The Classical (Trumpian) Liberal

At last, the election, hopefully the last serious momentous event of 2020, is upon us. This is by far the most important election since at least 1864, and almost certainly the greatest choice election. Also, this election is a hinge moment; either the country is going to continue healing and reforge into a patriotic and strong nation, or we will continue down the progressive path of managed decline.

Starting with 2008, the nation accelerated a self-loathing and insidious spirit of mediocrity that had been building in the waning days of the Cold War. The ascendancy of Barack Obama was the most serious wound America had received since the era of unrest in the 1960s-1970s. Yes, the Iraq War, the drug epidemic, illegal immigration before 2008, the depletion of the military, etc. etc., were serious struggles or body blows to the national psyche. But the election of the 44^th president was perhaps the first momentous sign of outright defeatism among the American populace.

Earlier progressive presidents, such as FDR and LBJ, while radical and/or idiotic in many of their policies, they didn’t hate the country, nor any large segment of the people (at least openly). Yes, they wanted to make numerous fundamental transformations, something Obama would echo decades later, but they never displayed an open disdain for their fellow countrymen as ‘the Messiah’ did. Statements about ‘clingers’ ‘you didn’t build that’ Christians not being nice, America being the world’s problem, all of that was grating beyond expression.

After eight years of his constant American bashing, his ignoring or hindering of the heartland, his incessant belittling of Christians, Israel supporters, the middle class, those who worked in the fossil fuel industries, and so on, the United States was battered beyond recognition. Coming out of the worst recession since the 1930s, the recovery was extremely slow, good jobs weren’t as plentiful, our military was cut to the bone and the overall tenor in flyover country (and other conservative/libertarian folks) was ranging from morose, to apathetic, to just plain exhausted and disheartened.

Enter stage right, Donald Trump. He inherited a very fragile country, one that was on edge not just due to his surprise election, but the ever increasing racial tensions fomented by the Obama Administration, the loss of good paying working/middle class jobs and the ever ‘wokening’ culture was becoming too much for average Americans to bear. It appeared he wouldn’t be able to mend the country, nor make good on many promises, particularly those on the economic front.

While the Trump Bump wasn’t enough for everyone, it certainly was better than slightly notable. People returned to the workforce, gasoline price spikes became less extreme, more money went into everyone’s pockets, businesses had extremely high confidence because of less taxes and burdensome regulations, and the military was restocked, just to name a few massive changes. Was there much still to be done? Of course, but the nation was moving in the right direction.

Then the China virus hit, and America was laid low. Was this Trump’s fault? Pelosi’s fault? Biden’s fault? No, no and no. Remembering this, the President responded fortuitously with the travel bans, used his business acumen to secure PPE, used government powers sparingly and judiciously to get equipment and gear procured, and moved deftly on the things that mattered most to both maintain the economy and to make medical inroads.

Were his words on occasion confusing and a bit jarring? Yes. Were the press conferences at times, especially in the early months, disjointed and somewhat contradictory. Another yes. However, remember the virus wasn’t nearly as well known in the spring, and Trump had to consider many implications beyond just public health, and even the health experts were wrong, at times much more wrong, or much less right, than the President.

Then the riots came. Ironic that the man who had done significant criminal justice reform, who had put extra resources into black community, was now deemed a racist (again) because he didn’t cower before the BLM and Antifa mob, and the many useful idiot protestors, who had good intentions, but once confronted with the facts, could not be swayed towards reason. Again, the President was in a no-win situation, and apparently doomed to a massive electoral loss.

It comes as no surprise the media didn’t report on any accomplishments and criticism fair or correctly, and skewered the President unfairly, only furthering his seemingly inevitable defeat. Still, on the eve of the election, here we stand, with Trump within the margin of error in most of the battleground states. Are the odds still stacked against him? Of course, but that he is even this close is astonishing. His resolute stances, and the awakening of the American public to the dangers of a Biden presidency have alerted many. Will it be too late though?

Drawing a parallel with the opening year of World War II regarding geopolitics and military reality, with the past twelve years of American presidential history, these two streams echo a somewhat similar and jagged path. In 2008, when President Obama won in an almost unprecedented election, it compares in part to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The defenders of classical liberalism in this country were left depressed and shell-shocked, while the Western world in 1939 was stunned and scrambling. The GOP was in no position to dictate much of anything, and had to suffer what the apparently strong had in store.

