Civil Discourse Now

Where the far left and far right overlap for fun and enlightenment

All Blog Posts (1,720)

Parable of two guys & control of a submersible

The 2024 election for President viewed in context of a submersible that dives to the wreckage of HMS Titanic.

“I think we ought to go back to the surface,” the skipper says, “I didn’t know this isn’t certified as safe for these depths.” 1/7

Smart-guy passenger shoves skipper aside. “I can run this. In military school; they said I was brilliant in everything I did.”

Skipper reaches for the controls. “We need to go to the surface. The pressure is tons per square inch. This…

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Added by Mark Small on May 15, 2024 at 3:28pm — No Comments

What about outcomes...

I expressed concerns re what might ensue in Indiana if 1) Pres Biden & VP Harris win re-election in November, but 2) trump wins Indiana’s 11 electors. Sen Mike Braun, GOP nominee for Gov, but for the Jan 6 insurrection, would have voted to reject the 2020 election results. [FN1] 1/10

Several ppl shared my concern. Another person pointed out: “Braun won't be sworn in until after the election. Until that happens Holcomb will be in charge.” True, but Gov Holcomb was on the fence on…

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Added by Mark Small on May 13, 2024 at 8:29pm — No Comments

What happens in a "red" State

No one questioned the results of elections held during the Civil War (1864) or WWII (1944). A litmus test for today’s GOP is belief that the 2020 election was hacked for Pres Biden’s benefit. What happens, here in Indiana, if the GOP claims elections in November are not valid? 1/8

1) Who wins election for IN Gov is central. There has been no indication that the Democratic Party candidate for Governor, Jennifer McCormick, has bought into the “big lie” otoh, Sen Mike Braun, the GOP…

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Added by Mark Small on May 12, 2024 at 10:25am — No Comments

Supremacy clause & GOP IN Gov

We’ve been lucky. [FN1] The World’s ocean has protected us from invasion. [FN2] The War of 1812 consisted of skirmishes. [FN3] Large-scale battles & their carnage did not occur here in the land of the free. [FN4] We were 0-0-1, in a shallow sports way to say our “team’s” record. 1/10

The Mexican-American War was fought on our soil, only if you consider the land we took from Mexico and claimed, as a result of the war, to be “our soil.” [FN5] We were 1-0-1. [FN6] The…

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Added by Mark Small on May 11, 2024 at 9:28pm — No Comments

The most important question to ask candidates for office in 2024

The most important question to ask candidates on the November ballot is simple and goes to the core principles of our government. I hope a lot of people read this before it gets taken down, as has happened several times this week. We’ve not much time left. 1/5

The GOP was founded (ironically) in 1854 to stop the spread of slavery. It has become a cult of personality. Whatever claim the GOP could make as the “party of Lincoln” was pissed away on Jan 6. Lincoln would have thought a…

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Added by Mark Small on May 11, 2024 at 1:05pm — No Comments

trump is a momser

We fly blind. Pre-election polls have been worthless [FN1] since land lines faded into the past. A denial of facts has infected the electorate. For example, January 6 was an insurrection. [FN2] We saw it on TV. People who took part in it have pleaded guilty, by the hundreds. [FN3] 1/7

Whatever opinion surveys might show, when women’s reproductive rights, including the right to have an abortion, is on the ballot, women have shown up & voted & secured victories. Indiana gave its…

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Added by Mark Small on May 6, 2024 at 8:55pm — No Comments

Models of dysfunction: HEPL & U.S. House

Indiana political realities in this quadrennial vary. A person told me I only “preach to the choir.” I want to address 1) that critique + 2) why I re-visit points previously made.

Indiana has the same two “major” political parties as other States. [FN1] Visualize: 1/9

3 rectangles: left is blue (Dems), right is red (GOP) & middle is gray. [FN2] Indiana is red w/a few (very few) pockets of blue. A few voters (very few) in the blue & in the red might change. Voters in the…

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Added by Mark Small on May 6, 2024 at 7:34am — No Comments

"Constitutionalism" as a type of jurisprudence is absurd

A person’s claim to be a “constitutionalist” is absurd. The Constitution requires the President, members of Congress & State legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, federal and State, by oath or affirmation, swear to uphold The Constitution. [FN1] 1/10

The people who wrote The Constitution were satisfied that their words sufficiently set forth their intent. Today some disagree. “Constitutionalism,” as advocated by one group, means judges can interpret, “but only…

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Added by Mark Small on May 5, 2024 at 9:24am — No Comments

"Constitutionalist" would-be candidate for IN Lt Gov is not "brilliant"

Johnny Depp’s Edd Wood, one of the worst directors in film history, says, “Brilliant!” defined, in this context, as “having or showing great intelligence or keenness.” [FN1] The word has been used by some to describe a candidacy for IN Lt Gov. Micah Beckwith [FN2] 1/14

wants to be the GOP nominee for IN Lt Gov. The GOP nominee for Gov is determined by voters in the primary. [FN3] Nominee for Lt Gov is chosen on June 15 at the State convention. [FN4] Diego Morales used this plan in…

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Added by Mark Small on May 2, 2024 at 6:46pm — No Comments

There are "gun-free" places to vote in Marion County

In the 1920s armed members of the Horse Thief Detective Association, the enforcement arm of the KKK, were dispatched to scare people off from voting. [FN1] If you do not want to vote in a building that allows people w/guns to enter, here are important points: 1/10

1) During early voting & on election day (May 7 for primaries, November 5 for general), Marion County voters can cast their ballot at ANY of the Vote Centers in the county. The website for the Marion County Clerk is at…

