Patterico's Pontifications

10/27/2016

Ed from SFV Votes

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 11:39 pm



[Guest post by Ed from SFV]

Today was a cold, showery, and quite blustery day in Northern Indiana. A perfect moment for me to live out my dread in this election. I went to a government building and voted.

The location was on the western edge of downtown Mishawaka, IN. The town boomed right after WW II as a white flight from contiguous South Bend, home of the Studebaker plants which were attracting thousands of Southern minority emigrants, took hold. It’s claims to fame are, in some order, the place where the kick-ass Humvees are built; the shopping mecca for our region (envisioned by a staunch, Thatcher-like Republican Mayor in the 70s); the hometown of one of the soldiers General Patton famously slapped in a field hospital during WW II.

I arrived just before 2 PM, hoping to avoid any lunch rush. Success! There was a sign commanding NO CELL PHONES on the pane of an automatic sliding door. Huh? That’s some Homeland Security overreach. Maybe the TSA would be manning the checkpoint which had a metal detector, located a few yards inside the door. Nah. It was an older County Brownie (policeman). The TSA may have been a better alternative.

There were three seasoned citizens ahead of me. One was going through the detector, the other were a couple who had been married for over 50 years. He was an infirm Army vet who fought in the Korean conflict. He was trying to muster some strength as he leaned on his cane, and wall in the small entrance. The wife delayed handing her bag to the deputy and entering the detector. She was obviously concerned that she would be separated, even for a minute or two, from her struggling husband. I was happy — no, check that, I was honored — to wait. The deputy, not so much.

I was the end of a non-existent line. He grabbed her bag and ordered her through. She was confused and concerned. I wanted to jump ahead, but there was no real opportunity. She also wondered aloud about the cell phone she had in her bag. “Oh, said the deputy, if you are here to vote, we have a special today – you can have one.” Just perfect.

I checked with the vet to see if he was ready to go through, but he waved me off with a smile. His wife was calling after him and he told her he was OK. So, I dumped the contents of my pocket, including my cell phone, and with deep and obvious sarcasm looked the functionary in the eye and said how lucky I was that, “Today! There is an election special.” Of course, I waited to share that with him after I had successfully navigated the detector.

Parenthetically, back in the day, I was a proud auxiliary member of the FOP lodge associated with this county police department. Today, I wonder what the hell has happened to that force.

About a minute later, the vet made his way through without incident. From there, he joined us in a small line in the lobby of the small building where a makeshift polling station had been setup. There were two tables at a 90 degree angle, with two clerks each. The first table was to check-in, the 2nd to receive your ballot.

The vet’s wife wanted to be able to go up to that first table with her husband, which was just fine with me as I made sure to get behind him in that new line. A clerk overheard her and snippily snarled she would only allow one person at a time.

Our brave new world was disfunctioning perfectly in this fortunate and prosperous small town in the Rust Belt. I was more determined than ever to not vote to strengthen the hands of those who would completely subjugate us given any chance or opportunity to do so.

Now comes something very right. First, paper ballots. Indiana does not screw around when it comes to identifying voters at the polls. You must present a government-issued photo ID and it must match the roll to claim an unfettered ballot. Each verifying clerk had two tablets. One for them, and one for us. They were connected to the official voting rolls. I presented my Driver’s License and it was swiped. The woman looked at her screen and then turned the other around, asking me to verify that the information was correct, and there were no changes. There were not. I was then given a special felt-tipped pen and instructed to sign the bottom of the tablet to formally acknowledge what I had told her. She checked that signature against my DL! She then gave me a big smile and softly apologized for her colleague’s rudeness and insensitivity towards the Vet couple. She handed me an affidavit and a receipt which indicated the precise type of ballot I was to receive (all voters from all county precincts were voting here). If there were any hiccups to my process, I would have been offered a provisional ballot to fill out, subject to later authentication by the County Clerk.

I had hoped to be able to vote against a $25 million millage increase for schools, but it appeared I was jusssst outside that district. The clerk began to give me the desired, but wrong, ballot! She caught herself. Drat.

Each ballot required each of the two issuing clerks to initial it, and then it was stamped with the signature of the County Clerk. Each voter must sign and date an affidavit attesting to the information therein, and that they are eligible to vote. I signed and was handed my ballot, along with a small manila envelope, which I also had to sign and date. I was instructed to go over to a booth and when finished, to place the ballot in the envelope, seal it and return it to her.

If there is to be any fraud involved with early voting in my county, it will require a pretty good conspiracy.

