Tag Archives: opinion

ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS: JUNE SECOND

It’s Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog with another current events roundup.

COLORADO TERRORIST ATTACK SUSPECT IS IN CUSTODY AND IS YET ANOTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT FROM THE BIDEN-HARRIS REGIME’S CATASTROPHIC POLICIES.  More HERE. Aftermath of the horrendous attack on people involved with a march calling on Hamas to free hostages HERE. More HERE. Assailant reportedly shouted “Free Palestine” rhetoric.

SANTELLI AT DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET CNBC CREDITS PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH THE PERSONAL INCOME OF REGULAR AMERICANS NEARLY TRIPLING IN RECENT MONTHS AND THE TRADE DEFICIT BEING CUT IN HALF. More HERE. Trump remains the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime.

TRUMP EFFECT: CORE INFLATION FALLS TO LOWEST IN FOUR YEARS.

KENTUCKY STATE SENATOR ROBIN WEBB BECOMES THE LATEST DEMOCRAT TO LEAVE THAT PARTY TO JOIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. Like so many of us former Democrats she cited how the increasingly unhinged Democrats “increasingly alienated rural Democrats like her.” She also cited the Democrats’ “hyperfocus on policies that hurt workforce and economic development” and added that “It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat.”  

SENATOR MARSHA BLACKBURN CALLS FOR DOJ INVESTIGATION INTO NASHVILLE MAYOR FREDDIE O’CONNELL FOR DOXING ICE AGENTS AND ATTEMPTING TO BLOCK THEIR ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAWS. Democrat crimes in support of illegal immigration have exploded into an epidemic.

PITTSBURGH STEELER LEGENDS INCLUDING ROCKY BLEIER JOIN CURRENT PLAYERS IN NAMING PRESIDENT TRUMP AN “HONORARY STEELER” AT EVENT. Appropriately it happened at a Steel Workers gathering.

ASSISTANT AG HARMEET DHILLON PRAISED FOR UNDOING BIDEN REGIME POLICIES THAT MADE CRIMINAL ACTIVITY “AN IMMEDIATE HORROR STORY FOR LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS.” Meanwhile, Democrats pander to illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes. Continue reading

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APOCALYPSE CULTURE (1987) BEFORE THE INTERNET, THERE WERE BOOKS LIKE THIS

This is an extraordinary collection unlike anything I have ever encountered – a remarkable compilation of powerfully disturbing statements. These are the terminal documents of the twentieth century.” – J.G. Ballard 

APOCALYPSE CULTURE (1987) – Call me a purist, but the only Apocalypse Culture book I like is the very first one from 1987, not the later editions nor the sequel from the year 2000. By 2000 the book was pointless and unnecessary since the internet was already replacing such publications as Apocalypse Culture, Answer Me! and much of the Loompanics catalogue. 

The late Adam Palfrey edited this book, collecting the kind of transgressive, fringe, daring, paranoid, insane and sometimes just plain sophomorically shocking writings that when taken as a whole reinforce the importance of freedom of expression against both left-wing AND right-wing censorship.

Apocalypse Culture seems almost wimpy here in 2025 but it’s an interesting reminder to those of us who remember the pre-internet days, when you had to devote a lot of energy to finding such wild reading material.

WARNING! The subjects and opinions covered in Apocalypse Culture are not for people who are easily (or not so easily) offended or who cannot tolerate reading viewpoints contrary to their own. What follows is similar to the fringe horror movies I sometimes review. Mature minds only.  Continue reading

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MAY TWENTY-NINTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

Another current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog

*** NEW TODAY – APPEALS COURT REINSTATES THE TRUMP TARIFFS. And the fighting goes on …

LATEST REVELATIONS IN THE DEMOCRAT SCANDAL OVER WHO WAS USING THE AUTOPEN TO SIGN WHATEVER THEY WANTED TO PRETEND JOE BIDEN HAD SIGNED. More HERE. A monumental scandal for which the Party deserves no forgiveness considering their incessant bluster about “democracy.”

FURTHER SCANDALS ABOUT WHO WAS REALLY RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE BIDEN CRIME FAMILY.

