Rubio Delivers Speech at the Acropolis, Rallying the West to Embrace Western Values and Western Roots

It seems strange that anyone would even have to advocate for this.

Ben Whedon for Just the News:

Rubio's Acropolis speech pitches Trumpism as a return to Western roots

Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a speech Wednesday at the Acropolis in Athens cast the Trump administration and its broader movement as a conscious revival of the foundational principles of Western Civilization and urged Europe to follow its lead.
...
Rubio's decision to deliver the speech against the backdrop of the Acropolis was deliberate. The ancient site is perhaps the most widely known monument associated with classical Greece, which scholars have traditionally viewed as the progenitor of what is now called "the West."
"For thousands of years, the civilizations that built what stands behind me have captivated the imagination of the Western world," Rubio opened. "The things we owe to this place as Americans -- and as Westerners -- are actually far, far deeper. What blossomed here in this place was the Western desire to uncover all that ignorance, darkness, and distance had kept hidden from the mind of man."
But Rubio went beyond romantic invocations of the ancient past and insisted that the modern Trump administration was working to advance a classically-influenced theory of politics. He further spelled out a tangible theory of statecraft on the world stage and encouraged European nations to adopt it themselves.
"For all their lofty ideals, the ancient Greeks were not naive," Rubio argued. "They understood that nations have interests. They understood that statecraft requires prudence and diplomacy. But they also understood that it requires the ability to wield force with prudence when diplomacy fails."
"They understood that power requires not only having the means to defend yourself, it requires the credibility that you are willing to use it. This is the classical understanding of politics and of statecraft that the Trump administration hopes to reclaim, reclaim not just for our country, but for the whole of our civilization. We believe that Europe can awaken from its long slumber and rekindle the fire that was lit here millennia ago."
Rubio then went further to explain how to weave those ideas into the political landscape of a modern, increasingly international world, saying "[n]ational interests did not vanish in the face of international institutions" and that nations still faced threats that required them to respond.
He stated that the path forward was to rebuild international institutions while "understanding that the purpose of these things is not to abolish the sovereignty of the nations that constitute them, but is to defend them, and that nations need not abandon their distinct identities in order to recognize their common interests."
That position seems to come as a rebuke of globalism, cultural uniformity, and mass immigration on a large scale as many Western nations shift toward the political right in response to the influx of non-Western immigrants.

The full speech is here.

The speech begins with a narrative about the rise of democracy and western values. I'll skip past that to get to the part where he begins to make his argument.

This passage is about the need for actual competition in a society, and standards of excellence, lest that society devolve into shapeless, useless communism.

For the Greeks of antiquity, the pursuit of excellence was the very principle of man's existence. They organized all of civic life around contest, ambition, competition: in philosophy and poetry, in sculpture and drama, in athletics and art, in war and statecraft. The classical Greek city was an arena for great men to test and prove themselves, to hone their potential through perpetual struggle -- to be the best, the strongest, the most beautiful, straining to inch ever closer to perfection.
Now I know that to modern ears, what I just described, this way of life, may sound odd; it may even sound cruel. The ideal of many ideologies in our time has, frankly, become a world of perfect safety, devoid of risk or failure, with neither the glory of victory nor the shame of defeat. Too often these days, we build downwards. We design our standards to ensure no one will lose; we preoccupy ourselves more with the comfort of the worst than the potential of the best. We hold the most exceptional things among us hostage to the average, the ordinary, the mediocre.
The men who made the Parthenon, they built upwards. They held that the highest and most noble aspiration in life was to surpass all others, to strive to be the best in all things. The ancient Greek city-states were filled. They were filled with intense passion and rivalry and faction and conflict. But from that constant struggle for distinction -- from that came the great flowering of art and philosophy and political and intellectual energy that would transform a collective of Mediterranean cities into the birthplace of the greatest civilization in the world.
The thumos, as the ancient Greeks called it -- the fire of passion, strength, courage, pride -- is the heart of great civilization. And without it? Without it, nations lose their will to fight, the will to strive, the will to survive.
Today, too much of the West has forgotten this quality. Over time, we in the West came to feel ashamed of the very things that made us exceptional. We felt embarrassed that our achievements set us apart from the rest of the world. Our prosperity somehow became a source of guilt. We no longer believed we deserved and had earned our greatness.
The word "nationalism" became a dirty word. And so we tore down our monuments; we condemned our own history. And in too many places, we taught our children to be ashamed of the countries they would inherit. In the process, we opened our borders and outsourced our industry, and allowed our militaries to wither and to decay.
And with every passing year, we seemed to outsource more of our sovereignty, transferring our decisions to global bureaucracies far beyond the reach of our control.
But others were all too happy to fill the vacuum that we left -- the vacuum left behind by our weakness. And as the West's confidence faltered, its adversaries and its rivals only grew more assertive, building up their own wealth and their own power in our stead.
And now, today, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Because the next decade and the decisions we make will write the story of the next century. The course we take will determine whether the West maintains its place at the head of the world or resigns itself to a future of atrophy and servitude and decline. We will either choose to act now or lose the choice to act at all.
Under President Trump, the United States has made its choice. We choose the unapologetic pursuit of national power: to take back control of our critical supply chains, to reindustrialize our economy, to rebuild our defense, to fight for dominance of the technologies and industries of the future.
We choose to reach for new frontiers: in advanced manufacturing and super intelligence; in drones, weapons, and warfare; in chips, minerals, cyber, and every other domain of human possibility. To unleash our energy, to rebuild our factories, to return our astronauts to the moon and launch a new age of exploration in space.

That's a refutation of fake, communist "equity," in which everyone is a winner and everyone gets a participation award, and of course no one accomplishes or produces anything because there's no benefit to doing so.

He also attacks transnationalist "Davosism," the socialist dream of all national borders melting away into one gigantic ultrastate.

Now it's has become fashionable today to believe that enlightened foreign policy means prioritizing the global community over one's own people. And I think here, too, we have much to learn from the men of ancient Greece because they knew that there was nothing selfish or wrong about loyalty to your nation, nor anything selfish or wrong about fighting to defend its interests above all else.
They believed -- fiercely -- in the ideal of the great man: the exceptional individual who obtains immortality through his own deeds. But they believed that glory and fame, those things were won through striving, sacrificing and achieving greatly for something larger than yourself. The recurring hero of the ancient Greek world was the man who was willing to pay any cost for a cause worthy of his loyalty.
...
These -- these are the qualities that would shape the Western moral imagination. From the Christian martyr who refused to betray his faith to the patriot who gave his life for his country; from Saint Thomas More to the Battle of the Alamo, running through the immortal closing words of the Declaration of Independence of the United States which says, "We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
...
This is wholly different from what we see, even now, for example from fanatics like the radical mullahs of Iran, whose cult of death hails child suicide bombers as national heroes, and portrays martyrdom as an end to itself.
Our heroes -- our heroes may be willing to die for their cause; but our heroes do not worship death. It is precisely because we value life that we come to recognize the heroism in those who would sooner sacrifice it than to betray their principles. Now, we take the West's conception of these things -- heroism, honor, duty -- we take these things for granted. We assume that these somehow are universal to all people in all times and in all places. They are not. They are the product of a distinct character, a distinct character which arose here and shaped the whole story of the civilization that came after it. A civilization that we must fight to defend today with the same passion as our forefathers did.
...
The greatest Americans of every generation have carried the unmistakable features of their forefathers -- born in Athens, formed by Rome, baptized in Christendom, hardened in the furnace of medieval Europe, endowed with the English genius for liberty, and then carried across the Atlantic to be reborn on the shores of a new world.
Together, we must now rediscover that spirit. We are at an inflection point -- an inflection point not only in the history of my nation, but an inflection point in the whole of our civilization.
The threats we face today are every bit as real as they were on the dramatic stage of antiquity.
National interests did not vanish in the face of international institutions. War did not disappear simply because we preferred peace. Other states continued to arm, to seek influence, to compete for territory, and technology, and resources, and markets, and energy, and power.
And now, there is war again. There is new competition between great powers again. There is vulnerability, aggression, terrorism, a whole universe of new threats and attacks again.
And so we must rebuild our institutions and our alliances to face these threats together -- understanding that the purpose of these things is not to abolish the sovereignty of the nations that constitute them; it is to defend them. And that nations need not abandon their distinct identities in order to recognize their common interests.

An excerpt:

SECRETARY RUBIO: We should marvel at what our forefathers carved out of this countryside. The story of our civilization is the greatest story ever known to man. And it began here, with the first men and women of the West. From them, from them we can rediscover the virtues, the courage, and the strength to confront the dangers that we face in our time.
— Department of State (@StateDept) October 7, 2026

Full speech here:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivers a speech for the ages from the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
Listen to the entire speech to understand the dangers the West faces.
It's critical to our survival. https://t.co/MsK89yINmu
— Ryan Saavedra (@RyanSaavedra) October 7, 2026

Posted by: Disinformation Expert Ace at 02:30 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Sponge!

