THE MAGNIFICENT LASER POINTER IS ON AGAIN:  Trump Tweets Election Day Delay And Blew Minds.

FROM IAIN MURRAY:  The Socialist Temptation.

Socialism is tempting, seductive, alluring. It comes in many forms and speaks in many different ways. It appeals to people who value fairness, who value freedom, and who value security. It comes in many varieties, sometimes clothing itself in the dress of nationalism, sometimes in the garb of environmentalism. Yet there is one single, unifying feature – subjugation of the individual to the collective. While Americans have always been skeptical of socialism, even in the progressive and New Deal eras, that is beginning to change. Large numbers of Americans now express admiration for socialism, and similar numbers are critical of the free enterprise system. The problem is particularly acute among America’s young people. This is not the first time we have been here. In 1977, when America was deep in an economic malaise, Ronald Reagan gave a speech in which he wondered, “Whatever happened to free enterprise?” Noting that the free enterprise system “for 200 years made us the light of the world,” he warned that freedom is “never more than one generation away from extinction.” He took the lead in preserving it for the previous generation. It is time for this generation to take up the torch. Reagan framed the defense of freedom as first and foremost a communications challenge. Today, a field of study known as cultural cognition theory understands that our political choices are guided by certain values. Americans generally fall into one of three value groups, valuing fairness (egalitarians), freedom (libertarians), and security (conservatives) respectively. The Socialist Temptation is an attempt to meet the modern version of the communications challenge posed by Ronald Reagan. There are reasons why socialism appeals to each of these value groups. The Socialist Temptation tackles these reasons head on and responds with a vigorous case for free enterprise as better matching American values.

*A note here: Despite all the complaints about Amazon I’ve not encountered a real problem with a book (as in most problems have another explanation than bias.)  But this link to this book was impossible to share on FB. It just wouldn’t. And when I searched for Iain’s name to link the book here, I got a lot of Iains, but not Iain Murray until I typed the full title AND his name in.  It’s probably just some bizarre glitch, but I admit it’s enough to make me think of Twitter’s shadow banning. And hey, in 2020 one can’t be paranoid or cynical enough. – SAH*

FROM R D MEYER:  Schism.

A single spark. That’s all it takes to ignite an explosion if the conditions are right.

Today in America, conditions are right for an inferno to engulf our nation. We no longer discuss; we screech. We no longer tolerate; we cancel. We no longer agree to disagree; we end relationships that have lasted years. In short, American society is on the edge of an explosion.

Schism is about all of our anger, all of our political rage, coming to the surface in a Second American Civil War. However, this one doesn’t divide us by northern states and southern states, but rather by liberals and conservatives, urban and rural, reds and blues. Spurred on by blog posts, news reports, and protests each side seems to participate in more out of opposition to the other side than any real principle, conditions for the spark grow more and more precarious, priming the pump of hate.

Beginning as what seems like a black and white case of terrorism, events morph into a political struggle over who steers the reins of power. One man seeking justice for his family spins out of control and drags our nation into the abyss while the loyalties of friends, neighbors, and even families are tested against the partisan rancor that pervades society.

Once events explode into a self-sustaining fire, cities burn. Journalists from varying outlets are executed for everyone to see. Power plants are shuttered to cut off each side from the energy our country has become so dependent on. And the whole time, as America is paralyzed in a struggle with itself, an ambitious military officer watches from across the ocean…

THOSE FOOLS! THEY’VE DOOMED US ALL!   Scientists revive 100M-year-old microbes found on seafloor.

THIS OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN YOU ELECT DEMOCRATS GOVERNOR:  Restaurant has food permit suspended for violating health order months after posting controversial sign.

(Oh and the fact that the NYPost thinks that sign is controversial made me roll my eyes so hard they fell under the table and got covered in cat hair.)

IDIOT CAN’T FIGURE THE ATTACKS ARE NOT BECAUSE SHE’S TRANS BUT BECAUSE SHE’S TYRANNICAL. I’M SURE JARED POLIS, STRAINING AT THE SEAMS OF HIS HUGO BOSS GETUP ALSO THINKS THE REASON WE OBJECT TO HIS INCREASINGLY MORE INCOHERENT MANDATES IS THAT HE’S GAY, AND NOT THAT HE’S A STUPID TYRANT:  Pennsylvania health secretary condemns transphobic attacks against her.

MOST PEOPLE WANT A VACCINE BUT ONLY IF SOMEBODY ELSE TESTS IT FIRST:  Most people won’t take COVID-19 vaccine in first year.

Or the second. Or the third. Or the fourth. I’m very leery of a vaccine for the common cold, okay? Which is a coronavirus, just like this one.  And when you tell me the vaccine is made by China?  yeah. No.

I’M YOUNGER THAN NEO, BUT RECENTLY I’VE BEEN WONDERING EXACTLY THE SAME. WE JUST CELEBRATED OUR ANNIVERSARY. AT HOME. BECAUSE ONE OF OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS FOR OCCASIONS HAS CLOSED AND THE NEXT ONE UP SOUNDS ABOUT AS FESTIVE AS A DENTAL PROCEDURE THANKS TO IDIOTIC POLIS’ IDIOTIC MASK ORDER.  I’D SAY I’M ALL DRESSED UP AND NO PLACE TO GO, EXCEPT I DON’T EVEN BOTHER DRESSING UP:  Will I ever buy clothing again?