I looked over, and my heart was warmed as the couple had the only two seated voting positions, right next to each other, and violated the RULES with impunity by talking to each other. Hah!

I then quickly realized that the other 6 booths were occupied! What? How? This ballot was unnecessarily complicated. It really did require a careful handling. A spot soon opened and I began.

There is no rhyme or reason as to where the various offices were placed. One thing caused me to chuckle a bit…in all contests, the Republican name was listed first. I made sure to begin with a YES vote on amending the Indiana Constitution to ensure hunting rights. Then, it was time to vote for president. I simply could not bring myself to even look at the printed names. My disgust and anger was very great. I searched for the Write-In line and the corresponding bubble to fill in. I wrote in “Evan McMullin,” the conservative who may end up taking Utah. Unfortunately, he was not timely and he is not an “officially declared” candidate here. Any votes for him, like mine, will not be counted. However, at least to me, those votes matter.

I voted for Young (Senate), Holcomb (Governor) and a fierce Libertarian named Arthus for the Indiana Senate (he has zero chance). I refused to vote for the incumbent Boehner-ite Walorski for Congress. I believe she earned a proctology degree she was so far up his butt. She is fabulous on veteran’s issues. Truly. But, she will cave on the big things, as she has already demonstrated.

I had no idea on retention of judges, so I left those blank. I went straight GOP on all other state and local contests.

I folded my ballot into the envelope, sealed it, and returned it as instructed. I was able to inquire as to the turnout in the fortnight since EV began. “Well over 10K votes” was the reply. Wow. I quickly glanced over to the now happy couple as they were still working through their ballots. I walked out past the brownie jerk, refusing to look his way.

As the automatic doors opened and I exited, greeted by a chill blast of moist air, I checked myself. What was I feeling? I was stunned to realize I was happy. I was proud. I was also glad that I have avoided what promises to be a nightmare of delays for voters on the 9th.

This has been the worst election cycle in my lifetime (First vote was for Ford.) The twisted contortions we are being made to endure are unprecedented. If HRC wins, with a Chuckie Schumer Senate, I am absolutely convinced there will be no saving our country. Yet…

For this one, last? time, I voted with a clear conscience. There were a few excellent folks whom I could trust to do as they have promised. I kept the faith. I refused to go along with the entrenched and establishment elitists running under the banner of my former party, and running roughshod over our sacred Constitution. I was able to actually appreciate a sadly ever more rare legitimate voting process. My chance encounter with that vet and his wife was a perfect reminder of what was at stake, and the incredibly profound privilege I had to exercise my rights.

Soon enough, it’ll be back to despair for me. Not today, though. No. Thanks be to God. Not today.

— Ed from SFV

96 Responses to “Ed from SFV Votes”

  1. Ed sent me that yesterday, but I didn’t get to it until today. Thanks for that, Ed.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  2. yes yes it’s all about feeling good about yourself

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  3. Ed sucks clintons cock.

    [I am going to leave this comment up so that everybody understands why mg just got banned. – P]

    mg (31009b)

  4. And mg is jealous.

    nk (dbc370)

  5. Hang in there, Ed!

    Meanwhile, back in Chicago… http://americandigest.org/mt-archives/driveby/res_ipsa_loquitur.php

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  6. And mg is not long for this site, I suspect. Worthless POS.

    John Hitchcock (ab63db)

  7. Hey, mg, go sit on an anti-armor land mine.

    John Hitchcock (ab63db)

  8. don’t do it if you’re using your good stemware

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  9. if you don’t vote

    to beat that pig

    all them good feels

    ain’t worth a fig

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  10. Sad that Ed voted for a statist instead of the only option to stop Hillary in a state that matters.

    May the chains weigh lightly on your soul.

    NJRob (a07d2e)

  11. C’mon, HF. You don’t vote. Quit talking about voting if you aren’t going to bother. People died to make it possible, and Ed’s essay really describes the way I have always felt in the voting booth—independent of what kinds of people are on the ballot. We are fortunate to have this option.

    You’ll crack more jokes. But that’s you. You’ll continue to do your weirdo schtick. I’m so glad Patterico posted your comments from years ago that were clearly heartfelt and insightful. I knew you had genuine depth, despite the mystery of why you post what you do. Whatevs.

    Anyway, Ed, thank you for your essay.

    And Patterico, I do not understand some of the people who post such filth, like mg. No idea.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  12. i don’t vote

    but when i do

    i vote to beat that pig

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  13. Don’t vote to beat Hillary.

    Marked a ballot for president that won’t count.

    Didn’t even do research to vote on judges.

    And yet, you somehow feel happy for yourself.

