“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. Shame on the man of cultivated taste who permits refinement to develop into fastidiousness that unfits him for doing the rough work of a workaday world. Among the free peoples who govern themselves there is but a small field of usefulness open for the men of cloistered life who shrink from contact with their fellows. Still less room is there for those who deride of slight what is done by those who actually bear the brunt of the day; nor yet for those others who always profess that they would like to take action, if only the conditions of life were not exactly what they actually are. The man who does nothing cuts the same sordid figure in the pages of history, whether he be a cynic, or fop, or voluptuary. There is little use for the being whose tepid soul knows nothing of great and generous emotion, of the high pride, the stern belief, the lofty enthusiasm, of the men who quell the storm and ride the thunder. Well for these men if they succeed; well also, though not so well, if they fail, given only that they have nobly ventured, and have put forth all their heart and strength. It is war-worn Hotspur, spent with hard fighting, he of the many errors and valiant end, over whose memory we love to linger, not over the memory of the young lord who ‘but for the vile guns would have been a valiant soldier.’”
–Theodore Roosevelt, speaking at The Sorbonne in Paris, France (April 23, 1910).
My friend Chris Boswell fell short in his effort to secure the Republican Party nomination for City Council in Lynchburg, Virginia. Chris is a successful businessman, a loving family man, and a civic minded man. He is involved in, and loves, his community. He would have been a great councilman. But even though he fell short this time, Chris will be back. Because the great ones do not always win, but they always get back up, and try again. Chris is a great one.
The UK Guardian is demanding that the United States stop deporting illegal aliens. The Guardian claims that all the deportation flights are releasing more greenhouse gases, and warming the planet, causing destructive “climate change”. Oh, my goodness! Mind your own business!
“. . . I’ve made my views on the Israeli government abundantly clear.”
–Comrade Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D. N.Y.), addressing his refusal to attend New York City’s Israel Day Parade.
Yes, Comrade Mamadani has made his views “abundantly clear”. He is a virulent anti-Semite. He hates Jews.
A large group of protesters, waving American and Israeli flags, gathered outside Grace Mansion to demand Comrade Mamdani’s resignation. Patriotic songs were sung, patriotic speeches were given, and the peaceful (as opposed to the Left’s mostly peaceful) crowd left the area cleaner than the found it.
There was even a Muslim contingent of protesters, denouncing Comrade Mamdani’s anti-Semitism. They held up signs reading “End Jew Hatred”. How ’bout that?
“This country is a f**king disgrace.”
–Congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier (D. N.Y.), referring to the United States of America.
Miss Chevalier was just endorsed by Comrade Mayor Mamdani. Of course.
A Chinese alien with a New York commercial drivers license drove a bus into a line of stopped cars in a construction zone on I-95 in Stafford, Virginia, killing 5 and injuring 34 persons. The driver did not read or speak English. These deaths and injuries are on you, Governor Hochul (D. N.Y.).
Governor Hochul is pushing a ban on ICE agents wearing masks while performing their official duties. HOW MANY TIMES must Democrats be told about the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause? Gosh, they are DUMB!
The riots continue at the New Jersey ICE Detention facility. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill (D.) and Newark officials refuse to allow State or local police to assist ICE agents in defending the facility against the onslaught of the rioters. And while Governor Sherrill has repeatedly condemned ICE (for everything under the Sun), she has yet to utter 1 word of criticism for the protesters.
Governor Abigail Spanberger (D. Va.) has directed all Virginia law enforcement not to cooperate with ICE. So when ICE placed an immigration detainer on illegal alien and rapist Cristobal Liobardo, Arlington authorities released him back into the community, refusing to honor the ICE detainer. Walking around free in Arlington County, Cristobal Liobardo promptly raped another woman. Thanks a lot, Governor Spanberger!
There is drama in Blacksburg, Virginia, as Governor Abigail Spanberger fired VPI’s Rector. The Rector is refusing to leave. This should be fascinating.
