yemen (and the leftwing media) to claim the Saudis/UAE were arming Al Qaeda/ISIS?

[Jim Eagle]

I like Iggy to tell us how he sees the first shots fired in our rebellion. Do you pick out a target or many, who represent the oppression, or is it just a POV we are rebelling against?

This is the scenario I have a hard time realizing. If it is a Waco 2.0, the first Waco didn't go that well. Is it some prepper in the Idaho badlands facing down an over-armed FBI? I just can't wrap my head around how this all starts.

But it would make a great thriller and movie. Maybe, JamesD can give it a go.

[Captain Hate]

What is it with Virginia pols in the 80s and blackface? I'm not saying there was anything particularly racist about it so much as it just seems strange.

[Tom R]

TK @ 11:58

Was you misrepresentation of what I wrote intended to put me on the defensive to make it easier for you to debate? That is your standard debate tactic here. I think you are well aware I refuse to play the game by your rules.

Have a MAGA day.

PS the final score is Iggy 1 TK 0.

[Threadkiller]

Hopefully the bullets aim for your moving goal posts, Tom. They will come out of the war unscathed.