RL Crabb misses by a mile

"The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left." Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NIV)

George Rebane

Our county’s celebrated and beloved political cartoonist and prominent leftwing thought leader, RL ‘Bob’ Crabb, got a twofer in the 15aug20 Union (on the editorial board of which he sits along with the wife of my life).  In addition to his regular weekend cartoon (here), he wrote a major piece titled ‘Whose town is it anyway?’  Bob is a longtime resident of Nevada County and his words go a long way to shaping our community’s understanding of the county’s rich and historic past.  Do not dismiss them lightly.

In today’s column Bob takes on the task of comparing the happenings and attitudes of half a century ago with what is going on in the county today, and what went down on the streets of Nevada City a few days ago.  We then witnessed a protest march of BLM supporters – locals and from sources unknown - sporting a variety of signs emblazoned with what have become common leftwing anti-American sentiments seen for weeks in the country’s cities that host violent riots and demonstrations by contingents of Antifa and BLM cadre and supporters.  In our town, these marching protesters were met by a handful of counter-demonstrators who did not take kindly to having their community being designated as the next target of the Left’s declared foment of revolution.

The counter-demonstrators did not act wisely with their emotional response, during which they tore up some protester signs and pushed back individual protesters.  All in all, the ‘violence’ we saw on Broad Street compared favorably with what is the everyday norm for commuters on the workday subway platforms of New York and Tokyo.  And it didn’t even qualify for comparison with what has been happening nightly in the downtowns of Portland, Seattle, Chicago, New York, … .  But Nevada City is now a hard-left town, and their own were being manhandled in the streets.  This clearly called for a good dose of social justice administered under the prominent flutter of virtue signalling flags.

So the town’s police launched what is undoubtedly their first “complete investigation”, and from the perusal of numerous videos of the dust-up, perpetrating suspects were identified, with the first already arrested and booked into the county jail – more arrests are promised.  The county’s Left continues in the lather of righteous outrage, as witnessed by the number of contributed editorials that surround Bob’s contribution on the newspaper’s op-ed page.  And it is with this background that we dive into Mr Crabb’s literary contribution.

Bob opens with a fine memory lane jaunt recounting the days of yesteryear when the aftermath of the social unrest and riots of 1968 gave rise from the cities to an exodus of hippies, free-thinkers, counter-culturalists, and other various misfits.  They lifted their eyes toward the hills from whence cometh their salvation, dotted with communities which promised the freedom to let them do their own thing, unmolested by those pesky norms of established tradition and nosey cops.  A goodly cohort arrived in Nevada County, and Bob details their somewhat rough reception by the locals while crediting their arrival with all kinds of good things that befell our community in the subsequent years after the dust had settled.

So far so good.  But then our pencil-pushing philosopher attempts to cross one historical bridge too far with his vivid recounting and unfolding attempt to dovetail the ‘then’ with the ‘now’.  He claims that the decades-separated episodes are really birds of a feather, and a reprise of what our community had once before successfully handled, digested, and integrated.  Then he concludes his considerable comparison and counsel with the lament, “So it is disappointing to see history repeat itself on these same streets.”

Not even close – there is nothing here that represents history repeating itself.  Fifty years ago the hippy migrations were strictly a resocialization of urban misfits into kinder climes.  There was neither a national movement underlying it, nor did it include a concerted and much-advertised goal of fomenting a revolution to fundamentally transform America, a revolution which has now successfully co-opted the nation’s established leftwing political party and jerked its leaders into compliant mouthpieces for the movements’ socio-political ideology.

Today’s proto-communist protestors have no desire to quietly integrate into our communities as profit-seeking merchants, service providers, and professionals; or even as workers for capitalist companies competing in minimally regulated open markets.  Today’s rioters and protesters are neo-Marxists, whose limited and jaundiced view of history sees America as a terminally evil country in a world in which socialism has suffered many faulty starts, corrupt capitalist conspiracies, and mistakes by the various leaders of leftwing movements.  All of these are seen as correctible, and will be corrected this time around as we once more unite and march to the strains of the Internationale.  

Comments

[Barry Pruett]

Yes George. This argument is ideological. Progressives (true believers of their utopian religion) want to hide behind race and gender and anything else in order to hide their neo-Marxism. Race and gender are the focus in order to subvert the population in an effort fundamentally change the system towards Marxism. It’s not a secret anymore.

[Barry Pruett]

Progressive folks desperately want the majority of Americans to hate the country and despise its institutions and follow their amoral “faith.” This is the first step of subversion. These actions are how civil wars start.

[Todd Juvinall]

I remember visiting the cave on the river the hippy from the city occupied. It was covered by the media and at the time "big" news. What a crock. He had three women in his hareem and was smoking the Ganga. I can see why R.L. Crabb loved that guy and his fellow travelers. We all considered it an invasion.

