When I began RINOcracy.com in 2013, I had no idea that it would go on this long. Now after 302 numbered blogs and various Special Bulletins, I have decided it is time to bring it to a close.
I would like to thank several individuals who have helped make the blog possible. First and foremost, thanks to my daughter, Heather Parker, Chief Technical Officer and Art Director, without whose help it could never have started, let alone continued. Thanks also to my wife, Angela, and our dear friend, Frankie Jueds, who have patiently edited the blogs. Special thanks to Contributing Editor Suzi Garment who has not only rescued me from stylistic solecisms but provided guest blogs. And thanks to several distinguished friends who accepted my invitations (or pleas) to write guest blogs: Jeffrey Bauer, John Broesamle, Ivan Dee, John Swindell, Libby Treadwell, Sandy Treadwell, and Roger Williams.
Finally, I must express my appreciation to readers of this space, and especially to those who gave me comments, either publicly or privately; they were sometimes in concurrence, sometimes in dissent, but always thoughtful and often encouraging. The RINOcracy.com website will remain open until October 31 for any who wish to submit a final comment, either publicly or privately (by clicking on the Contact tab).
One concluding note. Although I was born during the Great Depression, I have no memory of it and only fragmentary recollections of World War II. If I discount family lore that I listened on the radio to the Republican Convention in 1940 and joined the gallery in chanting “We want Wilkie,” my genuine awareness of public issues began a only few short years later. In the following decades, I lived through some stressful times, particularly during the Cold War and the turbulent Sixties. Yet I don’t think that at any point I was as fearful for the future of the country as I am today. Perhaps the younger generations will do a better job of sorting things out than has my own and its immediate successors. I pray that to be the case.
I have been a very faithful reader since its beginning and although I often disagreed I found your blogs informative and educational. Sorry to see you go and I wish you the best on your trail ahead.
We all embrace your longstanding contributions. Thanks a million — Geez! Almost makes me want to take up a collection to send you back to Wrigley Field — if they ever should get back into contention.
Thank you for all your thoughtful — and thought-provoking — commentary over the years. You helped us all understand the world better!
‘Ave’ as in “yes, we ‘ave no bananas?” Because I still see a whole bunch of green and over-ripe ones haunting the halls of our nation’s capitol.
Or maybe you meant ‘Ave Baez has flown from his ursine lair? The horror!
Who will do the wide reading if not our nosey Parker? Who has the incisive mind to do the synthesis, and then take fingers to keyboard to eloquently précis the nuggets for us drones to read, dropping the chaff to the floor?
I can live without naughty Catullus whom you quote as your preamble. But remember he also said, “At non effugies meos iambos.” (“But you will not escape from my invective!”)
Oh, now I get it. Perhaps you meant to say, “Ave you no sense of decency, Sir?”
No farewells yet, but we will miss our notes from a cranky moderate, Doug.
Tony
Doug, Heather, and all contributors – this blog saw us through a very dark time in our history as a country. My heartfelt thanks to all who participated. Doug, your legal eye was extraordinary, truly the best at deciphering what was going on as events happened in real time. Your keen intellect, coupled with an incredible way with words, overlaid by an inspiring sense of American values, as applied through the legal lens and with a birds’ eye view of what challenges we have faced – including clear and present threats to our democracy – has elevated the hearts and minds of all who were graced with your blog. I hope this retirement is temporary. We need your 10,000 foot view of world events. We truly do.
Sorry to read that this chapter is ending. But thank you for all of your thoughts and always so eloquently putting them to “paper” for us all. Hope you guys are doing Ok. Hello to Angela from the Lenarts. 😊
Doug- I have shared your articles with others all over the Cape and they have have forwarded them to others. Of course we are sorry to see you go. Perhaps others can fill in the space so that
RINO can continue. Best to you for your future. You have been loved. Bob Singer, Cape Cod, MA
Ohhhhh, Doug. So so so sorry to see you go, or at least to have to face the prospect of not hearing your elegant, thoughtful, provocative when needed, voice. I have gained from reading every one of your 302 entries, every one of which left me wiser, better informed and refreshed from thinking about a complex problem from a new perspective.
Bravo!
After looking up, “Ave Atque Vale”, I can only say, well done and farewell. You are marching ever onward, with your banners reaching to the sky. And, you deserve this R&R. Yes, there will be new and youthful boots hitting the ground. We have to be optimistic and confident about tomorrow.
Be well and thanks.
Doug, having been a faithful reader of, and occasional respondent to, your blogs; and, having recently chosen to discontinue a weekly newsletter to my community (one that, thanks to Covid, extended far beyond its intended lifespan), I have mixed feelings about this, your last, missive. On the one hand, I will miss them terribly; on the other, I completely understand your need to pull back and enjoy some respite from the demands of our day. Perhaps, as others have suggested, and especially with the 2022 mid-terms coming, we can look forward to occasional words of enlightenment from you. We will need them.
