9/11, 20 Years Later: Adding Insult to Injury

(Image by Michael Ramirez)

 Twenty years ago, I was at the gym doing my Tuesday morning cardio routine at the gym.  Shortly before 6 AM Pacific Standard Time (PST), I watched the entire September 11 Attacks unfold on the gym's TVs.  Like me, just about everyone who heard about, or watched,  the terrorist attacks unfold vividly remembers where they were, or what they were doing as the terrible news broke.

Fast forward to today, and it's been 11 days since America, under the Harris-Biden Regime beat an ignoble retreat from Afghanistan--the country that sheltered the 9/11 terrorists.

The other day, Zhou Bei Den announced his Kung Flu Vaccine Mandate that should make free people very uncomfortable.  (I'll try to write a more in-depth post on this next week as more details and reactions unfold).

To add insult to injury, the Harris-Biden Regime considers the Tollyban "cooperative and businesslike" in negotiations on repatriating the abandoned Americans, and has shown more contempt towards their fellow citizens than terrorists.

(Image by Chip Bok)

I wish I could say the Harris-Biden Regime's attitude was surprising.  Unfortunately, it's not because this administration is packed with Taliban apologists. 

Americans aren't the only ones who's individual rights are being threatened.  Down Under has become a penal colony again.

Small consolation to us Yanks. 

With all the dystopian dictates that continue to be handed-down since last year's "...two to four weeks to flatten the curve..." it's hard to feel patriotic on Patriot Day.

It's as if we're living in one big Talibanny World.

(Image found on Facebook)

America Is Burning (In More Ways Than One)

(Image by Tom Stiglich)

 Yesterday was the 19th anniversary of the September 11th Attacks.  

Everyone promised to "Never Forget," but in The Year 2020, NYC Dimtards did just that.

While I'd like to rant-on about leftist and media hypocrisy throughout the pandemic...

(Image by A.F. Branco)

...I have more immediate issues to discuss.

Primarily, the numerous wildfires burning throughout the "Evergreen State."

(Image by Steve Breen)

A couple friends and family members already had to evacuate their homes and a couple more are standing by to do so if the blazes get worse. 

The only consolation is that us Washingtonians don't have is it's not as bad as in Oregon or California.

Yet.

The wildfires, coupled with the effects of the Chy-Nah Virus lockdowns are making the West Coast look completely dystopian. 

Due to the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) I started contracting last year, (but wasn't diagnosed until 5 months ago), I've had to "shelter-in-place" for the past few days due to the unhealthy air quality levels.

But the wildfires aren't the only thing "burning" America, and making daily living "unhealthy."

The Kalamity Harris Basement Biden Campaign continue the Big Lie that voter fraud and rigging the 2020 Presidential Election are Fake News.

(Image by Gary Varvel)

Then there's the Dimtard Mafia/Nazi-style threat:  Creepy Uncle Joe wins the election--or cities will burn.

(Image by A.F. Branco)

Meanwhile, as the Dimtard coup plods on, major cities, like BigApplestan, are dying--and not coming back.

(Image by Lisa Benson)

People with the means and motive are bailing out of metropolitan areas before the powder keg goes off.

Even if America doesn't "explode" on November 3rd, 2020--why live in a shithole?

Independence Day Derangement Syndrome

(Image by Michael Ramirez)

How us normal folks view America’s Independence Day, and our fellow citizens, is illustrated by Michael Ramirez’s political cartoon, seen above.

Unfortunately, it’s 2020.  

So the Dimtards, Ministry of Truth minions, and rank-in-file snowflakes had a collective meltdown over any 4th of July celebrations...

(Image by A.F. Branco)

...especially Our Grand Nagus’ speech at the base of Mount Rushmore.  

And just as with the destruction of statues and monuments all across the country...

(Image by Michael Ramirez)

...very few, if any RINOs (Republican in Name Only) came to America’s cultural defense.

Getting back to Trump’s Rushmore Speech, what the Ministry of Truth called “dark and divisive” was in fact, pro-American.  Honoring all Americans.

(Image by Chip Bok)

Which, I guess, is enough to cause a pandemic of Independence Day Derangement Syndrome among unhinged leftists.

Their collective attack on the 4th of July proved Trump right—they hate America.  Which begs the question:  Can the Left lead a country they hate? 

The short answer is “no,” and it’s a question they can’t answer honestly, especially when their only goal is the aggrandizement of power.

The “Battle of Mount Rushmore” is just one fight over the Heroic Narrative of America against a relentless Cultural Revolution. 

