RANGER AGAINST WAR: Tonight's the Night <

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Tonight's the Night

 



People are crazy and times are strange
I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range
I used to care, but things have changed 
 --Things Have Changed, 
Bob Dylan  
 
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
I want the truth to be said  
I know this much is true
 --True,  
Spandau Ballet 
 
there is enough treachery, hatred violence absurdity in the average
human being to supply any given army on any given day
--The Genius of the Crowd,
Charles Bukowski


If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I'll wear a mask for you
--I'm Your Man,
Leonard Cohen

________________________

 

Twas the night before Election 2020, and does anyone think Joe Biden is the best candidate the Democrats could have run? Really? Doesn't it feel like a re-run of 2016 with HRC -- like a warm beer and stale chips are on the bar.

This is why Mr. Trump will win re-election: Because the sky did not fall post election 2016. Because he has opened dialog with North Korea; because a peace accord with Israel and UAE has been signed, and a slight domino effect is following on; because the economy was very well until the Pandemic affected the world. Because Americans don't like changing horses midstream, and primarily because he is sui generis among presidential candidates and he doesn't self-flagellate for being pro-USA.

The bad things in our country have always been there: racism and casting-couch privilege. If they have not been dealt with before, that is not the fault of this President.

Finally, Mr. Biden neither inspires nor excites, a must for winning even a seat on the local school board.

Just like in 2016, the press has been drumming up the DOA Biden excit-o-meter for months, and Nate Silver at the polling site FiveThirtyEight still doesn't know what time it is (favoring Biden to win in the upper 80's low 90's tonight, hedging his bets from his badly misread slam dunk for HRC in 2016). But one must march in line, after all.

The Biden campaign has spent $6.6 billion to beat the incumbent, and it is a losing proposition. Joe is as electable as Bernie ... not. You don't need to wait up on election night; this will be 2016 Redux.

If a politician has no platform, and the best he can do is to crib from his opponent and shoot low ("Make America Better"); if he sets himself to be the cleaning crew ("I will bring adult leadership to the White House and clean house") but doesn't notice that both he and Mr. Trump are both well into their adulthood, well, there isn't much bright and shiny on tap.

 $6.6 Billion is an obscene sum. Does anyone actually vote based upon 15 to 60 second commercials? If so, heaven help us. Instead, the Democrats could have done something close to noble and capped their spending to that of their opponent. Better yet, chose an arbitrary but lower number beyond which the campaign will not go; set a standard for some decency.

With the extra money which flowed into the campaign coffers, why not do something actual for the constituents over whom they cry crocodile tears? Why not build parks and update recreation centers in blighted neighborhoods? Take a hint from the dying bureaucrat in the Kurosawa film "Ikiru". Live for something beyond the results of an egomaniacal election.

When Mr. Trump won the presidency in 2016, I was curious and hopeful. Sadly, what ensued was daily disdain and insults directed at the man. The MSM had one goal alone: "How do we keep him from being re-elected?" Why they took this agenda into editorial is beyond me.

Any photo shown was of the KSM variety. It was always a Jerry Ford falling out of the plane moment; an exhausted and disheveled leaving AFO moment.

And he was a racist, don't you know? Please forget Obama's "Guns and Bibles" put-down; certainly Hillary's "basket of deplorables". Those people referred to aren't really Americans, after all.

For those who watch the news, it is like we all live in a Russ Meyer's film from which we cannot escape. The Democrats showed themselves to be mean and petty with their daily ad hominum harangues. All are following the now-stale template of comedian Jon Stewart, the daily evisceration. They can no longer claim to be on the right side of the fence.

Experimenting with Yahoo! news for three days to see what some of my friends are consuming, I felt unwell and dirty by the third morning, realizing that every headline dealing with President Trump was insulting, or worse. There is nothing more to say.

To leave today on a flight of fancy, were I to have been Mr. Trump's stage manager during his final debate with Mr. Biden when the later smugly stated that he and Mr. Obama would not meet with Kim Jong Un because the latter refused to lose his nukes, Mr. Trump would've said this:

 

"You can't demand he lose his nuclear warheads until you are willing to do the same. He is a dictator, and making scary threats is what dictators do.

"What happened to realpolitik? The goal is to reduce the boil to a low simmer. Let him save face; it is all he has. That is what we did, and it doesn't matter if he later rolls out a big rocket on a caisson that looks like Slim Pickens ought to sit astride it. It is showcraft for the little man.

