WRU Unplugger of the Year

The WRU Unplugger of the Year need not be a monarchist, nor regret the fall of the Old European Order. The WRU Unplugger of the Year is simply the one who is considered to have done most in bringing about the unplugging of the Wilson Revolution.

This year's awardee comes from the capital of the old empire that was destroyed when the Wilsonian World Order arose. His government has offered serious opposition to the Brussels EU regime. His government has proposed Austrian citizenship for residents of South Tyrol, a part of Austria that was granted to Italy as a Wilsonian measure. His government may be the first step in and an inspiration to restoration of old Austria.

The 2017 WRU Unplugger of the Year is:

Sebastian Kurz

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Quote of the Month

Over at Casey Research, says Mr. Douglas R. Casey:

Older people always think the youth are foolish, ignorant, lazy, crazy, and generally taking the world to hell in a handbasket. And of course many of their charges are, and always have been, true.

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Quote of Month (November)

Writes Bionic Mosquito:

Let’s say you were one of the rulers of the time: if you choose the Roman Church, you were bound to shared sovereignty and customary law; if you choose Lutheranism, you were free from all of that – a true sovereign.

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An Anniversary Speech

Christmas 60 years ago was the first televised Christmas speech of Her Britannic Majesty.

This year's speech and that of 60 years ago:

Truce at Christmas

Christmas a century and three years ago, the first Christmas Truce of the Great War took place.

Railroad Nationalization at 100

A century and a day ago today, the Persona Non Grata of this weblog announced nationalization of U.S. railroads.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas!

Elisabeth of Bavaria 180

Nine score years ago today, Elisabeth of Bavaria was born.

The Germans and the Bolsheviks

A century ago today, the Germans and the Bolsheviks started peace talks.

French Recognition of American Rebels

Two dozen decades ago today, the Kingdom of France recognized those United States.

Arrival in Crushed World

A year short of a century ago today, the bête noire of this weblog arrived for the post-WWI Versailles conference.

Pennsylvanian Commonwealth Ratifies

A dozen score years ago today, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ratified the United States Constitution.

Indeed a Day of Infamy!

A century ago today, the bête noire of this weblog signed the declaration of war against Austria-Hungary, after having spoken three days earlier.

The motion to declare war passed unopposed in the United States Senate. It was opposed by one honorable United States Representative. This war had become for the Allied Powers almost exclusively – if not entirely – a war to make the world safe for unfettered mass democracy, although the British Empire had to wait a while to have that unleashed upon it.

Previously: A Day of Betrayal; An Entanglement with Imperial Germany; U.S. Senate for Going to War; An Infamous Speech on the Hill...

King Michael of Romania, RIP

King Michael of Romania (1921-2017). Requiescat in pace!

To Sea to Democratize

A year short of a century ago today, the Persona Non Grata of this weblog, the Democratizer-In-Chief, set sail aboard the USS George Washington to carve up Europe and make the world safe for Wilsonian mass democracy.

Franz Joseph to the Throne

Eight score and nine years ago today, the reign of Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria commenced.

Bolshevik Peace Agreement

A century ago today, the Bolsheviks reached an armistice with the Central Powers.

German Commie Support

A century ago yesterday, the German Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Richard von Kühlmann applauded Lenin's rise to power.

Andreas Hofer 250

A quarter of a millennium ago today, Andreas Hofer was born.

Happy Platinum Anniversary!

To Her Britannic Majesty and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

Archduke Otto 105

Today marks the 104^rd birthday of the late Archduke Otto of Austria – the sixth after his passing.

Happy Monaco National Day!

The Principality of Monaco, one of two monarchies in Europe where the monarch can actually in any meaningful way be said to still be ruling, celebrates her National Day.

Congratulations! Especially to the Princely Family and the people and residents of Monaco!

Brazil 128 Years Ago

Two to the power of seven years ago today, Emperor Pedro II was deposed.

128 years of interregnum is far more than enough!

Poll Results: Are Constitution and Liberty Lovebirds or Archenemies?

The results for the poll asking whether Constitution and liberty are lovebirds or archenemies, ending at midnight between September and October, are as follows:

Total votes: 3.

• mostly archenemies: 2 (66%)
• essentially half-way [in-]between: 1 (33%)
• absolutely lovebirds: 0 (0%)
• absolutely archenemies: 0 (0%)
• mostly lovebirds: 0 (0%)
• concepts completely unrelated: 0 (0%)
• couldn't care less: 0 (0%)

A new poll will be up shortly.

