What’s Up With Crazy Nancy

Image by 2LT Christi Richter, pulled from DVIDS

It’s actually not a question, but rather that I have a suspicion about what is driving her increasingly paranoid and, frankly, deranged comments and actions.

Let’s start with the fact that Nancy and far too many in Congress and government have little to no contact with reality. Like her compatriots, she comes from a political family and is used to living a life of wealth and power. She has steadily expanded that wealth and power throughout her years in Congress. The worries of the “little people” about missing a paycheck, unexpected expenses, putting food on the table, and all else that is real life for the majority of citizens isn’t real to her. She runs in circles where this is the norm, and the worst she has to face is running out of her favorite ice cream and not being able to eat it for a day or two.

Her contact with the proles is carefully limited, usually scripted, and designed for her to signal rather than to actually engage. She has no use for those proles, and holds them in contempt — including the troops currently helping guard the Capitol. Keep in mind, this is the woman who won’t fly commerical but demands Air Force transport that over the last couple of decades has cost hunreds of thousands of dollars, if not millions, to avoid being anywhere near the proles. She’s smart and cunning within her own world, but, again, that world has little to no contact with reality. For two good takes on this, read this post and then this post over at Sarah A. Hoyt’s site (which you should be reading everyday).

Now, add in the fact that she is slipping. Her famed skills in politics are not what they once where. She is challenged within the party, and not always by AOC and the new crew. Her badly thought out video interview was not really aimed at the proles, but rather those in the bubble in part to remind them she is still rich and powerful, and to signal her “concern” for the average person rather than to do anything for them. Remember, within this class, signalling is far more important that doing something that works. The signal is what matters, not the results.

For Nancy, I suspect her rise to power and the effort to put the “elites” in permanent charge has been what might be termed an adacemic or intellectual exercise. Yes, people would pay a price for what she wants to see happen, but any financial or other price — including the loss of lives — would be others, not her and hers.

Then came the riot at the Capitol. The proles (on pretty much every side) broke in. They broke in to her office. In her mind, they attacked her. This was no longer academic, or even professional politics: this was suddenly having to face reality and she’s handling it badly. Her brush with reality has instilled a sense of panic if not outright terror, because she suddenly realized that her actions might actually have consequences for her and her family. That she could pay that price of loss of money, freedom, or even her life.

Students of history, much less those who have worked with intelligence matters including trying to figure out what others will do, can recognize the signs. It’s not new, as it has happened many times over the ages. Even Hollywood has used it, usually with some right-wing type tyrant killing off those around them for fear of treachery. Though, for my money, one of the best depictions of it was done by Tom Clancy in The Sum Of All Fears.

The person in power suddenly realizes that they could die or otherwise pay a price. Instead of reacting in a professional manner, they make everything personal because to them it is personal as everything revolves around them. They focus in on that aspect like an electron microscope. Everything else is dropped. The decisions they make are based on that, not on reality or even reality within the bubble. Those decisions are always, always, bad. They make the situation worse, and in reality it often leads to bloodshed and violence that could have been prevented. My one gripe with the late Mr. Clancy (who was a very good host btw) in his book is that the intervention he described is good fiction, but not well based in reality.

Look at Nancy’s actions since the riot. Look at her reactions and body language. This is the face and actions of someone in power who has suddenly realized that this is real, and is terrified. In her mind, all those who came in (right, left, Anti-fah, BLM) were coming for her. In her actions and comments since, that idea seems to have grown and consumed a large part of her mind and thoughts. The troops can’t be trusted, since they are proles, but we need more troops to guard us. Set up machine guns to gun down the swarms who will attack on inauguration day. Why, Republicans and maybe even others in the House are looking to gun us down on the floor of the House. We need more loyal people to guard me/us.

These are not cool, calm, professional, or even rational comments and concerns. They are, however, a fairly typical response by narcisistic leaders and tyrants when they suddenly realize that they might actually pay a price. I also strongly suspect from what I hear and read that she’s not alone with this slide into paranoia and fantasy. They just are being more quiet about it and/or don’t have her platform. It’s also why they truly believe it to be an insurrection, rather than using that line as a Big Lie for gain. That’s happening, but I suspect that Nancy and others really think it was, because in their minds it was aimed at harming them. Also keep in mind that any thing done to thwart them is now a personal attack on them. That’s the way this type of thinking works.

