Years ago, when I was still a young, uninformed moron that spent most of my time working and my free time smoking a bong and watching the evening network news, I used to consider the President’s State of The Union Address a fairly boring exercise
Not any more—I’m going to relish every single word President Bush utters tomorrow night. Then, somewhat reluctantly, I’m going to sit back and cringe my way through the “Democratic Rebuttal.” .
You know, “The Democratic Rebuttal?” Yes, THAT part of the TV broadcast. That’s right, the part following the slanted, biased media analysis when the Democrats trod out some supposedly moderate member of their party (what, you thought that they’d let Ted Kennedy do it himself?) to drone on endlessly about the errors in the President’s statements while they punctuate their standard list of half-truths and leftist talking points.
The only thing positive about enduring the State of the Union Rebuttal phase is the possibility of getting a few good belly laughs and obtaining a potential goldmine of blog topics.
Since some of my readers may still be inclined to partake of smokeable herbs and continue to insist on getting their news from the networks rather (but not Dan Rather) than Fox News, I’ve decided to offer some assistance in understanding how to intelligently view the President’s State of the Union Address.
Just like the newspaper articles published before the Olympics where they tell you about how each sporting event is conducted and outline the scoring of each event, I would like to offer the following scorecard for your use in scoring the content of president’s speech and the obligatory Democratic rebuttal.
First things first. Like the gymnastic, figure skating, or high diving events at the Olympics, there are different degrees of difficulty for each topic addressed that will yield greater points if they intelligently address the issue in a believable manner. There are also points awarded for quality of execution and/or artistic interpretation. You simply write down the points associated with a given issue’s difficulty and then score the execution based on how well it is developed. There are also mandatory topics that must be addressed else you deduct the associated points from the total score as a penalty for the omission.
With that said, let’s get started…
____________ State Of The Union Broadcast Scorecard ______________
PRELIMINARY EVENTS--Domestic Issues (all mandatory)
5 points each
1. The Economy in General--The president will likely say that the economy is booming.
The democrats will flap their arms and cry in their soup. People are starving, you know?
2. Job Creation—The President will brag about the millions of jobs created in the past year.
The Democrats will cry further in their soup over the replacement of high paying rust belt union jobs with herds of four foot tall telecommuting Indian chicks with red dots on their foreheads.
3. Minimum Wages—The President will brag that millions of entrepreneurs have started their own businesses after leaving minimum wage “crutch” jobs they worked after being "downsized" or "outsourced.".
The Democrats will complain that it is impossible to raise a family of five working at McDonalds or as a maid at the Econolodge while at the same time saving enough money to retire to the eastern shore of Jersey.
4. Taxes—The President will point to recent Congressional Budget Office projections of increased tax revenues and projected reductions in the deficit.
The Democrats will lament that, in spite of virtually half of the population being exempt from paying income taxes, "working families" still have to pay sales taxes, property taxes, and gas taxes.
Even worse, the “working poor” are still forced to pay social security taxes, unemployment taxes, and Medicare taxes. It just ain’t fair that the people that consume 99% of these services still have to pay for them--when and if they are employed.
5. Social Security—The President will tout the new Prescription Drug "entitlement" Plan and propose a bold new plan to privatize a part of Social Security and to allow our youngest citizens to eventually opt out entirely.
The Democrats will ask: “Problems with Social Security…what problems…there are no problems with Social Security…well, not at least until a loooonggg time after we are out of office—let them worry about it. (And by the way, HEY GRANDMA—BUSH WANTS TO TAKE AWAY YOUR CHECK SO YOU HAD BETTER VOTE FOR US NEXT TIME…)
6. Welfare—The President will say that fewer and fewer people are spending a lifetime on the Welfare rolls because the economy is booming (see #1 above.)
The Democrats will say that people are out there feeding themselves and their kids dirt and that they can’t afford their daily 64 oz bottles of Schlitz malt liquer while wearing the $200 Nikes and sporting the latest new gold tooth…Oh the Humanity!
7. Education vis a vis “No Child Left Behind”—The President will say that we just need to spend more money on education and everything will be OK.
The Democrats, while vehemently disagreeing with the President, will say that if we just spend more money on education that everything will be OK.
8. Illegal Immigration—The president will offer to tattoo a small likeness of his brother Jeb on the forehead of every illegal worker in the US in an effort to set “guest worker” documentation standards for employers.
The Democrats will offer to buy every illegal immigrant family a lowered F-150 pickup with 20” spinner rims and their name in shiny fancy letters on the back window.
As an option, for those "undocumented workers" with families larger than 8, they can get a low mileage van or SUV if they will promise to immediately drive their friends and family back to where ever they came from and not come back until it's time to help get a Democrat elected president.
EXTRA CREDIT—World Issues (10 Points Each)
I. The War in Iraq
A. Reasons for the war—Since the President has covered this ground so many times previously that he is walking in a hip-deep ditch when he goes over it again, he intentionally omits the topic. (Automatic 10 point deduct)
The Democrats utter their classic Ted Kennedy hit: Lies, lies, and more lies. (Al Gore makes a special guest appearance to sing his hit tune “They Betrayed Us…)
B. The recent Iraqi election—The President will extol the 60% voter turnout and low levels of terror attacks.
The Democrats will demand a hand recount (what, they counted by hand already?) and Jessie Jackson will lament the disenfranchisement of Black Muslim voters.
C. Exit Strategy—The President will insist that we are in Iraq to finish what we started.
The Democrats, declaring the “War on Terror” as being over with, will insist on an immediate invasion of Jamaica in an unprecedented ramping up of the “War on Drugs.” Ted Kennedy will demonstrate evidence examination by smoking a water pipe.
II. Iran—The President will sing his new hit song “Ayatollah” which sounds surprisingly like the tune to the Knacks’ 1979 hit song My Sharona. British Prime Minister Tony Blair will make a guest appearance to lip sync the words on the second verse.
The Democrats won’t be able to resist singing the backup vocals to the Presidents song. Hey, at least they all agreed on something…what we call a "bi-partisan" effort at last.
III. Syria—The second verse of the President’s "Ayatollah" song will cover this topic.
The Democrats will state emphatically that there are no WMD’s in Syria because Germany and France told them so
IV. Korea—The third verse of "Ayatollah" will address the President's fantasy of covering Kim Jong Il (and Fidel Castro) with Crisco (can you say Crisco Castro five times real fast?) and throwing them buck-naked into the Gorilla habitat at the Atlanta Zoo. A new form of détente, perhaps?
The Democrats will place an emergency call to Jimmy Carter and tattle…
V. China—The President omits this topic because the network censors refused to allow him to lip-sync the Vapors’ song I’m Turning Japanese (and besides, the topic was China, not Japan--and no, all Orientals do NOT look the same to Texans.)
VI. Israel/Palistine—The president places a checkered table cloth on his head and does his best Yasser Arafat impression. The Secrete Service arrests Howard Dean for wrestling President Bush to the ground in an effort to obtain what he believes to be Arafat’s autograph.
The Democrats then send Senator Robert “pretty pretty” Byrd running through the room in his grand dragon costume screaming “THERE WAS NO HOLOCAUST” at the top of his lungs. The Secret Service has to re-restrain a howling, salivating Howard Dean.
VII. The EU and the United Nations were intentionally omitted from the president's speech. (Deduct 20 points)
The Democrats send John Kerry and Ted Kennedy tap dancing through the room offering to kiss the ass of anyone from any country other than the US.
____________________________________________________________
Well, that about covers it, ladies and gentlemen—my State of The Union Broadcast Scorecard.
A veritable consumers guide to the President’s State of the Union Address. Let’s all go watch it and then check back later and tell me how it did.
This should be fun…
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
I Told You So
Back on January 4th in my posting United We Stand I talked about President Bush appointing his father, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton to lead the Tsunami fundraising effort. It seemed a good idea to me.
At that time I also opined:
“I will even give the president credit for including the pantyhose-commander-in-chief Bill Clinton in a bipartisan effort to raise money. Actually, I don’t mind seeing Clinton’s gigantic mouth and ego brought to bear to publicly ask all of the compassionate left wing liberal elite and the Hollywood misfits like Barbara Streisand to put their money where their mouths typically are.
I also expect Clinton to not pass up the opportunity to get a few digs in against his Bush/Republican benefactors and inevitably make the process all about him. He just can’t help himself.
And then there is the UN and Kofi Annan. What a waste of oxygen.”
Well, it took less than one month, but Kofi and Bill have finally gotten together to make my prediction come true and it really is all about Kofi and Bill.
And guess what-- George Bush Sr. isn't invited to their party...
It would seem that Kofi has appointed Bill Clinton to be the "UN point man" for tsunami reconstruction and ensure that the world doesn't forget the immense needs of the countries devastated by the Dec. 26 disaster, a well-informed U.N. diplomat said Tuesday.”
Well isn’t that special.
And aren't I good??? I told you something like this would happen a month ago...
At that time I also opined:
“I will even give the president credit for including the pantyhose-commander-in-chief Bill Clinton in a bipartisan effort to raise money. Actually, I don’t mind seeing Clinton’s gigantic mouth and ego brought to bear to publicly ask all of the compassionate left wing liberal elite and the Hollywood misfits like Barbara Streisand to put their money where their mouths typically are.
I also expect Clinton to not pass up the opportunity to get a few digs in against his Bush/Republican benefactors and inevitably make the process all about him. He just can’t help himself.
And then there is the UN and Kofi Annan. What a waste of oxygen.”
Well, it took less than one month, but Kofi and Bill have finally gotten together to make my prediction come true and it really is all about Kofi and Bill.
And guess what-- George Bush Sr. isn't invited to their party...
It would seem that Kofi has appointed Bill Clinton to be the "UN point man" for tsunami reconstruction and ensure that the world doesn't forget the immense needs of the countries devastated by the Dec. 26 disaster, a well-informed U.N. diplomat said Tuesday.”
Well isn’t that special.
And aren't I good??? I told you something like this would happen a month ago...
Cough It Up
It really pissed me off last year that our tax dollars were used to pay a bunch of United States Senators and other Congressmen that were chronically absent from their high paying jobs while running political campaigns for President.
I have previously complained about this issue and I wondered if there wasn’t something that could be done about it. Remember that Senator Bob Dole resigned his seat prior to the 1996 campaign and, when he lost the presidential election, he was out of a job?