"I regret only that I did not have Elton John perform "Rocket Man" and have Dennis Rodman present him a signed team jacket. Oh, and have a luxury block of Emmenthaler wrapped up in a silver box with a red ribbon.

"Laugh, but I'm your Monty Hall, your 'Let's Make a Deal!' guy. I met with Kim not once, but twice. Now he reaches out to his Southern enemy. Kim likes summits cos that increases his cachet. The Big Fear is detonated for now. No has done that in over 50 years.

"We give the Peace Prize to people like Yassir Arafat, not to make him not be a terrorist but to recognize him as a world player. Then Peace Accords become possible. Look at what the normalization accords we have brokered between the UAE and Israel.

 "What we achieved with Kim and the Abraham Accords should have been Peace Prize material, but the politicization of everything demands we not be recognized, even at the expense of world peace."

 

Well, that's what he should have said, IMHO.

May the best man win.

 

[by Lisa. These views do not reflect those of the eponymous Ranger. They are editorial staff opinions.]

Labels:

16 Comments:

Blogger FDChief said...

Well, Lisa, you got what you wanted; seventy-odd million people looked at this nitwit who managed to get us killed with a plague in ways that Rwanda couldn't, who is so grossly corrupt and stupid that he makes Warren Harding envious in Hell, who is a walking disaster area in all things governmental...and they screamed along with you: WE WANT MOAR PLAGUE!!!

So I'm going to end up having to spend another couple of years waiting to catch the fucking COVID because your heroes will do nothing as simple as the Japanese and Koreans figured out how to do to get our normal lives back. And we're going to keep on driving towards the New Gilded Age your heroes have made for us.

But better than than boring old Biden and Drag Queen Story Hour, right?

I got it up until this year. God, guns, tax cuts, hatin' on the queers and the darkies...that was good ol' red meat Republican tradition so the plutocrats could slip the goodies out the back door.

But then the Plague showed up.

And how the hell can anyone with a functioning hindbrain want MORE of what this fathead and his pals are giving us? We're doing worse than the goddamn French!

This all just makes me sad. I don't know what got into you. This year we had the same choice we had in '16; between a shit sandwich and some bland chicken salad, and here you are again complaining that the chicken salad isn't tasty enough.

Fuck, I give up.

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 4:31:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous jim hruska said...

FDC,
My position is opposite of Lisa's,but every body has the right to be wrong.
As you probably can guess i have not written one word about the leadership of the country.
And we used to rag on W who now seems like a genuine statesman by comparison.
I cannot take fire from inside the perimeter.
If Lisa wants to write about Trump then i'd respectfully request that she start a new blog and not use up the RAW that we built so artfully. This includes you as a key player.
I salute you.
jim hruska





Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 6:03:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Fergal said...

Dear Jim, great to see you still have access to a keyboard. I'm missing your posts big time.
Big Melbourne salute
Fergal

Friday, November 6, 2020 at 5:34:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Lisa said...

FDC,


I no longer read your comments, as they will always be vulgar, and I am a lady. I count it a loss.

What surprises me is Ranger's plea to art, and then stating camaraderie with you, the slayer of art. I have always expressed myself with elan and respect, even when my viewpoint differs. I would have expected the defense to be for me, his co-writer.

Sadly, this is what 4+ years of daily, incessant vitriol in the media has wrought, even in an outside-the-box thinker. One may not even speak of he who they malign, lest they risk humiliation or attack.

Saturday, November 14, 2020 at 1:25:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Dave said...

Jim

Should you wish to comment on military issues again, you would have an avid audience of at least one, here.

I won't comment directly on this post by Lisa as it appears to have been rendered obsolete by events.

Monday, November 30, 2020 at 12:48:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger Divyanshu said...


Your article was very good, and you have given very good information in this article. I regularly read all the articles on your website.

Spiti Tour Packages

Ladakh Tour Packages

Cruise Tour Packages

Leh Ladakh Bike Trip Packages

Uttarakhand Tour Packages

Monday, December 21, 2020 at 7:20:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Express Minicabs said...

Amazing blog!

Sunday, December 27, 2020 at 4:20:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous mike said...

Jim & Lisa - stay safe

Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 11:50:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Eric Hodgdon said...