Leaders, heck, anyone, in this condition make bad, very bad, decisions. Given that their decisions were never based in reality to start with, what happens next could go not just badly, but extremely badly. Look at history to see just how badly. Look also at The Killing Fields, the Gulags, the Camps.

Now, to make your day even brighter, look at our military. Do you think that the military will hold, and do it’s proper duty to refuse illegal orders? I don’t. I suspect that at best, the military will shatter. In it’s current state, it can not and will not hold. The consequences of that, however, are preferable to implementation of what is being discussed openly: vetting the troops for proper politics. In other words, purging the military of anyone not progressive enough and creating a praetorian/republican guard organization loyal not to the Constitution, but to those in power. In any way, shape, or form, this is a very bad idea.

Part of me hopes I’m wrong on this, especially as I have no faith in the professionalism, honor, or integrity of most people in DC — especially those in leadership positions. If you can prove I’m wrong, please do so. Otherwise, where this goes is likely downhill and fast, on a slope greased by the innocent.

Wallflower

Well! Hello!
(The redhead looks down at the key in her hand)
I’ve been invited in, and given a key, and very little restrictions. This is a bit daunting, and also a little exhilarating. I could do anything I wanted with this post! That’s… a little scary, really.

(photo credit: Oleg Volk)

My name is Cedar Sanderson, and those of you who know me, from real life or online, probably don’t realize something. I’m shy. Yes, really, the Lady in the Red Dress is a wallflower, left to her own devices. When I was a much younger woman, I was an introvert’s introvert. Then life happened. Now? I have almost twenty years of public performance under my belt. Which, surprisingly, helps with being an author. For instance, I asked a simple question, and the host here invited me in, gave me a key, and now I get to talk to you all directly. Unsupervised. I don’t think the old wolf knows me, or does he?

I’m rambling, but this is more fun, I think, than just doing my usual straightforward statement: I am an author, artist, scientist, mother, and many other things. It’s like working a room at an event, you don’t walk up and introduce yourself and then brag. You want to learn more about that person, and if they want, they’ll ask you.

I guess this post is me, being asked. It’s certainly going to be less structured and formal than the whole canned author interview usually is. Pull up a chair, get cosy, and let’s chat, shall we? I mean, there are comments. After you’ve read this intro, you can talk to me there. Best I can do!

Oh, I’m writing. I do almost every day. I do art every day, almost religiously. It’s the only way I’ll ever get better – on both counts. Besides, art is my daily san check. Some days? I’m a student of sumi-e. I’m a minimalist. That means on a bad day I can get away with a few lines. Like this…

“erotic, not dirty” art by Cedar Sanderson

Writing, well, doing it daily is great for discipline. My latest novel, The East Witch, took me three years to finish. Which isn’t normal for me. Even slow the way I have been since I started building the science career, I’ve been managing a book or two a year, plus shorts. The East Witch, though, I hit a snag with the research for the story. I plot like I’m writing an action novel – I do that no matter what subgenre I’m working in – but I like to blend in mythology and fairy tales when I am writing fantasy. I’m familiar with stories of Baba Yaga, who appears in a big way (the title reference!) but finding Siberian ethnography was… challenging. So it took me a while.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted with the end result. And, because I was working on other things in 2020, I have another novel appearing in a couple of months, plus the projects I’m working on currently! I stay busy. My brain is a bit like a squirrel on ripits and pixie sticks. So to keep it happy I have to write. And yeah, that’s about as weird in my head as it sounds. Which is why the new book will be The Case of the Perambulating Hatrack, which is a straight-up send-up of gumshoe, only fantasy. I had a blast writing it. Once it’s back from the editor (and that’s if it doesn’t send her over the edge!) I’ll share.