Not so with the jackass-war-hero-commander-in-chief-want-a-be Senator John Kerry. He is still looming over the lives of the citizens of Massachusetts that elected him and intruding into all of our lives on a national basis as a result of staying in office durring the campaign. He was virtually invisible for most of 2004 on the floor of the US Senate (although that might be considered by most in a positive light.)
Well, good news people...there is hope after all.
According to The Washington Times Insider edition, there is a law that can and should be used to make Kerry and others pay back their unearned government income.
"Several lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and his vice presidential running mate, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, have broken a federal statute by pocketing thousands of dollars in salary while being away from their jobs during 2003 and 2004."
" An obscure federal statute requires congressional absentees to forfeit pay unless they or a family member are ill, but some lawmakers seem reluctant to comply, says the National Taxpayers Union."
"The NTU says "chronically absent" members of the 108th Congress, besides Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards, include Democratic presidential candidates Bob Graham, former senator of Florida; Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut; former House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri; and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio."
"And there's numerous other sitting senators and congressmen -- too many to list here -- who improperly accepted salaries while off stumping for votes."
"The NTU says compliance with 2 U.S. Code 39 (Title 2, Chapter 3, section 39--VRR), requiring the secretary of the Senate and the chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives to deduct congressional salary for days of unexcused absences, has been sparse, but not nonexistent. "
"In 1971, Representative Edwin Edwards abided by the no-work, no-pay law while running for Louisiana governor," says the nonpartisan union."
" And while federal law does not require presidents to forfeit their pay while seeking re-election, the NTU notes that George W. Bush relinquished his governor's salary for days spent outside Texas campaigning for president in 2000."
I, personally, am contacting Emily Reynolds, the Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives and asking that this law be enforced.
What are you going to do?
I have previously complained about this issue and I wondered if there wasn’t something that could be done about it. Remember that Senator Bob Dole resigned his seat prior to the 1996 campaign and, when he lost the presidential election, he was out of a job?
Not so with the jackass-war-hero-commander-in-chief-want-a-be Senator John Kerry. He is still looming over the lives of the citizens of Massachusetts that elected him and intruding into all of our lives on a national basis as a result of staying in office durring the campaign. He was virtually invisible for most of 2004 on the floor of the US Senate (although that might be considered by most in a positive light.)
Well, good news people...there is hope after all.
According to The Washington Times Insider edition, there is a law that can and should be used to make Kerry and others pay back their unearned government income.
"Several lawmakers on Capitol Hill, including Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and his vice presidential running mate, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, have broken a federal statute by pocketing thousands of dollars in salary while being away from their jobs during 2003 and 2004."
" An obscure federal statute requires congressional absentees to forfeit pay unless they or a family member are ill, but some lawmakers seem reluctant to comply, says the National Taxpayers Union."
"The NTU says "chronically absent" members of the 108th Congress, besides Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards, include Democratic presidential candidates Bob Graham, former senator of Florida; Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut; former House Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri; and Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio."
"And there's numerous other sitting senators and congressmen -- too many to list here -- who improperly accepted salaries while off stumping for votes."
"The NTU says compliance with 2 U.S. Code 39 (Title 2, Chapter 3, section 39--VRR), requiring the secretary of the Senate and the chief administrative officer of the House of Representatives to deduct congressional salary for days of unexcused absences, has been sparse, but not nonexistent. "
"In 1971, Representative Edwin Edwards abided by the no-work, no-pay law while running for Louisiana governor," says the nonpartisan union."
" And while federal law does not require presidents to forfeit their pay while seeking re-election, the NTU notes that George W. Bush relinquished his governor's salary for days spent outside Texas campaigning for president in 2000."
I, personally, am contacting Emily Reynolds, the Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives and asking that this law be enforced.
What are you going to do?
Monday, January 31, 2005
Meanwhile, back in the USA
(Anyone got a form 180?)
The Iraqis have just survived their first election in over a half century. I’m really proud for them and wish them good luck in completing the upcoming development of a written constitution and secondary elections scheduled for later this year.
It is a crying shame that we here in the good ole’ USA have nearly perfected the art of taking our own Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Republican form of government for granted. You do know that the US is not a Democracy, but rather (but not Dan Rather) it is a Representative Republic?
Democracy is equal to mob rule and our founding fathers were careful to try to help us avoid that horrible fate. Yet, according to the leftists and socialists in our midst, there is still hope to fully accomplish the transition to Democracy. That is why they want to abolish the Electoral College. I hope they fail in this effort.
And speaking of leftists losers in the Electoral College, John Kerry was sitting on the hot seat this morning on the NBC News program ”Meet The Press”. The moderator, Tim Russert, was actually asking some serious questions (where was he last summer), like the ones in this exchange about Kerry’s failure to release all of his military records:
MR. RUSSERT: Many people who've been criticizing you have said: Senator, if you would just do one thing and that is sign Form 180, which would allow historians and journalists complete access to all your military records. Thus far, you have gotten the records, released them through your campaign. They say you should not be the filter. Sign Form 180 and let the historians...
SEN. KERRY: I'd be happy to put the records out. We put all the records out that I had been sent by the military. Then at the last moment, they sent some more stuff, which had some things that weren't even relevant to the record. (emphasis mine—VR) So when we get--I'm going to sit down with them and make sure that they are clear and I am clear as to what is in the record and what isn't in the record and we'll put it out. I have no problem with that.
MR. RUSSERT: Would you sign Form 180?
SEN. KERRY: But everything, Tim...
MR. RUSSERT: Would you sign Form 180?
SEN. KERRY: Yes, I will. But everything that we put in it, Tim--everything we put in--I mean, everything that was out was a full documentation of all of the medical records, all of the fitness reports. And I'd call on those who have challenged me, let's see their records. I want to see the records of each of those people who have put up a challenge, because some of them have some serious questions in them, and it hasn't been appropriate...
MR. RUSSERT: So they should sign Form 180s for themselves as well?
SEN. KERRY: You bet.
MR. RUSSERT: Jerome Corsi, the co-author of this book, says he's moving to Massachusetts and will run against you for the U.S. Senate in 2008.
SEN. KERRY: Well, that's terrific. I'm not thinking about 2008 right now, but he can do whatever he wants.
MR. RUSSERT: Will you run for re-election in the Senate in 2008?
SEN. KERRY: Tim, I'm not thinking about 2008 right now. I'm really focused on what we're doing now. I'm excited about what I'm doing now. There are any number of potential things that I may wind up doing, and I'm going to keep all my options open.
MR. RUSSERT: Including running for president?
SEN. KERRY: I'll keep all my options open.
You’re damn right you better keep all of your options open, Senator Kerry.
As I wrote back on October 25, 2004 in my post A Fundamental Test of Leadership, I believe that enough questions have been raised about Kerry’s military service and overall truthfulness to seriously jeopardize his ability to be re-elected to the Senate in Massachusetts in 2008.
Kerry should be frightened to death of any Senate campaign conducted by the Swift Vets, individually or collectively. Jerome Corsi is qualified to serve in the senate and is quite capable of making things very difficult and embarrassing for Kerry, particularly if the media will get off of their butts and seriously look into the allegations that are floating around out there.
Kerry has always previously answered questions about his service records with the statement that his campaign had “…put all the records out that I had been sent by the military.” He apparently only requested that his fitness reports and his medical records be released, through his campaign.
By signing Form 180, like President Bush did last spring during the Texas Air National Guard media witch hunt, Kerry could allow the military to make his all of his records available directly to any specific news agencies that he designates. He has not to date done so.
And now he suddenly adds a new twist to the old theme. “Then at the last moment, they sent some more stuff, which had some things that weren't even relevant to the record. (emphasis mine—VRR) So when we get--I'm going to sit down with them and make sure that they are clear and I am clear as to what is in the record and what isn't in the record and we'll put it out. I have no problem with that.”
So let me get this straight Mr. Kerry, are you saying that you don’t know what information is in your military records, or are you implying that they are somehow “contaminated” with inaccurate or irrelevant information? And what do you mean by new information being released at the last minute before the November election? Was it hours, days, weeks, or months?
Horse hockey… Let me cut to the chase here, folks.
KERRY MOST DEFINITELY HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE. There is no other explanation for his failure to fully release his military service records.
I believe, based on rumors that have been bouncing around the internet for at least a year, that it is possible that Kerry received a less than honorable discharge from the Navy in 1972. He might have actually received a dishonorable discharge for his anti-war activities conducted while still serving in the Navy Reserve.
IF, and it is a big if, his discharge was dishonorable, it would have caused him to be stripped of his right to wear his uniform, the loss of all of his ribbons and medals (you know…the ribbons and metals that he threw over the fence at the white house?) and it would have resulted in the loss of all of his post discharge benefits like retirement benefits, VA medical services, PX privileges, etc.
Why else would Kerry have received an Honorable Discharge on March 12, 2001 from the administration of the pantyhose-raider-in-chief Bill Clinton? As a result of the “sanitized” discharge, Kerry would have had his medals and benefits reinstated.
I have no proof of the accuracy of the scenario causing the 29 year gap between Kerry actually leaving the service in 1972 and receiving the discharge in 2001, but it will be interesting to follow the Kerry saga over the next few years. This should be fun…
Of course, Kerry could eliminate all questions and lingering doubt by signing form 180, but he won’t.
I’ll gladly eat crow if I’m wrong, but I’m going to scream “I TOLD YOU SO” at the top of my lungs if I’m right.
I’m right…
The Iraqis have just survived their first election in over a half century. I’m really proud for them and wish them good luck in completing the upcoming development of a written constitution and secondary elections scheduled for later this year.
It is a crying shame that we here in the good ole’ USA have nearly perfected the art of taking our own Constitution, Bill of Rights, and Republican form of government for granted. You do know that the US is not a Democracy, but rather (but not Dan Rather) it is a Representative Republic?
Democracy is equal to mob rule and our founding fathers were careful to try to help us avoid that horrible fate. Yet, according to the leftists and socialists in our midst, there is still hope to fully accomplish the transition to Democracy. That is why they want to abolish the Electoral College. I hope they fail in this effort.
And speaking of leftists losers in the Electoral College, John Kerry was sitting on the hot seat this morning on the NBC News program ”Meet The Press”. The moderator, Tim Russert, was actually asking some serious questions (where was he last summer), like the ones in this exchange about Kerry’s failure to release all of his military records:
MR. RUSSERT: Many people who've been criticizing you have said: Senator, if you would just do one thing and that is sign Form 180, which would allow historians and journalists complete access to all your military records. Thus far, you have gotten the records, released them through your campaign. They say you should not be the filter. Sign Form 180 and let the historians...
