As we all know, the real America is where the real Americans live. Rural places where conservative values and common sense rule the day. Places without DEI hires. Places without insidious multi-culturalism. Where everyone is Christian. No Muslims and very few, if any, “blood poisoners” literally destroying the community and our once proud Nation.
This small town America is a place that is not only a more authentic America, it is a better America. The best of America.
In fact, I know a place that fits this description and where 90% of the citizens voted Trump, again.
As you might well expect, it is idyllic. It is well run by mature, responsible and law-abiding people. As such, it lacks the corruption and mismanagement you might find in big cities or we as we like to call it: “lesser-America.”
Personally, I credit the culture.
And a good looking, genetically-superior bunch too.
Methinks Jason Aldean left off a verse.
Discuss.
When there are virtually no minorities to harass, the law has to find something to pass the time.
RTMF!!!
And God bless small town America.
I grew up in a time when we could leave the windows up and the doors opened. Could ride my bike to my friend’s house and parents didn’t have to worry. I guess you could say that’s part of my culture and have a hard time thinking the way some on here do. And yes, it was and is rural small town. If all of that is wrong, then I don’t want to be right.
What’s wrong is sticking your head up your own ass with a knowing confidence that you and everyone like you is inherently better than anyone else. There’s good and bad everywhere and superiority is nowhere.
Its also important to realize that a lot of people went through a ton of shit so you could have the piece of heaven you describe. It wasn’t gifted by God to you and yours.
A few hundred years before it was your piece of heaven, it was someone else’s. Time marches on…
I’ve tried to give you grace but damn, you really are a dickhead. You ever pass through middle GA let me know. We can meet up and I’ll say it to your face and not from behind the keyboard. Take it to the bank.
Just another triggered librul.
Sad!
They are so sensitive!
I understand that its called “masculinity.”
He should watch some Youtube videos on how to be alpha.
Derek, I just gave you a sample of who I am, and you go off the rails and no I don’t claim to be better than anyone else, that’s you interpretation. I make a simple paragraph, and you go on the attack. I’m not sure if it’s jealousy or what but you have serious problems.
I think you’ve misinterpreted me. I am NOT saying that being proud of who you are, where you came from is bad at all. That’s all good.
What I think is bad is when that pride crosses the line to a claim of superiority.
Wasn’t saying you had done that. I was just clarifying.
Today’s subject is NOT that there isn’t good in rural America. The subject is that there are problems there just like anywhere else and that race, religion, dei, sexual orientation and all that “other-ing” nonsense is no predictor of good outcomes.
Sad, Dolton, Illinois, at one time was a rural town, made in the heart land of America, a place to settle and raise a family…it still may be all that, should the registered voters decide that corruption, full blown misuse of power and lies are not the bedrock of American values…
I grew up the same way. “Be back by suppertime” was my only instruction. The point is, where did it go wrong? I live in a “safe” neighborhood, but I wouldn’t send my grandchildren out alone with a “be back at suppertime.” What has created the intolerance and the inability “to do unto others” we see now that small town life seemed to engender? We had gays, blacks and even Indians (Native Americans) but they weren’t blamed for every budget shortfall. What is the catalyst for the corrosion we see in our inability to allow each other to live and let live?
Reagan abolishing the fairness doctrine in 1987 was the catalyst IMO.
Very good point. Also the ability to own multiple media outlets in multiple municipalities allows Clear Channel to suck up all of the drive time radio. Funny how the competition that capitalism is supposed to be founded on, gets shoved to the side.
Fear sells. People need to watch things die, from a good safe distance.
People divide for wealth and power.
Tale old as time.
No one runs for office arguing that Capricorns who are over 6’2” are better than everyone else.
This comment section is going to be a shitshow.
As I tell my daughters: “Never wrestle with a pig in the mud. You will only get filthy and the pig loves it”
Proverbs 26:4 comes to mind
“Judge not, lest ye be judged”was added in there by a libtard. Any real Jesus worth his salt would see tens of thousands of red hatted undereducateds joyfully stewing in a vast vat of collective onanism juice and say: “now that’s what I’m talking about. ‘Fuck you and hooray for me because we’re better than you’, shall be the whole of the law!”
Well perhaps that and “he without balls shan’t cast the first stone.”
Wait till they find out their lord and savior is a socialist Jew.
With very dark skin who seemed to prefer the company of men. Sorry, couldn’t resist the low hanging fruit.
Hope you get the help you need…..
Thanks for the clear guidance. I can find my way now.