(Image by Pat Cross)

Independence Day 2020 celebrations were cancelled all across the country—but Black Lives Matter gatherings were still a go.  So the precedence has been set that if Trump the Usuper of 2016 loses to Gropey Joe Biden, we can kiss the 4th of July goodbye permanently.

Fortunately, there’s still hope. 

Our Grand Nagus isn’t the only one fighting back against Cancel Culture mob.  The WSJ calmly countered the Ministry of Truth’s meltdown.

And while most of us normal folks were enjoying a day off, a record number of volunteers were mobilized over the holiday weekend to campaign for Trump’s 2020 re-election.

As a final inspirational note, Liz Wheeler explains why America is the greatest nation on Earth.

(Image by Bob Gorrell)

First Week of The Triggering Season

(Image from ABC News)

A couple blogposts back, I mentioned "The Triggering Season."  It's the time of year between Columbus Day and Christmas that causes weapons-grade triggering among snowflakes, woketards and self-loathing leftists.

Here in WA State, Columbus Day is unusual for a couple reasons.

First, it's a Federal Holiday, it's not a State Holiday.

Then there's Indigenous Peoples Day, which which was adopted by South Dakota in 1989 and has spread to various cities, counties and entire states.  WA State hasn't fully adopted it, but the major cities of Seattle (2014), Olympia (2015), Spokane and Yakima (2016), along with Tacoma (2018) have done so.

I happened to be off-duty and noticed it was unusually quiet in my neighborhood, despite the nice weather:  No company/utility vehicles driving around, no kids outside playing.  (I'm assuming school was in session).

I was too busy doing yard work and housework to get myself entangled in any Columbus Day protests, or hear any first-hand outrage over the day.

But apparently, Our Drunk Dialer-in-Chief managed to trigger leftists, this time by merely tweeting: Happy Columbus Day!

Leftists believe wholeheartedly in the idea of the Noble Savage.  Salty Cracker's video touched on a few examples that deconstruct this myth.

Liz Wheeler's guest also set the record straight about Columbus, the Spanish and Native Americans.

Native Americans did not act nobly 100% of the time, nor did European explorers or settlers act with completely evil intent.

In a normal world, I don't mind events or celebrations revolving around our Native Americans.

However, we live in Clown World.

A world where leftists are Hell-bent on deconstructing America, our nation's history--warts and all--along with our culture and traditions, exemplified by the vandalization of statues.

So I end up ignoring both aspects of the holiday.

As Our Grand Nagus would tweet:  Sad.

And just before ending this post, I found out that yesterday was Pronoun Day.

Welcome to Triggering Season 2019.

Hypocrisy Over George H.W. Bush's Passing

(Image by A.F. Branco)

Earlier this week, George H. W. Bush was laid to rest.

It was nice to see the Clintons, Trumps, and Bushes get along during the funeral, especially Dubya and Michelle O; while politicians set aside their partisanship to honor our 41st President--even for a moment.

(Image by Bob Gorrell)

However, there is a hint of hypocrisy from weeping leftists--the same leftists who vilified Bush the Elder when he was alive.

Or as Kurt Schlichter pointed out:  The only good Republican is a dead Republican.

For the most part, I liked Bush the Elder, but like The Diplomad and the crew at Stilton's Place, I didn't agree with everything he said and did.  (Heck, I don't agree with everything Our Grand Nagus says or does, but I'm delighted he makes pearl-clutchers' collective heads explode!).

But overall, he was a decent man and a decent president.

Too bad leftists didn't realize that when he was alive...

(Image by Henry Payne)

Countdown to 2018 Midterms

(Image by Pat Cross)

This election is anything but normal.

That’s putting it mildly.

I’ve never seen such focus and passion over a midterm election.  Ever.

Last week, Our Grand Nagus hit the campaign trail to rally Republican/conservative voters.

Various polls show the Pachyderm Parade leading in the early voting.  But on the other hand, there's concern that leftists will turn out on Election Day, and that Independents are leaning Democrat.

But there is more cautiously optimistic news, in the form of Democratic campaign strategy backfiring:  Beto O'Rourke staffers appear to be planning on funding the Illegal Alien Caravan.

(Image by: A.F. Branco)

And then there's the Millennials.  About two-thirds of them say they plan on hitting the "snooze button" on Election Day

I certainly don't want to see the Democrats back in the majority.  Especially after two years of public tantrums (pick any day of the week), witch hunts (the Russia Collusion Investigation and a show trial (the Kavanaugh Hearings).

So I encourage all you like-minded folks to get out and vote.