Queen Lili'uokalani

A century and two days ago today, Lili'uokalani, Queen of Hawai'i passed on.

Armistice at 99

A year short of a century ago today, the guns of the Great War fell silent.

This also marks the end of German-speaking monarchy, save Liechtenstein.

Neunundneunzig Jahre Interregnum sind ganz mehr als genug!

Luther 500

Half a millennium ago today (October 31 in the Julian Calendar), Martin Luther initiated the Reformation.

Red October Centennial

A century ago today, the world was hit by Red October. The Bolsheviks committed a coup against the Kerensky provisional government. And no, Lenin was no Mr. Nice Guy!

Dr. Gary North on the centennial.

Please feel free to read my article from 2005.

Quote of the Month (October)

Over at the PanAm Post, Dr. José Azel writes:

[I]t was during Franklin Roosevelt’s presidency that the concepts of freedom and democracy were corrupted beyond recognition in American politics. Roosevelt introduced the aberrant argument that freedom hinges on government. In this view of democracy, as long as government responds to the people, it does not matter how much the government restricts freedoms; the people are free.

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Happy Halloween!

If you could find a way to dress up as the power of the modern constitutional, pervasive State, you would scare the living craps out of all the neighbors.

Brazil at War against Germany

A century ago today, Brazil (the interregnal government) joined the Allied Powers.

Oscar II Abdicates

A century and a dozen years ago today, King Oscar II abdicated the ancient throne of St. Olav, formally ending the union of Sweden and Norway, being a step on the march towards ever increasing democracy.

Benjamin Constant

A quarter of a millennium ago today, Benjamin Constant was born.

Selected reading:

• Benjamin Constant, Ralph Raico, Ludwig von Mises Institute
• The Liberty of Ancients Compared with that of Moderns, Benjamin Constant, The Austrian Economics Center
• The Greatest French Libertarian Thinker You've Never Heard Of, Gary M. Galles, FEE

Cornwallis Surrender

Two centuries and three dozen years ago today, General Lord Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown.

Russian Throne Cedes Alaska

Three halves of a century ago today, Alaska was transferred from the throne of Russia.

Queen to the Scaffold

Two centuries and a couple of dozen years ago today, Queen Marie Antoinette was brutally murdered.

Interregnum of Portugal

107 years ago today, the interregnal government of Portugal commenced.

Viva o Rei!

War Revenue Act

A century ago today, the United States Congress passed the War Revenue Act.

Quote of the Month

Over at the Mail on Sunday, Mr. Peter Jonathan Hitchens writes:

We are already living in a republic. We just don’t know it yet. Diana Spencer, perhaps the most brilliant politician of our age, destroyed the British monarchy 20 years ago.

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George III Coronation 256

256 (2^8) years ago today, George III of the United Kingdom was crowned.

Olav V Succeeds Haakon VII

60 years ago today, Crown Prince Olav of Norway, born Prince Alexander Edward Christian Frederik of Denmark, ascended to the ancient throne of St. Olav as King Olav V, upon the demise of his father, King Haakon VII.

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Proclaimed Republic

225 years ago today, the First French Republic was proclaimed.

Vive le Roi de la France!

My take on the anniversary at LRC.

Papal Peace Initiative

A century ago today, the Central Powers responded to the peace initiative of Pope Benedict XV.

Quote of the Month (August)

Writes Bionic Mosquito:

The end of the war came: Germany was forced to accept all blame for the war. Meanwhile, Britain achieved its objective: progress in Russia would grind to a halt, with the revolutions of 1917 ensuring Russia would remain diverted for quite some time.

The cost? Ten million dead from fighting, half-again from disease. Two-hundred billion dollars spent; European economies shattered. Deficits piled high, empires that dominated the globe destroyed.

Britain had won the battle, if one can refer to the Great War as such within the context of containing Russia; it lost the war.

And it took European civilization down with it.

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Oscar II of Sweden and Norway

145 years ago today, King Oscar II ascended the thrones of Sweden and Norway.

Federal Constitution of U.S. Adopted

23 decades ago today, the federal Constitution of those United States was signed, and the Constitutional Convention dissolved, at Independence Hall in Phildelphia in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Russia Declared Republic

A century ago today, Russia was declared a republic.

Mencken 137

A century and three dozen years ago today, H.L. Mencken was born.

On the occasion of yesterday's Norwegian parliamentary election, a quote is brought to you:

[E]very election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.

In November, the H.L. Mencken Club hosts its 2017 conference – November 3 through 4.

The Guillotine Retired

40 years ago today, the French Fifth Republic performed execution by the guillotine for the last time.