Posted by: rickb223 at October 08, 2026 02:30 PM (k9rrS)

2 To whom was the speech given?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 02:30 PM (JrHfD)

3 Rubio ‘28

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at October 08, 2026 02:31 PM (T+9ay)

4 west is best! fuck the rest!

Posted by: lgm30g at October 08, 2026 02:31 PM (I09RC)

5 "They understood that power requires not only having the means to defend yourself, it requires the credibility that you are willing to use it."

Europe needs a Martial Plan.

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:32 PM (Riz8t)

6 Interestingly the Greek city states did eventually get forcibly added to a superstate - Rome. At which point they went from each being a force to being just a cog in the Roman state.

And it is interesting because prior to that those greek city states were hitting way about their size in the world - look at the conflicts with the Persian Empire which controlled most of the world at the time

Posted by: 18-1 at October 08, 2026 02:32 PM (sKqQm)

7 This is what has been missing from our response from September 12, 2001 and ever since.

This is a War of Values and I am so pleased that Rubio has joined the fight with such eloquence.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (RIvkX)

8 In before the Rubio haters

Posted by: doug at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (B1+sW)

9 Obviously ignoring the contributions that Somalis made to society.

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (t9883)

10 I'm very curious about the Chinese reception of the speech.

Oh to be a mandarin-speaking fly on the wall...

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (s1VwS)

11 The classical old Greek homo city was an arena for great men to test and prove gladiator movies.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (xh8AG)

12 Greek to me

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (Cqx++)

13 I listened to it, it was an excellent intellectual argument.

Posted by: runner at October 08, 2026 02:34 PM (AKptf)

14 Anyway, Marco is going to make a great President some day.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at October 08, 2026 02:34 PM (s1VwS)

15 To whom was the speech given?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

Normals that live in the West.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 08, 2026 02:34 PM (BAWkL)

16 The threats we face today are every bit as real as they were on the dramatic stage of antiquity.

Pffffft. The Chinese and Russians are a bunch of sissies.

Posted by: The Achaemenid Empire at October 08, 2026 02:34 PM (Riz8t)

17 I think his speech writers are very good. I think most major people in politics have speechwriters although Rubio may have tweaked it some.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 02:34 PM (JrHfD)

18 To whom was the speech given?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 02:30 PM (JrHfD)

to the world, but most likely to our Western Allies

Posted by: runner at October 08, 2026 02:35 PM (AKptf)

19
He also attacks transnationalist "Davosism,"

Are we not men?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at October 08, 2026 02:35 PM (Cqx++)

20 Rubio: America is DONE apologizing for its ambition.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at October 08, 2026 02:35 PM (gLYp7)

21 One of my favorite memes is Rubio sitting in a theater or whatever, "realizing" he has to do all these different jobs.

Now he's defending Western Civilization. I'll say it, and I hope I don't regret it (I have so many political regrets); I love him.

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 02:35 PM (iOpI2)

22 There was a lot of Rubio in that speech, it sounded like something he wrote. Well, most of it.

Posted by: runner at October 08, 2026 02:35 PM (AKptf)

23 This is a War of Values and I am so pleased that Rubio has joined the fight with such eloquence.

Posted by: San Franpsycho

//

An amazing and so important speech. It counters all the self-loathing that infects the West.

Posted by: Random PJ at October 08, 2026 02:36 PM (+jscL)

24 I think his speech writers are very good. I think most major people in politics have speechwriters although Rubio may have tweaked it some.

TL

R the transcript.

Shorter version: Europe, grow a pair.

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:36 PM (Riz8t)

25 "Too often, these days, we build downwards. We design our standards to ensure that no one will lose. We preoccupy ourselves more with the comfort of the worst than the potential of the best. We hold the most exceptional things among us hostage to the average."

Boom.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at October 08, 2026 02:36 PM (gLYp7)

26 He also attacks transnationalist "Davosism," the socialist dream of all national borders melting away into one gigantic ultrastate.
====

I think it moved.

Se amo.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at October 08, 2026 02:36 PM (RIvkX)

27 Remember how we were harangued not too long ago with the trite bullshit of "all cultures are equal?"

So the Somali lightbulb heads put a man on the Moon?

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 08, 2026 02:37 PM (3cUTc)

28 We preoccupy ourselves more with the comfort of the worst than the potential of the best. We hold the most exceptional things among us hostage to the average.

I have to admit, that's some first rate speechifying right there.

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:37 PM (Riz8t)

29 9 Obviously ignoring the contributions that Somalis made to society.
Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (t9883)

-------

hhhhahahahahah Much like blacks, they built Western Civilization; look at Rhodesia.

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 02:38 PM (iOpI2)

30 “ Tell the righteous it will be well with them,
for they will enjoy the fruit of their deeds.
Woe to the wicked!
Disaster is upon them!
They will be paid back
for what their hands have done.”

Isaiah 3:10-11

Posted by: Marcus T at October 08, 2026 02:38 PM (yurXG)

31 Remember how we were harangued not too long ago with the trite bullshit of "all cultures are equal?"

So the Somali lightbulb heads put a man on the Moon?

No, but they did have a man who mooned.

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:38 PM (Riz8t)

32 Rubio is standing on the Areopagus. Points for good symbology.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 08, 2026 02:38 PM (guGkK)

33
Everywhere you look, you see the contrast between the threat against us and our potential for greatness.

Example, so small but significant: I'm watching an I Love Lucy episode. There's a one-act-play-writing competition among the middle class ladies' culture clubs of New York City. They'll be performed and judged in a single event. A Broadway producer is there to see if there's any usable talent.

STOP RIGHT THERE. At the same time, I'm reflecting on how Chinese workers during that time were forced to grind away their "spare hours" listening to lectures about the greatness of Mao Tse-tung Thought. I'm learning about Somali gangs shooting up Minnesota suburbs.

wtf? America has so much productivity and creativity in it it's NUTS. It's our culture, our national identity. And look at who wants in to tear it all down.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at October 08, 2026 02:39 PM (XJ22o)

34 It seems to me the Europeans gave up on Western Civilization about 80 years ago, and the decided to give the rest of their inheritance away over the past two decades.

It’s a wonderful speech falling on mostly deaf ears I’m afraid.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:39 PM (6ydKt)

35 t’s a wonderful speech falling on mostly deaf ears I’m afraid.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:39 PM (6ydKt)

I think that was Marco launching his presidential campaign for a year yet to be determined.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at October 08, 2026 02:40 PM (gLYp7)

36 If Rubio keeps this up, he's going to have to start putting locks on his garbage cans again.

Posted by: Dr. T at October 08, 2026 02:41 PM (KKJEY)

37 So the Somali lightbulb heads put a man on the Moon?
Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 08, 2026 02:37 PM (3cUTc)

They came up with the idea.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at October 08, 2026 02:41 PM (guGkK)

38 Our heroes -- our heroes may be willing to die for their cause; but our heroes do not worship death"

"making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country."

/ some guy who fought

Posted by: man at October 08, 2026 02:41 PM (pfXMo)

39 Marxism is the underpinning of the supranational world government stupidity, and Marxism is the philosophy of laziness and envy.

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 02:41 PM (oqH4h)

40 8 In before the Rubio haters

Posted by: doug

Right, if you don't worship him as the second coming, you're a hater.
*rolls eyes*

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:41 PM (Riz8t)

41 40 8 In before the Rubio haters

Posted by: doug

Right, if you don't worship him as the second coming, you're a hater.
*rolls eyes*

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:41 PM (Riz8t)

If we're talking about my ass, I've had third and fourth comings too...

Posted by: James Talarico at October 08, 2026 02:42 PM (l3cgK)

42 I think that was Marco launching his presidential campaign for a year yet to be determined.
Posted by: Washington Nearsider: Gotterdammerung at October 08, 2026 02:40 PM (gLYp7)

Could be ‘28.
Vance hasn’t locked the nomination in by any means.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (6ydKt)

43 35 t’s a wonderful speech falling on mostly deaf ears I’m afraid.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:39 PM (6ydKt)

I think that was Marco launching his presidential campaign for a year yet to be determined.
Posted by: Washington Nearsider:
===========
Somewhat, but Churchill made his rep also by doing these international speeches as a government minister well before he became PM. When you deliver such a polemic, it essentially paints a person in to the extent they feel bound to follow what they said. Unless of course, they are a Democrat who live by lies instead.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (E4rtv)

44 It is exactly these type of appeals to the past that globalists and leftists despise. That’s not only because is shows the superiority and proven ideals upon which western society was built, but is shows the demonstrable, historical failure of the ideas and policies they bleat.

Mass migration and open borders are only one part of their battle plan. What they need in order to succeed is to wipe out the memory of how we arrived at the exceptional nation that is America and the greater western nations in general.