    It must be great to have so little self esteem.

    Steve_in_SoCal (58e1f9)

  14. So….you never vote to “beat that pig.”

    It’s kind of sad, really. And it works against what you say you care about.

    Don’t get me wrong: you can believe whatever nonsense you wish. What makes me laugh is your consistent drumbeat about how important it is to vote against HRC….when you don’t vote at all.

    That’s why I think you really don’t care about the election at all.

    Why not write the way you used to? Make real contributions?

    If you really care about the issues, that is.

    Oh, right.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  15. Ed from SFV,

    Thank you for the report. I have my fingers crossed for Young, even though the lack of intelligence shown by the Indiana electorate on May 3 may be trumped by returning Bayh to the office in which he served himself far more than he ever served the Hoosiers dumb enough to vote for him.

    Rick Ballard (bca473)

  16. The main reason not to vote for Trump is so as not to validate his loony-toon supporters.

    nk (dbc370)

  17. look Mr. Jester the quest to beat that pig stands on the edge of a knife. Stray but a little and the pig will ascend to the fascist throne of the failmerican kingdom and blight and unfreedom eternal will descend upon us.

    I’m scared and I’m forlorn.

    You could try being a little supportive.

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  18. “RISE OF THE MACHINES: Trump will win the election and is more popular than Obama in 2008, AI system finds. “An artificial intelligence (AI) system that correctly predicted the last three U.S. presidential elections puts Republican nominee Donald Trump ahead of Democrat rival Hillary Clinton in the race to the White House. MogIA was developed by Sanjiv Rai, the founder of Indian start-up Genic.ai. It takes in 20 million data points from public platforms including Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in the U.S. and then analyzes the information to create predictions. The AI system was created in 2004, so it has been getting smarter all the time. It had already correctly predicted the results of the Democrat and Republican Primaries.”

    Hmm. Make of this what you will. It’s 2016, and nobody should get cocky.”

    https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/247594/

    Colonel Haiku (a79817)

  19. Oh, Mr. Feet…

    “…You could try being a little supportive….”

    I am. I’m voting.

    You’re not.

    So, without being all nasty to you, why not follow your own advice?

    I mean, if you are serious about what you believe?

    And you aren’t just a silly troll.

    I’m want to believe in the former, truly.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  20. it’s water under the bridge now cause of it’s too late to register

    but I’m sending out the white light for my boy

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  21. Dustin… DUSTIN!!! I command you to vote for me! https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CsskSTTWcAA7r9M.jpg

    Colonel Haiku (a79817)

  22. 21. HF, why not try Wisconsin, not to long a drive and your vote would have more marginal value.

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  23. urbanleftbehind, I wish Mr. Feet was serious about these things, but he isn’t.

    It’s a shame. If you search around, you will find some of his “non-weird” posts on this website. He really contributed a lot and gave me much to think about.

    But that’s not Mr. Feet anymore.

    I just get annoyed over the voting thing.

    So the easiest thing to conclude is that none of this is really important to him. Just a pose, like wearing gold chains and leisure suits in the 80s.

    Simon Jester (c8876d)

  24. CH, we were being conditioned to accept this subpar cerebrally-impaired candidate from as far back as 2012, 2013. I used to see these posters at Gurnee Mills Mall and other public places for stroke awareness -see the “F” picture of the FAST spectrum.

    http://www.strokeassociation.org/STROKEORG/WarningSigns/Stroke-Warning-Signs-and-Symptoms_UCM_308528_SubHomePage.jsp

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  25. i live in the deepest most azure abyss to be found in failmerica

    the pig herself was spawned on its fringe

    it’s all i can do just to hold on

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  26. The main reason not to vote for Trump is so as not to validate his loony-toon supporters.

    nk (dbc370) — 10/28/2016 @ 8:21 am

    Versus validating Clinton’s fascist supporters and destroying the court and our country for over a generation.

    NJRob (b2ff3b)

  27. Thank you for the write-up, Ed, and for voting. Peace be with you. 🙂

    aphrael (3f0569)

  28. Simon Jester,

    > He really contributed a lot and gave me much to think about.

    > But that’s not Mr. Feet anymore.

    It’s enough to make me wonder if something happened to him and if we should be reacting to the new happyfeet with *pity*.

    aphrael (3f0569)

  29. There was a sign commanding NO CELL PHONES on the pane of an automatic sliding door. Huh?

    Most cell phones now contain cameras. They didn’t want you talimng a picture of your vote.