SEN. KERRY: I'd be happy to put the records out. We put all the records out that I had been sent by the military. Then at the last moment, they sent some more stuff, which had some things that weren't even relevant to the record. (emphasis mine—VR) So when we get--I'm going to sit down with them and make sure that they are clear and I am clear as to what is in the record and what isn't in the record and we'll put it out. I have no problem with that.
MR. RUSSERT: Would you sign Form 180?
SEN. KERRY: But everything, Tim...
MR. RUSSERT: Would you sign Form 180?
SEN. KERRY: Yes, I will. But everything that we put in it, Tim--everything we put in--I mean, everything that was out was a full documentation of all of the medical records, all of the fitness reports. And I'd call on those who have challenged me, let's see their records. I want to see the records of each of those people who have put up a challenge, because some of them have some serious questions in them, and it hasn't been appropriate...
MR. RUSSERT: So they should sign Form 180s for themselves as well?
SEN. KERRY: You bet.
MR. RUSSERT: Jerome Corsi, the co-author of this book, says he's moving to Massachusetts and will run against you for the U.S. Senate in 2008.
SEN. KERRY: Well, that's terrific. I'm not thinking about 2008 right now, but he can do whatever he wants.
MR. RUSSERT: Will you run for re-election in the Senate in 2008?
SEN. KERRY: Tim, I'm not thinking about 2008 right now. I'm really focused on what we're doing now. I'm excited about what I'm doing now. There are any number of potential things that I may wind up doing, and I'm going to keep all my options open.
MR. RUSSERT: Including running for president?
SEN. KERRY: I'll keep all my options open.
You’re damn right you better keep all of your options open, Senator Kerry.
As I wrote back on October 25, 2004 in my post A Fundamental Test of Leadership, I believe that enough questions have been raised about Kerry’s military service and overall truthfulness to seriously jeopardize his ability to be re-elected to the Senate in Massachusetts in 2008.
Kerry should be frightened to death of any Senate campaign conducted by the Swift Vets, individually or collectively. Jerome Corsi is qualified to serve in the senate and is quite capable of making things very difficult and embarrassing for Kerry, particularly if the media will get off of their butts and seriously look into the allegations that are floating around out there.
Kerry has always previously answered questions about his service records with the statement that his campaign had “…put all the records out that I had been sent by the military.” He apparently only requested that his fitness reports and his medical records be released, through his campaign.
By signing Form 180, like President Bush did last spring during the Texas Air National Guard media witch hunt, Kerry could allow the military to make his all of his records available directly to any specific news agencies that he designates. He has not to date done so.
And now he suddenly adds a new twist to the old theme. “Then at the last moment, they sent some more stuff, which had some things that weren't even relevant to the record. (emphasis mine—VRR) So when we get--I'm going to sit down with them and make sure that they are clear and I am clear as to what is in the record and what isn't in the record and we'll put it out. I have no problem with that.”
So let me get this straight Mr. Kerry, are you saying that you don’t know what information is in your military records, or are you implying that they are somehow “contaminated” with inaccurate or irrelevant information? And what do you mean by new information being released at the last minute before the November election? Was it hours, days, weeks, or months?
Horse hockey… Let me cut to the chase here, folks.
KERRY MOST DEFINITELY HAS SOMETHING TO HIDE. There is no other explanation for his failure to fully release his military service records.
I believe, based on rumors that have been bouncing around the internet for at least a year, that it is possible that Kerry received a less than honorable discharge from the Navy in 1972. He might have actually received a dishonorable discharge for his anti-war activities conducted while still serving in the Navy Reserve.
IF, and it is a big if, his discharge was dishonorable, it would have caused him to be stripped of his right to wear his uniform, the loss of all of his ribbons and medals (you know…the ribbons and metals that he threw over the fence at the white house?) and it would have resulted in the loss of all of his post discharge benefits like retirement benefits, VA medical services, PX privileges, etc.
Why else would Kerry have received an Honorable Discharge on March 12, 2001 from the administration of the pantyhose-raider-in-chief Bill Clinton? As a result of the “sanitized” discharge, Kerry would have had his medals and benefits reinstated.
I have no proof of the accuracy of the scenario causing the 29 year gap between Kerry actually leaving the service in 1972 and receiving the discharge in 2001, but it will be interesting to follow the Kerry saga over the next few years. This should be fun…
Of course, Kerry could eliminate all questions and lingering doubt by signing form 180, but he won’t.
I’ll gladly eat crow if I’m wrong, but I’m going to scream “I TOLD YOU SO” at the top of my lungs if I’m right.
I’m right…
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Ali Says It All
Ali over at Free Iraq voted this morning, then came back and wrote this passage:
"Last night I couldn't sleep well. I was so excited and I wanted to be at the voting center before it even opens its door. I was afraid that I was going to be among a minority who are going to vote, but I was still very happy for rather a different reason. It's that just as I care about the outcome of this election and that democracy would work in Iraq, I cared no less about voting on a personal level. This was my way to stand against those who humiliated me, my family and my friends. It was my way of saying," You're history and you don't scare me anymore". It was my way to scream in the face of all tyrants, not just Saddam and his Ba'athists and tell them, "I don't want to be your, or anyone's slave. You have kept me in your jail all my life but you never owned my soul". It was my way of finally facing my fears and finding my courage and my humanity again."
Go read his whole posting.
I’m humbled...
"Last night I couldn't sleep well. I was so excited and I wanted to be at the voting center before it even opens its door. I was afraid that I was going to be among a minority who are going to vote, but I was still very happy for rather a different reason. It's that just as I care about the outcome of this election and that democracy would work in Iraq, I cared no less about voting on a personal level. This was my way to stand against those who humiliated me, my family and my friends. It was my way of saying," You're history and you don't scare me anymore". It was my way to scream in the face of all tyrants, not just Saddam and his Ba'athists and tell them, "I don't want to be your, or anyone's slave. You have kept me in your jail all my life but you never owned my soul". It was my way of finally facing my fears and finding my courage and my humanity again."
Go read his whole posting.
I’m humbled...
Media Snubbed by IECI
I was wondering why there are not more pictures on TV this morning showing the reported crowds outside the polling places in Iraq. Almost all you see is occasional footage of some VIP or unidentified person folding the giant ballot in half so that it will fit in the big plastic Rubbermaid “ballot box.”
I though about the situation a little bit and here is what I have decided.
The main reason for the limited coverage is that most of the reporters and news crews are too chicken shit scared to stand around outside the polling places because of the obvious threat of attack. They are content to sit in the Baghdad Hilton and report second hand news from their “trusted sources.”
With rare exception, this is the way that the news talking heads have reported most of the news to date anyway. You know the script…a) wait for a nearby bombing…b) dash out from your hotel room with a microphone and camera…c) deliver a hand wringing commentary with the rising plume of smoke in the background over your left or right shoulder...d) you get extra credit if there is a school or mosque in the footage. Oh the humanity!!
I am SO tired of those type reports!
The guys over at The Friends of Democracy give us all some additional insight. It seems that the Independent Election Comission of Iraq changed the rules at the last minute regarding the credentials required of reporters to gain access INSIDE the polling places.
“The IECI in Al Samawa reaffirmed its interdiction to allow newsmen to enter voting centers except by a special permit form the IECI in Baghdad. The IECI had asked newsmen last week to present special documents with photos and introduction letters from their organism."
"However it changed its decision one day before elections and admitted only those who had permits from Baghdad. The IECI in Al Samawa has had problems in its work because of non cooperation by the media institutions.”
Hummmhh…NON COOPERATION BY THE MEDIA INSTITUTIONS?
Well, I wonder what that means?
Could it be that the Iraqis are on to the tactics of the leftist American and World media?
Could it be that the Iraqis are tired of the endless negative reporting about the conditions in Iraq in general and the situation surrounding the elections?
Could it be that the Iraqis do not want the media filming detailed video of voters that could be used tomorrow or next week by Al Qaeda to target people that voted?
You're damn right that it COULD BE….
Good job IECI...and...
Good luck Iraq!!
Update: January 30, 2005 at 7:00 am
After further thought, there is one more "Could it be that"...
Could it be that the IECI saw the way our domestic media handled their so-called "exit polling" here in the US last November?
Is there any wonder that they wouldn't want all but a select few reporters to stay miles away from their first democratic voting process to be held in the last 50 years?
Two hours until the polls close...Good Luck Iraq
I though about the situation a little bit and here is what I have decided.
The main reason for the limited coverage is that most of the reporters and news crews are too chicken shit scared to stand around outside the polling places because of the obvious threat of attack. They are content to sit in the Baghdad Hilton and report second hand news from their “trusted sources.”
With rare exception, this is the way that the news talking heads have reported most of the news to date anyway. You know the script…a) wait for a nearby bombing…b) dash out from your hotel room with a microphone and camera…c) deliver a hand wringing commentary with the rising plume of smoke in the background over your left or right shoulder...d) you get extra credit if there is a school or mosque in the footage. Oh the humanity!!
I am SO tired of those type reports!
The guys over at The Friends of Democracy give us all some additional insight. It seems that the Independent Election Comission of Iraq changed the rules at the last minute regarding the credentials required of reporters to gain access INSIDE the polling places.
“The IECI in Al Samawa reaffirmed its interdiction to allow newsmen to enter voting centers except by a special permit form the IECI in Baghdad. The IECI had asked newsmen last week to present special documents with photos and introduction letters from their organism."
"However it changed its decision one day before elections and admitted only those who had permits from Baghdad. The IECI in Al Samawa has had problems in its work because of non cooperation by the media institutions.”
Hummmhh…NON COOPERATION BY THE MEDIA INSTITUTIONS?
Well, I wonder what that means?
Could it be that the Iraqis are on to the tactics of the leftist American and World media?
Could it be that the Iraqis are tired of the endless negative reporting about the conditions in Iraq in general and the situation surrounding the elections?
Could it be that the Iraqis do not want the media filming detailed video of voters that could be used tomorrow or next week by Al Qaeda to target people that voted?
You're damn right that it COULD BE….
Good job IECI...and...
Good luck Iraq!!