Anything else in France need retiring?

Independence of Brazil

Five years short of two centuries ago today, the future Emperor Dom Pedro I proclaimed the independence of Brazil.

The Marquis de la Fayette at 260

A baker's dozen score years ago today, Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de la Fayette was born.

Passing ot the King's PM

Two to the power of seven years ago today, Christian August Selmer, Norwegian Prime Minister of King Oscar II, who fought with His Majesty against the usurping Parliament during the “constitutional crisis” of the 1880s, passed away.

Light Bulbs

Five years ago today, the last phase of the ban against the incandescent light bulb came into force.

Levée en Masse

225 years ago today, the levée en masse was established.

Redcoats on Long Island

A dozen score years ago today, Redcoats landed at Long Island.

Austrian Sapphire Emperor at 187

Nine score and seven years ago today, Archduke Franz Josef was born.

Gott erhalte und beschütze den Kaiser!

Kaiser Karl

130 years ago today, Archduke Charles of Austria – later Emperor-King – was born.

Gott erhalte und beschütze den Kaiser!

The Revolution's Tribunal

225 years ago today, Robespierre proposed a revolutionary tribunal.

Independence of India

70 years ago today, the Indian Independence Act came into force.

National Day of Liechtenstein

Happy National Day!

Hoch leb' der Fürst vom Land!

Chinese Republicans vs. Imperial Germany

A century ago today, the Republic of China declared war on Imperial Germany and Austria-Hungary.

Arresting His Majesty

225 years ago today, Louis XVI of France was officially arrested.

Book Just Released

The book Grunnlov og frihet: turtelduer eller erkefiender? (translated title: Constitution and Liberty: Lovebirds or Archenemies?), edited by yours truly, was released just this week.

The book features, amongst others, Cato Institute's Johan Norberg. The overall theme of the book is asking tough, critical questions about the Constitution (of the Kingdom of Norway), liberty and democracy.

We speak where others are silent. We challenge myths. We shake the Norwegian consensus.

Links (mostly in Norwegian) for the book:

• website: grlfrihet.no
• F***book: @GrlFrihet
• Twitter: @GrlFrihet

Poll Results: What Concept Is Democracy?

The results for the poll asking how the concept of democracy is described, ending at midnight between June and July, are as follows:

Total votes: 9.

• that the world needs to be made safe from: 7 (77%)
• that needs to be made safe for the world: 2 (22%)
• that the world needs to be made safe for: 0 (0%)
• that needs to be made safe for the world, as well as the world safe for it: 0 (0%)
• that is safe for the world and the world is safe for: 0 (0%)

A new poll will be up shortly.

Tuileries Storming at 225

225 years ago today, the Tuileries Palace was stormed.

Nagasaki 72

Six dozen years ago today, a second bomb...

Previously: 70 Years Ago: # 2, Hiroshima Inferno at 71, Hiroshima Attack at 72

Quote of the Month (July)

Writes Dr. Michael S. Rozeff over at LewRockwell.com:

No matter what labels we attach to the national government of America, that government has gone steadily downhill for a long, long time. It does almost nothing right. Its intrusions here and overseas are abominable and grow ever-larger. It multiplies its evils continually, seeking out new ones. We have even reached a point where the government in its vast ignorance and hubris keeps raising the risks of nuclear war and World War 3. The government’s meddling serves only narrow business interests, oligarchs, bureaucrats, power-hungry psychopaths, busybodies and opportunists. Its interventions corrupt the people, dumb them down, and make them helpless, dependent, mindless and lazy. Whatever progress has been made by Americans has been in spite of the malefactions of their democratic government or whatever the appropriate labels for this monstrosity are.

Americans should undermine their “democracy”. They should assault it. It needs assaulting. It needs a strong dose of desecration because it has taken on an entirely undeserved role as a sacred institution. The next marches on Washington should be to downsize the government drastically, to end rules and regulations, to cut out bureaus, to end programs, to lay off bureaucrats, and to eliminate whole departments. The New Deal and the subsequent growth of government built upon it need to be understood as extremely harmful to Americans and something to be repudiated. The country needs to engage in a very, very different kind of restructuring of ideas and government, or else continue going downhill.

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Quote of the Month (June)

Writes Bionic Mosquito:

Man without any anchor will create an anchor. This anchor was built on the wisdom of “enlightened” man, a foundation of sand. Enlightened man led to the suicide of the West.

