John Cox

Husband. Father. Conservative. Retired USAF. @Florida
Lifetime member of the Sweet Baby Gang

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@EndWokeness There's no doubt she's guilty, but when you post something in quotes that doesn't contain the words actually spoken in the attached video it undermines your own credibility.

If you're going to quote someone then you should use their actual words.

[The Real Mike Rowe @mikeroweworks]

Not the way I planned on spending my afternoon, but 7,600 comments should not be ignored! Bots, trolls and personal attacks notwithstanding, the critics of yesterday’s post were dominated by a large and vocal contingent who rushed to remind me that there’s “a difference between socialism and communism,” an obvious indication that they didn’t actually read the post.

Shelley Armour writes… “Mike! You know there is a difference between democratic socialism and communism, right?”

Hi, Shelley. Yes, I know there’s a difference, and I understand what the difference is. The larger point, and the fundamental flaw with your comment, is that you seem to believe the candidates within the Democratic Socialist Party are both “democratic and socialist" simply because that’s the name of their club. Well, maybe some of them are. I really couldn’t say. What I can tell you for sure is that more than a few have called for the complete dismantling of capitalism, free markets, representative government, property rights, borders, police, prisons, and the Constitution in general. My post referred to them, as well as a number of elected Democrats who have agreed to campaign on their behalf – including Gavin Newsom, who said, "The Democratic Party must accept the DSA in order to take back the Congress.” His words, not mine.

Tracey Steele writes…“Wow! I cannot believe Mike Rowe said this. He has a huge reach, and he is actually spouting the word “communism” like it’s the 1950s! Wow Wow Wow!”

Wow indeed, Tracey, and thanks for noticing the size of my reach! (Contrary to popular belief, size does matter!) To say it again, I am not the one “spouting” communism or conflating socialists and communists. The word is being “spouted” by members of the DSA who are using it to describe themselves. I am not accusing them; I am quoting them.

John Engles… Hey Rowe, what’s the difference between the Communists who want to run the country and the Nazi/fascist who currently is?

Several differences, John, but the only one relevant to this conversation is the fact that the communists currently running for office have clearly identified themselves as such. They do not dispute or reject the label. They embrace it. It is who they are, who they claim to be, and who they want to be. The president, on the other hand, has never claimed to be a Nazi or a fascist. That doesn’t mean he isn't, but it is worth noting he has rejected the accusation outright. Obviously, you are entitled to that opinion and the right to share it publicly, thanks to our Constitution. Unlike in a fascist, Nazi, or communist regime. (Also worth noting, Nazis and fascists are not the same thing.)

Chris Tomaloff writes… “Kinda like how the political right didn’t shout down the extreme rhetoric coming from their candidates?”

No, Chris, not like that at all. In the video I shared, we saw examples of prominent Democrats saying things like, “We need to elect more communists!” (Cea Weaver, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office.) Mamdani himself literally tweeted, "Each according to their need, each according to their ability." That’s a direct quote from the Communist Manifesto.

But what exactly is the corollary from the right? Are prominent Republicans tweeting, “We need to elect more Nazis! We need to elect more fascists! Eat the poor!” I don’t think so. John Engles may think Trump is fascist and a Nazi, but Trump disagrees, and so do a majority of voters. Communists, on the other hand, say it loud and say it proud. I’m inclined to take them at their word.

Beto Ojeda… “Mike has always leaned to the Trumpian view of things but never states it, so as not to alienate anyone, but we know how to read between the lines. This “communist” talk is McCarthyism 2.0.”

I wasn’t around in the 1950s, Beto, but from what I’ve read, it was indeed a very difficult time to be a communist in this country. Lots of private citizens were dragged before Congress, made to take “loyalty oaths," and blacklisted in their places of work. I can’t justify it or condone it, but I can explain it. We had just fought a hot war against fascism and Nazism and just begun a Cold War against a communist regime. The existence of an organized Communist Party in this country at such a time strained the limits of tolerance. But do you really think we’re less tolerant today than we were seventy-five years ago? Do you really believe my comments about communists who claim to be communists are synonymous with another Red Scare? If you haven’t noticed, Chris, no one in the DSA, including the communists, is being dragged before Congress and made to swear a loyalty oath to the Constitution. Today, a communist in America can run for office…with the endorsement of the governor of California! And the tacit approval of a major political party! Seems to me we’re about as far from McCarthyism as we can get.

