Incredibly, the UFO question wasn’t even the dumbest of the night. That honor belongs to this question also asked by MacCallum: As we sit here tonight, the number one song on the Billboard chart is called “Rich Men North of Richmond.” It is by a singer from Farmville,
Thank you for the pictures you post. They are a gift to almost all of your readers who will never witness this evidence of God's majesty. And that's high praise for a hot dog, coming from someone who grew up in the shadows of Texas Weiner on Route 22!
“It proves there are definitely dumb questions, and moreover, that Fox News hosts are committed to asking them.” ---Steve Schmidt
Sorry Steve, I will have to respectfully disagree. I was always taught there are “no such things as stupid questions; just stupid people asking questions.”
This epitomizes Fox’s lineup of faux journalists, pseudo-journalists, half-wits, no-wits and the witless, like Jesse Watters!
This post brings to mind a point I try to pass along to those who need to hear it.
Why on earth do you revere a man who would push you off a cliff to steal your last dollar?
The issues sung so eloquently by these artists (I listened to all of them, and have listened to these messages through song since the 60's) are things that frustrate the majority of Americans, yet millions of my fellow citizens follow the worst of the worst.
If we are to make a change in this country, people need to start using their brains and exercise some common sense. Stop being fooled by bright shiny objects and false promises, and look to those who have everyone's best interests at heart.
They are out there, and some of them might be you.
“Why on earth do you revere a man who would push you off a cliff to steal your last dollar?”
Good question? Yet, these are the same people who continually get fleeced by prosperity ministers weekly.
“Please give me all you money so I can buy a new $100 million jet, to spread the Gospels to all the sinners out there. God wouldn’t want me to fly coach, and there are too many sinners, and so little time!” --typical prosperity minister
I remember seeing on 60 Minutes (?) a report on a large TV religious organization asking for prayer donations--put your prayer request and money into an envelope and send it to us. Hidden cameras in the receiving room showed religious staff opening the letters, removing the cash, and throwing the rest in the garbage, unread. Religious scams escape legal monitoring by all possible agencies because they are "religions". Both religion and capitalism enjoy, when merely mentioned, a complete and automatically conditioned deference. Capitalism and the feral and rampant bloodfest that it has become cannot receive the slightest criticism without a subconscious reaction, even among the brightest--communism.
Been getting a lot from your essays and thank you. I feel shocked every day that there has been no rant that has gone viral: A heartfelt, gut-wrenching, truth-telling, loud, passionate angry RANT that gives us the chills because it captures the zeitgeist of what we are all living through, the insanity of of one political party who worships a lying demagogue cult leader, enables racist, anti-semitic gun-toting assholes to have their way and an upcoming election that will decide if we are a democracy or an autocracy. Where is that person a w big mouth who can shake up social media and every news outlet? Where is Chris Rock? Maybe it's more than one person. Maybe it's you? We need Truth to wake us from our deadness and we need it now.
Damn you, Steve...ya got me crying again! First, the red-head speaks to some things I've felt in my life, the tough life I somewhat brought on my self, butalso things that were imposed upon my by the elite and controlling factors of our governance. But, by my lights, he's whiney and not very talented. The music you followed all that with is the music that spoke to me in the earlier parts of my life, by persons with greater lyrical expression and musical talent BY FAR, and not whiney.
I happened to be a student at Ohio University when the Kent State shooting occurred. Four dead in Ohio...always shreds my heart. Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, even Springsteen can affect me like that.
But, I do thank you for the reminders.
And, I also thank you for you wonderful photos and trip updates, to reel me back in.
I would hope so. But I have a suspicion that many of the hardworking, tax paying individuals who do the housekeeping, landscaping, child-caring, are priced out of most neighborhoods in these rich counties circling DC. With each decade the middle and working class folks have fewer affordable housing options.
Thank you for some very excellent reminders of protest songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s ... so many others that changed our world during those years. As Joan Baez once sang about Bob Dylan many years ago “...thank you for writing the best songs, thank you for righting a few wrongs ...”. From way back in the ‘60s Time Machine...