The latest BLM ANTIFA thugs coming here to stir up our little towns are not nice people. Like the Al Queda, they use the women and children as shields. Sadamm did that too. Anyway, these people want to overthrow America which to me means they are committing treason and should be given a plane ticket to their favorite alternative country. But in our upside-down world the thugs burning and looting elsewhere are the good guys while those that may confront them are the bad guys. I am not surprised there is the possibility of violence. When the BLM thugs come around it is not long before they start the burning down of the place. There will be those that are not deep thinkers about that who may not be to happy. And wasn't it Cuomo of CNN who said ANTIFA beating on the "white supremacists" was justified and a good thing? I guess it all depends on who is writing the story.

[Paul Emery]

can you give me some ideas Todd of the numbers of BLM and Antifa coming here that you claim in your 4:00 post. Also what your source is-links etc. Thanks in advance.

[Paul Emery]

Also Todd are you supporting the police in Nevada City who are trying to arrest te instigators of violence in Nevada City Sunday night?

[paul emery]

Come on Barry!! You are intelligent to know that there as many varieties of so called "Progressives" as there are so called "Conservatives". If you and I were to engage in an extended conversation of our ideologies and core beliefs it would be amazing as to how much we agree on basic principals.At one time you were supportive but also openly skeptical about Trump but no more.

When and indeed if Trump falls it will be hard and heavy and difficult for Republicans like you who have compromised so many of your values to support this carnival barker we have for a President. Time is running out and he's not making much of a move unless you believe the vanity polls used by Breitbart.

[Don Bessee]

Not every liberal sees it your way o great pony tail of ignorance -

Maher says Biden's lead over Trump too slim: 'Hillary was ahead by more'

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/maher-says-bidens-lead-over-trump-too-slim-hillary-was-ahead-by-more

;-)

[George Rebane]

PaulE 519pm - did you forget to contribute to the beliefs that we share? It seems that you could add more than a few to the list. Here's the link. Thanks.
https://rebaneruminations.typepad.com/rebanes_ruminations/2020/08/e-pluribus-unum-still-really.html

[Gregory]

”Time is running out and he's not making much of a move unless you believe the vanity polls used by Breitbart"

I'm sorry... Is that from '16 or now?

[paul emery]

From now Gregory. Check out the latest RCP delegate count state by state and you'll find there has not been a significate change for three weeks except something like 8 Dems moving to tossup. Trump still needs to win 75% of the tossups to reach 270. If this is a horse race they are coming into the stretch with Biden having a strong lead.

Notice there was no bump from Trumps phony stimulus bullshit he dumped out last week.

[Don Bessee]

Still off topic oh great pony tail of ignorance @ 631. LOL

;-)

[paul emery]

Responding to Gregory's 5:32 Don and your 5:30. when do you see Trump making a move?

[Scott O]

Paul 5:19 - "You are intelligent to know that there as many varieties of so called "Progressives" as there are so called "Conservatives". If you and I were to engage in an extended conversation of our ideologies and core beliefs it would be amazing as to how much we agree on basic principals."
But Paul is seemingly not intelligent.
In Nov all the various 'varieties' of progressives will vote for Biden/Harris and other Dems running for other offices. They have promised a govt that is going to take us headlong into the abyss. It doesn't matter what flavor of lefty you are - if you're not voting for Trump then there's little else to do but support Biden.
further
"...who have compromised so many of your values to support this carnival barker we have for a President."
No candidate will line up exactly as I would like but Trump gets us closer to my values than Biden - that's for sure. Sorry to hear of your prostitution in voting for Biden, Paul - my 'values' are quite intact.

[Barry Pruett]

There is only one kind of conservative. All true Conservatives believe in the Truth and the rule of law and individual freedom and personal responsibility. Progressives believe in none of that junk.

[paul emery]

The Truth Barry??? Is that the truth according to Trump? Do you consider Ron Paul, one of my teachers a Conservative?

[Barry Pruett]

Trump is not conservative. Yet trump is closer to conservative than any president that we have had in 30 years.

[Gregory]

"when do you see Trump making a move?"

What, like brokering a big surprise of a peace deal in the Middle East?

Punchy, I'd be able to sleep just fine if the election was this coming Tuesday

[Gregory]

"Do you consider Ron Paul, one of my teachers a Conservative?" - punch

That F must've stung.

[Scott O]

Gregory 11:34 - "That F must've stung."
Oh no, Gregory - Paul is quite the fiscal conservative. He waits until an R is POTUS and then carps about the debt constantly.
Just to prove what a libertarian he is, Paul will vote for Biden/Harris.

[scenes]

"Paul will vote for Biden/Harris."

lol. No doubt. Just imagine how much less government a President Harris will impose on us all than Trump 2.0, he being a Nazi and all.

Paul's insistence on being some kind of libertarian is either just a practical joke or the biggest lack of self-knowledge I've ever seen. But while this has (yet again) become a Paul thread instead of a George topic thread, perhaps he can tell us what all of his friends marching in the streets want from us. They're certainly not helping any pandemic effort so it must be really really important.