As for my desire not to alienate anyone, I suppose I am guilty of that. I run a foundation that is open to people of all political beliefs, and we’ve assisted lots of Americans who lean to the left. I also know for a fact that many Democrats have supported mikeroweWORKS historically, and I have no desire to run them off. But do you really have to “read between the lines” to understand where I’m coming from?

True, I’ve never endorsed a candidate or publicly encouraged people to vote. But I’ve been very transparent about the fact that I’m a registered Independent who favors policies and programs that often align with conservative principles. Obviously, I would not characterize those conservative principles as “Trumpian,” because a) they were around long before him, b) Trump is not a conservative, and c) I do not agree with or support everything the President says and does. So, is it possible, Beto, that your accusation is rooted in the fact that I have never publicly denounced the president to your satisfaction? Is it possible you think I'm a Trumper, simply because I've never called him a fascist, or a Nazi, or a liar, or a conman, or a traitor, or whatever else you believe him to be?

Gretchen Seipp… Mike, the fact that you still act as though you’re not political after all this time is a bit ridiculous. I still support your work and foundation because I believe in it, but the folksy act has worn thin.

Aw, shucks, Gretchen. Folksy? Lil' ole me?
Honestly, how am I acting as if I am “not political?” This entire conversation is the very definition of “political.”

Christopher Pugh… I would have voted for Mike Rowe and Freddie a few years ago before he went full-on MAGA, and I’m all in favor of his project, but it’s pretty clear the political direction that he’s moved in and the money trail that has influenced it.

It’s Freddy, not Freddie. (I don’t much care, but he’s a terrier and particular about such things.) As for the “full-on MAGA” moniker, is there something I did specifically to earn that designation? Is there some kind of general definition you can share? Or, are you coming from the same place as Beto? Is calling me “Full-On MAGA" your way of saying that I’ve failed to condemn Trump to your satisfaction?

For the record, MRW is supported by liberals and conservatives alike. I have no idea what “money trail” you are referring to. Also, regarding my personal politics, think about the implications of what I wrote. I said that the Democrats have been given a gift – an opportunity to appear reasonable by speaking the truth to their own party, just as Bill Maher has done. All they have to do is distance themselves from candidates who have called for the complete dismantlement of our Constitution. All they have to do is say, “Hold on, comrade. Our tent is not that big. We respect your right to hate America, but we don’t want you in our party, and we will not support your candidacy.”

If they say that, I think a lot of Independents would see them as they see John Fetterman, who has, in the eyes of many voters, become the most “rational” Democrat currently in office. If they don’t – if they actually welcome communist candidates into their party – then I’m afraid the Democrats, by default, will offer the American people a very simple choice in November – a party that disavows communism vs. a party that doesn’t. I think such a choice would be very positive for Republicans because I don’t think most Americans want to align themselves with a Democratic Party that welcomes communists. The question for you, Chris, is why would a “Full-On MAGA” like me encourage Democrats to act in a way that would disadvantage the Republican Party? And the answer is simple – it’s because I support the existence of a Democratic Party that believes America is still a fundamentally good place.

I think there’s a lot of room for improvement in our country, and I believe the best way to realize those improvements is for Democrats and Republicans to have continuous, robust and public debate about all the issues. But if one of those parties is affirmatively determined to transform our democratic republic into a communist state, then we’re no longer debating the various ways to make our country better; we’re debating the merits of destroying it. And really, what’s the point of tolerating that?

America is already a big tent, filled with hundreds of millions of people with wildly differing views and lots of political parties that represent those views. We’ve got the Green Party, the American Freedom Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Constitution Party, and of course, the Communist Party USA, as well as the Democratic Socialist Party. America’s tent is so big, we can even tolerate fringe parties like the KKK, the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and so forth. Why then, does Gavin Newsom want to make room in the Democratic tent for socialists and communists? There’s only one reason, and he’s already spelled it out for us – he believes the Democrats need them to win back the Congress. I think it’s a bad bet for the Democrats and for America. And if a prominent Republican reached out to the KKK with the same “big tent” offer, you’d better believe my vote would be in play.

