Don’t you hate it when the candidate “on your side” acts as if he’s trying to throw the fight?

I voted for Donald Trump and urged others to do the same in 2016 and 2020, and as soon as early voting opens in my state will vote for him again in 2024.

Not because he’s my ideal candidate, but because he’s the one I find least objectionable.

I vote based on the issue I’m most familiar with. Not a single issue voter, so much as a litmus test voter.  For me, that issue is gun owners’ civil rights.  None of us has time to gain a deep knowledge of everything a President has to deal with – including the candidates themselves, which is why I want one who’s going to establish a solid think tank for every such issue – but the issue we know is how we judge a candidate’s ability to assess issues and handle them fairly.

Only short months after crushingly defeating President Joe Biden in a debate in which the latter couldn’t hold a coherent policy thought and babbled about his golf game, I see the guy on my side dancing to music on camera for more than half an hour and babbling about a dead golfer’s genitalia.  Good Lord…

In the end, I have to put policy over personality.  I have to look at what they’ve done, not what they say they’ll do. Ever since he ran for the highest office in 2016, Trump has been reasonably solidly committed to gun owners’ civil rights, and more important, knows how important we gun people are to any victory he hopes to achieve.  His opponent has in the past worked to ban possession of handguns, tacitly approved authorities entering homes without warrants to check on whether they’re keeping their guns secure to her satisfaction, and after promising not to take our guns says in virtually the same breath that she would happily order buybacks, which are simply mandatory confiscation of firearms with some degree of financial compensation.  She has more flip-flops than a shoe store.

The next President is likely to have the opportunity to replace two or even three of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, likely replacing the two strongest supporters of the Second Amendment on that Court.

Please don’t abstain from voting or waste your vote on an unelectable third party candidate because you don’t care for either mainstream candidate. If the basic human right of self-defense is important to you for yourself, your descendants and everyone you care about, I urge you to vote for Donald Trump, even if you have to grimace and hold your nose as you do so.

I know I’m largely preaching to the choir here, but please, do all in your power to convince everyone you know to do the same.

It’s profoundly important.

90 COMMENTS

  1. Policy is the right way to vote and both candidates have a clear policy record. Guns are a litmus test for me too but I am increasingly concerned that the current regime is going to blunder into a nuclear war.

    • This is what I’ve been telling people, along with pointing out that — as has only happened a few other times in history — we have two candidates who have either held the highest office in the land or been 2nd-in-command to the same. Both have held power for a term, so both have an established policy record in the context of the office for which they’re running; IOW, we don’t have to extrapolate campaign promises.

      The best indicator of future behavior, is past behavior. Trump was President for four years and Harris was Vice President (to a feeble-minded and incompetent President) for four years. The safest bet is that whichever of them is elected President, they will continue the trajectory that their previous administrations were on.

      The records speak for themselves: Trump, while in power, has been mostly solid on gun owners’ civil rights. He’s mis-stepped a few times, but mostly has been good for us. OTOH, Harris, while in power, has done everything she can to undermine everyone’s civil rights (except those of violent criminals) — and seems to take special delight in persecuting gun owners.

      If civil rights are your litmus test, there’s no question which of the two candidates should get your vote.

      • You have to be grateful for the halfway secret strong connections of the Biden family with the Chinese Communist Party over the years. I can’t think of a more certain 2A validation than fifth columns of ardent leftist revolutionaries bent on securing a generous supply of weapons and ammo in-country here for the final step in a Maoist power grab. So glad that “!Que mala eres!” admitted that she could not think of a single thing that Sleepy Joe did that she disagreed with. I wonder, though, if she plans to tax Joe on the same scale that she wants to soak the rest of the fat cats, at the expense of quality-product-producing American workers? And maybe hostile fifth columns can get by on the $80 billion of war materiel that Joe forfeited in the Taliban takeover?

  2. Mas, it is also important for 2A supporters to vote ASAP ahead of possible ballot complication issues. Everybody needs to act calmly, but expeditiously. Not much extra time left now, if any.

  3. I would add that if you don’t support the perpetual war/military industrial complex mono-party in D.C., vote for Trump. The people calling him a fascist fit the very definition of fascists.

    • “The people calling him a fascist fit the very definition of fascists.”

      As used by the democrats, it is simply name-calling ,insults and projection. As you note, people need to understand the actual definition of fascism which is:

      Fascism : a populist political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual, that is associated with a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, and that is characterized by severe economic and social regimentation and by forcible suppression of opposition.

      Let’s look at this definition with respect to the democrat party and the DNC.

      1) A regime that exalts race above the individual. – Check – much of the democrats political philosophy is based upon skin color (anti-white, anti-Semitic, etc.). The democrats continually play the “Race Card” and tarnish their opponents with the vile term of “racist” for not being in lock-step with their agenda.