Posted by: Marcus T at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (yurXG)

45 Among some very, very good cabinet picks, Rubio is the best and most surprising. Where the hell was this guy before he became the SecState?

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (xvV+O)

46 This is what's wrong with this Administration! They send Marco Rubio to the Acropolis to lecture Egyptians about so-called Western values! This *literally* is white supremacy! [Wild applause from clapping seals.]

Posted by: Alexandria Ocasio-Cloaca at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (Ovx+P)

47 Vance hasn’t locked the nomination in by any means.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (6ydKt)

Being besties with the likes of Tuuqur isn’t helping.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at October 08, 2026 02:44 PM (T+9ay)

48 Nothing will happen.
Wait, does that apply to this?

Posted by: Nothing will happen guy at October 08, 2026 02:44 PM (OkYzo)

49
Heard tell that the Rev. Jim Talarico Jones has no - zero - campaign appearances scheduled before the election.

It's over, ladeez and gennulmun. Paxton is toast.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 02:45 PM (eRlcH)

50 45 Among some very, very good cabinet picks, Rubio is the best and most surprising. Where the hell was this guy before he became the SecState?
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious

Senate GOP caucus is mostly filled with time serving mediocrities like Tom Tillis and Mitch McConnell. Democrat caucus is filled with traitors like Chris Murphy and Schiff, idiots like Hirono, and liars like Chuck Schumer.

Easy to overlook someone that is growing in stature.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:45 PM (E4rtv)

51

It was a great speech. What will it change though? Countries are not going to change their culture.

Posted by: four seasons at October 08, 2026 02:46 PM (/QHx4)

52 You simply cannot listen to that speech, and understand both the content and context, yet no be impressed or at least provoked by it. People don’t speak like that a lot anymore. But it is one thing we are missing in our dialogue today- a thoughtful, sober, fact based recitation of how we arrived at this age.

Posted by: Marcus T at October 08, 2026 02:46 PM (yurXG)

53 If Rubio keeps this up, he's going to have to start putting locks on his garbage cans again.
Posted by: Dr. T at October 08, 2026 02:41 PM (KKJEY)

Pffffft. More like a chastity belt, amirite?

Posted by: OneEyedJack at October 08, 2026 02:46 PM (zafwz)

54 8 In before the Rubio haters

Posted by: doug at October 08, 2026 02:33 PM (B1+sW)

Their fish tacos are okay.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 02:46 PM (l3cgK)

55 Vance hasn’t locked the nomination in by any means.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (6ydKt)

Being besties with the likes of Tuuqur isn’t helping.

Kurt Schlichter disagrees vehemently.
https://tinyurl.com/rupdkbny

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:46 PM (Riz8t)

56 45 Among some very, very good cabinet picks, Rubio is the best and most surprising. Where the hell was this guy before he became the SecState?
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (xvV+O)

Rubio has learned a lot since 2016.

But I think what happened from 2020 - 24 woke his ass up to what’s really going on and he went full MAGA.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:47 PM (6ydKt)

57 "The rules you follow in life will be based on the behavior of the bottom quintile,"

Pretty much describes the current era

Posted by: man at October 08, 2026 02:47 PM (pfXMo)

58 Among some very, very good cabinet picks, Rubio is the best and most surprising. Where the hell was this guy before he became the SecState?
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (xvV+O)

My guess: he was always this guy. Parents who escaped Castro don’t tend to produce leftists. But I think he bought into the 2000s and 2010s GOPe, Bush, Rove, consultant class bullshit. He came of age politically while Jeb was a political force in Florida and had to play ball. Once he saw Trump crush that garbage his true self was allowed to come out.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at October 08, 2026 02:47 PM (T+9ay)

59
We want Reagan, but the times call for Trump. Marco's speech is pure Reagan, when people were reasonable. It's a great speech.

But there are few reasonable people today. The Trumpian era is here because it takes a sledgehammer guile to get anything done.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 08, 2026 02:48 PM (OkYzo)

60 willowed. I believe Talarico has been handed an envelope with evidence of a verifiable crime.

Posted by: Ben Had at October 08, 2026 02:48 PM (nxLtX)

61 Easy to overlook someone that is growing in stature."

Height jokes? Heh.

Posted by: man at October 08, 2026 02:48 PM (pfXMo)

62 Spain: Snap elections

Germany: AfD on the march

France (is broke): RN is steamrolling.

Europe can't afford Europe anymore. Biting the bullet, so to speak, will cause enormous stress throughout each membership nation.

Coddling their peoples while living rent-free under the American security umbrella worked for a while, until America had its own re-awakening. No more. We pulled our strategic bombers out of the UK because the UK refused to take responsibility for its own defense. It has, at least for the moment, lost its own identity as a country and as a people. Let that "special gift for liberty" come again, O Lord.

Posted by: mrp at October 08, 2026 02:49 PM (rj6Yv)

63 49
Heard tell that the Rev. Jim Talarico Jones has no - zero - campaign appearances scheduled before the election.

It's over, ladeez and gennulmun. Paxton is toast.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 02:45 PM (eRlcH)

Avocado Toast?

Posted by: Beta O'Rourke at October 08, 2026 02:49 PM (l3cgK)

64 . I believe Talarico has been handed an envelope with evidence of a verifiable crime."

He's got info on Hillary Clinton?

Posted by: man at October 08, 2026 02:49 PM (pfXMo)

65 Rubio has really stepped up compared to when he first got rolled by the old guard when he got elected.

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at October 08, 2026 02:49 PM (N1DT3)

66 Spending for Paxton: Increasing!

Spending for Talafreako: Drying up!

Prediction: Talafreako wins in a landslide!

Posted by: Acme Political Consultants and Learing Center at October 08, 2026 02:49 PM (Ovx+P)

67 50 45 Among some very, very good cabinet picks, Rubio is the best and most surprising. Where the hell was this guy before he became the SecState?
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious

Senate GOP caucus is mostly filled with time serving mediocrities like Tom Tillis and Mitch McConnell. Democrat caucus is filled with traitors like Chris Murphy and Schiff, idiots like Hirono, and liars like Chuck Schumer.

Easy to overlook someone that is growing in stature.
Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:45 PM (E4rtv)
------

My read is that plucking someone with actual intelligence and potential out of the do-nothing circle-jerk that is the US Senate and letting him cook has something to do with it. I also think that Marco got pissed off being in the Senate and figured out What Time It Is and thus got down to doing some real, actual work.

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 02:49 PM (oqH4h)

68 Could be ‘28.
Vance hasn’t locked the nomination in by any means.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08

With Vance seemingly determined to tie himself to 200lbs of stupid Rubio has a huge opening.

Posted by: Dandalo at October 08, 2026 02:50 PM (tmYdE)

69 Where the hell was this guy before he became the SecState?
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious

He's had a variety of careers.

https://www.bing.com/images/search
?q=marco+rubio+job+memes&form=
HDRSC3&first=1

Posted by: DaveA at October 08, 2026 02:50 PM (FhXTo)

70 I think you can certainly question some of the things Rubio has said in the past, just like Trump. But it is the evolution of those thoughts that really matters. Rubio at least seems to have matured into much more than he was even five years ago.

Posted by: Marcus T at October 08, 2026 02:50 PM (yurXG)

71 You simply cannot listen to that speech, and understand both the content and context, yet no be impressed or at least provoked by it. People don’t speak like that a lot anymore. But it is one thing we are missing in our dialogue today- a thoughtful, sober, fact based recitation of how we arrived at this age.

Many of the same people praising the speech also dismiss the importance of having Senators and Congresscritters make an impassioned, well-considered speech or interrogation of a hostile witness. Sure, it's easy to mock their shirtsleeve status, but a good speaker is still worthwhile. Words matter. Words can move people. Ask Churchill.

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 02:50 PM (Riz8t)

72 Willowed: people in Texas have started putting up "MISSING" flyers in Texas with Talarico 's face on them. Next up milk cartons

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 08, 2026 02:51 PM (t9883)

73 Could be ‘28.
Vance hasn’t locked the nomination in by any means.
Posted by: SpeakingOf
=========
Vance is tying himself to ending the OPT and H1B as frontman today. This is one of the biggest hits on globo homo corporatists in a long while and going after Microsoft and Adobe takes guts.

Young white males in college or recent graduates have not benefited as much from the Trump economy yet because corporations have tried to layoff as many citizens and hire foreigners in order to bolster corporate profits. Those not in college are seeing a much better job market right now.

This action restricting the endless corporate greed for cheap labor is going after what this group of voters see as corporations destroying their hopes and dreams by hiring cheap visa applicants that are often not even qualified over Americans.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:51 PM (E4rtv)

74
There are rumors that Talarico is recovering from an emergency room visit to remove something from is rectum. Might be true. Maybe just rumors.