Update: January 30, 2005 at 7:00 am
After further thought, there is one more "Could it be that"...
Could it be that the IECI saw the way our domestic media handled their so-called "exit polling" here in the US last November?
Is there any wonder that they wouldn't want all but a select few reporters to stay miles away from their first democratic voting process to be held in the last 50 years?
Two hours until the polls close...Good Luck Iraq
Ali Makes Me Jealous
Check out Ali over at Free Iraq who has hopefully cast his vote and safely returned home by now.
Ali makes me jealous because his two month old blog has already had over 91,000 total readers, 13,479 readers this week, and over 1,000 readers today.
Meanwhile, CNN is running flashback news footage of a March 4, 2004 roadside bombing that killed hundreds in Kabala. Lots of dead bodies and whailing relatives...
What I want to know is, what is the %$#@* point, CNN? What does old bombing footage have to do with today's vote? I guess that since there hasn't been a major assault today they have to resort to reruns...
I've got to get busy doing a better job writing so I can catch up with Ali…
Ali makes me jealous because his two month old blog has already had over 91,000 total readers, 13,479 readers this week, and over 1,000 readers today.
Meanwhile, CNN is running flashback news footage of a March 4, 2004 roadside bombing that killed hundreds in Kabala. Lots of dead bodies and whailing relatives...
What I want to know is, what is the %$#@* point, CNN? What does old bombing footage have to do with today's vote? I guess that since there hasn't been a major assault today they have to resort to reruns...
I've got to get busy doing a better job writing so I can catch up with Ali…
BBC Reporters (B)log Iraqi Elections
The BBC has an article on their web site written in blog style, although they seem to have an aversion to writing the word BLOG so they use the word LOG in their headline.
Their latest posting (4:28 AM EST, 9:28 GMT) mentions a suicide bomber killing himself (blowing off his own head and arms) while killing only one other civilian outside a polling place. Of course the reporter had gone back to his military base to eat when the explosion occurred and belatedly filed his report after he returned to his post.
Not to appear crass or insensitive but, actually, I like these odds. If a terrorist walks in with an SKS rifle he can in theory kill a dozen or more people and escape the scene to kill another day. At least these wild eyed “insurgents” are ending their killing career upon the initiation of their first assault.
I'm sure that there is a special place in eternity for the innocent Iraqis who give their lives in the name of freedom. By providing a target for these terrorists, they are most definitely saving the lives of others, just as a Marine might save the lives of his fellow Marines by falling on a hand grenade in a fox hole.
I just hope that there isn’t some spectacular “Big Bang” planned for later today
Good Luck Iraq…
Their latest posting (4:28 AM EST, 9:28 GMT) mentions a suicide bomber killing himself (blowing off his own head and arms) while killing only one other civilian outside a polling place. Of course the reporter had gone back to his military base to eat when the explosion occurred and belatedly filed his report after he returned to his post.
Not to appear crass or insensitive but, actually, I like these odds. If a terrorist walks in with an SKS rifle he can in theory kill a dozen or more people and escape the scene to kill another day. At least these wild eyed “insurgents” are ending their killing career upon the initiation of their first assault.
I'm sure that there is a special place in eternity for the innocent Iraqis who give their lives in the name of freedom. By providing a target for these terrorists, they are most definitely saving the lives of others, just as a Marine might save the lives of his fellow Marines by falling on a hand grenade in a fox hole.
I just hope that there isn’t some spectacular “Big Bang” planned for later today
Good Luck Iraq…
Walking To Freedom
It looks like I will be up all night tonight watching and bloging the Iraqi election coverage on TV. What is most interesting, but not in the least surprising, is that there appears to be two elections going on in Iraq, depending on whether you are watching CNN or FOX News.
I tend to believe the events reported on FOX News.
The polls opened at 11:00 PM EST and what started out as a trickle is quickly turning into a torrent. In spite of three or four suicide bombers and a few mortar attacks, no US troops have been killed and in spite of the handful of Iraqi casualties, the people are still standing in line.
And we bitch and complain when we have to wait a hour to vote here in the US? It sort of puts a new twist on the right to vote, doesn’t it?
FOX just reported that because of security concerns the voting place near Abu Gharib was relocated at the last minute to a building 13 miles away from local villagers. To make matters worse, vehicles are restricted on the roads in that area and most locals are too poor to even own a car.
But guess what? One of our unmanned aerial drones has taken pictures of HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS WALKING DOWN THE ROAD—13 MILES--TO GET TO THE VOTING PLACE. Apparently the numbers are growing by the minute.
What is really sad is that many slack ass Americans wouldn’t have the physical stamina to walk 13 miles to pick up a lottery prize, let alone make the journey to vote in a presidential election.
Every legal voter here in the US should be ashamed of themselves if they ever miss another election again.
I tend to believe the events reported on FOX News.
The polls opened at 11:00 PM EST and what started out as a trickle is quickly turning into a torrent. In spite of three or four suicide bombers and a few mortar attacks, no US troops have been killed and in spite of the handful of Iraqi casualties, the people are still standing in line.
And we bitch and complain when we have to wait a hour to vote here in the US? It sort of puts a new twist on the right to vote, doesn’t it?
FOX just reported that because of security concerns the voting place near Abu Gharib was relocated at the last minute to a building 13 miles away from local villagers. To make matters worse, vehicles are restricted on the roads in that area and most locals are too poor to even own a car.
But guess what? One of our unmanned aerial drones has taken pictures of HUNDREDS OF CITIZENS WALKING DOWN THE ROAD—13 MILES--TO GET TO THE VOTING PLACE. Apparently the numbers are growing by the minute.
What is really sad is that many slack ass Americans wouldn’t have the physical stamina to walk 13 miles to pick up a lottery prize, let alone make the journey to vote in a presidential election.
Every legal voter here in the US should be ashamed of themselves if they ever miss another election again.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Killing People and Breaking Things
You know, I am really sick and tired of the media and the left’s bitching about events in Iraq. No matter what happens, no matter what we do, there is always someone with a TV camera or a pen and paper willing to produce some shrill complaint and some hysterical analysis. Hannibal and Napoleon would be reduced to mere footnotes in history if they had been forced to prosecute their military campaigns under today’s rules.
Unfortunately, President Bush and our military leaders have allowed outside opinions to dictate the way the war is fought—all half-assed and touchy-feely. In the end, in many respects, the results should have been predicted. Can you say impotent and ineffective?
What kills me is that after screwing around with the process, these same forces and individuals (see Kennedy, Ted) have the audacity to sit back and complain about the results and not accept any responsibility for the outcome.
I think that it has been well proven that we cannot fight and win a war based on how the strategy and intimate details of the battles are PERCEIVED by civilians and the idiot media/politicians back home. What the hell do civilians and politicians know about war? Maybe it is genetic or a contagious disease, but even war hero/POW John McCain has let thirty odd years of politics dull his judgment when it comes to addressing military action.
Because of political correctness, they hardly teach civilians anything about past wars in history class any more. Most high school seniors can’t tell you whether General Cornwallis fought in the Revolutionary War or marched with Sherman through Atlanta in 1864.
Right or wrong, we chose to go to war in Iraq. Fifty years ago, before the days of CNN and the involvement of legions of “imbedded” reporters, before the two terms of the Bill Clinton Presidency and the resulting 40% reduction in active duty troop levels, we would have fought this war quite differently.
The war would have been prosecuted via a massive ground invasion, supported by an equally massive level of air support. Thousands of Americans would have probably been killed in the first week. Hundreds of thousands of civilians would have been displaced and tens of thousands of innocents would have been killed and wounded in the process. Remember the scenes from Paris in 1942 and 1943?
The Coalition forces would have ground their way through all of Iraq. They would have cut off the borders and relentlessly pursued the Iraqi Army and Saddam’s vaulted elite Republican Guard and security forces and we would have not stopped shooting until they were all dead or captured.
Next would have been Iran and Syria. They would have surrendered or faced the same fate.
But Nooooooo, not in 2003-2004. Can’t do it like that. We started out correctly, allowing our high tech Air Force to eliminate the Iraqi command and communications infrastructure. After “softening up” the battle field, everything else was done wrong.
We should have never allowed the Iraqi military to toss off their uniforms and meld into the civilian population. We should have made it extremely expensive for the civilian population to hide the military and later the so-called “insurgents.”
By controlling the borders, we should have made it impossible for the non-Iraqi “insurgents” to enter the country in the first place. But we didn’t.
So now we have to “dance with the one what brought us.” There is an election scheduled for tomorrow. The Iraqis seem to want to vote.
Ted Kennedy, his beloved Democratic Party, and the main stream media are apparently afraid that they will.
For that reason alone, I believe the election is a good idea.
Good Luck Iraq.
Unfortunately, President Bush and our military leaders have allowed outside opinions to dictate the way the war is fought—all half-assed and touchy-feely. In the end, in many respects, the results should have been predicted. Can you say impotent and ineffective?
What kills me is that after screwing around with the process, these same forces and individuals (see Kennedy, Ted) have the audacity to sit back and complain about the results and not accept any responsibility for the outcome.
I think that it has been well proven that we cannot fight and win a war based on how the strategy and intimate details of the battles are PERCEIVED by civilians and the idiot media/politicians back home. What the hell do civilians and politicians know about war? Maybe it is genetic or a contagious disease, but even war hero/POW John McCain has let thirty odd years of politics dull his judgment when it comes to addressing military action.
Because of political correctness, they hardly teach civilians anything about past wars in history class any more. Most high school seniors can’t tell you whether General Cornwallis fought in the Revolutionary War or marched with Sherman through Atlanta in 1864.
Right or wrong, we chose to go to war in Iraq. Fifty years ago, before the days of CNN and the involvement of legions of “imbedded” reporters, before the two terms of the Bill Clinton Presidency and the resulting 40% reduction in active duty troop levels, we would have fought this war quite differently.
The war would have been prosecuted via a massive ground invasion, supported by an equally massive level of air support. Thousands of Americans would have probably been killed in the first week. Hundreds of thousands of civilians would have been displaced and tens of thousands of innocents would have been killed and wounded in the process. Remember the scenes from Paris in 1942 and 1943?
The Coalition forces would have ground their way through all of Iraq. They would have cut off the borders and relentlessly pursued the Iraqi Army and Saddam’s vaulted elite Republican Guard and security forces and we would have not stopped shooting until they were all dead or captured.