The Virginia State Police are now again running background checks for private gun sales. Thank you Governor Spanberger for infringing upon law abiding citizens’ right to keep and bear arms.
Make Abigail Go Away.
“Every one of our neighbors with a uterus became the property of the state.”
–U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico (D. Tx.), referring to laws protecting innocent unborn children. You know, like it says in everyone’s copy of The Bible, except his?
I don’t live in Texas, but I have spent a lot of time there. And everyone I’ve ever interacted with referred to “neighbors with a uterus” as women. Which is, of course, what they are. Except to Mr. Talarico. Who has used this particular noxious phrase on many occasions.
From James Talarico’s official campaign website:
He wants to grant amnesty to all “long time” illegal aliens in the United States;
He wants to create a “pathway to citizenship” for “short time” illegal aliens; and,
He wants to ban ICE agents from wearing face masks or otherwise concealing their identities.
Mr. Talarico now reveals that he has had a “secret girlfriend” for years. Uh, huh. This “secret girlfriend” was his chief of staff, before he secured for her another job in the Texas State legislature. Now “secret girlfriend” is an abortion lobbyist. Yup! She advocates for the murder of innocent unborn children. “Secret girlfriend” is also a “committed vegan”, and a regular at Cheerup Charlie’s, an Austin vegan gay bar, where she regularly attends drag queen shows, and participates in “Queer Trivia” and “Queer Karaoke”.
James Talarico. He is just like you. If you are a homosexual vegan living in San Francisco, with your “secret girlfriend” who is really not that into you.
U.S. Senate candidate Graham Platner (D. Me.) is claiming that Senator Susan Collins (R. Me.) of “voting to send me to Iraq”. Interesting. The vote to authorize military force was taken in 2022. Military actions commenced in 2003. And shortly thereafter, Graham Platner voluntarily enlisted in the Marines, and was sent to Iraq. Mr. Platner left the Marines after 4 years, and then in 2009, he enlisted in the Army, and deployed to Afghanistan. Since the U.S. has not drafted a single soldier since the early 1970s, and since Mr. Platner volunteered for military service, his claim about Senator Collins is a damned lie. Because Graham Platner is a liar. He proves it time and again.
Mr. Platner has yet another problem. It seems that he maintains a profile on a “dating” site, where he received sexual suggestions and propositions from women, and sent to them provocative messages and nude photographs. This is after he was married. But it gets worse. Much worse. Mr. Platner also maintains a sexually suggestive profile on a website called “Predator’s Paradise”, which is known to sexually exploit children.
Graham Platner refuses to address the situation, or to face reporters, or to even put out a campaign statement. But Graham Platner did send out his wife to address the matter, where she mounted a rather pitiful defense of her husband. Because Graham Platner is not just a liar; he is a coward too.
Gullivar’s Steakhouse in Irvine, California–directly across from the airport–is closing. The purveyor of fine steaks, including melt in your mouth prime rib, was actor John Wayne’s favorite restaurant. Sad.
Burger King is bringing back its crown [chicken] nuggets. Pass.
Sean Hudson was the Director of Community Relations for Canada’s Major League Baseball Team in Washington. Mr. Hudson intentionally blacklisted pitcher Trevor Williams from certain team social media content after Williams publicly criticized the Los Angeles Dodgers’ inclusion of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence drag group, which Williams argued mocked his Catholic faith. When news broke of Mr. Hudson’s bigotry, the team fired him.
Tennis great John McEnroe HATES pickleball. For many reasons, but primarily for the noise made when one’s racquet makes contact with the ball. It is an annoying sound, but it is hardly worth getting worked up about. But then again, John McEnroe gets worked up over lots of things.
Paris-St. Germains soccer team won the Champions league title. Naturally fans reacted by starting fires, vandalizing buildings and automobiles, rioting, fighting with police, and setting off fireworks. More than 130 people were arrested for their participation in the “celebration”. Sigh. Who knew that Parisians had so much in common with folks in Detroit and Los Angeles?
GFK
Observations From The Fifth Estate 