Mirror, Mirror (Christmas 2022, Two.)

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. ~Luke 2:1-14

Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in Washington D.C. today, to meet with President Biden.

And it evidently pissed the MAGA nuts...you know, those supposed American nationalists...off something fierce.

Because they know what they should be doing. They know that Zelensky is our friend and Putin is our enemy. You can't tell me at this point that these fucking people don't know that Russia/The Soviet Union is our main historical enemy and that Vladimir Putin was a Communist and a KGB agent. They know, they just hope that you don't. 

They know what's up, they just figure they can bullshit their way through and want to see what they can get for trying.

They know what they are. They just don't have the guts to come right out and say that they're enemies of America yet...so they attack somebody else that's fighting for his country's freedom.

You can't tell me these people...most of whom over a certain age grew up with the same horror stories of Communist oppression and suppression of Christianity that I did...don't know exactly what Putin 'winning' in Ukraine, conquering Europe and defeating the United States would entail. Local communists and other "Useful Idiots" were usually shot the second they were no longer useful when the Soviets took over a country. They know...or at least...deep down they have to remember all those stories and shit. And they'll never admit to it, but that terrifies them.

Deep down they know that Russian nationalism is violently incompatible with American nationalism.

They just hope the Democrats get shot first, or that they can somehow "Own The Libs" before they die.

Because they're mad as hell that American culture has gotten away from them...as if they've done one damn thing since Bush 41's term ended to try and persuade anybody of anything. Bob Dole didn't bend the knee to the racists and religious nuts, so he lost. Bush 43 and his idea of "Compassionate conservatism" was scorned by these same assholes.  

And of course the whole Trump thing didn't work out, and Elon still can't run for President even if he manages to avoid crashing and burning along with Tesla stock and Twitter as a platform.

So now they're sucking off Kyle Rittenhouse...and they're mad as hell that most other people treat him as a murderer and not some kind of hero.

They're mad as fuck that nobody gives a shit about Josh Hawley's fake religiosity and priggish crusades. These assholes feel entitled, that they should be the heroes damn it! 

All because they've convinced themselves that being assholes equals being part of some avant-garde revolutionary movement and they're sure the reason this isn't being well-received is some vast left-wing conspiracy and not that they're, ya know, assholes and nobody wants to put up with that shit. (Seriously this is Elon's basic M.O. in how he's running Twitter.)

I mean, they literally think they have Twitter, they own the Blue Check now, $8 Bro, $8! You have to listen to them, you just have to!

Meanwhile, I've yet to see one of these dumb shits actually do anything heroic.

It's puerile, it's stupid, but it's also very, very Republican. It's the end result of what's fundamentally a belief in a godless world where Man's self-satisfaction is the sole moral purpose of his life. In other words...Randian Objectivism.

What if...bear with me here...no one has to listen to you??

These people somehow collectively never 'got' that stockpiling political power and social status only went as far as what you did with it. 

They have made of the "Conservative" movement a thing that makes people not even be the sum of their parts. They know it, Newt Gingrich had some real skills and was a no-shit historian at one point. Instead he will forever be known getting run out of Congress for adultery just after impeaching Bill Clinton for the same thing he was doing.

They're so convinced that everything is top-down and that everybody is secretly like them that they can't even plan for...what if it isn't and we're not?

And yet every last one of these sons of bitches will claim to follow a religion started by a poor carpenter and itinerant Rabbi, that claims as its core tenants "Love thy neighbor" and "Think of others!"

The tragedy of all this is that these people, like it or not, are the heirs to guys like Ronald Reagan.

They could easily look at their own history, see the contradictions and the moral collapse, and choose another path.

They just don't want to.

Volodymyr Zelensky's heroic leadership and the undaunted courage of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian people in their fight against Putin's neo-Soviet tyranny hold a mirror up to that.

And Republicans don't really like the reflection that they see in that cold and misted mirror.

Maybe, Republicans, the problem is you.

Today is the Winter Solstice, one of the points in the Wheel Of The Year that marks the changing of the seasons. Autumn gives way to Winter which leads to the rebirth of Spring. Christmas marks the Birth of Jesus, Easter, repurposed by the Christians to commemorate the Death and Resurrection of Christ marks the resurrection of Spring, which soon gives way to bright Summer.

It's all right there in front of you, Republicans, but you have to want to change.

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Слава Україна!

The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well, it's a simple answer after all. You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, "There is a price we will not pay." There is a point beyond which they must not advance. This is the meaning in the phrase of Barry Goldwater's "peace through strength." Winston Churchill said that "the destiny of man is not measured by material computation. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we are spirits — not animals." And he said, "There is something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty." ~Ronald Reagan