tmc: As an avowed undecided voter, I’m curious your take on a lot of former top brass speaking out against Trump. Military figures just don’t do that. Maybe we can have a conversation about it for my site if you’re down? If not, no sweat. I’m still curious.
Travis: I have a strong opinion on it.
Why now? Less than two weeks and it’s now news.
Command staff like to be right. Trump is a different cat and not military, so ruffling feathers isn’t abnormal.
Either way, why doesn’t mainstream media hammer Kamala on non-answers. She can’t tell you the same story twice. You’re in Washington state, so it might be for nothing, but if you don’t vote you don’t get to complain about my opinion. What’s Kamala’s plan for the border? Economy? Foreign policy? We’ve got WWIII coming up. Who’s better at the helm?
tmc: I’m in the throes of a grievance, brotha. I was fired by a–put it this way, I was with the company almost 15 years. My new boss hasn’t been there six months. It’s beautiful. My union on both coasts is launching tomahawks as we speak. Trump, it seems, wants to threaten this or water it down. He’s anti-union. It’s a big reason I’m hesitant about him. I agree with him on the weight of the border crisis, though. He stands for anti-political correctness–check.
Plus I don’t think Anderson Cooper was that soft on Harris last night. Not like the shit show debate on ABC. Whether she answered his questions or not is a different story. She didn’t. But this is the first time to my knowledge where top brass, in pretty large number, has been very outspoken and vocal against a candidate. I could be wrong on that. I’m also pro-Israel. If you read my stuff, you’d know that.
Travis: I think Trump is the only answer for where we’re at. Early 90’s brought on a nobody idiot but we’re at the gates right now.
Mattis, who’s one of my favorite Generals, and Trump butted heads along with Kelley and the former Vice. If Trump is elected, we’re done with the woke running the military. And lgbqtqzjxyz in schools!
I’m sorry about the union stuff. I understand, but if we don’t have a country, does union or pension matter?
That’s how serious this is. I don’t think America understands at all. What dire straights we are in right now. How many more million unvetted immigrants can we take? Is America not tired of fentanyl, sex traffic and losing jobs to the invasion problem? Under the current admin we watch spy balloons and subs and drones fly in to our air space, over military installations.
tmc: And Iran is instigating daily. China is everywhere. Everywhere. I get it.
Travis: Kamala called us a democracy. She doesn’t know where Ukraine is. Israel is about to nuke Iran. Who wants Kamala in charge?
tmc: I hope you’re way off on that. Not sure how Russia would respond if it did. I think that’s why it hasn’t already done it.
I guess I wonder what anyone (Trump or Harris) can and will do if this goes down. Seems it’s really up to Israel?
Did (do) you agree with Biden backing Ukraine?
Travis: What will we do? We gotta back Israel. This should’ve never gotten to this point. We’re at a crossroads of nuclear war. Russia North Korea, China–everyone’s involved. It all could’ve been prevented, I believe, but Joey and his cabinet aren’t doing shit at all, but sleeping in his basement.
Do I support Ukraine? Not to the extent that we’ve pumped 200+ million or billion dollars into that country. I believe it has been money laundering, and if you know the history of Russia, I don’t blame them. We said that we were never gonna go past the parallel. Never have chemicals on their border. But that’s exactly what happened. Biological chemical plants up there on the border with Ukraine, and Russia got tired of it. After telling them take it down for years and years and years. I don’t blame Russia.
tmc: Your vote seems awfully hinged on WWIII and who best to have in the White House during that. I’m quite worried about raising a man in today’s “woke” society, where everything a man says and does is perceived as this misogyny or that -ism. I think both of these priorities put us in Trump’s camp. Conversely, and here’s where you and I might diverge, I don’t know of a single business owner who profited from Trump’s so-called business tax break back when he was in the White House. Only the fat cats did. Trump will dismantle unions or try to more than they already have been. Stocks will rise, wages will stay flat, and inflation will likely stay the same. These high prices are going to be normal prices if they’re not already. Kind of like the extra bag fees after 9-11? Guess what? We’re still paying the extra bag fees.
Harris is at least talking about a price gouging plan that helps out guys like me (us?). I know I know, big bad socialism. If it cuts down on my grocery bill, I don’t give a shit what it is.
Travis: I’d love to see her plan on paper. Any of her plans.
I can’t speak on wages, but if groceries cost $400 today what they cost $100 four years ago, does that not help hourly wages?
tmc: On paper, yes. Inflation’s outrunning wage increases, though. Here at least.
Travis: Everywhere. When did that start? She didn’t get a single vote to be where she is today. The media toppled her when she went against Joe, and she got less than one percent of the vote. Now all of a sudden she’s the answer? No. I’m going off what she’s done. No disrespect to you or anyone union, but if we don’t have a country, a union or pension is worthless.
tmc: In closing, then, Trump’s gonna send illegals back, avert WWIII, drill and thus bring gas prices down, cut down inflation through some yet undisclosed plan, and bring out the asshole in all of us; that purty much sum up why you’re voting for him? Minus the asshole part?
Travis: Undisclosed?
tmc: Did I miss something? I mean, other than his tariffs, which don’t they raise prices?
Travis: Are you really coming at me with the mentality that Trump of all things hasn’t thought of business plan for America? And Harris has?