I hate to sound melodramatic and that "the fate of the nation is at stake,"  but the alternative is rather stark.

(Image by: A.F. Branco)

Honoring 9/11

(Image by Tom Stiglich)

I find it hard to believe that it's been 17 years since the September 11th Attacks, and strangely unsettling that this year's anniversary is on a Tuesday, like that dreadful day.

Video: Memorials Vandalized by Columbus Day Protesters

Well, us like-minded folks knew leftists wouldn't be satisfied with defacing or destroying Confederate monuments.

Yesterday's Columbus Day activities by social justice whining (SJW) protesters, unfortunately proved us right.

And this is just the beginning of the "Triggering Season."

Halloween is just three weeks away, but SJWs were triggered over costumes before they went about defacing Columbus monuments.

They weren't too crazy about the sexy Fake News dress. 

Which was tame in comparison to one writer who SJW-splained  to Caucasian parents why your white kid shouldn't dress up as Moana for Halloween.

Yeah, "Foxtrot Yankee" lady. 

Little girls should be allowed to dress up as any Disney Princess they want to.

We still have Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, which will give SJWs plenty of time to concoct more grievances against anyone trying to enjoy the holidays.

Honoring 9-11-01 and Our On-Going War Against Islamists

(Image by Tom Stiglich)

Today's a sad day, not only in remembering the vicious attack that occurred 16 years ago, but also we're no closer to what was once called "victory" than we were 16 years ago.

Sure Osama bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein are dead thanks to our military might.  But we still have Islamist enemies outside--and inside--the Ramparts of Civilization we've been contending with since 2001.

The Diplomad summed up his feelings in his September 11 post.

And it's not just the Islamists that continually cause us grief, but in some (most?) cases our own political ruling class.

Mark Steyn rehashed his Dishonored Dead article for another tragic anniversary--the attack on our consulate in Benghazi.

The Slippery Slope of Statue Smashing

(Image by Mike Lester)

The Memory Hole Madness--snowflakes triggered into becoming mindless statue smashers--spread throughout the week.

From the "rebel scum" states of the long time ago Confederacy, the pandemic has now reached the Peoples' Democratic Republic of the Big Apple.  Hizzoner Moff De Balsio is now placing the statues of Christopher Columbus under review.

Oceans are no barriers either.  Monument Madness has taken hold in Britain with the hue & cry raised to raze Nelson's Column.

One of Mark Steyn's readers points out there is no "discussion" about this topic, and statues are removed in a very undemocratic way.  Yeah, often in the dead of night too.

And VDH eloquently points out the Left's hypocrisy when it wages war against the [select] dead.

Here's an illustration of leftist logic for smashing statues (and stifling free speech)...

(Image by Steve Kelley)

...which it makes them look as bad as our Islamo-fascist foes.

(Image by Robert Ariail)

Celebrating Independence Day!

(Image from:  History.com's History of the 4th of July)

Best wishes to all of you this Independence Day!

Chucking Confederate Monuments Down the Memory Hole

(Image by Robert Ariail)

Mark Steyn often says that unless the culture changes, elections won't really matter.

One glaring example of this:  Donald Trump's 2016 Election victory hasn't stopped New Orleans' purge of confederate monuments.

And the Big Easy isn't the only local chucking it's history down the Memory Hole.

Even when items deemed offensive by today's snowflakes are tucked away in a museum, they're not safe from the wrath of the Social Justice Whiners (SJWs).  Just ask the folks at the Nash Farm Battlefield Museum.

The bulldozing of monuments is a war against American History.

Matt Walsh warns:  Now that Confederate monuments have been torn down, SJWs will go for the Founding Fathers next.

(Image by A.F. Branco)

Regardless, media loves the Big Easy's mayor who's still fighting the Civil War. 

But why settle for fueling national, or presidential ambitions like Hizzoner Landrieu appears to be doing?

If SJWs and their media cheerleaders are so Hell-bent on eradicating the "monuments to slavery," there's plenty of work for them to do worldwide...

(Image from:  The Federalist Papers)

Prager U Video: Why Isn't Communism as Hated as Nazism?

I've always wondered about this.

In this video Dennis Prager explains how the nice-sounding concepts of Communism still cause people to be cool with this ideology.

People like the producers of Watch Mojo and their Top 5 Facts About Communism.

Lauren Southern Video: The Destruction of History

Comrade Karla called our attention to this story on social media.

I'm about as Yankee as one can get.  I was born in the Boston, MA area, and raised in Upstate New York.  So when it comes to the American Civil War, I don't have much, sympathy for the Confederacy's cause.