Next would have been Iran and Syria. They would have surrendered or faced the same fate.
But Nooooooo, not in 2003-2004. Can’t do it like that. We started out correctly, allowing our high tech Air Force to eliminate the Iraqi command and communications infrastructure. After “softening up” the battle field, everything else was done wrong.
We should have never allowed the Iraqi military to toss off their uniforms and meld into the civilian population. We should have made it extremely expensive for the civilian population to hide the military and later the so-called “insurgents.”
By controlling the borders, we should have made it impossible for the non-Iraqi “insurgents” to enter the country in the first place. But we didn’t.
So now we have to “dance with the one what brought us.” There is an election scheduled for tomorrow. The Iraqis seem to want to vote.
Ted Kennedy, his beloved Democratic Party, and the main stream media are apparently afraid that they will.
For that reason alone, I believe the election is a good idea.
Good Luck Iraq.
Friday, January 28, 2005
T-Minus Three Days...and Counting
Imagine being fifty years old and never every having had the opportunity to vote in a political election. Unfortunately, there are entire herds of adults here in the US whom have had the chance to vote and routinely find the time to ignore the opportunity when it is available to them. Many times they are also the most vocal protestors in any given crowd.
Not me. I couldn’t vote against the dictator-butt-kisser-in chief, socialist loving Reverend Jimmy Carter in 1976 because I was too young, but I was there standing in line in 1980 when Ronald “The Gipper” Reagan was on the ballot. I’ve voted in every single presidential election since then and most of the mid term elections.
I am constantly amazed at the ignorance (and stupidity) exhibited by so-called voters who cannot even name the name of their US Senators. They have no clue whom their representative is at the state house level, but they will beat you to death verbally at every opportunity with the liberal/conservative Democrat/Republican talking points they learn in the headlines of the newspapers and by watching a few minutes of the TV evening network news.
So much for the state of American politics…Iraq is another matter.
In less than three days the registered voters in Iraq are going to have the opportunity to exercise a privilege that many here in the US routinely choose to ignore. Fourteen point five million Iraqi voters are going to VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER FIFTY YEARS.
The Friends of Democracy Blog has some interesting insights into the street level goings on in Iraq. Instead of Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Greens, and H. Ross Perot’s, they have hundreds of “lists” representing individual political groups.
Here is an interesting example of a party platform. Along with providing a listing of their platform, I’m going to offer few select comments and some fairly important historical references for their education and use…
"The Coalition of the Independent Sons of Missan announced its list No.336. The Coalition is an independent professional group running for the Missan governorate council. The main points of its program:"
"1-Serving the people of the governorate in cities and rural areas with total honesty, integrity and sincerity, without any discrimination based on class, tribe or confession."
Sounds good to me…For reference, see The US Constitution. It’s got over two hundred years of experience and (ab)use. Caution, your mileage may vary.
"2-Improving deteriorating public services in the governorate, finding efficient solutions to the unemployment problem by encouraging investment in new projects and creating new jobs."
Again, a no brainer…but I suggest that you have to be careful with respect to government funding of jobs. Let the new jobs be created by private enterprise rather than the new government. See Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal
"3-Eradicating administrative and fiscal corruption in most government departments by naming competent, honest and experienced people to positions of responsibility and supervising works and projects in the governorate."
Amen, brother. Also, employing a digital camera phone for evidence gathering and the liberal use of a firing squad does wonders when it comes to encouraging fiscal responsibility.
"4-Eliminating the deleterious effects left by the previous regime in all fields of life, especially since they are reappearing under new forms and faces (corruption, dictatorship, nepotism)."
Do I have another Amen from the audience? How about a loud Hallelujah?
"5-Giving women a greater role at all levels to improve their actual state of inferiority"
Poor choice of wording here guys…let’s try eliminating the inferiority rather than improving it…
"6-Promoting the private sector in order to increase investments."
See the dictionary under the heading Reaganomics.
"7-Improving health services, working toward health insurance for all citizens."
Careful boys and girls, this is an extremely slippery slope. Suggest looking up Hillarycare in the dictionary. Health insurance = good. Universal healthcare = Canada
"8-Promoting and developing tourism, especially in the Ahwar areas."
I’m afraid that this one is going to take a few decades to develop…sorry guys.
"9-Protecting the environment."
Please, just don’t jump on the Global Warming and the United Nations Kyoto Protocol bandwagon. You guys just need to stop dumping zillions of gallons of raw crude out onto the sand and into the Euphrates river and everyone in the ‘global community” will be quite happy. And by the way, can you say $1.25 gas???
"10-Compensating martyrs families and victims of the former regime."
Again, careful here…where is the “compensation” money going to come from? Taxing the achievers in your society? Bad idea...
See September 11 fund. Why should someone that lost a loved one in the US in NYC on 9/11 get a million dollars and a poor woman whose husband was killed on the same day in a Florida construction accident or kid whose mom died in an Alabama car wreck get nothing?
Isn't it amazing how familiar the "planks" of this political "platform" are to all of us here in the US? It's not perfect but it is definitely a STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
GOOD LUCK IRAQ...
Not me. I couldn’t vote against the dictator-butt-kisser-in chief, socialist loving Reverend Jimmy Carter in 1976 because I was too young, but I was there standing in line in 1980 when Ronald “The Gipper” Reagan was on the ballot. I’ve voted in every single presidential election since then and most of the mid term elections.
I am constantly amazed at the ignorance (and stupidity) exhibited by so-called voters who cannot even name the name of their US Senators. They have no clue whom their representative is at the state house level, but they will beat you to death verbally at every opportunity with the liberal/conservative Democrat/Republican talking points they learn in the headlines of the newspapers and by watching a few minutes of the TV evening network news.
So much for the state of American politics…Iraq is another matter.
In less than three days the registered voters in Iraq are going to have the opportunity to exercise a privilege that many here in the US routinely choose to ignore. Fourteen point five million Iraqi voters are going to VOTE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER FIFTY YEARS.
The Friends of Democracy Blog has some interesting insights into the street level goings on in Iraq. Instead of Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Greens, and H. Ross Perot’s, they have hundreds of “lists” representing individual political groups.
Here is an interesting example of a party platform. Along with providing a listing of their platform, I’m going to offer few select comments and some fairly important historical references for their education and use…
"The Coalition of the Independent Sons of Missan announced its list No.336. The Coalition is an independent professional group running for the Missan governorate council. The main points of its program:"
"1-Serving the people of the governorate in cities and rural areas with total honesty, integrity and sincerity, without any discrimination based on class, tribe or confession."
Sounds good to me…For reference, see The US Constitution. It’s got over two hundred years of experience and (ab)use. Caution, your mileage may vary.
"2-Improving deteriorating public services in the governorate, finding efficient solutions to the unemployment problem by encouraging investment in new projects and creating new jobs."
Again, a no brainer…but I suggest that you have to be careful with respect to government funding of jobs. Let the new jobs be created by private enterprise rather than the new government. See Franklin Roosevelt and the New Deal
"3-Eradicating administrative and fiscal corruption in most government departments by naming competent, honest and experienced people to positions of responsibility and supervising works and projects in the governorate."
Amen, brother. Also, employing a digital camera phone for evidence gathering and the liberal use of a firing squad does wonders when it comes to encouraging fiscal responsibility.
"4-Eliminating the deleterious effects left by the previous regime in all fields of life, especially since they are reappearing under new forms and faces (corruption, dictatorship, nepotism)."
Do I have another Amen from the audience? How about a loud Hallelujah?
"5-Giving women a greater role at all levels to improve their actual state of inferiority"
Poor choice of wording here guys…let’s try eliminating the inferiority rather than improving it…
"6-Promoting the private sector in order to increase investments."
See the dictionary under the heading Reaganomics.
"7-Improving health services, working toward health insurance for all citizens."
Careful boys and girls, this is an extremely slippery slope. Suggest looking up Hillarycare in the dictionary. Health insurance = good. Universal healthcare = Canada
"8-Promoting and developing tourism, especially in the Ahwar areas."
I’m afraid that this one is going to take a few decades to develop…sorry guys.
"9-Protecting the environment."
Please, just don’t jump on the Global Warming and the United Nations Kyoto Protocol bandwagon. You guys just need to stop dumping zillions of gallons of raw crude out onto the sand and into the Euphrates river and everyone in the ‘global community” will be quite happy. And by the way, can you say $1.25 gas???
"10-Compensating martyrs families and victims of the former regime."
Again, careful here…where is the “compensation” money going to come from? Taxing the achievers in your society? Bad idea...
See September 11 fund. Why should someone that lost a loved one in the US in NYC on 9/11 get a million dollars and a poor woman whose husband was killed on the same day in a Florida construction accident or kid whose mom died in an Alabama car wreck get nothing?
Isn't it amazing how familiar the "planks" of this political "platform" are to all of us here in the US? It's not perfect but it is definitely a STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
GOOD LUCK IRAQ...
Ego Blogging
I have to brag just a bit. Thanks to my Blogger friends in The Alliance (along with a good measure of hard work of my own) I am one of many that have scooped Fox news and most if not all of the main stream media on two popular news items this past week.
First, I sent out an E-mail last Saturday to a few friends and family members showing the fake VW Polo auto ad. Thanks to my friend Romeocat over at Cathouse Chat Blog for the tip and the link. Everybody has seen it by now.
The second item I found on my own. It was the Iraqi TV Election Ad compilation available on the MEMRI Site that I posted about on Sunday. FOX News has been running excerpts from the video on Wednesday and Thursday.
I found the ads to be very moving and produced in a surprisingly “western style.” I guess people are people no matter where they live and die.
Any way, I had FOX by three days on the mention…Hah!
(more new stuff on Iraq to come later tonight (or this morning)...
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Greetings From Baghdad
Well, not really. Actually, I’m here feeling a bit useless on the Georgia Coast. My heart just hasn’t been in Blogging this week as you can see from the lack of new postings. I had to spend part of a day working at the theater tearing down (what they call “striking the set”) from “The Mousetrap” that just finished a three-week run last Sunday. It’s sad that something that took two months to build can be torn down in only five hours.
And of course I’m still mourning Johnny Carson's death this week. Late night TV just hasn't been the same since his retirement, even with Leno's and Letterman's best efforts.