    At least in theory, somebody could sell their vote and use the picture to “prove” how they voted (although there are ways around that, like asking for anotehr ballot)

    Or maybe somebody could coerce somebody else into voting their way: A member of a political group, but could also be an employer, or union represenative or – morel likely when theer’s nothing massive going on – maybe a family member, could demand a picture of the vote.

    That’s some Homeland Security overreach.

    I don’t think this was about explosive devices. People can take laptops on airplanes. And cell phones are not used for explosions – they are used as triggers.

    They actually had a metal detector? Maybe when there are so few designated advance polling places. But cellphones are triggers, not devices carrying hidden explosives. The anti-cell phone edict was in order to prevent picture taking.

    The first table was to check-in, the 2nd to receive your ballot.

    You don’t receive your ballot where you check in?

    Isn’t it enough to have:

    1) A place to sign in.

    2) A place to mark your ballot.

    3) A place to return your ballot and put it in the scanner or other collecting device.

    At least the two tables were right next to each other. They couldn’t find a big enough table? Maybe it had to be different because the sign in was for multiple precincts.

    But the same clerk, watched by others of course, be doing both the sign in and the ballot handing out?

    The ballot goes back to the person who handed it out? That’s more like the old procedure for affidavit ballots in New York. (most voting was done on machines)

    had hoped to be able to vote against a $25 million millage increase for schools, but it appeared I was jusssst outside that district.

    that means the tax doesn’t cover where you live.

    was handed my ballot, along with a small manila envelope, which I also had to sign and date. I was instructed to go over to a booth and when finished, to place the ballot in the envelope, seal it and return it to her.

    Indiana really goes to great lengths to protect the secrecy of the ballot – but wait doesn’t this allow anyone who opens the ballot to see?

    This has to be done with early voting if they are also allowing challenges before the ballot is opened.

    Do thwy keep the ballot separate and check if you voted at the polls, and if you vote at the polls, this ballot is discarded? Or does your name get taken off the list at the precicnct so that you can’t vbote on Election Day any more? If so, why not put the ballots right away in a tabulating machine? The vote’s not going to get challenged. Is it because they don’t want any votes to be counted before Election Day? Some states count them, I think, but don’t announce them. is it maybe because they belong to so many different precinncts and need to be sorted out?

    the couple had the only two seated voting positions, right next to each other, and violated the RULES with impunity by talking to each other. Hah!

    That happens all the time with couples who come in together. Somebody is allowed to ask for help, but this is supposed to be noted. In New York, if an poll worker helps, there must be two of them from both major political parties. An interpreter is allowed to be the only one. No employer or union rep can assist, a rule probably dating from 60 to 75 years ago.

    I then quickly realized that the other 6 booths were occupied! What?

    Not enough privacy booths. But there are probably places to work, or you can wait. But why are they so cheap?

    One thing caused me to chuckle a bit…in all contests, the Republican name was listed first

    Probably state law, and the state law probably says the party which won the last Gubernatorial election goes first. It wasn’t a chart with the party going horizontally and offices listed vertically?

    I was stunned to realize I was happy. I was proud. I was also glad that I have avoided what promises to be a nightmare of delays for voters on the 9th.

    The 8th. November 8th is the latest a general election can be. It’s on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. November 2nd through 8th. Indiana does have short voting hours on Election Day.

    This has been the worst election cycle in my lifetime (First vote was for Ford.)

    So you don’t have to decide if the Presidential election of 1972 was worse.

    Sammy Finkelman (643dcd)

  30. Being on the 8th and not on the 2nd is a certain team’s only hope. Drip-Drip-Drip.

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  31. Compassion is apportioned, think anything happened to mg in the last year.

    Btw these two clever by half strategies often end nadly

    narciso (d1f714)

  32. I just voted at the library. Similar process, but the security guard at the door was focused on making sure people knew where the line started and ended. Someone asked how the lines had been, and he commented that this was the longest line all week (about two dozen people in front of me, and most privacy booths filled when I got in.) No metal detector, no one bothered about cell phones or tablets (and I was obviously carrying a tablet), guard and clerks were polite and, if they were not smiling, at least made sure not to frown. All the voting staff was focused on everyone getting through smoothly. At the end, we insert the completed ballot a page at a time (two pages front and back) into a scanner, received our little “voted early” sticker and out the door.