As far as Crabb's column, I can see where he's coming from. An unimportant kid has his own memories from a town where people used to do serious things for a living and practically all the businesses were locally owned. Hippies selling bead purses were never a favorite of foundry workers or logging truck drivers. To me, the most amazing part of all of it is showing how wealthy this country is. So many people can put a lifetime of earnings together and never do anything particularly useful.

[Todd Juvinall]

Paul Emery, how many BLM and ANTIFA thugs did you interview when they arrived in town? Seems you and the Union play from the same script. Both forgot to interview the people who did not like the invasion of our peaceful towns.

[George Rebane]

Memo to Bob Crabb - truthout.com is one of the most prominent leftwing (actually communist) voices on the internet. It is worth visiting them on a regular basis to see what they tell their core to go out there and repeat. Here is one of their latest - 'Cops Have Repeatedly Attacked and Obstructed Street Medics During BLM Rebellion'. They make no bones in identifying what's going on in the streets as the front lines of a rebellion that intends to restructure the USA.
https://truthout.org/articles/cops-have-repeatedly-attacked-and-obstructed-street-medics-during-blm-rebellion/

And their celebration of "community-based farms" is on their preferred road to the next generation of collective farms in America, organized agriculture that performed disastrously in the USSR, China, Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, ... .
https://truthout.org/articles/community-based-farms-rise-to-the-occasion-as-big-food-supply-chains-stall/

Reading Bob's copy equates all that's happening today with the war-protesting potheads of the early 70s.

[Todd Juvinall]

I saw a TV article on how the BLM and ANTIFA eta; thugs are now going to go into the suburbs. Maybe Paul Emery can have a coffee klatch and intrview some of them from the city.

[scenes]

re: TJ@3:05PM August 16, Year Zero.

Yah, I was checking that out.

https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2020/08/neighbors-unhappy-as-demonstrations-move-east-into-residential-portland.html

Some advice for out-of-towners.

https://twitter.com/antifashpdxart/status/1294802323932188673

[Scott O]

George - haven't visited Truthout for a while. Always a great read.
Here's a dandy:
https://truthout.org/articles/condemnations-of-chicago-looting-prioritize-property-over-black-lives/
Note the headline has 'looting' in quotes. As if there's some sort of question as to whether or not actual looting took place. Maybe some downtown NC merchants can chime in on that one. Anyway that web site is always chock full of the latest in insanity. To wit:
"During this time of multiple major global and local crises, we must develop a wholly different understanding of violence."
Yep - that 'troubled' youth who is beating the stuffing out of you just needs a little compassion and understanding.
It's for the children.

[Paul]

"sporting a variety of signs emblazoned with what have become common leftwing anti-American sentiments"...

Which "anti-American" sentiments are you referring to exactly?

Oh, that police shouldn't be killing people who are suspected of committing crimes? Or did you just conveniently forget the part about "innocent until proven guilty"???

[Scott O]

Paul 5:04 - "Oh, that police shouldn't be killing people who are suspected of committing crimes?"
Kinda depends on what the perp is doing right before the cop kills him, doesn't it?

And hilariously - "did you just conveniently forget the part about "innocent until proven guilty"???"
No we haven't, Paul - but you have.
Seem to recall you claimed that George Floyd was 'murdered'.
Now - when was the trial???

[Gregory]

Punchy 5:04 - "Oh, that police shouldn't be killing people who are suspected of committing crimes?"

Blithering idiocy.

People when want to survive arrest should not threaten the lives of LEA who's aren't paid enough to enter into a "fair fight” with a belligerent suspected perp.

Just cooperate and keep your mouth shut until your attorney Bernie is there.

[Paul Emery]

That Paul is not me GREGORY

[Gregory]

I stand corrected... there is a new "Paul" here.

But punch... do you agree "new Paul's" statement is blithering?

[Bill Tozer]

I just can't compare this thang going on now to the sixties and all that People Power. Closest so far was when BLM marched in DC chanting "Pigs in a blanket, fry them like bacon" and "What do we want?..Dead cops! When to we want it?..Now!" That was the closest yet to the Black Power moment I have seen. Sure, some crowd in Portland or Seattle was cheering wildly this guy for saying he was going to slice up a cop into little pieces and do bad things to policemen's bodies, but that was just the usual couple of hundred of Biden voters.

Maybe this is more the death of Our Town, Mayberry RFD, or Quainty Town that Crabbman was referencing. Well, it sure ain't the Summer of Love. Sure, if you are going to San Fransisco its always a good idea to put a flower in your hair. What ever happened to that grand idea of Flower Power? Anyway, for Earl.

2020: THE SUMMER OF HATE?

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/08/2020-the-summer-of-hate.php

[Bonnie]

Aug 15 4pm Bless your hear Todd. So true and obvious to those paying attention that those destroying property and harming others are criminals who don’t care about anyone except getting paid for causing destruction.

[Bill Tozer]

This ain’t the 60’s. Crabb misses by a ton.

https://i1.wp.com/www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2020/08/IMG_3258.jpeg?w=720&ssl=1