Currently? Oof. See, that thing about the squirrels up above? Yeah, there’s more than one. I have no less than three novels-in-progress, along with a couple of shorts for anthology calls. And then there’s the weekly prompt challenge, which of course I have to participate in, since it was my brainstorm to begin with. Although, that’s how Hatrack came into being. I wrote that novel in public, one week at a time, and then pulled it down after it was all done and off for editing. Living dangerously! So, there’s a pure space opera man-vs-nature in progress, that one ambushed me the other day. There’s a military fantasy I’m cowriting with my husband. There is the sequel to my homage to Heinlein and Norton, the first book was Tanager’s Fledglings. The second will be Tanager’s Flight.

https://amzn.to/2MzypHK

Oh, well, that’s enough about me. What should I know about you? What more would you like to learn about me? See you in the comments!

Crazy Weekend

Still catching up, day job is taking time and then there are other things at play as well.

My mobile apparently got zorched by a car power outlet not sending out the right voltage. I was going to replace it this week anyway, but it turned into an emergency issue on Friday. Good news is, took my business away from AT&T. Bad news, I had to go with a new phone, which I had not wanted to do. That said, the new phone is a vast improvement over what I had even if it did take most of the weekend to finish getting it set up and taking care of what got lost in the process.

I’ve also removed all my books and stories from Amazon Unlimited. That will hurt me a bit financially, but is worth it to cut into Amazon a bit. Slowly but surely I’m disengaging from every woke business I can.

Maybe this week won’t be quite as crazy and I can get back to regular posting. We will see.

I’m Working On It

I’m working on it. Promise. Sadly, the day job is limiting the time I have to research, write, etc. On anything and everything. Short version is that my team there is almost 50 percent understrength and facing an increasing workload. They have been unable to hire anyone for our open positions. To top that off, my direct boss has now tested positive for COVID, and I’m unsure how long he can continue to work from home. So, lots of miles and hours, which is time I don’t have to research and write. Stay tuned, as there is much to write about.

Boycott!

Today, I plan to do all I can to avoid listening, watching, or otherwise paying any attention to the circus in DC. 25,000 troops, a fence, political vetting of the troops, and all the other trappings of a legitimate election (sarc) really have me eager to watch, not. In many ways, I consider this a day of mourning. Please join me and make their ratings tank. They will lie about it, but trust me, they will notice if the ratings tank. Tomorrow, mock and ridicule them but for today, ignore them.

What Else Can I Do?

First, I agree with Sarah A. Hoyt in this post, and several previous posts, about what steps to take. Further, I agree with her and others that I see a rather high butcher’s bill unless some of the so-called leaders of the establishment class wake up and face reality. I pray that such a day does not come, but I see no way to avoid it unless people wake up and taste reality. I do not want it, and want to do as much as possible to avoid it.

That said, what else can I do? Borrowing from others as well as my own early thoughts, there is much we can do.

First, start local. Pick the party of your choice and get active. Push out the establishment types that look down their noses at “the rabble” and put some spine into the local organization. Most of all, get involved with your local voting organization, and work to ensure free and fair elections. Notice that a lot of the problems with this last election were local (county) election boards. Yes, state boards/institutions were questionable in some cases, but what allowed them to make interesting decisions were what happened on the local level. If you take steps to make sure that the local rolls are cleaned up and maintained; that only people qualified to vote do so; eliminate vote harvesting; and, otherwise ensure a free, fair, and transparent election, you can be more sure of making a real difference on the local, state, and even national stage.

As a part of this, organize. Find others like yourself and band together. Beware of those who are not what they claim. That said, there are a lot of voters out there who are tired of the establishment politicians and the corruption. There is power in numbers. That said, consider having a cellular organization as a backup.

Second, set up means of contact and information dissemenation outside of big tech, as many as possible. Big Tech is just getting started, and will do all it can — with the help of the progressive left — to destroy alternate platforms. It may not hurt to set up cells both locally and nationally, that can pass along information using low-tech means. While I know amateur radio has been discussed as an option, read/listen to this and then think on what they can call a crime or have made into a crime. Multiple redundancies people, you can’t have enough options in place.

Third, do everything you can legally do to deprive them of your money. A company goes woke, or is woke, doesn’t need your money. Find red companies and support them. Do your business, as much possible in cash, with local small independent businesses. There are more options, take full advantage of them. Find ways to legally pay as little tax as possible. Starve them.