This could be - no, it should be - the theme song for a presidential campaign by Tim Ryan of Ohio (and this is coming from a rival Michigan guy). Ryan's unabashed focus has been on the working men and women of this country. The confounding circumstance we find ourselves in today is that many of those hard-working men and women have completely fallen for the best political snake oil salesman in a century or more, a man who built what shaky businesses he has on the backs of people whose wages he kept as low as possible. Tim Ryan, if you are out there, you need to be ready, perhaps not now, but at least in four years.
Aug 30, 2023·edited Aug 30, 2023Liked by Steve Schmidt
I'm not going to comment any further than you have in that ridiculous Fox angertainment show they called a "debate". I prefer your cross country update! I just finished my cross country vacation driving in our pick up truck and seeing beautiful places, historical places, a couple if national parks and I am in love with America. America the beautiful. I talked with many people and got on well with all of them and not a one of those conversations was about politics. As a general rule, people want to get along, I believe. If I could figure out a,way to post a couple pics, I would... 😊
The photos are lovely. My - not envy, perhaps a sigh of if only I could get away is greater than I’d like. That aside, so far the comments are restrained.
And it’s always interesting what we each take/get/learn and on what we comment. For me it’s DC, a place called home for 45 years now, chosen because it was small, diverse (then; less now), was affordable (then), and had, for this non-driver, good public transit and was when I was more mobile, walkable. Until I arrived from Ohio, I didn’t know of our limited rights in DC. Still I stay because there are few places where I don’t fear discussing politics! (The report yesterday of Heritage’s plan to replace Fed workers with Trumpies made me anxious.) remind people that many of us here work for NGOs that do good, provide service in hotels, restaurants, beloved museums. We are not the enemy; they come and go, some to $37m homes in FL.
Enjoy the beauty of your trip. And tell me: the hot dog -better than Millman’s of years ago in NJ with a load of sauerkraut?!
There are three groups of people I am concerned about.
1. The maga extremist. I’m talking about white supremacy groups, mass shooters, nazis, racist, and lying politicians. Some of these are being sentenced today.
2. Trump supporters. Normally decent people, with a number of legitimate grievances, who will only vote for trump. The ones brainwashed by fox “news” and lying politicians.
3. The billionaire donor class. Clarence Thomas’s “close” friends, the federalist society, and the ultra rich right wing.
The third group is evil. They will eat your babies. Exterminate the poor old. Let the rest of us live in squalor as servants.
This is the stuff from the science fiction I read when young ( watch the last scene in the movie Soylent Green).
We can also look to history. Serfdom in Europe for example. We can look to the news of today, also, for examples around the world.
Too, harsh? The eating babies thing? Not one in the Sackler family has come out and said, “oh, my god, what have we done? They are instead working hard to avoid responsibility for eating many of Americas young and old for more money than most can imagine.
Fabulous pictures of your travels! Love them. And that horseback ride to die for! Living vicariously through all of it thank you so much!
As far as the political scene ~ right now it pales in comparison to your trip and the great people you are meeting. I know it is ever with us but how refreshing to have a vacation during it. Back in the day I took a 10 day bicycle camping trip up the coast of Maine into Nova Scotia and back down its coast. I cried when I got home, just wanted to stay out there close to the people and the land. Again many thanks for sharing your beauty and fun with all of us.
Just became a paid subscriber. I don’t know what took me so long...Steve thank you for your straight forward, fact filled, honest words...we need more voices like yours!
Thank you for the pictures you post. They are a gift to almost all of your readers who will never witness this evidence of God's majesty. And that's high praise for a hot dog, coming from someone who grew up in the shadows of Texas Weiner on Route 22!
Yes, the road trip pictures are a treat!!!
“It proves there are definitely dumb questions, and moreover, that Fox News hosts are committed to asking them.” ---Steve Schmidt
Sorry Steve, I will have to respectfully disagree. I was always taught there are “no such things as stupid questions; just stupid people asking questions.”
