Tag Archives: opinion

DEC TWENTIETH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

From Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog it’s time for another current events roundup.

democrat republican or awakeCOUNTER-PROPOSAL TO THE ABSURD, BLOATED 1,547-PAGE SPENDING ITEM ALSO GETS DEFEATED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. THIRD ATTEMPT BEGINS.

*** QUICK NOTE FOR OVERSEAS READERS – THE INITIALS “C.R.” IN SO MANY STORIES ABOUT THE SPENDING NEGOTIATIONS STAND FOR CONTINUING RESOLUTION. Long before Trump came along, Democrats and Republicans spent decades playing games of chicken over trying to avoid “government shutdowns” ultimately blaming each other for any temporary shutdowns that resulted.

          profiles in corruptionLong years ago things were always slapped together right before a shutdown while the corrupt political establishment acted like an apocalypse had been averted. But eventually, arrangements started falling through and we got “government shutdowns” (which were NEVER truly government shutdowns) that resulted in Continuing Resolutions, etc. and our white-collar criminals in office switched to hyping up the repeated “showdowns” over the C.R.s, like is going on now.   

           HOWEVER, THIS TIME IS EVEN MORE REPULSIVE BECAUSE MEMBERS OF THE OUTGOING, LAME-DUCK CONGRESS ARE SABOTAGING ATTEMPTS AT COMPROMISE BY INCLUDING DEAL-BREAKING ITEMS. This is setting an ugly trend for the future – Congress members who were just VOTED OUT OF OFFICE in November are free to play scorched earth games with the entire country on their way out the door. Specific members from BOTH parties are guilty.

CONFIDENCE IN TRUMP LEADS TO FIRST RISE IN LEADING ECONOMIC INDICATORS IN YEARS. He fixed the economy before, hopefully he can do it again.

Crazy Nancy Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi, whose policies harm the working class and the poor.

DEMOCRATS NANCY AND PAUL PELOSI CASHED IN ON FEDERAL BAILOUT MONEY. All this on top of Nancy’s insider trading scandals.

CAREER CRIMINAL JOE BIDEN FREES MEN WHOSE VICTIMS NUMBER ROUGHLY A MILLION. Those same men scammed over five billion dollars.

OREGON DEMOCRAT ELECTION OFFICIAL RESIGNS OVER SCANDAL ABOUT NON-CITIZENS BEING ALLOWED ON THE VOTER ROLLS. Ignore elected figures who say voters should stop looking into vote fraud. It’s important to keep fighting it.

#walkawayAND YET ANOTHER COURAGEOUS WOMAN WALKS AWAY FROM THE INCREASINGLY DERANGED DEMOCRAT PARTY.  

AND ANOTHER APPEALS COURT – AS ALL REASONABLE PEOPLE KNEW IT WOULD – SETS RIGHT YET ANOTHER DEMOCRAT LAWFARE ABOMINATION AGAINST TRUMP. More HERE. Fani Willis goes down in flames. Trump responds HERE. Continue reading

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GEORGE C. SCOTT CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984)

Balladeer’s Blog’s Fifteenth Annual Christmas Carol-a-Thon continues with that old classic that starred George C. Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. 

George C Scott CarolThis is one of the perennial staples of Christmastime viewing for many people. Readers are often surprised that it took me so long to review this one even though it’s one of my favorites. No special reason, it’s just that so many excellent reviews have already covered this Carol that I wanted to hit the more obscure versions first.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL (1984) – Let me kick off this review with my old, overused joke about wanting to hear George C. Scott holler “Dickens, you magnificent bastard … I READ YER BOOOOOOOOK!”

My only complaints about this undeniable classic would be 1) the way it’s one of those Carols which unnecessarily add extra tension to the relationship between Scrooge and his father and 2) unnecessary magnification of why the poor and unemployed are sad at Christmas. Dickens put it poetically. This adaptation belabors it.