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Fundamental truths are replaced by fundamental maybes…or maybe nots. Your betters – the “enlightened” – will let you know which is which. Being pragmatists, your betters will feel free to have “right” and “wrong” trade places whenever they find it…pragmatic – meaning, to their benefit. Good luck trying to keep up.

Nietzsche did not live to see this suicide of the West – the Great War. He seemed to know it was coming.

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Francis Joseph 187 this Month

As an annual event, Bad Ischl celebrates Austria's Sapphire Emperor, His Late Imperial and Royal Majesty Franz Josef I, around his birthday. This year is his 187^th, which is eleven days from now from now – August 18. The festival takes place August 14 thru 19. More details can be found here.

Draft Constitution Debated

23 decades ago today, the first draft to a new federal Constitution for those United States was debated.

Hiroshima Attack at 72

72 years ago today...

A Great Lion at 108

Nine dozen years ago today, Erik Maria Ritter von Kuehnelt-Leddihn was born.

Please feel free to browse previous posts.

Bad Ischl 1914

103 years ago today, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia.

Trondhjem in 1873

A dozen squared years ago today, King Oscar II was crowned King of Norway in Trondhjem Cathedral.

Remember this Early Morning!

Remember!

One year short of a century ago today.

Belloc Passing at 64

Eight squared years ago today, Hilaire Belloc passed on from this world.

Vive le Roi de la France!

228 years ago today, the Storming of the Bastille took place.

Passing of Edmund Burke

Eleven score years ago today, Edmund Burke passed away.

King Gyanendra 70

His Majesty King Gyandendra of Nepal is 70 years old today.

Happy Birthday! Long live the Kingdom of Nepal!

Strutt Passing at 69

We mark 69 years since the passing of this weblog's icon, or mascot if you will, Lt.-Col. Strutt.

Please feel free to browse posts on this great officer.

Constitution by Bayonet

130 years ago today, the Bayonet Constitution was signed.

Greece vs. Central Powers

A century ago today, the Kingdom of Greece declared war against the Central Powers.

Hong Kong

Twenty years ago today, Hong Kong was handed over to the People's Republic of China.

Dominion Day

Happy Dominion Day, Canada!

150 years since Canada's Confederation today.

Latin Bridge

A century and three years ago today, the assasination in Sarajevo took place.

Boots on the Ground

A century ago today, American troops arrived in France for duty in the Great War.

Trondhjem 1906

111 years ago today, King Haakon VII and Queen Maud were crowned in Trondhjem.

Upcoming Summer Events

The Russian Summer Ball for 2017 is the 22^nd annual ball in the series. It will take place on Saturday July 1^st.

The Abbeville Institute has a tradition of an annual summer school. This upcoming summer the institute is holding a summer school on Southern identity. The summer school runs from July 9 through 14. It takes place on Seabrook Island, South Carolina. More information can be found here.

The Mises Institute also hosts its annual Mises University July 23 through 29.

We also have an event in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is the annual FreedomFest by Dr. Mark Skousen. This year it takes place at Paris Las Vegas, a new location for the annual Las Vegas conference. It is scheduled to run July 19 through 22. This year is the 10^th anniversary and the 11^th FreedomFest.

Family Conflict

A century ago today, His Britannic Majesty George V changed the name of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the House of Windsor.

Mexican Regicide

150 years ago today, Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico was brutally murdered.

Flag Day

A century ago today, the bête noire and the Persona Non Grata of this weblog gave a Flag Day address.

Passing of G.K. Chesterton

Nine squared years ago today, G.K. Chesterton passed from this world.

Abdication of Constantine I of Greece

A century ago today, King Constantine of the Hellenes abdicated.

Happy Birthday, Duke!

His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, is 96 today. Born Eight dozen years ago today a Prince of Greece and Denmark.

Badapest 1867

150 years ago today, the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy, established through a compromise, was crowned with the coronation of Their Imperial and Royal Majesties Emperor-King Franz Josef I and Empress-Queen Elisabeth as King and Queen of Hungary.

Deposal of a King

112 years ago today, the Parliament of the Kingdom of Norway moved to depose the King – Oscar II.

Gold Standard Departed

Seven dozen years ago today, President Franklin D. Roosevelt took those United States off the gold standard.

Wilhelm II Passing at 76

76 years ago today, Wilhelm II, German Emperor, passed away.

Coronation at 64

2⁶ years ago today, Her Britannic Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

Quote of the Month

Writes Bionic Mosquito:

Such is our lot: legislation and regulation by men wiser than us and wiser than God.

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Passing of Captain von Trapp

Seven decades ago today, Georg Ludwig Ritter von Trapp passed away.