      2) centralized autocratic government – Check- the democrats are all about empowering the “Deep State” and concentrating power in Washington, D.C. at the expense of individual liberty and States Rights.

      3) dictatorial leader – Check – we have all seen Joe Biden bypass Congress and attempt to rule by executive fiat.

      4) severe economic and social regimentation – Check – the democrats are in-bed with Big Business and the Globalists. They routinely use their control of the media, education, Big Business, Hollywood, and Big Tech to enforce social regimentation and to push people into being “woke” or else suffer the consequences.

      5) forcible suppression of opposition – double check – The democrats use lawfare to punish their political opposition. They use their control of the media and Big Tech to suppress the political speech of their opponents. If anyone dares to actually take to the streets and protest, like the January 6th People, they are thrown into prison.

      It is exactly as you say. It is the democrats/DNC that actually fits the definition of Fascism. When they call Donald Trump a fascist, they are merely taking a page from the Rules for Radicals, to wit: “Always accuse your opponent of doing the things that you are doing yourself”. It is pure projection.

      The “America Last” political philosophy of the democrats, along with their long history of being self-serving, power-hungry chameleons, has totally soured me with regard to the Democratic Party of America. I will never vote for a democrat, again, for as long as I live.

      Early voting opened in my State on October 16th. On October 17th, I went to a local early voting location and I voted for the straight Republican ticket. So, I have already acted in this election.

    • Mark, while poetic, reversing the fascist accusation is an inadequete argument. Trump’s admiration for authoritarian rules is well documented and disturbing.

      • Jan Sabo,

        Trump has admiration for authoritarian rules as we all do. Everybody wants to rule the world. Everyone has an inner tyrant. We all think we know what is the best way to do everything, and that is MY way. However, in America, we keep our inner tyrants in check, and we allow others as much freedom (liberty under law) as possible.

        Government should be good to good people, and bad to bad people. Unfortunately, our government is the opposite, and since our government consists of We the People, it is our fault (or the fault of our ignorant, fellow citizens).

        As Americans we agree to follow the Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land, and not allow our inner tyrants to dominate our public policy. Trump may admire the efficiency of authoritarians, but he knows authoritarianism will not fly in America. He knows he has to sell his ideas to people.

        Our way of governing is not as efficient as a dictatorship, but our freedom allows people to prosper. People vote with their feet, and flee here from dictatorships. So our way works, or at least it used to work.

      • “Trump’s admiration for authoritarian rules is well documented and disturbing.”

        Well documented, or well publicized? Two points:
        1. During the “mostly peaceful” demonstrations he offered to send the National Guard to progressive states to counter the riots. He could have sent them unilaterally, as some Republicans were suggesting, but he deferred to the governors.
        2. During Covid he let the states craft their individual responses, and was roundly criticized by the Democrats for not imposing a top-down federal California-style response.

        Hardly the actions of an authoritarian. I think he *respects* the world’s authoritarian rulers for the danger they pose, but I doubt he “admires” them. And he’s orders of magnitude better at countering their moves than Biden/Harris/Walz.

  4. Mas, your comments sum up my position exactly. The lesser of two evils. In a perfect world Ron DeSantis would have got the nomination but it didn’t happen. I have already sent in my mail in ballot for Trump.

    • I for one am glad Ron DeSantis isn’t the GOP nominee this year. Not because I believe Trump is the superior choice (I don’t; I think DeSantis would actually do much better), but because of the Cult of Personality surrounding Trump … and to a lesser extent, his own narcissistic tendencies.

      Let me explain: If Trump had not been the GOP nominee, I don’t truly believe he would have sat out the 2024 election; I don’t think his own ego would allow it. I suspect he would have run independently, and that would have seriously hamstrung the GOP nominee (be that DeSantis or anyone else), split the conservative vote, and allowed Biden/Harris to coast to an easy win.

      No, IMHO the right time for DeSantis to seek a Presidential bid is after Trump has served a second term and is no longer eligible to run. He has a broad base of support and respect among conservatives, but he doesn’t have the Cult of Personality following that Trump does. (Whether the CoP is a good or bad thing is debatable, but one cannot credibly deny that it is a factor that must be reckoned with.)

      Besides, DeSantis is still doing good things in Florida. Come 2028, he’ll be termed out of governorship there, he’ll still be a “young gun” compared to anyone either party has put up lately, and he’ll have a proven 8-year track record of executive leadership.

      DeSantis 2028!

      • Archer

        It’s a sad state of affairs if a narcissist needs to be allowed to satisfy his urges on the national stage as you describe. Think what you will of Joe Biden, but he did step down in favor as what he perceived was to be the greater good.

      • Joe Biden did not step down. He was replaced, and later had to be “convinced” that it was for the “greater good”.

        If he was going to step down, he would have done it before primaries started. (Actually, if he was going to step down, he wouldn’t be President anymore.) And now the Dems have to pull some shenanigans to even get Kamala on the general ballot in some states, since early primary voters nominated Biden, not Harris.