However, like the lovely Lauren, I do take issue with the destruction of historical monuments.

Even Confederate ones.

While the New Orleans Politburo may not care for Confederate history, they're apparently cool with the Castroites. 

Honoring the 75th Anniversary of the Attack on Pearl Harbor

(Image by Steve Breen)

Early in my military career I had the honor of visiting the USS Arizona Memorial.

Near the end of my active duty days, I had the opportunity to go to Japan for an exercise.  Afterwards, I was fortunate enough to take a tour of Nagasaki, and stood at ground zero.

In a sense, I could say my military career took me to the places where America entered World War II--and where we ended it.

The Obama Doctrine's Roots in Antiquity

(Image by Nate Beeler)

Now that the last Presidential Debate of 2016 is behind us, let's take a look at both the ancient past and beyond our borders.

Apparently, "leading from behind" isn't a new concept, and goes back as far as the Peloponnesian War.

Probably even further.

Kori Schake makes an interesting comparison of our situation in Syria with the spark(s) that ignited the Spartan-Athenian Smackdown in her article:  Thucydides All Over Again.

No matter who wins the Presidential Election, most of us like-minded folks feel tensions beyond the Ramparts of Civilization will continue to rise until we're at--or passed--the brink of war.

(Image by Robert Ariail)

Honoring the 15th Anniversary of 9/11

(Image from:  On Milwaukee)

CNN provided some coverage of 15th 9/11 Anniversary Events.

(Image from:  Heavy, Sept 11 Bible Verses of Peace...)

Erdogan's Quest to Install The Caliphate

(Image by Robert Ariail)

Just over a week ago, members of the Turkish military attempted a coup against President Erdogan.  By dawn the following day, the coup failed, and the plotters were rounded up.

Then the purges began.

So far no one has been reported killed.  Yet.  Erdogan seems content with dismissing judges, academics, and university deans.  For now.

However, here inside the Crumbling Ramparts of Civilization, our leftist media is more concerned about the Boorish Billionaire's Missus supposed plagiarism of Our Dear Leader's Missus' speech.

Ralph Peters warns of the coming of the real caliphate.

Even if the next POTUS is willing to deal with the situation in Turkey, we may be too busy to do so.  Especially when Russian planes bomb a US base in Syria, and here at home, the dream of Muslim outreach has become a nightmare.

ISIS Following Islamic Conquest Template

(Image by Michael Ramirez)

Ever since the Islamic State's atrocities gained the media spotlight, apologists for the "JV Team" like to lecture us about their "un-Islamic" barbarity.

Raymond Ibrahim explains why the Islamic State's ancient jihadi tactics shock the West, and follows a similar, if not the same pattern as the Muslim Conquests.

When my friend posted this article on his Facebook page, I responded:

The Islamic State's tactics only shock those who haven't read history. Which, now that I think of it, means a lot of people.

As long as our collective ignorance of the past continues, the future will become grimmer and darker...

(Image found on: Ubiquitous8Thoughts--The Four Jihads)

Book Review: Shadow Knights

(Note:  This post appeared on my Stern Rake Studio blog three days ago)

It's been a while since I read a non-fiction book, so I think it's time to take a break from today's dreary headlines.

Nearly six years ago, Simon & Schuster started a line of books called Pulp History.  The intent was to introduce readers to some of the past's most thrilling stories.

And what could be more thrilling than British agents infiltrating Nazi-occupied Europe?

Shadow Knights: The Secret War Against Hitler is an illustrated book about some of the men and women of Britain's Special Operations Executive (SOE). 

While the book touches on various aspects of SOE's existence, the focus rests on the exploits of Harry Ree, Noor Inayat Khan, and the team of Norwegians responsible for the destruction of Germany's heavy water production.

In addition to stirring accounts of survival, betrayal, capture and the occasional triumph; Shadow Knights is lavishly illustrated with maps, sidebar notes, while artist Jeffrey Smith's splash pages bring the characters to life.

I give this book a solid four-star rating, leaning more towards work of entertainment than an in-depth historical analysis of irregular warfare waged against Nazi Germany.  For the sake of telling stories of derring do, Shadow Knights "pulps over" many aspects of World War II, outside the scope of SOE's operations. 
The book has a 4.5-star rating out of 5 on Amazon.com.

Unfortunately, Simon & Schuster's Pulp History fizzled out after releasing only two books, the second being, Devil Dog: The Amazing True Story of the Man Who Saved America.

Both books can be found in used book stores or through Amazon.com.