March 11, 2014

Ron Fournier: President Obama "Blinded by [Self-] Righteousness" on Foreign Policy
— Ace

It's not the flaws we know of that are usually our undoing. It's the flaws we hide from ourselves and call virtues.

Days before Vladimir Putin's troops invaded Ukraine, National Security Adviser Susan Rice dismissed suggestions that Russia was about to pounce. "It's in nobody's interest," she said. Days later, President Obama declared the invasion to be illegal. "In 2014," he said, "we are well beyond the days when borders can be drawn over the heads of democratic leaders."

Two things strike me about those quotes. First, they were right. From the viewpoint of the United States and its allies, invading Crimea made no sense, legally or strategically. Second, it didn't matter: Putin plays by his own set of rules, and it's dangerously naive not to realize that.

I have no idea what Fournier is talking about here, as far as invading Crimean making "no sense." It is a standard goal of nations to hold militarily-advantageous ground, and a warm weather port is a classic example of such.

I certainly don't wish to say Putin was justified to invade a country in order to play his Empire Games. But anyone who says that standard imperial behavior "makes no sense" ought to read a history book.

Any history book. Any single one of them will do.*

Fournier is here attempting the old game of mixing criticism with Obama with an embarrassing level of sycophancy towards him.

Ukraine is illustrative of a flaw in Obama's worldview that consistently undermines his agenda, both foreign and domestic. He thinks being right is good enough. From fights with Congress over the federal budget and his nominations, to gun control, immigration reform, health care, and Syria, the president displays tunnel-vision conviction, an almost blinding righteousness. I'm right. They're wrong. Why isn't that enough?

With such certitude, Obama finds it hard to see why anybody would oppose him, which makes it almost impossible to earn new allies. He's also slow to realize when some fault lies with him. The result is Obama's legacy of "Right, but Â…" moments.

He then goes on to list Obama's strategic errors, both domestic and foreign, in which, per Fournier's thesis, Obama has acted as if merely Thinking The Right Thing was enough.

Spoiler alert: Fournier basically agrees that everything Obama thinks is in fact Thinking the Right Thing.

Interestingly -- or perhaps inevitably -- Fournier maybe exposes more of the left's worldview than he intends with this criticism. Perhaps the left should not be credited (as they credit themselves) for merely Thinking the Right Thing.

Perhaps they should be required, as humans have throughout history, to also act the right way, and achieve positive results.

Perhaps the cult of "Thinking the Right Thing" -- with no particular urgency on the left regarding, for example, undertaking charitable efforts to help the poor -- is a petty vanity that excuses failure to match words with deeds and justifies bad results.

Or: Nah. I'm sure "Thinking the Right Thing" is all that's really required.

Obama, meanwhile, is underwater in public polling on both the Ukraine and Russia, generally.

Meanwhile, in Crimea, the local parliament may vote to secede and then join the Russian Federation.

One odd little historical detail: There's an old, old treaty that says Crimea can't be part of Russia. Russia signed it with Turkey (well, the Ottoman Empire).

I'm sure this treaty "makes no sense." Empires never consider things which other empires may control major strategic ports.

* We talked about this on the last podcast with Matthew Continetti -- the press seems addicted to a narrative that excuses Obama on the Ukraine, by claiming, variously, "no one could have predicted this," "Putin is a madman and the new Hitler," "this makes no sense," and the like.

I hate to point this out to the media but the Dreaded Sarah Palin predicted it.

It's in fact not terribly hard to predict that dictators with expansionist appetites will take their meals where they can find them.

Funny Commenters:

40 Once again, I have failed Him.

Posted by: Reality

Posted by: Ace at 11:03 AM | Comments (399)
Post contains 696 words, total size 5 kb.

1 and a warm weather port is a classic example of such. which should include a nice beach

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:06 AM (IXrOn)

2

Okay, so the thing that's wrong with Obama is that he's right about everything.

Thanks, Ron.

Posted by: dan-O at March 11, 2014 11:06 AM (D0bIN)

3 I can't believe how many racists there are in this country.

Posted by: Dack Thrombosis at March 11, 2014 11:07 AM (oFCZn)

4 It's like Obama never played a game of Risk as a kid.

Posted by: wooga at March 11, 2014 11:07 AM (1BO47)

5 Why does man kill? For food. But not for food alone. Frequently there must be a beverage.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:07 AM (XUKZU)

6

I have no idea what Fournier is talking about here, as far as invading Crimean making "no sense." It is a standard goal of nations to hold militarily-advantageous ground, and a warm weather port is a classic example of such.



I certainly don't wish to say Putin was justified to invade a country in order to play his Empire Games. But anyone who says that standard imperial behavior "makes no sense" ought to read a history book.



Ah,  you're forgetting, ace.    In lefty-speak,   "makes no sense"   is the same  as   "is not what my Harvard and Yale approved   friends in academia would have done."   Things like   "the real world" and "precedent"   dont' factor into it.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:08 AM (4df7R)

7 Any history book. Any single one of them will do.

Maybe not the Zinn one? (I don't know, I haven't read it)

Posted by: Zklpxk at March 11, 2014 11:08 AM (ZKzrr)

8 I thought the Fournier article was quite amusing. He pins all of Obama's "delusions" on good intentions, high-browed intellectuality, and generosity of spirit. Actually they are based on faculty-lounge antipathy towards his own country and its evil, racist, empire-building past.

Posted by: Caliban at March 11, 2014 11:08 AM (DrC22)

9 It's really simple, Barky sucks!

Posted by: Killerdog at March 11, 2014 11:08 AM (oq+sa)

10 People who are constantly surprised at the actions    of our global adversaries are showing that they do not deserve to be in a position of power.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 11, 2014 11:08 AM (dquK7)

11 Except, he continues to admit that Thinking the right way is not reality.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:08 AM (IXrOn)

12 Maybe, just maybe, he is not Right.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:08 AM (gmeXX)

13 A few days ago a Barky adviser was defending Obama's failure to deal with the situation in Crimea saying that Putin just won't listen.  Yeah, no shit Sherlock. 

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:09 AM (XUKZU)

14 Why does Chewbacca live in Crimea with the Ewoks?

Posted by: irright at March 11, 2014 11:09 AM (8GKDa)

15 Ah, you're forgetting, ace. In lefty-speak, "makes no sense" is the same as "is not what my Harvard and Yale approved friends in academia     say they    would have done." Things like "the real world" and "precedent" dont' factor into it.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at March 11, 2014 03:08 PM (4df7R)



FIFM,   because of course      they wouldn't actually DO anything.   But they'd sit around in their ickle salons and talk about it for HOURS.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:09 AM (4df7R)

16 Any history book. Any single one of them will do.

-
Well, not a Howard Zinn book.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:09 AM (XUKZU)

17 Perhaps the cult of "Thinking the Right Thing" -- with no particular urgency on the left regarding, for example, undertaking charitable efforts to help the poor -- is a petty vanity that excuses failure to match words with deeds and justifies bad results. hehe. Perhaps.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:09 AM (IXrOn)

18 I'm surprised that Russia would do something that is entirely within its national character. After 500 years of history, you would think Russia would try a different path.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:10 AM (gmeXX)

19 He's also slow to realize when some fault lies with him.


Really? Can Fournier actually come up with one time Obama has admitted fault, or is Obama still slowly getting there?

Posted by: mugiwara at March 11, 2014 11:10 AM (W7ffl)

20


The New Left is currently running the country, unopposed by the entire GOP.

Therefore, any advancement or retreat or stupid tactical stupidness is entire of the New Left.

Which we can safely bet, will result in disaster.

I get the feeling they mostly think they live in a TV show.

Scary shit brother.


Posted by: Rev Dr E Buzz Christies at March 11, 2014 11:11 AM (xggaJ)

21 People are not rational.  Consider driving drunk. Forget the jail time, the fines, the classes, the insurance jump the loss of your license etc. The price you may well pay is death, either your own or someone else's.  And yet there are thousand if not millions drunk driving right now.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:11 AM (XUKZU)

22 I'm surprised that Russia would do something that is entirely within its national character. After 500 years of history, you would think Russia would try a different path.


Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 03:10 PM (gmeXX)



"Right?     It's   like they don't learn from history!


"Meanwhile,   let's jack up the minimum wage, because that always makes the economy better!"



-Obama and Company

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:11 AM (4df7R)

23

All you have to know to predict leftard actions is realize they are; 1. fucking delusional.2. fucking stupid. 3. fucking ignorant of any history at all. There you go, the keys to leftard thought. Just give them a RESET button and 10,000 years of history is flushed down the toilet they use for a mind.

Posted by: maddogg at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (xWW96)

24
Dear Ron,

You misspelled "Arrogance and stupidity"...

Posted by: fixerupper at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (nELVU)

25 Or: Nah. I'm sure "Thinking the Right Thing" is all that's really required.

Remember, these pinheads actually stated out loud that they thought Republicans wishing poorly of Obamacare caused Barry and Co to catastrophically flub its implementation.

Naturally they'd assume that thinking Good Thoughts would translate to foreign policy success.

Never mind spelling Russian words correctly or anything.

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (Nksua)

26 The SCOAMF is a gutless pussy.

Posted by: Insomniac at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (DrWcr)

27 The Ottomon Empire has ceased to exist. Besides, I think the Soviet Union repudiated that treaty.

Posted by: joncelli at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (RD7QR)

28 "With such certitude, Obama finds it hard to see why anybody would oppose him, which makes it almost impossible to earn new allies. He's also slow to realize when some fault lies with him. The result is Obama's legacy of "Right, but Â…" moments."

Welcome to the party, pal--er, racist!
Just change that "...slow to realize" part with "never realizes" when some fault lies with him.

* * *

Also, FWIW: There's a WSJ Bret Stephens column about 'Obama Misundestimating Putin ' re: Ukraine that is good but it's subscribers only...

Posted by: Lizzy at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (aq/zi)

29 Fournier is an idiot.
At best.
Much like Duh!1 is....

Posted by: backhoe at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (ULH4o)

30 Meanwhile, in Crimea, the local parliament may vote to secede and then join the Russian Federation. --- Odd that politicians would do something that doesn't appear to be Right, but sure does appear to be self-serving.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (gmeXX)

31

What a joke.  

 

Ron Fournier thinks the biggest problem with Obama foreign policy is that he's consistently right and the rest of the world is a disappointment.

 

This is  merely  the updated version of the slightly older "Obama's domestice and economic policies are genius level stuff, and it's the fault of the  rest  of  the  country that they  haven't  worked  at  all". 

Posted by: MTF at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (LISuA)

32

Thinking good thoughts is a wonderful      foreign policy, until US citizens start dying.

 

Scratch that, it already happened, and      it didn't seem to make a difference.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (dquK7)

33 People are not rational. Consider driving drunk. Forget the jail time, the fines, the classes, the insurance jump the loss of your license etc. The price you may well pay is death, either your own or someone else's. And yet there are thousand if not millions drunk driving right now.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 03:11 PM (XUKZU)



Some of them are probably posting here right now.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:12 AM (4df7R)

34 People are not rational. Consider driving drunk. Forget the jail time, the fines, the classes, the insurance jump the loss of your license etc. The price you may well pay is death, either your own or someone else's. And yet there are thousand if not millions drunk driving right now. Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 03:11 PM .........Dead Ted Kennedy nods in agreement.

Posted by: Minnfidel at March 11, 2014 11:13 AM (gLjvy)

35 Can we mention Gibraltar?

Posted by: Huggy at March 11, 2014 11:13 AM (o00SF)

36 We have become an Empire of Idiots and Nation of Wishcasters. That doesn't last long.

Posted by: toby928© embraces tribalism at March 11, 2014 11:13 AM (QupBk)

37 A well adjusted person adjusts himself to reality. A raving lunatic attempts to adjust reality to his delusions.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:13 AM (XUKZU)

38 obama meme: It's my way or the Highway Arrogant ignorant commie bastard

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:13 AM (t3UFN)

39 Remember, these pinheads actually stated out loud that they thought Republicans wishing poorly of Obamacare caused Barry and Co to catastrophically flub its implementation.


Naturally they'd assume that thinking Good Thoughts would translate to foreign policy success.




It's   Tinkerbelle    Policymaking


"Clap your hands, everyone!    Then the magic will happen!"

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:14 AM (4df7R)

40 Once again, I have failed Him.

Posted by: Reality at March 11, 2014 11:14 AM (QupBk)

41
Let me be clear, when you're right, you're right!  I deserve reespeck for my position and it's not a faculty lounge chat-a-thong!

Posted by: B H Obama at March 11, 2014 11:15 AM (nQjHM)

42 Invading Crimea makes a great deal of strategic sense. Which is why it's been done so many times.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 11, 2014 11:15 AM (ZPrif)

43 Ron Fournier is trying to show faux independence.  He can't.  These media fucking hacks are going down with the ship whether they like it or not.

Posted by: prescient11 at March 11, 2014 11:15 AM (tVTLU)

44 7 Any history book. Any single one of them will do. Maybe not the Zinn one? (I don't know, I haven't read it) Posted by: Zklpxk at March 11, 2014 03:08 PM (ZKzrr) ---------------------- In Zinn's book, everything American's opponents do makes sense, is understandable. Everything America does is greedy, vainglorious, and/or insane. IOW, it's not a history book.....but Obama et al. belieeeeeve!

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at March 11, 2014 11:15 AM (dfYL9)

45 >>> Interestingly -- or perhaps inevitably -- Fournier maybe exposes more of the left's worldview than he intends with this criticism. Perhaps the left should not be credited (as they credit themselves) for merely Thinking the Right Thing.

The other thing that this article illustrates is how unhinged the left has become.

They don't really have a firm set of first principles anymore. Their main principle is "Conservatives are Evil" and "I Must Refute Conservatives".

This is why you get a piece like this that starts out with an obvious observation--that Obama is naively leftwing on many issues--and veers into a land of non-sequiters explaining how that's kinda sorta a good thing. Somehow. 

It is clear that Obama is not Fournier's favorite politician from this and other articles. But his left-wing piousness doesn't allow him to ever REALLY criticize Obama, because he is on "our side" and to criticize him would be to award points to "the other side".

Posted by: dan-O at March 11, 2014 11:15 AM (D0bIN)

46 I'm surprised that Russia would do something that is
entirely within its national character. After 500 years of history,
you would think Russia would try a different path.