Moving on to the performances:

SCROOGE – Be thankful that George C. Scott toned down his George C. Scottishness for this role. If you’ve seen him as Fagin in the 1982 adaptation of Oliver Twist you know what a bullet this Christmas Carol dodged. (“When you put your hand into a pile of goo that a minute ago was the Artful Dodger’s face … You’ll know what to do.” That’s the last time I’ll do that. I promise.)  Continue reading

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NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS ROUNDUP FOR DEC EIGHTEENTH

herschel walkerAnother current events roundup from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog.

HERSCHEL WALKER NAMED TO AN AMBASSADOR POSITION BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.

DEMOCRAT ERIC ADAMS COURAGEOUSLY DENOUNCES THE WAY HIS POLITICAL PARTY ABUSED THE COURT SYSTEM IN THEIR POLITICAL PERSECUTION OF TRUMP.

CAREER CRIMINAL JOE BIDEN MOVES TO PROTECT BIG PHARMA FROM LEGAL LIABILITY THROUGH 2029. But remember, he’s been pronounced mentally unfit to stand trial.

trump newSOFTBANK PLEDGES ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS IN U.S. INVESMENTS AS A SHOW OF CONFIDENCE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. Career criminal Joe Biden would have gotten them to invest that money in China or Iraq … while getting his usual “Ten percent for the big guy” graft.

TRUMP THE DEAL-MASTER ON GETTING SOFTBANK’S ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS IN U.S. INVESTMENT UP TO TWO HUNDRED BILLION.

trump thumbs upHUNGARY’S DEPUTY FINANCE MINISTER CONFIDENT THAT TRUMP’S RETURN WILL USHER IN A RETURN TO “PEACE, PROSPERITY AND PARTNERSHIP.”

THE WHITE-COLLAR CRIMINALS OF CONGRESS SLIP A STEALTH PAYRAISE FOR THEMSELVES IN SPENDING ITEM. Have I mentioned lately what a cesspool of corruption America’s political establishment is? And it will be the usual game of slowly learning what else was snuck through in the 1,547-page spending package, like pro-censorship funding. Trump’s 2nd Term beginning on January 20th, 2025 can’t get here fast enough.   *** LATEST – Another hidden item – a provision to block the investigation of the corrupt and unconstitutional J6 Committee

pro hezbollahPRO-HEZBOLLAH DEMOCRATS IN NEW YORK CITY VOW SUPPORT FOR THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Among their remarks: “Our fingers, our pens, our rifles will be pointed at the U.S. government, the Zionist entity, and nobody else.”   

           In response, one journalist opined “The day will come when these Palestine ‘activists’ inevitably execute a massive terror attack in NYC. And once they do, don’t say we didn’t warn you.”  Dr. Victor Davis Hanson has previously pointed out how such “activism” has “fused with the leftwing DEI industry.”

REPUBLICAN LIZ CHENEY ACCUSED OF WITNESS TAMPERING. The repulsive trash from a repulsive political family back in the news.

Tulsi Gabbard pictureMORE DEBUNKING OF DEMOCRAT CLAIMS THAT TULSI GABBARD IS A “RUSSIAN ASSET.” Democrats need new material.

DEMOCRAT SENATORS AGAIN SUPPORT PUSHING TRANSGENDERISM ON STUDENTS FROM KINDERGARTEN ONWARD. Democrats, can you please leave children alone? Continue reading

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BEST OF JUNE 2024

Balladeer’s Blog’s annual end-of-year retrospective continues with June’s best. 

THE SWAMP FOX (1959-1961) – The forgotten television series about a young Leslie Nielsen portraying Francis Marion, the guerrilla leader known as the Swamp Fox during the Revolutionary War. Click HERE.

BALLADEER’S BLOG’S FAVORITE RUM BRANDS – I presented a pair of lesser-known rum brands. Click HERE.

ANNA MARIA LANE (left) AND SALLY ST. CLAIR (far left): REVOLUTIONARY WAR HEROINES – A look at two heroines from the American Revolution. Click HERE.