When the panzers broke through the Ardennes in May 1940, the British Army, Belgian Army and a large French force was cut off from the main French body. This shattered the ‘Phony War’ narrative. In 2012, hoping for a victory over an inept and corrupt Obama, the GOP and its political allies, Obama won another large victory, despite no record to run on. The Western armies fled to the Channel ports, while the GOP was soul searching.

Then 2016 came around. Trump, despite gaffes and some lack of traditional presidential comportment, he knew America was in deep trouble. The country was overrun by China, bad immigration policy, an economy tilted towards the elite, and a country’s soul which had been bashed constantly. At the end of May 1940, British and French forces were hemmed in at Dunkirk, with German air and ground forces closing the ring day after day. It appeared peace was the only alternative, and Churchill would have been ‘wise’ to sue for peace.

Instead, President Trump, politically mimicking the words of Churchill in those desperate days generations ago, pulled a rabbit out of a hat, a ‘miracle of deliverance.’ 2016 was America’s political Dunkirk. When the chips were down, when the progressives had the proverbial high ground, President Trump secured victory from the jaws of apparent defeat. While everything wasn’t smooth for him nor his supporters in the months and years following, not unlike the British forces who were able to return to their island home after the miraculous evacuation, defeat and surrender were delayed and new hope sprang forth.

Now, in 2020, this is America’s Battle of Britain. While the President has had setbacks, he still stands resolute, along with many of his trusty supporters. While they may be outnumbered, they too have what the British had in the summer of 1940: less lengthy lines of communications (focusing their supporters in areas that matter such as Ohio, not California, while the RAF had less far to travel to meet the German Luftwaffe), and a stout heart. This is where the Trump movement can break the progressive movement, displace it for a generation. Like Germany after those fateful months in the air over Britain in 1940, all that can happen in the near term are sorties that sting and bite, but an uneasy breath can be taken by Trump’s forces, realizing that we can now hold out indefinitely. Again, not unlike Churchill, if necessary for years, if necessary alone…

No doubt the Left will freak out by this comparison, but they constantly call our side Nazis, KKK, and the like. This author was only comparing events from the past (not Obama to Hitler, which is preposterous, unlike them insanely comparing Trump with Hitler) with events in our recent past up to this moment. Hopefully, after they’ve been triggered, they’ll cool off and prepare to launch their next offensive against anyone who dares to make a controversial post. On a side note, I’ll wait with hopeful anticipation when General Mattis renounces his comparison of Trump with Nazism…

With that, the final die is being cast, and it is time for final surge forth, the final ounce of strength thrown into the fray. As we gather for our final thoughts and prayers during this trying and uncertain time, let us remember the stakes, and that the opposition isn’t waning in his efforts. It is time to Make America Great Again again, and like our ancestors from times past, we will meet the challenge with their same grit, courage and wisdom. Even with the circumstances we find ourselves in, we know from history, that not all is hopeless, not by a long shot.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

After the debate on Tuesday, it is was obvious that fireworks will only continue. This blog had some theoretical advice for the President, and had some predictions that Joe Biden could do alright (just enough), with media assistance. While it was notable that Chris Wallace was unable to keep the debate on track, and he was aiding Biden openly at times, this was a somewhat missed opportunity for the President.

As noted earlier, it was a time for Trump to counterattack, probably his greatest specialty. Instead, in a somewhat noble, but also misguided effort, the President launched an attack reminiscent of Soviet rolling offensives of World War II, attacking in different spots all along the front. The interruptions became more of a spectacle, not aiding in the debate. Yes, it is absolutely necessary for Biden to answer about Hunter, the Supreme Court packing scheme and numerous other sins, but style points still count, thus making interruptions count as well.

This isn’t meant as a harsh critique of the President, rather, just a place for improvement. On the substance front, he was well above average, actually this was almost certainly his best debate concerning substance. He was on point about the Green New Deal, the suburbs, energy, law and order, the economy and other topics as well. He had Biden spinning on occasion, forcing the former VP to either hide, insult or slink through his answers. When the Democrats are calling you a racist, and they are calling you a clown, while they have been the actual racist and have been the nonsensical voice in the room, it’s hard not to sympathize with Trump’s annoyance. The interrupting though stole some of the luster of an otherwise great performance.

The President isn’t the outsider anymore, he is judged harshly (unfairly too) by the media/political establishment complex, and he will always be held to a higher standard because he is the Commander in Chief. Knowing this, he has areas to improve, and they aren’t hard areas to improve upon. As mentioned earlier in a slightly different way, when the opponent is preparing to harm himself, don’t give them respite. Instead, merely aid their discomfort with slight barbs or with unending kindness. “Joe, I yield my time to you, no rush,” is a slightly condescending, but effective strategy to force Biden out of his mental bunker when he is struggling.

