An Important Message for All Sipsey Street Irregulars...uh...Regulars

While society rewards the likes of Snooki from Jersey Shore with celebrity and fortune, and while  lying, incompetent "Authorized Journalists" enjoy their paychecks, benefits, matching 401K contributions and the like, the market for liberty leadership is flat.

We need the leaders, but no one seems willing to pay for them.

Friends of Mike Vanderboegh have contacted me and are concerned that he's financially hurting.  I know for a fact that he is--with health problems also being a concern--and have been wondering what we who look to him on a regular basis for analysis, guidance and leadership can do.

As would be expected, Mike is not only proud, but selfless.  When I contacted him about saying something--because I don't wish to embarrass him--his response did not surprise me in the least.  I don't make a practice of sharing private emails, and I trust he'll forgive me for sharing a portion of this one--while admitting the difficult time his family is facing, this was his primary response:

I am loath to ask other people for money when things are so very tight everywhere and they should be preparing themselves.

Regulars here know I never ask for money for myself (although I do shamelessly hound to share my Examiner links so those cheap ########! can pay me).  In this case, I'm not going to ask you to send Mike a donation either.

Not a cent in gift money.

What I will ask you to do --all of you who visit his site every day and receive value from it--is pay for that value.  I'm asking you to voluntarily subscribe to Sipsey Street Irregulars and help Mike continue to bring YOU his daily reports and insights.

Just so we're clear: This is NOT CHARITY.  This is PAYMENT FOR SERVICES BEING RENDERED.

How much?  I won't put a ceiling on the maximum, but would submit the recommended minimum should be something we all, with very few exceptions/excuses can afford: A dollar a month.

I see from Mike's Site Meter that SSI brings in around 2,400 discrete visitors each day.  That means if we all do this, the guy will actually be able to pay most of the bills and focus on giving us what he's been selflessly providing every day for years--with no compensation or expectations of personal gain.

What is this guy, our slave?  Do people pay you for what you do?

I'll accept that some--a few--are simply not in a position to do this, with financial straits of their own.  But I bet most of us are able. How much do we spend a year on ammo?  Do you think we can get through this without intellectual ammunition and leadership?

How many will man up and do the right thing? 3/4? Half?Under a dozen of you?

My experience with trying to get simple things done, like sharing a link or sending an email, does not fill me with great hopes. Sorry, not trying to start a fight here, but I've said before, if anything induces me to finally hang things up and take care of Number One, it will be those "Profiles in Apathy" that to me represent a greater threat than the antis will ever be capable of presenting.

I don't want to hear great words of Liberty and "Is it time yet?" and all the other brave words of defiance from thousands of self-professed Threepers who won't even do this small thing.  If you won't do it, if you won't help when you know in your heart you could, my guess is it will show the oppressor all he needs to know about the personal commitment of those who say they'll stand up to him.

Regulars here know I never ask anyone to do anything I'm not willing to do myself.

My envelope with my $12 annual subscription fee is in the mail.

Mike Vanderboegh

P.O. Box 926

Pinson, AL 35126.

If you agree with me, yours will be too, and you'll spread the word.

And I apologize to Mike if this embarrasses him. I did not get his permission to do this. But unless he tells me flat out that leaving this plea up will end our friendship, I'll not obey any orders from him to take this post down.

We're the Only Ones Eluded Enough

“I didn’t know an Escort could go that fast,” he said. “Not the best escape vehicle you would think.” [More]

You're right. I would think that.


[Via Hazmat]

Once You Are Approved

You can’t just go pick up a pistol license. Oneida County Judge Michael Dwyer, the county’s chief pistol license officer, requires prospective applicants to complete the first eight hours of the National Rifle Association basic pistol course.

“After that, you can make an appointment to be fingerprinted, and it’s a four-month process (background checks and more),” Sullivan said. “Once you are approved, you can buy a gun.” [More]

They're not only oath breakers, they're blasphemers.

But perhaps I'm being too hard on them, and too ungrateful for the safeguards and protections they offer: After all, if they can get the violent criminals to do this, they're keeping us all a lot safer.

And remember: Enforce existing gun laws!

We're the Only Ones Pulling Out Enough

Harpole says the 42-year-old officer, a 9-year veteran of the force, pulled out his gun and shot the man with the knife. [More]

"Only Ones" can do that in Milwaukee.

A Disarming Video

Three days after he posted a series of six video clips recorded with a cell phone camera at San Francisco International Airport, four federal air marshals and two sheriff's deputies arrived at his house to confiscate his federally-issued firearm. The pilot recorded that event as well and provided all the video to News10.

At the same time as the federal marshals took the pilot's gun, a deputy sheriff asked him to surrender his state-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon.

A follow-up letter from the sheriff's department said the CCW permit would be reevaluated following the outcome of the federal investigation. [More]

Make sure you watch the video. That's quite a gang-up. I'm surprised they didn't at least kill his dog.