    • Irish Jack, after recent news of incinerated public ballot boxes, I hope that your ballot has already been acknowledged to you as received. If not, you might inquire after Sunday what will happen if you try to vote again to make up for your possibly missing ballot? I am glad that I voted in person again this year

  5. I am not voting for Donald Trump. I am voting for our freedom of speech, assembly, religion, and association without persecution from the government. I am voting for my inalienable God-given human rights as enumerated in our sacred Constitution. I am voting to choose my arms without government approval. I am voting for merit over identity in the marketplace and politics. I am voting to keep males out of female sports, toilets, and locker rooms. I am voting for public safety and appropriate disposition of incorrigibly violent people. I am voting for a credible news media and unbiased reporting and commentary. I am voting to remove foreign invaders who have no right to be in this country, let alone prey on our citizens. I am voting for a smaller, more efficient, and effective government that promotes independence without interference into my personal life. I am voting for the future of my children and grandchildren.

    I am not voting for Donald Trump. I am voting for the security and freedom idealized by our Founding Fathers. I am voting for the success of the most powerful, morally centered, and beautiful republic our world has ever known. Donald Trump just happens to be the vehicle to get us there.

  6. The current VP and Democratic candidate is not only bad on 2A, but also on the First, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, and Tenth amendments. She has no respect for personal rights whatsoever. You would think that with well over 300 million people in the U.S. we could have found better candidates, but since we did not, our only choice is Trump.

    • Unfortunately, we run into the age-old dilemma: The most qualified and best suited to lead the nation as President, have zero interest in seeking the office. (And really, when it comes to political power, wanting power should be a disqualifying factor.)

      330 million people, we should absolutely be able to find better candidates than Donald Trump and Kamala Harris (and RFKJr, and Ramaswamy, etc., and we won’t even mention the current President). Unfortunately, we have to choose from those who volunteered for the position, and nobody better did. So we’re doing the best with what we have.

  7. Mas, it’s OK to be a single issue voter on 2A matters, but if you vote for President Trump for that reason alone, you get for free a secure border, drill-baby-drill energy policy, low taxes, fiscally conservative, tough on criminals, strong military, king dollar, America first, pro-police, pro-first amendment, pro-Israel, pro-unborn babies, etc. president. President Trump has a proven, great track record on every one of these issues, while Kamala Harris (a.k.a., “¡Qué mala eres!”) has a track record of miserable failure on every one of these.

    • Spanish: Que mala eres.
      English: How bad you are.

      Listen to how it sounds. Que mala eres = K mala err es = Kamala Harris

      Reminds me of Cruella de Vil. Sounds like “Cruel Devil.”

      • The only difference is, Cruella de Ville is a fictional character intentionally named “Cruel Devil”.

        “Que Mala Eres” is NOT fictional, nor intentionally named this way.

        However, fantastic example of an “aptronym” if I ever heard one!

      • Archer,

        Right on. Two other real people who just happened to have amazing names, in my opinion, are Paris Hilton and Elvis Presley. Heck, I guess Zsa Zsa Gabor is in there, too. Apparently, Zsa Zsa couldn’t pronounce her real name, “Sari” when she was a toddler, so “Zsa Zsa” stuck.

        Who gets the award for the worst name in history? Probably Dick Butkus, a great man with a crazy name.

  8. I voted for Trump with the hope that things would get worse slower with him in charge than if Kama-lama-ding-dong won.

    I fear Trump wont be able to turn things around but getting worse slowly is better than a speed run to destruction.

  9. Yep – Voting for the least objectionable candidate in US elections is exactly what I’ve been doing all my life & I recently turned 79. Pres Trump has his silly moments–just like most people. But, in all the important matters facing our country DJT has a proven track record from his first 4 years in office. His low inflation, low cost energy policies have been the best in decades. His tax cuts, his foreign policy, his approach to terrorists and his approach to our 2nd amendment have all been outstanding. He’s a lot more like Pres Reagan than Pres Carter. So, he gets my vote & I urge everyone to do the same. Thank you.

  10. “Even if you choose to not make a choice, you have made a choice.”

    If you’re reading this and think the other candidate is “not going to take your guns”, you should look at both her history and positions. Past actions are the best predictor of future behavior…

  11. I voted last week and agree with your assessment, Mas. Trump is certainly a wild card, always has been, and is far from perfect. But an unpredictable leader will keep opponents off balance, and the results of his first term speak for themselves, at least when viewed factually and objectively. Especially when compared to the results of the last four years.

