Category Archives: Neglected History

FEBRUARY 2020: LOOKING BACK

FOR PART ONE (2016) OF THIS RETROSPECTIVE FROM INDEPENDENT VOTER SITE BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE.   

Andrew YangDEMOCRAT ANDREW YANG ON HOW DEMOCRATS HAVE BETRAYED THE WORKING CLASS. Excerpts: “Yang pointed out that the Democrats’ snobbery and contempt for working class voters was why he entered the presidential race in the first place, to try to bring the party back to its long-abandoned base.”“The Democrats can barely conceal their disdain for the working class and the poor. Democrats are incredibly out of touch with the voters and have been for quite some time.” Read the full item HERE.

jack brewerJACK BREWER PRAISES DE FACTO THIRD PARTY PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES. Excerpts: “Brewer also noted that President Trump had ignited “a tremendous awakening in the country” among black Americans.” For the full item click HERE.

FOR A NEEDED LAUGH, HERE ARE EVEN MORE RIDICULOUSLY WRONG PREDICTIONS BY PSYCHICS. You can read them HERE.

tulsi gabbard heroicDEMOCRAT TULSI GABBARD (back in February 2020) CALLS OUT THE DNC FOR RIGGING THE PRIMARIES IN FAVOR OF JOE BIDEN’S 2020 CAMPAIGN JUST LIKE THEY RIGGED THEM IN FAVOR OF HILLARY CLINTON IN 2016. And journalistic exposes since 2020 have supported Gabbard’s statement. Click HERE. And for Democrat Donna Brazille’s book exposing Hillary’s rigging of the 2016 primaries against Bernie Sanders click HERE.

democrat republican or awakeROLLING STONE IN FEBRUARY OF 2020 SHARED GABBARD’S EVALUATION. Excerpt: “What happened over the five days after the caucus was a mind-boggling display of fecklessness and ineptitude. Delay after inexplicable delay halted the process, to the point where it began to feel like the caucus had not really taken place.” Read the full piece HERE.

SON OF INDIANA JONES – You can read it HERE.

Van JonesEVEN CNN’S VAN JONES AND JAMAL SIMMONS CITED TRUMP’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR VOTERS OF COLOR. Excerpts: “You may not like it, but he mentioned HBCUs [historically black colleges and universities] — our black colleges have been struggling for a long time, a bunch of them have gone under — he threw a lifeline to them, in real life, in his budget. He talked about that. He talked about the criminal justice reform. He talked about opportunity zones. He talked about school choice.”

        “Jones also called out “the bubble” in which white Democrats live, a confirmation bias bubble which prevents white Democrats from acknowledging Trump’s positive results in minority communities. That same bubble also prevents white Democrats from seeing Trump’s positive results for the entire working class.” For the full piece click HERE. Continue reading

30 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

FLASHMAN’S GUYANA: LOST FLASHMAN PAPERS

Flashman faceWith Venezuela’s announcement that they want to annex Guyana we all got another reminder that centuries-old issues can turn hot again at any moment. The 19th Century situation when Venezuela and Great Britain nearly went to war over what was then called (and spelled) “British Guiana” was fodder for my “What if” speculations about another Harry Flashman adventure never completed before George MacDonald Fraser’s death.

Lee Horsley Flashman

IF HE WAS BRITISH, LEE HORSLEY WOULD HAVE MADE A PERFECT HARRY FLASHMAN.

Projected Title: FLASHMAN’S GUIANA

Time Period: 1876-1877

NOTE: The title Flashman’s Guiana is a play on “Booker’s Guiana,” as the colony of British Guiana (19th century spelling) was often sardonically referred to in the 1800s. That reference came about from the way the Booker business empire virtually ran the colony. From a 21st Century standpoint we might look on it in a sinister Weyland-Yutani way.

… Strictly for storytelling purposes, of course, if you’re a lawyer representing the Booker Group. Honest. Really. (Although after this latest merger I don’t know if anybody would still care.) Anyway, as you readers have requested, this time I’ll establish the action then go back to detail the setup.

crossed sabresThe Action: Sir Harry Flashman and his wife Elspeth visit British Guiana right after their American Tour ended in August 1876. A combination of Her Majesty’s Government’s interests and Flashman’s own hunger for large amounts of filthy lucre to sustain his and Elspeth’s grand new lifestyle wind up launching the British blackguard into his latest adventure.