Great post.
Great truth to MSM degeneracy.
The 2020 Election is not over unless all give up.
Much fraud keeps dribbling out.
Never give up the struggle if it is worth the effort and serves a purpose one finds must survive.
Trump may not be lovable or fully fit for the job, but who really has been in our lifetimes?
No One!
Going back 60 years who has fought for America? Truly so?
No one I remember, but Trump.
Say it aint so.
Oh, sure, politicians will say most anything, but Trump came through more often than not.
The usurpations of 100 years has transmogrified our federal system into a death machine and master oppressor of the founding principles.
Now with the clown Installed by Military Traitors and Yes Men, we've got a situation here which Can Not Stand.
As I mentioned, I think years ago, Non-Violent Action is Needed Now to Fight this Evil in the white house and elsewhere in the national government.
They Must Be Removed as soon as possible - non violently and Certainly So.

Monday, February 15, 2021 at 12:48:00 PM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

We should try Mayfair Hotels Kalimpong Gangtok Yarlam Lachung Tour Package 8 Days Ex. Bagdogra.
MAYFAIR Himalayan Spa Resort is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests in Kalimpong. The property offers a wide range of amenities and perks to ensure you have a great time. All the necessary facilities, including free Wi-Fi in all rooms, 24-hour room service, 24-hour security, daily housekeeping, private check in/check out, are at hand. Comfortable guestrooms ensure a good night's sleep with some rooms featuring facilities such as flat screen television, air purifier, bathroom phone, clothes rack, free welcome drink. Recuperate from a full day of sightseeing in the comfort of your room, or take advantage of the fitness center, outdoor pool, spa, massage, children's playground. For reliable service and professional staff, MAYFAIR Himalayan Spa Resort caters to your needs.
https://wonderearthtour.com/tour-details/3504/Mayfair-Hotels-Kalimpong-Gangtok--Yarlam-Lachung-tour-package.html

Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 6:03:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger FDChief said...

Lisa: I have no idea what the hell happened to you back in '16, but you seem to have swallowed the Trumpian kool-ade. I don't expect you to be some sort of comfortable neoliberal shill. But to argue that the cure for shingles is to cut your head off? That's...moronic, and while we've had differences of opinion the one thing I never lost until five years ago was my respect for your intelligence.

But this weird pash you have for Orange Foolius is more than idiotic. It's downright dangerous and destructive. Biden is a corporate ho. Trump is a goddamn lunatic with serious ego problems who will happily pull down representative government in this country if it'll give him a chubby or put a nickel in his pocket.

Goddamn it. You're a smart woman! At least you were. Why can't you see that?

Jim: I'm sorry you're taking friendly fire, man. I'm just sick at heart at what these damn QAnuts and their pals and the corporate Master of the Universe are doing to the country I grew up loving. To see that coming from Lisa, too..?

It breaks my heart.

Check and rog on the salute. Sniper check back atcha.

Friday, April 16, 2021 at 6:28:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger Ufa88kh said...

Thanks for such a great article. It has helped me a lot to troubleshoot my offline printer and I can easily set it up to overcome the problem.
wordpress Casino
ufa88kh.blogspot Casino
youtube Casino
បាការ៉ាត់អនឡាញ

Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at 11:24:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger naisbittearnst said...

Casino - Dr. MD
”The casino offers over 1,500 slot 부산광역 출장안마 machines including many of the 경기도 출장마사지 popular video slots that are popular in video 춘천 출장안마 poker. Casino Slots. 군포 출장마사지 충주 출장샵 Casino Slots. Welcome Bonus

Friday, March 4, 2022 at 7:05:00 AM GMT-5  
Blogger SHABAZ SAYYED said...

Rising focus on converging digital and physical worlds and increasing demand for applications and products based on virtual and augmented and mixed realities are some key factors driving metaverse market revenue growth. https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/metaverse-market

Thursday, September 22, 2022 at 11:25:00 AM GMT-5  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Jim Hruska was my commanding Officer at the 8th Infantry Division Advanced Marksmanship Unit in 1969. I attended his first wedding in Baumholder and saw him go off to Special Forces with the idea that “one round, one kill” was the way of war. He was Gung Ho to the max.
He know says “call in artillery on the Mothers”
Blessings Jim, we saw a lot

Wednesday, June 7, 2023 at 4:27:00 PM GMT-5  
Blogger FDChief said...

It's been a long time, and I wanted to check in. I hope you're sound and well, hope you're driving on, Jim. I'm sorry for how this ended, and sorry for losing my friends.

Shot over.

J

Friday, December 29, 2023 at 1:14:00 PM GMT-5  

Post a Comment

<< Home