Posted by: Frank Barone at October 08, 2026 02:51 PM (OkYzo)

75 Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 02:45 PM (eRlcH)

I hope so, but JFTR, he is not ordained . He may have graduated from seminary, but he himself said he did not complete his ordination requirements because he was concentrating on politics. In order to be ordained in many denominations you have to submit lengthy papers and go before an examining board which last a day or several days.
So "seminary student" would be a more appropriate term

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 02:51 PM (JrHfD)

76 Lotta truth in that speech.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 08, 2026 02:51 PM (BAWkL)

77
Heard tell that the Rev. Jim Talarico Jones has no - zero - campaign appearances scheduled before the election.

Kinda brilliant, actually. He's already grifted millions from his campaign, and will keep whatever he doesn't spend from now until the election. If he were to keep campaigning, he'd have to spend a bunch of that money, and if he fundraises, his donors will inevitably be pissed when he gets his ass kicked. By laying low, he can claim that "the polls and all the Democrat advisers told me that I had it in the bag!", and avoid being blamed.

Then he can take all of the remaining cash and live out his days doing butt stuff on Fire Island.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 02:52 PM (y9nCu)

78 My read is that plucking someone with actual intelligence and potential out of the do-nothing circle-jerk that is the US Senate and letting him cook has something to do with it. I also think that Marco got pissed off being in the Senate and figured out What Time It Is and thus got down to doing some real, actual work.
Posted by: ballistic

We will see. Certainly impressive as Sec. of State as probably one of best since at least George Schultz.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:53 PM (E4rtv)

79 Europe can't afford Europe anymore. Biting the bullet, so to speak, will cause enormous stress throughout each membership nation.

Coddling their peoples while living rent-free under the American security umbrella worked for a while, until America had its own re-awakening. No more. We pulled our strategic bombers out of the UK because the UK refused to take responsibility for its own defense. It has, at least for the moment, lost its own identity as a country and as a people. Let that "special gift for liberty" come again, O Lord.

*shifty eyes*

Posted by: Canada at October 08, 2026 02:53 PM (Riz8t)

80 The EU is increasingly totalitarian, run technocratically and, so far, relatively benignly, but when globalist parties start getting flushed in country after country, Brussels will get ugly. In the meantime, they are all out of money. Even Germany is in economic trouble. This whole "Russia, Russia, Russia" scare reminds me of Wag The Dog, scaring voters in hopes they won't see the self-made disaster looming.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 08, 2026 02:53 PM (I9lAP)

81 Can any truly rational person get a look at the inside of politics and not think, "holy shit, we're cooked if things don't change."

I'm hoping Rubio was one of those.

Most other politicians give in to the corruption or go full "cover my ass until retirement" mode.

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 02:53 PM (iOpI2)

82 You know, there's a reason China ultimately resorts to espionage, corporate espionage and outright theft in just about every advancing (as well as established) long term field.

It's because their brand of government and social structure breeds stagnancy. You are not rewarded for innovation. The state is rewarded in your place. You get to succeed if they SAY you get to succeed. And, ultimately, that allows you to obtain credit for someone else's accomplishment(s).

So, as expected the ingenuity and innovation of discovery is stifled in China. So, they take from others not held back (as much) by that structure.

No one really ever says this out loud. I think Rubio just might one of these days.

Posted by: Orson at October 08, 2026 02:53 PM (dIske)

83 Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 02:51 PM (JrHfD)

Or M.Div recipient.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 02:54 PM (JrHfD)

84 afternoon humor break: Would you rather clear out feral hogs the California way or the Texas way?

https://tinyurl.com/59xjcusy

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 08, 2026 02:54 PM (I9lAP)

85 Then he can take all of the remaining cash and live out his days doing butt stuff on Fire Island.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 02:52 PM (y9nCu)

-------
lol

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 02:54 PM (iOpI2)

86 This is a lot better than the 'thousand points of light' speech. More like 'tear down this wall.'

Some people need pay raises.

I wonder if the White House has some excess funding to buy airtime and streaming time to run this speech about a thousand times.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 08, 2026 02:54 PM (2GVsD)

87 are rumors that Talarico is recovering from an emergency room visit to remove something from is rectum. Might be true. Maybe just rumors.
Posted by: Frank Barone

Yikes.

Posted by: Richard Gere at October 08, 2026 02:54 PM (T+9ay)

88 I think I got flirted with at the gym and I don't know how to feel about that.

A pretty woman walked across my path, looked me in the eyes and gave me a big smile. A few seconds later she circled back, smiled, and said something while brushing her hair behind her ear.

I had earbuds in and didn't hear what she said.

I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.

Posted by: bonhomme at October 08, 2026 02:55 PM (mkw2N)

89 It could very well be Vance-Rubio in 2028.
I don’t know how they would feel about that, but they seem like they’d make a good team to carry the ball forward.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:55 PM (6ydKt)

90 It's been obvious for some time but Rubio's speech along with some previous remarks from him, Trump, JD and others are building the case against the globalists that have been leading the west for the last number of decades. He's putting another very eloquent stake in the ground for a return to the days of the nation state when the west was strong, proud and leading the world.

Given the current election results throughout Latin America, Germany, the rise of Marine Le Pen and others I think it's perfectly timed. There are others in the west though not as visible and they need leadership and reassurance that the lone super power of the world is back and ready to lead.

Onward Christian Soldier and all that.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 08, 2026 02:56 PM (viF8m)

91 Great, thoughtful oratory has been part of every single important societal battle we have fought. It’s people’s enthrallment with their personal lives, vanity and the (purposeful) distractions provided by social media that have changed. People foolishly believe they are becoming more enlightened when in reality they are becoming slaves to whatever mendacity, obfuscation and distortion they read on the internet.

Posted by: Marcus T at October 08, 2026 02:56 PM (yurXG)

92
There are rumors that Talarico is recovering from an emergency room visit to remove something from is rectum. Might be true. Maybe just rumors.
Posted by: Frank Barone at October 08, 2026 02:51 PM (OkYzo)

What was removed? A wildebeest?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 02:56 PM (y9nCu)

93 He had notes but no teleprompter.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 02:56 PM (nqf1u)

94 66 Spending for Paxton: Increasing!

Spending for Talafreako: Drying up!

Prediction: Talafreako wins in a landslide!

-------

Paxton is lazy! A horrible candidate!

Trump! TRUUUUUUMMMMMPPPPP

Posted by: NRO Pundit at October 08, 2026 02:56 PM (AaY6N)

95 Has anyone today said, "eff the Mitch McConnell handlers!"

Well, then, I just said it.

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (iOpI2)

96 Test.
My posts haven't been posting.

Posted by: Diogenes at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (2WIwB)

97 Todays NY Post reports Talafreako collected a sweet $11.5 million from Reid Hoffman, the bowling ball-shaped San Fran billionaire who previously was best known for visiting Epstein Island and Palm Beach mansion (with his buddy Bill Clinton).

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (I9lAP)

98 I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.
Posted by: bonhomme
======
I hate to tell you buddy but you were sexually assaulted by her female gaze. Your trauma prevents you from seeing the truth.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (E4rtv)

99 What was removed? A wildebeest?

Has anyone seen O'Rourke?

They are both kinky Furries.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (2GVsD)

100
What was removed? A wildebeest?

Posted by: IllTemperedCur
---

Hadn't he visited the WNBA?
It was a giant green dildo.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (nqf1u)

101
The EU is increasingly totalitarian, run technocratically and, so far, relatively benignly, but when globalist parties start getting flushed in country after country, Brussels will get ugly.

___________

In the EU, your rights are a gift of the government, which makes it clear it can take them away when it wants to. If the plebs get uppity, the hammer will fall.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (eRlcH)

102 >> You know, there's a reason China ultimately resorts to espionage, corporate espionage and outright theft in just about every advancing (as well as established) long term field.

Their main problem is they don’t believe in God. They believe they are god and therefore have no capacity to account for His presence and force in this world. It’s their blind spot.

Posted by: Marcus T at October 08, 2026 02:58 PM (yurXG)

103 I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.
Posted by: bonhomme

Take the W.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 08, 2026 02:58 PM (BAWkL)

104 Rubio is definitely my biggest surprise of the Trump admin.

Posted by: Drunken Yoda at October 08, 2026 02:59 PM (lBlv7)

105 I hate to tell you buddy but you were sexually assaulted by her female gaze. Your trauma prevents you from seeing the truth.
Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (E4rtv)

----

Don't worry, he'll realize it in a couple of years and can then sue her.

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 02:59 PM (iOpI2)

106 96 Test.
My posts haven't been posting.
Posted by: Diogenes at October 08, 2026 02:57 PM (2WIwB)

Worked this time.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 02:59 PM (6ydKt)

107 Test.
My posts haven't been posting.
Posted by: Diogenes

You've probably been hacked by one of the geezers you fleeced.

Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 02:59 PM (77rzZ)

108 Somewhat, but Churchill made his rep also by doing these international speeches as a government minister well before he became PM. When you deliver such a polemic, it essentially paints a person in to the extent they feel bound to follow what they said. Unless of course, they are a Democrat who live by lies instead.
Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 02:43 PM (E4rtv)

A time for choosing enters the chat and also Reagan's radio broadcasts. Reagan did a lot of radio shows.

Posted by: CaliGirl at October 08, 2026 02:59 PM (q2usZ)

109 Reminds me of a meme type I've been seeing more of.

Frame 1: We could have had this [futuristic picture from the 50/60s]

Frame 2: But we choose this [Picture of drug zombies in a city] and [Muslims attacking people] and [Urban gang setting things on fire]

Posted by: 18-1 at October 08, 2026 03:00 PM (sKqQm)

110
I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.
Posted by: bonhomme at October 08, 2026 02:55 PM (mkw2N)

___________

Was your wallet thicker than usual?

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 03:00 PM (eRlcH)

111 Rubio is definitely my biggest surprise of the Trump admin.
Posted by: Drunken Yoda

Concur.

Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 03:00 PM (77rzZ)

112
I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.

Pre-selection.

Another woman liked you enough to get married so you have to have some redeeming qualities...

Posted by: 18-1 at October 08, 2026 03:01 PM (sKqQm)

113 Hegseth, Bessent and Rubio. The right men in the right place at the right time.

Posted by: Ben Had at October 08, 2026 03:01 PM (nxLtX)

114 Meanwhile today, Vance took aim in a speech over H1B and OPT at Bernie with aim of separating Bernie from the bros.

"
Eric Daugherty
@EricLDaugh
·
3h
🚨 JUST IN: JD Vance just exposed socialists like Bernie Sanders 10 YEARS AGO opposing open borders because it's cheap labor, now they CRY FOUL when Trump cracks down on displacement of Americans

"[For them], it's not about the working class. It's about their HATRED of native-born citizens!" 🎯

"Back in 2016...when Bernie Sanders...was asked about open borders. He gave an answer that sounded similar to Stephen Miller said — of course we're not going to have open borders, because that's going to displace American workers!"

"It is ironic that so many of the self-described socialists running across this country, they love the idea of replacing American workers with foreign workers." 💯

Bernie literally called open borders "a Koch brothers proposal" that would make Americans poorer

Now his own party fights Trump on every single move to protect American jobs! MAJOR HYPOCRISY

Trump is the one standing up for the working class now. Imagine that.

The socialist campaigns in 2026 are built on lies. It's why we ALL NEED TO VOTE RED 🔥"

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:01 PM (E4rtv)

115 I know it will come as a shock to everyone here, but it seems that the linear city in Saudi Arabia may not have been the great idea it was cracked up to be, and is probably now abandoned. No s***, Salman.

It was one of the purest cases ever of grifting yes-men telling the boss (Mohammad bin Salman al Saud) what he wanted to hear, so they could loot the treasury. I'm sure it has no applicability here, though.

https://tinyurl.com/3cww4a7p

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 03:02 PM (Riz8t)

116 78 George Schultz was an impressive SoS? Whig did you work for him or something?

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at October 08, 2026 03:02 PM (bX16E)

117
I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.
Posted by: bonhomme

Take off that wedding ring, and she wouldn't give you the time of the day. 304s have been like that for decades.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 03:02 PM (y9nCu)

118 90 It's been obvious for some time but Rubio's speech along with some previous remarks from him, Trump, JD and others are building the case against the globalists
---

Trump, several times, in so many words, has said,
after the elections I will be set free. You don't know
what's going to happen, what I'm going to do.
I can and will do anything I see fit.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 03:02 PM (nqf1u)

119 Vance's speech along with the Sec. of Labor was directed at this event today.

KanekoaTheGreat
@KanekoaTheGreat
·
2h
BREAKING: Trump administration suspends Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Tata, Infosys, HCL, Capgemini, and Wipro from sponsoring H-1B workers for green cards.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:03 PM (E4rtv)

120 Instead of teaching students the myth of the noble savages and the wonders of their canoes and cave paintings, we should be emphasizing the amazing bad-assery of building wooden boats capable of harnessing the wind and ocean currents to sail across immense, dangerous oceans, navigating by the the stars and compass to conquer them.

Posted by: Ripley at October 08, 2026 03:03 PM (GUOwU)

121 Test.
My posts haven't been posting.

Me, too. Interesting pattern that seems to cause it.

Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:03 PM (+BvUE)

122 I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.
Posted by: bonhomme

Take off that wedding ring, and she wouldn't give you the time of the day. 304s have been like that for decades.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur

Doesn't seem to matter if I have one on or not. It never happens.

Posted by: rickb223 at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (k9rrS)

123 102 >> You know, there's a reason China ultimately resorts to espionage, corporate espionage and outright theft in just about every advancing (as well as established) long term field.

Their main problem is they don’t believe in God. They believe they are god and therefore have no capacity to account for His presence and force in this world. It’s their blind spot.

Posted by: Marcus T at October 08, 2026 02:58 PM (yurXG)

They don't resort to it, they do it as a first response.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (l3cgK)

124 Test.
My posts haven't been posting.
Posted by: Diogenes

You've probably been hacked by one of the geezers you fleeced.
Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 02:59 PM (77rzZ)

That is entirely possible. Crafty old bastards they are!
But in this case I was commenting from the waiting room of my dentist's office. None of my, frankly, brilliant comments about the Somali gangs made it to the thread. Lost forever in the ether I guess.

Posted by: Diogenes at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (2WIwB)

125 JUST IN: JD Vance just exposed socialists like Bernie Sanders 10 YEARS AGO opposing open borders because it's cheap labor, now they CRY FOUL when Trump cracks down on displacement of Americans

One of our problems is that our opponents don't actually have any core values.

This is why they can reverse positions in a few years and still argue they are "right"

But it means there is no negotiation or debate really to be had because whatever issue they arguing for today doesn't matter to them...they just want power

Posted by: 18-1 at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (sKqQm)

126 304s have been like that for decades.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at

What's a 304 or that was a typo for something else ?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (JrHfD)

127 I don't think Marco will run for POTUS in '28 (unless Trump cuts JD off), and I plan on voting for JD even if Marco runs. But that was a fantastic speech. Marco probably did not write (much of) it, but he is responsible for it. The setting was perfect; camera was placed just right, and not using a teleprompter paradoxically made it more authenic. Twentienth Century pols all read/delivered speeches without a prompter. It led to small speaking mistakes (like Marco made yesterday), and I suppose the looking up and down at the text can seem a bit off-putting, but to me it makes the speaker look more thoughtful. Maybe Marco did not have a prompter available at that location, but he was able to pull it off. Not sure anyone else on the political stage today could do it.

Posted by: Martin Tell at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (sFNX2)

128 It was one of the purest cases ever of grifting yes-men telling the boss (Mohammad bin Salman al Saud) what he wanted to hear, so they could loot the treasury. I'm sure it has no applicability here, though.

https://tinyurl.com/3cww4a7p

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 03:02 PM (Riz8t)

It was designed as a mile long subway station in the middle of the desert.

Cool idea and all but only some oil sheiks with more money than brains could think it would actually work in the long run.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (6ydKt)

129 116 78 George Schultz was an impressive SoS? Whig did you work for him or something?
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov

Very important in the Cold War during Reagan's years. He was also Sec. of Treasury during the Nixon years. Marine.

Read up on his speech to Dept. of State types back in his day.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (E4rtv)

130 @KanekoaTheGreat
·
2h
BREAKING: Trump administration suspends Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Tata, Infosys, HCL, Capgemini, and Wipro from sponsoring H-1B workers for green cards.

Oh, man. My vote is working!

Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (+BvUE)

131 BREAKING: Trump administration suspends Microsoft, Adobe, Cognizant, Tata, Infosys, HCL, Capgemini, and Wipro from sponsoring H-1B workers for green cards.
Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:03 PM (E4rtv)
====

It's good to be president during the election campaign season.

Posted by: mrp at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (rj6Yv)

132 107 Test.
My posts haven't been posting.
Posted by: Diogenes

You've probably been hacked by one of the geezers you fleeced.

Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 02:59 PM (77rzZ)

Or the chicken he plucked and called a man...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (l3cgK)

133 > Was your wallet thicker than usual?

No, but I remembered to put the potato in the front this time.

> Take the W.

Good advice.

> I hate to tell you buddy but you were sexually assaulted by her female gaze. Your trauma prevents you from seeing the truth.

I should start a GoFundMe.

Posted by: bonhomme at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (mkw2N)

134 When guns are outlawed, only Somali's will have guns.

Posted by: CHUCK HESTON at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (6pJKE)

135 Test.
My posts haven't been posting.

Me, too. Interesting pattern that seems to cause it.
Posted by: t-bird

Reboot. Seriously. Your hash is tied to a blocked isp. Had that happen last week.