  12. Mas, gun politics are important, but I think that the US Congress has much more of a role to play the the US President. What do you think of Trump’s includinations towards the constitutuion and the rule of law? I’m with Liz Cheney all the way – I’m a former Reserve Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., so my private views on January 6th are pretty easy to figure out. Living in deep-red Oklahoma, my vote won’t make much difference, but I’ll be voting for the Harris/Walz ticket. And donating to the 2nd Amendment Foundation at the same time. Ján

    • The propaganda / indoctrination methods of the Democrats (and their media attack dogs), plus their superb use of false camouflage (regarding what they really are and what they represent), truly does work with many, many people. Clearly, the sciences of brainwashing and mind-manipulation are very advanced here in the 21st Century.

      How else does one explain the dichotomy listed above?

      • How else does one explain the dichotomy listed above? Let me count the ways… but here is a couple of them: Ever heard of liberal gun owners? It’s a thing. Also, your car has a couple of pedals – and accelerator and a gas pedal… checks and balances, right? Don’t worry about my susceptibility to indoctrination methods, I had fun studying them during a course on analyzing political ideologies as part of my MPhil in Politics.

      • “…checks and balances, right?”

        Checks and balances do not seem to explain the contradictions of your position. Consider the following:

        1) You state that you are a “former Reserve Police Officer”. Based upon this history, one would expect that you would strongly support “law and order”. Yet, you proclaim that you are voting for a candidate (and party) that supports such positions as: (a) no cash bail – a policy that puts accused criminals right back on the street ASAP, (b) de-fund the police, and (c) an open border that has allowed foreign countries to empty their prisons and export their criminals into the United States. To me, this is a dichotomy not explained by a search for balance.

        2) You state that you support the 2nd Amendment Foundation (as do I). That is excellent. From this, one would assume that you support the right to keep and bear arms. Yet, you say that you are voting for a candidate (and party) that makes firearms-prohibition a central plank in their platform. Harris has been part of the Biden Administration which is rabidly anti-gun. I remind you of the numerous regulations proposed or passed by Biden’s ATF that specifically targeted firearm-owners, dealers, and manufacturers. Harris, herself, has said that she supports “mandatory buyback programs” which is code language for compensated confiscation of the People’s firearms. This is another dichotomy not explained by a search for balance.

        Frankly, your choice does not make sense to me from an issue standpoint. If it is not driven by the issues. If it is driven by pure, emotional dislike for Donald Trump, then don’t be too sure that you are not susceptible to the democrat’s indoctrination methods. The democrats have spent the last decade on the most extensive character assassination effort, against Donald Trump, that the World has ever seen. It has been “Orange Man Bad” hatred 24/7/365 for years now. Such a drumbeat of negativity will seep into your brain if you listen to it even a little. Don’t think that knowledge of the methods employed will make you immune to their effects.

        The contradictions between your stated history / policy-positions and your stated action seem to indicate, to me, that the poison of “taught hatred” has affected you, after all.

        That is the power of indoctrination and brainwashing. It can infect your subconscious mind even if your conscious mind thinks it is still in control!

      • TN_MAN

        You’re not wrong, the Democratic coalition (which includes a great many Republicans and a record number of ex-officils of the Trump administration) is a very mixed bag, and the present campaign has to moderate past positions.

        Now let’s turn to Trump – How do you make your cognitive dissonance work supporting Trump?

        On law and order, how do you reconcile your support with a convicted felon? How do you reconcile the 187 minutes of inaction on January 6th?

        Much of what is dismissively called Trump Derangement syndrome is well deserved in my opinion. What is far more shocking is the cult of personality that shields Trump from fall out from scandals that would have sunk any other politician.

      • TN_MAN and all,

        Apparently people can be very talented and knowledgeable in some areas of life, while at the same time being non-gifted and blind in other areas of life. Some Jews and Catholics vote for Democrats. It’s a weird world.

        I remember being shocked when I learned that, in pre-1865 America, there were free black men who owned black slaves. That’s just the way it was.

      • “On law and order, how do you reconcile your support with a convicted felon? How do you reconcile the 187 minutes of inaction on January 6th?”

        Surely, you are joking here? I am a member of the Republican Party. Do you expect me to believe the democrat’s lawfare charges against President Trump?

        It is a fact that Donald Trump is the only person, in the history of the State of New York, to be convicted on these particular lawfare felony charges. He is, technically, a felony only because the democrats custom-made a set of picked charges against him and then hand-picked a court, jury, and judge to get a conviction.

        My view is that these “felony” convictions (34 counts of, basically, a single count stacked up 34 times) are illegitimate and that they will be thrown out once the appeals courts finally review the matter.

        Then, you regurgitate the democrat’s January 6th narrative and expect me to buy into it? It is a fact that President Trump wanted the National Guard in-place to prevent violence and was denied by the House democrats. See this link:

        https://www.reuters.com/world/us/congresswoman-says-trump-administration-botched-capitol-riot-preparations-2021-05-12/

        The above Reuters story tries to spin this fact into a negative against President Trump but cannot hide the basic fact that Trump wanted better security on January 6th.

        House security was the direct responsibility of House Speaker Pelosi on January 6th. Why don’t you ask her about the security failures on that day?

