Home » Open thread 12/15/2025

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Open thread 12/15/2025 — 36 Comments

  1. The tiny cabin is cool, but the cattle dog is cooler (more cool?). Long ago I had a cattle dog, before I discovered the joy of border collies. Cattle dogs are great. Terrific workers, terrific herders.

  2. First off. Terrible news about Rob and his Wife. I did not see one negative comment about them on Instapundit. Other than to say they disagreed with his politics. Much different than Charlie.
    All the attacks yesterday on Jews was not good, to say the least. Pols and others have a lot to answer for, but will not be held accountable.
    OK, the video. Where is his electricity coming from? Why not a small electric hot plate? He has enough to heat the outdoor tub up a bit. Where is his larder? Toilet? The stove would really heat that place up. I would draw the curtains at night at least, helps to keep it warm. No way would I get into a tub of ice water.

  3. TMZ say’s Reiner’s 32 year old son is being held by LAPD in connection with the murders.

    I may have disagreed with his politics (that were often vociferously expressed publicly over the years), but this is just monstrous and deeply sad.
    He was a great filmmaker. I really enjoy The Pricess Bride, Spinal Tap, and A Few Good Men. RIP

  4. What a terrible way to live, in my view. Might as well regress to 200 years ago. However, where does he get his food???? Doesn’t appear to hunt. And he must go to some store nearby to buy those avocados and other fresh vegetables. I suspect the tiny cabin is in some forested area that’s about a half mile from a big supermarket. All for show.

  5. @Nonapod: I really enjoy The Princess Bride, Spinal Tap, and A Few Good Men. RIP

    Thanks for mentioning Tap! A special place in my heart for that one.

    BTW for those who watched Better Call Saul, Michael McKean who played the older brother, also played David St Hubbins, the blond musician in Spinal Tap.

  6. SHIREHOME – There may not have been any negative comments about Reiner at Instapundit, but there was this, which is deeply inappropriate. But that’s par for the course.

    https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115724141568860081

    I believe the right really is different. Look at the response of the lefties to the death of those on the right. And, other than Trump, I’ve seen nothing but grace and appreciation of Reiner’s art from the right. But then, Trump is the leader that the right chose. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.

  7. It’s too early to say what may have been behind the Reiners’ son’s horrible act (assuming he is in fact the murderer). Apparently their daughter found them. How awful for her.

    Interesting that you haunt Truth Social, Bauxite. And no, that wasn’t an appropriate statement. However, Reiner himself had made probably thousands of totally inappropriate comments on social media. None of this will likely have caused his death.

  8. I’m sorry Kate, there’s no “however” on this one. Trump’s post is not just in poor taste, it is inexcusable. A man is dead. A man who, I should point out, did show grace when Charlie Kirk was shot. (https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/rob-reiner-iconic-hollywood-director-and-star-of-all-in-the-family-dead-at-78)

    Trump nosed his way into a situation where he didn’t belong and, as is his wont, made a horse’s derriere of himself. What I don’t think a lot of folks around here grasp is that he also made a horse’s derriere of the right. All of the good work done by those on the right in the past 24 hours emphasizing our humanity and showing people what we are about was wiped away in the time that it took Trump to press “submit.”

    No amount of falling back on Reiner’s TDS comments change or mitigate that. Two wrongs don’t make a right. And indeed, those trying to draw an equivalence between Trump’s comments and Reiner’s actually look like fools when one considers what Reiner said about Kirk. Re: Reiner – the man’s dead, and Trump couldn’t let him rest in peace for even 12 hours before trying to score political points. That tells you everything you need to know about Donald Trump.

    (The link to Truth Social is all over the media BTW.)

  9. I agree that what Trump said was very inappropriate. Now for the However – Reiner would be dancing in the street if Trump were assassinated. Go pick the fleas off Bauxite.

  10. CC™ is up to his same old horse sh1t. Everything always comes back to CC™’s Ahab Ideation. Tiresome and pathetic

  11. Trump couldn’t let him rest in peace for even 12 hours before trying to score political points.

    It will only hurt him politically. That was very stupid of him. I had hoped his own near death experience would’ve made him at least a bit more thoughtful.

  12. But CC™ hasn’t applied his special skilzs to the Calibri font disaster that The Geat Orange Whale’s minions have inflicted on International Diplomacy and the world.

  13. It was an unwise statement on Trump’s part. At least he did not celebrate Reiner’s death, as many leftists celebrated Charlie Kirk’s death (and mourned Trump’s survival).

    I don’t think Trump is the sum total of whatever this movement is called — MAGA or some other. He was elected because he said he would do much of what sensible people have been hoping for, and he has done much of what he promised. I don’t think one intemperate comment (which was much less offensive than many, many comments which come his way) invalidates the entire program.

  14. Kate – I agree wholeheartedly that Trump is not the sum total of MAGA, or whatever one calls his movement on the right. Trump’s image IS absolutely how that movement is seen by those who are (currently) outside of it. And it’s kind of obtuse to talk about one comment. This isn’t one comment. It’s how the man is.

    Huxley – How did going to war with the army he had work out for Don Rumsfeld? It will work out just about as well for those who selected Trump to lead them.

  15. How did going to war with the army he had work out for Don Rumsfeld?

    Bauxite:

    The problem then wasn’t going to war with the army that Rumsfeld had, but the overall strategy and the underestimating of Democrats to sabotage later

  16. Regarding Trump’s Truth Social post:

    My instant reaction, and it remains my reaction, was and is

    “SHUT UP, you damn stupid blowhard.”

    — — — — —

    Yes, I am disgusted. My GOD, that guy is a jerk.

    Ever hear of saying NOTHING?? Ever occur to you to hold your (damn) peace??
    (That’s my reaction to the horrific death of anyone for whom I really have no use.)
    Just say NOTHING, dammit.

    But the man can’t help but inject his stupid overblown self into things.

    Bauxite is right, “It’s how the man is.”
    SHIREHOME is right, “I agree that what Trump said was very inappropriate. Now for the However – Reiner would be dancing in the street if Trump were assassinated.”
    And Huxley is right, “You go to war with the Trump you have. We’re at war.”

    Heaven help us all.

  17. Why would anyone expect Trump to be sorry about the death of someone that slandered him for years?

  18. Huxley’s comment is the only one that matters. It is brilliant. You look at any figure who “saved” a situation — Churchill, Roosevelt (for the war), and Lincoln are among those most commonly cited (also Sobieski and Martel) — and if you dig down you find all sorts of unappetizing crap. (Well, maybe not Lincoln; he was truly “with the angels”.) People who pick apart their leaders during a war are not serious; they don’t understand the stakes, and should be left to the buzzards.

  19. Seems that some need to change their Depends.

    He is not Moses, but some long for Egypt (Brandon and Cackles). How soon people forget.

  20. So I should decide not to support the elected leader of our country because people on the other side think he’s “icky.” Got it. As huxley says, I’d rather work with the leader we’ve got, flaws and all.

  21. physicsguy on December 15, 2025 at 11:39 am said:

    … I suspect the tiny cabin is in some forested area that’s about a half mile from a big supermarket. All for show.
    _____________________________________________

    I can’t disagree. The whole tiny-house schtick is full of obnoxious, pretentious poseurs. I doubt that this guy is an exception, but I have to ask: why does the video appeal to me? For that matter, why is it so close to my own life? I have a wood-burning stove. I love the winter, the woods, and the heavy snows of twenty-five feet every year. Am I a poseur too? I live in a small house of about 900 square feet. Does that make me better than this guy? Is the only difference between us that I’m not pretending to be something I’m not? If that’s all it is, then age makes fools of us all.

    And I like the dog.

  22. Kate – Everyone has to make their own decisions, but perhaps you could start by admitting the problem. The problem isn’t that the other side thinks Trump is “icky.” The problem is that the man, regularly and repeatedly, behaves like an overgrown child.

    Anyone who can’t admit and criticize Trump when it is warranted is going to be, justifiably, assumed to to be no better.

    Regardless of whether anyone one the right chooses to criticize Trump, as long as he’s calling the tune in the GOP, childish tantrums like the one he threw today are going to repulse decent people who would otherwise be sympathetic to the right.

    This second point is baked into the cake already by virtue of Trump’s primary wins in the GOP. The severity and duration of it, however, are going to depend heavily on how much space the rest of the right can put between itself and Trump when he goes off like this.

  23. The NEW BETTING LINE: 2026 will be the year that Trump will use the Insurrection Act to round up traitors against the Republic and secure USA’s elections.

    UPATE — a new interview with Emerald Robinson was posted at YT on Sunday. SEE BELOW.

    Emerald Robinson and Patrick Byrne explain how Venezuela has wielded extraordinary powers by digitally manipulating election outcomes in 72 countries. And going back at least 20 years. The US included.

    My two posts at the “Open Thread on Sunday (Yesterday) new neo begin HERE:

    https://thenewneo.com/2025/12/13/open-thread-12-13-2025/#comment-2834058

    The new interview is hosted by YouTuber Stephen Gardiner, a host on the alt-right new podcast media that I’m unfamiliar with.

    He’s clearly up to speed with the earlier data in my two posts. He rarely interrupts Robinson.
    And when he does, he provides useful segues for her. (There is a “TRANSCRIPT” button to view text of the interview at YT— See LINK BELOW—however, the speakers are not identified by labeling. It’s helpful to knot that Gardner only spends two or three paragraphs to do so over this 45 minute interview.)

    My biggest impression from this are that the technical details are made clearer with Emerald, this time.

    For example, the solution to “saving the 2024 election” from evident ballot stuffing and manipulation is explained.

    The issue was how to stop Serbian and Chinese intel controlled computers from flipping votes on election day, like in 2020 when 8 (or was it 12?) million votes suddenly “told” us that the Dementia-Dent to be was MORE popular than Obama!

    The solution came from heroic former Senator Wayne McMullen who knew about a group of former DoD contractors who were skilled at doing just this sort of job. Andrew succeeded.

    Another detail better explained is how vast the compromised politicians in both parties, as well as experts in counter-intelligence, may be. This poses hurdles in doing accountability and meting out prosecution.

    In the Dallas Examiner last month , a convicted Venezuelan drug trafficker wrote an open letter to Trump and the Republican Party expkaining that many trusted counter-intelligence officials were being compromised by Cuban intelligence.

    And How to prosecute treason?

    The general opinion is that Trump will need to use the Insurrection Act next to round up the agents and henchmen and possible enablers of this enormous crime against the United States.

    The only big question is mid-terms election outcomes next November. Does waiting until after strengthen Trump’s political hand? And how much leaking of details through stories by Emerald and others will help prep the battle-space for citizens to accept that something BIGLY must be done about it!

    Should Trump call a national address to speak to the nation directly?

    And about the hunt for traitors in Federal government? Perhaps Tulsi Gabbard has an inside track here? Trump’s action case is only strengthened by gaining groups of turncoats who will finger other, bigger players.

    Are there Special Prosecutors who will be unleashed?

    Here we arrive at the imponderables that need thinking through at the highest levels of US government. Unless we just reject Emerald and Patrick’s tale telling as only fantasies!

    Here’s an excellent primer — in a series of bullet points — to this new Emerald Robinson interview by one “Salvavid” posting at FreeRepublic.com
    https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4357429/posts

    The Venezuela State Industry of Election Fraud Was ONE Piece to Destroy the Republic of the United States of America
    The Stephen Gardner Show ^ | 14 December 2025 | Emerald Robinson
    Posted on 15/12/2025, 6:52:10 AM by Salvavid

    Folks, this is 45 minutes worth your time. I concur with Mr. Gardner this is the most important story in the last 100 years of our Republic. I am still digesting it. I think it is worth a permanent thread by itself. You may want to prepare your favorite beverage.
    The bottom line is the title.

    Here are the bullets, in no particular order:

    President Trump knows the extent of Venezuelan involvement in rigged elections, not only in the United States, but also other countries.

    The cabal includes Russia, China, Iran, the cartels, among others.

    Illegal immigration, drugs, and bribery at the highest levels were also part of an overall plan to bring down the United States by destroying its republican form of government.
    Elon Musk was brought in as a data expert, and he confirmed that the VEN software was built for election rigging.

    The extent of the rigging goes all the way back to then-Senator Barak Obama. It includes primaries of GOP candidates favorable to the cabal.

    There are several whistle blowers that are in protective custody.

    There an only a handful in Congress that have been briefed, as there are many Democrat and Republican members of Congress that have been compromised. This is actually treason, not just the garden variety of political corruption. Former General Michael Flynn is also apprised. The Office of the Undersecretary for Defense Intelligence has been in consult with Ms Robinson.

    This information tracks with various sources of Ms Robinson, and also includes the former Chief of Military Intelligence for Venezuela (Hugo Carvajal), who is currently in US custody for drug trafficking. He is the one who specified that the cabal’s intent was not just to get rich, but to defeat the United States (I got this from other reporting from a retired USN Commander and Intelligence Officer, Jesus Romero.)

    The 2024 Presidential election was also going to be rigged, but Trump managed to turn it off by a small group of DoD contractors, with the leadership of American Hero, former Senator Wayne McMullin. (Andthe former Senator from Indiana, David Purdue, gets a thanks, too.)

    (MORE DETAILS OMITTED.)
    __________________

    DIRECT LINK TO THE Stephen Gardner interview with Emerald Robinson.
    “BOMBSHELL: Trump Gets ELECTION RIGGING Proof from Venezuela via former CIA and a venezuela criminal in US prison. — He Was RIGHT All Along about vote flipping and election rigging.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DstXrM8_MZM

  24. Bauxite, I don’t know where you got the idea that I refuse to criticize Trump when appropriate. I am not a brainless Trump groupie, nor are most of the commenters here. You, on the other hand, jump on an inappropriate (and inaccurate) Trump statement and say that this vitiates everything he’s done. No, it means he shot off his mouth probably late at night, which he is wont to do. Of course he’s not perfect. I’ve never met any human who was, much less ever voted for one.

  25. CC™, speaking for all decent and right minded people declares that

    anyone

    who doesn’t loathe The Great Orange Whale is subhuman.

    Close enough to your intent CC™?

  26. Bauxite:

    I sometimes wonder whether you notice what people actually say here, because offhand I can’t think of a single commenter who fits the description of the Trump-worshipping sycophants you describe.

  27. Cornflour, no you are not a poseur. The guy in the video is most definitely one. The “cabin” is built as a summer getaway by some well-off guy, no doubt from Toronto. Everything reeks as a phony, self-posing deception. Nobody who lives in the North Woods would take a bath in an ice tub. The dwelling is too cute by far; the windows are too large to conserve heat, the floor is elevated which would make it unbearably cold in winter, as a minimum, snow should be banked up around the perimeter to provide insulation and conserve heat.
    As a youth, I spent several years in the Yukon. I had a “tent frame” cabin 12’x16’ with an army tent top and plywood walls. No insulation, no windows – light came in from the canvas top. No electricity, no running water. In winter, every morning chain sawed top ice of the adjacent stream to get to flowing water. Had 2 stoves, a big cast iron job for cooking and radiant heat and a smaller “air tight” stove made from thin sheet metal that glowed cherry red in a matter of minutes. There were no avocadoes, bell peppers, lettuce for meals. Rice, flour, beans, sugar and honey were the staples. Frozen moose and caribou meat and salmon hung from adjacent trees high enough to keep the critters away. It was impossible to keep beer as night temps in the cabin fell well below freezing and broke the bottles.
    In the summer months my partner and I staked claims for mining companies. We were helicoptered in to remote areas and picked up several days or a week later depending on the size of the area and number of claims to be staked. During the winter months we would make “improvements” on the claims by slashing lines of cuts on trees to provide a grid for later geophysical surveys. (Hence my earlier claim to be a bushwhacker). Had to be careful at night not to touch the top of the tent as the movement would cause snow from frozen ice to fall.
    Great experience for a young guy. It taught me a lot about self-reliance and making a go of it. Now I am glad that life in the cold is mostly behind me and that I now enjoy warmer climes!
    If you wish to get a feel for this life, check out the flowing video. It is really well done.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kV7_ZjNP_FM

    (and there is a dog in it)

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