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Added by Mark Small on April 30, 2024 at 9:31am — No Comments

B4 you buy a gun, do some research

A 2023 survey found 72% of gun owners said personal protection was a ‘major reason’ they own a gun. [FN1] Under the UCC [FN2], there is an implied promise, when you buy it, a good (A) will do what it is supposed to do & (B) there’s nothing significantly wrong w/it. [FN3] 1/9

You can’t use a gun to protect your home if you’re not home. Guns have a deterrent effect, i.e., scare off “bad guys,” only if “bad guys” know you have guns. Guns are easily fenced, i.e., sold for cash fast.…

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Added by Mark Small on April 29, 2024 at 6:34pm — No Comments

Guns don't help much for self-defense & more likely to kill you or a loved one

Americans are not required to own a firearm, as some colonists were [FN1] where colonies used militias to maintain “peace.” [FN2] [FN3] We should ignore the bullies. We have a right not to own a firearm. A person might own, or possess, a gun for several reasons. [FN4] 1/13



Self-defense is your right, but you also have a right to know if a product you buy will A) do what you buy it to do & B) is more likely to hurt/kill you/those you love. The gun industry knew. A 1993 study…

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Added by Mark Small on April 28, 2024 at 7:54pm — No Comments

Unfair comparisons between trump & a former Austrian corporal

Once more, we need to dispel erroneous parallels between trump & a genocidal former corporal who led der Fatherland, 1933-1945.

1) Hitler had one testicle. In NY court proceedings the past 2 wks, just like when he’s around Putin, trump acts like he has none. 1/6

2) Hitler actually wrote (Hess typed) a best seller published under his name. trump had ghost writers.

3) Hitler was solvent (fr sales of his book) when he took office. trump’s been broke since his daddy, who’d…

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Added by Mark Small on April 28, 2024 at 10:04am — No Comments

Gun nuts need to do more research (& not on porn hub)

W/drawings, photographs, obscenities & CAPS, ppl responded to my blog on mass shootings. Histories of our Constitution & Bill of Rights are more complex than drawings. Prior to the Revolution, Colonies’ laws on firearms were for common good, i.e., militias. [FN1] 1/9

The Articles of Confederation do not mention an individual right, but discuss militias. [FN2] In 1786, a significant event was Shays’ Rebellion. Farmers took up arms to stop foreclosures, and militia opposed them.…

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Added by Mark Small on April 27, 2024 at 7:47pm — No Comments

"Gun Guy" needs to celebrate mass shootings

Mass shootings that grab headlines in other countries hardly merit media attention here. We need to shift how we consider nuts going out & blowing away people. On Saturday afternoons an Indy radio station discusses matters related to guns. There are several ways to beef up the show. 1/7

1) Give us science! To claim guns deter use of guns, advocates need support, and not the bogus stuff floated by the NRA. There should be peer reviewed studies. That means the studies are reviewed…

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Added by Mark Small on April 27, 2024 at 4:22pm — No Comments

Beckwith lies about religion & is dumb about The Constitution

Micah Beckwith’s [FN1] ignorance about The Constitution and about religion are not cause for pity. He seeks political power to impose his religion on all of us. His refusal to debate about The Constitution means he loses by forfeit. He’s ignorant about religion & he’s a preacher. 1/9

In our country & State, beliefs are protected & establishment of religion prohibited. [FN2] Even to define “religion” is difficult. [FN3] A deity is not a required for a belief to be protected…

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Added by Mark Small on April 26, 2024 at 8:39pm — No Comments

Question for compromised justices...

Let's say trump again steals the Oval Office. Each day you awake in fear? He might decide you didn't keep your end of the bargain that put you on the Supreme Court for life. Would he have immunity for ordering you killed because his order would be an official act?

Added by Mark Small on April 25, 2024 at 6:30pm — No Comments

Merde de Poulet & candidates for IN Gov

Hope clouded my vision. An X post by preacher Micah Beckwith [FN1] read: “Life Church has hosted several of the gubernatorial candidates to provide the public with an opportunity to answer questions. Next Up: Current Lt Governor Suzanne Crouch ” [FN2] Nuts. I saw 1/8

“Beckwith” & “answer questions.” Hope pasted “would” over ampersand. Beckwith, a/k/a Merde de Poulet, does not like voters, the general public or any who call him on his false claims. [FN3] Back in reality, I thought…

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Added by Mark Small on April 25, 2024 at 9:33am — No Comments

More on Beck with Monroe

Election fraud, pure and simple. [FN1] The prosecution summarized how trump broke the law in State of N.Y. v. trump. The popular vote in 2016 was heavily in Secretary Clinton’s favor [FN2] as was the popular vote in the State of New York. [FN3] No harm, no foul in New York. 1/9

Putin’s POTUS held office 2017 to 2021. Mitch McConnell [FN4] was majority leader the last 2 years Pres Obama held office and all four years after. The GOP was able to game nomination and confirmation of…

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Added by Mark Small on April 24, 2024 at 9:00pm — No Comments

Shoveling horse manure and Beckwith's talks w/the divine

The supreme deity of the Old Testament (“OT”) speaks directly to humans > 2,000 times. [FN1] In no instance is that deity depicted as kicking back, relaxing w/a wineskin & conversing. The humans are not laid-back, either. They know this supreme deity can be a murderous prick. 1/8

Micah Beckwith [FN2] says “the Lord” talked to him about January 6. [FN3] Specifically, that “the Lord” had sent “those riots” and it was “the Lord’s” hand at work. [FN4] Beckwith’s words carry me back…

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Added by Mark Small on April 24, 2024 at 7:48am — No Comments

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