BLACKE’S MAGIC (1986) – A Father’s Day look at the series which featured Hal Linden and Harry Morgan as a father-son team of stage magicians who solved seemingly impossible murders and other crimes on the side. Click HERE.

BAD MOVIE REVIEW: TELEVISION SPY (1939) – I examined this forgotten sci-fi film regarding the hilariously overstated potential of television for espionage purposes. Starring Anthony Quinn and Richard Denning (The Governor from Hawaii 5-0). Click HERE.

THE BLACK COAT – My look at this comic book series about a costumed Revolutionary War hero. Click HERE.

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: THE FEARSOME ISLAND (1896) – The discovery of a Caribbean Island on which an exiled mad scientist from Spain enslaved the population and made them erect his castle full of futuristic devices. Click HERE

NEGLECTED REVOLUTIONARY WAR BATTLES IN FEBRUARY 1777 – Often overlooked actions. Click HERE. Continue reading

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DEC SIXTEENTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

From Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog it’s another current events roundup from an America still reeking of the repulsive Biden Regime’s stench.

*** NEW – WRIGHT PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE SHUT DOWN DUE TO DRONE ACTIVITY. While the Biden Regime remains impotent since there’s no way to grab graft money from the situation.

NBC NEWS ADMITS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S STRONG WORDS FOR HAMAS HAVE FORCED THEM TO MAKE CONCESSIONS REGARDING HOSTAGES.

SISTER OF HAMAS HOSTAGE STATES SHE “FEELS BETTER” ABOUT THE SITUATION WITH TRUMP SPEAKING OUT ON IT. Joe Biden, a clump of bacteria sculpted into human form, has utterly failed the Americans held hostage.  

DNC MEMBER CALLS OUT THE BIDENS AND KAMALA HARRIS FOR LYING ABOUT JOE BIDEN’S UNFITNESS FOR OFFICE. Those of us who paid attention realized Joe was unfit back in 2020.

INTERNATIONAL LONGSHOREMEN’S ASSOCIATION VP HAILS PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR “TAKING UP THE MANTLE FOR WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.” Trump did so in his first term, too.

DISGUST WITH CORRUPT, DOUBLE-DEALING PELOSI: ADAM MCKAY, DIRECTOR OF VICE AND THE BIG SHORT, URGES DEMOCRATS TO LEAVE THE PARTY AND FORM A NEW ONE. Nancy Pelosi, Queen of Insider Trading Scandals and other corruption, should have been called out for her selfish maneuvering long ago.

Democrat Party

EVEN DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR HOCHUL DEMANDS THAT THE BIDEN REGIME DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE DRONE SITUATION AFTER DRONES SHUT DOWN RUNWAYS OF A NEW YORK AIRPORT. Everyone associated with the Biden Regime is worthless, criminally negligent garbage.

GEORGIA SPECIAL COUNSEL ADMITS THAT THE LEGAL PERSECUTION OF TRUMP WAS COORDINATED WITH THE BIDEN REGIME. Have I mentioned what filth Joe Biden and his ilk are? Continue reading

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BEST OF MAY 2024

Balladeer’s Blog’s annual end-of-year retrospective continues with this look at May’s best.

R.I.P. ROGER CORMAN: FILM LEGEND – I noted the passing of the King of B-Movies and the man who nurtured more up and coming talent than most other figures in Hollywood history. Click HERE.

THE 1926 AERIAL BOMBING OF ILLINOIS BY GANGSTERS – The unlikely account of how feuding gangsters unleashed the only aerial bombing of Illinois ever. Click HERE.

BRAZIL’S SUPERHEROES – From the 1950s into the 21st Century, I looked at Brazil’s home-grown heroes like Captain Seven, the Black Ray, Mylar and the Black Lizard.

Plus home-grown heroines like Stupendous Woman, the Bee, Velta and the Gymnoid. Click HERE

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: GUESSES AT FUTURITY (1894-1895) – Frederick Thomas Jane’s work of speculative science fiction about what life might be like in the year 2000. He predicted scientific achievements far beyond what 2000 really had to offer, but his take is still fascinating. Click HERE.

