January 11, 2009
— Russ from Winterset With "The One" less than 10 days from assuming the office of President, it's nice to see that the ultranationalist patriots over at the New York Times are still doing their part to undermine The Last Days of Bush.
(Once again, "Stolen blatantly from Hot Air" - You know, if I'm going to mine them for information like I do, I should probably register to comment over there. Sort of like "giving the old reach-around"....it's just common courtesy.)
What I'd like to see is a Moron Thought Experiment. Give me your best Tom Clancy/Ian Fleming scenario as to how this is an indication of our "Intelligence" services pulling a full-on Keyzer Soze and getting over on the world. I'm looking for theories that give me a little confidence that the CIA isn't completely populated by bureaucratic ass-covering fucktards. Allahpundit (PBUH) has already covered the "This is incoming Obama staffers clearing the way for unconditional talks with Iran" angle, so let's take the other side and assume that SOMEONE in Washington knows their ass from a hole in the ground.
I'll start it out with two possible scenarios: more...
Posted by: Russ from Winterset at
09:23 AM
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— Open Blog OK, all the talking heads are talking up the Eagles. We'll see -- kickoff in a few minutes.
The Giants, as you may know, don't have cheerleaders, so consider this an open call for cheerleader pix.
This Just In [ace]: Eli Manning is no a particularly good quarterback. Keep it low. I don't want other teams to realize this.
Posted by: Open Blog at
01:14 PM
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January 10, 2009
— Open Blog Nice timing, assholes.
EL PASO, Texas – If Mexican drug violence spills across the U.S. border, Homeland Security officials say they have a contingency plan to assist border areas that includes bringing in the military."It's a common sense extension of our continued work with our state, local, and tribal partners in securing the southwest border," DHS spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said Friday.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who described the contingency plan in an interview with The New York Times this week, said he ordered specific plans to be drawn up this summer as violence in Mexico continued to mount.
The plan includes federal homeland security agents helping local authorities and maybe even military assistance from the Department of Defense, possibly including aircraft, armored vehicles and special teams to go to areas overwhelmed with violence, authorities said.
Kudwa would not give specifics on the so-called "surge" plan, but said it does not create any new authorities.
Gee, a "surge." On the border. With military assets.
Thanks, I guess, for finally figuring out the problem right before you all get fired by Obama.
I've got nothing to say except.. too little, too late.
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10:34 PM
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— Gabriel Malor Well done, folks. We have retaken the lead, though not by much and it comes and goes. It'll be over on Tuesday. Until then, keep clicking.
Now, I wanted to threaten you with Naked Testicle Spiderman or even Tub Girl to impress upon you that voting regularly is in your best interest. But you guys have a true friend in Drew. He interceded on your behalf and insists that you will respond better to things chosen for their timeliness. Like her: more...
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09:06 PM
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— DrewM A few months back, Somali pirates hijacked a Saudi super-tanker filled with oil. Yesterday, they got their $3 million ransom delivered by parachute to the underway tanker but then things may have taken a turn.
Five of the Somali pirates who released a hijacked oil-laden Saudi supertanker drowned with their share of a reported $3 million ransom after their small boat capsized, a pirate and port town resident said Saturday.Pirate Daud Nure says the boat with eight people on board overturned in a storm after dozens of pirates left the Sirius Star following a two-month standoff in the Gulf of Aden that ended Friday.
He said five people died and three people reached shore after swimming for several hours. Daud Nure was not part of the pirate operation but knew those involved.
It's nice that news agencies have 'pirates' not involved in specific hijackings on speed dial in order to provide expert analysis. The successful pirate knows he has to diversify to stay ahead of the competition, to build a brand name if you will.
Not everyone is convinced by this story however. Greyhawk points out that in the pictures the seas aren't exactly as described.
Who knows? This maybe a D.B. Cooper story for the 21st Century.
Posted by: DrewM at
07:53 PM
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— DrewM
Okay, take two (though it is snowing in NYC).
Cards at Panthers up next.
The Titans got screwed when the Ravens were allowed to get the 1st down after the play clock expired, but thems the breaks.
BTW- Is it just me or is Frank Caliendo not even remotely funny?
Below the fold, your reward for doing such a good job in the Weblog Awards.
Posted by: DrewM at
04:00 PM
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— Open Blog Correction: The USS Kitty Hawk is still an active hull but is due to be decommissioned on January 31st, at 10a.m. at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, Washington (state). Thanks to XBradTC and Buck Naked for the schooling. Should be a nice addition to the collection they already have there. To see the whole decommed fleet parked there, do a Google Earth search for "Bremerton, WA."
Some details (about the former president) from the Washington Times story:
”Mr. Bush, 84, is a decorated Navy pilot in World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Mr. Bush, who was then 18, decided to join the Navy. After finishing his 10-month course, he became the youngest naval aviator to that date.”“Mr. Bush flew the Avenger torpedo bomber in combat from the carrier USS San Jacinto. He nearly lost his life during an attack on enemy installations near Chichi Jima in September 1944, when his plane was hit by enemy fire and heavily damaged. Nevertheless, he completed a strafing run on the target before bailing out of the doomed craft.”
“Mr. Bush parachuted into the sea and was rescued by the Navy submarine USS Finback.”