In the end, this might be a bit too late, as the debates may switch to a less intense format, with each side answering uninterrupted (less likely for Trump with an even more adversarial moderator). Still, if the President can adapt and keep his cool, Biden will be forced to answer questions, and his stumbling will become far more evident as the debate progresses. Again, Trump should do what he does best, counterattack with his great one-liners, and pound hard with the facts and truth. These benefit him far more than his opponent.

Overall, this debate was a version of Antietam, with Trump channeling the Unionist forces, and Biden representing the neo-Confederate forces. While this iconic battle was in essence a draw, except for the fact that the Army of Northern Virginia was forced to withdraw, this is what this first round of debate was: either a draw, or a slight Trump victory. But as with Antietam, the opposing force was allowed to slink away to fight another day. Trump knows now that he won’t be able to rattle Biden, and that he must be more wary of attacking too much, fighting over too little gain. Pick his battles, and Trump will dominate the next two debates without a doubt.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

As the eminent historian/commentator Victor Davis Hanson pointed out, this debate tonight has more on the line for Biden, having more to lose than Trump has to gain. This makes it somewhat difficult for Trump to ‘win’ the debate in the traditional sense, but he has one element of this which will be crucial: the counterattack. Trump can exploit weakness like few politicians can and he’ll have to pick his battles, find the right questions to attack on.

Biden’s mental decline is obvious, but attacking this too much is also something to beware of. Instead, letting Biden dangle and flail on the line when he’s flustered is the best option, only quipping ‘Come on Joe,’ or ‘I cede the rest of my time on this question so Joe can finish.’ Let the centrist and undecided voter see what the Democrats have been trying to shield the public from. Sometimes, letting your opponent destroy himself is better than actively seeking his destruction.

Trump must also beware of Chris Wallace, because even if he is from Fox News, he’s in the tank for the liberals. This has to be balanced with the fact that Trump wasn’t absolutely thrilled with the interview the two had this summer, so not showing too much animosity is also crucial. Trump seems to sway between cozy and hostile (more the latter) to the media, and must avoid both extremes. Remember the bites from Wallace previously, but only to gird against sneaky questions or rebuttals that are intended to throw off Trump.

This is uncharted territory for Trump. This time, he is on the defensive, as he is in the ultimate seat of power. However, he still has no sincere and solid support from the political establishment, instead, he has to run as an ‘outsider insider.’ During this debate, he has to channel both of these, again, finding some moderate path. Bring the outsider fire, continue to criticize the establishment, state a clear contrast in visions. Temper this with an insider poise, show some extra prudence (he has to show more because the media and his opponents have somewhat unfairly and falsely portrayed him on this front), and show some sympathy for the American people, which he is capable of doing, sometimes very well.

If you are a Trump supporter tonight, you should be nervous, because any candidate you’re supporting should make you nervous yes, but the question is, will the real Joe Biden appear tonight? Or will it be the fake, barely making it, creaking version that squeaked out a small win or tie against Bernie Sanders? I for one am nervous, and it’s nerve-wracking that it comes down to the other side in large measure making mistakes, but with the media in his back-pocket, Biden still unfortunately has the edge. Tonight, we are either going to need a Trumpian miracle, if he can have any chance of producing them, or more realistically, a miracle of a faltering Biden, fading into the irrelevance as another socialist candidate who failed to sway America.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

Numerous American President owned slaves. Some like Washington freed their slaves upon their death. Others like Grant (who received his through marriage), released them after a short period of time. Realizing that slavery was both an ill, and that it was an ages long institution that was foisted upon America (as with many other nations) which caused many discomforts and second thoughts, is certain. Understanding this is crucial to understanding America, and it is in part, crucial to understanding the seventh President Andrew Jackson.

The first man to attain the presidency after being born into poverty, Jackson was a story that only could have happened in the ever changing and ever evolving United States. Growing up on the frontier, he gained in prominence after fighting Indians, and subsequently earned great acclaim leading a multiracial, disparate group of Americans at the Battle of New Orleans, mangling the British troops who had helped bring about the demise Napoleon. He rose through the political ranks, eventually becoming Senator from Tennessee, before finally unseating John Quincy Adams, the son of John Adams, to become President in 1828.

