Guest commentary: a brief critical analysis of the start of the War between the States.

We are pleased to share this interesting, short, and provocative analysis by the “friend of a friend,” ~ J.D.R.Hawkins. He published this online some time ago, but it has valuable lessons one hundred and sixty-five years after the events he analyzes.


When Lincoln called up 75 thousand men to invade the Independent Southern States on April 15, 1861, his unconstitutional act prompted the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Arkansas to secede, joining the newly formed country, the Confederate States of America. Thus, with the invasion of the South, this began the bloodiest war in our American history.

When the South was invaded, Southern States called upon their sons to do their duty to defend their state, homes and family from invasion. These men went to do their duty, not as aggressors or in the spirit of conquest, but to protect their homeland from an unjust invasion.

More than half of all the casualties on both sides were from the hardships and disease found in camp life. This was especially true for the Southern troops who nearly always lacked the basic necessities of food, clothing and medical supplies, unlike the Northern troops, who had plenty.

The sacrifices made by the Confederate soldier are incomprehensible today. They would march for days with little or no rest, very little food, some with no shoes and in the heat of summer and the frigid cold of winter. Fatigue, hunger and sickness was common place for these soldiers.

Despite the hardships endured by the Confederate soldiers they pressed on to perform their duty. In nearly every conflict these soldiers were typically out numbered and out gunned 3 to 1.

The “Rebel Yell” made these brave soldiers famous. It demonstrated a fighting spirit, courage, tenacity and gallantry allowing them to prevail in most of the major conflicts of the war. Sadly they fought an invader with unlimited reserves and resources, making victory impossible.

Even during the last year of the war when they knew that victory was impossible, the Confederate soldier continued to fight courageously to protect their homes and families, to the very end. They received no great bounty or pay for their service nor did they ask for any monuments or special attention. They wished only to be remembered with the truth behind their heroic and noble struggle, in America’s second War for Independence.

The men and women of the Confederate States of America who came from all races and religions that include: Irish-born General Patrick R. Cleburne, Black Confederate drummer Bill Yopp, Mexican born Colonel Santos Benavides, Cherokee born General Stand Watie and Jewish born Confederate Nurse Phoebe Pember who was the first female administrator of Chimboraza Hospital in Richmond, Virginia where she served until the end of War Between the States.

Nearly 258 thousand Confederate soldiers died protecting their homes, families and our Constitution. They fought bravely and nobly against overwhelming forces and odds. They suffered incomprehensible hardships to the very end. They were called to their duty as Americans….as fathers and as sons. They served without hesitation and we owe each of them to make sure the truth be told about them and the War. These soldiers are our ancestors and without hesitation or question, deserve respect, honor and dignity from each of us.

Deo Vindice!


Of course, the men and women of whom Hawkins writes today are condemned. Mainly as racists, to be sure, and as supposedly fighting for the preservation of a despicable and evil practice, that of slavery. And there were (absolute certainty) many Southerners (including some with Northern roots) who were fighting partially or mostly to preserve that practice. But it is obvious that slavery was absolutely not the only reason, and for many it was not the major reason that Southerners voted for their States to secede.

But when you look at what Honest Abe did, to people of all races, and what his successors, including Wilson, FDR, and more, did to the States that had originally created the FedGov for their Union? You find that slavery is not the only evil that has been practiced on these shores.

It casts shame on all Americans, and all American governments which existed in 1861 (and before, setting the stage), as well as all those who have endorsed the actions of the Lincoln, Johnson, and Grant administrations. As well as those who declare the Southern rebels, especially the Confederate States Army veterans, to be “traitors.”

Posted in Guest commentary, History of Liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What happened? Or rather, what did NOT happen?

On 31 January 2025, just a few days after The Donald took office for his second term and nominated his various cabinet officers, this graphic was published by some MAGA/MAHA types. People worried about the overall state of “health care” (read, the Medical Industrial Complex) in the States, and hoping, praying, even expecting some things to start to improve.

Looking back nearly two years, how many of these threats to human health and life have really, REALLY been addressed?

We do not know how much (if any) these diseases and disorders have increased in nearly two years. Or indeed, if any of these have decreased. Admittedly, twenty months is not a long time for some of these to be addressed and to see impacts from actions taken by the current regime in DC. But we suspect that most of these continue to increase.