-
Yeah, I'm shocked that Chris Matthews is going to buy another bottle of Johnny Walker Black.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:16 AM (XUKZU)

47 obama is destroying the American work ethic and bragging about it obama is destroying the Military and happy about it obama is destroying American Foreign Policy and is ignorant about it A yob well done for sure and still 3 more years to go

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:16 AM (t3UFN)

48 Oh --- Team Action Shep is going all in on fear-inducing conspiracy theories on the missing plane. Shep is treating this as just a big live car chase.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 11, 2014 11:16 AM (ZPrif)

49 Fourier is an empty headed moron. Squishy centrism personified.

Posted by: Cleric at March 11, 2014 11:16 AM (7lUTy)

50 I'm shocked, shocked I say, to find that there is gambling going on here!

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:17 AM (t3UFN)

51 >> Any history book. Any single one of them will do. For fuck's sake, any good spy novel will do too. Clancy, Clausewitz ... either/or.

Posted by: Andy at March 11, 2014 11:17 AM (rt5Xa)

52 Just the tip baby, just the tip.

Posted by: Killerdog at March 11, 2014 11:17 AM (oq+sa)

53 48 Oh --- Team Action Shep is going all in on fear-inducing conspiracy theories on the missing plane.

Shep is treating this as just a big live car chase. Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 11, 2014 03:16 PM
----------------------------------------------------------

That asshole ruined a perfectly good dog name.

Posted by: irright at March 11, 2014 11:18 AM (8GKDa)

54 The Fournier piece is a classic Emporer's New Clothes bit. "Obama is right about X, but he didn't do what it takes to achieve X." He has a dozen examples. Now, no moron is going to agree that Obama is right about any of the Xs, but it's interesting to see the light dawn on the fact that Ovama can't even get the wrong things right.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at March 11, 2014 11:18 AM (1xUj/)

55 Remember, these folks didn't want armed guards in Benghazi because 'it sends too strong a signal.' This is just the same shit, but global. If we project nice thoughts, the bad will become nice. His whole reason for the Nobel Prize was because other liberals thought the same way. If we give up the lunch money, the bully will like us.

Posted by: Schwalbe: The Me-262© at March 11, 2014 11:18 AM (9Bdcz)

56

"Two things strike me about those quotes. First, they were right."

 

--

 

Sorry, Ron -    both of those quotes were wrong.  Dangerously wrong.  Stupidly wrong.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 11, 2014 11:18 AM (dquK7)

57 Any history book. Any single one of them will do. -- Heck even a Seinfeld episode.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:18 AM (gmeXX)

58 That's always been the left in a nutshell. Marat in his bath wailing that he had the best intentions and yet the world failed him and all these bad things happened. Consequences, in their mind, are something not really under their control, and therefore they should not be held responsible for them. In other words, they're nucking futs.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i][/b][/s][/u] at March 11, 2014 11:18 AM (qyfb5)

59

Btw, can't Russia just nuke the fuck out of turkey and get it over with.  Those bastards have been asking for it for a while.  But we let these islamonazi fucks get away with it. 

 

See:  Armenians.

Posted by: prescient11 at March 11, 2014 11:19 AM (tVTLU)

60 So that Obama is not right is not even an option. Wow. I guess it all goes back to the Messianic thing, th world does not deserve him, but he came anyway.

Posted by: blaster at March 11, 2014 11:19 AM (4+AaH)

61 37--- A well adjusted person adjusts himself to reality. A raving lunatic attempts to adjust reality to his delusions. Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 03:13 PM (XUKZU) ------------------------ Yep. And the lunatics are running the asylum.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at March 11, 2014 11:19 AM (dfYL9)

62 Everything that guy Fournier said is Bull

Go right down the list :
":First they were right" -- No Rice was wrong as is Obama
Debo Adegbile was rejected not because he defended a convict but because of his other political views.
Most Americans support 'universal health care'. -- No they don't, not as the democrats define it.
Immigration Reform isn't what the democrats are selling.


Posted by: Vinny Gambini at March 11, 2014 11:20 AM (tamIf)

63 The Fournier piece is a classic Emporer's New Clothes bit. "Obama is right about X, but he didn't do what it takes to achieve X." He has a dozen examples. So the defense is that Barry lacks shift rather than being devoid of feck. Interesting.

Posted by: toby928© at March 11, 2014 11:20 AM (QupBk)

64 oh this is rich I just realized how they're gonna sell hclinton to us in 2016. Since obama made a mess all over the world it sets the table for a candidate with a lot of foreign policy experience, unlike, say, Rand Paul or Walker or Cruz or Christie.

Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 11:20 AM (BAqy2)

65 Ace's (possibly not original) "President Boyfriend" descriptor is dead on. The MFM talk about Obama as if they were madly in love with him. "As if." Heh.

Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith[/i][/b][/s][/u] at March 11, 2014 11:20 AM (qyfb5)

66 oh this is rich

I just realized how they're gonna sell hclinton to us in 2016.


Since obama made a mess all over the world it sets the table for a candidate with a lot of foreign policy experience, unlike, say, Rand Paul or Walker or Cruz or Christie.

Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 03:20 PM (BAqy2)

 

Reset buttons all around!

Posted by: Insomniac at March 11, 2014 11:21 AM (DrWcr)

67 Ugh, that whole piece by Fournier can be summed up as "Most people support utopia ..."

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:21 AM (gmeXX)

68

People are not rational. Consider driving drunk. Forget the jail time, the fines, the classes, the insurance jump the loss of your license etc. The price you may well pay is death, either your own or someone else's. And yet there are thousand if not millions drunk driving right now.

 

But how many people get away with it, once, twice, 50, 100 times?

Everything you say MIGHT happen, but a drunk is more likely to make it home unscathed.  Stupid!, but unscathed.  God knows I tempted the fates too many damned times when I was younger.  I was lucky, and I thank Him that I did not hurt anyone back then. 

 

Tying this back to the post, Barack has gotten by for years with his self-righteous, progressive-think, damned the results behaviors for years.  Why should he change?  He will not change, even when Vlad is pimp-slapping him.  He will not change until he manages to get half the country nuked; and if he survives, it is unlikely he would change even then. 

 

Posted by: rd at March 11, 2014 11:21 AM (D+lxs)

69 big-head-begala (paul) claims obama is being brave in this tussle with Putin. hardy, har, har

Posted by: concrete girl at March 11, 2014 11:22 AM (vMC7F)

70

This is why this shit is so rich, guys like Fournier.  They just can't admit when the guy is fucking wrong.

 

He just didn't try hard enough.  The leftist view is 100% right.  This President TOLD A COMPLETE LIE AND FUCKED OVER ALL OF OUR HEALTHCARE.

 

He lied repeatedly.  He knew it was a lie.  HIS OWN ADMIN made sure it was a huge fucking lie.

 

 

Posted by: prescient11 at March 11, 2014 11:22 AM (tVTLU)

71 As you Americans say... LOL!  I just watch the Between Two Ferns video.

Posted by: Vlad Putin at March 11, 2014 11:22 AM (wAQA5)

72 "Days before Vladimir Putin's troops invaded Ukraine, National Security Adviser Susan Rice dismissed suggestions that Russia was about to pounce."

Just as, back in the 1990s, Susan Rice dismissed suggestions that Rwanda was about to explode.

It was crystal clear even before Obama became President that Rice was completely and dangerously incompetent. He brought her on board anyway. Melanin content. That's what Obama's thinking so often comes down to.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 11:23 AM (gqT4g)

73

>>>And yet there are thousand if not millions drunk driving right now.

 

Because there's no other way to get the f***ing car back to the f***ing house!

Posted by: Zombie Sam Kinison at March 11, 2014 11:23 AM (9TK8E)

74 It's just this war and that lying son of a bitch Johnson!

Posted by: President Boyfriend at March 11, 2014 11:23 AM (87y4e)

75 h clinton will be billed as "the most qualified candidate in history." she'll be sold as the "complete package"

Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 11:23 AM (BAqy2)

76 it sets the table for a candidate with a lot of foreign policy experience, unlike, say, Rand Paul or Walker or Cruz or Christie.

Condoleeza in the Cheney spot?  (IIRC, "foreign policy" was justification for Joe Biden.  Gah.)

Posted by: HR at March 11, 2014 11:23 AM (ZKzrr)

77 oh this is rich I just realized how they're gonna sell hclinton to us in 2016. Since obama made a mess all over the world it sets the table for a candidate with a lot of foreign policy... ...mess of her own. Why ruin a winning streak, right?

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 11:23 AM (E7Zh9)

78 65 Ace's (possibly not original) "President Boyfriend" descriptor is dead on. The MFM talk about Obama as if they were madly in love with him.

"As if." Heh. Posted by: Merovign, Dark Lord of the Sith at March 11, 2014 03:20 PM
------------------------------------------


When he spits on them, they save it in a hanky, and alone at night they make baby-talk with it.

Posted by: irright at March 11, 2014 11:23 AM (8GKDa)

79 65 Ace's (possibly not original) "President Boyfriend" descriptor is dead on. The MFM talk about Obama as if they were madly in love with him. Carson Daly gushed: "It's over six minutes long...all of it is really, really funny....You know, the First Lady's been everywhere showing her comedy chops and it's been great. But boy, the President, he is amazing in this. You got a little on your chin, there, Mr. Daly.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:24 AM (7ObY1)

80 The other thing that this article illustrates is how unhinged the left has become. Posted by: dan-O at March 11, 2014 03:15 PM (D0bIN) That earlier link to the Salon interview between Frank and Reed illustrated it, too. I just couldn't read the entire thing. The way they described the Tea Party and other things conservative was truly sick and pathetic. Extremely ignorant.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:24 AM (IXrOn)

81 “He remembered the pride-filled glow that had swamped Gyoko's face and he wondered again at the bewildering gullibility of people. How baffling it was that even the most cunning and clever people would frequently see only what they wanted to see, and would rarely look beyond the thinnest of facades. Or they would ignore reality, dismissing it as the facade. And then, when their whole world fell to pieces and they were on their knees slitting their bellies or cutting their throats, or cast out into the freezing world, they would tear their topknots or rend their clothes and bewail their karma, blaming gods or kami or luck or their lords or husbands or vassals -- anything or anything -- but never themselves.” ― James Clavell, Shōgun

Posted by: toby928© at March 11, 2014 11:24 AM (QupBk)

82 Think the right thing. Do The Right Thing. It's in my movie, you dumb white honkey crackers.

Posted by: Spike Lee at March 11, 2014 11:25 AM (RFeQD)

83 Here is a line from his piece: "Most Americans want a "Grand Bargain" on the budget that both raises revenue and restrains entitlements." What is missing is the qualifier "UNLESS IT AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY." When you add that qualifier is that what most people want is only one part of that equation because the other part will probably affect them negatively.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:25 AM (gmeXX)

84

Yes, Condoleeza rice in the VP slot.  No thanks.  Hey can we get Colin "I'm a racist" Powell back as well???

 

My opinion all, but no thanks.

Posted by: prescient11 at March 11, 2014 11:25 AM (tVTLU)

85 From the viewpoint of the United States and its allies, invading Crimea made no sense, legally or strategically. Second, it didn't matter: Putin plays by his own set of rules, and it's dangerously naive not to realize that.

----

**facepalm**

He doesnt play by his own set of rules.   He plays by the rules of self interest.... the same set of rules every other country follows.

Its in Petins interests to secure a warm sea port.  Its in Putins interest to be seen "protecting" ethnic Russians in Crimea.

It's in Putins interest to develop buffers against  Russia's biggest boogey man.....foreign invasion.   From Genghis Kahn, Napoleon, The Swedes, The Wermach etc have all invaded Russia.

Read a fucking history book and take a psych class.

Posted by: fixerupper at March 11, 2014 11:26 AM (nELVU)

86 No Bushes No Clintons No Condi in 2016 (or ever.) No House of Lords in the USA.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:26 AM (7ObY1)

87 h clinton will be billed as "the most qualified candidate in history."

she'll be sold as the "complete package"

-
Just as incompetent on healthcare as national security and law enforcement.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:26 AM (XUKZU)

88 big-head-begala (paul) claims obama is being brave in this tussle with Putin. hardy, har, har Posted by: concrete girl at March 11, 2014 03:22 PM (vMC7F) It all boils down to poor obama in the end. TFG is the victim.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:26 AM (IXrOn)

89 So Obama's only problem is as a messenger, as a salesperson for his correct mindthoughts?

I posit that the only thing he's good at is message.  He found his audience and his niche in lefty academia and with lefty twit voters.  When it comes to actual results he's woefully lacking.

Putin won't listen?  Republicans won't listen?  If they'd just listen they'd be overwhelmed with your sparkly-good ideas? 

In Computer Science, it's pretty cool.  If you're not so good at proving your ideas will work in theory, you can code the algorithm and test it against the known algorithm.  IOW proof by implementation.

Has Sparky tried that one?  Shame his detractors by doing and making things so clearly amazing that one simply has to point to results?  Nah, bro, it's just you won't listen.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:27 AM (P7Wsr)

90

From the viewpoint of the United States and its allies, invading Crimea
made no sense, legally or strategically

 

This guy seems pretty fucking retarded.

Posted by: Couchfucker at March 11, 2014 11:27 AM (87y4e)

91 64 --- Hillary is heavily implicated in Obama's foreign idiocy. That re-set button, which SHE devised, the whole Russia policy. Benghazi. Even with massive MSM help, she'll have a hard time selling her record.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at March 11, 2014 11:27 AM (dfYL9)

92 Think the right thing.

Do The Right Thing.

It's in my movie, you dumb white honkey crackers.

-
Just keep the hell outta my 'hood.

Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 11:27 AM (XUKZU)

93 Self-righteousness - well that's ok then.  I thought it was because he's an idiot.  That would be worse...  I think.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at March 11, 2014 11:27 AM (BZAd3)

94 "Most Americans want a "Grand Bargain" on the budget that both raises revenue and restrains entitlements."

What is missing is the qualifier "UNLESS IT AFFECTS ME PERSONALLY."


Yeah,   I'd also    like   a pony   and a    mansion    in   the Cotswolds,   but not if I have to PAY for them.  

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:28 AM (4df7R)

95 Party Bossy Assault Hobbit

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:28 AM (7ObY1)

96
I have thought that whole "beyond our times" thinking of obama and kerry was just strange from the very beginning.  Not naive only, but strange.

How does a mind get to that conclusion that what the clock or calender says is any consideration to matters of state?

