Worst commute ever in California yesterday when one of our freeways caught fire. Traffic was already bumper to bumper and then smoke and flames erupt to boot? Oy.
Amazing no one was seriously hurt (last I heard). But the insurance companies will be busy for while. Lots of burned out car shells had to be towed away when it was finally over.
” On Saturday, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, a reservist serving on active duty at the Chattanooga center, died, bringing the death toll to five”
I believe McCain was shot down.
How could he not have been captured.
But I didn’t hear what Trump said.
I’ve said before, I wish we had someone with Trump’s gumption without his egomania.
I think the support for Trump is an anti-PC protest. People are getting tired of the PC crowd trying to destroy anyone who doesn’t toll the line. People all over the country are now buying Confederate flags, watching Duck Dynasty and eating at Chick-fila who never would have if they hadn’t been told they couldn’t. I’d be willing to bet that more people would have been willing to bake a gay wedding cake if they hadn’t been told they had to.
During our last evening in Paris, we were seated at a restaurant next to a friendly couple that was also vacationing. The woman turned out to be a journalist who covered the 2008 Democratic primary campaign for a major newspaper.
In her opinion, Hillary will not win the presidency. She simply isn’t good enough on the campaign trail. …. However, (The journalist’s) husband, an astute fellow, added an important caveat to her prediction that Hillary will not win the presidency: ‘Let’s wait and see who the Republicans nominate.’
_____________________________
Donna J, The list is pretty good and KBells is right. The highest Texas “city” on the list is Arlington (a suburb). I think Oklahoma City should be Number 1 over Mesa as it is more Southern and more Christian. Lubbock now has a population of 240,000. When it reaches the 250,000 threshold so it can be considered, Lubbock will be the “most conservative” every year by a wide margin.
Each day in Dallas/Fort Worth, I am unfortunately reminded that I live in the Socialist Sodom of 2015. When I go to OKC, it seems as if it could be 1960. In Lubbock it could be 1948, except there is air conditioning and the Internet.
I’m not surprised at any of the rankings. Except I’m somewhat surprised that Baltimore is so low in the liberal rankings. Somewhat surprised that no Rhode Island town was on the liberal list. Maybe not large enough.
😦 I don’t want some shooting or other disaster to replace them, but I’m really getting tired of Cosby and Trump. I may take a hiatus from the news for a while.
… Trump said that while he hasn’t asked God for forgiveness, he does participate in Holy Communion.
“When I drink my little wine — which is about the only wine I drink — and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed,” he said. “I think in terms of ‘let’s go on and let’s make it right.'”
_______________________________
Apparently Trump isn’t earning any points with Christians in Iowa. No surprise with comments like that. He sounds like a man who doesn’t even have a basic grasp of the gospel. 😦
If one is not a believer, fine. Just say so. I don’t believe one has to be a Christian to be a good president (though it’s a personal quality that obviously appeals to me in a candidate).
But to try to carry off a Christian veneer while admitting that you push through life doing and thinking your own thing with no need of God (really) and no apologies needed for anything, ever, illuminates another serious problem altogether. 🙄 In Trump’s case, he can’t seem to even fake it very convincingly.
“I *guess* that is a form of asking for forgiveness (drinking my little wine and eating my little cracker” ??
Now we will see the difference between offending liberals and offending conservatives. Liberals tried to destroy Trump. Conservatives will just stop supporting him.
Before the end of the campaign, Trump will have to take a break to divorce his latest young blond wife in order to find a still younger, blonder one.
Meanwhile poor Scott Walker and the other Republicans are learning that it is hard to be elected President of the Perverted States of America unless you completely agree with all of the teachings of Organized Perversion.
I think it’s fair to be on the fence with that issue.
There could be (in some cases) a genetic predisposition for some people. I wouldn’t rule that out completely.
There also could be such a hard-wired social-nurture cause acquired so early in life that homosexual attraction certainly doesn’t “feel” like a choice to the person (I tend to believe the latter is likely for many who are gay).
Causes for the orientation itself are probably very complex and different for different people.
Donna J, Your honest answer just cost you a chance to be President.