I've got the travel itch really bad. If I were fifteen or twenty years younger, I would do my best to go to Iraq or at least volunteer to go to Asia to help out with the Tsunami relief efforts. My age and health just won’t support my heart’s and mind’s wishes these days, however. It’s a bitch getting older…
As I posted last weekend, I’ve been following the situation in Iraq through the Internet, trying to get an independent feel for what is going on. I’ve actually turned FOX News and the TV Networks off for half of the day (I’m usually a 12 to16 hour/day news junkie) and I’ve been reading internet Blog sites and I’m a bit surprised at what I am finding.
There is River Bend Blog’s “Baghdad Burning” written by an articulate Iraqi woman that gives some interesting day to day insights into life in country. She’s definitely not 100% pro USA but she still has some interesting things to say. Healing Iraq, written by Zeyad, an Iraqi Dentist, has some interesting maps available that give a good picture of the ethnic and religious variations in the Iraqi population.
Iraq Net has a good assortment of English language news stories written with a slightly different slant from those found here in the NY Times or USA Today.
The Iraqi Schools site is currently managed by Major Nate Hines and is coordinating the collection and distribution of school supplies here in the US for delivery to students in Iraq. They’ve delivered over one million pounds of materials to date. Check them out and help if you can.
Finally, I’ll be following the brand new Friends of Democracy site that was just launched yesterday. It will be interesting to see what kind of news “scoops” I can get from this site. You can be there as the news develops too.
I say that we tell Dan Rather to kiss it…and gather our own news…
And of course I’m still mourning Johnny Carson's death this week. Late night TV just hasn't been the same since his retirement, even with Leno's and Letterman's best efforts.
I've got the travel itch really bad. If I were fifteen or twenty years younger, I would do my best to go to Iraq or at least volunteer to go to Asia to help out with the Tsunami relief efforts. My age and health just won’t support my heart’s and mind’s wishes these days, however. It’s a bitch getting older…
As I posted last weekend, I’ve been following the situation in Iraq through the Internet, trying to get an independent feel for what is going on. I’ve actually turned FOX News and the TV Networks off for half of the day (I’m usually a 12 to16 hour/day news junkie) and I’ve been reading internet Blog sites and I’m a bit surprised at what I am finding.
There is River Bend Blog’s “Baghdad Burning” written by an articulate Iraqi woman that gives some interesting day to day insights into life in country. She’s definitely not 100% pro USA but she still has some interesting things to say. Healing Iraq, written by Zeyad, an Iraqi Dentist, has some interesting maps available that give a good picture of the ethnic and religious variations in the Iraqi population.
Iraq Net has a good assortment of English language news stories written with a slightly different slant from those found here in the NY Times or USA Today.
The Iraqi Schools site is currently managed by Major Nate Hines and is coordinating the collection and distribution of school supplies here in the US for delivery to students in Iraq. They’ve delivered over one million pounds of materials to date. Check them out and help if you can.
Finally, I’ll be following the brand new Friends of Democracy site that was just launched yesterday. It will be interesting to see what kind of news “scoops” I can get from this site. You can be there as the news develops too.
I say that we tell Dan Rather to kiss it…and gather our own news…
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Why I Live On St. Simons
Everyone down here on the Georgia coast is going to wake up this morning complaining because our 70 degree weather has moved out in favor of 41 degree temperatures and 24 MPH wind gusts.
Then there is John Kerry’s lovely Boston, Massachusetts, which is enjoying a winter hurricane, as seen on this offshore NOAA buoy web site showing 53 MPH wind gusts and 20 foot waves at 4:00 AM 13 miles offshore near Boston.
Where is my fishing rod and tackle?
Then there is John Kerry’s lovely Boston, Massachusetts, which is enjoying a winter hurricane, as seen on this offshore NOAA buoy web site showing 53 MPH wind gusts and 20 foot waves at 4:00 AM 13 miles offshore near Boston.
Where is my fishing rod and tackle?
Iraqi TV Election Ads
You absolutely have to check out this compilation of TV ads I found on the MEMRI site I mentioned earlier, promoting the upcoming Iraqi election.
If you don’t have a cable modem or DSL, go to a friend’s house or the library and watch it.
Forget images of death, destruction, camels, and machine guns—modern, savvy advertising does exist today in Iraq.
I had no idea...
If you don’t have a cable modem or DSL, go to a friend’s house or the library and watch it.
Forget images of death, destruction, camels, and machine guns—modern, savvy advertising does exist today in Iraq.
I had no idea...
The Proof's In The Pudding
In the next week I expect everything relating to the Iraqi elections to really ramp up. By “things ramping up,” I mean that we will unfortunately see an increase in the number and frequency of attacks by the so called “insurgents” (most of us call them terrorists.)
We will also see an increased frenzy of negative news coverage in the Main Stream Media, dutifully addressing the gory details of each and every single blast, lamenting the “perceived” deterioration of social and political conditions, along with a generous portion of endless hand-wringing as the self-appointed pundits and TV talking heads lament the impossibility of holding meaningful elections.
In the mean time, what will I be doing? I addition to being grateful for living here in the US (in a Red state) and having our latest national election cycle behind us, I’ll be closely following the Iraqi election through several Iraqi Web sites and Iraqi Blogs.
If you are interested in doing the same, here is what you need to do to keep up with the election events without relying on Dan Rather and Peter Jennings.
First, I don't endorse or otherwise believe everything I read on any blog or website and suggest that you use the same skepticism in kind. There is this site, The Middle East Research Institute, which has some interesting, sometimes biased, insights into the local goings on in Iraq.
Then there are apparently a good number of English speaking bloggers in Iraq that can be linked to through Iraqi Bloggers Central. One of the more controversial sources found in their links is this blog, Iraq the Model, which is supposed to be written by two Iraqi dentist brothers, Mohammed and Omar, that currently live in Iraq.
They must be doing something right because Shara Boxer (no relation to Barbara Boxer?) recently took a shot at these guys in a complete hatchet job NY Times story published in, of all sections, The Arts.
Domestic and International Bloggers are now fair game for the media and I expect them to do everything they can to deliver a big old “see we told you so” at every opportunity. In the words of President Bush...Bring It On!
No matter, we know who we are and we know what we are doing….This is going to be VERY INTERESTING.
Just Watch…
We will also see an increased frenzy of negative news coverage in the Main Stream Media, dutifully addressing the gory details of each and every single blast, lamenting the “perceived” deterioration of social and political conditions, along with a generous portion of endless hand-wringing as the self-appointed pundits and TV talking heads lament the impossibility of holding meaningful elections.
In the mean time, what will I be doing? I addition to being grateful for living here in the US (in a Red state) and having our latest national election cycle behind us, I’ll be closely following the Iraqi election through several Iraqi Web sites and Iraqi Blogs.
If you are interested in doing the same, here is what you need to do to keep up with the election events without relying on Dan Rather and Peter Jennings.
First, I don't endorse or otherwise believe everything I read on any blog or website and suggest that you use the same skepticism in kind. There is this site, The Middle East Research Institute, which has some interesting, sometimes biased, insights into the local goings on in Iraq.
Then there are apparently a good number of English speaking bloggers in Iraq that can be linked to through Iraqi Bloggers Central. One of the more controversial sources found in their links is this blog, Iraq the Model, which is supposed to be written by two Iraqi dentist brothers, Mohammed and Omar, that currently live in Iraq.
They must be doing something right because Shara Boxer (no relation to Barbara Boxer?) recently took a shot at these guys in a complete hatchet job NY Times story published in, of all sections, The Arts.
Domestic and International Bloggers are now fair game for the media and I expect them to do everything they can to deliver a big old “see we told you so” at every opportunity. In the words of President Bush...Bring It On!
No matter, we know who we are and we know what we are doing….This is going to be VERY INTERESTING.
Just Watch…
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Having Your Cake And Eatin' it Too
It seems that an aspiring rocket scientist in Wisconsin has a problem with being assigned homework over summer break.
“MILWAUKEE — A student whose vacation plans were spoiled has sued to end summer homework in Wisconsin, claiming it creates an unfair workload and unnecessary stress”.
“Peer Larson, 17, had lined up a dream camp counselor job last June, but honors pre-calculus homework turned his summer into a headache.”
"It didn't completely ruin my summer, but it did give me a lot of undue stress both at home and at work," the high school junior said Thursday. "I just didn't have the energy or the time for it."
So help me see if I have this story straight.
This guy has attained the ripe old of age of 17. He’s going to a watered down, politically correct, metal detector equipped government school to get a so-called “education.” He is apparently smart enough to be allowed to enroll in “honors pre-calculus.”
After Mr. Larson is forced to burn the midnight oil solving a few math problems in between summer camp panty raids and singing “Kumbaya” by the campfire, he decides to file a lawsuit to change the curriculum so that future students won’t be forced to endure the mental anguish of choosing between studying Calculus and playing video games or running around spending their hard earned summer job cash.
Is that the way you see the situation?
Well then, let me ask you this…
Why the heck does Peer (I bet that being tagged with the name “Peer” represents a ticket to a lifetime of rhyming taunts in school) think that the administration might have chosen to include the word “HONORS” in the course title. Might not it involve an effort to identify a class that includes advanced subject matter and extra coursework?
If “Peer” didn’t want to do homework over his beloved summer break, why didn’t he elect to take “CALCULUS FOR DUMBASSES,” Abacus 101, or maybe “counting past ten with your shoes on?” Unless the “honors pre-calculus” class has just been added to the curriculum, I’m sure that the teenaged rumor mill had previously documented the requirement for summer homework.
And the most damning thing about this story is that Peer’s father is helping him pursue the lawsuit and is acting as the attorney.
It would seem that stupidity runs deep in the Larson family tree.
“MILWAUKEE — A student whose vacation plans were spoiled has sued to end summer homework in Wisconsin, claiming it creates an unfair workload and unnecessary stress”.
“Peer Larson, 17, had lined up a dream camp counselor job last June, but honors pre-calculus homework turned his summer into a headache.”
"It didn't completely ruin my summer, but it did give me a lot of undue stress both at home and at work," the high school junior said Thursday. "I just didn't have the energy or the time for it."
So help me see if I have this story straight.
This guy has attained the ripe old of age of 17. He’s going to a watered down, politically correct, metal detector equipped government school to get a so-called “education.” He is apparently smart enough to be allowed to enroll in “honors pre-calculus.”
