I have (and I don’t know why this surprises me) run headlong into a major snag in my book project. Much of the needed source material for said project is housed at the Nebraska Historical Society which is, for better or worse, currently undergoing a mega-renovation, the scale of which has rendered the Society’s archives essentially inaccessible to spavined old rabbits and other seekers of antediluvian midlands lore. I have done about as much as I can do at this early stage relative to non-research activities, and the NHS tells me that on-site research access will not resume until early 2010 – so I find myself at a bit of a loose end. Ergo, and in concert with the “Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly” philosophy first articulated back in 1927 by Oscar Hammerstein, seems like “bunnies gotta blog” …. So here I am back again, at least for an interregnum of unpredictable duration; my intention is to irregularly (read “When I’m bored out of my gourd“) sprinkle a little Wiggily wisdom and witticism upon the impenitent breast of the blogosphere … because … you know … I have no life.
Where to begin … or should that be “resume”? While I haven’t been blogging for the past few months I have been reading a few select blogs, which, in my opinion, constitute some of the more rational opiners on matters of heartland socio-politico-cultural consequence, as well as the occasional just plain bizarre. Leavenworth Street continues to carry the banner for those who are primarily Omaha-oriented (but, admittedly, Sweeper surprises with an occasional helping of out-state goings-on). The Old Feeder has happily been resurrected over at the Plains Feeder (though he is currently mysteriously AWOL). Harby, the infamously eclectic, not to say reactionary, academic, still glows brightly through the ordurous liberal alluvium that is the University of Nebraska, at his Right Wing Professor node on the ‘Net. Even Kyle, whose Neener-Neener Network site continues to set the standard for kludgy illegibility and long-winded clutter, has apparently survived an emotionally draining existential crisis a few weeks ago and has come slithering back from the left in diligent pursuit of irrelevance (thanx, WFB). I also irregularly skim by Laura Ebke’s RedState digs, but the redolence of Ron Paul continues to permeate that otherwise entirely acceptable and cerebral blog, so I, still unable to believe in leprechauns, usually do not tarry long.
Glad you’re all here … it’s good to be among you. I share core principles with some of you, with others of you notsomuch, but you have all (along with many others) proven to be serious, articulate and durable observers of the human condition at the outset of the new millenium and we’re all better off for your presence.
More anon. Be well.
The Old Feeder has been sighted making comments at RedStateEclectic. He apparently doesn’t think we’re as crazy as you do!
Aw shoot, kids … I don’t think you’re crazy (well, maybe a little) … you’re mostly just misguided. I think there’s something in that southeast Nebraska groundwater …
TFRAC
You would find us downright moderate had you been in the room with people I was with in Kearney last weekend.
Just out of curiosity–what’s your biggest gripe with Ron Paul’s view of the world–his foreign policy? Or is it something else?
Some of us crazy people–or misguided for liberty, if you will–are trying to figure out how we can build bridges to others who have some love of liberty. Were not all crazy libertines–most of us are Barry Goldwater conservatives, really.
As to the groundwater in southeast Nebraska, maybe. But we’ve got people all over the country–nay, the world–including an actively serving U.S. Marine writing at RSE, so I doubt it’s the nasty water in Crete.
Be well. Have a safe 4th. Sorry that your book project has been delayed–although having taken 7 years to write my dissertation, I’m in awe of anyone who can self-start well enough to get a book written.
Don’t mean to get all biblical on you but a verse of scripture comes to mind; the Gospels enjoin us to “beware of false prophets. They come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ferocious as wolves.” Good advice, from Matthew, who knew a thing or two about deceivers.
Remember that to the believer, no proof is necessary, and to the unbeliever, no proof is sufficient. Color me a Paul unbeliever.
All of this is just another way of saying that we should look within ourselves for deliverance.
If this doesn’t answer your query, then I don’t know what else to say. I have little interest in an on-line discussion-cum-argument in which neither of us is going to prevail. Paul ain’t my guy, but he certainly is yours. Period. I can live with that.
TFRAC
“All of this is just another way of saying that we should look within ourselves for deliverance.”
That seems like sort of a libertarian point of view, and certainly not something I disagree with, even if my candidate in 2008 was Ron Paul. Whether you like Ron Paul or not, I suspect that we agree on far more than we disagree. And given that Ron Paul is 74 years old, we’d all be better off focusing on the philosophy over the person. If you don’t like the libertarian-conservative/Old Right philosophy, then there’s not much to talk about, is there? I can live with THAT. Over and out.
LE
Note to File:
Laura deserved a more responsive (and civil) reply than the one I provided above; I have sent her one by private email.
Sometimes I’m too damn grouchy for my own good.