I don’t think Big Pharma has anything thing to help Derek. ECT may help, but Ga Power probably doesn’t have enough juice to shock that deeply disturbed brain back to normal.
There might be something in that police department’s drug locker that would sort me out.
Someone should tell them Reno 911 is satire…
You’ll never convince Lt. Dangle and those new ostrich boots
https://youtu.be/xmNfUUFAclw
I like a good pair of handmades my own self.
Derek, while some think of me as your sycophant, perhaps even as your sock puppet, let me diverge from your path in what I got from the “first read.” The theme seems to be that while there is no “diversity/DEI” in the mix of this particular cluster, there is still rampant crime and corruption. Au contraire.
While we look at these “snowflakes,” and they all appear to be of the same type, we know that all snowflakes are different. For example, one officer is married to a woman old enough to be his mother. Is this not a sign of some sort of Oedipal twist or at least an early diagnosis of a necrophiliac?
Two or three of the officers were juicing, from which we can only conclude that the self-love of watching your body mass balloon was at least a diagnosis of Narcissism and perhaps a harbinger of homosexual tendencies. “Homo” coming from the Greek word for same, might these “body builders” be enhancing their sexuality for members of their own sex?
While we’re on the topic of sexual diversity, how about all of that Adderall? We all know that the only house with more Adderall on tap than a schoolhouse is the White House. Methinks the officers were enticing the young uns to jump in the back seat of the patrol car for a ride on Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride for “the thrill of their life.” I imagine free drugs would be an excellent recruitment tool for the followers of Jeffrey Epstein.
Lastly, anytime you see a department, division, or job site where everyone’s last name is the same, there has been diversity hiring. The diversity is taking the less qualified so that the person doing the hiring feels comfortable in his surroundings.
In conclusion, Derek, I’m putting a mark on your ACLU card for not being liberal enough to see the enormous amount of diversity displayed by this police department. I will admit that after the corneal transplant in my left eye that I’m seeing things a bit differently, so don’t be too harsh in your rebuttal.
I come here for UGA and other sports news. Why is this stupid Playpen allowed?
So you can enjoy the georgia football posts without the interference of politics creeping into them.
Is anyone talking about politics on any of the other links?
I rest my case.
Because it gets a lot of hits/clicks. My recommendation for the playpen would be for Derek to start his own blog and keep this off a Bulldawgs site. The good Senator saw the writing on the wall.
No one including you knows why the Senator discontinued the Playpen. He didn’t tell us. We know why he started it and its what I said above. The fact that some people get all triggered and start screaming like shit throwing chimps is all the more reason to channel that childishness to one (voluntary and clearly labeled) spot. We can all theorize that no one would blurt “bobo is the biden of oc’s!” on a game day post but because we have a weekly reminder that such commentary is unwanted, such diversions are exceedingly rare and unlike the old place, to my knowledge ain’t no one been banned.
Derek, go pound sand. I am done with this blog. I have been a steady reader since day one and always read the Senator before I left the house but I am tired of this BS and will never visit the site again. Shit like you is what is wrong with the internet.
Good Bye to everyone and good luck.
Fwiw, DOGE is eliminating this space and shipping me to Guantanamo on a “freedom flight” so be sure to check back in real soon.
Those going to Guantanamo are mostly criminal illegals. Are you trying to tell us something we don’t know. 🙂
That’s just what “they” want you to believe.
Dude, if you don’t want to read the Playpen, don’t. Focus on the sports content if that’s what you want.
ee, I know what you’re saying. I just wish it wasn’t here to make it so tempting.
Man, that’s like asking someone not to slow down and look at a car wreck. You do it anyway, and regret seeing it.
When Derek first started doing the playpen on this blog it seemed he was trying to pose well thought out positions and inviting rational debate, which I respected even if I didn’t agree with him politically. The last few playpens, he has devolved into full troll mode. The way the posts are written does not invite civil debate about anything. It is just setting up straw men and calling the other side stupid. In my opinion, that has no place here and alienates half the readers of the blog.
You mean back when the largest subset of comments were: “you’re a narcissist!!”
Yeah, it was great back then.
I’ve seen precious little in the way of intelligent debate around here. I would say the percentage of thoughtful comments is well under 5%.
There is mostly anger, diversion and whining. Lots of pissy little girls who make the “leave Brittany alone!!!” video look mature and grounded and not a helluva lot else. That does not change with the subject matter.