After Mr. Larson is forced to burn the midnight oil solving a few math problems in between summer camp panty raids and singing “Kumbaya” by the campfire, he decides to file a lawsuit to change the curriculum so that future students won’t be forced to endure the mental anguish of choosing between studying Calculus and playing video games or running around spending their hard earned summer job cash.
Is that the way you see the situation?
Well then, let me ask you this…
Why the heck does Peer (I bet that being tagged with the name “Peer” represents a ticket to a lifetime of rhyming taunts in school) think that the administration might have chosen to include the word “HONORS” in the course title. Might not it involve an effort to identify a class that includes advanced subject matter and extra coursework?
If “Peer” didn’t want to do homework over his beloved summer break, why didn’t he elect to take “CALCULUS FOR DUMBASSES,” Abacus 101, or maybe “counting past ten with your shoes on?” Unless the “honors pre-calculus” class has just been added to the curriculum, I’m sure that the teenaged rumor mill had previously documented the requirement for summer homework.
And the most damning thing about this story is that Peer’s father is helping him pursue the lawsuit and is acting as the attorney.
It would seem that stupidity runs deep in the Larson family tree.
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Feckless--Part II
Last month I published my post entitled Feckless addressing, of all things, the United Nations. In that writing I mentioned that the dictionary gave this definition for the word Feckless:
Feckless (adj.) 1. Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.
2. Careless and irresponsible
Well, not to appear to be flogging the proverbial dead horse, but I have yet another problem with the UN this evening. I seems that the UN has decided that it cannot be responsible for observing the Iraqi elections this month.
Further, they waited until 10 days before the election to make the announcement. Where is my passport and shotgun, looks like I’ve got to make a trip next week…
Listen to this lame crap:
“United Nations diplomats are warning that Iraq's first democratic election will be held without wide-scale international monitoring.
The UN says it cannot observe the January 30 poll because it played a role in setting up the elections, and no other international organisation has stepped in to offer assistance.”
My response to these two sentences is: a) so what and b) since when?
So what if wide scale international monitoring isn’t available? I suggest that if the Iraqi people and the interim governing council are happy with the outcome, it’s none of the UN’s damn business how the election was handled. Remember that the UN was on Saddam’s payroll for 8 or 10 years and they didn’t seem to have a problem with him being an un-elected leader?
Since when has the UN excluded themselves from being the official international busybodies in every other countries’ business including elections over the past 60 years? And what do they mean when they say that they can't monitor the elections because they set them up? Are the elections rigged and they can't monitor them because they know where to look for evidence of hanky-panky or what.
They are only now making this belated “announcement” because they are pissed off that the US wouldn’t delay the election and they can’t control the process to their satisfaction.
What other international organization would they like to step in in their absence? The NBA, the FAA, NASA, the EU, or perhaps the NCAA? Maybe they would rather have a soccer game or a cricket match rather than an election.
“The absence of international monitoring could undermine confidence in the results of elections that are already threatened by widespread voter intimidation and the boycott of Sunni Arab parties.
But one UN official said there would be sufficient scrutiny by local party observers and domestic non-governmental organisations. “It's not essential to have international election observers,” said Carlos Valenzuela, the UN's Iraq election expert. A Canada-based umbrella group of electoral experts, the International Mission for Iraqi Elections, was established in December to help assess the process, but insists it is not a monitoring mission.
“Monitoring is a big problem. There won't be any international observation mechanism,” said one UN diplomat. “The UN is not willing. No one is willing. No one wants to send their people there.”
Even the number of Iraqis expected to oversee the process was “less than expected or needed”.
The diplomat described IMIE as a “last-minute” initiative, which will send experts to Jordan and Baghdad's green zone “to provide a kind of out-of-country monitoring mission”.
Another claimed it would provide helpful scrutiny of “organisational points of the process”, but added: “You can't expect international monitors to be located across the country.”
IMIE refuses to answer press enquiries about its job. Jean-Pierre Kingsley, its head, refuses interview requests, and journalists are referred to the body's website.
This Canada based International Mission for Iraqi Elections has the distinct odor of smelly socks and sweaty feet, in my opinion. It is so appropriate that their leader is named Jean-Pierre. Can you say France West?
The IMIE (as in Imie, Meemie , Mimie, Moe?), has spent all of their time running around outside of Iraq, avoiding car bombs, looking for so-called Iraqi nationals to vote. What I want to know is, how do you tell an Iraqi from a Saudi? Do they have a class ring, a driver’s license, or a fraternity jersey, or maybe a tattoo that gives them away on a positive ID basis? What are the odds that the Iraqi nationals that the IMIE does find and positively identify are actually displaced Saddam supporters who had enough money to get the hell out to avoid the fighting and are just itching for the opportunity to move back in country and pick up where they left off two years ago?
Again, all that the UN has proven here is how absolutely useless they are in achieving a basic mission that they claim to be experts at. This election has been scheduled for over six months and the UN can’t recruit and train enough indigenous personnel to accomplish what they claim is a vital mission.
Other than bitching and complaining and fund raising, what the heck can the UN actually be counted on to accomplish?
Just wondering….
Feckless (adj.) 1. Lacking purpose or vitality; feeble or ineffective.
2. Careless and irresponsible
Well, not to appear to be flogging the proverbial dead horse, but I have yet another problem with the UN this evening. I seems that the UN has decided that it cannot be responsible for observing the Iraqi elections this month.
Further, they waited until 10 days before the election to make the announcement. Where is my passport and shotgun, looks like I’ve got to make a trip next week…
Listen to this lame crap:
“United Nations diplomats are warning that Iraq's first democratic election will be held without wide-scale international monitoring.
The UN says it cannot observe the January 30 poll because it played a role in setting up the elections, and no other international organisation has stepped in to offer assistance.”
My response to these two sentences is: a) so what and b) since when?
So what if wide scale international monitoring isn’t available? I suggest that if the Iraqi people and the interim governing council are happy with the outcome, it’s none of the UN’s damn business how the election was handled. Remember that the UN was on Saddam’s payroll for 8 or 10 years and they didn’t seem to have a problem with him being an un-elected leader?
Since when has the UN excluded themselves from being the official international busybodies in every other countries’ business including elections over the past 60 years? And what do they mean when they say that they can't monitor the elections because they set them up? Are the elections rigged and they can't monitor them because they know where to look for evidence of hanky-panky or what.
They are only now making this belated “announcement” because they are pissed off that the US wouldn’t delay the election and they can’t control the process to their satisfaction.
What other international organization would they like to step in in their absence? The NBA, the FAA, NASA, the EU, or perhaps the NCAA? Maybe they would rather have a soccer game or a cricket match rather than an election.
“The absence of international monitoring could undermine confidence in the results of elections that are already threatened by widespread voter intimidation and the boycott of Sunni Arab parties.
But one UN official said there would be sufficient scrutiny by local party observers and domestic non-governmental organisations. “It's not essential to have international election observers,” said Carlos Valenzuela, the UN's Iraq election expert. A Canada-based umbrella group of electoral experts, the International Mission for Iraqi Elections, was established in December to help assess the process, but insists it is not a monitoring mission.
“Monitoring is a big problem. There won't be any international observation mechanism,” said one UN diplomat. “The UN is not willing. No one is willing. No one wants to send their people there.”
Even the number of Iraqis expected to oversee the process was “less than expected or needed”.
The diplomat described IMIE as a “last-minute” initiative, which will send experts to Jordan and Baghdad's green zone “to provide a kind of out-of-country monitoring mission”.
Another claimed it would provide helpful scrutiny of “organisational points of the process”, but added: “You can't expect international monitors to be located across the country.”
IMIE refuses to answer press enquiries about its job. Jean-Pierre Kingsley, its head, refuses interview requests, and journalists are referred to the body's website.
This Canada based International Mission for Iraqi Elections has the distinct odor of smelly socks and sweaty feet, in my opinion. It is so appropriate that their leader is named Jean-Pierre. Can you say France West?
The IMIE (as in Imie, Meemie , Mimie, Moe?), has spent all of their time running around outside of Iraq, avoiding car bombs, looking for so-called Iraqi nationals to vote. What I want to know is, how do you tell an Iraqi from a Saudi? Do they have a class ring, a driver’s license, or a fraternity jersey, or maybe a tattoo that gives them away on a positive ID basis? What are the odds that the Iraqi nationals that the IMIE does find and positively identify are actually displaced Saddam supporters who had enough money to get the hell out to avoid the fighting and are just itching for the opportunity to move back in country and pick up where they left off two years ago?
Again, all that the UN has proven here is how absolutely useless they are in achieving a basic mission that they claim to be experts at. This election has been scheduled for over six months and the UN can’t recruit and train enough indigenous personnel to accomplish what they claim is a vital mission.
Other than bitching and complaining and fund raising, what the heck can the UN actually be counted on to accomplish?
Just wondering….
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Don't Drink The Water
(More insanity at the EPA)
I’m having a hard time understanding this issue and to date I’ve avoided publicly commenting, but after reading the latest hysterical news story, thinking about it for a while this afternoon thereby getting up a good head of steam, I believe it is time to cut loose and see what happens. Here goes…
It seems that the EPA still has a problem with the quality of the drinking water stored in the holding tanks of some airliners. This story has already made the rounds once last fall on the local and national TV news shows and in the newspapers. Everybody…quick… wrinkle up your noses and make a face like your smelling cat poo and yell a collective “yuck!”
“About one in six airliners in the latest round of tests conducted in November and December had drinking water that failed to meet federal safety standards, EPA said. Similar tests in August and September showed the water in one in eight aircraft testing positive for coliform bacteria.
The latest round of testing produced positive results for presence of the bacteria in 29 of 169 randomly selected passenger aircraft carrying domestic and international passengers. The tests were done on water from galley water taps and lavatory faucets on planes at 14 airports throughout the United States.
The coliform bacteria — usually harmless itself but an indicator of the possible presence of other harmful organisms — was found in the planes ranging from small commuter aircraft to jumbo jets. None had E. coli bacteria (news - web sites ), which can cause gastrointestinal illness.
"It's an issue that's of concern," said Thomas V. Skinner, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "It's not an indication that anyone needs to panic."
Despite the increased rate of aircraft testing positive over a previous round of testing, Skinner said he "would still maintain that the vast majority of planes do not come up positive."
He said the government does not plan a third round of tests.”
First things first. Finding coliform bacteria in 1/8th of the airliners in one test and 1/6th of the airliners in another is not a trend.
Why?