Seriously, it is an interesting question. There clearly are environmental factors. Boys abused by men are much more likely to wind up as homosexuals. Women abused by men are much more likely to wind up as lesbians. Parental dynamics and relationships are a huge factor. The best analogy may be prostitution. Although there may be some predisposition, many young people are led into this lifestyle by older people or the bad environment in which they dwell.
Ultimately, as the bisexuals freely admit, it is a matter of the will as to whether one will engage in behavior forbidden by Scripture.
Sadly, in the Perverted States of America, one cannot ask this question. We know what would happen to a researcher who seriously tried to deal with this subject. This explains why there are so few new studies on this topic. In the US, we are all required to chant: “They are born that way” as we slouch toward Gomorrah.
Most characteristics are genetic reinforced or repressed by the environment. Sexuality is no different and is far too many naunced for a 30 second clip.
Walker is probably trying desperately not to be a part of the freak show known as the Republican primary. Any gotcha quote will land him with trump et al and away from rubio and bush. He also wants to triangulate himself so he appeals to social conservatives without losing his business Republican support. Finally his wife and kids are socially liberal. He has a balancing act. I may not like his economics or policies in general but I can’t doubt his political acumen
It’s a correlation urban=liberal and rural=conservative. Does geography create political orientation or does orientation come first? Urban needs ten to resemble a liberal platform hence liberal voters whereas rural needs tend to reflect a conservative platform hence conservative voters. If one moved from an urban area to a rural area or vice versa your political orientation would gradually change.
HRW, I have a running debate with several conservative friends about whether the rural/urban split is greater than the North/South divide. My father’s response to the truth you expressed was to propose that no city could have more than 300,000 inhabitants. He had lived in Lubbock and near Austin and I think that caused him to draw the line in between the populations of those places.
I agree with you that Walker is savvy, but I fear he and the other Rs are doomed.
There are very good reasons to enforce immigration laws. However, when charlatans and blowhards like Trump begin to demagogue an issue, I always like to re-examine the “facts”:
The great migration , the civil rights of 1964, and Nixon’s southern strategy pit an end to the north south divide politically.
Depending on the industry or employment type, the liberal or social-democratic appeal can resonate in smaller cities — mining or factory towns for example.
Austin is an university town/city so the left tilt can be expected even in Texas.
I knew Sanders was employing a 50 state strategy (howard dean style)but I didn’t expect it to be this successful. Looks like Ricky may have to flee Texas or Lubbock needs to join Oklahoma.
And if Clinton wins the primary (and the media seems intent on minimizing Sanders) then she and the democratic party can only benefit from his hard work.
Funny you should say that about Lubbock, HRW. I have spent a great deal of time in Lubbock and Oklahoma during the last few years and I can confirm that the five cities of West Texas (Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland/Odessa, San Angelo and Abilene) are much more like Oklahoma City than they are like Dallas or Houston. They are our castle keep – the place where we will flee if all of D/FW becomes like Baltimore or San Francisco.
Of course, Austin is our leper colony, filled with beggars, perverts of all flavors, dopeheads left over from the 60s, professors and bureaucrats.
There on the edge of town lives my mother, who becomes ever more disgusted each evening as she watches the local news.
I believe Austin has reached the point where its character is half satire done just to annoy their fellow Texans. My own city does the same with its blue collar image.
Wandering Views 
Nothing going on today except the shooting and the fore/ traffic on I-15.
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Worst commute ever in California yesterday when one of our freeways caught fire. Traffic was already bumper to bumper and then smoke and flames erupt to boot? Oy.
Amazing no one was seriously hurt (last I heard). But the insurance companies will be busy for while. Lots of burned out car shells had to be towed away when it was finally over.
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From AP via Drudge:
” On Saturday, Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith, a reservist serving on active duty at the Chattanooga center, died, bringing the death toll to five”
I was sorry to see that. He had young children.
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I would like to think that Trump the Buffoon just destroyed himself as a candidate by attacking McCain for being captured. We shall see.
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I believe McCain was shot down.
How could he not have been captured.
But I didn’t hear what Trump said.
I’ve said before, I wish we had someone with Trump’s gumption without his egomania.
