netstack

Texas is freedom land

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Small-Scale Question Sunday for January 4, 2026

netstack Texas is freedom land 14d ago

Finished Tom Clancy’s Patriot Games. Good God, I have so much to say about this one. All the same Clancyisms as Red October. Not nearly as much charm. A glacial plot where the many characters shuffle around like communist zombies until they reach their assigned stations. Hilarious, often but not always on purpose.

Thing is, this book captures a certain worldview, one where bad guys only exist because the good guys have their hands tied. I’m convinced that it offers insight into the general neocon project as well as our current iteration of populism. I wish I’d kept notes of all the passages I want to quote for the motte.

Also finished Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith, a very gay Victorian crime novel. An orphan thief takes part in a plot to marry and defraud a secluded heiress. I found the prose delicious and the plotting devious. High points for characterization, as well, with each member of the cast stressed and miserable for extremely different reasons. Would recommend.

Current book is O’Brien’s Master and Commander. Also very British, though sixty years earlier. Totally not gay, no sir, not in His Majesty’s navy.

Love the historical context. Love the jargon and the repartee and the bizarre economics of prize-hunting. Above all, love the personalities of these dedicated, skilled characters playing off one another as they get into life or death situations. Perhaps this is the peak of “guys hanging out” fiction.

Context

Culture War Roundup for the week of December 29, 2025

netstack Texas is freedom land 14d ago

Maybe? I was hoping for a press release or at least a tweet stating it, though. I’ve only seen claims about the boat strikes, which I believe are justifiable on different grounds.

The 2001 AUMF is wildly abused. Venezuela didn’t have a damn thing to do with 9/11. If Republicans want to topple regimes, Congress ought to be involved.

Context

Culture War Roundup for the week of January 5, 2026

netstack Texas is freedom land 14d ago

Does the “spotlight” really matter in this case? The Trump Train is going after him regardless of his job. If they can tie him to the ongoing fraud cases, they will.

Likewise for potential lone wolves. He’s going to be in the news whether or not he has a gubernatorial security detail. But I rate that risk pretty darn low, and I expect he does, too.

The real takeaway is that VP candidates don’t usually do much.

Kemp: made a Presidential bid and went back into business.
Lieberman: continued as senator for CT. Actually was primaried in 2006, but won on an independent ticket.
Edwards: made another failed run while cheating on his dying wife.
Palin: got <8 years of book deals and talk show appearances before Trump made her angle obsolete.
Ryan: continued as representative for WI for 7 more years; became Speaker of the House.
Kaine: continued as junior senator for VA.
Harris: lol

Hell, with one big, elderly exception, elected VPs don’t even do that much. You have to go back to Bush Sr. to find someone who actually advanced in their career after they were out of the Executive Branch.