12 Comments
Jul 14Liked by Steve Skojec

You don't want to be in a desert if the power goes off. Say what you will about Virginia, but there is at least accessible water.

Expand full comment
author

That is definitely among my thoughts.

Expand full comment

We've talked about this. I've had the exact same thing - an urgent "call" or push to leave where I was living and take up a whole new Thing in life, a few times. It's all led me here, and it seems to be going ok, so far. However odd.

Expand full comment

I'm usually quick to look at the conspiracy angle, but I find myself reluctant to do so this time. Maybe it's fatigue. There's comfort in believing a shared narrative. Maybe I want to be "in this together" in an uncomplicated way for once.

It's exhausting to be part of history when one carries an abiding suspicion that the history we think we're living is only the story sold to dupes. One is simply lost and unmoored. What is real? What good does knowing the truth do, being always awash in a sea of lies that is ever shifting but somehow ineluctable?

I'm fatigued as hell. All I've got are memes and emotional reasoning. I felt such sympathy for Donald Trump when I first saw that image showing blood running down his face. I had not been particularly excited about voting for him, but now I'm enthused, energized somewhere between a fist-pumping "USA!" and a wish I could protect and comfort Trump and show him my support. How vulnerable even he is, filled with blood in a world that runs on electrons and glib, calculated talking points.

Rush already played it years ago in A Farewell to Kings:

"Cities full of hatred, fear and lies

Withered hearts and cruel tormented eyes.

Scheming demons dressed in kingly guise

Beating down the multitude and scoffing at the wise."

Expand full comment
author

"It's exhausting to be part of history when one carries an abiding suspicion that the history we think we're living is only the story sold to dupes"

I agree. But I'm starting to wonder if we really have the luxury of not thinking this.

Expand full comment

We may not.

But how do we stay related to Reality when we come to suspect that anything we're told is real stands a fair chance of not being so at all? And if this disorientation is itself part of their game?

How do we stay engaged, patriotic in the true sense? What's to keep us from losing the plot entirely, huddled in a corner of our own private Idaho? The red pill has some nasty side effects.

I can think of only one plausible answer, and it's the one who declared himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life. That doesn't seem to be a slam dunk either though. Should I handle snakes, dance and rattle a tambourine at the gates of our Holy Mother Mary-Sophia, or insist on kneeling to receive from consecrated hands?

He has nowhere to lay his head, and we seem to have to just keep walking, believing there's a path onwards.

Expand full comment
Jul 14·edited Jul 14

Did everything change? It feels like really everything didn't change but everyone is just very aware right now of how close we came to those alternate timelines where everything really did change. But since (in this timeline) things didn't really change, I think that awareness will naturally fade and this will become just one of like 50 small-medium things (and the one BIG thing- Biden's mental capacity) influencing people's votes 4 months from now.

Relatedly I guess I don't think the woman should be dragged for sharing a meme. I've definitely seen some that I laughed at

Expand full comment

Changing my opinion on whether the assassin Crooks had some kind of assistance, based on analysis of Blackwater founder (and former Navy Seal) Erik Prince and especially (Canadian) global sniper record holder Dallas Alexander (see today's press, especially thegatewaypundit.com, which article I am not posting). Mr. Alexander said Crooks had to have had some kind of inside assistance from some agency, department, government department. I agree.

And if Wray and Merrick head up the "investigation," such involvement will be covered up (see J6

"riot', among other incongruities and irregular goverment activities around all things Trump.

I'm also reading Trump's security is NOT being increased. At least RFK Jr. was finally given USSS protection.

What happened on July 13, 2024, is a bad omen. Rough seas ahead. God saved President Trump. Let us pray without ceasing for the preservation of the republic. Hope and pray for the best, prepare for the worst.

Expand full comment

Not sure the full ramifications but Pennsylvania is an open carry state so even if they saw the shooter ascending to his position with a gun in plain sight, I don’t t think security had probable cause to do anything until it’s too late. That the country in general is not appalled at the incident, though, is very unsettling. Not sure what we are in for. Scary times, for sure.

