Fausta's Blog

American and Latin American Politics, Society, and Culture

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Republicans, it’s time to “Lock your shields. Stay locked”

Fans of the film Gladiator can’t forget the arena scene of the reenactment of the Scypio Africanus vs. Hannibal battle. Maximus, a former general played by Russell Crowe, turned what was supposed to be a sure defeat into a victory by using a traditional Roman army defense: the Testudo, or Tortoise

The soldiers in front and sides interlocked their shields. The soldiers in the back lines placed their shields over their heads to form a protective “shell” over top of the men.
. . .
The shields fitted so closely together that they formed one unbroken surface without any gaps between them. It has been said that it was so strong a formation that men could walk upon them, and even horses and chariots be driven over them.

Here’s the arena scene: starting at 3:32, when Russell Crowe says, “Lock your shields. Stay locked.”

The Democrats and their media minions, in case you haven’t noticed, are in full Spartan phalanx mode, attacking the Trump administration with every spear, pike and sarissa in their arsenal, since they will not, I repeat, will not rest until they are back in power no matter the cost.

Never mind that All This Impeachment Talk Is Pure Trump Derangement Syndrome; the Dems will impeach if that’s what it takes. They have been telling us for well over a year. Remember that the standard Leftist playbook is that the veracity of the allegation is not important: it’s the seriousness of the charge.

The nomination of a Special Counsel for the criminal investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election may or may not be a step towards impeachment.

Undoubtedly, many Dems are hoping it is.

The immediate effect of this Special Counsel is double-pronged: It weakens the Trump administration, and it makes the White House legal counsel appear powerless, especially since Mr. Rosenstein apparently dropped the news without forewarning.

We’re in full Testudo vs phalanx mode, folks.

First and foremost, Pres. Trump needs to STOP TALKING. He can do it – think of the press conference with Peña Nieto in Mexico. He walked in and was pitch-perfect.

The White House staff must focus its message and drive it through as many outlets as they can find, including Pres. Trump’s own Twitter feed, as the news cycle will be dominated by all sorts of Special Counsel scuttlebutt.

The Republican legislators must, at this point, legislate all the Republican agenda items that got them elected, especially tax reform. Our country needs growth now.

Form the Testudo, guys. Get your act together.

The battle’s on.

Today’s word: Testudo

UPDATE
The Special Counsel Mistake (emphasis added)

Mr. Rosenstein appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller III, who will now have unlimited time and resources to investigate more or less anything and anyone he wants

Cross-posted at WoW! Magazine.

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Hillary goes for misandry

misandry:

noun
1. hatred of males.

In an attempt to make herself relevant, the once-future POTUS emerged to make a video:

The video was made for the MAKERS conference and starts with (emphasis added),

“Despite all the challenges we face, I remained convinced that, yes, the future is female,”

Yes, the same woman who chose to alienate anyone not voting for her as deplorable and irredeemable now implies that there is no room for men in the future. [Flashback to The Lonely Life of Julia]

Hillary’s female supporters, who refer to a Catholic gay guy with a Jewish mom and an African-American boyfriend as a Nazi, ought to drop the masks, don their pink pussyhats, and join in a rousing chorus of this song from Cabaret:

As Dana Loesch put it,

“The future is female?” What an incredibly tone deaf and sexist remark — not to mention awful message to send to boys like my sons. The future is EVERYONE’S.

If you don’t like what I’m saying, deal with it. Hillary urged “We need strong women to step up and speak out,” and I have.

And a question,
Where does that leave those transitioning to male?

Cross-posted at WoW! Magazine.

UPDATE
Linked to by Director Blue. Thanks!

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Our Ladies of Perpetual Outrage™

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This constituency most likely include people who think Meryl Streep was brave for wasting a lifetime achievement speech by ranting about Donald Trump; who approve of women who reduce themselves to their private parts and wear ridiculous hats and costumes while littering and vandalizing the Mall and the largest building complex privately built, owned, operated and maintained entirely by women in the world; who think obstructing airports over an executive order they haven’t even read is a good idea; who see nothing wrong over an entertainer vowing to “punch people [he doesn’t agree with] in the face” with “soul, heart and joy“; and who don’t realize that parroting talking points convinces  no one.

Read my post here.

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The rich girl’s guide to “Hamilton” tickets

Everybody is talking about “Hamilton” today because of this,

Ironic, isn’t it, that the guy giving the speech plays the character who killed the author of the Federalist Papers essay on the electoral college.

The cast didn’t explain exactly what they mean by “on behalf of the show”, but contrary to popular opinion, rich people don’t get rich by spending all they have, they get rich by keeping most of what they earn, which is why Broadway Wants Longer Tax Break as ‘Hamilton’ Prints Money – “on behalf of the show.”