OUTGOING SENATE DEMOCRAT MICHAEL BENNET CALLS OUT THE PARTY FOR ITS “RECORD LOW POPULARITY NOW.” He also stated “I don’t think nationally the Democratic brand helps very much anyway…anywhere.

ICE ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ON CHILD SEX CRIMES, DRUGS AND GUN CHARGES. No wonder AOC is calling to abolish ICE. Democrats are the Party of child sex crimes especially. More HERE.

YET ANOTHER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT RAPIST ARRESTED IN DEMOCRAT “SANCTUARY” MARYLAND. Are Democrats accomplices to these crimes?

DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLETS CONTINUE TO GET HUMILIATED OVER THEIR COVERUP OF JOE BIDEN’S UNFITNESS. Anyone paying attention knew he was unfit during his 2020 “hide away” political campaign.

POLL: RECORD HIGH NUMBER OF PEOPLE BELIEVE THE U.S. IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION JUST ENDED EVEN MORE OF THE CRUEL GOVERNMENT ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS.

CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE COURAGEOUSLY SPEAKS OUT ON THE DEEP STATE’S LATEST ANTICS AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP. Continue reading

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ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS: MAY TWENTY-SEVENTH

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog presents another current events roundup from an America where anti-Trump loons still pretend he’s “a dictator” and “a strong man” just so they can pretend that their hysterical hatred of him is courageous.

BIDEN CRIME FAMILY: CORRUPT JOE BIDEN’S NINETY-THREE BILLION DOLLAR THEFT DURING HIS FINAL MONTHS IN OFFICE. The RICO Enterprise that was the Biden-Harris Regime needs investigated down to their molecules.

OBAMA AIDE ADMITS TRUMP ATTRACTED THE DEMOCRAT PARTY’S FORMER BASE AMONG THE WORKING CLASS, THE POOR AND MINORITIES. The Democrats showed them nothing but contempt, so naturally they gravitated to President Trump.

U.S. CONSUMER CONFIDENCE SEES BIGGEST BOOST IN FOUR YEARS.

ED MARTIN WITH MORE ABOUT THE INVALID NATURE OF JOE BIDEN’S LAST-MINUTE PARDONS PER WHISTLEBLOWER.

OBAMA AIDE JOINS THE LIST OF DEMOCRATS ADMITTING THEY KNEW JOE BIDEN WAS UNFIT BUT LIED TO THE PUBLIC ANYWAY. The Party needs to keep answering for this for the next several decades at least.

NEW YORK’S DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR COMPLAINS THAT SHE MAY HAVE TO CUT BENEFITS AND SERVICES FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. Even now, “Illegal immigrants uber alles” is the Democrat slogan. Democrats, are there ANY citizens you care about?

DEMOCRAT RAHM EMANUEL DECLARES THE PARTY “TOXIC, WEAK AND WOKE.”

TRUMP’S POLL NUMBERS STILL RISING. Ignorant, uninformed and emotionally unstable people outraged.

CHARLTON ALLEN: A LIST OF DEMOCRAT LIES REGARDING BIDEN AND MORE. Continue reading

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THE MICHIGAN BRIGADE: U.S. CIVIL WAR

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! Balladeer’s Blog takes a look at the Union Army’s Michigan Brigade of Volunteers – nicknamed the Wolverines – from the U.S. Civil War. I’m focusing on them because, though not unknown, increasing numbers of people have taken to ignoring their contributions to the Union victory just because of the post-Civil War career of the Brigade’s commander – General George Armstrong Custer. 

I’m no Custer fan myself, but the men who served under him in the Civil War don’t deserve to be thrown a figurative cold shoulder because of the ugliness later associated with the man leading them. The soldiers of the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Cavalry plus Artillery Battery M, the units in the  Michigan Brigade, were crucial to victory.

The brigade was first being formed in December, 1862 and on June 29th, 1863 newly promoted General Custer assumed command.

BATTLE OF HANOVER – On June 30th the Michigan Brigade took part in this battle set in Hanover, PA. It was part of the leadup to the Battle of Gettysburg. The Union thwarted Confederate Cavalry General J.E.B. Stuart’s attempt to link up with the main Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee.   

