On December 20, 2023 at 3:04 pm, Jeff Estes wrote:
Hi Mark, what's your take on the red vs blue states removing presidential candidates from their ballots? How can a republic stay intact with such shenanigans? Thanks and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:05 pm, Robert Bridges wrote:
From above: "Never before have we confronted a situation when one political party, that controls a particular state or its highest court, has tried to prevent a candidate of the opposing party from running for president."
The waters are not uncharted.
In the run up to the 1860 election, Southern states removed Lincoln from the presidential ballot. We are more than (Mark Twain) rhyming the past.... it's a duet. (If you want your Civil War you can keep your Civil War.)
Now we have a "Civl Wa" movie going out. As the CIA would sad... are we seeing the laying out of the plan just as in 2020 when we were told Trump would lead and that all of a sudden Biden would win?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:07 pm, The Notorious Mr. J wrote:
First, quick comment about the Colorado electoral ruling. From what you've written, it will probably be snuffed out on appeal. Still, it's the thought that counts.
What is your take on the recently terminated Climate Change Conference in Dubai? I can barely force myself to pay attention to such gabfests. They strike me as being as open and intellectually vibrant as a Soviet Communist Party Congress.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:09 pm, Lee Evans wrote:
Hello Mark,
Thanks very much the for the signed copy of The Prisoner of Windsor, you sent to my mother for Christmas. She is chuffed to bits.
The cancellation of right leaning, Brexit favouring, illegal immigration criticizing politicians continued apace this week, with Trump in Colorado, Peter Bone and Miriam Cates in the UK. This adds to the long list of attempted shutdowns in recent history including yourself at GB News.
Do you put all of this down to the Ming the Merciless look a like, puppet master in Davos or is that a conspiracy theory too far?
All the best with your health and legal battles
Lee
On December 20, 2023 at 3:09 pm, Tim Boggs aka Midwestern Tim wrote:
If they steal the election again next year how close do you think we are to civil war?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:12 pm, hugo miller wrote:
Trump an insurrectionist? Against whom? He was President at the time. Can he commit an insurrection against himself?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:13 pm, Scott Schertzer wrote:
Dear Mark:
With the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to remove Trump from the ballot the "Our Democracy" crowd continues on their path to destroy democracy. While I understand that the left is all about power and will manipulate language and the Constitution to achieve their aims, I'm at a loss as to why so many on the right still don't take this situation seriously.
There have already been four Republican primary debates with barely a mention of the dire straits this country finds itself in. They campaign as though the system is working as it was intended and they seem blind to the corruption that is taking place all around them. The average Joe can see what is happening and Trumps poll numbers bear that out.
Do you think that there is any hope that the Republican party can find its way out of this morass, or will it take the birth of a new, truly conservative party to take the fight to the Democrats?
Take good care of yourself and a very Merry Christmas to you and all Mark Steyn Club members.
Sincerely,
Scott Schertzer
Miami Beach
On December 20, 2023 at 3:15 pm, Todd Hynes wrote:
Hi Mark, Merry Christmas!
Thrilled that my Liberty Stick #101 finally arrived this week. It is a well-travelled stick, as the Canadian Border Patrol flagged it as "vaguely described" and returned to sender. Nonetheless, it is a wonderful addition to my bookcase and as always I'm happy to support.
My question:
Manitoba's newly minted Premier Kinew has written a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, offering the province as a place of refuge to people fleeing the Gaza conflict. Might the people of Manitoba have been consulted before the offer was made? Won't the Gazans just love Portage & Main in January? On a note of diversity, I did notice a dearth of Gazan cuisine last time I was in Winnipeg...
On December 20, 2023 at 3:18 pm, Bill in NJ wrote:
Hi Mark--
I was first introduced to your writing when I was a regular reader of the Atlantic and you wrote the monthly obituary. Somewhere along the line editorial direction of the magazine changed and your byline stopped appearing. I myself ended my subscription sometime after 2008, when every issue seemed to be a new opportunity to polish Obama's apple. What is your opinion of the Atlantic these days? Do you even pay it any mind? To me, it's another in a long line of sad stories about once great publications.