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I think the support for Trump is an anti-PC protest. People are getting tired of the PC crowd trying to destroy anyone who doesn’t toll the line. People all over the country are now buying Confederate flags, watching Duck Dynasty and eating at Chick-fila who never would have if they hadn’t been told they couldn’t. I’d be willing to bet that more people would have been willing to bake a gay wedding cake if they hadn’t been told they had to.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I can’t like KBELLS post from my phone but I like it and agree with it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I believe trump called McCain a ‘dummy’ for being caught, said he liked people who didn’t get caught — did trump even ever serve in the military?
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Donna J, Trump dodged the draft during Vietnam in Clintonian fashion including the use of a phantom medical condition.
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I’m shocked. 😉
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http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2015/07/can-hillary-cut-it-on-the-campaign-trail.php
_________________________
During our last evening in Paris, we were seated at a restaurant next to a friendly couple that was also vacationing. The woman turned out to be a journalist who covered the 2008 Democratic primary campaign for a major newspaper.
In her opinion, Hillary will not win the presidency. She simply isn’t good enough on the campaign trail. …. However, (The journalist’s) husband, an astute fellow, added an important caveat to her prediction that Hillary will not win the presidency: ‘Let’s wait and see who the Republicans nominate.’
_____________________________
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Any surprises here for anyone? Not sure what criteria they used, but it’s the list of the 10 most conservative and 10 most liberal cities in the U.S.
http://www3.forbes.com/leadership/the-most-conservative-and-most-liberal-cities-in-america/
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All Cities tend to be more liberal anyway. Conservatives like the suburbs and the country.
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Donna J, The list is pretty good and KBells is right. The highest Texas “city” on the list is Arlington (a suburb). I think Oklahoma City should be Number 1 over Mesa as it is more Southern and more Christian. Lubbock now has a population of 240,000. When it reaches the 250,000 threshold so it can be considered, Lubbock will be the “most conservative” every year by a wide margin.
Each day in Dallas/Fort Worth, I am unfortunately reminded that I live in the Socialist Sodom of 2015. When I go to OKC, it seems as if it could be 1960. In Lubbock it could be 1948, except there is air conditioning and the Internet.
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I’m not surprised at any of the rankings. Except I’m somewhat surprised that Baltimore is so low in the liberal rankings. Somewhat surprised that no Rhode Island town was on the liberal list. Maybe not large enough.
😦 I don’t want some shooting or other disaster to replace them, but I’m really getting tired of Cosby and Trump. I may take a hiatus from the news for a while.
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Hmmm
http://www.cnn.com/2015/07/18/politics/trump-has-never-sought-forgiveness/
_____________________________
… Trump said that while he hasn’t asked God for forgiveness, he does participate in Holy Communion.
“When I drink my little wine — which is about the only wine I drink — and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed,” he said. “I think in terms of ‘let’s go on and let’s make it right.'”
_______________________________
LikeLike
Apparently Trump isn’t earning any points with Christians in Iowa. No surprise with comments like that. He sounds like a man who doesn’t even have a basic grasp of the gospel. 😦
If one is not a believer, fine. Just say so. I don’t believe one has to be a Christian to be a good president (though it’s a personal quality that obviously appeals to me in a candidate).
But to try to carry off a Christian veneer while admitting that you push through life doing and thinking your own thing with no need of God (really) and no apologies needed for anything, ever, illuminates another serious problem altogether. 🙄 In Trump’s case, he can’t seem to even fake it very convincingly.
“I *guess* that is a form of asking for forgiveness (drinking my little wine and eating my little cracker” ??
Wheat and tares. …
LikeLiked by 3 people
Now we will see the difference between offending liberals and offending conservatives. Liberals tried to destroy Trump. Conservatives will just stop supporting him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Before the end of the campaign, Trump will have to take a break to divorce his latest young blond wife in order to find a still younger, blonder one.
Meanwhile poor Scott Walker and the other Republicans are learning that it is hard to be elected President of the Perverted States of America unless you completely agree with all of the teachings of Organized Perversion.
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/07/scott-walker-wont-say-whether-being-gay-is-a-choice-i-dont-have-an-opinion-on-every-single-issue-out-there/
LikeLike
I think it’s fair to be on the fence with that issue.
There could be (in some cases) a genetic predisposition for some people. I wouldn’t rule that out completely.