His record was a strong one, buoyed by the fact that he stood against wasteful government projects, paid off the national debt (what a concept) and resoundingly stood against the threat of insurrection during the Nullification Crisis of 1831. However, his owning of slaves and his leadership of the nation during the Trail of Tears blemishes his record, and there is a case to made, but with context and with approbation.

Regarding slavery, he had slaves, as did many rich Southerners during the antebellum period. This is not to excuse the institution, rather it should be noted that this wasn’t unusual, and he didn’t wish to see the Union dissolved (more on that shortly) over the issue. As to the Trail of Tears, yes Jackson was cold and was disrespectful to the Supreme Court’s ruling and to the Indians. Two points though: first, there wasn’t a strong national army to protect the Indians being removed, and second, after long and hard years of Indian fighting, in which at times the Indians spun white babies around and splatted their heads against tree trunks, some forbearance could be bestowed (also, Jackson had an adopted son who was Indian).

When the despicable act of tearing down Jackson’s statue in Lafayette Square occurred this summer, it was disturbing to see relatively little condemnation of the incident. People just didn’t care or weren’t knowledgeable enough to know that Jackson was a great American, and should be revered despite his faults. Cries of him being racist and all the rest drowned out the entirety of the man, his full account. While this is a symptom of the lack of civic and historical education in the overall American school system, this is still a travesty, and must be rectified. How could a man, who despite some major faults, who had risen from poverty to the greatest office in the land, and who had stood up to elements of his own elite Southern class, and stated, “Our Federal Union, it must be preserved,” be the object of such ridicule?

Leaving aside the lack of education and the lack of couth among the leftist rioters and their supporters, Jackson is under further attack, because the current occupant of the White House has embraced him as part of his campaign on behalf of the American people. President Trump has run on a populist and pro-American platform, in certain ways emulating Jackson. Yes, the national debt has exploded, America is a world leader now and government intervention in American life is out of control compared to 200 years ago, but a belief in average people guiding their own futures drove both men. Ergo, it doesn’t take a deep leap of logic to see why the Left is going after Jackson, as it is an indirect but clear attack on President Trump and his supporters.

Men such as Jackson and Trump upset the establishment, they come in and overturn the tables of power, and give some vision that isn’t one of days gone by just for their own sake. Neither man completely eschewed tradition however, particularly of the longer and more venerable kind, reigning in their more harsh populism with a conservative reference for our forefathers. Both of  these things offend the Left: reversing the establishment way of conducting politics, and the maintaining the Founding principles which created the United States.

While Trump’s faults are much less than Jackson’s, they are also extremely visible. So what does the elite do? Like with Jackson, they entirely avoid the positive record and press overly hard on the bad elements of each man, using these as the only real proof of their evil, and making up or contorting the rest to meet their own devious ends. Men like Trump and Jackson should not be torn down though, and the heartland of this country, along with a similar ragtag group of patriots across the nation, not entirely unlike those that Jackson at New Orleans, comes into view, scaring those who still cling to power for its own sake.

Let us therefore remember Jackson as a man of great shortcoming, but also as a great man who helped forge this nation in the generations after the Revolution. Yes, some of his views would be contrary to ours now, but he stood for the nation itself, and by so protecting it, he was a shuttle runner, passing off his burden to yet another generation of Americans, tasked to make the Union stronger and do their solemn duty of passing it on themselves in the future when their time comes. Now it is our time to let President Trump be his generation’s Jackson, let him finish the task at hand, of making America better than we first entered office. With him, the Union can be preserved.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

Generally, this blog attempts to give issues a few weeks or months to breathe, so that more rational and critical analysis can take place. In most cases, this would remain true, but these are uncertain and perilous times. With an election that looks to be fraught with intrigue, supposed and actual voter fraud, continuing rioting in the streets and ever deepening racial and political divides, it seemed prudent to speak out on this pressing topic; the open slot on the Supreme Court.

The passing of another human being, unless they are the worst of the worst, should at least marshal some feeling of supreme sympathy, perhaps even empathy. For this a path we all must take at one point or another, and not respecting this tradition would be counter to all which this society is built on. Whether the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg creates opportunities and newfound weakness is relevant yes, but it also shouldn’t steal from the raw loss of life.

As to the matter of politics and American society, this is a moment of inflection. Does American virtue take a backseat to the mob, letting the thugs in the streets determine the political and judicial future of America? Or does sober and judicious principle stand tall in the face of vileness and debauchery? This upcoming battle will not only determine the fate of American judicial precedence, but will determine what strength can be expected from the conservative/libertarian segment of American politics for many years to come.