People don’t want to think. Not sure most are even capable anymore. They want to hear/read what they’ve come to believe on repeat and as a result their brain is a mush operating at a reptilian level.
To prove my point, pick any one of those “good playpen posts” you recall and I’ll reply with some of the “high brow” commentary it generated.
So in turn, you decided to sink to their level other than just ignore the trolls.
I, along with most rational people, don’t choose to debate politics with people I don’t know on a blog. It tends to bring out the worst in people. I do like to read and try to understand viewpoints different from mine and I admit that some of your earlier posts were interesting to read and thought provoking. Your more recent ones just invoke anger in anyone who has a different viewpoint. Maybe that’s what your going for, but I do recall reading some civil discussions in some of your earlier posts even if there was a good bit of trolling mixed in.
I’m curious. Where is this discernible turn you speak of? Where is the “come at me with anger?”
2.26.25 Rural America has no claim to superiority
2.19.25 We were sold a bill of goods and gave the store to the billionaires
2.12.25 we’re going to own gaza and build a resort? Really??
2.5.25 compiling a list of people who worked on Jan. 6th cases seems scary
1.29.25 transferring wealth to the ultra-rich might be a bad idea
1.22.25 pardoning every Jan 6th convict is an interesting choice
1.15.25 why is pillow fighting on my tv?
1.8.25 should we take Dr. Strangelove and Canadian Bacon from fact into fiction?
I don’t have time to go back through your posts to identify when exactly your tone changed, but I think you know that it did. I’m not trying to argue with you, I’m just trying to get you to consider that the reason you don’t get intelligent debate might not be because there aren’t any intelligent debaters out there. It might just be that when you come across as a condescending dick, all of the intelligent debaters ignore it and you’re just left with dudemankind. I don’t really believe intelligent debate is your goal though. I’m not saying you aren’t capable of it, it’s obvious that you are, but you seem to just get off on puffing your chest by owning the idiots on the other side.
Pretty sure I haven’t a clue as to what you are referring to but you are welcome to keep convincing me that neither do you.
I would LOVE some intelligent debate. We’re a year in and I’m still waiting…
Your critique while saying clearly that you lack any interest in participating is odd.
“I’m not going to try and don’t really want to, but I perceive that it wouldn’t work anyway so I’ll stay right here on stop and say its your fault.”
Whatever.
Since it appears Derek is off to Guantanamo for thought crimes, I’ve got another puzzler. I know that we have a very erudite readership and I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to pose the question, what’s up with Greenland, or Red, White, and Blue land as it’s known in some parts of Georgia?
Since we’ve decided to rebuild the USSR and allow them to redraw borders as they feel inclined, I looked for some historical reference for when an adversary was allowed to get up off the mat and encouraged to spread their borders. This map looks kind of like the administration’s long term plans: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1984_flag_map.svg
What would be some signs to look for if an Orwellian future were in our offing? For those that don’t agree with my prognostications, are you none the less concerned?
Non-Trump voter here…non-voter period. So from a completely neutral point of view:
1. The most irritating aspect about Donald Trump is his bombastic rhetoric.
2. The most irritating aspect about his detractors is their hysterical attitude about Trump.
3. The reason that we have Trump again is his detractors couldn’t have a calm conversation with those that humbly suggested that perhaps some of what he was diagnosing as wrong with the US; was actually true.
4. If those that felt Trump’s policy proposals were problematic could have come up with any argument other than shouting “Racist! Misogyny! Nazi!”at the electorate; we would have someone else.
5. As such, Derek and his various sycophants here are responsible for ensuring a Trump victory.
6. The folks that live around my farm in Tennessee would like to say thank you, Derek. My European friends where I primarily work, want to string you up by your thumbs…of course they’re not learning their lesson please google CDU and AfD…
7. As a suggestion; If you want to have an even handed discussion about US/Trump foreign policy perhaps you could start with an educated source such as Professor Sachs giving a talk to the EU parliament.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA9qmOIUYJA
Yes it’s long but you surely want educated discussion about a thorny issue right? That’s gonna take time…
1) actually, its the constant lying.
2) ikr? you try one coup and people lose their shit.
3) not nominating a woman of color at the last minute who couldn’t communicate with or relate to folks in the midwest? Take noted.
4) agreed. The failure to communicate any consistent message that could resonate with average voters has been a long lasting problem. Only Clinton and Obama have been able to which is fucking sad.
5) i was here when Biden won, so explain that.