There also could be such a hard-wired social-nurture cause acquired so early in life that homosexual attraction certainly doesn’t “feel” like a choice to the person (I tend to believe the latter is likely for many who are gay).
Causes for the orientation itself are probably very complex and different for different people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately, those responses are way too nuanced for the campaign trail. 🙂
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Donna J, Your honest answer just cost you a chance to be President.
Seriously, it is an interesting question. There clearly are environmental factors. Boys abused by men are much more likely to wind up as homosexuals. Women abused by men are much more likely to wind up as lesbians. Parental dynamics and relationships are a huge factor. The best analogy may be prostitution. Although there may be some predisposition, many young people are led into this lifestyle by older people or the bad environment in which they dwell.
Ultimately, as the bisexuals freely admit, it is a matter of the will as to whether one will engage in behavior forbidden by Scripture.
Sadly, in the Perverted States of America, one cannot ask this question. We know what would happen to a researcher who seriously tried to deal with this subject. This explains why there are so few new studies on this topic. In the US, we are all required to chant: “They are born that way” as we slouch toward Gomorrah.
LikeLike
Most characteristics are genetic reinforced or repressed by the environment. Sexuality is no different and is far too many naunced for a 30 second clip.
Walker is probably trying desperately not to be a part of the freak show known as the Republican primary. Any gotcha quote will land him with trump et al and away from rubio and bush. He also wants to triangulate himself so he appeals to social conservatives without losing his business Republican support. Finally his wife and kids are socially liberal. He has a balancing act. I may not like his economics or policies in general but I can’t doubt his political acumen
LikeLike
It’s a correlation urban=liberal and rural=conservative. Does geography create political orientation or does orientation come first? Urban needs ten to resemble a liberal platform hence liberal voters whereas rural needs tend to reflect a conservative platform hence conservative voters. If one moved from an urban area to a rural area or vice versa your political orientation would gradually change.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HRW, I have a running debate with several conservative friends about whether the rural/urban split is greater than the North/South divide. My father’s response to the truth you expressed was to propose that no city could have more than 300,000 inhabitants. He had lived in Lubbock and near Austin and I think that caused him to draw the line in between the populations of those places.
I agree with you that Walker is savvy, but I fear he and the other Rs are doomed.
LikeLike
There are very good reasons to enforce immigration laws. However, when charlatans and blowhards like Trump begin to demagogue an issue, I always like to re-examine the “facts”:
http://www.unz.com/article/the-myth-of-hispanic-crime/
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The great migration , the civil rights of 1964, and Nixon’s southern strategy pit an end to the north south divide politically.
Depending on the industry or employment type, the liberal or social-democratic appeal can resonate in smaller cities — mining or factory towns for example.
Austin is an university town/city so the left tilt can be expected even in Texas.
I knew Sanders was employing a 50 state strategy (howard dean style)but I didn’t expect it to be this successful. Looks like Ricky may have to flee Texas or Lubbock needs to join Oklahoma.
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-sanders-takes-his-populism-red-states-and-draws-huge-crowd
And if Clinton wins the primary (and the media seems intent on minimizing Sanders) then she and the democratic party can only benefit from his hard work.
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Funny you should say that about Lubbock, HRW. I have spent a great deal of time in Lubbock and Oklahoma during the last few years and I can confirm that the five cities of West Texas (Lubbock, Amarillo, Midland/Odessa, San Angelo and Abilene) are much more like Oklahoma City than they are like Dallas or Houston. They are our castle keep – the place where we will flee if all of D/FW becomes like Baltimore or San Francisco.
Of course, Austin is our leper colony, filled with beggars, perverts of all flavors, dopeheads left over from the 60s, professors and bureaucrats.
There on the edge of town lives my mother, who becomes ever more disgusted each evening as she watches the local news.
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Clinton, Sanders, Biden? We’re the freak show?
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Liberalism taken to its logical conclusion is insanity. For example:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-transgender-challenge-for-womens-colleges-1437171391
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Speaking of Austin, this store owner and his customers might be leftists, but the employee stocking the merchandise is a conservative.
https://mobile.twitter.com/FoolishReporter/status/622928042667552768
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Kbells nothing trumps Trump.
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I believe Austin has reached the point where its character is half satire done just to annoy their fellow Texans. My own city does the same with its blue collar image.
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