Why is this important? When facing an adversary, the battle doesn’t always come down to actual strength and numbers. Sometimes, a show of force or strength can preclude the need for the use or show of force in the future, or at the minimum, a respect for the fact that strength will be implemented when necessary. By standing up during this desperate hour concerning the election, the fate of the highest court in the land, and not kowtowing to the mob, will both tell the mob that they have a challenge, and hopefully will be an inspiration to our descendants in the decades to come.

Fighting for this seat is of vital importance for another reason; the avoidance of a potential 4-4 court decision regarding the presidential election. Should the battleground states have election fraud, election law and election eligibility contentions at play, a final decision in the model of a Bush v. Gore scenario, albeit with a contentious 5-4 decision, allowed for a rightful Bush presidency to commence on schedule. A 4-4 decision would either push a decision(s) back to a lower court decision(s), causing more than distraught passion among one political camp, or worse yet, indecision would lead to no victory for either campaign, and Acting President Pelosi would take over, undoubtedly destroying much of Trump’s successes.

The Left is scared that this dynamic could not only change the electoral outcome (cheating will become harder at the least), but the Supreme Court will be altered for at least a generation, perhaps even part of the subsequent one. This is an overblown, yet legitimate concern on their side. However, the question crystallizes… if the shoe was on the other foot, and the Democrats had this amazing opportunity, would they waste it? Of course they wouldn’t, but nevertheless, they continue to moan and groan, hoping to stop a seemingly inevitable movement they are upset about.

Today, the now oft commented on McConnell Rule is either derided or praised. In essence, when there is an election year for the presidency, and the sitting President is of one party, and the Senate is of another party, the seat should remain open until the election has concluded. Cries of hypocrisy and subterfuge rain down like the Lord of Hosts blotting out the sinful outposts of Sodom and Gomorrah, but something is forgotten, no matter how obvious. The current state of American politics has placed the Republicans in charge of the Executive branch, and the Senate, the other element necessary to place a Supreme Court Justice.

Leaving aside that this proves a totally different situation we all face today, as opposed to 2016, another thing that people tend to forget, is that President Obama was on his way out of office, forced out by the term limits imposed by Constitutional amendment. President Trump meanwhile is in the fight of his life, facing the most brutal of campaigns to maintain his position for another four years. It is hard not to laugh at all the inconsistencies of both the Democrats’ frustration, but also at their poorly formulated counterattacks, yet the squeals of their supporters, which become evermore dangerous with the actualizations of fire, fists and clubs, creates another pressing urge to settle this nomination process.

Regardless of who occupies 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2021, it is incumbent on the President to fulfill his Constitutional responsibilities. With the current status the country is facing now, with the political tension, the physical safety of millions of Americans in peril, and the lack of certainty regarding coronavirus, it is of the utmost importance that President Trump and the United States Senate provide some modicum of assurance to the American people. Leaving a vacancy on the Supreme Court, in the midst of an ever-changing election atmosphere, an election that will both shape the American landscape for many decades, and will be of similar importance to Lincoln’s reelection in 1864, Reagan’s election in 1980, is a nonstarter. It is crucial nothing is left to chance. President Trump and the Republican Party therefore must forge ahead, drowning out the shrill voices of contempt and continual doomsday prophecy. This, besides the actual election itself, will be the greatest political issue of 2020, and deserves near equal focus and dedication as well.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

Recently, a Trump supporter was assassinated in Portland. Not killed in mutual combat, not random drive-by shooting, not an accident. It was murder, plain and simple. Merely walking down the street and being a Trump supporter was his only discernible crime. His murderer, an Antifa supporter, claimed to be defending a ‘friend of color,’ when there was no one to defend, but the man he shot at point-blank range.

            Disgustingly, Vice President Biden, the Democrat standard bearer in the upcoming Presidential election, blamed the Trump supporter for his own death. He falsely claimed the man was engaged in harming Black Lives Matter supporters, which was not the case. The murdered man was merely walking down a street, was hunted by the Antifa supporter, who was waiting in a parking garage, and the soon to be dead man was followed until the shots were fired.

            The media continues to not only lie about this incident, but they continue to claim the ‘mostly peaceful protests’ quip of what has happened during the riots. Portland is unfortunately a microcosm of this sad state of American media, American protest and American civility. The media is mostly covering up what Antifa and Black Lives Matter is doing (not just protesting, but rioting, looting, arson, etc.). The American protest, a noble endeavor, is now sullied with the filth of the rioting the past few months, making people tune out. And American civility, which was already shaky, is nearing lows not seen since the end of the 1960s, and it is almost impossible to have a reasonable conversation.