HUNTERSTOWN – With the Battle of Gettysburg having started the previous day, the Brigade fought in this July 2nd, 1863 clash along Beaverdam Creek near Hunterstown, PA. They forced Confederate General Wade Hampton’s cavalry to withdraw. Continue reading

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MAY TWENTY-THIRD ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

A Friday current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog.

TOP SUSPECTS IN FRAUDULENT BIDEN PARDONS SCANDAL NAMED. More HERE.

KAROLINE LEAVITT SMACKS DOWN DEMOCRAT MEDIA OUTLET LIES CLAIMING THAT THE CROSSES OF WHITE VICTIMS IN SOUTH AFRICA WEREN’T REAL. The media rep even tried insinuating that “we all know it’s untrue.” Appalling.

CNN DEFENDS CHANTS FOR CONTINUED GENOCIDE IN SOUTH AFRICA.

TRUMP’S “BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” SUCCEEDS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

SENATOR JONI ERNST DISCUSSES THE AUDITED ABUSES OF GOVERNMENT CREDIT CARDS BY BUREAUCRATS AND OTHER FUNCTIONARIES

KELLYANNE CONWAY, THE FIRST WOMAN TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE A U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN BACK IN 2016, CALLS OUT THE DEMOCRATS’ LIES AND COVERUP ABOUT JOE BIDEN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP INITIATES FURTHER REFORMS TO KEEP FOREIGN CITIZENS OFF AMERICAN VOTER ROLLS. Election integrity continues to be addressed.

TRUMP’S LABOR SECRETARY LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER ON HER EFFORTS TO FULFILL HIS POLICIES FOR A WORKING CLASS BOOM. The greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime.

DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS ACCUSED BY AUDITOR OF STEERING “NO-BID” CONTRACTS TO HER CRONIES. Have I mentioned lately that many American politicians tend to be white-collar criminals?

CONGRESSWOMAN ASHLEY HINSON PRAISES TRUMP’S BILL FOR ITS ATTENTION TO BORDER SECURITY AND ENFORCEMENT.

AMAZON CEO ANDY JASSY SAYS TRUMP’S TARIFFS HAVE NOT IMPACTED PRICES.

TRUMP EFFECT: VENEZUELA RELEASES AMERICAN POLITICAL PRISONER ARRESTED UNDER BIDEN AND HARRIS. Continue reading

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ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS: MAY TWENTY-FIRST

Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog serves up another current events roundup.

WE STILL DON’T KNOW WHO WAS UNCONSTITUTIONALLY MAKING DECISIONS WHILE BIDEN WAS USED AS A FIGUREHEAD. There’s a constitutional procedure for presidential disability – Vice President Kamala Harris was next in line. The Democrat coverup was the REAL “threat to democracy”.

NEVER FORGET: DEMOCRATS AND THEIR MEDIA OUTLETS REPEATEDLY LIED ABOUT BIDEN’S UNFITNESS AND CALLED FOOTAGE OF HIS DEMENTED BEHAVIOR “DEEP FAKES.” More HERE.  

MEDIA AND POLITICANS LIED ABOUT BIDEN BEING “SHARP AS A TACK” LIKE THEY LIE ABOUT EVERYTHING PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS OR DOES.     MARLOW WEIGHS IN

JIM JORDAN ON DEMOCRAT LIES AND PROPAGANDA ABOUT BIDEN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ONCE AGAIN WARNS CONGRESS: “DON’T F**K WITH MEDICAID.” But Trump-haters are still pretending otherwise.

DHS ARRESTS ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT SEX OFFENDERS, MURDERERS AND DRUG DEALERS THAT DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR TIM WALZ PROTECTS UNDER MINNESOTA’S “SANCTUARY” POLICIES. I will say again that Democrat sanctuary policies never protect the victims, just the perpetrators.

DEMOCRAT CITY MANAGER OF WORCESTER, MA BLOCKS POLICE COOPERATION WITH DHS AND ICE. At this point Democrats are accomplices to the additional crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

DHS: DEMOCRAT “SANCTUARY” POLITICIANS ARE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH AMERICAN LIVES. “If it saves even one life” these sanctuary policies should be done away with.