Merriest of Christmases to you and yours.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:18 pm, Elisa Angel wrote:
Mark, What do you think of Minnesota's new flag?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:19 pm, Gregory Harper wrote:
Mark:
As someone with more than a passing interest in Demography, you may have noticed that the Census Bureau recently released their 2023 population estimates for the country and states. The Census Bureau says that the country's population increased by 1.6 million from July 1, 2022 to July 1, 2023. They estimated that the country added only 1.1 million people due to immigration. This number is obviously a tad bit low, but it is being reported as gospel by all national media.
I worked on these estimates for most of my career as a statistician at the Census Bureau and I know that the methodology they are using is seriously flawed. They are basing their estimate of all immigrants both legal and illegal on data from the American Community Survey. I'm sure all illegal immigrants have been very diligent in completing the ACS if they happen to somehow fall into the sample. I have seen very little comment from any news source on the problem with these estimates.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:20 pm, Sub Sailor wrote:
Mark,
Great show last week, full-strength excellence in podcasting! We're praying for you and your full recovery.
I've been substitute teaching in order to afford passage on the Mark Steyn Cruise to the Caribbean, and I've noticed two things. Most of my classes are majority Hispanic, many of these kids are recent arrivals that speak no English, some of them have been in the US for less than a month. Another thing is that the class sizes are small, less than 20 students in most cases especially in the younger grades. If the birth rate keeps declining some of these schools will have to close.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:22 pm, eaglepatriotminuteman1776 wrote:
Dear Mr Steyn,
I have two questions.
Two years ago I said on this forum that we should pursue political autonomy or independence using the same strategy as the ANC and INC. I am wondering if you have given any more serious thought to this.
Second, will you ever read Flashman for Tales for Our Time? Flash For Freedom or Flashman and the Angel of the Lord would be perfect for our time. I wouldn't surprised if Boris Johnson is one of Flashy's bastard descendants.
Stay Well,
William
On December 20, 2023 at 3:24 pm, George Pereira wrote:
Mark,
The US military which can't win wars and hates white men has also failed numerous audits of trillions upon trillions of dollars and is still none the less crying poverty, has numerous and very complicated weapons systems that may, I stress may, come-on line maybe in 2030. Australia is looking to buy US submarines that the US Navy can't build or man fast enough for themselves.
Chairman Xi (play scary music here) has told resident brandon (spits on the ground in disgust) that the Taiwan issue will be settled very soon.
For good or ill (mainly ill) I believe Taiwan, Ukraine, the border, whether Trump! can be on the ballot will all be resolved well before 2030 when all the new shiny toys come online.
What happens when the world is bifurcated and barbaric and america has a bunch of brand-new toys?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:25 pm, Veronica L wrote:
Hello Mark,
You have often been a critic of Putin (and also Chairman Xi) for being dictators and sometimes, as in the case of Putin, having opponents removed or thrown out windows. Well, if the GOP had engaged in a bit of 'hard power' politics themselves (Trump should've locked her up!), you guys would not now be in the position you are. At least you know where sovereignty lies with Putin and Russia, where does it lie in the US? With the Democrat judges it seems.
A precedent has now been set and Trump will be removed from the ballot in as many States as they can manage and Nikki Haley will wind up as the GOP nominee, losing to Biden or Harris next year. I don't see either the GOP or the Supreme Court doing much to prevent it as that outcome would suit them. What say you?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:28 pm, Edward M wrote:
Ofcom have once again found against GB News this time because of their 'Don't Kill Cash Campaign', ofcom stated "GBN should have taken a neutral position" even though it seems ok for other channels to have non neutral campaigns.
I remember the BBC children's programme 'Blue Peter' always had annual campaigns (they called them appeals)
On December 20, 2023 at 3:29 pm, Robert Bridges wrote:
The Reconciliation Monument has been removed from Arlington National Cemetary. There is no more tolerated "reconciliation". It is winner takes all with no option for reconsideration. "Transformation" is really obliteration by another name. At least they didn't hold a secret rite as with the melting of the Robert E. Lee statue. If "religion is the opiate of the masses" then whatever you want to call the Left now is on super "speed ball" of fentanyl and meth.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:30 pm, Toby Pilling wrote:
If Ashley Babbitt's family started making waves about her unlawful killing, do you the federal agencies would come down on them like a ton of bricks?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:32 pm, Idaho Bob wrote:
Hi Mark. Many of my friends are so thoroughly disgusted by the uniparty that they simply decline to vote. I appreciate their motivation, if not their reaction. Do you have any suggestions how they can meaningfully register their disapproval with the alternatives on the ballot without completely disengaging from the process?