Many thanks to you and your collaborators and enablers. You all deserve our heartiest gratitude.
Finally, now that my Pacemaker concerns are pretty much behind me, we can soon get together over lunch and discuss such weighty matters as cabbages and kings.
Ken
Your clarity and lack of malice have been unique and will be missed – just when we need them both more than ever.
Thanks to you (and Heather!) for that even balance.
Dear Doug,
You will be missed as there are so few people who comment wisely from experience without hoping to promote a point of view. Too often the point of view obscures the facts of the case, but you are one of the few who have avoided this unfortunate habit.
Again you will be missed.
Freddy
Dear Doug,
I had a comment quasi-composed in my head (while wiping the tears from my eyes) until I read Edward Webster’s…which was almost word-for-word what I was going to say.
I know RINOcracy has been a huge amount of work, not only for you, but for Heather, Angela, Suzi and your other collaborators…and since I’m the laziest person I know, I can fully relate to anyone’s desire to relax. That said, I wd like to echo Tom Schoonmaker’s request that you consider offering an occasional commentary…actually PLEAD with you!
Your distraught fan & friend,
Monica
Thanks, Doug, always valued reading your posts, finding your thorough, responsible, thoughtful analyses helpful to understanding complex events. As one whose political interests also go back to World War Two, and loving then the election song “Happy Days are Here Again”, I have to admit happy political days have been far too infrequent. Seeing political concerns now more grave than ever, I too am placing my hopes in the upcoming generations, they are being handed an uphill battle to face!
Thanks, Doug. I’ve only recently become a reader of RINOcracy. You consistently provide deep analysis of important issues. I don’t know how to characterize your views, other than reasonable and thought provoking. There’s too little of that out there. We may disagree from time to time on the details of an approach, but it’s always in the forum of democratic discussion. I look forward to continuing our conversations offline. Leo
We have been enriched by your thoughtful and informed comments, so I am very sorry that you are stopping. I do understand, however, as I continue to miss your helpful insights.
Doug, to say I am deeply saddened to hear you are discontinuing Rinocracy does not begin to cover the disappointment. You have been a voice of wisdom and stability in tumultuous times. Your voice will be greatly missed.
Like many of your readers, I wish you well.
Van Hackett
Oh no. Say it ain’t so, Doug!
Thanks Doug for the thoughtful, elegant explosions. I’ll miss them greatly. John Vaughan
I see several others had the same thought that stormed into my head – “SAY IT AIN’T SO”! Your so savvy political commentary never ceased to be so well-researched, right on the nose, and always entertaining. I hope that you will occasionally enlighten us with your valuable observations. We need it!
Best of luck going forward.
What America can use more of, is truly Conservative voices, in lieu of the “Reactionary” voices that have taken over the label and worked with diligence to run America closer and closer to an autocratic end. Given the “Reactionary” perversion of the Conservative label, it has for a long while seemed to me, that “Rino” is one of the highest compliments anyone on the Right can receive.
You’ve labelled yourself a “Moderate.” I suspect that “Conservative” is closer to the fact. Your readers wish you the best in whatever you do that comes next.
Regards,
(($; -)}™
Gozo
Thanks, Doug
And a thanks also to those you named who helped you with this project over the years. I have enjoyed reading and thinking about the insights and observations you’ve shared so generously. I will miss your “notes from a cranky moderate,” but will rest assured we’ll be rooting for our Cubs together through good times and bad. 😉
Many thanks,
Joanne Parrilli
Reno, NV. (By way of California and Rogers Park)
Doug: I will really miss your humane, smart and balanced take on the issues of the day. I share your concern about the future of the Republic. More voices like yours are needed.
Douglas. Your fantastic Rino has been a wonder -,,a wonderful experience, educational – just great!
I’m saddened by your decision to stop it – I do understand but would be happy to see it continue – even on an occasional basis. Several times I was tempted to take you up on writing on some topic – just am too lazy now to do anything but enjoy.
Without saying “so long” I will await your taking my suggestion to do an occasional commentary…… a good way to keep in touch.
Ciao,
Tom .
Say it ain’t so, Doug.
How can we possibly know what to think of this crazy world without your stabilizing, common sense support?
Rinocracy will be missed.
I, for one and I believe many, will be sorry to see your missives go. Though we have not always agreed, I have ALWAYS read (and saved) them for the insights and information they contained. You, Angela, Heather, and others deserve a well done rest. But if you feel like picking up your pen again, I will always be delighted to read it.
I, too, have never been so fearful of where we as Americans and America were headed.
Best Regards Always,
Stacey Griffith
Oh no! Please reconsider, Doug.
Sandy
Comments are closed.