        Media propaganda and media narratives make no impression on me. While you claim to be immune to the democrat’s indoctrination techniques, I actually am immune because I don’t believe a single thing that the democrat operatives in the media say.

        Sorry, there is no dichotomy to be found (in my mind, anyway) in these items that you mentioned. They are merely part of the democrats mind-control operations and may be safely discarded and ignored.

        In other words, “Nothing to see here, move on!”

      • “how do you reconcile your support with a convicted felon?”

        Trump was convicted of 34 election accounting misdemeanors that were years past the 2-year statute of limitations, which a judge, and a prosecutor who ran for office on the platform that he would “convict Trump,” pretended were felonies. During the trial the jury was not sequestered, meaning they were subject to enormous pressure to convict. Had any one of them voted “not guilty” he or she would have been doxed before they left the courthouse.

        I will proudly vote for such a “felon.”

    • Jan Sabo (my Spellcheck keeps spelling your last name “Sabotage!”, not my idea), it was very apparently an historically Democrat diehard Bolshevik who, with the help of an acknowledged agit-prop Federal agency, and visibly against President Trump’s express wishes, negligently facilitated occupation of the Capitol on that January 6. President Trump had every interest in peaceful proceedings that day to insure that elected representatives could guarantee in session a fair and lawful nationwide electoral verdict. Now you are proposing to vote for the party that actually promoted tragedy in the Capitol?

      • Strategic Steve and all,

        “Sabotage” is a milestone song, so I don’t mind.

        Please explain to me the path of Liz Cheney in her opposition to Trump.

    • “so my private views on January 6th are pretty easy to figure out.”

      So are my private views on a sitting vice president raising bail for BLM/Antifa “mostly peaceful” demonstrators who looted and burned businesses and police stations, injured dozens of cops, caused billions in damages, and murdered a couple of dozen people, including children.

      We shall have to agree to disagree.

      • I would prefer to agree to separate. This isn’t one country whether you are talking about gun law or anything else.

  13. Mas, gun politics are important, but I think that the US Congress has much more of a role to play the US President. What do you think of Trump’s inclinations towards the US Constitution and the rule of law? I’m with Liz Cheney all the way – I’m a former Reserve Police Officer with the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., so my private views on January 6th are pretty easy to figure out. Living in deep-red Oklahoma, my vote won’t make much difference, but I’ll be voting for the Harris/Walz ticket. And donating to the 2nd Amendment Foundation at the same time. Ján

      • Kamala Harris said she is planning to appoint of Republican to her cabinet. I suspect Liz Cheney is a candidate.

      • “I suspect Liz Cheney is a candidate.”

        You are probably correct. If Harris gets in office, she will likely appoint Liz Cheney to some post or other as a reward for her loyal service to the democrat party and the “Deep State”. Harris will likely also claim that she is being “Bipartisan” and is appointing a Republican by such an act.

        In my view, such a claim would be false. Liz Cheney has not been a Republican for a very long time (if she ever was one!). She started out (again, in my view) as a RINO and, with her TDS against President Trump, has become a full-fledged operative of the Democratic Party.

        It is false to claim Liz Cheney as a Republican. The voters know this to be true and that is why she was voted out of her seat in WY.

      • “Kamala Harris said she is planning to appoint of Republican to her cabinet.”

        That’d be John Kerry, naturally.

  14. Well said, Mas. I completely agree. Harris’ foreign policy skills are non-existent. She is economically illiterate. Her current Second Amendment “stance” is phony (saying she will not take our guns–right up there with Pete Buttigieg’s declarations on the same matter). And, she cannot even field a few softball questions from friendly media. She would be completely overmatched dealing with Xi, Putin, the Ayatollah or Kim.

    As a father with a daughter and son-in-law in the Navy, I am doubly concerned about Harris blundering the US into WWIII.

    My wife and I have also already voted. I just hope enough Americans can see the important issues clearly enough to keep Harris and her party out of office. The importance of defending the Supreme Court and an originalist interpretation of the Second Amendment is reason enough by itself.

    Mark is correct: the Democrats are “projecting” (attributing their own faults to others) when they call Republicans fascists. But then, they have been calling virtually every Republican presidential candidate for the past 60 years a fascist, including Reagan and Romney (the latter whom they currently adore for his anti-Trump position).

    I hope your pole barn and other property has recovered from the hurricane.

    Best Regards,

  15. I’ve used this very “litmus test” explanation in letters I write to politicians. How they handle this issue and discuss it tell me how they likely feel about citizens rights vs “governing over the little people.”
    Look at the actions, hear the *meaning* beyond the words, and look at the ramifications of the steps taken. Behavior and belief follow a pattern, and actions on one will strongly fall in line with other values.
    Those who vote on “feelings” make me want to ask if they would also refuse a “dirty life jacket” when jumping off the Titanic!