So much for depending on the government for permission to keep and bear arms.  They don't like you and so much for that.  But doesn't this just show the ridiculousness of the whole presumption--that videotaping official thugs and boobs makes someone who knows them when he sees them too dangerous to be trusted with a firearm.

But he can still fly.

So say the "Only Ones."

[Via Lots of You]

We're the Only Ones Instructive Enough

An instructor for the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy is recovering from a gunshot wound suffered during a training session Tuesday in Summit County. [More]

He "was shot."

And "the shooting happened."

And no, of course they won't tell us who he is. Which will make entering his name as a Lee Paige Award finalist problematic...

Senate ducks Traver ATF vote

Had they done that—and had a vote occurred—it could have widened fractures in Democrat solidarity and further weakened the administration’s influence. [More]

Today's Gun Rights Examiner column looks at a dodged bullet, but notes the gun ain't empty yet.

And speaking of guns, why not resolve to buy one?

Shoot the link over to your friends?

This Day in History: December 24

[More]

GRE Round Up for December 23

Here are the latest offerings from my fellow GREs:

Mike Stollenwerk/DC:

• When Santa brings guns for kids

Dave Workman/Seattle:

• Local criminal cases not exactly typical of the ‘Christmas Spirit’

Also check out these other Liberty-oriented Examiners:

• Albuquerque Libertarian
• Cochise County Libertarian
• Conservative
• LA Anti-Establishment
• Michigan Firearms

A Sticky Situation

Remember when I asked:

I wonder if an NRA sticker would do it? Is this not a real-world example to prove the answer is "Yes"?

It's already happened.

[Via Mack H]

We're the Only Ones Sweet Enough

A diabetic suffering "a medical emergency caused by dangerously low sugar levels" was pulled over by Hamilton County Sheriff's officers, Tasered repeatedly, "violently dragged from the vehicle, thrown on the ground, kicked in the head by a boot, and stomped mercilessly while lying on his back," the man claims in Federal Court. [More]

Yeah, these damn people who can't control their own body chemistry piss me off, too.

[Via William T]

We're the Only Ones Experiencing Wedded Bliss Enough

He said, "Don't scream and you won't get hurt," but the woman thought he might be someone she knew playing a prank on her, deputies said. [More]

That's seriously twisted. It would never even enter the mind of anyone I know.

Why was it the very first thought the "Only One's" wife had?

[Via Ed M]

TWIC! SWAC!

Sorry, they're not Batman sound effects... [Read and Read]

Nice to know the guy everybody reports in to on this is immune from the requirements...

[Via David O]

We're the Only Ones Certifiable Enough

A deputy had knowingly operated the Golden Eagle II radar unit to clock speeds and write traffic tickets even though he lacked the mandated certification and training.

Making matters worse, the deputy, Steven Gagnon, repeatedly lied about his certification status to his supervisors, the commander said. [More]

So what can we conclude about the character of someone who would lie in order to extract revenue from citizens under color of authority? And what should the proper response be when waylaid by an armed highwayman?

[Via Portly Pirate]

They Don't Even Pretend Any More...

...to actually report, as opposed to giving the antis an exclusive forum. [Read]

I've thought of a new joke:

What's the difference between an "Authorized Journalist" and a domestic enemy?

I'm having trouble coming up with a humorous punch line.

We're the Only Ones Unidentified Enough

The city of Plano faces a lawsuit levied by the family of the man who was accidentally shot and killed by a Plano police sergeant in October...

The officer, who was a part of an undercover narcotics unit, has not been identified yet and is still on administrative leave as the police continue with an internal investigation stemming from the incident. [More]

What do you think the chances are you'd remain anonymous and on paid leave if you accidentally killed an "Only One"?

Gee, Whatever Can Be Done?

Three masked gunmen storm a local bank, terrifying tellers and customers. Investigators released surveillance photos in hopes of getting the violent robbers off the street.

The men robbed the Fifth Third Bank at Lorain Avenue and Fulton Road in Cleveland just before 3:00 p.m. Friday. [More]

You know, Fifth Third Bank...

At what point do these enablers become liable...?

We're the Only Ones Held Accountable Enough

A former special agent with the Cleveland Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives pleaded guilty to stealing money that had been seized during the execution of a federal search warrant. [More]

Just one bad apple in the BATFU barrel, right?

I wonder how many lives this criminal has ruined in the mean time?

Henny Youngman Redux

Doctor, it hurts when I do this.


Then don't do that.

Celebrities. Is it any wonder their political opinions mean so much to us?

"Millions"

More than 18 months after U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspectors were supposed to start enforcing stringent ID requirements at the nation's land borders, millions of travelers are still being admitted without passports or other secure IDs, a new government audit shows. [More]

"Millions."

If that doesn't prove the whole thing is an illusion, nothing does.

Remember that as they grope your junk. And when the next mass attack happens. And when the government uses that as the excuse to impose further controls on you.