Fourth, ignore and ridicule. The progressive left and the incoming leadership can’t stand either, and the more you ignore and ridicule, the madder they will get. Angry people make stupid decisions, which can be used against them. Make them show their true faces and take ridiculous actions.

Fifth, prepare for the worst. Keep as much cash on hand as you can. Set up non-cash options, such as gold or other valuables, as well. Stock up on food and other supplies, suplements being but one example, and don’t make it easy for anyone to find out that you are stockpiling. Such can be seized “for the good of the people.” There are other things that need stockpiling as well — do it. As Sarah points out, famine and deliberate starvation have been used by socialists (by any other name) as a weapon against the common people as well as adversaries, every time and to good effect. Take what steps you can to avoid anything you lawfully own under current laws from being seized for any reason. Remember that bartering is an option, and should be used to full effect.

There is more, but that’s all the time I have this morning. Get involved on the local level. Ignore edicts and the propaganda, and ridicule the powerful as well as what they are trying to do. Prepare for the worst. Also, please don’t be stupid. Don’t give them a pretext by not fighting smart. Remember, use political aikido as much as possible by not being where the blow falls, and using their own efforts against them. If there is to be a butcher’s bill, let them initiate.

Some blogs I recommend, in no particular order.

Sarah A. Hoyt

Instapundit

American Thinker

The Other McCain

Legal Insurrection

Monster Hunter Nation

More to come in future posts.

Instalanche!

This weekend, it was The Other McCain. This morning, it was Instapundit courtesy of Vodka Pundit himself Stephen Green. My thanks to you!

The Other McCain linked to The Great Silencing Proceeds (the entire series can be found here), and Instapundit linked to Protests, Armed Or Otherwise (more in Politics can be found here).

For those who might be interested in browsing around, please do check out the Preparedness category as well as other work.

Quick Monday Roundup

Yes, I’m behind on the book posts and other writing. Trying to get caught up.

First, my thanks to Wombat-socho at The Other McCain for the link! Much appreciated, and those visiting: please look around, check out the other stories, and feel free to chime in on all, but in particular the preparedness pays posts.

Second, congratulations to David Weber on receiving the Frank Herbert Lifetime Achievent Award from Helicon. It is truly a well-deserved honor for a good man and author.

Third, three more good bites of food for thought about the current situation. What do they know that we don’t, from Legal Insurrection. He’s right, what is going on there doesn’t make sense unless it is a hysterical overreaction to the demonstration at the Capitol, or they know something we don’t. I’m not sure there were this many video cameras around the Green Zone in Baghdad when I was there, why so many here? Finally, Orwellian language and nightmare, as the media and others pursue gaslighting.

Working on a new Preparedness Pays post, no promises on how soon. Hopefully some more up today, but again, no promises.

Protests, Armed Or Otherwise

Don’t be stupid! Don’t go. Period.

For the first, what I’m seeing screams false-flag/set-up/bad news. They need something more than the demonsration at the Capitol if they are to have any chance to ram through gun control and gun confiscation legislation. So, don’t give it to them. As with all things, make them work for it.

For the second, boycott the inauguration. Don’t acknowledge it, don’t view it, don’t listen to it, ignore it. Make the ratings tank. It is the most powerful thing we can do. That includes not protesting it, which sends several messages while preventing anything but a staged incident that could be used to further cement their power and erode our remaining freedoms.

Don’t be stupid! Don’t go. Period.

WELCOME INSTAPUNDIT READERS!

This weekend, it was The Other McCain. This morning, it was Instapundit courtesy of Vodka Pundit himself Stephen Green. My thanks to you!

The Other McCain linked to The Great Silencing Proceeds (the entire series can be found here), and Instapundit linked to Protests, Armed Or Otherwise (more in Politics can be found here).

For those who might be interested in browsing around, please do check out the Preparedness category as well as other work.

UPDATE II:

For anyone whining that this is not pro-active enough, or that are truly looking at viable ways to resist/fight back, check out What Else Can I Do.