Posted by: rickb223 at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (k9rrS)

136 45 Among some very, very good cabinet picks, Rubio is the best and most surprising. Where the hell was this guy before he became the SecState?
Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious

I held my nose and voted for him for the Senate.

He's been an outstanding cabinet pick. I couldn't be more shocked. And pleased.

Posted by: Ann at October 08, 2026 03:06 PM (SHHm+)

137
What's a 304 or that was a typo for something else ?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (JrHfD)

__________

Type "304" on a calculator, turn it upside down and it's now "hoe"

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 03:06 PM (eRlcH)

138 126 304s have been like that for decades.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at

What's a 304 or that was a typo for something else ?

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (JrHfD)

Turn it upside down on your calculator...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:06 PM (l3cgK)

139 But in this case I was commenting from the waiting room of my dentist's office. None of my, frankly, brilliant comments about the Somali gangs made it to the thread. Lost forever in the ether I guess.
Posted by: Diogenes at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (2WIwB)

That’s weird.
Could be a spotty connection (5G or WiFi) giving you problems.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 03:07 PM (6ydKt)

140 Or the chicken he plucked and called a man...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (l3cgK)

Is this a "featherless biped" joke?

Posted by: Emmie at October 08, 2026 03:07 PM (OlzlW)

141 This Rubio fella makes some prominent, eye-catching points.

Like me.

Way up firm and high, even.

Posted by: Acropolis 1989 (NSFW) at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (wVcYX)

142 304s have been like that for decades.

Actually, you turn that upside-down and you get "shoe"

Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (+BvUE)

143 Very important in the Cold War during Reagan's years. He was also Sec. of Treasury during the Nixon years. Marine.

Read up on his speech to Dept. of State types back in his day.
Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (E4rtv)
====

A Princeton man. He even wore a tiger tattoo.

USMC 1942-1945

Posted by: mrp at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (rj6Yv)

144 Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 03:06 PM

Okkkay then. Hopefully I was not the only one who didn't know that .

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (JrHfD)

145
I was wearing my wedding ring and I'm not used to random women approaching me. I guess I'm flattered, but I'm not sure she was flirting.
Posted by: bonhomme at October 08, 2026 02:55 PM (mkw2N)

That was a friend of your wife.
You passed.

Posted by: OneEyedJack at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (zafwz)

146
Pre-selection.

Another woman liked you enough to get married so you have to have some redeeming qualities...
Posted by: 18-1 at October 08, 2026 03:01 PM (sKqQm)

Plus, it's a form of competition. A lot of single women, especially New Yawk urbanites, love the idea of stealing a man away from another woman, to assert dominance. Basically, if she thinks it's a good idea to air her thoughts on tiktok, she's much more likely to be like this.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (y9nCu)

147 140 Or the chicken he plucked and called a man...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:05 PM (l3cgK)

Is this a "featherless biped" joke?

Posted by: Emmie at October 08, 2026 03:07 PM (OlzlW)

Go ask Plato.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (l3cgK)

148 137
What's a 304 or that was a typo for something else ?
Posted by: FenelonSpoke
========
A lot of the secret language has been invented to circumvent social media censoring and blocking words particularly young males.

Sort of like how the Cockney invented rhyming slang.

One more reason that wokeism is failing is people adapt to speak freely whatever idiotic censorship and party line that the control freaks want to do.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (E4rtv)

149 Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (+BvUE)

LOL

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 08, 2026 03:09 PM (JrHfD)

150 >>@libsoftiktok
·
8m
>>BREAKING UPDATE: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth just confirmed that the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad will be made PUBLIC.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 08, 2026 03:09 PM (viF8m)

151 I'm some number of years old and I can count on one hand the number of times I've been blatantly hit on/flirted with by a female.

Each time I've dined out on it for about two weeks after, lol.

Just take the ego boost, put a little spring in your step, go home and use that extra pep with your wife.

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:09 PM (oqH4h)

152 142 304s have been like that for decades.

Actually, you turn that upside-down and you get "shoe"

Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (+BvUE)

...5304...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (l3cgK)

153 So far Marco is my next guy

Posted by: Skip at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (Ia/+0)

154 The greeks are famous for fucking each other in the ass.

Hence, Greek.

I call it "The Hard Way".

Posted by: Al Czervik at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (pa/M5)

155 They don't resort to it, they do it as a first response.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:04 PM (l3cgK)
__________________

Well, they have no other choice. It's why I was so disappointed in the poor "Birthright Citizenship" decision of SCOTUS. China is the primary beneficiary of that process. THEY are the ones running those rotating birthing centers in Southern California. It's so organized that they rotate between locations...and once the birth takes place, the mother and child immediately return to Mainland China, and that child is groomed for a specific industry/ corporation. Upon education and training being completed, the of age US Citizen returns to the US and gains entry into their assigned field as an asset to the CCP.

It reall IS a national security issue.

Posted by: Orson at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (dIske)

156
If it had been me, she would have said, "I've told the manager to throw you out."

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (eRlcH)

157 BREAKING UPDATE: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth just confirmed that the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad will be made PUBLIC.
Posted by: JackStraw

Oh, that is awesome!

Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (77rzZ)

158 You can tell Hegseth used to be on TV for a living.
He knows what will juice the ratings instinctively.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (6ydKt)

159 Not sure that Vance is on board with Hemispherical Independence.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (nqf1u)

160 Did you all know Idaho has a ballot measure to legalize abortion? First I’ve heard of it. You’d think this would be a bigger story.

The one in Kansas a few years ago was all over the place.

Posted by: Richard Gere at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (T+9ay)

161 That was one heck of an incredible speech, and the backdrop made it all the more incredible. What a shot. Rubio is very impressive in his role as SOS.

Posted by: Lady in Black at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (qBdHI)

162 Not sure that Vance is on board with Hemispherical Independence.

Wait, is that code for a woman not wearing a bra?

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (Riz8t)

163 Reid Hoffman, the bowling ball-shaped San Fran billionaire who previously was best known for visiting Epstein Island and Palm Beach mansion

What I like best about Hoffman is how he enshittified Linkedin into a Facebook for DEI professionals and visa grifters.

Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (sDWtc)

164 162 Not sure that Vance is on board with Hemispherical Independence.

Wait, is that code for a woman not wearing a bra?

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (Riz8t)

Is this where Diogenes brings out a Great Tit?

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (l3cgK)

165 One nit to pick. Devout Orthodox Christians (I saw at least one Orthodox bishop in the audience) may not have been enthusiastically on board with Marco's citing of Augustine and Aquinas. Some of Augustine's teachings were not accepted by the Orthodox (even before the Great Schism), and in the Fourteenth Century an Orthodox Council specifically rejected a lot of Scholastic theology. Just a nit on my part, however. And I would have been estatic if Marco had recognized the role of the Eastern (Greek) Roman Empire in keeping civilization alive during the Dark Ages and fighting alone against Mohamidism for so many centuries.

Posted by: Martin Tell at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (sFNX2)

166
>>@libsoftiktok
·
8m
>>BREAKING UPDATE: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth just confirmed that the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad will be made PUBLIC.
Posted by: JackStraw at October 08, 2026 03:09 PM (viF8m)

My mancrush just went into overdrive.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 03:13 PM (y9nCu)

167 Madison Cornbread, come on down!

>>@kylegriffin1
·
7m
>>BREAKING: MS NOW confirms.

>>The Trump Justice Department is seeking a federal criminal indictment of ex-White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson on charges of lying to Congress about Trump's actions on Jan. 6.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 08, 2026 03:13 PM (viF8m)

168 162 Not sure that Vance is on board with Hemispherical Independence.

Wait, is that code for a woman not wearing a bra?

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (Riz8t)

Is this where Diogenes brings out a Great Tit?
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (l3cgK)

I'm on standby.

Posted by: Milena Velba (NSFW) at October 08, 2026 03:13 PM (wVcYX)

169 Actually, you turn that upside-down and you get "shoe"

Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (+BvUE)

...5304...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (l3cgK)

'Well worn' shoes.

Posted by: Fish Tacos at October 08, 2026 03:14 PM (zZu0s)

170 What I like best about Hoffman is how he enshittified Linkedin into a Facebook for DEI professionals and visa grifters.
Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (sDWtc)
------
So right, lol. All of social media is a cesspool, but LinkedIn is a particularly useless part of the cesspool.

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:14 PM (oqH4h)

171 Serious question: wasn't Laticia James prosecuted or had her license revoked? How is she still a part of the legal system?

Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 03:15 PM (iOpI2)

172 Curtis Yarvin is big mad, y'all
tinyurl.com/3fwec7yw

Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:15 PM (sDWtc)

173 And I would have been estatic if Marco had recognized the role of the Eastern (Greek) Roman Empire in keeping civilization alive during the Dark Ages and fighting alone against Mohamidism for so many centuries.
Posted by: Martin Tell at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (sFNX2)
======

Nice view of the Acropolis. The Turks used it as a powder magazine.