            Playing off that, how could a city as Democrat strong as Portland, have right-wingers take over the city? An area that votes over three-quarters Democrat, and has been the home to Antifa, can’t withstand a few thousand Trump supporters? Not only are they outnumbered, they are merely asking that they have the same right to protest, but this is unacceptable, but it is ok for more violent groups that actually riot? And why is the media covering this up, when it is obvious one side is committing most of the atrocities?

            None of these facts help the Biden campaign, in fact they hurt it. Recently, there was an ad with Biden comparing the Trump supporters in Portland, who had a member murdered by the counter protestors, to the neo-Nazis who marched in Charlottesville. How is that possible, when nothing could be further from the truth? How could Biden, who was silent on the rioting for months, claim he wants an end to rioting now? It’s about cold, calculating politics, knowing Americans aren’t on top of everything in the news. How could they be? With coronavirus, the riots, the economic downturn, not to mention the other ills that abound around every one of us, distracting us, it’s understandable.

            Instead, not only do many of us tune out the clips we see or hear, we become implacable, more comfortable in either our tight communities, family or fortresses of our very own minds. This is what the Left lives for, a divided America, based on chopping up race, socioeconomic status, religion, etc. We can’t allow this to happen. As citizens, we must continue forward, and tell our fellow citizens the truth. Stop blaming the Right for most of these issues, and focus on the Leftists who seek to divide us and eventually conquer us. It is simple, but not easy to do. Everyone knows the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and who squeaks the most, most of the time? Knowing that reality, it is tough to be in the Center or the Right, and say either stop it on social media or to people in-person. But if we don’t, it only emboldens the opposition which seeks to bring down Western civilization.

            When considering the rioting, the disorder in Portland, the Biden campaign and the media’s coverups, it is still maddening to see many Americans nervous to stand with order, lawfulness and the greatness of the country. Nevertheless, it isn’t time for timidity and straddling the fence. It is time to support order, to support law, and most importantly, to call out outright lies and speak the truth, even if we face threats from the mob. Portland doesn’t have to be the future of America, in fact, Portland can be a blip on the radar, thrown on to the ash heap of lamentable and unnecessary history.

            Let the case of Portland speak to the truth: the Right isn’t the problem, Biden shouldn’t blame the man murdered, Antifa and Black Lives Matter must be held to account, and we have to stand our ground even in the face of ridicule. We are now on the edge of a knife, and without enough good men speaking out, we will all share in the darkness of lies, and the fear of destruction that is casting a ominous cloud in an already uncertain sky.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

`Anniversaries have come and gone, with the 80^th anniversary of victory against Japan just passed, along with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Despite little celebration due to the coronavirus, it marked one more passage of time, one that should remain hallowed. Other anniversaries of less numerical significance, but should be remembered even more so than dates of victory, so that mistakes are not made again of similar magnitude which lead to such costly triumphs.

World War II taught the world some great and horrible lessons. Appeasing one’s enemy is certain to bite in the bud, being unprepared, especially in a war of greater technological and industrial capacity is deadly, and not correctly anticipating the consequences of inaction, were all remembered. However, especially the last one, has not taken root, especially in terms of unforeseen consequences.

             Over a week and some eighty-one years ago, the final guarantee of war was sealed. This came in the form of the Molotov-von Ribbentrop, an agreement signed by Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, a week before the invasion of Poland. Without this agreement, Hitler would’ve been in a much more confined set of circumstances after starting war near the Soviet sphere of influence. Instead, he was given a green-light for his war on Europe.

            Before this agreement was even negotiated, Hitler was aware of the unfortunate geographic position Germany had. With potential enemies on two fronts, with Britain and France in the West, and Russia to the East, Germany could ill afford another war fighting two directions a second time. Neutralizing one of these enemies was vital to win the Continent and fulfill his plans for domination.

            After the Munich Agreement, Britain and France had proven to be feckless and were unwilling to stand up to Hitler. Stalin, while worried about Hitler’s rise through the 1930s, was becoming more convinced that the Western Powers did not have the will to fight. While Winston Churchill was hopeful of various alliances, including one with the Soviets to hem in Hitler, the time for gaining Russia as an ally was gone.