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 11, 2014 11:28 AM (gorVZ)

97 What you're seeing here is actually a schism in the church of the Left. Obama has long believed that man is justified by faith alone. Fournier is going all Council of Trent on him: "If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema"

Posted by: Not Claude Akins at March 11, 2014 11:29 AM (eaocc)

98 My question is this:  If the Ukraine retaliates and crams the Crimea up Turkey's ass, would Greece help?

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 11:29 AM (Js/gY)

99 How does a mind get to that conclusion that what the clock or calender says is any consideration to matters of state?

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 11, 2014 03:28 PM (gorVZ)



When you have been blinded by the light   of Teh Won's   mighty   ego.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:29 AM (4df7R)

100 *shrug*  I was trying to think of GOP people with foreign policy experience, instead of just shitting all over the discussion with antique Kossack slogans.

McCain?  Lugar?  Lugar has a shit-ton of experience wasting money on Russia...

Posted by: HR at March 11, 2014 11:29 AM (ZKzrr)

101 Once again.. Obama is right.. it is simply a matter of messaging.

He didn't 'splain stuff correctly.. but, he's right!

How about he's an incompetent asshole surrounded by incompetent yes-men?

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at March 11, 2014 11:30 AM (Z7PrM)

102 *shrug* I was trying to think of GOP people with foreign policy experience, instead of just shitting all over the discussion with antique Kossack slogans.


There's always   The 'Stache.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:30 AM (4df7R)

103 she'll be sold as the "complete package" "Clinton" Yeah a complete package: Like 10 lbs of salami in a 5 lbs package?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:30 AM (t3UFN)

104

Prestige is always in a nation's interest and it is always in the interests of someone like Putin.  Retaking Crimea gains Russia prestige.  This is the reasoning that led to the Falklands War back in the early 1980's.

 

 

The fact that we have foreign policy experts that do not think along those lines is baffling in a way.  It is almost as if they expect humans to act differently than they act at home, have different drives and motivations, merely because they are foreigners.

Posted by: Mikey NTH - Sick of the Snowplow Bills for the Outrage Outlet - Bring Me The Head Of Al Gore! at March 11, 2014 11:31 AM (hLRSq)

105 remember, a candidate is defined by the Media, not by record or resume

Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 11:31 AM (BAqy2)

106 Shorter: Commie Ron Fournier finally realizes fellow commie Obama is an idiot.

Posted by: Steve in Greensboro at March 11, 2014 11:31 AM (bbivj)

107 There's always The 'Stache.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at March 11, 2014 03:30 PM (4df7R)


----


May have been mentioned upthread.... but isnt Condi Rice an expert on Russia??

Posted by: fixerupper at March 11, 2014 11:31 AM (nELVU)

108 There's always The 'Stache. If we could only get him to resign as President of Red Eye and run for POTUS...

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:31 AM (7ObY1)

109 This plane thing is super crazy. Very confused.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 11, 2014 11:32 AM (ZPrif)

110
Oh holy crap...  I just saw a Trojan commercial where the 20 something son gives his 60 something Dad a condom to go on his date.

No.  Just no.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 11, 2014 11:32 AM (gorVZ)

111 I don't understand the Condi hate. I am going to spend a few minutes in my bunk contemplating it and I will return giving it no credence.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at March 11, 2014 11:32 AM (1xUj/)

112 My question is this: If the Ukraine retaliates and crams the Crimea up Turkey's ass, would Greece help?

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 03:29 PM (Js/gY)



Would Greece help which side?


Considering    Turkey and Greece    are    both part of NATO (hah!) that could get interesting.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:32 AM (4df7R)

113 105 remember, a candidate is defined by the Media, not by record or resume Now that is some saying of the sooth. And spot-on.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:32 AM (7ObY1)

114 It makes sense to the author because he, like the rest of the dorm-room jam session foreign policy wizards, believes that all any nation wants is to be left alone by the mean old West. They can't understand any conflict that they can't immediately trace back to Uncle Sam or the Mil-Industrial Complex or some other Western bogeyman.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 11, 2014 11:32 AM (ZshNr)

115 "Oh --- Team Action Shep is going all in on fear-inducing conspiracy theories on the missing plane."

I actually did find a major league progtard seriously suggesting that the plane had been... _thrown into space_. By a sudden updraft. Not making this up.

Yes, these are the sorts of scenarios to which proggies give serious credence.

Fucking physics. How does it work?

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 11:32 AM (gqT4g)

116 112 My question is this: If the Ukraine retaliates and crams the Crimea up Turkey's ass, would Greece help? Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 03:29 PM (Js/gY) Grease would make it easier.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:33 AM (bCEmE)

117 Thinking The Right Thing is merely the middle stage between political correctness and the boot stomping a human face. It's an utterly predictable chain of events. ...if you survive that middle phase while other world actors play a different, far more deadly, game.

Posted by: Scott M at March 11, 2014 11:33 AM (AdBfq)

118 I don't understand the Condi hate. I am going to spend a few minutes in my bunk contemplating it and I will return giving it no credence.

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at March 11, 2014 03:32 PM (1xUj/)



She's very accomplished and intelligent, but she's made statements   in the past that put her on the path to   Colin Powelldom.   She's still Republican, but very very much   the centrist establishment.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:33 AM (4df7R)

119 105 remember, a candidate is defined by the Media, not by record or resume Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 03:31 PM (BAqy2) ----------------------- True. Sad but true.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at March 11, 2014 11:34 AM (dfYL9)

120
Ron Fournier is a guy who thinks of himself as independent-minded. A centrist. A pragmatist. His twitter says "Political affiliation: Agnostic".

So it is interesting to see the struggle between the 2 sides of him here: the rational, truly independent side, and the piously religious lefty side.

The rational side tells him how foolish Obama is in all the examples he cites.

However the pious-lefty side of him doesn't allow himself to concede a point to EVIL CONSERVATIVES, so he comes up with some irrational justification for Obama's foolishness.

This article is a very interesting little piece of schizophrenia in action.

Posted by: dan-O at March 11, 2014 11:34 AM (D0bIN)

121 You know though, it is a little odd somehow now that everyone knows immediately that when a despot or regime does something evil, that they're evil.

Of course, because Russian people now consider it just pretty peachy that they are under the thumb of a despot, I think it may be safe to conclude that 1) it is the state of mankind to be led - like sheep, and 2) that everyone has it in themselves the capacity for evil.

The subjugated don't mind subjugation as long as their sujugator subjugates others more...  or something.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at March 11, 2014 11:34 AM (BZAd3)

122 It's not that the MSM-of which Fournier is a prominent member -is delusional about Obama's abilities and how that affects his worldview, it's  that they think large parts of the public are. And they're right.

Posted by: JoeyBagels at March 11, 2014 11:34 AM (1UvuK)

123 I feel like I'm morbidly fascinated with the missing jet. Maybe starved for information is more accurate. Total mystery.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 11, 2014 11:35 AM (ZshNr)

124 Putin is bitterly clinging to an out-dated imperialistic philosophy that the West will not tolerate, and I told him so. Just wait til Europe goes against their own self-interests and imposes serious sanctions on Russia, then it's game over for Mr Putin. I mean, once his citizens hear the straight dope via Russian controlled media they will rise up and oust this tyrant.

That's how it's done.

Posted by: President Obama at March 11, 2014 11:35 AM (slXFW)

125 This video below shows the map of Europe since 1000 AD. It's kinda cool and also informative for people who think Russia invading Ukriane and changing the map of Europe is some sort of unique event.

http://www.wimp.com/presentday/

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at March 11, 2014 11:35 AM (0LHZx)

126 111 I don't understand the Condi hate. Leaving aside her sudden enthusiasm for banning words (and therefore her disdain for the First Amendment) there's the fact that a neocon, heck Queen NeoCon, has no chance of being on a winning ticket. Which means the GOPe will probably push her for Veep.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:35 AM (7ObY1)

127 Ron Fournier is a guy who thinks of himself as independent-minded. A centrist. A pragmatist. His twitter says "Political affiliation: Agnostic".


He's the MFM's  version of the "No Labels" party.


In other words,  he's a Democrat.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:35 AM (4df7R)

128 Nearly ten years ago senators Lugar and Obama succeeded in convincing the Ukraine they didn't need weapons to defend themselves, so they disarmed.  Expect the same series of events to happen here.  Disarm, then invasion.

Posted by: ron n. at March 11, 2014 11:35 AM (c7HxG)

129 "Oh --- Team Action Shep is going all in on fear-inducing conspiracy theories on the missing plane." I actually did find a major league progtard seriously suggesting that the plane had been... _thrown into space_. By a sudden updraft. Not making this up. Yes, these are the sorts of scenarios to which proggies give serious credence. Fucking physics. How does it work? Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 03:32 PM (gqT4g) kinda creepy how the phones were still "active" for a while after the fact

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:35 AM (IXrOn)

130 Over at teh Asia Times, Spengler looks at Russia and Ukraine from a population standpoint.  Interesting.

http://tinyurl.com/m6by8a2

Posted by: John P. Squibob at March 11, 2014 11:36 AM (DQZLr)

131 I actually did find a major league progtard seriously suggesting that the plane had been... _thrown into space_. By a sudden updraft. Not making this up.

Yes, these are the sorts of scenarios to which proggies give serious credence.

Fucking physics. How does it work?

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 03:32 PM
-----------------------------------------

Has anybody looked under Guam?

Posted by: The Honorable Hank Johnson at March 11, 2014 11:36 AM (8GKDa)

132 She's very accomplished and intelligent, but she's made statements in the past that put her on the path to Colin Powelldom. She's still Republican, but very very much the centrist establishment. Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit at March 11, 2014 03:33 PM (4df7R) yeah and that crack she made about the palis being the blacks of the Middle East was one of the stupidest things she ever said

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:36 AM (t3UFN)

133 Condoleeza in the Cheney spot? (IIRC, "foreign policy" was justification for Joe Biden. Gah.)

Posted by: HR at March 11, 2014 03:23 PM (ZKzrr)

 

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

 

I like Condy.  She has a lot to offer this country.  But....I just can't find myself trusting her in a position of power again.  She's a Bush girl.

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 11:37 AM (Js/gY)

134 I actually did find a major league progtard seriously suggesting that the plane had been... _thrown into space_. By a sudden updraft. Not making this up.

WUT?  Space freaking starts at 50 - 62 miles up.  Planes fly at 6 miles up.  So an updraft violently threw the plane ~44 miles upward?

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:37 AM (P7Wsr)

135 We don't need politicians with "foreign policy experience." We need pols with common sense, a basic grasp of history, and wisdom about human nature.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at March 11, 2014 11:37 AM (dfYL9)

136 You have failed me for the last time, Wicket.

Posted by: Lord Vader at March 11, 2014 11:37 AM (bitz6)

137 I mean look at the left, and especially the media; it is clear that they long for Obama to be their overlord.  Hell, he could shit in everyone of their mouths and they would slurp it up like it was candy.


Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at March 11, 2014 11:37 AM (BZAd3)

138 In the Crimean War, Greece was in the middle of a rebellion against Turkey, and yet both fought together against the Russians. The French and the British became allies. Even the Kingdom of Sardinia got a hefty piece of the action.

For one reason or another, a hell of a lot of people really did not want Russia to control Crimea. Way back in the 1850's.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 11, 2014 11:37 AM (xq1UY)

139 Has anyone done the Charles Gibson "never heard of it" joke yet?
Honestly I think the side bar bit about these guys all being graduate students living in their own academic dream world is the best analysis yet. These guys have their heads full of theories that they'll cling to in the face of reality until they die.
People like that are fine, they can live their own way and have fun. But never, ever should they be given power.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 11:38 AM (zfY+H)

140 129 "Oh --- Team Action Shep is going all in on fear-inducing conspiracy theories on the missing plane." I almost never listen to Alex Jones (I think he's a whacko-bird) but by accident I happened to catch a bit of his show last night. Man are the Konspiracy Kidz having a party with this story. Kemtrailz, aliens, Bilderberg, Mexican drug cartels. There were more people (and ET's) bringing down that plane than there were armed assassins on the Grassy Knoll.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:38 AM (7ObY1)

141 Maybe the jet found an updraft caused by all that "missing heat" that was supposed to be hiding in the oceans.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 11, 2014 11:38 AM (ZshNr)

142

So Putin acted stupidly ?

 

Let's have a beer summit !   That worked before . . .

Posted by: McCool at March 11, 2014 11:38 AM (nCSwS)

143 Tying this back to the post, Barack has gotten by for years with his self-righteous, progressive-think, damned the results behaviors for years. Why should he change? He will not change, even when Vlad is pimp-slapping him. He will not change until he manages to get half the country nuked; and if he survives, it is unlikely he would change even then.
Posted by: rd at March 11, 2014 03:21 PM (D+lxs)

Don't forget that this is the longest that Obama has ever stayed in the same job and really the first time he's ever hung around long enough for his own lack of actual results to be apparent.

Therefore the world's reality must be wrong.

Posted by: Mætenloch at March 11, 2014 11:39 AM (pAlYe)

144 This plane thing is super crazy. Very confused. The fact that there is no trace is what's doing it.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 11:39 AM (E7Zh9)

145 Fournier doesn't have the intellectual integrity to admit that the guy he voted for twice and continues to be a sycophant for was the wrong choice. Instead of being honest, he writes these How Could Things Have Gone So Wrong When We Elected a Guy Like Obama, With No Experience.

Posted by: ejo at March 11, 2014 11:39 AM (GXvSO)

146 @125 Moo "It's kinda cool and also informative for people who think Russia invading Ukriane and changing the map of Europe is some sort of unique event." Or Poland, the Caucuses, Finland, etc... For years I have always heard how imperialistic America was until I started to ask them to Point out where our points of conquest on teh world map are? Crickets. The russians I know are quite proud of their old empire and have no quibles with it.

Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at March 11, 2014 11:39 AM (MHdmX)

147

>>137

 

Four networks, One Cup

Posted by: McCool at March 11, 2014 11:39 AM (nCSwS)

148 "For one reason or another, a hell of a lot of people really did not want Russia to control Crimea. Way back in the 1850's."
Russia wanted to control more land and have more power, and the Crimea was their launching point. Back then sea power meant everything and while England had to work with Sweden and other countries for timber and tar, Russia is practically overflowing with supplies to build ships with.
With a port open year round, a warm water port, Russia would have been nearly unstoppable at sea.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 11:39 AM (zfY+H)

149 #143 and really the first time he's ever hung around long enough for his own lack of actual results to be apparent. That's a great point.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 11:39 AM (7ObY1)

150 ot Hillary Clinton has her own private NSA. American Bridge PAC spent last week spying on the private conversations of attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The group also plans to spy on the private lives of GOP delegates to the 2016 Republican National Convention wherever the convention is located, but Politico reports ABPAC has issued the following threat if the GOP selects Las Vegas as its host city. American Bridge has set up this website at “SinCityGOP” and announces (bold print supplied): http://spectator.org/articles/58162/hillarys-private-nsa so dirty read the whole thing of course, it is backed by Soros

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:40 AM (IXrOn)

151 Employer Fournier: So tell me, Mr. Obama, what's your biggest weakness?

Applicant Obama: I, um, think I would have to admit to, um, always being right.