Posted by: mrp at October 08, 2026 03:15 PM (rj6Yv)

174 Actually, you turn that upside-down and you get "shoe"

Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (+BvUE)

...5304...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (l3cgK)

'Well worn' shoes.
Posted by: Fish Tacos at October 08, 2026 03:14 PM (zZu0s)

. . . aaaand we're back to cobbler art.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 08, 2026 03:15 PM (wVcYX)

175 Cassidy squealing on Liz Cheney in a plea deal would be a nice surprise.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 03:16 PM (6ydKt)

176 > If it had been me, she would have said, "I've told the manager to throw you out."

See! I couldn't hear what she said. That totally could have been it!

Posted by: bonhomme at October 08, 2026 03:16 PM (mkw2N)

177 I visited the Acropolis about a year ago. It's weird seeing something IRL that you've seen pictures of as log as you can remember.

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 03:17 PM (Riz8t)

178 160 Did you all know Idaho has a ballot measure to legalize abortion? First I’ve heard of it. You’d think this would be a bigger story.
---

Things get shit canned.

The woman who organized the successful ballot petition against the mayor and city council, re: Epic Center in McKinley TX, is black,
Ashley Marie Louden. Find a picture of her. Nah, can't have that.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 03:17 PM (nqf1u)

179 BREAKING UPDATE: Secretary of War Pete Hegseth just confirmed that the execution of Nidal Hasan by firing squad will be made PUBLIC.
Posted by: JackStraw

Oh, that is awesome!
Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 03:11 PM (77rzZ)
====

PPV?

Posted by: mrp at October 08, 2026 03:17 PM (rj6Yv)

180 I want to see Hasan get capped

Posted by: Skip at October 08, 2026 03:17 PM (Ia/+0)

181 So right, lol. All of social media is a cesspool, but LinkedIn is a particularly useless part of the cesspool.
Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:14 PM (oqH4h)

=====

My account is in hibernation. Every once in a while I get an email asking me if I want to come back and reactivate. it. No. No, I don't.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 08, 2026 03:18 PM (DRSnL)

182 171 Serious question: wasn't Laticia James prosecuted or had her license revoked? How is she still a part of the legal system?
Posted by: Seems Legit at October 08, 2026 03:15 PM (iOpI2)

The DOJ was looking at her mortgage fraud problems but I have’t heard anything about it in a long while.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 03:18 PM (6ydKt)

183 long

Posted by: Archimedes at October 08, 2026 03:18 PM (Riz8t)

184 How public are we talking? Will there be livestreaming?

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 08, 2026 03:18 PM (BI5O2)

185 public =/= live

Posted by: runner at October 08, 2026 03:19 PM (AKptf)

186 PPV would be good, with proceeds to benefit survivor families.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 08, 2026 03:19 PM (YdWlB)

187 Some of Augustine's teachings were not accepted by the Orthodox (even before the Great Schism),

In fairness, Augustine didn't bat 1.000 among Catholics either. We don't accept gratia irresistibilis for one thing.
Anyway, since John Chrysostom was a flat-earther and a mentor of Nestorius, Orthodox can hardly say that all their saints were perfect either.

Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:19 PM (sDWtc)

188 184 How public are we talking? Will there be livestreaming?
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 08, 2026 03:18 PM (BI5O2)

Probably going to record it in 8K/120fps and stream it live on YouTube.

(I hope)

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 03:20 PM (6ydKt)

189 All of social media is a cesspool, but LinkedIn is a particularly useless part of the cesspool.
Posted by: ballistic

======

Where humble-brag and buzzword-bingo do their best work . . .

Posted by: 2009Refugee at October 08, 2026 03:20 PM (4G7wI)

190 Nice view of the Acropolis. The Turks used it as a powder magazine.
-------------------------------------
The Parthenon was a Church for a much longer period of time than it was a pagan temple. Now the idiot neo-pagans in Nashville are trying to turn the (replica) Parthenon into a functioning temple to Athena.

Meanwhile, plans are moving forward in Greece to undo the Turkish damage and restore the Parthenon.

Posted by: Martin Tell at October 08, 2026 03:20 PM (sFNX2)

191

Pay per view and the families get the money.

Posted by: four seasons at October 08, 2026 03:20 PM (/QHx4)

192 172 Curtis Yarvin is big mad, y'all
tinyurl.com/3fwec7yw
Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:15 PM (sDWtc)
----

1) Who?
2) I skimmed that thread. What is this idiot even talking about? I just saw a bunch of pseudo-philosophical fart-huffing nonsense about truth and wisdom interspersed with modern slang to appear hip and with it.

Conclusion: This guy talks like a fag and his shit's all retarded.

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:21 PM (oqH4h)

193 174 Actually, you turn that upside-down and you get "shoe"

Posted by: t-bird at October 08, 2026 03:08 PM (+BvUE)

...5304...
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:10 PM (l3cgK)

'Well worn' shoes.
Posted by: Fish Tacos at October 08, 2026 03:14 PM (zZu0s)

. . . aaaand we're back to cobbler art.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 08, 2026 03:15 PM (wVcYX)

Candidate for Weekly Top Comments...

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:21 PM (l3cgK)

194 I've seen men shot and killed. It isn't pleasant. But I will watch this.

Posted by: Diogenes at October 08, 2026 03:21 PM (2WIwB)

195 He also attacks transnationalist "Davosism," the socialist dream of all national borders melting away into one gigantic ultrastate.
--------

There's an old book that talks about something like this coming to pass. Wonder how it knew.

Posted by: ... at October 08, 2026 03:22 PM (IUETd)

196 Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what's confusing you
Is just the nature of my game

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
Cause I'm in need of some restraint

So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I'll lay your soul to waste

Posted by: SpeakingOf at October 08, 2026 03:22 PM (6ydKt)

197 How public are we talking? Will there be livestreaming?
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 08, 2026 03:18 PM (BI5O2)

I feel that having Michael Buffer deliver his trademarked and iconic phrase, "Let's Get Ready To Rumble!" immediately before orders are given to the firing squad would only enhance the gravitas of this solemn occasion.

Posted by: Count de Monet at October 08, 2026 03:23 PM (wVcYX)

198
Posted by: Jordan61
---

Hey, long time no see. Hope you are doing well.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 03:23 PM (nqf1u)

199 How many times can we load the rifles with blanks and yell "PSYCH!" after the volley?

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:24 PM (oqH4h)

200 Talafreako speculation is running rampant, notwithstanding an X post, ostensibly from him, challenging Paxton to a debate.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at October 08, 2026 03:25 PM (YdWlB)

201
What I like best about Hoffman is how he enshittified Linkedin into a Facebook for DEI professionals and visa grifters.
Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (sDWtc)
------
So right, lol. All of social media is a cesspool, but LinkedIn is a particularly useless part of the cesspool.
Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:14 PM (oqH4h)

Good luck trying to find the pricing for anything LinkedIn. You literally have to sign up for a "free trial" first, then they still hide the pricing, which is only an estimate, IF you can find it.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 03:25 PM (y9nCu)

202 199 How many times can we load the rifles with blanks and yell "PSYCH!" after the volley?
Posted by: ballistic

Didn't we try that with Christa Pike? Now she's suing and might be let loose to give some other poor kid to Tlaloc.

Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:26 PM (sDWtc)

203 > I've seen men shot and killed. It isn't pleasant. But I will watch this.

I've heard a modern firing squad execution is relatively tame. They put the condemned in a dark jumpsuit with a white bit of cloth over their heart. They're immobilized. The shots fire, the bit of cloth disappears, the condemned's head falls forward, the curtains close.

Any American who's been watching TV shows and movies with gunshot victims their whole life is likely to be underwhelmed.

Posted by: bonhomme at October 08, 2026 03:26 PM (mkw2N)

204 "187...Orthodox can hardly say that all their saints were perfect either."
-------------------------------------------
Agreed! And FWIW, I have no problem with saying "St Augustine." Weigh the volume of all the good he did and the soundness of almost all his doctrine against the few errors and there is no comparison. I've heard that some of his errors can be traced back to his lack of Greek and therefore not being exposed to numerous issues that had already been decided in the East. And he was frequently reacting to bad heresy, and sometimes his arguments went too far and tipped into statements that could be later taken out of context.

Posted by: Martin Tell at October 08, 2026 03:27 PM (sFNX2)

205 I remember when the Liberians shot their cabinet ministers and other high ranking officials on the beach in Monrovia.

Probably on youtube somewhere.

Posted by: 1980 at October 08, 2026 03:27 PM (pa/M5)

206 Bravo! Standing ovation!

A major defining moment in his future presidential campaign.

This is his "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" speech.

And what I pray for daily before the culture and people of the UK and Europe disappear, for Christians and Jews to rise up and fight. Two fights against the barbarians and their own government officials.