Sword and pistols in hand, Harry leaves Elspeth back in the capital city of Georgetown while he takes part in a covert search for gold in the jungle region disputed by Great Britain and Venezuela. Continue reading

12 Comments

Filed under Neglected History, opinion, Pulp Heroes

HOLLYWOOD: A CELEBRATION OF THE AMERICAN SILENT FILM (1980)

hollywood a look atHOLLYWOOD (1980) – A week ago Balladeer’s Blog took a look at the classic documentaries Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow and Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius, by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill. This time around I’m examining their 1980 documentary series Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film.

This series was one of the duo’s earliest masterpieces at capturing the appeal and unique beauty of silent movies from the pre-sound era. Like all their subsequent documentaries about silent films, this one features irreplaceable interviews with many stars, directors and staff members who worked in the industry during the early 1900s.

James Mason’s authoritative voice sets the mood for this educational and moving tribute to a long-lost era. The episodes:

the pioneersTHE PIONEERS – A look at the era when movie production was predominantly in New York and New Jersey, until expenses and encroachments by organized crime forced the industry to migrate to Hollywood, CA, a place then known mostly for its lemon groves. Featuring footage from The Great Train Robbery (1903) on up through films from the mid-teens and the 1920s like Ben-Hur (1925), The Black Pirate (1926), The Fire Brigade (1927) and The Wind (1928).

IN THE BEGINNING – An examination of the movie boom’s virtual conquest of the world, with Hollywood becoming the hub of that multi-million dollar enterprise, partly due to the way World War One severely hindered the formerly dynamic European studios. Featuring interviews with industry legends like Lillian Gish (who had advised Annabeth Gish against going into acting), Henry King and Agnes de Mille, Cecil B’s wife. 

arbuckle to beSINGLE BEDS AND DOUBLE STANDARDS – Stories from the raucous, hard-partying years of Hollywood’s silent movie era. As covered previously here at Balladeer’s Blog, silent movies at first openly portrayed drug use, marital infidelity, drinking at speakeasies, etc. There was even a silent porn industry. When public scandals involving Fatty Arbuckle and others blackened Hollywood’s reputation, the Hays Code was introduced, blocking many adult themes from the big screen well into the 1960s. Continue reading

8 Comments

Filed under Forgotten Television, Neglected History, opinion

NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOON ROUNDUP: DECEMBER FIFTH

The latest current events roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog. As always, everyone is welcome here no matter who they vote for.

biden criminal enterpriseBIDEN CRIME FAMILY: EVEN MORE EVIDENCE SHOWING HUNTER BIDEN FUNNELED MONEY TO CAREER CRIMINAL JOE BIDEN FROM THE MONEY HE RECEIVED FROM CHINA. More HERE. And HERE. Buying Joe Biden was the best investment China’s government ever made. More HERE.

BIDEN RELEASING SIX BILLION MORE DOLLARS TO IRAN, THE COUNTRY FUNDING HAMAS AS WELL AS THE HOUTHIS WHO JUST ATTACKED U.S. SHIPS IN THE REGION

DEMOCRAT SENATOR DICK DURBIN BLOCKS FELLOW SENATOR’S ATTEMPT TO SUBPOENA THE EPSTEIN FLIGHT LOGS. Does Durbin, like so many other American politicians, fear some sort of exposure?

biden crime family shirtCONGRESS TO TAKE THE ONGOING BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION TO THE NEXT LEVEL

INDIGENOUS ALASKANS BLASTING THE BIDEN REGIME OVER ITS POLICIES IN THEIR STATE. Multiple tribal leaders speaking out. Yet Biden’s predecessor was often praised by Native American leaders for his policies.