Employer Fournier: Hmm. Right again. You're hired!

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at March 11, 2014 11:40 AM (1CroS)

152 142 So Putin acted stupidly ?

Let's have a beer summit ! That worked before . . .

Posted by: McCool at March 11, 2014 03:38 PM (nCSwS)


Or maybe he could just tell him that at some point, he's made enough money.

Posted by: LoneStarHeeb at March 11, 2014 11:40 AM (BZAd3)

153 The Russian annexation of The Ukraine would probably be the only thing that unites Turkey and Greece. Their contempt for Russia is stronger than their contempt for each other.

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at March 11, 2014 11:40 AM (32Ze2)

154 134 I actually did find a major league progtard seriously suggesting that
the plane had been... _thrown into space_. By a sudden updraft. Not
making this up.

WUT? Space freaking starts at 50 - 62 miles up. Planes fly at 6 miles up. So an updraft violently threw the plane ~44 miles upward?
Posted by: bonhomme at March 11, 2014 03:37 PM

------------------------------------------

And accelerated it to 17,000 MPH, or whatever.

Posted by: irright at March 11, 2014 11:40 AM (8GKDa)

155 Can cell phones survive plane crashes? Wouldn't that be like a homing beacon to the wreckage?

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 11, 2014 11:40 AM (bitz6)

156 Since we're over 100 comments in, I want to see if Azenogoth can defend this one from the last thread:

Example:A U.S. SOF team armed with rocks and sticks would defeat a much larger contingent of Roman Legionaires.

So what exactly is the SOF team going to do?  Doesn't matter how much you know about troop movement and etc if they tortuga up, march up on you, and stab you while you chuck rocks at them.

Posted by: bonhomme[/i][/b][/i][/b][/s][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:41 AM (P7Wsr)

157 This piece is enough to strip away even the thinnest veneer of respect for Fournier. Unless you bought into the notion of Russia as a permanently-crippled Yeltsin-era 'end of history' disaster, something one should have been well disabused of at least by South Ossetia, the Russian grab of the Crimea is about the most predictable thing in the world. Let's put the beard on Spock for a moment. Let's say that Obama squashes voter ID laws and nationalizes a whole lot of new Democrats and fiddles with the electoral laws, and in 2016 President Raul Grijalva succeeds him, and by 2024 the country's a quasi-Marxist basket case with shuttered industry all over the country and the 50 F-22s left in inventory are mostly sitting on flat tires with birds' nests in their intakes and finally we get some uprising, a man (or a woman) on horseback and the Grijalva government gets to see what bayonets look like. California elects to break away and form a new country. The relatively powerless rump 'United States' negotiates a 50-year lease on the Port of San Diego. Over the next twenty years the US begins to recover a bit, but the California government becomes a corrupt tussle between bought-and-paid-for interests of the US and China. Eventually the Chinese interests come out on top. Would it 'make no sense' for the US to try to take back San Diego?

Posted by: JEM at March 11, 2014 11:41 AM (o+SC1)

158 WTF? Two transponders were turned off? Why would you even have an 'off' switch for those things?

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:41 AM (bCEmE)

159 I'm still going with the "failed instruments and hit the water" theory on the plane. At the right angle the plane would be mostly intact and sink, but kill or knock out everyone (especially the pilots up front) instantly. No debris isn't really an issue, the ocean is a REALLY big place.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 11:41 AM (zfY+H)

160 >>>I feel like I'm morbidly fascinated with the missing jet. Maybe starved for information is more accurate. Total mystery. it is a psychologically distressing thing because we have a firm idea of what a jet crash is supposed to look like. We expect wreckage. We expect frenzied moments of air traffic chatter. We have none of that. Huge things aren't just supposed to disappear out of the sky.

Posted by: ace at March 11, 2014 11:41 AM (/FnUH)

161
I am going with hijacked to Iran until they find the plane.

Plus I got 200 to 1 odds at the casino.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk at March 11, 2014 11:41 AM (gorVZ)

162 I think that the President should go on some comedy website and show Putin up.

Posted by: blaster at March 11, 2014 11:41 AM (4+AaH)

163

For one reason or another, a hell of a lot of people really did not want Russia to control Crimea. Way back in the 1850's.

 

Such 19th century thinking has no place in today's world.

 

 

Posted by: Jo-hann Kerry at March 11, 2014 11:42 AM (87y4e)

164 MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit...! woo hoo woo hoo hoo! (5, 6, 7, 8's)

Posted by: bossy concrete girl at March 11, 2014 11:42 AM (vMC7F)

165 Now I've done it.

Posted by: Wi Tu Low at March 11, 2014 11:42 AM (bitz6)

166 I actually did find a major league progtard seriously suggesting that the plane had been... _thrown into space_. By a sudden updraft. Not making this up.



Lord, please pardon my blasphemy, but Jesus CHRIST.   



We're going to ignore the fact that   the average space shuttle takes several thousand gallons    of      fuel    and   immense   thrust   straight up     to launch into   space.    Let   that go.    Did it not occur   to   Sunny Jim that,   if it were actually possible for an "updraft"   to     throw   a plane into space that maybe  it would have happened before now?   Like, a lot? 



Do these people   understand words?   No,   better yet, do they    recognize that when they see themselves in a mirror    they're looking at their own reflection and not their twin?   Because   they     appear to    have the mental capacity of a particularly dumb    dog,   and  yes, I apologize to all canines for that terrible slur.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:42 AM (4df7R)

167 "Thinking the Right Thing" is essentially Utopian-thought. This is what The Left does.

St Thomas More coined the word in his book "Utopia" in 1516

The word comes from the Greek: οὐ ("not") and τόπος ("place") and means "no place".

The English homophone eutopia, derived from the Greek εὖ ("good" or "well") and τόπος ("place"), means "good place". This, because of the identical pronunciation of "utopia" and "eutopia", gives rise to More's
satirical double meaning to the word. His clear implication was that the perfectly "good place" is in reality "no place".

More was right of course, because his Roman Catholic theological understanding of the brokenness of this world and man's original sin formed his reasoning.

A central character in the book, Raphael Hythlodeaus, asserts that a man who refuses to believe in God or an afterlife could never be trusted, because he would not acknowledge any authority or principle outside himself. More actually understood the truth of this premise.

Leave it to the Left to embrace a contradictory meaning of the overall meaning of the story while ignoring the valid premise of More's ultimate point.

Posted by: Something at March 11, 2014 11:42 AM (Ojgjr)

168 Another possibility is that Hugo Drax created a huge airship that is radar cloaked. His test hit the plane with a powerful EMP that killed all its electronics, then swallowed it up in the air with the gigantic craft that opens up in the front. Expect a broadcast soon demanding one hundred billion dollars ransom.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 11:43 AM (zfY+H)

169 "kinda creepy how the phones were still 'active' for a while after the fact"

Ringing is generated by the network. And when you make an international call to a mobile, you're typically interacting with several different countries' and/or companies' networks in turn. Which, depending on how they are configured and interacting, may end up generating a ring even if the phone is turned off, devoid of battery power, or destroyed.

I've experienced this several times under completely ordinary circumstances.

Idiot journos are whipping up false hope for desperate families with this technically illiterate crap. One of the cruellest things that anyone could imagine. They are a despicable "profession".

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 11:43 AM (gqT4g)

170 @166 - no, that's the same Jenny McCarthy science that gives us 'global warming'.

Posted by: JEM at March 11, 2014 11:43 AM (o+SC1)

171 I blame the Reptilians.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 11, 2014 11:44 AM (bitz6)

172 Four networks, One Cup And one ring to bind them all....

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 11:44 AM (E7Zh9)

173 Let's get back to talking about my Yoga Pants

Posted by: Hillary Clinton at March 11, 2014 11:45 AM (32Ze2)

174 Interesting how Bush said he looked in Putin's eyes and saw his heart (or something). However, even with that mistaken good feeling, Bush pushed policies that would act as a buffer to Russia. Say what you will about Bush, but he was a student of history and understood this looming threat. He was right to act at a time when Russia was weaker than it is now.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:45 AM (gmeXX)

175 Idiot journos are whipping up false hope for desperate families with this technically illiterate crap. One of the cruellest things that anyone could imagine. They are a despicable "profession". Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 03:43 PM (gqT4g) I'm not sure why Shep is going with that story. An earlier Fox program had an expert on explaining why/how the phone could continue to ring even if the phone is destroyed.

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:45 AM (bCEmE)

176 I wrote Utopia as a joke.  Don't read too much into it.

Posted by: Sir Thomas More at March 11, 2014 11:45 AM (8ZskC)

177 Since we're over 100 comments in, I want to see if Azenogoth can defend this one from the last thread: Example:A U.S. SOF team armed with rocks and sticks would defeat a much larger contingent of Roman Legionaires. So what exactly is the SOF team going to do? Doesn't matter how much you know about troop movement and etc if they tortuga up, march up on you, and stab you while you chuck rocks at them. ---- I was going to call BS on that one too.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:46 AM (gmeXX)

178 Thing about the flight that is bugging me-- it turns around at about the time the handoff to Vietnamese air traffic control happens. If they have the story straight.

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 11:46 AM (RJMhd)

179 more Per a Democratic source: “American Bridge's plans would scatter trackers with video cameras from one end of the Strip to the other and would include a rapid response war room in the city to turn the footage into instant products — even potentially television ads — exposing whatever activities and hypocricies (sic) they catch on film. … American Bridge's efforts ... would be looking to capture everything from the late night carousing of politicians to simply filming candidates who claim to be the bastion of family values entering and exiting bars and casinos.” expect many faux boy scout nazi images in the future

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:46 AM (IXrOn)

180 I wrote Utopia as a joke. Don't read too much into it.

Posted by: Sir Thomas More at March 11, 2014 03:45 PM (8ZskC)



"Yeah, about that..."


-George Orwell

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:46 AM (4df7R)

181 kinda creepy how the phones were still "active" for a while after the fact Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 03:35 PM (IXrOn) That's only because the aliens had to check their twitter accounts.

Posted by: Killerdog at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (oq+sa)

182 173 Let's get back to talking about my Yoga Pants Posted by: Hillary Clinton at March 11, 2014 03:45 PM
----------------------------------------------

Alright, someone check Hillary's yoga pants for an airplane.

Posted by: irright at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (8GKDa)

183
Well, all that aside, I'm looking out for the FOLKs.

Because the SPIN stops right here.

Posted by: Bill O'Reilly at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (OZmbA)

184 Just contemplating the unmitigated stupidity of obama and his merry band of commie idiots gives me a headache.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (t3UFN)

185 For one reason or another, a hell of a lot of people really did not want Russia to control Crimea. Way back in the 1850's --- You don't say. I just thought Putin wanted to remake the Soviet empire. You mean Russia has been like this longer than that? Weird.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (gmeXX)

186 Idiot journos are whipping up false hope for desperate families with this technically illiterate crap. One of the cruellest things that anyone could imagine. They are a despicable "profession".

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 03:43 PM (gqT4g)



Just like they are whipping people into a frenzy over that poor 7 year old boy that needs the experimental drug.

The whole situation sucks, but people are frothing at the mouth to demand something they have no right to demand.

Further, they are demanding something that, when taken to the logical endpoint, bankrupts the small company and prevents the drug from ever getting to market.

Fucking mob rule, 24/7, ginned up by the media.

Posted by: grognard at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (/29Nl)

187 WTF? Two transponders were turned off? Why would you even have an 'off' switch for those things?

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2014 03:41 PM (bCEmE)

 

 

---------------------------------------

 

 

They don't.  Or there's not supposed to be.  A  quick snip of the wires between the electronics and the antennas would do just as well, though.

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (Js/gY)

188 175 Idiot journos are whipping up false hope for desperate families with this technically illiterate crap. One of the cruellest things that anyone could imagine. They are a despicable "profession". Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 03:43 PM (gqT4g) I'm not sure why Shep is going with that story. An earlier Fox program had an expert on explaining why/how the phone could continue to ring even if the phone is destroyed. Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2014 03:45 PM (bCEmE) ************ The phone crap is extraneous. It really won't solve anything.

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 11:47 AM (RJMhd)

189 Look wooga @#4 if you're going to take the obvious joke while I'm out fixing the snowblower... again, then I'm all out of material.

Posted by: DaveA[/i][/b][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:48 AM (DL2i+)

190 And of course these dumb bitches are gonna solve the Israeli- Arab war also.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:48 AM (t3UFN)

191 Here's a weird thought, but would it be possible that the "black box" or   transponders or    whatever might have been removed from the plane and put on another,    smaller   plane,   to cause confusion    about   its location?       I ask because I saw that in "Con Air," and seriously,    WTF not?      I don't know what the    point would be,   but nothing about this makes any sense.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 11:48 AM (4df7R)

192 187 WTF? Two transponders were turned off? Why would you even have an 'off' switch for those things? Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2014 03:41 PM (bCEmE) *************** Apparently you can switch them off if they malfunction.

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 11:48 AM (RJMhd)

193 Let's get back to talking about my Yoga Pants Posted by: Hillary Clinton I saw three honey badgers wrasslin' in a sack before. Pass.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 11:49 AM (E7Zh9)

194 @174 - yes, actions speak louder than words. If I were President I'd have said nothing, but I'd have immediately called in the Polish ambassador and asked them when they wanted their ABMs, and I'd have sent the SecState around to everyone in the region and told them "if you want us to lift one finger you start looking for your own energy, we'll send you a bunch of Texans who know fracking, it's up to you what you do with your Greens, they go very well in salads."