Shame on Europe for the statue of President Trump. They don't deserve us saving them, save your cowardly selves if you can.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at October 08, 2026 03:27 PM (hzuYO)

207 Looking for international comments on Rubio I found this; it must be election time in Italy.

@GiorgiaMeloni · 10h

Slum-dweller, fishmonger, greengrocer.
And then plenty more: “Queen of Coattonia (Trash-town,”

,” “cow,” “wide-mouthed frog,” “bitch.”
And so on. Over the years, I’ve been called all sorts of names.
Personal insults—targeting my appearance, my family, my background.
But today, the tone changes. And the level is raised.

This is because a Democratic Party figure—one Floriano Della Bella—stated during a Pontedera City Council meeting that Meloni is a “*Ciociara*—in the most derogatory sense of the word.”...
...
I am sorry for them, but I do not share that view. I am proud to be called *Ciociara*. For Ciociaria is one of the most beautiful, ancient, and extraordinary regions of our Italy—a land of popes and military leaders, saints and artists, writers and poets. It is the home of Cicero, Gaius Marius, Boniface VIII, Saint Thomas Aquinas, Marcello Mastroianni, Vittorio De Sica, Nino Manfredi, and so many other men and women who have shaped our history over the ages. …
...etc
Long live Ciociaria!

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 03:29 PM (nqf1u)

208 129 Thank you, I did not know. Reagan SoS is impressive. Nixon SoT not so much.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at October 08, 2026 03:29 PM (bX16E)

209 Conclusion: This guy talks like a fag and his shit's all retarded.
Posted by: ballistic

Intellectuals or worse, wannabe intellectuals get upset if their own particular itch doesn't get scratched. Guy used to go by Mencius Moldbug and was part of the supposed dark and dank movement with people like him, Vox Dei, etc. via various internet platforms.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:30 PM (E4rtv)

210 203 > I've seen men shot and killed. It isn't pleasant. But I will watch this.

I've heard a modern firing squad execution is relatively tame. They put the condemned in a dark jumpsuit with a white bit of cloth over their heart. They're immobilized. The shots fire, the bit of cloth disappears, the condemned's head falls forward, the curtains close.

Any American who's been watching TV shows and movies with gunshot victims their whole life is likely to be underwhelmed.

Posted by: bonhomme at October 08, 2026 03:26 PM (mkw2N)

I think I'd rather be shot dead, in the head, than in the heart.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 08, 2026 03:32 PM (l3cgK)

211 Nixon SoT not so much.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov

Schultz had to deal with teh fallout of Nixon taking the US off the Gold Standard because it was no longer tenable (due to LBJ and overspending by Dems in the 60's). He was Nixon's OMB chief, then moved to Labor (I think he was just in time for Nixon's wage price freeze ), then Treasury. Basically a cleanup pitcher after Nixon and his coterie of advisors made messes. Nixon was a lousy domestic president and far too worried about the great game to pay much attention to domestic politics other than winning reelection.

Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:33 PM (E4rtv)

212 Intellectuals or worse, wannabe intellectuals get upset if their own particular itch doesn't get scratched. Guy used to go by Mencius Moldbug and was part of the supposed dark and dank movement with people like him, Vox Dei, etc. via various internet platforms.
Posted by: whig at October 08, 2026 03:30 PM (E4rtv)
-----
Lol, yeah that tracks. Internet edgelords finding something stupid to 'sperg out about.

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:34 PM (oqH4h)

213 Reid Hoffman has been a board member since the sale of LinkedIn to Microsoft but other than that has had no say in LinkedIn matters.

If you want to blame someone for turning it to shit it’s Microsoft.

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at October 08, 2026 03:34 PM (T+9ay)

214 203 > I've seen men shot and killed. It isn't pleasant. But I will watch this.

I've heard a modern firing squad execution is relatively tame. They put the condemned in a dark jumpsuit with a white bit of cloth over their heart. They're immobilized. The shots fire, the bit of cloth disappears, the condemned's head falls forward, the curtains close.

Any American who's been watching TV shows and movies with gunshot victims their whole life is likely to be underwhelmed.

Posted by: bonhomme
---

Borderland Beat exhibits Cartel executions etc. Yeah, they are meant to deter infractions. No body coverings.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 03:35 PM (nqf1u)

215 Long live Ciociaria!
Posted by: Braenyard

One of the best lines of television - "where are the Romans now?" "You're looking at us, asshole."

Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:36 PM (sDWtc)

216 113 Hegseth, Bessent and Rubio. The right men in the right place at the right time.
Posted by: Ben Had at October 08, 2026 03:01 PM (nxLtX)

**********
Thanks be to God.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at October 08, 2026 03:36 PM (hzuYO)

217 In Yarvin's view, democratic governments are inefficient and wasteful and should be replaced with sovereign joint-stock corporations whose "shareholders" (large owners) elect an executive with total power, but who must serve at their pleasure.[45] The executive, unencumbered by liberal-democratic procedures, could rule efficiently much like a CEO-monarch.[45] Yarvin admires Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping for his pragmatic and market-oriented authoritarianism.
-------

ROFL this guy is a pud puller

Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:38 PM (oqH4h)

218 Hey, long time no see. Hope you are doing well.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 08, 2026 03:23 PM (nqf1u)

=====

Hey! Yes, doing well, just always crazy busy at work. We finally hired another person though, so hopefully things will calm down for me.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 08, 2026 03:38 PM (DRSnL)

219
Hey! Yes, doing well, just always crazy busy at work. We finally hired another person though, so hopefully things will calm down for me.

Posted by: Jordan61 at October 08, 2026 03:38 PM (DRSnL)

I always wanted to tell you to calm down.

Posted by: ... at October 08, 2026 03:39 PM (IUETd)

220 Marcus T I really appreciate your scripture posts and your comments. Thanks!

Posted by: Buck at October 08, 2026 03:40 PM (fiwzq)

221 The latest survivor of the USS Arizona has died. Lou Counter was 102

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 08, 2026 03:40 PM (t9883)

222 The latest survivor of the USS Arizona has died. Lou Counter was 102
Posted by: Smell the Glove

May he RIP.

Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 03:41 PM (77rzZ)

223 The latest survivor of the USS Arizona has died. Lou Counter was 102
Posted by: Smell the Glove

I'd recommend sending that story to JJ for the Morning Report.

Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 03:42 PM (77rzZ)

224 U nas yest' NOOD.

Posted by: Bulg at October 08, 2026 03:43 PM (77rzZ)

225 Last name was Conter, spell check screwed it up

Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 08, 2026 03:44 PM (t9883)

226 Will Hasan be the first wheelchair bound man to be executed by firing squad? Firing squad is far to good for the scum. I'd prefer they put him in deep sand for the sand fleas to attack with a sniper watch to shoot anyone who attempts to give him aid. Then make Fauci watch the footage every week.

Posted by: PaleRider at October 08, 2026 03:47 PM (PV+Zw)

227 The latest survivor of the USS Arizona has died. Lou Counter was 102
Posted by: Smell the Glove at October 08, 2026 03:40 PM (t9883)

So the Kate level bombers finally caught up with him?

Posted by: Oldcat at October 08, 2026 04:25 PM (uhVAy)

228 What I like best about Hoffman is how he enshittified Linkedin into a Facebook for DEI professionals and visa grifters.
Posted by: 88C+u at October 08, 2026 03:12 PM (sDWtc)
------
So right, lol. All of social media is a cesspool, but LinkedIn is a particularly useless part of the cesspool.
Posted by: ballistic at October 08, 2026 03:14 PM (oqH4h)

Good luck trying to find the pricing for anything LinkedIn. You literally have to sign up for a "free trial" first, then they still hide the pricing, which is only an estimate, IF you can find it.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at October 08, 2026 03:25 PM (y9nCu)

The only contact Linked In ever sent to me in 1000 texts was my oldest sister, long dead of cancer.

When I got a new phone it wasn't installed.

Posted by: Oldcat at October 08, 2026 04:28 PM (uhVAy)

229 Interestingly the Greek city states did eventually get forcibly added to a superstate - Rome. At which point they went from each being a force to being just a cog in the Roman state.

And it is interesting because prior to that those greek city states were hitting way about their size in the world - look at the conflicts with the Persian Empire which controlled most of the world at the time
Posted by: 18-1 at October 08, 2026 02:32 PM (sKqQm)

Forcibly is kinda a strong word for the Roman incorporation of Greece. Greece starting calling them in to settle disputes between one lame coalition of states and another coalition of states. Or to fight off Macedon. So they got the standard treaty which was Rome protects you, and you have to do what they say, a patron-client relation. Then later, when the patron wanted something they didn't do it, and Rome came down on them like a hammer for a violation of the rules.

Eventually they were reduced to provincial status and vegetated.

Posted by: Oldcat at October 08, 2026 04:34 PM (uhVAy)

Processing 0.03, elapsed 0.0444 seconds.
15 queries taking 0.0118 seconds, 238 records returned.
Page size 144 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.