            Instead, Stalin decided to back the stronger horse, and protect himself from the impending Nazi onslaught. With Britain and France struggling to reorient and rearm, the German and Soviet governments began to meet and decided to carve out swathes of Eastern and Central Europe. Also, which would prove crucial in the months ahead, Soviet grain and oil would flow into Germany via rail, while German finished goods would reverse the trek back to Russia, enabling both dictatorships to gain additional strength.

            With a wink from his newfound friend in the East, Hitler invaded Poland a week later on September 1^st, beginning his armed conflict to subjugate Europe. On September 17^th, the Soviets invaded the remnants of Poland, carving out the Soviet part of the devilish bargain. In addition, the Soviets gained the Baltic states, Poland was divided, and other elements of territory and influence were divvied up.

            Before a year had passed, Germany, without a fear of war to the rear, was able to invade and conquer: Denmark, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and France. Supplied with Soviet raw goods, and glutted with victory, Germany stood victorious, with only an isolated Britain remaining as opposition. And although the war would turn in favor the West (and Soviets), it would be decades before countries in Eastern Europe, especially Poland, would become free once more.

            Having given into weakness and appeasement, the West not only set the stage for a conflict that would kill well over sixty million people, but they had allowed the world’s two greatest dictatorships to unite and become a loose coalition against the democracies. And it should also be mentioned, that in the decades after World War II, the hard earned resources in addition to what had already been spent, from scarce dollars to precious blood around the world, to prevent communism from gaining an even greater foothold.

            Looking back at those dark days in 1939, it is beyond reproach to believe those in power regretted not having done something to stop Hitler. However, it was not only failing to stop Hitler, but also failing to stop Stalin from helping Hitler, which was even more damnable. By not confronting one tyrant, another was allowed to stand aloof during the early days of carnage, only then to see the West support the aloof tyrant in the subsequent years, both unintended consequences of inaction. Let that be a sub-lesson of appeasement, for not only do the generations past regret not standing against aggression, but their descendants also regretted their ancestors lack of fortitude, as they continued to pay the price for appeasement, merely in another guise of totalitarianism.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

When considering the current political climate we live in, things that used to be taken for granted by many Americans, such as safety and overall societal stability, were givens. Today, these things are not only shaky ground, they are quite possibly slipping away before our very eyes. Some believe that by bowing to the mobs, the social justice warriors, the looters, all of this will go away with a simple snap of the fingers. Others believe if they can just weather the election, and President Trump is defeated, order will be restored, and calm will once again resume.

            Pursuing either of these options is naïve at best, and reckless and out of touch with reality at worst. As President Marshall (played by Harrison Ford in Air Force One) asked his vice president, what happens when you give a mouse a cookie, she replies it will ask for a glass of milk. At this point, we are being asked not only to give the mouse a cookie and milk, but to give the mouse a back-rub, a goodnight story and potentially half or more of our earnings, not to mention our natural rights to free speech, self defense and to property.

            Ironically, while the media says that it is white America who are the ones who are scared of the protests, who are the most ‘fragile,’ instead it is the black and brown communities of America who are now suffering the most from this current lawlessness in parts of the country. It is the inner cities and urban centers which are being pummeled by the rioting, the looting, the arson and the general debauchery we see every night on our screens, at times perpetrated by white vandals or whites who are instigators pushing others to do their dirty work.

            So, in that case, if black and minority lives truly matter, we should rush to their aid and defend them with the power of the state (for without the state, we would live in anarchy and safety would morph into who could pay the most for security, or the principle of might makes right would reign). However, in this current environment, many Democrat stronghold states and/or cities are reticent to plug the breach of nearly unending violence plaguing parts of the nation. This proves that these lives truly don’t matter quite as much as liberal talking heads would lead us to believe.

            Instead, we are fed a lie by the media, telling us not to believe our eyes or ears. To keep the campaign of wokeness going, to keep the Democrat party afloat, the media has concocted the ‘mostly peaceful’ protests line. It might be wondered how many more people have to die, how many people have to be hurt, how many more buildings have to be burned down, how many more businesses have to be looted, before the American public at large will say enough.

            While no one can blame the American people as a whole for the violence, all of us must look at ourselves, and say we are all slightly to blame, at least if we aren’t saying anything to condemn the violence, unequivocally, full stop. No more of the ‘but the protests aren’t violent,’ or ‘unrest is necessary for change.’ Anything of the like should be immediately repudiated and told off as whitewashing or deflecting the truth. We can no longer stand on the edge of the knife, playing moderate in the face of extreme radicalism, for this is a dangerous game that will only continue to become more and more ferocious as time goes on.