Posted by: JEM at March 11, 2014 11:49 AM (o+SC1)

195 And of course these dumb bitches are gonna solve the Israeli- Arab war also. ------- Oh you have no idea....

Posted by: Samantha Power at March 11, 2014 11:49 AM (Aif/5)

196 "A U.S. SOF team armed with rocks and sticks would defeat a much larger contingent of Roman Legionaires."
Yeah that would end very poorly for the US Soldiers. Yes, we're bigger and stronger, but the Roman military was the best in the world, had incredible leadership and discipline, and were very good with their tools.
Even long after Rome was a serious world power and was utterly crumbled, the roman legions were feared and powerful.
Now equip those soldiers with our modern gear and there would be dead Romans from here to Tuscany, but with equivalent gear? Romans win every time just from experience.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 11:49 AM (zfY+H)

197 Crapping in a urinal is right, because it's a toilet.

Posted by: eleven at March 11, 2014 11:49 AM (GXZgZ)

198 I like Condy. She has a lot to offer this country. But....I just can't find myself trusting her in a position of power again. She's a Bush girl. ---- I don't have much issue with Bush and his foreign policy. He screwed things up, but by and large got it mostly right. However, Condi has been there and done that. I wouldn't be opposed to her having another run at SOS, though I'm not fully supportive of it either.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 11:49 AM (gmeXX)

199 He should send Pajama Boy to straighten out Putin. It would be pretty great.

Posted by: Dr. Varno at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (V4CBV)

200 Has anyone floated the idea of an EMP weapon used to fry the entire plane out of the sky?  No electronics, no engines, no power.  Just a dead weight falling into the ocean with no way to send a distress call.


Posted by: EC at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (GQ8sn)

201 It's in fact not terribly hard to predict that dictators with expansionist appetites will take their meals where they can find them.

Watch out for Lrrr.

Posted by: Zklpxk at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (ZKzrr)

202 Idiot journos are whipping up false hope for desperate families with this technically illiterate crap. One of the cruellest things that anyone could imagine. They are a despicable "profession". Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 03:43 PM (gqT4g) Hey! My Journalism Degree required that I be able to write clearly at a 5th grade level. It took me four long hard years to learn how to do that, and.... ....and....uh....well........I guess that's all. But, I have a degree dammit!

Posted by: naturalfake at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (0cMkb)

203 Have you ever stopped to add up all the bad things that happened under obama that went flushed down the memory hole as if they never happened? For instance, remember the drone obama lost in Iran? It was in one news cycle and then...nothing.

Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (BAqy2)

204 Susan Rice, by saying that about Russia and Ukraine, shows how far out of her depth she is.

She should have been asking herself and those working for her what would drive Russia to view the Ukraine as a bank to be knocked off.  Check Russian history and the perpetual quest for access to a sea port that is always open.

Instead she lacked the lets say imagination to even do that.  She let her quaint notions of countries being perfectly rational actors who will always act according to her beliefs straight jacket her mental processes.

And she works for a President that has the same issues.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (m1gXb)

205 For years I have always heard how imperialistic America was until I started to ask them to Point out where our points of conquest on teh world map are? Crickets. The russians I know are quite proud of their old empire and have no quibles with it. Posted by: Buckeye Abroad at March 11, 2014 03:39 PM (MHdmX) _____________ America is the only country that COULD have conquered the world and chose not to. And yet libtards think every problem in the world is because of American "imperialism".

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (0LHZx)

206 "Example:A U.S. SOF team armed with rocks and sticks would defeat a much larger contingent of Roman Legionaires."
-------------------------------------

I thought he meant everybody had only rocks and sticks.  But I'm still not sure I would agree.

Posted by: irright at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (8GKDa)

207 Ah hell, sock fail. Nevermind.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (0cMkb)

208 They don't. Or there's not supposed to be. A quick snip of the wires between the electronics and the antennas would do just as well, though.
Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 03:47 PM (Js/gY)

I'm pretty sure it has a breaker like every other piece of equipment. And probably an off switch too.

Posted by: Mætenloch at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (pAlYe)

209 A well adjusted person adjusts himself to reality. A raving lunatic attempts to adjust reality to his delusions.
Posted by: WalrusRex at March 11, 2014 03:13 PM

Actual "reality" tells a rational, thinking person that "right" and "not-right" don't necessarily mean a damn thing in The Big World Out There.

Choom Boy and his co-conspirators may be confused, irritated and bamboozled by Putin not doing what they claim is "right," but someone with a modicum of good sense would react to what's happening, not whine about it being "not-right."

Another win for affirmative action: since birth, President Historic First© has been assured that what he thinks is Right; he has never suffered the bad consequences of dealing with anyone who dares disagree with him. So when someone in authority (even if it's in another country) doesn't accept his beliefs as "right," all he can do is whimper.

A substantial number of Americans have bought into this stupid and self-defeating act, and laud him for being "correct" while the world is Bad and Evil for not playing by his rules. Tough shit. The Emperor of Japan was "right," too, and put his people in a world of hurt. Just like Choom Boy is going to do.

Posted by: MrScribbler at March 11, 2014 11:50 AM (jiM5S)

210 Or because we believed Hope and Change would take the World by storm just as it did us.

So anyway Obama couldn't have guessed Crimea would happen  after Georgia?

none of them saw it coming?

why I guess we'd have to assume they actually don't know a thing about any History that doesn't involve Obama.
Obama born.
Obama awesome.
Obama our Messiah.
the end.

Posted by: willow at March 11, 2014 11:51 AM (nqBYe)

211 hey you know what China is also going to play nice. because they should because Obama is Pres.

Posted by: willow at March 11, 2014 11:51 AM (nqBYe)

212 anyone floated the idea of an EMP weapon ------ Cell phones are still active.

Posted by: Adam at March 11, 2014 11:52 AM (Aif/5)

213 oh and IRan!

Posted by: willow at March 11, 2014 11:52 AM (nqBYe)

214 160

Huge things aren't just supposed to disappear out of the sky.


Posted by: ace at March 11, 2014 03:41 PM (/FnUH)


Yeah.  Few people understand what 'squatches are capable of.

Posted by: guy with a night-vision GoPro at March 11, 2014 11:52 AM (M5T54)

215 Forget susan rice or samantha powers, v. jarrett is pulling all the strings and that includes obama also. Old ferret face

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:52 AM (t3UFN)

216 Has anyone floated the idea of an EMP weapon used to fry the entire plane out of the sky? No electronics, no engines, no power. Just a dead weight falling into the ocean with no way to send a distress call.


Could this device be mounted on a frikkin' shark? I'm asking for a friend.

Posted by: Dr. Evil at March 11, 2014 11:52 AM (8ZskC)

217 This all goes away with a simple raise of gas-taxes and imposition of a carbon-tax scheme

Posted by: Tom Friedman at March 11, 2014 11:52 AM (Q6pxP)

218
Expanding into a warm-water port makes no sense? Then why the hell did I do it in 1550?

Posted by: Ivan the Terrible at March 11, 2014 11:53 AM (VrNoa)

219 Cell phones are still active. Posted by: Adam at March 11, 2014 03:52 PM (Aif/5) Not necessarily. They said today that the networks those phones are on can take up to 48 hours to realize they are no longer there

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:53 AM (t3UFN)

220 It new school imperialism yo. You creep assed cracka.

Posted by: Rachel Jenteal at March 11, 2014 11:53 AM (Aif/5)

221

My friends, we have nothing to fear with Barack Obama in the White House

Posted by: John McCain at March 11, 2014 11:53 AM (Q6pxP)

222 The ringing stuff doesn't bug me, that could be an artifact of the phone network. It's the two transponders being turned off somehow which raises a huge red flag.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 11, 2014 11:53 AM (ZPrif)

223 208 They don't. Or there's not supposed to be. A quick snip of the wires between the electronics and the antennas would do just as well, though. Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 03:47 PM (Js/gY) I'm pretty sure it has a breaker like every other piece of equipment. And probably an off switch too. Posted by: Mætenloch at March 11, 2014 03:50 PM (pAlYe) ************* That's my understanding also.

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 11:53 AM (RJMhd)

224 "I thought he meant everybody had only rocks and sticks. But I'm still not sure I would agree."
That would be a closer fight but I still give it to the Romans, they are used to low tech, no support, lack of supply drops, and living a low tech life. The US soldier edge of being bigger and stronger would be offset by having basically a softer life.
And before you beat my brains in for saying soldiers have a soft life, I didn't say that. I said they have a softer life than a Roman living in 40 AD.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 11:54 AM (zfY+H)

225 Point out where our points of conquest on teh world map are? Crickets.

Oh come on, old man. Those had to be some pretty lame anti-Imperialists.
Florida. Cuba. The Philippines. The Canal Zone. Puerto Rico. Guam. The Marianas. Samoa. All the Guano islands, plus Navassa, the original Crab Key.

Sure, the sun sets on 'em. We set a lot of them "free." But any card-carrying anti-American has that list memorized. 

As the Spanish ambassador was being recalled from DC at the outset of the S-A War, he said that he could not see the purpose of the war, but he knew who had started it: The Empire of Ohio. He meant Mark Hanna, natch, but every Buckeye Abroad should know that line.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at March 11, 2014 11:54 AM (xq1UY)

226 Overheard at local diner: Kidnapped. Aliens. I'm glad the plane wasn't passing through the Bermuda Triangle, we would be subjected to lots of *really* loony tune stuff.

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 11, 2014 11:54 AM (aDwsi)

227 See and what I am thinking is: "they actually let Malaysia have Jets"?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 11:54 AM (t3UFN)

228 That would be a closer fight but I still give it to the Romans, they are used to low tech, no support, lack of supply drops, and living a low tech life. The US soldier edge of being bigger and stronger would be offset by having basically a softer life.


Are we talking about "Rome Sweet Rome"?


Posted by: EC at March 11, 2014 11:54 AM (GQ8sn)

229 Makes you wonder how many other planes have taken off and disappeared..... and just not reported on. Strange...... I wonder what else the government isn't telling us.

Posted by: George Noory at March 11, 2014 11:55 AM (32Ze2)

230 If the Malaysian plane crashed on land, the survivors would have definitely resorted to rape and cannibalism by now, that's just Science.

Does president Bush even f@cking care????

Posted by: Shep Smith at March 11, 2014 11:55 AM (slXFW)

231 It's the two transponders being turned off somehow which raises a huge red flag.

It is said that allah hates transponders.

Posted by: First Officer Adel Anwar at March 11, 2014 11:55 AM (8ZskC)

232 Behold the weak-horse.


Posted by: Bashar al Assad at March 11, 2014 11:55 AM (Q6pxP)

233 Florida. Cuba. The Philippines. The Canal Zone. Puerto Rico. Guam. The Marianas. Samoa. All the Guano islands, plus Navassa, the original Crab Key. Texas?

Posted by: Mike Hammer at March 11, 2014 11:55 AM (aDwsi)

234 The thing that bugs me again-- the flight is all good for what--40 minutes--when it would be under the air traffic control of Malaysia-- then it performs the pivot right where the hand off to Vietnamese air control happens. Right where in relay races you sometimes have fumbles. So--that.

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (RJMhd)

235 Maybe they activated the hyperdrive.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (bitz6)

236 But, but, progressives have assured me that only the US is imperialist !!!

Posted by: Mindy at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (Ew9Pv)

237 There never was a plane. Or was there? Hmmm.....

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (0LHZx)

238 Did someone mention aliens?

Posted by: Giorgio Tsoukalos at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (Q6pxP)

239 why I guess we'd have to assume they actually don't know a thing about any History that doesn't involve Obama. Obama born. Obama awesome. Obama our Messiah. the end.... ...of us.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (E7Zh9)

240 Fournier is just another fence walker.

Posted by: gracepmc at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (rznx3)

241 It is said that allah hates transponders. Posted by: First -------------- They are filthy.

Posted by: Abdul The Bad at March 11, 2014 11:56 AM (aDwsi)

242 sorry in advance for those that hate redstate but, this is an odd one Why Does Progress Texas Photoshop Paraplegics? Greg Abbott, the Republican candidate for Governor of Texas, is wheelchair bound. But in this attack against him from Progress Texas theyÂ’ve photoshopped him standing up. Why? Notice also that they paired him in the attack with a shorter hispanic woman instead of even trying to pit him against Wendy Davis. In fact, Progress Texas, which presumably supports Wendy Davis, makes no mention of her at all while making Greg Abbott stand up via photoshop. ThatÂ’s pretty creepy. And weird. this really is a WhatTheFrack?

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 11:57 AM (IXrOn)

243 Maybe they activated the hyperdrive.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 11, 2014 03:56 PM (bitz6)



They were trying to make the Kessel Run in less than 5 parsecs?



Posted by: EC at March 11, 2014 11:57 AM (GQ8sn)

244 choklit jeezus is RIIIIGHT!! and tha rest of the world is WROOOOONG!!!

BCUZ BUSSSH!

Posted by: claire cloggenstein, of the california cggensteins at March 11, 2014 11:57 AM (RPDkq)

245 Just listened to a pilot on Hannity's show. His personal opinion is that massive mech failure is unlikely, said that the pilot can reach down and switch off the transponder at will, but nobody would/should under normal circumstances. Just more speculation. If I entertain the notion that it was hijacked and landed safely, I can picture a few TV/movie kind of scenarios. The plan was to steal a jet for use by some rogue faction of some nation state, passengers released unharmed, or maybe that there's going to be a Somali-pirate style ransom demand from some isolated jungle airstrip, nothing very convincing.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 11, 2014 11:57 AM (ZshNr)

246

After the left eradicated uncomfortable thoughts from the campus, which is where Obama grew up, it was a given that "being right" was good enough.

 

I     sometimes    wonder  what would have happened if Obama had accidentally wandered into one of those "free speech zones" while he was on campus?

Posted by: Roy at March 11, 2014 11:57 AM (VndSC)

247 I have 2 important questions about the Malaysian planes disappearance: 1) Was it covered in barbecue sauce and onion rings? 2) Was Michelle on vacay in the area?

Posted by: naturalfake at March 11, 2014 11:57 AM (0cMkb)

248
I wonder...... has anybody looked into the idea of "Lost.....The Reality Show".

Maybe the plane is down, off grid, and a secret team of cinemasts are shooting episodes for a scheduled release this fall.

Posted by: Shep Smith at March 11, 2014 11:57 AM (nELVU)

249 you know who is still a Russian client state? Vietnam

Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 11:58 AM (zOTsN)

250 Oh th USA sure is imperialistic. How? McDonald's' in other countries is an example of the US's imperial hegemony. Don't believe me, ask a Leftist. Exporting our capitalism IS imperialism.

Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 11:58 AM (BAqy2)

251 I'm still going with the "failed instruments and hit the water" theory on the plane. At the right angle the plane would be mostly intact and sink, but kill or knock out everyone (especially the pilots up front) instantly. No debris isn't really an issue, the ocean is a REALLY big place.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 03:41 PM (zfY+H)

 

 

-------------------------------------------

 

 

Debris from a jet that large will be noticable, even if it is widely  dispersed by currents.   And the ocean is not a river.  It  always has swells and waves that would wreak havoc with an aircraft.   And this happened at night, which would preclude even more an "almost intact" impact. 