On December 20, 2023 at 3:34 pm, Michael Trueblood wrote:
Dear Mark,
No question today, but I want to say thank you. A week or so back, I am listening to you read "Three Wise Guys," and enjoying the story very much. So the next day, I find myself asking the ladies at my local library if they have anything by Damon Runyan, which they do not, but which they can order for me from other libraries. I say, "No, not at this time," and instead I order "Damon Runyon Favorites" from thriftbooks dot com which I receive a few days later. Every story is a gem and that is no phonus balonus, and I decide I should send Words McSteyn a note of appreciation for turning me onto Damon Runyan. So there you go. I hope you're feeling well more than somewhat.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:37 pm, Norman Fenton wrote:
Mark: I'd love to hear you views about Andrew Bridgen's resignation from the Reclaim Party. I publicly defended Bridgen when he was (in my view) wrongly accused of antisemitism and kicked out of the Conservative Party for it. However, in the last couple of weeks he has really gone down the anti-Israel rabbit hole culminating yesterday in a statement in Parliament accusing Israel of genocide and murdering two Catholic women in Gaza. It turns out that story is almost certainly not true – I provided him a link to a comprehensive report showing it was likely Hamas who killed the women.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:39 pm, Brian in Kentucky wrote:
Hi Mark. I hope your presence over the last few weeks is an indication of improved health. When you posted the photo of you in a wheelchair I must admit I was shocked. Perhaps I am just behind. I am never able to listen live to the Q&A due to work, but I so enjoy getting up early weekend mornings and tuning in from my couch in the basement. I rarely remember to post questions we are so busy. Could you give us all a summation of what happened prior to the heart attacks, was it Covid or Covid vaccine perhaps? It just feels like so many conservatives are meeting ill-fated demises much too soon and we need you all now. Most are not as candid as you about the fate of America. Also how your family fits in with you being away in hospital for so long. Apologies for my ignorance if everyone knows this already. Just don't attempt to travel home with a European Bûche de Noël. Please stay safe, stay well. Merry Christmas
On December 20, 2023 at 3:41 pm, J B McL wrote:
"That makes so much sense it's almost certainly the one thing that's not going to happen." Best description of our modern world.
David Freiheit (VivaFrei) made an interesting point on this. On page 8-9 the ruling is stayed, and if it is challenged then it will continue being stayed, meaning that it is ultimately a big nothing. His opinion is that it was made to provoke a reaction, which sounds like a reasonable take.
I notice also that on page seven they claim that congress does not have to pass implementing legislation, because it is self executing.
Sorry to blather on. To make sure that there's a question here in case you read this on the Q&A, I'll ask "what do you want for Christmas?"
On December 20, 2023 at 3:42 pm, Robert Fox wrote:
Two thoughts:
1) I thought Huge Hewitt was a rabid Never Trumper on an order beyond even the laughable Liz Cheney. Hewitt can go eff himself as far as I'm concerned.
2) My Christmas wish is for SCOTUS to either decline hearing the appeal or otherwise uphold the Colorado state Supreme Court's decision. Trump is not going to win Colorado anyway and if this decision stands, the issue will become about Colorado and not Trump. This could be very damaging to Colorado which could provide a lesson to other states.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:43 pm, Andrew Jones wrote:
It's treason, then.
On December 20, 2023 at 3:47 pm, Suzanne Reny wrote:
Wishing the staff and members of the Mark Steyn club a belated Happy Hanukkah and a very Merry Christmas! Thank you to all for such thoughtful, interesting and intelligent content and comments.
On December 20, 2023 at 4:00 pm, Gareth Wigmore wrote:
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family Mark - the best is yet to come.
On December 20, 2023 at 4:12 pm, Eric Dale wrote:
Can the individual states, and indeed the rest of the world, peacefully secede from Washington DC?