This epitomizes Fox’s lineup of faux journalists, pseudo-journalists, half-wits, no-wits and the witless, like Jesse Watters!
And everyone wonders how we got here!....:)
I think faux hires people for two reasons...
If they are males, their obnoxiousness.
If they are females, their looks.
This post brings to mind a point I try to pass along to those who need to hear it.
Why on earth do you revere a man who would push you off a cliff to steal your last dollar?
The issues sung so eloquently by these artists (I listened to all of them, and have listened to these messages through song since the 60's) are things that frustrate the majority of Americans, yet millions of my fellow citizens follow the worst of the worst.
If we are to make a change in this country, people need to start using their brains and exercise some common sense. Stop being fooled by bright shiny objects and false promises, and look to those who have everyone's best interests at heart.
They are out there, and some of them might be you.
“Why on earth do you revere a man who would push you off a cliff to steal your last dollar?”
Good question? Yet, these are the same people who continually get fleeced by prosperity ministers weekly.
“Please give me all you money so I can buy a new $100 million jet, to spread the Gospels to all the sinners out there. God wouldn’t want me to fly coach, and there are too many sinners, and so little time!” --typical prosperity minister
These people were born rubes!....:)
I remember seeing on 60 Minutes (?) a report on a large TV religious organization asking for prayer donations--put your prayer request and money into an envelope and send it to us. Hidden cameras in the receiving room showed religious staff opening the letters, removing the cash, and throwing the rest in the garbage, unread. Religious scams escape legal monitoring by all possible agencies because they are "religions". Both religion and capitalism enjoy, when merely mentioned, a complete and automatically conditioned deference. Capitalism and the feral and rampant bloodfest that it has become cannot receive the slightest criticism without a subconscious reaction, even among the brightest--communism.
So true, but at least these grifters tend to be entertaining...:)
The worst of the worst, indeed.
Steve, thank you for these breathtaking photos.
And I will re-read this article and listen to the songs because your writing is full of wise treasures . Thanks for all you do.
Been getting a lot from your essays and thank you. I feel shocked every day that there has been no rant that has gone viral: A heartfelt, gut-wrenching, truth-telling, loud, passionate angry RANT that gives us the chills because it captures the zeitgeist of what we are all living through, the insanity of of one political party who worships a lying demagogue cult leader, enables racist, anti-semitic gun-toting assholes to have their way and an upcoming election that will decide if we are a democracy or an autocracy. Where is that person a w big mouth who can shake up social media and every news outlet? Where is Chris Rock? Maybe it's more than one person. Maybe it's you? We need Truth to wake us from our deadness and we need it now.
We DO NEED IT NOW.
Damn you, Steve...ya got me crying again! First, the red-head speaks to some things I've felt in my life, the tough life I somewhat brought on my self, butalso things that were imposed upon my by the elite and controlling factors of our governance. But, by my lights, he's whiney and not very talented. The music you followed all that with is the music that spoke to me in the earlier parts of my life, by persons with greater lyrical expression and musical talent BY FAR, and not whiney.
I happened to be a student at Ohio University when the Kent State shooting occurred. Four dead in Ohio...always shreds my heart. Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, even Springsteen can affect me like that.
But, I do thank you for the reminders.
And, I also thank you for you wonderful photos and trip updates, to reel me back in.
The stupidity is staggering. The greed is overwhelming. Your writing is a huge comfort.
37 million for his home? No doubt his staff & groundskeepers are being paid well.🤦♂️
His home is worth $37 mil when he borrows from the bank....and $37.95 when he does his taxes.
Apparently, the guy graduated from Trump University. So at least one of the 5,000 ripped off students got his money’s worth...:)
Isn’t it interesting how so many reptiles love to move to Florida.
I would hope so. But I have a suspicion that many of the hardworking, tax paying individuals who do the housekeeping, landscaping, child-caring, are priced out of most neighborhoods in these rich counties circling DC. With each decade the middle and working class folks have fewer affordable housing options.