Expand full comment
author

Pretty sure presidential security overrides open carry statutes.

Expand full comment
Jul 14Liked by Steve Skojec

Open carry doesn't mean you can't be challenged. Especially under the circumstances of a presidential campaign rally.

Expand full comment

Really good writing, Steve. Very thought-provoking. Re: the end part of the essay: I say go with your wife's gut instincts (which seem to be your own, as well, sort of). Yeah, your moving close to Wash DC, where the proverbial action is in case of troubles, but also that is likely to be where the most help will be (all those tax-payer provided resources). All those military bases. DIdn't you say you'd be closer to family, even though not family you necessarily want to see? Well, you may change your mind on that, or they may need you.

I don't think the USSS was in on it, I think we saw pure incompetence. (But then God made Trump turn his head slightly, let us thank his guardian angel as well. Tens of millions pray for Trump, his family and associates every day--it's like a movement.) DEI is sufficient for hugely incompetent people being put in charge of everything (see Buttigieg, see Kamala and her "work" on securing the border--see Biden--could the man on the street randomly chosen not do a better job than he is?) Listen to the name of the new head of the USSS: Cheatle. And listen to the name of the assasin: Crooks. Ms. Cheatle is not a former Navy Seal, not Special Ops, but instead some former executive at Pepsi (?) with no military or police or alphabet agency (FBI, CIA) experience. Figures. The founder of Blackwater (former Navy Seal) said what occured yesterday was an appalling display of incompetence or malice (Eric Prince). He wrote an good article (or a big Tweet, google it).

I also think the event is a bad omen. It doesn't mean Trump will necessarily have an attempt on his life again, but that something big stinks in America. Unless a new sanity reigns, the "lawfare" plan seems to be to make sure Trump is in jail during the election (on "Trumped up charges"). Right there, what is the liklihood of a free and fair election? Zero. Okay, say he's not in jail. What is the liklihood that the same techniques (or some new ones like having 11 million illegals voting) used to "rig" 2020 will not be reployed to get Obama his 4th term so that the globalists (WEF, Soros) get their way and we're all forced into CBDCs and accepting chips in our hands with our medical records (with mandatory vaxxes) and social scores on the embedded chip? Do not accept the Mark of the Beast.

The Left may decide to turn off the lights rather than let Trump win, for instance. This is a modern warfare technique that is very effective. But whatever techniques might be used, I predict "the good guys" are not going to take it lying down this time. There will be a huge power struggle, perhaps spanning years, and we could end up with Red States of America and Blue States of America. Later, God willing, we'll reunite, after the "woke" is gone, the DEI is extinguished, the CRT is rejected, the election "rigging" is gone, and the country returns to God, the God of the Bible. Which Bible? Catholic, of course. I'm not giving up 7 books in the OT, no sir. Besides, St. Peter's bones are buried underneath the altar in the Vatican. "On this rock... and the gates of Hell will not prevail." We have the Marian apparitions (Akita, Fatima) that point to a period of turmoil that must be endured--turmoil in the church, turmoil on the earth.

I am actually optimistic. People are waking up, as you say, Steve I cling to St. Padre Pio's motto: "Pray, hope, and don't worry." This from a man who bore the painful stigmata of Christ for 50 years, was regularly beaten in the night by demons in his monastery cell in San Giovanni de Rotondo, Italy (after having heard 12 hours of confessions during the day), lived almost on no food (other than Holy Communion and a very little bit of food, yet had normal weight), endured WW2, was forbidden to say mass in public for 10 years by the RCC, could bilocate, perform miracles, see future events, and read hearts.

Let us join in Cardinal Burke's "Nine Month Novena to Our Lady of Guadalupe." It is a 2.5 minute prayer. Millions are praying it. The more we pray, the greater the blessings that will flow on our families and country and the entire world. I am attaching one version of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8pn6WuA-Dg&t=3s

Expand full comment