“Mr. Bush flew 58 combat missions. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals and the Presidential Unit Citation, which was awarded to his squadron based on the USS San Jacinto.”
Wimp.
The carrier is the 10th and final Nimitz-class carrier. The Wa Times story does manage to goober one sentence though:
”The aircraft carrier will be the 10th and final Nimitz-class sub and the ninth in the Navy's fleet.”
Or maybe they didn’t? The Nimitz-class is awesomeley awesome, but how long have they had this stealthy underwater capability? I’m guessing they really had to beef up the catapults to launch through the mass of water. The next generation of carriers will be the “Ford-Class,” currently under the CVNX program. The first one will be, of course, the USS Ford,CVN-78. More info on that here. For a complete list of all U.S. Naval assets and statistics, go visit The Naval Vessel Registry. Looks like it needs to be updated a little since the Kitty Hawk is still listed as an active hull.
Finally, something to keep you occupied while you drink yourself to sleep this evening. Since carriers are now being named after former U.S. presidents, each ship tends to adopt a nickname that sorta’ relates to something or other that president uttered, his foreign policy etc. Example: The Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is nicknamed by its crew “The Big Stick.” In the comments, you’re encouraged to think of new nicknames for ships based on any president (including the future USS Obama), whether or not they have a carrier named after them already or not. Former President Carter is kind of an anomoly in that he has an attack sub named after him. Not sure what the nickname is, but it’s probably not “Peanut” or “Malaise.” Perhaps there will be prizes offered for the most creative nickname.
And for all the current and former Marines who read this ”smart military blog,” a little something for you below the fold in case you feel like the “sqids” are getting are getting all the attention today. (I have no dog in that fight…I’m Army stock).
more...
Posted by: Open Blog at
03:27 PM
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— Dave in Texas Results from the CF picks.
1 Seattle Steve 39 Steve W 438 24 of 34
2 Unicorns CatoC 394 20 of 34
3 John Foster Kane serug2 391 20 of 34
4 Equinox beaverjoseph 391 20 of 34
5 Bock Bock 391 22 of 34
6 Going Full Retard matt miller 383 20 of 34
7 CaptainObvious CaptainObvious 381 18 of 34
I don't know any of these people. I hear they drove the school bus up to a liquor store before pickin up the kids.
I hear things. I'm connected.
Posted by: Dave in Texas at
03:16 PM
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— Open Blog (Funny how being appointed to a high government post tends to focus oneÂ’s thoughts.)
Nothing more exciting than reading a long article on economics on a Saturday afternoon, no?
According to this article,a number of His economic advisors havenÂ’t quite seen eye-to-eye with Him in the past, and lays out some of the reasons. (Though theyÂ’ve since seen the light, as we all will in time.)
”Several proposals in Barack Obama's mammoth economic recovery plan will result in only modest or even uncertain benefits if they become law.”“Says who?”
“A pair of the president-elect's top economic advisers - at least that was their view, in previous roles, before they joined his team. Those assessments, plus recent complaints from Democratic lawmakers, underscore the challenges Obama faces in selling the merits of his nearly $800 billion package of tax cuts and spending initiatives.”
Heretics! Unbelievers! I cast thee out unless thou changeth thy ways! Just sayethin.'
Posted by: Open Blog at
01:43 PM
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— Ace Yes, indeed, let us lose 10% of our forces during a long war in order to make life marginally easier for the 1% of our forces who are gay, and really want to tell the world about it.
I don't lack sympathy for gays in the military -- yes, the military is telling them to hide a fundamental part of themselves, or at least not go announcing it freely.
But here is the fact: Homosexuality is considered sinful by many religious people, and religious men make up a great percentage of the services. Furthermore, the military promises, among other things, to make real men out of its recruits, and for most people -- not just the religious -- male homosexuality is considered effeminate.
People can argue (as they frequently do) as to whether those beliefs should be. But while we argue about what should be, we can't lose site of what actually is.
A great many progressive liberals find fault with this policy and they desire a military that embraces people's various sexual lifestyles in an open, respectful way. Unfortunately, a great many progressive liberals have absolutely no desire to serve in the military -- whether don't ask, don't tell is the law or not -- which means that the military will continue recruiting from a population which does not share the enlightened, humane, pro-homosexuality goo-goo of the progressive liberals.
Don't ask, don't tell makes military service less attractive to gays and progressive liberals. But they, largely, are not inclined to serve in any event. Repealing the code makes service less attractive to traditionalists and, yes, conservatives (as well as blacks and Hispanics) who tend to be liberal on many issues but not particularly progressive about homosexuality) who actually are inclined to serve.
One can argue about the fairness but those actually willing to join the club ought to have some say in its rules. Those unwilling to join should have far less a say.
If Gleen Grenwald and other humane, compassionate, forward-thinking liberals announce their intention to sign up in great enough numbers to offset the losses among the current cohort of recruits, fine, we can dispense with the issue of how this policy affects the military's actual purpose -- to fight and win wars. And then we can have the debate solely on the grounds the liberals wish to have it on, on the questions of fairness and dignity and openness to diverse sexual orientations. And other gay shit of this nature.
But somehow I doubt that any such large-scale pledge to serve will be forthcoming.
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12:34 PM
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