ENTIRE PARTY ORGANIZATION IN OHIO ENDORSES DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT. An excerpt from their endorsement: “President Trump has proven time and again that despite the unhinged and relentless attacks from the radical left, he will never give up on fighting for Ohio’s workers, business, and families.”

matt taibbiCOURAGEOUS JOURNALIST MATT TAIBBI STILL STANDING STRONG AGAINST CORPORATE MEDIA PROPAGANDISTS MASQUERADING AS SAME. A terrific piece which also features Taibbi discrediting corporate media hacks on social media. NEW VIDEO ON TAIBBI’S REVELATIONS DURING CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY HERE.

ANOTHER DEMOCRAT TEACHER SENTENCED TO PRISON ON MOLESTATION CHARGES. Democrat “teachers” have replaced Catholic priests in the public consciousness when it comes to molesting and grooming.

REPUBLICAN RONNA MCDANIEL’S MANY FAILURES CALLED OUT AGAIN.

DEMOCRAT RAYMOND LOPEZ COURAGEOUSLY BLASTS HIS OWN PARTY FOR POLICIES HARMING THEIR OWN BASE. An excerpt: “the Democratic Party vocalizes all kinds of things and then does not deliver. It actually does quite the opposite and continues to harm its own voting base while still saying that they are caring about their issues …”. Continue reading

31 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

JANUARY 2020: A LOOK BACK

FOR PART ONE (2016) OF THIS RETROSPECTIVE FROM INDEPENDENT VOTER SITE BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE.   

profiles in corruptionPETER SCHWEIZER’S RECENT (back then) BOOK “PROFILES IN CORRUPTION” WHICH EXPOSED EVEN MORE OF THE ROT AT THE CORE OF POWERFUL DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS. Read the item HERE

TWENTY GREAT NEWS ITEMS FOR THE WORKING CLASS AND THE POOR IN AMERICA AS 2020 BEGINS. A look at what was then the latest news regarding de facto Third Party President Donald Trump’s policies helping the working class and the poor. Click HERE.

Fool Killer with staff and Bowie knifeFOOL KILLER – The political and social commentary publication. JANUARY 1910 covered a corrupt Federal Appeals Court Judge, Thomas Edison foolishly buying into psychic phenomena, the raging arguments about reaching the North Pole and more HERE.   

         JULY 1921 covered reports that America was still experimenting with poison gas and chemical warfare despite treaty agreements to the contrary, took shots at an early form of “road rage” and at President Warren G. Harding, Henry Ford and others HERE.

TWENTY MORE HILARIOUSLY FAILED PREDICTIONS BY PSYCHICS – Some needed comic relief HERE.

educa smallerFACULTY LOUNGE FASCIST ROUNDUP – America’s joke of an educational system HERE.

UNDER TRUMP, BLUE-COLLAR WAGES ARE GROWING EVEN FASTER THAN WHITE-COLLAR WAGES – He was the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime. HERE.

mcgovernPROS AND CONS OF TWENTY LOSING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES– A light-hearted look in the style of my Pros and Cons of Presidents HERE.

CBS NEWS POINTS OUT TRUMP’S MANY POLICIES WHICH HELPED THE BLACK COMMUNITY – Unprecedented funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Opportunity Zones for black communities, and much more. Click HERE . Continue reading

6 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

NOVEMBER 30th ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

The latest roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog. As always, everyone is welcome here no matter who they vote for.   

HALF A MILLION STRONG “MOMS FOR AMERICA ACTION” ENDORSES TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT. “We need leaders who are not afraid to fight”

Mark fisherMARK FISHER, FORMER BLM LEADER FOR A RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER OF THE GROUP, ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT AND CALLED DEMOCRAT POLICIES “RACIST”. The active BLM leadership still condemns Trump and called Fisher’s endorsement “pathetic.”   

        Fisher, a former Democrat like me before I became an Independent Voter, made his remarks when asked about Trump’s support among Black voters. Some excerpts from Fisher’s comments: “I think personally it’s the duplicity of the Democrats, the hypocrisy. We are not stupid. The brothers are not stupid. We understand when someone is for us and when someone is not. It’s obvious that the Democratic Party is not for us.”

Trump never called racist til running against Democrats        “We’ve been used and abused for so long by that party, they don’t value our vote,” Fisher said. “Their policies are basically racist policies. I believe it’s a racist party. Donald Trump is just the opposite.”