  16. I cast my ballot yesterday, for the candidate who passed my litmus test as well. That seemed like a no brainer, but there are a lot of true ‘no brainers’ casting ballots too. For the good of us all, may the one candidate friendly to our constitution and rights prevail

  17. well now. the amount of replies to this here topic is telling. haven’t seen it this active since being here a few years now. hmm.

    epstein didn’t hang himself
    and SCOTUS judges don’t usually suffocate under their own pillow…

  18. Challenge to vote here. I don’t like standing in line and it is physically difficult. Don’ trust the USPS union so it it was the drop box. It is inside the county building so good for election security. However, the communist judges have annexed the whole building for their gun free zone since the courts are in a different part of the building. So I had to disarm to get at the drop box. Got out safely.

  19. I firm,y elieve that the best scenario will be that the votes actually cast by citizen voters will be the ones that count.. and the ONLY ones that are counted.
    Very much UNlike four years ago.

  20. Back when the Republican Primary of 2016 concluded I wrote publicly that of all the 17 Republican candidates, Trump was my 17th choice, and that if there had been 1017 candidates in that primary, Trump would have probably been my 1017th choice. Then he was elected and we had four years of significant economic growth and relative stability. Wow. I was sure he would win in 2020. After all, his leadership led to amazing stock market growth, the lowest levels of unemployment, and even the lowest levels of minority unemployment along with relative peace at the time. Surely now a significant number of left leaning people out there would see the light and join the right wingers and the moderates who had elected Trump. Nope.
    Just as I voted for President Trump in 2016 (in the general election) and 2020, I will be voting for him again this Tuesday (if not before). But this time, given his superlative performance during his first term, I will not have the reservations I had back in 2016.

    Trump 2024

    JD Vance 2028

  21. Since I started voting in 1978, I have always voted for the lesser of 2 evils, that has a chance to win. You will never find the perfect candidate, the fix is to make government a lot smaller, which isn’t going to happen. Trump it is. The best selling point for the few people I know that are not already in one camp is the “were you better off the 4 years with President Trump, or the last 3.5 with Vice President Harris.” : )

  22. I just want to make one comment about Joe Biden’s health. On March 7th, 2024, he delivered a 90-minute or so State of the Union speech energetically. On June 28th, 2024 he debated Trump, and had very low energy.

    What changed? I don’t know, but I suspect his doctors made him a cocktail which worked well for the SOTU speech, then refused to give him the same cocktail for the debate. Did Joe’s handlers know his bad performance during the debate would give them an excuse to replace him?

  23. I agree. I voted early for Trump and all the Republicans. The democrats on my ballot are all commies and far left kooks. JFK today, would not be allowed in the democrat party, as he was pro-life, pro-military, pro-gun.

    • JFK was one of the last principled and patriotic Democrats. Unfortunately the Democrat Party has learned they don’t need principles or patriotism to garner support; they just have to promise “Free Stuff” paid for with other people’s money.

      They’ve effectively gone from “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country,” to “Demand that your country do for you, and f**k the people who have to pay for it.”

  24. A short while ago, I recalled a poster/cartoon from a previous election: Why vote for the lesser evil? Cthulhu for President! For those who don’t read PG Wodehouse, he’s the eternal overpowering evil being.

    While I abhor conspiracy groupies, I’m of an age where we studied how Hitler came to power so we could recognize the process. Unfortunately, I see a lot of parallels between those who backed the National Socialists (Nazis) and the current regime. Not to mention the behavior of the current regime.

    Over 50 years ago, I had the privilege of hearing the Rev. Doctor Niemoeller preach. His well known comments about how the Third Reich dealt with dissent was slightly different from the popular version. It started out: “First they came for the Communists. We understood and supported this!* Then they came for the Socialists. We didn’t understand this, but felt they must have had good reason.” He continued, the rest of the list doesn’t matter. The message was that a government first labels an enemy-real or imagined- rallies/uses existing the support of the people and then continues the process to eradicate opposition.

    Like many, I’ve been wondering for 4 years exactly who’s running the show in DC these days. I expect they want 4 more-as a start. My real worry is exactly who is National Command Authority right now? Who would be in a Harris regime? The folks in the Pentagon have my sympathies.

    I fear for my country. Also really can’t understand why the economy hasn’t been pounded during the campaign.

    *[There’s background on the first, the short version is that the Communists were widely (and factually) known to have been responsible for the urban combat that racked Germany following WWI.]

    • “A short while ago, I recalled a poster/cartoon from a previous election: Why vote for the lesser evil? Cthulhu for President! For those who don’t read PG Wodehouse…”

      ITYM H. P. Lovecraft… (It is amusing to think of Wodehouse writing eldritch horror, or Lovecraft writing frothy comedy.)

      • Thanks, Got one of his books-one of my boys bought it decades ago- floating about, but didn’t go looking for it. The subject matter of either of those you cite isn’t among my interests.