 

They're either searching in the wrong areas or something else has happened to the plane.

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 11:58 AM (Js/gY)

252 I wonder...... has anybody looked into the idea of "Lost.....The Reality Show". Maybe the plane is down, off grid, and a secret team of cinemasts are shooting episodes for a scheduled release this fall. Posted by: Shep Smith at March 11, 2014 03:57 PM (nELVU) Don't know if you're watching his show or just good at predicting but someone twitted in the scenario and Shep said, "I saw Lost too."

Posted by: Tami [/i][/b][/u][/s] at March 11, 2014 11:59 AM (bCEmE)

253 There is an Island in the South China Sea, which I am not at liberty to divulge, that host disappeared planes. Sometimes they call me.

Posted by: Art Bell at March 11, 2014 11:59 AM (32Ze2)

254 On the missing plane, I note that Boeing issued an airworthiness directive recently for 777 operators to beef up the area around the satellite antennas at the top of the fuselage. That AD specifically warns of abrupt decompression and structural failure as risks.

One scenario here is that the aircraft suddenly turned into a convertible not long after reaching cruise altitude. There is precedent. Aloha 243, a Boeing 737, had explosive decompression and a huge section of the cabin roof tear away in flight, while remaining flyable.

If that happened here, that would explain a bunch of things. The sudden turn back towards Malaysia. Emergency descent. The lack of comms? Antennae torn away, and/or crew too busy trying to keep a badly damaged airframe under control while wearing oxygen masks.

And then a night ditching at sea of that badly damaged aircraft.

There is only one modern example of someone attempting to ditch a heavy widebody twinjet at sea, and that was in the daytime. Ethiopian 961, a Boeing 767. It did not go well, not least because of a simultaneous fight on the flight deck. The aircraft did not come in level. It caught a wingtip in the water and cartwheeled in rather than landing on its belly.

Despite no previous structural problems, the 961 airframe was ripped apart by the deceleration. It sank very quickly leaving little surface debris, and not many of the passengers or crew got out.

Note that pax and crew who had just undergone explosive decompression followed by a dizzying nighttime emergency descent would have been pretty weak and disoriented even before an attempted ditching. Further reducing odds of survivors.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 11:59 AM (gqT4g)

255 249 you know who is still a Russian client state? Vietnam Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 03:58 PM (zOTsN) ************** DAMN IT.

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 11:59 AM (RJMhd)

256 I know how to find the plane!


All I have to do is type in the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42!



Posted by: EC at March 11, 2014 12:00 PM (GQ8sn)

257 Hey Professor, you'll never guess what I found in the lagoon.

Posted by: Gilligan at March 11, 2014 12:00 PM (8ZskC)

258 250 Oh th USA sure is imperialistic. How? McDonald's' in other countries is an example of the US's imperial hegemony. Don't believe me, ask a Leftist. Exporting our capitalism IS imperialism. Posted by: soothsayer at March 11, 2014 03:58 PM (BAqy2) ________ I once heard someone say the fact English is taught in Japan and Chinese schools is an example of American imperialism. Let that one sink in for a while...

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at March 11, 2014 12:00 PM (0LHZx)

259 It's funny, but I never hear anything by or about this Ron Fournier guy,  except when Ace is making  an  example of him. That's OK with me, too.

Posted by: Roy at March 11, 2014 12:00 PM (VndSC)

260 Maybe they activated the hyperdrive. No! Not THAT button!!

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 12:00 PM (E7Zh9)

261

Interesting how Bush said he looked in Putin's eyes and saw his heart (or something). However, even with that mistaken good feeling, Bush pushed policies that would act as a buffer to Russia.

Say what you will about Bush, but he was a student of history and understood this looming threat. He was right to act at a time when Russia was weaker than it is now.

Posted by: SH at March 11, 2014 03:45 PM (gmeXX)

 

 

Everyone is taking Bush's words at face value.

 

WTF was he supposed to say?  "I looked at Vladimir and saw a cold blooded KGB trained dictator." Look at Bush's actions.  Expanding NATO.  Discreet engagement.  Maintaining our wariness. 

 

Compare to the Idiot-In-Charge.  Reset!  Hugs and kisses.  Disarm First!  More Flexibility. 

 

And Vlad flexed his foot right up Ukraine's ass. 

Posted by: rd at March 11, 2014 12:00 PM (D+lxs)

262 253 The Philippines?

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 11, 2014 12:00 PM (bitz6)

263 Note that pax and crew who had just undergone explosive decompression followed by a dizzying nighttime emergency descent would have been pretty weak and disoriented even before an attempted ditching. Further reducing odds of survivors. Posted by: torquewrench sounds very plausible

Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 12:01 PM (zOTsN)

264 Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 03:49 PM (zfY+H)



A SOF team (assuming Green Berets) wouldn't be going toe to toe with the Legion anyway; it's not how they fight.  They'd be hitting the logistics tail, or raiding the encampment for supplies, and recruiting and training disaffected locals to do the fighting for them. 

Posted by: Harry Reid at March 11, 2014 12:01 PM (L8r/r)

265 Just heard an interview of a 777 pilot who has flown the South China Sea.

1) Transponders can be switched off in the cockpit

2) Not unusual to go several hours without air traffic control contact.


The co-pilot could have turned off the transponders and swan-dived it like Egypt Air, or been a part of a hijacking -

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 12:01 PM (Q6pxP)

266 Interestingly -- or perhaps inevitably -- Fournier maybe exposes more of the left's worldview than he intends with this criticism. Perhaps the left should not be credited (as they credit themselves) for merely Thinking the Right Thing.

Perhaps they shouldn't take it on faith that they "think the right things".  Perhaps some logic and facts mixed into their analysis would do wonders for them?

Posted by: Monkeytoe at March 11, 2014 12:01 PM (sOx93)

267 Of course anyone who has seen the movie, Millennium, knows what happened to the plane and its passengers. :-)

Posted by: Mætenloch at March 11, 2014 12:01 PM (pAlYe)

268 Obama, meanwhile, is underwater in public polling on both the Ukraine and Russia, generally.

Now, Progressive thinking swings back to the idea that Crimea doesn't matter, not just to the US but, to everybody.

They figure ... what's so important about the Sudetenland anyway ??

Posted by: Neville Chamberlain at March 11, 2014 12:01 PM (e8kgV)

269 I wonder...... has anybody looked into the idea of "Lost.....The Reality Show".

Maybe the plane is down, off grid, and a secret team of cinemasts are shooting episodes for a scheduled release this fall.

Posted by: Shep Smith at March 11, 2014 03:57 PM (nELVU)


Don't know if you're watching his show or just good at predicting but someone twitted in the scenario and Shep said, "I saw Lost too."

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2014 03:59 PM (bCEmE)


----


**facepalm**


I was trying to exaggerate the boundaries of absurdity and stumbled into reality.

Posted by: fixerupper at March 11, 2014 12:02 PM (nELVU)

270 The plane!!! The plane boss.

Posted by: Marco Rubio at March 11, 2014 12:02 PM (bitz6)

271 Plane crashes aren't very funny.

Posted by: Ho Lee Fuk at March 11, 2014 12:02 PM (GXZgZ)

272 But why would any pilot turn it off?

Posted by: Mr. Moo Moo at March 11, 2014 12:02 PM (0LHZx)

273 "They're either searching in the wrong areas or something else has happened to the plane."
Right, like sinking into the ocean and landing on the bottom. A submerged plane would do that, and if there aren't large enough holes for anything significant to get out, the debris would be minimal and hard to find.
"There is an Island in the South China Sea, which I am not at liberty to divulge, that host disappeared planes. Sometimes they call me."
http://youtu.be/E7-ILz0YOVE

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 12:02 PM (zfY+H)

274 The plan was to steal a jet for use by some rogue faction of some nation state, passengers released unharmed, or maybe that there's going to be a Somali-pirate style ransom demand from some isolated jungle airstrip, nothing very convincing.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 11, 2014 03:57 PM (ZshNr)

 

 

------------------------------------

 

 

That area is rife with pirates.  Why not an aero-pirate?  Bribes and payoffs can go a long ways toward hiding an airplane, even one that size.  Just sayin'. 

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (Js/gY)

275 I think I am going with the Alien Angle

Posted by: Art Bell at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (32Ze2)

276 Plane crashes aren't very funny.

Posted by: Ho Lee Fuk at March 11, 2014 04:02 PM (GXZgZ)



I'm going to hell for laughing at the news report that read the names aloud.



Posted by: EC at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (GQ8sn)

277 Remember, liberal shits aren't just stupid and ignorant. They're also evil and selfish. Why does Obama want to betray Ukraine? Because Russian oligarchs have bribed the criminal conspiracy we call the Democratic Party. And because he sees no personal advantage in helping the people of Ukraine. If the news media weren't dominated by criminals and traitors, Obama would have been impeached and locked in jail by now.

Posted by: Trimegistus at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (/wH7n)

278 Malaysian Muslim Group Demands All Flights On Malaysian Airlines Be Sharia Compliant After Flight MH370 DisasterÂ… Never let a crisis go to waste. Where have we seen this before? hmmmm

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (IXrOn)

279

I know where that plane is.

 

Bwaahahahaha.

Posted by: Ernst Blofeld at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (VndSC)

280 I time-teleported into the pilots seat and am finishing my flight.  I mean, cripes.  It's obvious.

Posted by: Amelia Earhart at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (8GKDa)

281 278 ht weaselzippers

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 12:03 PM (IXrOn)

282 One scenario here is that the aircraft suddenly turned into a convertible not long after reaching cruise altitude. There is precedent. Aloha 243, a Boeing 737, had explosive decompression and a huge section of the cabin roof tear away in flight, while remaining flyable. ********** And it happens right at about the hand off spot. So weird coincidence. (At least that has been the story that it was in the process of changing into Vietnam's airspace when it was lost.)

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 12:04 PM (RJMhd)

283 when it rains it pours, more from weaselzippers McRINO “Seriously Considering” Running For Re-Election In 2016… heh.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 12:04 PM (IXrOn)

284 "Days before Iran set off a nuclear weapon in Israel, National Security Adviser Susan Rice dismissed suggestions that Iran was about to act. "It's in nobody's interest," she said. Days later, President Obama declared the attack to be illegal." Fixed it.

Posted by: Daybrother at March 11, 2014 12:04 PM (dM+IO)

285 Torquewrench - interesting - especially since this is a 12 y/o aircraft, which in the Pacific is like 24 years given the heat and humidity

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 12:04 PM (Q6pxP)

286 you cant land a plane that size anywhere and again the islands there are not flat they are rocky, volcanic

Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 12:05 PM (zOTsN)

287 I know how to find the plane! All I have to do is type in the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42! Up, up, down, left, right, right, up, + +, down, left.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 12:05 PM (E7Zh9)

288 It's funny, but I never hear anything by or about this Ron Fournier guy, except when Ace is making an example of him. That's OK with me, too. Posted by: Roy at March 11, 2014 04:00 PM

Same here.

Of course I have minimal knowledge of what such Leading Blog Pundits as Poppin' Fresh, Allahpander, Michelle Malkin, Jonah Goldberg and Erik Erickson are writing these days, either, except when Ace trots their natterings out for attention..

Also Cahrles Jnohson.

I kinda like it that way.

I understand that there are dull-witted, narcissistic purveyors of pablum out there. Don't need to go out of my way to pay attention to 'em.

Posted by: MrScribbler at March 11, 2014 12:05 PM (jiM5S)

289 I don't figure any conspiracy with Obama's reaction to the Ukraine invasion. Its consistent with how he's always dealt with this kind of thing, look at how he reacted to Georgia being invaded by Russia: "why can't we all get along, both sides are bad for being so violent!"
They aren't being clever and deceptive when they trot out Kerry to make jokes about Rocky 3 and say things about the 19th century. They're just being honest, this is what they really think.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 12:06 PM (zfY+H)

290 Like health insurance, the Barky administration is finding out that geopolitics are "very complicated."

Posted by: eureka! at March 11, 2014 12:06 PM (uUV6t)

291 McRINO “Seriously Considering” Running For Re-Election In 2016…

heh.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at March 11, 2014 04:04 PM (IXrOn)



Wifey must have told him "not even an old fashioned if I have to put up with you every day"

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 12:07 PM (Q6pxP)

292 How can you keep denying reality? As long as there's a handful of people, there'll always be someone who wants something someone else has. For people who claim to analyze everything to the nth degree, they can't seem to recognize this simple fact about human nature. That's probably the reason they don't understand why the Constitution was written.

Posted by: boned to the bone at March 11, 2014 12:07 PM (Ph479)

293 Right, like sinking into the ocean and landing on the bottom. A submerged plane would do that, and if there aren't large enough holes for anything significant to get out, the debris would be minimal and hard to find.

"There is an Island in the South China Sea, which I am not at liberty to divulge, that host disappeared planes. Sometimes they call me."

http://youtu.be/E7-ILz0YOVE

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 04:02 PM (zfY+H)

 

 

----------------------------------------------

 

 

Your  theory of an  airplane remaining intact after slamming into the ocean   at 150-160mph  at any angle  is not  based in any  reality.  It doesn't happen.

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 12:07 PM (Js/gY)

294 They aren't being clever and deceptive when they trot out Kerry to make jokes about Rocky 3 and say things about the 19th century. They're just being honest, this is what they really think. Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 04:06 PM (zfY+H) Just for the record and accuracy, they trotted out "Rocky 4"

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 12:07 PM (t3UFN)

295 Maybe there's a Malaysian Triangle we just didn't know about.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 12:07 PM (7ObY1)

296 McRINO “Seriously Considering” Running For Re-Election In 2016… ......this fuckin guy.

Posted by: eleven at March 11, 2014 12:07 PM (GXZgZ)

297 Good times. Good times. *sigh*

Posted by: Vlad Putin at March 11, 2014 12:07 PM (wAQA5)

298 Fournier has recently become a regular on the panel of FoxNews Special Report (6-7pm). So his profile has been raised. He's not very good on TV. He's testy and flinty. Not a man that exudes warmth.

