Are You Ready For Some Disunity?

 

A few days ago, Pseudodionysius posted a thread about my love of country music. Since then, I have been in something of a slow burn because of a certain comment that was posted there. The comment in question was posted by me, wherein I mentioned one Randall Hank Williams, better known to the world as country music legend Hank Williams, Jr.

From 1989 to 2011, a version of one of Williams’ hit songs – retitled “Are You Ready For Some Football?” – was featured by ABC (and later ESPN) as the introduction to “Monday Night Football.” Here is a clip from the early 1990s:

That all came to an end on October 3, 2011, when during an interview on Fox and Friends, Williams expressed dismay that a few months earlier, Barack Obama and Joe Biden had participated in a golf outing with two of their alleged political opponents: John Boehner and John Kasich.  Williams said that the get-together made about as much sense as Adolf Hitler meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu.

Within hours, the social justice warrior lynch mob went to work, and by the end of the day Williams’ iconic song had been pulled from “Monday Night Football,” and at week’s end he was fired outright. All for the “crime” of insulting Dear Leader Obama.

Of course, Williams’ employment by ABC/ESPN was at-will and they had the right to dismiss him for any reason or no reason at all. But does anyone really think Williams would have received the same treatment had he said the same thing about one of Obama’s Republican predecessors? To ask the question is to answer it.

Social justice warrior lynch mobs are becoming an all-too-frequent feature of contemporary American life, as seen with the recent uproar over the “murder” of Cecil the Lion and the disgraceful, Taliban-like pogrom against the St. Andrew’s Cross and other Confederate symbols. In his latest podcast, John Derbyshire likewise expresses disdain (starting at about the 31:50 mark), recalling how similar such events are to the child-abuse conspiracy insanity of the mid-1980s.  If you want to know how such nonsensical movements like National Socialism, Maoism, and the Khmer Rouge can gain social traction so quickly, the aforementioned are contemporary, textbook examples on a much smaller scale. Mass hysteria exists, no doubt about it.

Indeed, the America of 2015 bears little resemblance to the America I was born into forty years ago. On the day after Election Day in 2012, a cousin of mine with whom I am very close called me. She asked how an incompetent, America-hating Marxist like Obama could ever come to lead the United States. Here is what I told her: “The country that you and I knew as kids, the country that put a man on the moon and won the Cold War, no longer exists.”

It has been said that the past is a foreign country. For many of us, that is an apt description of the present. Adios, America.

Published in General
Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 77 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    Mike LaRoche: the disgraceful, Taliban-like pogrom against the St. Andrew’s Cross and other Confederate symbols

    What’s really ironic is the way some of them use St. Andrew’s Crosses for recreational purposes. Racist perverts.

    • #1
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Carey J.:

    Mike LaRoche: the disgraceful, Taliban-like pogrom against the St. Andrew’s Cross and other Confederate symbols

    What’s really ironic is the way some of them use St. Andrew’s Crosses for recreational purposes. Racist perverts.

    Carey just won the Internet.

    • #2
  3. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    Are you ready for some political football? Watch it unfold. Regardless of what anyone does we are gonna get Jeb. Regardless of what anyone does we are gonna get Hillghazi. Disgusting beyond belief.

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    DocJay:Are you ready for some political football?Watch it unfold.Regardless of what anyone does we are gonna get Jeb. Regardless of what anyone does we are gonna get Hillghazi. Disgusting beyond belief.

    I really don’t think so, Doc. Hillary is toast. She was never a good or popular politician. JEB? We’ll see, but I suspect Scott Walker has a much better chance. He has this YUUUUUUGE advantage in that his name is not Bush.

    Of course, the W. in George W. Bush stands for “Walker.”

    • #4
  5. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Mike LaRoche: On the day after Election Day in 2012, a cousin of mine with whom I am very close called me. She asked how an incompetent, America-hating Marxist like Obama could ever come to lead the United States.

    I for one don’t think he did win. Ain’t no way.

    • #5
  6. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Arahant: Of course, the W. in George W. Bush stands for “Walker.”

    Good point! It makes so much sense now. Thanks for that.

    • #6
  7. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    Arahant:

    Hillary is toast. She was never a good or popular politician.

    I agree with you. They didn’t let her have it in 2008 and I’m convinced the party will come up with another candidate. I wouldn’t write off Biden and not even Al Gore. There are plenty of voters motivated by the thought that he was “robbed” in 2000. He’s lost one of his greatest assets- Tipper, but he’s still got An Inconvenient Truth.