Trump has talked endlessly about the economy. The left continues to talk taxes. It’s almost like it’s election time. The left talks taxes, but will absolutely never changes the tax code because they use the same system. Kind of like it isn’t unusual for the left to use the race card or now the Nazi card.
Give me one just one thought-out plan Kamala has proposed or promised to implement if taking over? Economy, foreign policy or border crisis?
tmc: Tax code? Tax code?! Bro, don’t get me started. You remember when owning a house meant more back on our refunds? Shit, thanks to Republicans, who pulled whatever shit they pulled whenever they pulled it, I ain’t been able to write off my interest and taxes for years. Years! I think it’s one of the real rubs I have. Republicans, man, they talk a big game, but it’s important we look at what’s really happening on the ground. Taxes like I said. Who knows how much more I’d (you?) be getting back had they not fucked with the code. Stocks? Shit, they go up, they go down. Mine are doing just fine under slurry Joe and have under every Democrat president since I started paying attention. And you’ll appreciate this: the VA in my hometown is an example of how VAs should be operated everywhere in the country. I thank the state Democrats for this. I know, I know, I’m straying away from Harris vs Trump, but these are part of why I’m hanging on to the left, all “undecided” like.
Travis: OK, taxes. Still haven’t heard Kamala’s plan on anything. As far as taxes, there’s guilt on both sides. Don’t forget Dems (Clinton) got ball rolling to give American jobs away.
We’re at a place too where I wish abortion was a big topic. Where taxes I wish were big, but as it stands we’re at a cross roads. Where will America stand post election? We can talk taxes or any topic you want. I still have yet to hear Kamala’s plan on anything other that she’ll “make everything better,” although she’s been in office since 2020. Why believe her? Has she been true to her word?
The only topic that matters to me is foreign policy and border invasion. Those two don’t come correct, we’re over. Like, over.
tmc: I don’t think I told you this, but I worked a gig down in San Fran recently. I met some of the nation’s finest sailors protecting our nation. I learned some stuff, homie, and you’re right: it’s bad out there. We’re so stupid to it. Our media perpetuates stupid. But talk to some Navy sailors assigned to an amphibious warship back from an 8-month deployment overseas, and you learn some stuff. There’s enemies out there. Swearing to defeat us. Threats. Are. Real. I respect you for putting this at the forefront of your ballot. It’s a valid question: who do we trust in the White House with all this volatility in the world? Whose side are we on in the Middle East, where ,in my unsolicited opinion, that’s where WWIII will generate. If God forbid there is a WWIII. I’m gonna catch shit for this, but I’ll say it anyways: any of the likely nations to start WWIII is a patriarchy. Maybe it’s wise to have Trump in there for that reason. Here come the misogyny cops.
I just don’t know if WWIII is at the forefront of my ballot, though, Homie. I hear what you’re saying, but if WWIII is not really going to get started by us but instead Iran or Putin signs off in a blaze of glory, all we can hope for is that the missile gets jammed in the tube or some General changes the combination while Putin sleeps, respectively. Barring that, well, we’re pretty well fucked. Harris OR Trump will retreat to a safe bunker, leaving guys like us to get atomized or gelatinized, whichever goes faster I hope. I’ve two in the chamber for me and the kid just in case it’s a slow cook.
Anyway, man, I appreciate this conversation. We could go on and on about it. I’m feeling ya on a lot of the same issues. It’s why I’m undecided. I’ll let you know who my dart lands on. I’ll give you the last word. Peace. And God bless.
Travis: Media is number one enemy of America and its people, period. Those sailors are right. There are millions out there training at the present moment to kill you and yours because we’re American. Who’s coming to our aid if China, North Korea or Russia make it ashore? I’ll answer: nobody. We’ll be dependent upon leadership and if we have none, there’ll be none.
Trump and others will take bunker but that’s what I want. First person you aim for in combat is the guy standing next to guy with antenna sticking out of backpack then you hit him. Leadership then communication.
At end of the day, America needs to get out of its own way and fall back on what made this nation a power house. CHRIST COMES FIRST! Then we display strength and become self-reliant again. Business will suffer due to tariffs, but maybe we shouldn’t have bid out everything to these Asian countries’ sweat shops for pennies on the dollar.
Maybe we vet invaders at the border to make sure we curb 13 year old girls getting kidnapped, raped and murdered on our streets.
Maybe we force American people to work for living instead of making a wage from welfare.
Maybe I get to educate my son on birds and bees instead of school, where some dude dressed as a girl does?
Maybe something needs to happen for us all of us to get together and “wonder twin powers activate” that pride in America we had on 9-12-01?
Maybe that would work?
Everyone wants America to go back. News flash: with technology, it never will. But we can accommodate living free in America regardless of belief and not be absolutely shunned because of it.
You tired of being middle-aged, straight, white male who has to convince people you’re not racist or homophobic? How about blacks who basically get their own language and if you talk like them you’re a racist? That’s actually the definition of racism. Good for one race and not another?
I’m tired. Live and let live. Do you in your house, and I’ll do me. With respect for each other. And to each other.
(Our many thanks to Travis. You maybe read his “Chasing the Combat Dragon” a while back? Scroll down to January 31, 2021. This former college linebacker slash USMC 1st Force Reconnaissance Company operator during Operation Iraqi Freedom slash County Sheriff slash detective with an anti-terrorism team slash youth football coach slash husband slash father tells us he feels like writing another something for us, you believe that? You’re welcome, readers)
Things Men Carry 