Michael Tillman… When are you going to throw your hat into the ring, Mr. Rowe?

Ha! When it no longer fits my head!

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@Riley_Gaines_ They painted themselves into this corner. The reason they can't come up with a better answer is that their position is indefensible. Any possible response they can think of will always make them sound like idiots.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

"Do not meet our reliability standards" is an understatement. Many owners have had failures, sometimes multiples, on low mileage trucks.

My 2024 only has about 7500 miles on it and already had an error indicating a PCS failure. When I tried to use the app to make a service appointment, it said the error had corrected itself. How does that work? Did you push an update that just clears the code on a failing part?

I'm now stuck being nervous to use the truck because it could fail at any time. The warranty extension is a move in the right direction, but honestly if you have determined and admitted that these PCS units were flawed then there should be a recall to replace them. At the very least, the warranty should extend indefinitely for that part up until the first replacement with the updated part.

It would also be nice if you would actually post this so people can see it on your account instead of putting it in a random reply to someone else's post.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

People with common sense can see that she is influencing millions of people and intentionally harming good people with her crazy crap.

That's a very different situation than your example random crazy person talking to themselves on the street.

This is mocking all the idiots that believe her. If she had no audience then nobody would care what she said.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

Is it true that you live in your mom's basement and sexually molest puppies?

I'm just asking questions...

See how that works?

Nobody is against asking questions in a sincere search for truth. People are against using a giant platform to "ask questions" intended to suggest absurd slanderous theories for which there is not only zero evidence, but mountains of evidence to the contrary.

[Konstantin Kisin @KonstantinKisin]

Incredible speech from @Miss_Snuffy!

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@MrAndyNgo Screwdriver violence is out of control. We obviously need common sense screwdriver laws to fix this. It couldn’t be anything else.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@libsoftiktok Simple obvious answer... because Trump did it. The end.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@blueoldlady24 @ZeekArkham *too dumb...

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@ZeekArkham Don't forget "poor kids are just as bright and just as talented as white kids." That was a good one.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@libsoftiktok There are a shocking number of complete idiots in elected politics and most are Democrats.

We elect people to make decisions for the rest of us that believe things like there have been 11 world wars, islands can capsize, and the moon is made of gas.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@GadSaad It would take her being a conservative white man.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@SenWarren Discussion of taxing the rich aside, this post is objectively false.

Jeff Bezos does not have $222 billion.

The value of companies he owns or partially owns account for the vast majority of his wealth. This is not cash sitting in the bank waiting to be spent by you.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@mille79266 @libsoftiktok @SecWar @realDonaldTrump So your argument is that a lunatic/terrorist would go to the trouble of joining so they could murder members of the military, but they would be unwilling to commit those murders because it's against the law to carry a weapon on base? Really?

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@stibbert57 @libsoftiktok Were these shooters breaking the law by bringing their weapons on base?

How were they able to kill so many people? Were those people defenseless because they were prohibited from carrying?

It's as if you're making the argument to allow all personnel to carry...

[John Cox @JohnCox]

Who are the people that are killing children?

I'll help you out. It's people who don't follow the law to begin with. Murder is illegal already.

Criminals already carry whether it's legal or not. Passing laws the prohibit carrying only ensures non-criminals don't carry.

There's a reason why mass shooters favor "gun-free zones" for their attacks. They know the law-abiding citizens in those locations will be defenseless.

Nobody advocating for 2A rights desires more people getting killed, as your "not enough for you" comment suggests. On the other hand, most of the people that want 2A rights taken away will use child deaths as a talking point, but just love and celebrate abortion. Take a look at the number of children killed every year by abortion in comparison.

[John Cox @JohnCox]

@elonmusk That's very generous, but did you consider that it will serve as incentive for the Democrats to continue blocking funding?

They get what they want AND take money out of your pocket. Win win.