Posted by: Flatbush Joe at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (ZPrif)

299 " Aloha 243, a Boeing 737, had explosive decompression and a huge section of the cabin roof tear away in flight, while remaining flyable. "
That clearly cannot be true, I've seen movies and if you open up a plane, then everyone is sucked out instantly no matter how small the hole because the pressure differential is eternal and never, ever equalizes.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (zfY+H)

300 On Egypt Air Flt 990, the jihadi pilot Gameel actually powered off the CVR several times. 

Not sure how accurate this site is for the 777, but looks like there are no circuit breakers to power off the CVR or FDR in a 777.  But there is a button erase to erase the CVR.
http://www.meriweather.com/flightdeck/777/aft/main-r.html

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (m1gXb)

301 this is my problem with Rand Paul I do not want to get into Ukraine, or Syria, or anywhere but constantly saying that only encourages, NK, Russia, Iran they will not fear a President Paul

Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (zOTsN)

302 Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 03:59 PM (gqT4g)

Well, it's not THAT hard.

Posted by: Captain Sullenberger at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (QFxY5)

303 Could it be? Godzirra?

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (bitz6)

304 The co-pilot could have turned off the transponders and swan-dived it like Egypt Air, or been a part of a hijacking - Why ditch in the ocean & not crash into the Great Satan?

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (E7Zh9)

305 @268 If you like your Sudetenland, you can keep your Sudetenland.

Posted by: Our Dear Leader's oppressed peoples czar at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (1/4XQ)

306 I saw Malaysian Triangle open for Weather Report back in the 90s.

Posted by: Roy at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (VndSC)

307 How can a flight be Sharia compliant? They make that whore of an airplane wear a burkha?

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 12:08 PM (7ObY1)

308   McRINO “Seriously Considering” Running For Re-Election In 2016Â…


Another reason for limited congressional sessions... they need to have real friends back home so they can imagine retiring.

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 12:09 PM (Q6pxP)

309 And it happens right at about the hand off spot. So weird coincidence. (At least that has been the story that it was in the process of changing into Vietnam's airspace when it was lost.) Hand off responsibility spot.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 12:09 PM (E7Zh9)

310 They aren't being clever and deceptive when they trot out Kerry to make jokes about Rocky 3 and say things about the 19th century. They're just being honest, this is what they really think.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 04:06 PM (zfY+H)

----

Mr T meets the Romanovs???

Posted by: fixerupper at March 11, 2014 12:09 PM (nELVU)

311 They didn't even have time to inflate the auto pilot.

Posted by: Boss Moss at March 11, 2014 12:10 PM (bitz6)

312 4 It's like Obama never played a game of Risk as a kid. Posted by: wooga at March 11, 2014 03:07 PM (1BO47)

Neither did Hitler, thankfully in that instance. Obligatory vid is obligatory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpcxfsjIIbM

Also a French vid for you Ace! Because I am a giver. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1sQkEfAdfY

Posted by: LizLem at March 11, 2014 12:10 PM (BF+2f)

313 Maybe the    missing  plane landed on one of China's    aircraft carriers and they're shuttling it up to Russia.   Or something.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 12:10 PM (4df7R)

314 We're not exactly the brightest bulbs in the display case. 

Posted by: Journalism School Grads at March 11, 2014 12:10 PM (pmsMR)

315 Mætenloch: "Don't forget that this is the longest that Obama has ever stayed in the same job and really the first time he's ever hung around long enough for his own lack of actual results to be apparent."

Good point. Sure, his past failure and "Present" action never had time to stick to him while he was on the job; but now is different. Results matter (to all outside the MFM and sycophants (BIRM)) and the results are visibly ugly.

Team Obama simply cannot escape the blame and are unable to cope with the critique (but for the MFM they congenitally rely on to manage expectations).

Trust in the MFM is likely at an all-time low. Still powerful, yes, but still trending ever south. In this regard Obama is doing rational humans a great favor. He's tanking and the desk chairs of his Titanic are going down just as hard. I hope Fournier enjoys the band.

Posted by: AnonymousDrivel at March 11, 2014 12:11 PM (1CroS)

316 When does the banter start about how much Putin has disappointed Obama?

Posted by: Lester at March 11, 2014 12:11 PM (2UPXV)

317 You people are forgetting giant sharks that can launch themselves to cruising altitude. This Godzilla talk is madness.

Posted by: eleven at March 11, 2014 12:11 PM (GXZgZ)

318 McRINO “Seriously Considering” Running For Re-Election In 2016…


"Because you NEED my kind of doughy   senility in the Senate."

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 12:11 PM (4df7R)

319 Benghazi made no sense either. Why, the terrorists could have flown to the Hague and filed a court action to resolve their issues. Then, on to the UN. Everyone at the club is talking about how brutishly they acted.

Posted by: Hahvard at March 11, 2014 12:11 PM (Kr9yc)

320 What 007 movie had the NATO nuclear bomber landing in water with the landing lights on the ocean floor?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 12:11 PM (t3UFN)

321 Hey, that dickhead stalker who moved in next to the Palins to write his tell-all book has passed away. I blame Booooosh of course.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 12:11 PM (7ObY1)

322 How about young co-pilot turns off transponder in order to hit the great satan, and some SAM missile operator sees non-transponder aircraft and downs it

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 12:12 PM (Q6pxP)

323 sharknado I saw them take out a helicopter

Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 12:12 PM (zOTsN)

324 275 I think I am going with the Alien Angle


Posted by: Art Bell at March 11, 2014 04:03 PM (32Ze2)


I love your show, dude.


Wait a minute. Is--is that Eva Mendes behind that tree over there...!?

Posted by: guy with a night-vision GoPro at March 11, 2014 12:12 PM (M5T54)

325 How about young co-pilot turns off transponder in order to hit the great satan, and some SAM missile operator sees non-transponder aircraft and downs it

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 04:12 PM (Q6pxP)



You'd think someone, somewhere, would have a record of    a missile   zipping through the air.   

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 12:13 PM (4df7R)

326 That would be 'Thunderball', which was remade as 'Never Say Never Again'

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 12:13 PM (Q6pxP)

327 It's like Obama never played a game of Risk as a kid.

If he had, he'd be ordering the Pentagon to invade Kamchatka and Irktusk.  So it's just as well.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 11, 2014 12:14 PM (B/VB5)

328 McRINO “Seriously Considering” Running For Re-Election In 2016… Eh, this wouldn't be a real run. This would be a take-out-those-wacko-birds moment for McLame. It would flatter his massive vanity if he could be the hard chargin' bastard who knocked out Cruz and Paul and whoever for Jeb or Christie. That's how he'll spend his time in the debates. Count on it.

Posted by: naturalfake at March 11, 2014 12:14 PM (0cMkb)

329 320 Hey, that dickhead stalker who moved in next to the Palins to write his tell-all book has passed away.

What is the Obamacare diagnosis code for spite?

Posted by: Lester at March 11, 2014 12:14 PM (2UPXV)

330 There is no more beautiful sound than the Islamic call to prayer

Posted by: Barry Soetoro at March 11, 2014 12:14 PM (Q6pxP)

331 Btw, I had to look up Ron Fournier to find out who he is. Just saying... almost mildly interesting.

Posted by: Our Dear Leader's oppressed peoples czar at March 11, 2014 12:14 PM (1/4XQ)

332 you would think we had satellites in the region

Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 12:15 PM (zOTsN)

333 >>> Perhaps the left should not be credited (as they credit themselves) for merely Thinking the Right Thing. Perhaps they should be required, as humans have throughout history, to also act the right way, and achieve positive results.

Also required to deal with the consequences of their own thoughts and actions, would be a nice start.

Posted by: LizLem at March 11, 2014 12:15 PM (BF+2f)

334 There is no more beautiful sound than the Islamic call to prayer -------- Damn straight.

Posted by: Liam Neeson at March 11, 2014 12:15 PM (Aif/5)

335 We talked about this on the last podcast with Matthew Continetti -- the press seems addicted to a narrative that excuses Obama on the Ukraine, by claiming, variously, "no one could have predicted this," NOT RHETORICAL: HOW MANY TIMES DID I PERSONALLY SAY ON THIS BLOG THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF THE WINTER GAMES? My mental abacus says "two dozen" as the lower bound.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at March 11, 2014 12:15 PM (659DL)

336 I'm thinking more "The Spy Who Loved Me" with the submarine-swallowing ship.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at March 11, 2014 12:15 PM (zfY+H)

337 317.    Ummmm NO  McJuan.  I am ashamed that I thought you were a good prospect in 2008 (and I didn't even register and caucus) but I have learned.  I'd sooner vote for Jeb.  If you or Christie gets the nom I'm absolutely voting for some 3rd party candidate or writing in Saracuda or something.

Posted by: palerider at March 11, 2014 12:15 PM (dkExz)

338 Blinded, all right, but not by self-righteousness. By the dark side, he is blinded. His hate for America and love for all things wrong colors his global view.

Posted by: Erowmero at March 11, 2014 12:16 PM (1gcFZ)

339 What is the Obamacare diagnosis code for spite? Posted by: Lester at March 11, 2014 04:14 PM (2UPXV) FY

Posted by: Sean Bannion [/i][/s][/u][/b] at March 11, 2014 12:16 PM (yz6yg)

340 What is the Obamacare diagnosis code for spite? That's handled under the Weaponized IRS statute.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 12:16 PM (7ObY1)

341 you would think we had satellites in the region Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 04:15 PM (zOTsN) Budget cuts baby, Budget cuts

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 12:16 PM (t3UFN)

342 Susan Rice, by saying that about Russia and Ukraine, shows how far out of her depth she is.

She should have been asking herself and those working for her what would drive Russia to view the Ukraine as a bank to be knocked off. Check Russian history and the perpetual quest for access to a sea port that is always open.

Instead she lacked the lets say imagination to even do that. She let her quaint notions of countries being perfectly rational actors who will always act according to her beliefs straight jacket her mental processes.

And she works for a President that has the same issues.

Anna, how soon you forget that History did not start until January 20, 2009.

Posted by: John P. Squibob at March 11, 2014 12:16 PM (DQZLr)

343 I have a "smart military blog" question about the sidebar link discussing aircraft carriers. As a mouth-breathing dilettante moron who has never served, I apologize (and accuse myself) if this question is stupid. The USA prizes aircraft carriers for all the things they can do: project power, provide humanitarian aid in times of crisis, etc. Is there anything less than a full aircraft carrier that can do some of this work? If we really live in a "15 carrier world" as said in the article, are there any alternatives to building 5 more supercarriers or doing without? In particular, I am wondering if we could do some of the missions of an aircraft carrier by building a helicopter carrier that has cargo and combat copters, and perhaps a limited ability to have VTOLs operate from its decks, but has no ability to launch typical carrier aircraft (no steam catapult, etc.) Could we save significant money while still accomplishing much of the mission of a full carrier? Or, would it cost like 80% as much while accomplishing 30% of the mission (or whatever real numbers)? The Joint Strike Fighter had its design compromised all to hell to get the VTOL abilities. Assuming that they can fix most of the problems (such as the vertical jet thrust melting holes in runways) could JSF VTOLs operate from less expensive ships? Follow-on to the above: will we ever see smaller ships, such as destroyers, carrying just a couple of helicopters and/or VTOLs? (I mean combat aircraft; some destroyers already have Seahawk helicopters for shifting freight and ASW use, but I don't believe they are ever used for projecting force onto land.) P.S. A quick check of Wikipedia under "helicopter carrier" finds that the America class amphibious assault ships will sort of be helicopter carriers. I guess that current US doctrine finds at least some use for helicopter carriers.

Posted by: mr_jack at March 11, 2014 12:16 PM (TMG3G)

344 All this Planes and Politics shit is just lame. This site really needs a pop-culture thread.

Posted by: ScoggDog at March 11, 2014 12:16 PM (VY12L)

345 Hey, that dickhead stalker who moved in next to the Palins to write his tell-all book has passed away.

Liberalism really *is* a disease.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 11, 2014 12:17 PM (B/VB5)

346 There is no more beautiful sound in he world than the sound of the muezzin's head hitting the pavement below the minaret at sunset.

Posted by: Charles Martel at March 11, 2014 12:17 PM (8ZskC)

347

I forgot to say earlier:  He doesn't need to read a book, just look at a damn map!!!

 

If you can see why Russia would want Crimea you're a retard.

Posted by: prescient11 at March 11, 2014 12:17 PM (tVTLU)

348 How about young co-pilot turns off transponder in order to hit the great satan, and some SAM missile operator sees non-transponder aircraft and downs it

Posted by: phreshone at March 11, 2014 04:12 PM (Q6pxP)

 

 

--------------------------------------------

 

 

From where was the SAM fired?  Where's the debris.

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 12:18 PM (Js/gY)

349 This site really needs a pop-culture thread.

The guy who played an alcoholic named Steve in True Detective also played a an alcoholic named Steve in Deadwood.

That's the best I can do.

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 11, 2014 12:18 PM (Nksua)

350 the problem with helicopters is reach and vulnerability. They have different missions than fixed wing aircraft DoD seems to be putting all their eggs in the drone basket anyway

Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (zOTsN)

351 Posted by: mr_jack at March 11, 2014 04:16 PM (TMG3G) We already have those, they are called amphibious assault ships.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (t3UFN)

352 Posted by: Art Bell at March 11, 2014 04:03 PM (32Ze2) Mr. Bell, Mr. Bell-I have a sighting! It's hovering just over the buildings. It looks like a giant yellow "M." And below, it seems to say "billions and billions served." I think they're trying to communicate with me. What does it mean, Mr. Bell? Do you think they want to capture us humans and eat us?

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (7ObY1)

353 Posted by: Ugg Boots at March 11, 2014 04:17 PM (oGrEy)

That would be a delightful time for all involved.

Senator Megan McCain.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (QFxY5)

354 There is no more beautiful sound in he world than the sound of the muezzin's head hitting the pavement below the minaret at sunset.

Posted by: Charles Martel at March 11, 2014 04:17 PM (8ZskC)


-----


Oooooooo...... obscure Battle of Tours reference.   Im impressed.

Posted by: fixerupper at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (nELVU)

355 In MOONRAKER Jaws bit throuh a CABLE.

Posted by: elevenwing plover at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (GXZgZ)

356 If we really live in a "15 carrier world" as said in the article, are there any alternatives to building 5 more supercarriers or doing without? Yes. A fully developed global strike platform from land. Now, here is the rub: We'd have to find a way to tell the Rusians and Chinese that what just took off is not planning on nuking them. Spot the flaw.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (659DL)

357 DoD seems to be putting all their eggs in the drone basket anyway Posted by: thunderb at March 11, 2014 04:19 PM (zOTsN) Which is stupid

Posted by: Nevergiveup at March 11, 2014 12:19 PM (t3UFN)

358

"Ukraine is illustrative of a flaw in Obama's worldview... He thinks being right is good enough. From fights with Congress over the federal budget and his nominations, to gun control, immigration reform, health care, and Syria, the president displays tunnel-vision conviction, an almost blinding righteousness. I'm right. They're wrong. Why isn't that enough?"