TRADER HORN (1927) – Alfred Aloysius Horn’s book about his experiences as a Trade Agent in Africa during the late 1800s. Various film versions were made over the decades. Part One HERE. Part Two HERE. Part Three HERE.

BLAME CANADA: FORGOTTEN MOVIES AND TELEVISION SHOWS FROM ABOVE THE BORDER – I reviewed the 14-year-old Mike Myers’ tv show, plus five other Canadian dramas and adventure tales. Click HERE.

BLACK LIGHTNING: HIS 1970s STORIES – The early adventures of DC’s African American superhero from the 1970s. Click HERE.

MEDAL OF HONOR WINNERS FROM AMERICA’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE SECOND SAMOAN CIVIL WAR (1898-1899) – Read about them HERE. This forgotten conflict featured American and British forces fighting alongside each other AND Samoan forces against German troops and their Samoan allies on the other side of the civil war. Continue reading

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NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS ROUNDUP: DEC THIRTEENTH

Another current events round up from Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog.

dem lies corruptionTHE LATEST BOMBSHELL FROM THE SCANDAL ABOUT DEMOCRAT FUNDRAISERS IGNORING BANS ON ACCEPTING MONEY FROM OVERSEAS SOURCES. So basically it’s bribes from other countries and the money they “donate to a candidate’s campaign” can certainly influence their voting record in office. Have I mentioned lately what a cesspool of corruption America’s political establishment is?

joe biden is aCAREER CRIMINAL JOE BIDEN HANDS OUT MOST PRESIDENTIAL PARDONS IN A SINGLE DAY IN HISTORY. The Biden Regime came in like a bunch of criminal thugs and they’re going out the same way. And by the way, Chinese spies are among the people he pardoned. Like I said long ago, buying Joe Biden was the best investment the Chinese government ever made.

KENNEDY RIGHTFULLY CUTS DOWN ONE OF AMERICA’S RETIRED COMIC OPERA GENERALS WHO HAVE NEVER WON A SINGLE WAR AND TARGET FELLOW AMERICANS AS THE ENEMY.

AND YET ANOTHER DEMOCRAT OFFICIAL LEAVES BEHIND THAT GROTESQUE PARTY TO BECOME A REPUBLICAN – THIS TIME IT’S A LATINO JUDGE IN TEXAS. Among his remarks: “the radicalization of the national Democrats pushed me away a long time ago.” Continue reading

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BEST OF APRIL 2024

Balladeer’s Blog’s annual end-of-year retrospective continues with this look at April’s best.

L’INFERNO (1911) – My review of the epic silent film adaptation of Dante’s Inferno. This production blew me away given its time period. And it was filmed in Italy just a few years before the horrors of World War One. Click HERE.

SARAH BERNHARDT: HER SILENT FILM APPEARANCES – The iconic Nineteenth Century actress lived long enough to appear in multiple silent movies. Click HERE

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: A DEMIGOD (1886) – A criminally overlooked sci-fi saga about Hector Vyr, whose mad scientist forebears bred him for genetic perfection. The tale of this heroic Platinum Age figure has elements of Philip Wylie’s 1930 sci-fi novel Gladiator but forty-four years earlier. Click HERE

INDEPENDENT ACTION AND HORROR FILMMAKER LEN KABASINSKI REMEMBERS THE LATE LEO FONG – The one and only Kabasinski was gracious enough to leave a few memories about international action star Leo Fong here at Balladeer’s Blog. Click HERE.

SPIDER-MAN: HIS FIRST 1960s STORIES – The early years of the Stan Lee-Steve Ditko creation. Click HERE.

TRANSGRESS WITH ME: APRIL EIGHTEENTH EDITION – Are you daring enough for this? It’s an ongoing series going back several years. Click HERE.