      • Cthulhu is already on the ballot in this election. Cthulhu’s present manifestation is known (as pointed out above) as: “Que Mala Eres” (or “You’re so bad” – translated into English). 🙂

      • TN_MAN: I don’t claim to be an expert in the Spanish language, but “Que Mala Eres” is phrased as a question, not a statement. A more correct translation would be, “How bad are you?”

        (The answer, of course, is “Pretty f–king bad!”)

    • WR Moore,

      You state that, “. . . the Communists were widely (and factually) known to have been responsible for the urban combat that racked Germany following WWI.]” That seems to be true from what I have read. The Russian Revolution, the second one, started in 1917, and took Russia out of WWI. Communists also tried to have a revolution in Germany in 1918. This weakened Germany, while it was trying to win WWI. Hitler (Austrian by birth) loved Germany, and saw the Communist revolution as stabbing Germany in the back. That’s why he hated Communists. I also read that, to Hitler, a Communist was a Jew, and Jew was a Communist.

      If I have any of the above wrong, please correct me, anyone.

  25. One thing to keep in mind, y’all: Regardless of rhetoric, Obama signed exactly a couple of gun rights bill into law, and both actually *expanded* gun rights! (allowing concealed carry in national parks, and guns in checked baggage on AmTrack trains https://www.businessinsider.com/gun-laws-obama-has-signed-2012-12).

    By contrast, Trump supported the federal ban on bump stocks, which, in a sense, *contracted* gun rights. https://apnews.com/article/trump-guns-bump-stocks-supreme-court-b3441f0f098ae43e731dd7d5370a5a13

    So the Republican-Democrat balance is not as black and white when you look past the rhetoric.

    • Paywall but the Republicans attached National Park carry (per state law) to a credit card bill that Obama wanted more than he hated the gun bill.

  26. Trump is the right man and personality for the era, the challenges the GOP and true Americans face from the amoral left and New World Order behind them. DJT has tireless energy and pushes back at every attack. IF things weren’t so perilous Trump would rather be running his businesses and not getting indicted and charged… We need the strong personality to counter the endless multifront attacks from the left on our Constitution and Bill of Rights, etc. We should be glad he’s willing take all those hits for the good of USA and we Citizens. If and when he serves his 2nd term, they’ll still be after him after he is out of executive office. They mindlessly hate his guts…

  27. I fear in the next federal election (some are preparing as we read this) the Haley/Cheney ticket will receive major support from the deep state operatives who owe their upscale lifestyles to the military-industrial complex .

    • I agree. The Deep State very much wanted Haley this time around. That is why Haley hung in the Republican primary race so long. In the hope that (a) she would strike fire with the “Never-Trumpers” in the Republican party and win the nomination (on her own) or, else, (b) she would be waiting in the wings in case something happened to President Trump (say, assassination?) and, thus, be ready to snatch up the nomination when President Trump was removed from the game board.

      Neither (a) nor (b) succeeded for the Deep State and, so, much to their regret, President Trump is alive, and well, and actively campaigning in this election.

      If the Deep State could have inserted Haley into the mix in 2024, then there would have been no need to remove Biden from the top of the democrat ticket and insert Harris as their place-holder. They would have let “Old Joe” run and make a mess of the democrat campaign while they threw their support (and their vote-rigging efforts) behind Haley.

      Haley would have sailed into the Office of President (easily) and then, loyally, she would have served the Deep State as their next “Figure-Head President” for eight-years. I suspect that was the optimum outcome that the Deep State really wanted for 2024.

      Win or lose, Trump is unlikely to run in 2028. if he wins, he will be term-limited from running. So, 2028 is the next big chance for the Deep State to hold onto power. Given how radical the Democrats have become, something like a Haley/Cheney ticket will look very good to the Deep State in 2028.

      • Deep State settled on Haley after DeSantis flamed out. Yeah, they will try again in 28 though I think Cheney is too toxic to the base. They will be more subtle. Hogan if he wins? Lombardo? Has Rubio really changed his stripes?

  28. Well, now, if it’s a one-issue “litmus-test”, for me it’s the party that largely supports pro-life. Life is good. The other party largely supports pro-death. Don’t mince words, it’s no choice for the one person who’s most vulnerable and helpless.
    Yep, 2A Is important, but what’s the point of the 2A? To protect life.

    • frank’s son,

      I agree with you 100%, but remember, there are Republicans who are pro-choice, so we need to stay together, and not alienate them. I myself would permit abortions for the life of the mother (no, not the life-style of the mother).

      Abortion is a complicated, ugly issue. I’ll just keep it short and write;

      America is a nation that kills babies, and keeps criminals alive. I would rather live in a nation that keeps babies alive, and kills criminals. (But, I’m not willing to use force against those who want to kill their own children. Let them do it, and let the states decide their own abortion laws.) ‘Nuff said.