 

This is something young people learn after a few years experience at work.  If and when Obama gets a few years of experience at work, he may learn it too.

Posted by: Ray Van Dune at March 11, 2014 12:20 PM (bCSgp)

359 Senator Megan McCain.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at March 11, 2014 04:19 PM (QFxY5)



KILL IT WITH FIRE.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Bossy Assault Hobbit [/u][/i][/s][/b] at March 11, 2014 12:20 PM (4df7R)

360
The lack of wreckage was what miffed me.  Then I FIGURED IT OUT.

The plane never flew, just rolled into an out building.  The transponder was on a drone and turned off.

The wreckage will eventually show up, with evidence of Syrian rebels or Pakistan al queda bombs, or the Uigers, or Somalia.  Whichever country they have decided needs to be invaded.

Posted by: Guy Mohawk - conspiritor extrodanaire at March 11, 2014 12:20 PM (gorVZ)

361 To his credit, I called out Mr. Fournier regarding what I considered a factually inaccurate description he made of the Benghazi attack/Obama lies.  He responded very thoughtfully, although not addressing the exact facts I challenged. My conclusion is that he is a bit of a hack, but sincere and DCized.  Not wholly a lefty media whore, IOW.

Posted by: eureka! at March 11, 2014 12:20 PM (uUV6t)

362 This site really needs a pop-culture thread.

The guy who played an alcoholic named Steve in True Detective also played a an alcoholic named Steve in Deadwood.

That's the best I can do.

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 11, 2014 04:18 PM (Nksua)


What of it!?

Posted by: Steve at March 11, 2014 12:20 PM (GgPam)

363 That would be a delightful time for all involved.

Senator Megan McCain.

*gavel*

The junior Senator from Arizona is advised that you can only take one entree per meal in the Senate cafeteria.

Posted by: Ian S. at March 11, 2014 12:20 PM (B/VB5)

364 In Pale Rider, Clint Eastwood kicked Jaws in the gonads.

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 11, 2014 12:20 PM (Nksua)

365 From where was the SAM fired? Where's the debris.

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 04:18 PM (Js/gY)


No, no. You don't understand.

The most convoluted, improbable theory will undoubtedly be the correct one.

Posted by: Occam's Doppelganger at March 11, 2014 12:21 PM (QFxY5)

366 355 In MOONRAKER Jaws bit throuh a CABLE. I just bought a compiliation of the world's worst movies. I hadn't lived until I saw Jaws play Eegah!

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 12:21 PM (7ObY1)

367 P.S. A quick check of Wikipedia under "helicopter carrier" finds that the America class amphibious assault ships will sort of be helicopter carriers. Those will also carry Marine VTOL F-35's (now Harriers).

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at March 11, 2014 12:21 PM (659DL)

368 327 McRINO “Seriously Considering” Running For Re-Election In 2016…

Eh, this wouldn't be a real run. This would be a take-out-those-wacko-birds moment for McLame. It would flatter his massive vanity if he could be the hard chargin' bastard who knocked out Cruz and Paul and whoever for Jeb or Christie. That's how he'll spend his time in the debates. Count on it. Posted by: naturalfake at March 11, 2014 04:14 PM (0cMkb)

The horror...THE HORROR. Who wants to bet Reid or Jarrett is already pulling a Francis Underwood and whispering encouragements for this, letting the thoughts percolate. He would so do it too, just to spite the tea party hobbits.

Posted by: LizLem at March 11, 2014 12:21 PM (BF+2f)

369 I'd definitely run for president if I could just find my car keys. Or the damn bathroom.

Posted by: John McCain at March 11, 2014 12:21 PM (wAQA5)

370 Where this 777 was is far outside the range of ATC radar.  If Malaysia had search radars going tied into the ATC network the handover point IGIR would be about 40 miles from maximum range for a search set.

All this pretty tracking data we have been shown is probably from the plane itself reporting via SATCOM its GPS location.

On the F/O circuit breaker panel are breakers for the GPS and VHS Comm.  The Captain's circuit breaker panel has breakers for those items and TCAS.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 11, 2014 12:21 PM (m1gXb)

371 I guess the Mirror, Mirror on the wall routine works too well for Mr. Jughead.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humanitarian at March 11, 2014 12:22 PM (HVff2)

372 In Pale Rider, Clint Eastwood kicked Jaws in the gonads. Plagiarized from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid when Paul Newman kicks Lurch in the gonads.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at March 11, 2014 12:23 PM (659DL)

373 Fournier is one of the original Obamabots in media, but he was a slavish devotee of Clinton before that, too. 

He is attempting to salvage some credibility from his years of carrying water for Obama.  I suspect he will fool some of those he has been fooling all along.  I stopped taking him seriously 20 years ago, and my brain is healthier for it.

Posted by: Adjoran at March 11, 2014 12:23 PM (QIQ6j)

374 Could it be? Godzirra?

Gojira make debris field of entire province.

Posted by: DaveA - san[/i][/b][/s] at March 11, 2014 12:23 PM (DL2i+)

375 225 Point out where our points of conquest on teh world map are? Crickets. The Marshall Plan is the eternal signifier of American Exceptionalism. ("I'm sure the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism" -- B. Obama). When else in the history of fucking history has a victorious power decided that it was in its interest to rebuild its vanquished foes and bring them on board? And what has ever turned out better than pacified a d economically thriving Japan and Germany?

Posted by: Frumious Bandersnatch at March 11, 2014 12:24 PM (1xUj/)

376 The guy who played an alcoholic named Steve in True Detective also played a an alcoholic named Steve in Deadwood.

That's the best I can do.

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 11, 2014 04:18 PM (Nksua)



yeah, when I noticed that I became convinced that the End Time is near



or 'nigh', as we used to say

Posted by: Charles Algernon Swinburne at March 11, 2014 12:24 PM (omBWL)

377 these uber realist comments about putin being on the wrong side of history, that putin's aggression makes no sense sure sounds a bit rich coming from the guy that sicked the IRS on the tea party.

Posted by: oejay44cday at March 11, 2014 12:25 PM (mI2F6)

378 Ace is passed out on the couch, with a rivulet of Cherry NyQuil spilling down his chin.

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at March 11, 2014 12:25 PM (dquK7)

379 344 Hey, that dickhead stalker who moved in next to the Palins to write his tell-all book has passed away.
Liberalism really *is* a disease.
Posted by: Ian S. at March 11, 2014 04:17 PM (B/VB5)


Life is too waaay to short to die that bitter. But RIP nonetheless.

Posted by: LizLem at March 11, 2014 12:25 PM (BF+2f)

380 Hey, that dickhead stalker who moved in next to the Palins to write his tell-all book has passed away.

I blame Booooosh of course.

Posted by: Citizen X at March 11, 2014 04:11 PM (7ObY1)

 

How did Joe McGinniss pass away, exactly? Stealthy ninja assassins acting on orders of Sarah Palin? Who knew? And how does one get that job?

Posted by: troyriser at March 11, 2014 12:26 PM (O66NZ)

381 Well, I'm off to try to battle my bacon demons and sample something new. The missing jet is still gnawing me, so I'm sure I'll bore my wife with off the wall theories.

Posted by: Lincolntf at March 11, 2014 12:26 PM (ZshNr)

382 374 Could it be? Godzirra? Gojira make debris field of entire province. Posted by: DaveA - san at March 11, 2014 04:23 PM (DL2i+) ************ Godzirra's farts would show up on the infrared.

Posted by: tasker at March 11, 2014 12:26 PM (RJMhd)

383 This thread is starting to smell stale.

I'll put some sawdust on it.....

Posted by: The Janitor at March 11, 2014 12:26 PM (Ojgjr)

384 How did Joe McGinnisspass away, exactly?

*whistles*

Posted by: Todd Palin at March 11, 2014 12:27 PM (B/VB5)

385 Nood up.

Posted by: rickb223 at March 11, 2014 12:27 PM (E7Zh9)

386 Point out where our points of conquest on teh world map are? Crickets. Well...the whole Mexican cession. There is that. But we won it fair and square.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at March 11, 2014 12:27 PM (659DL)

387 "In Pale Rider, Clint Eastwood kicked Jaws in the gonads. "


---------------

I thought he used a sledge hammer.

Posted by: irright at March 11, 2014 12:28 PM (8GKDa)

388 Is this why he's always saying, "It's the right thing to do"?

Posted by: Meremortal at March 11, 2014 12:29 PM (1Y+hH)

389 One of the biggest reasons for cost on US carriers is one word - nuclear.  You see Congress mandated that all future carriers be nuclear powered.

Sure it gives the ship 'unlimited' range.  But its escorts still need fuel.  Its planes still need fuel and weapons.  The crew needs food and would like some rest to go home to see family.  And the ship needs periodic maintenance. 

So having nuclear carriers is not that big a plus.  But adds to the price tag.

Land based air power in the form of the B-36 killed the US Navy's first super carrier.  Then a few years later the Forrestal class was laid down when it became obvious the three Midways and all the Essex/Hancock class would not be able to meet future needs.  And the B-36 was this giant lumbering monster from pre-history.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 11, 2014 12:31 PM (m1gXb)

390 "In particular, I am wondering if we could do some of the missions of an aircraft carrier by building a helicopter carrier that has cargo and combat copters, and perhaps a limited ability to have VTOLs operate from its decks, but has no ability to launch typical carrier aircraft (no steam catapult, etc.)"

Sure.

And the long term plan for the Marine Corps does entail them trying to use the V/STOL version of the F-35 jet off of the decks of the smaller "gator navy" helicopter carriers.

However, one issue is that those smaller carriers are conventionally powered, whereas the big _Nimitz_ and _Ford_ class flattops (and the now dearly departed _Enterprise_) are nuclear powered.

Nuclear propulsion makes a tremendous logistics and operations difference when talking about such a big ship. So a _Nimitz_ or a _Ford_ class CVN can deploy nonstop all the way across the Pacific, at a speed a conventionally powered ship can't touch, and can be immediately ready for combat operations on arrival without refueling (and without the risks of at-sea refueling).

Nuclear power also gives you a lot of volume within the ship hull to use for other useful things, since you don't have to be carrying fat tanks of fuel. So you can carry larger stores of ammo, and spares, and food. More time on station.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 12:31 PM (gqT4g)

391 Where this 777 was is far outside the range of ATC radar. If Malaysia had search radars going tied into the ATC network the handover point IGIR would be about 40 miles from maximum range for a search set.

All this pretty tracking data we have been shown is probably from the plane itself reporting via SATCOM its GPS location.

On the F/O circuit breaker panel are breakers for the GPS and VHS Comm. The Captain's circuit breaker panel has breakers for those items and TCAS.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at March 11, 2014 04:21 PM (m1gXb)

 

 

-----------------------------------------

 

 

Thank you, Anna.  The more this goes on without finding any traces of wreckage, the more the hijacking theory becomes plausible. 

 

Just listened to someone at FNC that said these things can't be shut down unless the whole electical system is shut down.  I think there's other ways.

Posted by: Soona at March 11, 2014 12:32 PM (Js/gY)

392 I thought he used a sledge hammer.

Yeah, I think you're right.

Posted by: Waterhouse at March 11, 2014 12:35 PM (Nksua)

393 "Sure it gives the ship 'unlimited' range. But its escorts still need fuel."

The original intent when the surface navy first went nuclear was that the accompanying cruisers and destroyers would also be nuclear-powered. To keep up with the CVN, and to avoid refueling at sea. Look up Operation Sea Orbit.

Note that when comparing the fuel requirements of a destroyer or cruiser with that of a carrier, a conventionally powered carrier's thirst utterly dwarfs that of its smaller escorts. So the logistics train gets a lot longer and heavier.

Another thing about conventional carriers:

I talked with a naval aviator whose first cruise was on the conventional _Kitty Hawk_ and whose air wing then changed over to one of the nuclear carriers.

He said he was QUITE happy to no longer have smoky stack gases from the conventional carrier's engines helping to obscure his vision on final approach to the ship. Perhaps "happy" is too weak a word. Delighted.

Posted by: torquewrench at March 11, 2014 12:38 PM (gqT4g)

394 There was a Jindal column in NRO about the historical antecedents of Obama's weakness and the effect of it on Putin. You should have seen the OFA showing up with their talking points handy on how this didn't offer solutions. The only solution, of course, is to not have a moron with no character or achievement as President.

Posted by: ejo at March 11, 2014 12:42 PM (GXvSO)

395 Obviously REALITY did not go to Harvard law or else it would be educated enough to do what Obama says it should do.

Posted by: Mekan at March 11, 2014 12:52 PM (zG16+)

396 Mao's slaughter of tens of millions wasn't the right thing but it didn't stop Anita Dunn from ranking him as her favorite philosopher.

Posted by: ejo at March 11, 2014 01:10 PM (GXvSO)

397 Perhaps they should be required, as humans have throughout history, to also act the right way, and achieve positive results. Oh for Pete's sake, Ace. The progressives are a bad punch line from a Dilbert book: it isn't what they've done that matters, but what they say they've done and what they say they will do. That's a paraphrase, and Scott Adams was lampooning the "idea rats" of the world. I doubt he thought it would ever get this far up the food chain. History is written by the victors. The progs see themselves as winning forever and ever, and even if that doesn't happen, they see future generations of progs as writing the history books. Hey to Howard Zinn...

Posted by: I R A Darth Aggie © at March 11, 2014 01:12 PM (1hM1d)

398 So, Fournier's point is that Obama is just too darn smart to be as effective a President as a more mundane person? (Say, a Bush or Regan.) The side-effect of Obama (and Fournier) thinking their left-side view of things is the right one is that they tend to see opposition not as honest disagreement but as expressions of obstructionism motivated by malice. They just oppose Obama because he's black, or because they hate poor people, or some variation. Crediting them with actually reasoning through from a different set of experiences to a different conclusion is just stooping too low for them to even consider it.

Posted by: Socratease at March 11, 2014 01:47 PM (82qVG)

399 Condi Rice and her stompy boots were pretty ineffective in actually getting anything done, if I recall correctly. Ditto for Colin Powell, minus the boots. Aren't most international agreements negotiated by lower level people anyway? I don't see how being SoS really gives anyone "foreign policy experience" if they just jet in and sign the papers for the cameras.

Posted by: whoever at March 11, 2014 01:53 PM (pjMym)

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