    Voted, as promised, for the actual Republicans on the ballot: Johnson/Weld, Rubio, the sacrificial GOP candidate running against Debbie Wasserman, a county commission candidate who is a Republican, but sent a flyer touting a speech by Debbie W. praising his work in a prior position (but the flyer also highlighted his opposition to the county sales tax increase on the ballot)….against a complicated constitutional amendment that opponents claim will make it uneconomic for people to change to solar energy for their homes (the description was complicated enough that, no matter the details, it was obvious that someone was intended to get a special tax break, so I was planning to vote no anyway, because it was a special tax break. Of course, also no on the aforementioned sales tax increase.
    Whole process took about twenty minutes.

    The deciding factor to not for Trump (other than the fact that’s he obviously unfit for the office in terms of lack of morals and apparent narcissism) was that I don’t want the GOP to think running authoritarian inclined statists is the way to go in the future.

    kishnevi (870883)

  33. Are those South FL districts still zig-zagged by particular condo complex, or did the recent re-map make things more rectangular?

    urbanleftbehind (5eecdb)

  34. It’s rather Ziggy and Zaggy, because they need to make sure Alcee Hastings has a district.
    Of course, in my immediate location, it’s merely a question of which Democrat is the Congresscreature. I don’t expect the GOP county commission candidate to win because of the Democratic dominance. So the only effective vote I cast was for Rubio. And of course I want the sales tax increase to be defeated.

    kishnevi (870883)

  35. This was a fantastic account, Ed from SFV. God bless Indiana for taking voting rights so seriously.

    JVW (6e49ce)

  36. And as for mg, I think all we can do is pray for him. For the past few months he has been slipping further and further into incoherent belligerence, and that never seems to end well.

    JVW (6e49ce)

  37. ohnoes please do not ban Mr. mg

    he was just doing metaphors he didn’t literally mean any for reals actual oral activities should happen

    i hate when this happens it’s just a really fractious time in America, and people get frustrated and say stuff sometimes

    I extend a hand of forgiveness and understanding to all the people!

    this is the spirit of moving forward together

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  38. he was just doing metaphors he didn’t literally mean any for reals actual oral activities should happen

    mg knows how to email Patterico if he is truly contrite and wants to extend an apology. Otherwise, his putrid contributions here over the past couple of months really don’t warrant his return.

    JVW (6e49ce)

  39. If HRC wins, with a Chuckie Schumer Senate, I am absolutely convinced there will be no saving our country.

    America does looks pretty hopeless from Indiana. Corn. Cold. Flat. Boring. And everything basketball. They don’t call it flyover country for nothing.

    Get wise.

    Leave.

    DCSCA (797bc0)

  40. 🙁

    he’s a very good pickle at heart and he loves america very very much

    happyfeet (a037ad)

  41. I remember too much for my own good, unlike david spade, mg, might feel a justified sense of frustration, with the world, and those who treat it as their plaything,

    narciso (d1f714)

  42. mg, might feel a justified sense of frustration, with the world, and those who treat it as their plaything,

    If that were the case, he darn well wouldn’t be a Trumpster.

    John Hitchcock (ab63db)

  43. he’s a good pickle

    what’s wrong with you people

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  44. mg knows how to email Patterico if he is truly contrite and wants to extend an apology.

    Yup. It’s Ed to whom he owes the apology.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  45. ah they are still trying to nickel and dime us, that never changes kish,

    narciso (d1f714)

  46. bit by bit
    torn apart
    we never win
    .
    but the battle wages on
    .
    for toy soldiers
    .
    .
    .
    .

    i miss Mr. mg

    you think he’s no good

    but he knows what he beliebers in even if he don’t always express it perfect

    i hope wherever he is he knows that his voice still matters

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  47. Anyone who talks about a valued commenter like that gets the axe. Even if they happen to support the candidate you support, you should be in favor of basic decency towards good people. But I guess for some, allegiance to Trump is more important than basic decency. 2016!

    Patterico (115b1f)

  48. that’s a little arbitrary don’t you think though?

    putting Mr. Trump to the side for the nonce

    does basic decency not itself encompass the forgiveness of an intemperate comment?

    i think C.S. Lewis would say that yes, yes it does

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  49. I see.

    The not so valued commenters have this one thing in common.

    papertiger (c8116c)

  50. The not so valued commenters have this one thing in common.

    They’re assholes?

    Patterico (115b1f)

  51. but yes yes I see what youre getting at mr tiger

    its not my fault if the assholes have other things in common besides being assholes

    i only care that theyre assholes

    Patterico (115b1f)

  52. A tough skin. Because you’re gonna need it.

    papertiger (c8116c)

  53. does basic decency not itself encompass the forgiveness of an intemperate comment?

    Absolutely. If mg apologizes and seeks forgiveness in a genuine and sincere way, he’d be sure to find it from me and I’m sure from Ed too. Because Ed’s a good sort that way.