  29. And now we’ll see how much people on this site really respect democracy, the constitution, the police and the law:
    100%!
    but only when it suits them.
    With a very few honourable exceptions, none of them condemned the the attacks on the police after the 2020 election. None of them thought the republicans shouldn’t try to steal elections. And none of them will this week.
    But this time there isn’t a president who is going to sit for hours watching cops put in hospital, without lifting a finger to stop it. Biden has had 4 years to prepare and any rioters will be in a cell by nightfall.
    The republicans won’t accept a trump loss.
    But this time it will be a private citizen who may well be going to prison, asking officials to join him. And it will never get anywhere.
    Hopefully you’ll all prove me wrong.
    Apologies to those few who do condemn the 6 Jan rioters.

    To end on a note of harmony; Here’s something we can all agree is worth hearing from a politician (even though he let the kane plan for world domination down!)

    https://youtu.be/PzHcX_5UXj8?si=iXJwyZxv6xKWOAOr

    • “Apologies to those few who do condemn the 6 Jan rioters.”

      Nicholas, you have always been a “True Believer” in the January 6th Narrative established by the democrats and their media / Deep-State operatives.

      Of course, one who truly believes in the January 6th mythology is expected to condemn the protesters of January 6th and to rejoice over the heavy, punitive punishments handed out to virtually everyone (except FBI operatives) who happened to be on-site that day.

      However, you must understand that many of us are deeply skeptical regarding the narrative so carefully constructed pertaining to the events of January 6th.

      Just ask your self this question: Who profited from the events of January 6th?

      Did President Trump profit? No, the event was used to launch a campaign of media condemnation against him. It was used as the basis for yet another impeachment effort (even after he left office) and is still the basis for lawfare actions against him.

      Did the January 6th protestors profit? No, the event was used to spark a “Witch Hunt” for them. Many of them languished (many still languish) in prison for crimes that amount to not much more than trespass. Some suffered “cruel and unusually punishment” as they were thrown into solitary confinement and cut off from family and legal aid.

      Did the Republican Party profit? No, the event was used in general media attacks against all Republicans and was used in the 2022 mid-term elections to help maintain the democrats in power.

      So, who actually profited from January 6th?

      The Answer: The Democratic Party of America, their media supporters, and the deep-state of unelected Washington bureaucrats.

      January 6th was a blessing to the above establishment actors. It gave them a platform for their media operatives to shovel the propaganda high and deep. It gave them a basis, in law, to launch lawfare operations against their political opponents. It gave them an issue and talking points to be used in the mid-term 2022 election. It gave them an excuse to stage “Show Trial” type Congressional hearings to tarnish their opponents. It allowed them to install Joe Biden, as President, on January 6th in such a way that the Republican Party was denied standing to protest his installation to the Supreme Court. It gave the democrats a method to intimidate and suppress dissent (and the 1st Amendment right to protest) by striking fear in their political opponents given the heavy-handed punishments landed on the January 6th protestors.

      Yes, January 6th was a “Godsend” to the Democratic Party of America. It allowed them to beat their breasts and play the “victim” while spewing forth their narratives / propaganda and punishing their political opponents.

      Even today, many people (such as yourself) totally buy into the narrative that the democrats were “victimized” by nasty MAGA Republicans on January 6th. So certain are they, in the truth of the narrative that they have been fed, that not one moment of doubt seems to ever cross their minds.

      Does not this one sided fallout over January 6th inspire even a little doubt that, maybe, just maybe, you have been “led down the garden path” regarding the true nature of January 6th?

      • So true! IMHO, music peaked in the 18th Century and has been deteriorating ever since. 🙂

        George Frideric Handel is my favorite baroque composer although Antonio Vivaldi is most excellent too. I just love Handel’s music!

  30. Thanks for that.
    Always good to experience some good music!
    Glad that like me you focused on the important thing I posted.
    Aint that Tim Kaine a great harmonica player!
    njk

    • “Aint that Tim Kaine a great harmonica player!”

      Most excellent! Indeed, politics is always divisive but music is universal.

  31. While this is a couple of days after the election, I’ve noticed a couple of things. First, apparently it was common for Republicans who appeared on TV to be asked is they’d accept the results of the election. ONLY the Republicans. Second, post election, just like in 2016, there were presumably prominent Democrats urging RESISTANCE! How about we ALL show some manners?

    Given the overwhelming victory-provided in large part by folks who previously voted for the Dems-, it’d be nice if the other side took this as a teachable moment on their policies and practices. Unfortunately, I expect the emphasis will be on future election tactics, not on the acceptability/results of policy. I expect some “mostly peaceful demonstrations” on Inauguration Day.

    A brief comment on personalities: back in the last century I was assigned to election security work. Most everyone has a public and private persona. The differences can be shocking. “Nice folks” can still hold some dark-or “different”- beliefs.

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