6) ditto
7) it might be beneficial, and reflect leadership, for someone in the administration to explain why Putin avoids all criticism while our ally’s leaders are treated like shit. Trumps approach to Putin makes Jane Fonda look tough on Ho Chi Minh.
To borrow a bit from you, Derek:
Of the two posts above which one shows the most rational and reasonable interaction? Discuss…
The reason I put #7 in there was to see if you care about rational reasonable discussion from a recognized, published, left leaning advisor to the EU, UN SECGEN, and numerous Eastern European nations. It is clear that you don’t want to truly discuss at all since to discuss requires listening and you want to shout without even engaging the material as your answer to #7 clearly shows.
Listening to it currently.
Lots of mixed feelings. The “blame America first” stuff is not much different than what Noam Chomsky has been saying for nearly 60 years. While I agree that our Realpolitik approach is ugly at times, what I never hear is the alternative that would achieve similar results: such as winning the Cold War and watching the opposition implode.
The China ain’t so bad/ we hate them for their success message is offensive.
The American foreign policy too often gets led around by the nose by Israel resonates with me. Not sure the usefulness in conflating those issues with Ukraine.
As for that issue, I can’t understand why so many seem opposed to funding Ukrainians killing Russians for as long as Ukrainians want to kill Russians. I just don’t get that at all. Now, if Ukraine says “we’re done, cut a deal” fine, but ai haven’t seen that.
I would argue that mixed feelings is a good place to be with all these issues. There is never a good solution, we are always trying to get to a less bad solution. That is BTW the same case for domestic issues as well. One point on each of your paragraphs then a few suggestions about the playpen.
1. I think that Sachs, Mearsheimer etc. (Realist School adherents) would argue that since the Soviet collapse US foreign policy shifted to idealism (Neoconservative/Neoliberal) which has been more immoral than Realpolitik due to its cost in blood and treasure. I think they have a point, but all the other side argues is “something, something, DEMOCRACY!” I think there may be a real argument but I haven’t heard it from Ferguson, Fukuyama et al.
2. I agree; I don’t think we hate China at all. We are just competitive with them and they have already forfeited the game by committing demographic suicide utilizing the one child policy.
3. All our foreign policy is inherently linked because we are a world power. We engage other great powers (China/Russia) across many spaces including the Middle East. There was a reason Russia was in Syria supporting Assad…
4. Those of us who oppose funding the Ukraine’s fight do so because we know that we are not ever going to do enough to win. All we are currently doing is prolonging the inevitable. We could go down this rabbit hole and engage the military/economic realities facing them but suffice it to say that they lost the day the Russians crossed the border and probably the day Zelenskyy was “elected.” I don’t wish the war to be over because I love Russians but because I don’t want any more Ukrainians to die for an already lost war.
I think that our discussion here is proof that it’s possible to have constructive and interesting exchanges of views but it is necessary to have the framing right. To that end, a couple of humble suggestions for the playpen:
a. Choose robust YouTube clips of at least 15-30 mins. This hopefully will deter those who want to read a quick headline, then throw grenades.
b. Choose commentators that are broadly opposed to your political leaning but with whom you have basic agreement on the particular topic. Or you could also find those with folks on both sides like Breaking Points or The Hill. This helps give the impression that your mind is open even if it is not.
c. Lead well. Your tone is what sets the tone for the thread. If you truly want thoughtful cordial discussion then that is what you will set the example of. We will know if that is what you want by how you proceed moving forward.
Many thx for the enjoyable discussion.
1) its a mistake to conflate pre-emptive war in Iraq with other initiatives. Ukraine costs more in blood and treasure than Vietnam? I definitely think that the end goal of American exceptionalism ought to be a world where people vote and have rights. Anywhere we accept less than that is ultimately a threat. I understand it is not practical or at this point in history desirable in some places, but we’re better off trying to get there as a goal than bending over for tyrants because its easy.
2) don’t care about hating China, but they are a threat. Perhaps the greatest threat we’ve ever known. Keeping them in a box is paramount imho.
3) engagement is not the same as alignment.
4) I am not in a position to tell Ukranians when they’ve died enough for their country. That’s patronizing to the extreme.
I appreciate your optimism. I had it when I started. It has eroded. I do try to pick subjects that would lead a fair reader to do some thinking. Sadly, thinking ain’t what a lot if folks are interested in.
TwoGunDawg- Thanks for posting the link, it was very enlightening. The level of discourse you bring to the discussion is very much appreciated, and, I would add, I don’t have to agree with you to learn something from you. Don’t be a stranger.