OH, HECK, THEY’RE GETTING IT IN THEIR SCHOOL BOOKS TOO. IF YOU’RE NOT READING YOUR KIDS’ SCHOOLBOOKS AND COUNTERING THE POISON, YOU ONLY HAVE YOURSELF TO BLAME IF THEY GROW UP TO BE DYSFUNCTIONAL ANTIFIDIOTS:  Teen Vogue to Teen Girls: Marx Good, Reagan Bad.

Though younger son says the most Earthshaking thing I ever told him was “question and test everything. Even the things your boomer teachers say shouldn’t be questioned.”  …. So, think about it.

RETRACTION? APOLOGY. PSHAW! BEING LEFTIST MEANS NEVER HAVING TO SAY YOU’RE SORRY:  A COVID Border Battle.

BUT IT’S OKAY. THEY ALSO HATE MAMMALS, ALL WARM BLOODED CREATURES, AND PROBABLY PLANTS. LIKE ANAL-RETENTIVE CHILDREN, THEY HATE EVERYTHING THEY CAN’T CONTROL: They Hate Us, They Really Hate Us.

TO LOSE THEIR MINDS, THEY’D NEED TO HAVE MINDS:  Leftists Lose Their Minds Because Washington Post Will Capitalize ‘White’.

WE NEED MANY MORE OF HIM:  Chicago Tribune’s John Kass will not take a knee to cancel culture.

PLAY STUPID GAMES, WIN STUPID PRIZES:  Police to DNC: We Won’t Play Your Games.

ONLY IN LEFTIST MINDS. ALSO THEY THINK WHITE SUPREMACY IS HIDING UNDER THEIR BEDS:  Roundup Time: White Supremacy Explains Everything.

I HUMBLY SUGGEST YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY INTO THE LEFT’S NARRATIVE. SURE, THEY’D LIKE YOU TO. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO. IT’S NOT MANDATORY. IT’S ALSO LOOKING AT THINGS THE WRONG WAY AROUND. I KNOW THE US IS THE FIRST MATRIARCHY TO CLAIM THAT WOMEN NEED LIBERATION. BUT THIS IDEA THAT THE LEFT IS STARTING A REVOLUTION AGAINST…. THEMSELVES IS TRULY BIZARRE:  We’re Seeing the Death Rattle of the Revolution, Not Its Birth.

D*MN IT BABYLON BEE! IF YOU DON’T WANT TO BE AMERICA’S PAPER OF RECORD, STOP ACTING LIKE YOU ARE:  ‘The Violent Riots Are A Myth,’ Says Rep. Nadler As Antifa Sets Fire To Congressional Hearing Room.

NBA HARDEST HIT:  People over 6 feet tall are more likely to contract coronavirus.

THAT’S NOTHING. ONE OF MY BEST BUDDIES THINKS HE’S A TANK.  AND AFTER ASSOCIATING WITH HIM FOR A WHILE YOU START SUSPECTING HE’S RIGHT:  Depression caused a woman to believe she was a chicken.

NO. NOT CORONA VIRUS, WHICH IS… WELL, A CORONA VIRUS AND LOOKS MORE AVERAGE EVERY DAY. WHAT IS DESTROYING AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS, FROM SCHOOLS TO MUSEUMS IS STUPID LEFTIST POLICY, TRYING TO TANK THE ECONOMY AND GET RID OF ORANGEMANBAD BY HURTING EVERYONE. THAT AND THESE INSTITUTIONS SUPINE COMPLIANCE AND FALLING ON THEIR SWORDS ZU BEFEHL.  AT THIS POINT CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS NEED TO GROW A PAIR AND TELL DICTATORIAL AND IRRATIONAL GOVERNORS AND MAYORS TO TAKE A FLYING LEAP, THEY’RE RETURNING TO NORMAL NOW.  (AND YES, THAT MEANS POLIS TOO AND HIS BUDDY THE DENVER MAYOR:)  Coronavirus may close one-third of America’s museums for good, directors say.

If you’re a willing collaborationist in destroying America over a totally unjustified virus panic, you deserve what’s coming to you.  And yes, that means most mainline churches as well.  Grow a moral spine or die. The choice is yours.  As Heinlein put it, (paraphrased as I don’t remember the exact wording) It’s always better to be a live lion than a dead sheep. It’s also usually easier.

THIS IS MY SHOCKED FACE:  COVID-19: Bad policy rules!

UNSUPPORTED SPECULATION DOES OT CONSTITUTE A STUDY.  THIS THING IS SO LOADED WITH WEASEL WORDS THEY COULD START A FURRIER:  Plastic waste in oceans will triple by 2040, researchers say

SO IT’S FICTION. BAD, DIVISIVE FICTION? AND WE’RE SUPPOSED TO TEACH IT TO THE CHILDREN, BECAUSE?  1619 Project Creator Admits “It Is Not A History” But a Fight “to Control the National Narrative”.

DO THEY UNDERSTAND PATIENCE HAS LIMITS? AND THAT THIS WON’T GO AS THEY HOPE?  Black Lives Matter Road-Block Tactic Ambushes Drivers, Leading To Dangerous Confrontations.

ACCURATE COMMUNICATION IS AS RACIST AS MATH. I SUGGEST THESE PEOPLE GO GRUNT IN SOME CAVE SOMEWHERE AND LEAVE US THE … LEAVE US ALONE ALREADY:  Rutgers Latest Declaration: Grammar Is Racist.