Continue reading →
Posted in Commentary on the News, History of Liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Five weeks to… “the most important election of your lifetime!” (Right…)

Surely all our readers have heard this meme more than once from the politicians, the influencers, the celebrities, the talk show hosts and callers… and no doubt family, friends, and neighbors.

“Get out! Vote! It’s important!” We are told the fate of humanity depends on this election. Just like it did last election. And the one before that, and the one before that one.

Bob Malone is a correspondent who provides a wee bit of sanity in this discussion:


Three hundred sixty-six of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives are not seriously in play this November. The Cook Political Report, which handicaps congressional races for a living, rates them solid for one party or the other. Just twenty-one are genuine toss-ups.

Think about what that means. Five out of every six House races are effectively over before the first ballot is printed. In most of America, the decisive political act was not Election Day. It was drawing the district lines.

Continue reading →
Posted in Commentary on the News, Ideas for liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why?

An interesting question, and a couple of interesting responses on a social media posting.

In trying to promote proper English, it might be better to say “perpetrators of genocide” or something similar. (But the point is clear. Readers, what do you think of the comments on this posting?)

Continue reading →
Posted in History of Liberty, Nathan's Rants, Questions answered | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It isn’t just the Second Amendment that is targeted

Woke enemies of liberty have a lot of things these days that they want to get rid of. (Those enemies are most notably those who call themselves Progressives or Liberals, and whom TPOL believes are accurately described as Regressives, or the aptly-coined “Tranzi” (for Transnational Socialists, like Nazis are National Socialists). But we realize that the so-called Conservatives (right-wing, compassionate or not) have their own list.)

The Second Amendment of course, is most prominent of the targets on their firing range. For decades, we’ve seen more and more conflict over the right to keep and bear arms. Although great strides have been made in recent years about reestablishing the original intent of the US Constitution (and the constitutions of most States), it is a seesaw battle depending on which old party holds power in the Congress, White House, and judicial systems (especially the FedGov). And we see how in many States (Colorado being the one we here at TPOL are most familiar with), the hoploclasts (weapons haters) keep coming up with new ideas to steal away our right to defend ourselves and others.

But we know that the First Amendment is also one of targets of these enemies of liberty.

First, there is the constant drumbeat of outlawing and punishing “offensive language,” despite the seemingly-obvious idea that it is precisely offensive language that needs to be protected as free speech.

Continue reading →
Posted in Commentary on the News, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Media, American style: The Donald and AI

A correspondent shared some images and memes with us here at TPOL, worth sharing.

We note this is generally addressed to “mainstream media” but similar ideas (that is, lies) can be found in alternative media.

And of course, “trust us when we say that AI is going to kill off all of humanity: maybe not in just 10 years, but certainly some time in the future. (Gee, maybe they learned from all the prophecies which made Algor a false prophet.)

So we have this:

But just as a reminder of Algor and such (many blasts from the past!):

Blood, violence, fear, and panic all sell papers, magazines, and get clicks. It has been the case almost since printing and newspapers were invented. It is no different in the age of social media and online publication.

But there are also more motives, both in the past and today. Whether we are talking the patriots of Boston in pre-Independence times, rabid Radical Republicans in the years leading up to the War between the States, yellow journalism and the Cuba question, or so many more, there are ulterior motives to these claims.

The point has been made by a number of commentators, including people in all parts of the political diamond. In recent days, the return of “Commie Kammie” (Harris) to the campaign road illustrates that the lust for power, and therefore the need to dominate and control elections, drive much of the rhetoric and the fearmongering and panic-incitement regarding both Trump and the AI controversy and panic. Add to that the constant need to expand the powers of governments at all levels, and it becomes clearer.

Every year, especially every election year, we see yet another crisis and panic. At least a main one: there are often more than one. And both wings of the Old Party are responsible. Whether this is a planned and coordinate effort (as some claim) or just the result of unhealthy and often fake competition and role playing, it is bad for liberty. Bad for the States, and bad for the world.

PS: It is not that we necessarily disagree that The Donald is a threat to democracy (or even to the republic and liberty). We just don’t see him as any greater threat to our nations, liberty, freedom, and many other good things than, oh, Biden, Obama, Bush II, Clinton, and on back. (We might give Silent Cal (Coolidge) a pass. Maybe.)