TRUMP’S AGRICULTURE SECRETARY BROOKE ROLLINS DISCUSSES HOW PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RIGHTING THE WRONGS INFLICTED ON AMERICANS BY OTHER NATIONS’ UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES.

TRUMP EFFECT: MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND SET FOR LOWEST GAS PRICES IN OVER TWENTY YEARS.

SENATE PASSES TRUMP’S “NO TAX ON TIPS” BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT. Trump remains the greatest president for the working class and the poor during my lifetime. Continue reading

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JOHN DEREK: HIS SWASHBUCKLER FILMS

Today, actor and director John Derek is remembered mostly because of his wives – Bo Derek, Ursula Andress, Linda Evans and Pati Behrs.

Some film fans remember him for his supporting roles in The Ten Commandments, All the King’s Men, Exodus and Knock on Any Door.

Surprisingly, most people have forgotten that Derek starred in a long list of B-movies, from westerns to war films as well as – for this blog post – a string of swashbuckler movies.

ROGUES OF SHERWOOD FOREST (1950) – John starred as Robin, Earl of Huntington, the son of Robin Hood. When Richard the Lionheart passes away in 1199 A.D. King John (George Macready) returns to his old ways of oppressing and heavily taxing the citizens. He also imports an army of foreign mercenaries faithful only to him, not England.

The villainous king even tries to have Robin, the son of his old enemy, slain during a rigged jousting match. Our hero survives but soon takes to Sherwood Forest to gather many of his father’s former Merry Men around him to rob from the rich and give to the poor. Alan Hale played Little John for the third time in his career, the first in 1922 in the Douglas Fairbanks Robin Hood and again in 1938 in Errol Flynn’s The Adventures of Robin Hood Continue reading

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THE GREAT GARLOO: VINTAGE TOY FROM 1961

The Great Garloo was a two-feet tall remote controlled “monster” toy from Marx. Garloo could be controlled to walk, bend down and pick up things. For adults, boring, but for kids, it must have been the best gift they got that year.

A Son of Garloo followed later. It was smaller and was a wind-up toy. Marx should have cemented Garloo in the public’s consciousness by licensing a kaiju movie or two featuring the figure. The Great Garloo could have stood alongside Godzilla and Gamera.

Below is a vintage television commercial for the Great Garloo. Continue reading

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MAY NINETEENTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

Another current events roundup from Independent Voter Site Balladeer’s Blog.

COURAGEOUS LINDY LI AGAIN SPEAKS OUT ON THE TRAVESTY OF UNFIT AND ILLEGIT JOE BIDEN’S SHAM PRESIDENCY. And if Democrats had their way, Biden would have still been in the White House and they would STILL be lying that Biden is “sharp as a tack.”   Ignore the media sideshows about irrelevancies, THIS should be dominating the headlines and would be if the clueless Republicans knew how to use their media outlets as well as Democrats do.

AMID HUR TAPES REVELATIONS THAT BIDEN WAS TOO UNFIT TO HAVE UNDERSTOOD ANY OF “HIS” LAST-MINUTE PARDONS, CALLS EMERGE TO INVALIDATE THOSE PARDONS. More HERE. In addition to having had a corrupt, addled husk in the Oval Office, we still have no idea who was actually making decisions, including on the atrocious last-minute pardons.

DEMOCRAT OUTLET CNN’S VAN JONES PREDICTS DEMOCRATS WILL PAY FOR COVERING UP JOE BIDEN’S UNFITNESS “FOR A LONG TIME.”  

BIDEN SUBORDINATE LITERALLY SCREAMED AT MEDIA OUTLET NOT TO GO WITH A TRUE STORY REGARDING JOE BIDEN’S UNFITNESS. Again, THIS needs urgent coverage. If not for Donald Trump, the thing called Joe Biden would still be getting paraded out as if he was “president” and the coverup would STILL be going on.

MOODY’S DOWNGRADED THE U.S. UNDER JOE BIDEN AND BARACK OBAMA, TOO. More HERE. But the corporate media only cares if it happens under a certain president who’s only been back in office for four months.

DEMOCRAT JAMES CLYBURN STATES HE STILL BELIEVES JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE SERVED ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. Unreal. Continue reading

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