Tickets to “Hamilton” start at $350 ($250 + $100 in fees) for rear mezzanine rafter seats, and go up to $1188.60 ($849 + 339.60 in fees) for orchestra seats, available for July 17, 2017. That is per ticket.

So, as a value shopper, here’s what you can get for $1188.60 in Manhattan, in locations where the staff is instructed to not lecture you about politics,
Nineteen dinners at the Brooklyn Diner on 57th Street (entree, salad, wine, tax and tip). (Note: I like the Brooklyn Diner.), or,
Six nights at AirBnb or two nights at the Marriott East Side., or,
Two little black dresses at Bergdorff‘s ($417 + tax each), leaving you some change, or,
Three center orchestra (second row) tickets to the Met Opera’s spectacular Aida ($286 + tax each), plus $90 for three glasses of champagne during intermission.

So for one $1188.60 “Hamilton” ticket, you and your date can get a good dinner, go to the opera, have a drink, spend the night in the city, and have money for a cab. Price of a new dress not included.

Choose wisely.

UPDATE
Trending at Bad blue.

Linked to by Doug Ross. Thank you!



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Illiberals

Liberals have lost their minds, ostensibly over Hillary not reaching the Presidency.

The ones who are not rioting are searching for safe spaces, and both sets meet in the Venn diagram of social media.

My friend and Da Tech Guy Blog co-blooger Juliette Ochieng, who I have known for many years, was in the Twitter crosshairs of an illiberal two days after the election, and, as illiberal liberals are known to do, the illiberal liberal can’t abide so-call “minorities” who don’t bow to liberal munificence:

As you can see, that was not a good idea.

The illiberal Pam also reported Juliette for being a white man posing as an African-American woman, which one would think would have been OK in the illiberal’s mindset.

For the record, here’s photographic evidence of Juliette’s existence:

That's Juliette in the red blouse
That’s Juliette in the red blouse

Clearly not typical, RW, white, nor male, Juliette’s smackdown was sure to follow. Take a look [language warning] – it is a thing of beauty,

Cross-posted at WoW! Magazine.

UPDATE
Linked to by Instapundit’s Ed Driscoll. Thank you!



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Will the Cuban vote decide FL for Trump?

Mary O’Grady posits an interesting scenario,
The Cost of Obama’s Cuba Policy. Exiles who oppose normalization could give Trump Florida’s 29 electoral votes.

Cuban-Americans who initially supported Mr. Obama’s outreach are increasingly disillusioned with an administration strategy that helps the Castros but leaves out the Cuban people. This could affect turnout among left-of-center voters who care about human rights.

The Obama policy also seems to be energizing greater numbers of conservative and independent Cuban-Americans to rally behind the Republican candidate. A New York Times Upshot/Siena College poll released on Oct. 30 had the New York real-estate developer leading Mrs. Clinton 52% to 42% among Cuban-Americans. Some read this as a result of recent Trump efforts in south Florida to make himself a champion of Cuban exiles. But it is more likely a rise in the protest vote.

Carlos Eire posted the full article.

I have observed the following here in Miami, a city unlike any other in the nation:
1. No Hillary bumper stickers, lawn signs, or buttons. Not one to be seen.
2. Several Trump lawn signs, bumper stickers, t-shirts (including the guy where I voted), red hats, and a few trucks with banners.
3. Dismal turnout for Hillary or Kaine rallies, thousands for Trump.
4. Spanish-language pro-Hillary door-to-door canvassing that is outright deceitful.
5. Hillary’s campaign approach for the Hispanics: Pandering, pure and simple. Issues such as the economy or national security are rarely, if ever, mentioned.

In spite, or even perhaps because, of #4 and #5, the enthusiasm is with Trump.

Spanish-language television is diehard pro Hillary Clinton, incessantly, referring to her in obeisance as “Mrs. Hillary”, while Donald Trump is called “Trump” at best, usually in hostile terms.

As far as the Puerto Ricans siding with Hillary, I’ve yet to find any whi would admit to it. Instead, several Puerto Rican women are appalled that Hillary showed up with gangster moll Alicia Machado. Likewise with Venezuelans who are U.S. citizens.

Speaking of which, Obama’s answer to Gina Rodríguez’s question didn’t get him any points with anyone who has legally undergone the process to become a U.S. citizen. It was the talk at last night’s dinner.

Regarding Hillary’s famous get out the vote efforts, her campaign did not return the calls of one steadfast supporter.

We’ll find out soon enough how it all works out.

Cross-posted at WoW! Magazine.



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