Posted in Commentary on the News, Image of liberty, Nathan's Rants, Short Takes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Easier and more convenient”

As we see “Awfully Ignorant” (seriously, how can AI really stand for “Artificial Intelligence” with a straight face?) exploding across the States and the planet, things continue to get strange.

The entire AI craziness is, we believe, directly tied to the entire Data Center controversy. Whether the opposition to massive data centers is being pushed (or at least triggered) by the CCP (or Russia, or the Iranians, or “just” Soros and Bill Gates) or is the latest tactic by the Woke, environists, and Luddites, it is clearly now a significant issue in thousands of communities. As well as an incredible display of cognitive or mental dissonance. You use AI, you use your smart phone, you spend all your time on social media and streaming movies and television series, but you are totally against the infrastructure and consumption of power and water necessary to furnish you those wonderful things.

Of course, this is again (as with so many things) not new. Here is a great example of how people can completely miss the obvious and behave stupidly. It applies to government, private business, and every other part of society.

Remember that today, there are virtually no privately-run passenger railroads. (And those that are private are pretty much tourist lines that really don’t go anyplace for real, like the Black Hills’ beloved 1880 Train or the Silverton & Durango in the Four Corners.)

Continue reading →
Posted in Commentary on the News, Guest commentary, Image of liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mercy, mercy – Canadian-style?

Fox News, CNN, and others have reported about a “Medical Assistance in Dying” (MAID) case in Ontario, brought by Brigitte Kranendonk, a young woman who cared for her grandmother Brigitte Stegemann, in a nursing home until Mrs. Stegemann was killed by lethal injection on July 10th, despite previously refusing MAID. And despite Ms. Kranendonk holding her grandmother’s general power of attorney and concurring with her grandmother (“Oma”) refusing the euthanasia.

She repeated stated, “I don’t want the death shot,” and pulled out IVs multiple times fearing that the reason the IV was being installed was to administer the lethal injection. On the day of her death, the attending doctor ordered a nurse to inject Oma, despite not receiving an answer from the 83-year-old when he asked if it was “okay to proceed.” The granddaughter reports (confirmed by others) that English was not Oma’s first language, that she was very hard of hearing, and was in essence railroaded or ignored before being killed.

There is some evidence that the nursing home was complicit, “needing the bed” for a large backlog of patient requests. There are many other questions being asked and (for now) being unanswered or giving answers that show the seriousness of the situation.

Continue reading →
Posted in Commentary on the News, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jury power? In the UK? England?

As reported by ZeroHedge (the infamous nom de plume, Tyler Durden, fronting for real author Steve Watson), the Dutch activist which tagged the well-known statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square in London, has been found “not guilty” by an English jury.

Although the argument made in the activist’s defense was that the spray paint used to vandalize the statue with pro-Palestinian slogans could be removed with water and therefore was not really vandalism, the Crown still reported the cleaning cost more than seven thousand pounds.

Clearly, your average British perpetrator of vandalism – even “short-term” and “easily cleaned” graffiti, could expect to be found guilty and required to pay the costs plus some sort of penalty for defacing a public monument. As some pointed out, they suspect a different verdict may have been made if it had been a statue of Gandhi or Mandela that had been so treated. And as several of us pointed out, the government agency probably was incredibly inefficient and wasteful of its money.

Continue reading →
Posted in Commentary on the News, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Thoughts on weapons and disarmament

Now and then, gun owners are accused of being arrogant, stupid, and dangerous. They are even attacked for thinking that they are in the right. We are, in the eyes of many, “laughable” because we (paraphrasing Uncle Joe (Biden)) think that an AR-15 can stand up to an F-15.

Such accusations normally come from people who want the US Constitution to take away the right to keep and bear arms. Just like they do not understand that is one (of many) rights that are not created by the US Constitution, but simply protected by that document, they do not understand other basic facts.

These hoplophobes (gun fearers) and hoploclasts (gun haters) frequently lament, “why do people need weapons of war in their homes?” This is, apparently, supposed to prove both how stupid gunowners are, and how those gunowners do not “properly” understand what that right applies to. Of course, they also usually fail to understand the difference between an AR-15 and an M-16 or M-4, just as they do not understand that a clip is not the same as a magazine.

But what about that question? How can we answer it easily, in nice short words and sentences? Here is one idea of what to say in a way that might convince even a hoploclast:

Continue reading →
Posted in Commentary on the News, Guest commentary, Ideas for liberty, Nathan's Rants | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment