152 Comments
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Dick Minnis's avatar

The difference in previous immigration waves was that the numbers while large were nothing like the 15-2o million the Democrats let in. Also earlier immigrants weren't given all the free support handed out by the Biden Administration, so learning the language and assimilation was essential for survival. It wasn't a perfect system but it made them all proud Americans.

Dick Minnis removingthecataract.substack.com

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Sasha Stone's avatar

I think we're also looking at immigrants vs. illegal border crossers, right? They're often mixed up on the Left but that's the difference between then and now.

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Dena's avatar

Read JJCarrol’s comment & transcript of his testimony before Congress last week. He is a retired Deputy Patrol Agent in charge of San Diego border. He worked under 5 Presidents & retired after Biden’s first year. https://open.substack.com/pub/jjcarrell/p/border-truth-1e3?r=nl3ud&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

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Thoughtful Reader's avatar

The previous waves also were not coming in with the same sense of entitlement and violent demands. They also were not seeded with some of the world's most vile terrorists. They came ready to work hard for a better life - like many immigrants in more recent times (current young islamic male invasion force excepted, of course.)

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Chip Clemmer's avatar

My working class/lower middle class neighborhood is now about 40% Hispanic. They have nice big families, stay at home moms, and the dads get in their trucks every morning and go to work. They are all, some kind of contractor. Most of them are fluent in English. They've blended into working class America. It's nice hearing kids playing, and running around the neighborhood, like we did, when we were kids. Kids playing without a resume-building activity under adult supervision. Gee, what a concept.

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Danimal28's avatar

There are over 30 muslim training 'camps' around the U.S., there are probably the same of the Chinese - all with men in their 20's. I am not paranoid, but paid 'activists' burned our cities down in 2020. What of the future?

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AncientViking's avatar

Probably far, far more Chinese Comm centers, as virtually all places of 'higher learning' (ya, right...) have some form of Confucius Institute chapter. Often hidden under a covert name. The future? Have I got a link for you... https://tomklingenstein.com/the-uk-is-a-window-to-our-dystopian-future/

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Casey Jones's avatar

I have it from the horse's mouth (well, granny's, anyway, among others) that previous waves had one goal: To. Be. Americans. My sense is that this is a largely lacking objective.

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Chip Clemmer's avatar

My mom's parents were Italian immigrants. They came here in the late 1890s. They raised 13 kids through the Great Depression, and all 5 of her brothers served during WWII. My grandfather used to hang up his American flag every morning from the front porch, until the day he died. My grandparents' proudest day was the day they became US citizens.

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Casey Jones's avatar

Exactly. My people not so different from da nordern part of Italy -- Poland. Imagine if the present crop of invaders were of such stuff.

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Chip Clemmer's avatar

I grew up in Connecticut. A teenage-hood friend, that I'm still friends with, had paternal grandparents who came from Poland. His grandfather worked in one of the factories in western Massachusetts. His maternal grandmother was first generation Italian decent. His maternal grandfather was an Italian immigrant. He was a barber, who owned his own barber shop. My buddy's father, was also a WWII vet, like my dad. Fortunately, most of the immigrants in my working class neighborhood, seem to be of "such stuff," as you say. They are hard-working families, trying their shot at the American Dream. They've worked their way out of the ghetto.

If you go over to Langley Park, MD, there is a lot of gang activity, due to the number of illegal immigrants living in poverty. Illegals are reluctant to go to the police, because they are afraid of being found out as being here illegally, even though the county they live in, is considered a sanctuary. The gangs make their money with drugs and protection rackets. Hopefully, things with start to change on January 21st.

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Col House's avatar

Enjoy the trip and take some deserved time off. We all need to exhale and be grateful that we have been unburdened by what could have been.

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Jim M's avatar

PERFECT encapsulation. "Unburdened by what could have been."

I love it so much, I'm gonna steal it and tell people that I CAME UP WITH IT.

Except... sigh... the ppl that know me also know I'm not smart enough to do that. Grrr...

lol

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Col House's avatar

Please do so... though I must admit I'm sure I heard it somewhere too.

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Jim M's avatar

Nahhh... I'm gonna pin it on YOU if I get busted. BWHAHA!

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Susan G's avatar

I started using it too!

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madaboutmd's avatar

You do mean "too" not "tool", right Susan. Don't want anyone to get offended unnecessarily. 😎

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Susan G's avatar

My eyesight must be bad. Looks like an explanation point to me.

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Sam Knowles's avatar

Echoes of Bruce Springsteen‘s “Nebraska” start tinkling through my mind. Then I remember how far from himself and his roots he has come and I mentally lift the needle up. But I don’t need to tell you that! Rest well And as ever, thank you for keeping it real and reminding us to stay true to ourselves.

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Matt L.'s avatar

I feel the same about Neil Young… what happened to these people that used to connect with the working man/woman’s heart w/ such wonderful soul stirring music, but now their wealth has severed the once strong connection as they enter their sunset years.

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BanaB's avatar

He was a lifelong favorite of mine. I can barely listen to him now. Joni Mitchell, too. I don't get it.

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Jon's avatar

Agree on Neil. I'm a child of the late 60s-70s and Neil Young was my favorite of the CSNY consortium (they were never really a band, just some great singer/songwriters using each other for support/backup), and I never felt comfortable with an immigrant to this country, who became quite wealthy from it, turning against it for illogical reasons.

I don't respect people who make illogical decisions due to emotions. The hardest decisions are the ones that force you to do something that will harm some, but are in the interest of all.

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Timothy Wallace's avatar

Just because somebody is good at one thing, doesn't say anything about the merit they have at other endeavors, like politics. Our celebrity class is a glaring example of how we think because somebody is good at one thing some people assume they must be good at everything else. Stupid.

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Texyz's avatar

....meh....Neil Young. Got no use for that Canadian.

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Jim M's avatar

Me neither, and I'm a Canuk.

In fact, a friend of mine bought tickets to his most recent concert, and at the end of it I said it was THE WORST CONCERT I'VE EVER BEEN TO. And that includes the crappy ones you have to go to b/c your kid's in the school band.

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Kurt's avatar

Neil made great music early on but he never had both oars in the waters of sanity. He quit Buffalo Springfield the day they were going on national TV, and get a load of him yelling ’No rain’ at Woodstock. Unhinged is being generous.

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Susan G's avatar

Drugs.

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Bob's avatar

I did love his rockabilly album from about '80.

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Sasha Stone's avatar

Alas.

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William Skelley's avatar

Traveling across this country by car let’s you see how great this country really is

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AncientViking's avatar

And then, getting off the interstate and doing the secondary roads on a motorcycle! (with a copy of 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' to read in the evening...)

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GabeReal's avatar

I’m in n my 50’s and still have yet to do it. Been thinking it’s time to knock it off my bucket list.

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JT's avatar

You’re right, of course, “racist” is just the label elites use to try to make we common folk feel bad about objecting to unchecked illegal immigration that negatively impacts everyone…except the elites!

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The Ungovernable's avatar

I just drove from Washington State to Texas. It was both exhilarating and exhausting. Id never do it again but I'm so glad I did it. This country is so fucking big and vast, it's almost heartbreaking.

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Alice Ball's avatar

I think breathtaking!

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Jon's avatar

The feedback from many Europeans who visit is that they're amazed how big the US is. They think that on a weeks stay, they can visit NYC, DC, Miami and LA.

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Martin Rossol's avatar

My relatives from Germany thought they could travel from Michigan to Florida for the weekend... Ha!

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Casey Jones's avatar

One of my favorite bits from Fiddler on the Roof:

"We're going to New York!"

"We're going to Chicago!"

"We'll be neighbors!"

Some Manhattanites think the same way.

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Robert's avatar

Driving across the country rocks. I used to do it often for work - those same corridors (including I 40). I miss it.

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Dena's avatar

One sad aspect driving across country is all the Geoengineering happening everywhere in the skies. Look at Sasha’s pic, especially the one of her 2 doggies. I saw it driving from N. Idaho to Wyoming. Even sent the Governor of MT. a tweet with pictures while driving through to tell him how disappointing that he allows the big sky if MT. to be poisoned.

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Ol’ Country Gal's avatar

Are you referring to the windmills and cell towers? It makes me sad and agree how they absolutely ruin the scenery. I especially HATE the windmills.

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Dena's avatar

No, I’m referring to the chemtrails in the skies. See Geoengineeringwatch.com for info.

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Bob's avatar

Seriously? You don't remember the early 70's when visible smokestack clouds covered skies from LA to Tuscaloosa Alabama? Anywhere there was a papermill. It is SO much clearer, that I truly suspect one reason for global warming is that so much more sunshine gets through.

(It also STANK)

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Ol’ Country Gal's avatar

Oh yes I noticed those.

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Alice Ball's avatar

What are they doing?

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Dena's avatar

The chemtrails in the sky. See Geoengineeringwatch.com for info. They’re everywhere, especially bad in parts of Europe.

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madaboutmd's avatar

Yep! My tinctures lady and a friend have been talking about this a lot. And a Lyft driver (immigrant from Poland) who picked up a second job to help make ends meet, told me about HAARP. I still need to look into it more.

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Gloria Fredericks's avatar

Thanks for the pictures and sharing your trip with us. Safe travels.

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TheUnderToad's avatar

I often think I could be very happy as a long haul trucker, driving a coast-to-coast route. I absolutely love being out on the open road, especially west of the Mississippi. Any part of the Rockies, from New Mexico to Montana, leaves me awestruck every time. My wake-up call from that dream is always realizing that the beginning and end of those jobs would probably be the worst part; maneuvering city streets with little cars trying to squeeze past you in your blind spot(s), and trying to back a huge trailer back to a loading dock…

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Danimal28's avatar

My brother just quit it because of all the regs, checkpoints, and weather created layovers.

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TheUnderToad's avatar

All the things I never considered when romanticizing the idea of being paid for rolling down the interstate, seeing all of America up close and personal

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Matt L.'s avatar

Sasha, I will be ‘on the road’ tomorrow here in the great Pacific Northwest as I go to pick up my daughter from college for Thanksgiving break. I will do about 12 hours total in car, there and back. But I am so looking forward to seeing my daughter on way, then we have so much to share on the ride home. She had a flight back Wed, but we learned too late the university shuts down for Thanksgiving week and no sense fiddling thumbs for 2 days next week... life is too short. So on the road it is! Thanks for the update on your journey and the podcasts. YaY, I have something cool & interesting to listen to now in the early AM hours as I travel along I-84 through the Columbia River gorge and then out into God’s country of the Palouse. Big thumbs up to Wyoming. The drive farther north from Yellowstone up to Cody is all uphill but breathtaking as you get to top and look south over the great expanse. Safe travel thru the three ‘I’s tomorrow!

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AncientViking's avatar

Everyone, once in their life, needs to do the Red Lodge entrance into Yellowstone...

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JBell's avatar

Bear Tooth Pass!

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AncientViking's avatar

Do them all. Time well spent...

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KatWarrior's avatar

Thank you for sharing your road trip and history lessons. I will listen to the podcasts linked because history is so important in terms of perspective, at the very least.

I am born and raised Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but have lived well over half my life in the USA. I am a fully assimilated immigrant, I assure every reader. I have four defining moments in my life. The birth of our beautiful son, marrying my soulmate, the honour of becoming an American citizen, and our home burning to the ground. History defines us as humans.

You, Sasha reminded me of a few things...I love to read history. I want to learn more about American history. I have so much gratitude to be an American. Thank God (yes, He made it happen!) Trump won, and I will die on this hill fighting for our freedom.

Oh, and the majority of "celebrities" are not worth the paper used to wipe one's arse. It doesn't matter where they came from; most are insecure, unstable, greedy little rats pretending to live a life. Why would I give a sheet what Joni, Neil, Bruce, Meryl, Julia, Oprah et al, think?

Enjoy your road trip and big hugs to your adorable pups! :)

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Ruth H's avatar

Love the pictures. Glad you have your dogs to keep you company on such a long journey.

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Orwell’s Rabbit's avatar

My spouse and I have taken many trips on secondary/tertiary/tribal roads throughout the Southwest. Often we are one of only a few cars on the road, and the wide valleys and broad skies are beautiful. There are also many little-visited places to explore along the way. If you have a bit of extra time, I’d recommend doing a section.

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Thoughtful Reader's avatar

Driving across this country is always profound. It's one of my favorite things to do - I've done it many, many times, usually alone, sometimes with a dog. I just did a run 2 weeks ago - Pacific coast to the Texas/OK border. (I share your unease with I40, especially on the Western half of the country.) I love driving across the country because the reality is such a stark contrast to the picture painted by the progressive elites.

This past trip was amazing - Trump signs everywhere (including covering California.) Mid-coastal CA is the "salad bowl" of the country - field after field of high-value crops, turned over constantly by little armies of ag workers (many/most of them not citizens.) Their cars line up along the field roads at dawn, next to the DelMonte busses bringing the workers to the fields. Even those cars were a solid wall of Trump stickers, American flags, etc. It was stunning.

This drive back was unusual. It was only a few days before the election; there were groups of people standing on remote overpasses, waving flags - (Trump and American flags), trucks and cars declaring their occupants' break with the compelled narratives. The truck stops felt like we were all in the same caravan, somehow. People of vastly different descriptions (even a few Harris/Walz bumper stickers) were helping each other - with engine troubles, with items on high shelves, holding doors open - with smiles and kind words for the cashiers. It was really striking. Almost surreal.

Even aside from the political unity, I felt (as I often do) it's a powerful tonic to actually see and speak in person with real humans. If all these people are Nazis, I grew up with the wrong definition of Nazi.

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MrKudzu's avatar

I find driving through areas of endless cornfields to be therapeutic for some reason.

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BBS's avatar

Safe travels, Sasha. Ohio loves you!

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MrKudzu's avatar

O-H!

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Dan's avatar

I-O!

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Tim Goodsell's avatar

Leave politics aside. Tell us about your dogs and what they’re like to travel with! I’ve got 4 big guys (all 80 lbs +) and have a million stories. Would love to hear some of yours. Travel safe Sasha! This Thanksgiving I’m grateful for the opportunity to be one of your subscribers. You consistently brighten my day.

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MB's avatar

I can’t get past “They’re thinking about running her again in 2028.” What???

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Kurt's avatar

Running her again would be the greatest gift imaginable. Of course she will still be incabable of intelligent thought or coherent speech, but whatever. And she has yet to ever win a single delegate. Good luck with that one. Maybe the country is ready to listen to the scolding condescension of narcissistic elites for a change, rather than dangerously engage their benighted minds in critical thought. Who knows? At $100 million a week, watching the second flameout will be more fun than the first time.

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HL3's avatar

Its a shit poll because none of these early open primary polls ever came true. We dont even know shes running.

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Ol’ Country Gal's avatar

Kinda freaks me out. She’d have to win a primary next time around.

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