Florida, definitely.
Thank you for some very excellent reminders of protest songs from the ‘60s and ‘70s ... so many others that changed our world during those years. As Joan Baez once sang about Bob Dylan many years ago “...thank you for writing the best songs, thank you for righting a few wrongs ...”. From way back in the ‘60s Time Machine...
Universal Soldier by Buffy St Marie always deserves a mention whenever great protest songs are the topic.
This could be - no, it should be - the theme song for a presidential campaign by Tim Ryan of Ohio (and this is coming from a rival Michigan guy). Ryan's unabashed focus has been on the working men and women of this country. The confounding circumstance we find ourselves in today is that many of those hard-working men and women have completely fallen for the best political snake oil salesman in a century or more, a man who built what shaky businesses he has on the backs of people whose wages he kept as low as possible. Tim Ryan, if you are out there, you need to be ready, perhaps not now, but at least in four years.
I'm not going to comment any further than you have in that ridiculous Fox angertainment show they called a "debate". I prefer your cross country update! I just finished my cross country vacation driving in our pick up truck and seeing beautiful places, historical places, a couple if national parks and I am in love with America. America the beautiful. I talked with many people and got on well with all of them and not a one of those conversations was about politics. As a general rule, people want to get along, I believe. If I could figure out a,way to post a couple pics, I would... 😊
It is a beautiful country! So glad you enjoyed your journey.
Steve
The photos are lovely. My - not envy, perhaps a sigh of if only I could get away is greater than I’d like. That aside, so far the comments are restrained.
And it’s always interesting what we each take/get/learn and on what we comment. For me it’s DC, a place called home for 45 years now, chosen because it was small, diverse (then; less now), was affordable (then), and had, for this non-driver, good public transit and was when I was more mobile, walkable. Until I arrived from Ohio, I didn’t know of our limited rights in DC. Still I stay because there are few places where I don’t fear discussing politics! (The report yesterday of Heritage’s plan to replace Fed workers with Trumpies made me anxious.) remind people that many of us here work for NGOs that do good, provide service in hotels, restaurants, beloved museums. We are not the enemy; they come and go, some to $37m homes in FL.
Enjoy the beauty of your trip. And tell me: the hot dog -better than Millman’s of years ago in NJ with a load of sauerkraut?!
There are three groups of people I am concerned about.
1. The maga extremist. I’m talking about white supremacy groups, mass shooters, nazis, racist, and lying politicians. Some of these are being sentenced today.
2. Trump supporters. Normally decent people, with a number of legitimate grievances, who will only vote for trump. The ones brainwashed by fox “news” and lying politicians.
3. The billionaire donor class. Clarence Thomas’s “close” friends, the federalist society, and the ultra rich right wing.
The third group is evil. They will eat your babies. Exterminate the poor old. Let the rest of us live in squalor as servants.
This is the stuff from the science fiction I read when young ( watch the last scene in the movie Soylent Green).
We can also look to history. Serfdom in Europe for example. We can look to the news of today, also, for examples around the world.
Too, harsh? The eating babies thing? Not one in the Sackler family has come out and said, “oh, my god, what have we done? They are instead working hard to avoid responsibility for eating many of Americas young and old for more money than most can imagine.
Everyone that reads Steve’s post today deserves a day at International Peace Park.
Yes, please!
Fabulous pictures of your travels! Love them. And that horseback ride to die for! Living vicariously through all of it thank you so much!
As far as the political scene ~ right now it pales in comparison to your trip and the great people you are meeting. I know it is ever with us but how refreshing to have a vacation during it. Back in the day I took a 10 day bicycle camping trip up the coast of Maine into Nova Scotia and back down its coast. I cried when I got home, just wanted to stay out there close to the people and the land. Again many thanks for sharing your beauty and fun with all of us.
Just became a paid subscriber. I don’t know what took me so long...Steve thank you for your straight forward, fact filled, honest words...we need more voices like yours!
Welcome to the community, Joanne!
Steve