They only looked at 169 airplanes, that's why!
There are over 13,000 McDonald Douglas, Boeing, and Airbus airliners in service today worldwide. There are also a bunch of other smaller "regional jets" flying around not included in that number.
I suspect that at least half of them are operating domestically or arrive in the US occasionally on international flights. How in the world can the EPA honestly tell us anything about the quality of water on airliners by looking at only 169 airplanes twice? Did they look at the same planes each time or choose different ones?
And why would anyone actually care? Don’t we all usually drink bottled water served off of the little cart that comes rolling down the isle, served by the frowning flight attendant, five minutes before the airplane begins it’s “initial descent into the airport area” thereby forcing you to relinquish you much awaited cup of ice and water into the trash after you’ve “returned your tray table and seatback into the upright and locked position?” It’s not like I’m running into the urine-spattered restroom and lapping up handfuls of water out of the sink, you know?
I suspect that if they did two more tests involving the same number of airplanes they’d get two different sets of results, again. And the most damming thing about this story is this. If we are really supposed to be concerned about water quality issues on airliners, why isn’t the EPA going to do another set of follow up tests?
BECAUSE THE EPA IS GOVERNMENT, THAT’S WHY.
Based on my past experience with “water quality” issues on recreational vehicles (motor homes and cabin cruisers,) the best that you can do is keep the water looking relatively clear and not smelling like Okefenokee Swamp water. All you can do is basically change the water every now and then and dump a few caps of Clorox in for good measure and that’s about it. Bathing in the holding tank water and washing some pots and pans is OK, but bottled water is the way to go in your Winnebago or Sea Ray. Why should it be any different on a Delta Flight?
And really, if the airlines wanted to and could actually afford to worry about and ensure that they have surgically steralized water meeting the vaulted "EPA standards" on an airliner, I would hope that they could do it. Otherwise, how can we expect them to ensure that the fuel tanks aren't also contaminated with rat turds and that the freaking General Electric gas turbines will actually reliably operate for three and one-half hours between Atlanta and LA, turning at 30,000 RPM and flying at 40,000 feet in minus 20 degrees Celsius air?
Once again people, what we have here is a bored reporter and a slow news day and the end result is…
Much Ado About Nothing! Now find something that actually matters to worry about...
Update...January 19, 2005, 6:45 PM, after some more thought.....
If I were the EPA or the FAA, I would start checking the TANKER TRUCKS that are delivering the water to the offending airliners rather than pontificating about the water quality of the airplanes themselves. Do they think that somehow the airplanes are catching raindrops in flight or have really long wicks or siphon hoses that pick up water in route from the Rio Grande or Loche Ness or what.???
I can just hear the announcement over the intercom now..."Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen... Please remain calm, but do we have Jesus on board the aircraft ...we're a bit short on our wine inventory and the water looks a little bit tepid???"
Can't we just change my headline to "DON'T DRINK THE WATER (from the tanker trucks in the parking lot)??
Damn, I'm really stupid for not thinking of this angle from the outset when I first posted my ranting and raving. Come on People...HELP ME THINK for a CHANGE...Plueaseee ...Don't make me work so hard!
I’m having a hard time understanding this issue and to date I’ve avoided publicly commenting, but after reading the latest hysterical news story, thinking about it for a while this afternoon thereby getting up a good head of steam, I believe it is time to cut loose and see what happens. Here goes…
It seems that the EPA still has a problem with the quality of the drinking water stored in the holding tanks of some airliners. This story has already made the rounds once last fall on the local and national TV news shows and in the newspapers. Everybody…quick… wrinkle up your noses and make a face like your smelling cat poo and yell a collective “yuck!”
“About one in six airliners in the latest round of tests conducted in November and December had drinking water that failed to meet federal safety standards, EPA said. Similar tests in August and September showed the water in one in eight aircraft testing positive for coliform bacteria.
The latest round of testing produced positive results for presence of the bacteria in 29 of 169 randomly selected passenger aircraft carrying domestic and international passengers. The tests were done on water from galley water taps and lavatory faucets on planes at 14 airports throughout the United States.
The coliform bacteria — usually harmless itself but an indicator of the possible presence of other harmful organisms — was found in the planes ranging from small commuter aircraft to jumbo jets. None had E. coli bacteria (news - web sites ), which can cause gastrointestinal illness.
"It's an issue that's of concern," said Thomas V. Skinner, acting assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "It's not an indication that anyone needs to panic."
Despite the increased rate of aircraft testing positive over a previous round of testing, Skinner said he "would still maintain that the vast majority of planes do not come up positive."
He said the government does not plan a third round of tests.”
First things first. Finding coliform bacteria in 1/8th of the airliners in one test and 1/6th of the airliners in another is not a trend.
Why?
They only looked at 169 airplanes, that's why!
There are over 13,000 McDonald Douglas, Boeing, and Airbus airliners in service today worldwide. There are also a bunch of other smaller "regional jets" flying around not included in that number.
I suspect that at least half of them are operating domestically or arrive in the US occasionally on international flights. How in the world can the EPA honestly tell us anything about the quality of water on airliners by looking at only 169 airplanes twice? Did they look at the same planes each time or choose different ones?
And why would anyone actually care? Don’t we all usually drink bottled water served off of the little cart that comes rolling down the isle, served by the frowning flight attendant, five minutes before the airplane begins it’s “initial descent into the airport area” thereby forcing you to relinquish you much awaited cup of ice and water into the trash after you’ve “returned your tray table and seatback into the upright and locked position?” It’s not like I’m running into the urine-spattered restroom and lapping up handfuls of water out of the sink, you know?
I suspect that if they did two more tests involving the same number of airplanes they’d get two different sets of results, again. And the most damming thing about this story is this. If we are really supposed to be concerned about water quality issues on airliners, why isn’t the EPA going to do another set of follow up tests?
BECAUSE THE EPA IS GOVERNMENT, THAT’S WHY.
Based on my past experience with “water quality” issues on recreational vehicles (motor homes and cabin cruisers,) the best that you can do is keep the water looking relatively clear and not smelling like Okefenokee Swamp water. All you can do is basically change the water every now and then and dump a few caps of Clorox in for good measure and that’s about it. Bathing in the holding tank water and washing some pots and pans is OK, but bottled water is the way to go in your Winnebago or Sea Ray. Why should it be any different on a Delta Flight?
And really, if the airlines wanted to and could actually afford to worry about and ensure that they have surgically steralized water meeting the vaulted "EPA standards" on an airliner, I would hope that they could do it. Otherwise, how can we expect them to ensure that the fuel tanks aren't also contaminated with rat turds and that the freaking General Electric gas turbines will actually reliably operate for three and one-half hours between Atlanta and LA, turning at 30,000 RPM and flying at 40,000 feet in minus 20 degrees Celsius air?
Once again people, what we have here is a bored reporter and a slow news day and the end result is…
Much Ado About Nothing! Now find something that actually matters to worry about...
Update...January 19, 2005, 6:45 PM, after some more thought.....
If I were the EPA or the FAA, I would start checking the TANKER TRUCKS that are delivering the water to the offending airliners rather than pontificating about the water quality of the airplanes themselves. Do they think that somehow the airplanes are catching raindrops in flight or have really long wicks or siphon hoses that pick up water in route from the Rio Grande or Loche Ness or what.???
I can just hear the announcement over the intercom now..."Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen... Please remain calm, but do we have Jesus on board the aircraft ...we're a bit short on our wine inventory and the water looks a little bit tepid???"
Can't we just change my headline to "DON'T DRINK THE WATER (from the tanker trucks in the parking lot)??
Damn, I'm really stupid for not thinking of this angle from the outset when I first posted my ranting and raving. Come on People...HELP ME THINK for a CHANGE...Plueaseee ...Don't make me work so hard!
The Boxer Rebellion
I’m an Alabama boy. I haven’t lived there for over 28 years, but I still consider myself an Alabamian. Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice is also from Alabama. Although she and I are from opposite sides of the state and 1960’s political landscape, we have evolved separately into the same side of the political spectrum—Miss Rice vastly exceeding my educational and professional accomplishments in the ensuing years. I'd vote for her for president right now if I had the opportunity.
I watched an hour of Barbara Boxer questioning Miss Rice on CSPAN last evening. Then I went into the kitchen and got a large spoon out of the utensil drawer, went into the bathroom, and gagged myself.
How in the world can anyone watch this crap and take Senorita Boxer seriously. Just like the congressional hearings on 9/11, every time Miss Rice would answer a question, Barbara Boxer would ignore the answer and drone on endlessly with a rhetorical list of complete crap aimed at the “congressional record” and the TV cameras.Condi is a tough cookie, however, not asking Mrs. Boxer to perform any sexual acts on herself or suggesting her to place her head in an anatomically impossible location.
At one point Mrs. Boxer actually asked that her point be read procedurally into the record. And this is the democratic party that panders to African Americans and every other downtrodden minority group, “feeling their pain” and promising to raise taxes on all of the darned old, mean old, rich achievers that have “won life’s lottery” through education and hard work.
I would like to see California congress ladies Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi compete on their own special episode of “Fear Factor.” The test would involve a 100 feet of water, a great big burlap bag, some rope, three cinder blocks, along with a single scuba tank and regulator.
May the best woman win...
I watched an hour of Barbara Boxer questioning Miss Rice on CSPAN last evening. Then I went into the kitchen and got a large spoon out of the utensil drawer, went into the bathroom, and gagged myself.
How in the world can anyone watch this crap and take Senorita Boxer seriously. Just like the congressional hearings on 9/11, every time Miss Rice would answer a question, Barbara Boxer would ignore the answer and drone on endlessly with a rhetorical list of complete crap aimed at the “congressional record” and the TV cameras.Condi is a tough cookie, however, not asking Mrs. Boxer to perform any sexual acts on herself or suggesting her to place her head in an anatomically impossible location.
At one point Mrs. Boxer actually asked that her point be read procedurally into the record. And this is the democratic party that panders to African Americans and every other downtrodden minority group, “feeling their pain” and promising to raise taxes on all of the darned old, mean old, rich achievers that have “won life’s lottery” through education and hard work.
I would like to see California congress ladies Barbara Boxer and Nancy Pelosi compete on their own special episode of “Fear Factor.” The test would involve a 100 feet of water, a great big burlap bag, some rope, three cinder blocks, along with a single scuba tank and regulator.
May the best woman win...