    Ohhhhh . . . you meant forgiveness without any trace of remorse from mg or hint of understanding on his part that he did anything wrong! Now I see!

    No.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  54. well yeah but we know Mr. mg and his vicissitudes

    i hope he says sorry and things get back like how they were

    he comments almost always at an under-commented daypart you know

    he probably hasn’t even had all his coffees

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  55. I don’t condone or agree with mg’s comment.

    But it is kind of disheartening seeing SFV proudly displaying the hole he shot in his foot like it was a war wound.

    papertiger (c8116c)

  56. Nice limp, buddy. You can probably accessorize with a fancy walking stick.

    papertiger (c8116c)

  57. as to the subject of the post, yes proposition language seems to be poorly translated from sanskrit, sometimes staff has been unprepared, many of the voters in my former blue berg, were unacquainted with the principles of civics, (churchill would say ay) it seems a flimsy breaker box.

    narciso (d1f714)

  58. But it is kind of disheartening seeing SFV proudly displaying the hole he shot in his foot like it was a war wound.

    I disagree, but your comment, while forcefully stated and in my view wrongheaded, does not violate the standards of this site. Wow! Even though you were critical and you like Trump!

    Patterico (115b1f)

  59. well yeah but we know Mr. mg and his vicissitudes

    i hope he says sorry and things get back like how they were

    Doubt it. The Trumpers are kind of proud of how they never “back down” (what the rest of us call “acknowledge error and apologize when appropriate”).

    Patterico (115b1f)

  60. this has been a nasty campaign even worse then macho grande, I would compare it to the battle of leipzig airport in civil war, or the central park battle in anchormen too, so tempers have gotten frayed in the course, specially among people who I have come to know something about,

    narciso (d1f714)

  61. Pat, you are not totally fair in your enforcement, but then again I’ve been banned from plenty of places for stuff you let pass in the wash.

    Nobody’s perfect. You’re better than most.

    papertiger (c8116c)

  62. My pet peeve is people nastily attacking people I really like and want to keep around.

    I agree that I am not “fair,” in the way a computer might be “fair” — I value politeness, long-term commenters, and interesting people over a lot of other stuff.

    When I went to AZ Bob’s retirement he told me how much he liked the commenters here. How funny and interesting they are.

    I like that and want to keep it going.

    When mg treats someone like Ed — whom I like enough to run his commentary as a guest post — in a crude, profane, and contemptuous way . . .

    Patterico (115b1f)

  63. I do too, have you heard from jd, and is pikachu really as cynical as he suggests,

    narciso (d1f714)

  64. We told you people that we would never EVER vote for Trump back before the Iowa Caucuses. Did you think we weren’t telling the truth?

    Trump was the only candidate in the GOP Primary guaranteed to lose to Hillary. And what a coincidence! He’s a Democrat, too.

    John Hitchcock (ab63db)

  65. maybe john, maybe he will be like dutcher of the 13th rule or aaron mcomb,

    narciso (d1f714)

  66. I do too, have you heard from jd, and is pikachu really as cynical as he suggests,

    Yeah, JD has checked out of politics, somewhat, at least for now. He is on Facebook.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  67. I use fictional dystopian tyrants one from ‘sound of thunder’ and the other from timecop, to suggest your concerns might be a little overwrought,

    narciso (d1f714)

  68. I use fictional dystopian tyrants one from ‘sound of thunder’ and the other from timecop, to suggest your concerns might be a little overwrought,

    Placing to one side the fact that I don’t really understand what you’re talking about, mg remains banned for saying that my guest poster “sucks clintons cock.”

    This is not a difficult decision for me and I will not be talked out of it, because it is so simple and straightforward.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  69. no he was out of line, I suggest there might be something more than partisan animus behind it,

    trump as destroyer of worlds, is the theme, btw has hadas gold turned up that supersecret source that was to debunk o’keefe,

    narciso (d1f714)

  70. Yeah. MG is a bit of an ass.

    Not a total dick though.

    And that’s a quote from Guardians of the Galaxy, sort of…

    papertiger (c8116c)

  71. I thought the premise of that film was too ridiculous, but having seen a few times, now dr. strange, just to self important for it’s own good, like ang lee’s hulk,

    narciso (d1f714)

  72. JD’s a smart guy with self discipline, just to do the athletic stuff he does. Anyone who doesn’t want a break from politics is a masochist.

    Dustin (0a4f91)

  73. btw has hadas gold turned up that supersecret source that was to debunk o’keefe,

    I know nothing of a secret source that was going to debunk O’Keefe.