            Besides speaking out against the violence, what else is there to be done? First, stop blaming the President, and not defending him. He didn’t cause the riots, he has tried to end them through military, and now federal agent action, and all he has gotten in return is ridicule and scorn from the military, political, media and cultural establishments. Without any help from these centers of power, the public must reinforce the President’s hand by lending him unending and vociferous support. This will give him the ability to maneuver and go about using any riot-neutralizing combination of the National Guard, federal agents, and the military should the situation continue to deteriorate.

            Second, challenge those who say minorities matter, but don’t follow through, either with word or deed. The vast majority who are suffering from the riots live in minority dominated neighborhoods, and with no support from their police, the mayors or the governors. Those in power can’t be allowed to get away with saying they care about these lives. Without law enforcement support, district attorneys prosecuting the criminals and an overall tenor from local leaders that instills a renewed sense of order, these people are doomed to continued violence.

            Finally, stop pretending these protests are about George Floyd, even Jacob Blake. While what happened to Floyd was wrong, and Blake’s case needs unwrapping, when the protests are calling for either an overthrow of the current American government, or such a radical shift that the country will soon become unrecognizable, the protests aren’t about reform or redress of legitimate grievances. This isn’t a repudiation of protesting, as this right is guaranteed by the Constitution and natural right, as even the lowliest Communist or Nazi is allowed this. But cloaking oneself with falsely constructed pompous righteous indignation is too much to swallow.

            As the violence continues, it is still within our power to stop this. Voting for Democrats may bring temporary relief, but the wolves that have been unleashed will not be satiated for long. They have tasted blood, and have been given relatively free reign during this vulnerable period in American history. And by not standing against them, these radicals and criminals are beginning to realize that decent folks won’t push back, becoming potential sheep to be sheared. It is our time to step up and say enough is enough. Security isn’t for the rich, the connected and for those who can retreat to some country redoubt, it is for all lawful citizens. For if security is threatened for some, it eventually will come to all doors before long. Let us hope this does not come to pass before it is too late.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

After taking some time to reflect, a couple of my friends encouraged me (perhaps re-encouraged me) to push forward on this project. After seeing little movement from this blog, with little viewership, I was in the firm belief nothing I did, was making an impact.

However, in the current desperate struggle we now face, even changing one mind might be the ultimate victory, for one ripple can change everything. So, I will continue to write and hope to provide even more written posts. My timelines maybe a bit more unsteady, but I will endeavor to post more, and if there are any suggestions for what I should write about, please feel free to email me.

I hope you will find this enjoyable and for those who have already viewed my blog, thank you, and for the rest, I believe I can bring a fresh perspective for you.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius

July 4^th, the birth date of this republic, is once again upon us. The drafting and eventual signing of the seminal Declaration of Independence is a truly American document, something which all Americans should treasure and be proud of. However, early July is not only a time to shoot off fireworks, get drunk, praise the armed forces, and give a silent thanks to the Founding Fathers (if thought crime for praising them isn’t established already at this point), there is something else to memorialize and remember as well. Two in fact.

            These are the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the two major turning points of the Civil War. The first finally saw the Army of the Potomac defeat the Army of Northern Virginia, a stunning reversal that had been two years coming for President Lincoln. The second saw the final bisecting of the Confederacy, along with denying the mighty Mississippi from aiding the rebellion. These battles ended on July 3^rd and July 4^th, tragic but necessary continuations of the American Revolution. For without these victories, and the subsequent victories of 1864 and 1865, slavery and segregation would have likely remained for decades beyond their actual end dates, and most importantly of all? The Union would have been shattered, destroying the promise of the Declaration and the Constitution, a collection of states under one common banner.

            As the nation comes upon the eve of Independence Day, the frivolities and classic remembrances are necessary, for they all remind us that we are Americans, an exceptional people, a good people, a decent people, who are trying to make a better world. With the unrest and uncertainty clouding the horizon all around, it is more important than ever to have acts and celebrations of national unity, all in the hopes of retaining this venerable but unsteady republic. But by remembering 1863, we all may realize that this nation has weathered tough times before, and that all it takes are a few moments to shift the tide, a few acts that can alter the trajectory of national direction.

            Therefore, with glass in hand, raise a toast to ALL Americans that were in the bloody conflict on those hot July days of 1863. For without their trials and tribulations, without that awful conflict and its ramifications, who knows where we would be today? Let us be grateful they have allowed us to chart our destiny, as they allowed our own fathers to chart theirs. For there is nothing more American than that.

Sincerely, your humble servant,

Winston Publius