        “Trump has done more for the black community than any president I can think of in my lifetime.”

        “A lot of people are misinformed,” Fisher said. “They don’t really understand because they don’t educate themselves on Donald Trump as a person and his history”

        trump rosa parks and muhammad ali“My message that I preach and that I tell is unity. It’s a message of unity, unity driven,” Fisher said. “I want to bring together all the marginalized groups from the margins and bring them to the center because we’re stronger together as … one nation under God, indivisible…” 

        No matter if you like or hate de facto Third Party President Donald Trump, this is yet another indicator that he has been the jolt that America’s pompously complacent Democrat and Republican Parties have long needed. (And for Trump haters, rest assured that your side is already trying to paint Trump in a negative light for graciously acknowledging Mark Fisher’s praise.) Continue reading

6 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOON ROUNDUP FOR NOVEMBER 27th

Another roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog. As always, everyone is welcome here no matter who they vote for.   

democrats vote fraudTHE BATTLE TO STOP THIS VOTE FRAUD FRIENDLY PROCEDURE IN PENNSYLVANIA. Democrats pretend it’s too much trouble to have Vote by Mail ballots be mailed prior to Election Day. It helps them to conjure up however many votes they need while they slow-count results in certain districts. And wasn’t Cheat by Mail supposed to go away after Covid?

LATEST EVIDENCE OF BIAS AND MISCONDUCT BY COMPROMISED JUDGE ENGORON. What a joke that whole trial is.

FIRST AMERICAN HOSTAGE FREED BY HAMAS IS FROM A FAMILY WHICH “BOUGHT” SOME OF HUNTER BIDEN’S ALLEGED ART. The Biden Crime Family saga continues. 

half ofILLEGAL BORDER CROSSINGS INCREASING TO THE NORTH. The word is apparently out. Skip the lines at the US-Mexico border. Just get to Canada then enter the US illegally by crossing that border with us.

DEMOCRATS STILL HARASSING UNIVISION FOR AIRING THEIR INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP. Pompous, privileged white Democrats still think they “own” Hispanic Americans and are outraged when they think for themselves. Continue reading

15 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

DECEMBER 2019: LOOKING BACK

FOR PART ONE (2016) OF THIS RETROSPECTIVE FROM INDEPENDENT VOTER SITE BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE.    

deneen borelli picANOTHER MARTIN LUTHER KING PERSON OF COURAGE EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP – Deneen Borelli of Black Voices for Trump cited the NPR, Marist and Rasmussen polls which had Trump at 35% approval among black voters, an astronomically high figure compared to the incredibly low approval percentage that garbage like George W. Bush and Mitt Romney had among black voters.

        Another excerpt from that article: “It might shock Democrats that support for President Trump is rising with Black Americans but it shouldn’t. Blacks are more prosperous than ever because of President Trump with record-low unemployment and rising paychecks.”

        democrat republican or awakeAs for why Deneen Borelli called Trump’s rising numbers among voters of color “Democrats’ worst nightmare”, well, even the Democrats themselves admit that they need their usual roughly 90% approval from black voters to win nationwide elections. This is one more way that Trump threatened the status quo of America’s corrupt political parties. Click HERE.

eupolisCOTTABUS PLAYERS – Balladeer’s Blog’s examination of this ancient Greek comedy from the 420s B.C. and its relevance today. Click HERE.

DEMOCRATS DON’T KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORDS “DEBUNKED” AND “DISCREDITED” – I took a look at how Democrats laughably think that the minute one of their politicians gives their excuses regarding accusations it means that those accusations have been debunked or discredited. Click HERE.