    Are you talking about the source who accused Breitbart of palling around with Aaron Black, right before Breitbart admitted palling around with Aaron Black?

    Which has nothing to do with debunking O’Keefe.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  74. why do you think they fed that item to schrekinger, you think it was out of journolistic integrity, sans the incident with the riverboat, o’keefe has been pretty solid, but that hasn’t stopped the journolist from defaming, and diminishing his findings,

    narciso (d1f714)

  75. I use fictional dystopian tyrants one from ‘sound of thunder’ and the other from timecop,

    He’s referring to a short story by Ray Bradbury, “The Sound of Thunder”. It had to do with a company that offered time-traveling safaris, where in people could go back in time and shoot a dinosaur. Dutcher had been one of two candidates for President at the time the story commences, a terrible person in all respects.

    Chuck Bartowski (211c17)

  76. narciso’s stuff always makes sense if you know enough. I just don’t always know enough.

    I was explaining him to someone recently. He’s like the yammering guy in the movie that everyone ignores and then it turns out the yammering guy had the key to the whole thing all along.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  77. you can’t take the news straight, for one it’s too unbelievable, and second, the anchors don’t know what happened yesterday, much less five years ago,

    narciso (d1f714)

  78. And about the decency thing: For a long time, happyfeet was regarded by the regulars as a guy who says a lot of off the wall stuff, a lot of funny stuff, and often outrageous shock stuff, all meant to spur a reaction. But he never insulted anyone here. He would insult the hell out of a politician (especially females), but not the commenters here. He still pretty much keeps to that, though he’s definitely lost his mojo and is just saying ugly stuff instead of funny line-crossing stuff, in my opinion.

    It’s not hard to get a rise out of people, if that’s what someone wants, without being a jerk.

    I don’t think I’m better than the people who disagree with me about whether Trump or Hillary is the bigger threat. I do look down on people who can’t accept that good people can disagree about politics. This choice between two awful candidates should make it relatively easy to tolerate the other opinion. We all know a lot of reasons to vote against both of them! Compare that to finding the basic humanity and having respect for folks who have different opinions about gay rights/entitlements, abortion, affirmative action, war… it would be a much more boring world I live in if I didn’t actually share respect with a lot of left wing folks who disagree with me on those issues. And it’s no surprise that the folks who don’t get it seem pretty miserable.

    You know what they say about drinking poison and hoping the other guy dies.

    Dustin (0a4f91)

  79. He would insult the hell out of a politician (especially females), but not the commenters here. He still pretty much keeps to that, though he’s definitely lost his mojo and is just saying ugly stuff instead of funny line-crossing stuff, in my opinion.

    He has also been rude to Simon Jester, although Simon has been aggressive towards happyfeet, so I just let that feud ride. I obviously side with Simon and appreciate his attitude more than I appreciate happy’s. But, happyfeet has been here for a while. He gets out of line enough sometimes that he needs to be slapped — and when he does, I slap him.

    Patterico (115b1f)

  80. I pointedly referred to two instance where friends or acquaintances, fell into fratricidal combat, one was more lighthearted than the other, and I’ve pointed to one instance in the not too distant past, where the rush to denounce, exceeded common sense,

    narciso (d1f714)

  81. the other was timecop with the late ron silver, where he stole the film from van damme, as a senator whose access to time travel, makes me a potential dictator in waiting,

    narciso (d1f714)

  82. We vote by mail in Colorado. I stuck my ballot in the mailbox today. President boxes blank. I know the County Clerk here in my rural county personally. I wouldn’t have done that when I resided in the Denver metro area.

    Every ballot question marked “no”. Every judge marked “do not retain” (hey, the bench gotta be empty if I’m going to get appointed….)

    SPQR (a3a747)

  83. I have my ballot all marked except for the Presidential slot. A day or two before the last day I will vote for the ticket who, on that day, appears most likely to deprive Hillary Clinton of my state’s electoral college votes.

    (We have drop boxes, you don’t have to mail the ballot.)

    Trump may yet shoot someone on Fifth Avenue. Hillary may yet be exposed as having done something bad enough to overcome the objections of #NeverTrump.

    Gabriel Hanna (c791b9)

  84. There is nothing Hillary can do that will cause me to vote Trump.
    Nothing.

    This Presidential Primary was the most important one in 150 years.
    The Results?
    This Presidential Election is the least important one ever.

    John Hitchcock (ab63db)

  85. @John Hitchcock:There is nothing Hillary can do that will cause me to vote Trump.
    Nothing.