    • #7
  8. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Mike, this is why the left so badly wanted a left-wing, anti-American black man in high office. It’s all racism 24 hours a day. It’s a panacea. No debates, no discussion — just use the charge of racism to win all arguments. It’s not possible that Hank Williams Jr could dislike Obama’s policies — they are so obviously good — no, the ONLY explanation is that he’s racist.

    • #8
  9. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    At the moment, Sanders looks like the next big thing, although I suspect that O’Malley will make more of a showing. Then we’ll also see what happens with Webb.

    • #9
  10. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    Arahant, I went to a fund raiser last night for our future senator, Dr Joe Heck ( general, veteran, doctor, congressman, cool dude). It was there I learned our AG and senator Heller were supporting Bush. Why 15 months pre election? Why does Fox act like Jeb is the man? Why are most of my wealth GOP patients all squawking about how Jeb’s the man ( they’ve donated already). It’s a rigged game. There are two other possibilities I see getting in the way, the Koch candidate and Trump with the former being the best chance to stop Jeb. Walker is best qualified to topple Bush but I have no faith in anything political anymore, including the intelligence of the voters.
    Hillghazi may well lose the nomination but she has so much dirt on Obama I doubt she gets hit hard for her crimes.

    • #10
  11. EThompson Member
    EThompson
    @

    DocJay: It’s a rigged game.

    Until it’s not. I was sitting around my father’s country club one evening with the future governor of Florida and Jack Donahue in 2010 as they were discussing the senatorial primary race between Rubio and Crist. Chuckles were made by all accompanied by “It ain’t gonna happen.”

    • #11
  12. Dorothea Inactive
    Dorothea
    @Dorothea

    Arahant:

    DocJay:Are you ready for some political football?Watch it unfold.Regardless of what anyone does we are gonna get Jeb. Regardless of what anyone does we are gonna get Hillghazi. Disgusting beyond belief.

    I really don’t think so, Doc. Hillary is toast. She was never a good or popular politician. JEB? We’ll see, but I suspect Scott Walker has a much better chance. He has this YUUUUUUGE advantage in that his name is not Bush.

    Of course, the W. in George W. Bush stands for “Walker.”

    I agree with Arahant. Hillary has to be toast. Grandma “What Difference Does It Make, Monica-Lewinski’s Ex-Boyfriends Wife” Clinton has too much baggage. Never mind Monica Lewinski’s Ex-Boyfriends shenanigans that he has been getting into.

    • #12
  13. Dorothea Inactive
    Dorothea
    @Dorothea

    RightAngles:

    Mike LaRoche: On the day after Election Day in 2012, a cousin of mine with whom I am very close called me. She asked how an incompetent, America-hating Marxist like Obama could ever come to lead the United States.

    I for one don’t think he did win. Ain’t no way.

    Yeah –I was pretty stunned when our country-men signed up for him again.

    I think Mr. Romney pulled his punches, because he thought he had it in the bag.

    • #13
  14. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Dorothea: Never mind Monica Lewinski’s Ex-Boyfriends shenanigans that he has been getting into.

    The only thing that will change Bill will be the grave.

    • #14
  15. DocJay Inactive
    DocJay
    @DocJay

    Hope you’re all right but I anticipate I am correct regarding Jeb at least.

    • #15
  16. Dorothea Inactive
    Dorothea
    @Dorothea

    DocJay:Hope you’re all right but I anticipate I am correct regarding Jeb at least.

    I am afraid you might be right about Jeb, but Noooooooo!

    No Dynasties, please. He is a perfectly fine man.

    But it’s just wrong for a republic, it’s just not right.

    • #16
  17. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    DocJay:Hope you’re all right but I anticipate I am correct regarding Jeb at least.

    We shall see. I wouldn’t lay money on anything right now.

    • #17
  18. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    DocJay: Why are most of my wealth GOP patients all squawking about how Jeb’s the man ( they’ve donated already).

    I think the answer to that is pretty obvious, Doc. They all see themselves as part of the same upper class. George Will once wrote that George H.W. Bush ran for President in large part because he thought people like him should be running the country. I think that’s a pretty good assessment of the whole establishment/donor class mentality of the GOP. Similarly, Pat Buchanan’s reference to the rest of us in the conservative movement as being peasants with pitchforks also rings true. Our Lords expect to rule, and they expect us to go along with being ruled, because to them, that’s the way of things. No surprise that Jeb was their man from the start. Doc, you’re what some call a traitor to your class. Glad to have you down here with the rest of the rabble. Torchsticks and tar are that way. Mike will lend you a pitchfork.