AMERICA’S REJECTED SUPREME COURT NOMINEES – A look at the nominees who were rejected by the Senate, from the 1700s on up through December of 2019. Click HERE

sharyl attkisson smallerCOURAGEOUS JOURNALIST SHARYL ATTKISSON’S LIST OF OVER ONE HUNDRED (as of December 2019) MISTAKES AND LIES IN CORPORATE MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP – And the list has grown substantially since then. Click HERE

CALLING OUT AMERICA’S DEMOCRATS – They’re NOT liberals and they’re NOT progressives, they’re just partisan Democrat zealots. First an excerpt: “We are long past the time when America’s pompous, pretentious asses called Democrats need to be called out on their ridiculous airs. Let’s dare to blaspheme against the Democrats’ most sacred deities – themselves.” Click HERE

hillary unhingedCONVICTED PEDOPHILE INDICTED FOR FUNNELING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS TO HILLARY CLINTON’S 2016 CAMPAIGN – America’s political establishment is a cesspool. To read the full story on this item just click HERE. Continue reading

4 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

NOVEMBER 21st ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

Another roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog. As always, everyone is welcome here no matter who they vote for.

trump abbottGOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT ENDORSED DONALD TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT. More HERE. And HERE. Per Newsweek, right-wing pass-around Ann Coulter is outraged at Abbott, and it’s always good when Coulter is upset.

TRUMP AND ABBOTT SERVE EARLY THANKSGIVING MEALS TO NATIONAL GUARD AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TRYING TO MAINTAIN ORDER AT JOE BIDEN’S DISASTROUS SOUTHERN BORDER

AT LONG LAST ALL THE JANUARY 6th VIDEO IS RELEASED, NOT JUST THE DEMOCRAT CHERRY-PICKING – CLAIMS OF “INSURRECTION” ARE SHOWN TO BE EVEN MORE RIDICULOUS THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT. More HERE. And HERE. I think people who have lived in countries that underwent REAL insurrections would like to set straight pampered white American Democrats who pretend January 6th was one. Even more HERE.

winding bidenANOTHER LOOK AT JOE BIDEN’S FAILURES AND DISASTERS.

SMALL BUSINESSES SUPPORT TRUMP OVER BIDEN 61% TO 21%. And I will say again that Trump was the greatest president of my lifetime for the working class and the poor. 

DERANGED BIDEN ADMINISTRATION EXPRESSES WORRY THAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS MIGHT GET “MISGENDERED.” What an unhinged pack of hacks. Continue reading

23 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion

NOVEMBER 2019: A LOOK BACK

FOR PART ONE (2016) OF THIS RETROSPECTIVE FROM INDEPENDENT VOTER SITE BALLADEER’S BLOG CLICK HERE.   

freedom of expression is a human rightAMNESTY INTERNATIONAL JOINS THE VOICES SAYING GOOGLE AND FACEBOOK THREATEN HUMAN RIGHTS – This was November, 2019, and Big Tech has become an even bigger threat to human rights since then. Click HERE

HARRIET: THE WOMAN CALLED MOSES OPERA BY THEA MUSGRAVE – My look at Thea’s terrific opera about Harriet Tubman. Click HERE.

trump rosa parks and muhammad aliBLACK VOICES FOR TRUMP – Item from November 10th of 2019. Click HERE

EVEN MORE HILARIOUSLY WRONG PREDICTIONS FROM PSYCHICS – We all need a laugh and this look at some absurdly wrong predictions by supposed psychics provides some needed comic relief. Click HERE.

FACULTY LOUNGE FASCIST ROUNDUP: NOVEMBER 2019 – You can read it HERE.

sharyl attkisson smallerSHARYL ATTKISSON’S REMINDER OF PROOF OF HILLARY CLINTON’S 2016 CAMPAIGN’S COLLUSION – A needed reminder for us from back then. Click HERE.

A FANTASTICAL EXCURSION INTO THE PLANETS (1839) – One of the most popular works of Ancient Science Fiction ever reviewed here at Balladeer’s Blog. Click HERE.

tulsi gabbard heroicHEROIC THEN-DEMOCRAT TULSI GABBARD AGAIN POINTS OUT HOW LOW THE DEMOCRATS HAVE SUNK – You can read it HERE.

“READ THE TRANSCRIPT” T-SHIRTS – The terrific sales of the t-shirts reminding people how the transcript of the Ukraine phone call exonerated Trump from the bogus accusations against him. And here in 2023 the bogus accusations against the outsider Trump continue. Click HERE. Continue reading

10 Comments

Filed under LIBERALS AND CONSERVATIVES, Neglected History, opinion