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: BY AEROPLANE TO THE SUN (1910) – The story of an expedition to the sun and other planets by way of a spaceship that the author calls an aeroplane. Click HERE. Continue reading

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DEC ELEVENTH ROUNDUP OF NEWS, MEMES AND POLITICAL CARTOONS

Independent Voter site Balladeer’s Blog presents another look at current events from an America where Democrat violence and calls for violence against people who disagree with them are still increasing.

CONGRESSWOMAN NANCY MACE ATTACKED AND INJURED ON CAPITOL HILL. Her pro-trans male attacker injured her wrist and arm before being apprehended.

NEW YORK CITY DEMOCRATS CALL FOR VIGILANTE VIOLENCE AGAINST WHITE PEOPLE AFTER DANIEL PENNY ACQUITTAL. Yes, with crime spiraling out of control in NYC, Democrats can only be outraged by a good Samaritan who acted to protect his fellow subway passengers.

           Once again, Democrat behavior demonstrates one of my joking Democrat slogans – “Democrats: Jury verdicts should have to be ratified by our raging, howling mobs of shallow, uninformed and emotionally unstable political robots.” 

david j. harris jr.DAVID J. HARRIS JR. ON TRUMP’S POLICIES THAT WILL ONCE AGAIN BENEFIT BLACK AMERICANS.

CAREER CRIMINAL JOE BIDEN EXPOSED FOR GIVING TEN MORE BILLION DOLLARS IN RELIEF TO IRAN THE DAY AFTER TRUMP WAS REELECTED. But hey, Joe’s been pronounced too mentally unfit to stand trial, remember? 

FBI STILL MEANS “FUGGEDA BOUT INTEGRITY” – AGENT ARRESTED FOR USING FBI SEARCHES OF HOMES TO COMMIT THEFTS. Needless to say, their victims included a political opponent of the Biden Regime.

BRANDON TATUM VIDEO ABOUT TRUMP DEALING WITH BIASED REPORTER.

AND YET ANOTHER ELECTED DEMOCRAT – FLORIDA HOUSE MEMBER SUSAN VALDES – LEAVES THAT PARTY TO BECOME A REPUBLICAN. Among her remarks she called out how Democrat “leadership expects me to ignore the needs of my community.”

NEW BOOK ABOUT HILLARY CLINTON SCANDALS BY FORMER SECRET SERVICE AGENT. Continue reading

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BEST OF MARCH 2024

Balladeer’s Blog’s annual end-of-year retrospective continues with a look at March’s best.

SILENT MOVIES ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS – On Easter Sunday I reviewed silent films that were relevant to the holiday. The movies dated from 1898, 1899, 1903, 1906, 1912, 1916, 1917, 1923, 1927 and 1928. Click HERE.

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: A TALE OF THE X-RAY (1898)- Written by Clara H. Holmes. Click HERE.

SUPERHEROES FROM INDONESIA – From the 1950s onward, it’s a selection of heroes and heroines like Tira, White Garuda, Merpati, Starblast and more. Click HERE.

THE LEGEND OF FRANCOIS VILLON – The life and legend of this 1400s poet and outlaw from France. Follow his saga as a lauded poet who was often on the run in between crimes. Click HERE.

ALIEN: NO MAN’S LAND (2024) – A tribute film set during World War One. Click HERE.

ANCIENT SCIENCE FICTION: THE WORLD UNDERGROUND (1741) – A novel about the discovery of life and civilizations deep inside the Earth.

This pioneering work blazed a trail for many later stories about Inner Earth adventures. Click HERE.

USTINOV AD LIB (1966) – Peter Ustinov’s comedy special with guest star Dudley Moore. Click HERE

SPACE MONSTER WANGMAGWI (1967) – A South Korean attempt to jump on the Godzilla and Gamera bandwagon as invading aliens unleash their enormous monster called Wangmagwi on the world. Hilariously bad. Click HERE.

IBERIA, INC: SPAIN’S SUPERHEROES – Beginning in 1996, Spain’s homegrown superteam Iberia, Inc. caught lightning in a bottle with stories that combined the best qualities of Claremont’s X-Men with the multi-decade saga of the Watchmen. Click HERE. Continue reading

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