    • #18
  19. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    I think Hillary will drop out for medical reasons.

    • #19
  20. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Mike LaRoche: If you want to know how such nonsensical movements like National Socialism, Maoism, and the Khmer Rouge can gain social traction so quickly, the aforementioned are contemporary, textbook examples on a much smaller scale. Mass hysteria exists, no doubt about it.

    I think everyone, deep down, knows God exists. They may not admit it to themselves. They may deal with that instinct in different ways. But I think everyone knows there’s an authority greater than we out there somewhere. I think the Left, because it must deny God as a principle of their political theory, looks for a God substitute. For some it’s the planet . For some it’s the state. But what they all share is the same cult-like attribute; resistance to their God-substitute is not only disagreeable to them, but a sin. And they’re going to punish you for your sins. You’re not just a political opponent to them. You’re a heretic. And heretics must be destroyed.

    • #20
  21. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Douglas: You’re not just a political opponent to them. You’re a heretic. And heretics must be destroyed.

    So, so true.

    • #21
  22. RightAngles Member
    RightAngles
    @RightAngles

    Douglas: resistance to their God-substitute is not only disagreeable to them, but a sin. And they’re going to punish you for your sins. You’re not just a political opponent to them. You’re a heretic. And heretics must be destroyed.

    As Greg Gutfeld said: “We think they’re wrong. They think we’re evil.”

    • #22
  23. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    RightAngles: As Greg Gutfeld said: “We think they’re wrong. They think we’re evil.”

    We know they are wrong and we know they are EVIL! Don’t anybody forget that.

    • #23
  24. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    Mike LaRoche: That all came to an end on October 3, 2011, when during an interview on Fox and Friends,

    Mike, I’m not into football and never watch it, so I had no idea Hank, Jr. opened Monday Night football like that. I thoroughly enjoyed it. So why didn’t all the millions of Monday Night football fans raise up in protest? I’ll bet if not a single fan watched the following Monday night, Hank Jr. would have been back. How many millions of viewer watch it? But then it seems ESPN has gone downhill for a time, that may be one reason.

    • #24
  25. Eeyore Member
    Eeyore
    @Eeyore

    DocJay: I have no faith in anything political anymore, including the intelligence of the voters.

    You no longer have any reason to allude to “faith” re: the intelligence of the voters. 2008 was one thing – “historic” and all that. But 2012, now that there’s some hardcore empirical evidence.

    • #25
  26. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Larry Koler:Mike, this is why the left so badly wanted a left-wing, anti-American black man in high office. It’s all racism 24 hours a day. It’s a panacea. No debates, no discussion — just use the charge of racism to win all arguments. It’s not possible that Hank Williams Jr could dislike Obama’s policies — they are so obviously good — no, the ONLY explanation is that he’s racist.

    Yes, indeed.  Racism is the new f-word.

    • #26
  27. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    EThompson:

    DocJay: It’s a rigged game.

    Until it’s not. I was sitting around my father’s country club one evening with the future governor of Florida and Jack Donahue in 2010 as they were discussing the senatorial primary race between Rubio and Crist. Chuckles were made by all accompanied by “It ain’t gonna happen.”

    I’m reminded of an ancient Chinese proverb: “The wise man said it could not be done.  The fool came and did it.”

    And as Shakespeare wrote, “The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.”

    :-)

    • #27
  28. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    And there was no greater a fool in that election than Mr. Crist.

    • #28
  29. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    DocJay:Hope you’re all right but I anticipate I am correct regarding Jeb at least.

    Never give up, never surrender!

    • #29
  30. Mike LaRoche Inactive
    Mike LaRoche
    @MikeLaRoche

    Douglas:

    DocJay: Why are most of my wealth GOP patients all squawking about how Jeb’s the man ( they’ve donated already).

    I think the answer to that is pretty obvious, Doc. They all see themselves as part of the same upper class. George Will once wrote that George H.W. Bush ran for President in large part because he thought people like him should be running the country. I think that’s a pretty good assessment of the whole establishment/donor class mentality of the GOP. Similarly, Pat Buchanan’s reference to the rest of us in the conservative movement as being peasants with pitchforks also rings true. Our Lords expect to rule, and they expect us to go along with being ruled, because to them, that’s the way of things. No surprise that Jeb was their man from the start. Doc, you’re what some call a traitor to your class. Glad to have you down here with the rest of the rabble. Torchsticks and tar are that way. Mike will lend you a pitchfork.

    There’s no pitchfork like a Texan pitchfork!

    • #30
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.