    She couldn’t actually shoot a man on Fifth Avenue, as opposed to joking about it?

    Couldn’t walk up to a woman and actually grab her by the p—y, instead of telling Billy Bush that women allow celebrities to do that?

    She couldn’t perform a partial-abortion on TV?

    Really nothing?

    Should Patterico put up a poll for #NeverTrump, Trump vs Revenant Mao?

    Gabriel Hanna (c791b9)

  86. No, Gabriel.
    I am already refusing to vote for Hillary. Seriously, get that through your head.
    There is nothing Trump can do to make me vote for Hillary.
    There is nothing Hillary can do to make me vote for Trump.
    There is nothing bell peppers can do to make me want to eat limburger cheese.
    The actions of the one have nothing to do with the other.

    John Hitchcock (ab63db)

  87. Ron Silver RIP was a good get at the time. Jury would be out as to whether her be part of the NY Trump crew or an NT (because of stands on social issues).

    urbanleftbehind (847a06)

  88. I really don’t mean to bust HF’s chops. I just hate how he sneers at religion and women (when we have both religious people and women who make valuable posts here). I can’t stop him from that, apparently.

    The telling everyone how important it is to vote when he had no plans to vote? Well, that deserves extensive criticism. Hypocrisy is the hallmark of the HRC program.

    Most of all, Patterico was able to show a time when HF posted well thought out and persuasive arguments. Thus I get annoyed with the weird baby talk and clear anger toward others. I have, of late, try to convince HF to write as he used to, to have more of the impact he *says* he would like to have. No luck so far.

    Narciso is an interesting person. I get most of the references. I like to think of narciso as an alien AI testing us to see if we can figure out he is a machine intelligence. Plus he likes SF.

    There are lots of people here with whom I do not agree, but from who I learn a great deal. And I’m not surprised Patterico will stand up for people when someone goes over the line (as mg certainly did).

    Sure, mg is upset and angry. But what he wrote *was* waaaaaaaaay over the line. I like to think that he knows it, and apologizes.

    There is much of value here, as Patterico points out. And thanks to Patterico for paying for the place.

    Simon Jester (c63397)

  89. And Ron Silver was an interesting guy. His politics certainly damaged his career…even when he was dying of cancer, people of the Left were awful to him.

    I don’t much care for Ann Coulter, but she was right about Ron Silver.

    http://townhall.com/columnists/anncoulter/2009/03/18/silvers_bravery_not_an_act

    And the people who were awful to him are indeed awful. You can disagree with someone and still treat them with respect and consideration.

    Simon Jester (c63397)

  90. I would be a sophisticated heuristic for that to be true.

    narciso (d1f714)

  91. And I would bet you would open the pod bay doors for any of us.

    Simon Jester (c63397)

  92. i did not sneer

    those were warnings

    and what did you do

    you put all your eggs in religious weirdo harvardtrash ted’s basket and what did he do

    he took the loathsome kim davis into his arms in an embrace that was as ardent as it was obscene and then ran screaming into the last summer Indiana night alarming the children with ghastly tales of bathroom trannies

    one could do much much worse than to heed my “sneerings”

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  93. oops *late* summer Indiana night

    i’m just now doing my coffee

    i slept til noon today i just felt like i never got caught up from my north shore vacation last week which was soul-stirring and so much fun

    we spended an inordinate amount of time hunting for mooses deep in the woods on old trails and logging roads

    the mooses are very eloosive

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  94. Before we get too Pecksniffish about mg, bear in mind that some of the #NeverTrump commenters here have been as vulgar as mg was to people they were arguing with.

    That’s not a criticism of Patterico; this is his place and he can kick his guests out, for any reason or none, and he’s not obligated to be consistent about it. He is more tolerant than a lot of people.

    That said, I think it would be more seemly if the #NeverTrump commenters would make a little more effort to police their own civility, when they call on Patterico to police the civility of those with whom they disagree.

    Gabriel Hanna (c791b9)

  95. Mr. mg’s voice is very authentic

    his comments authentic artifacts of this most curious age

    i worry without them the record of these times will be less than complete

    these are sad musings but these are sad times

    happyfeet (28a91b)

  96. Bokka fa lei boom maraki
    Booki bokka fa ta chi ba da da bo da
    Bokka linguini banaki loto
    La to le bu he la
    Mia mia mia mia mia

    La pa ta ke alo
    Tu pu de bwa
    La pa ta ke alo
    Tu pu de bwa
    Fa la ke le mi do
    Fa la tu le loka
    Kapa boye le pabrika

    nk (dbc370)


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