Pollywog Poli-blog

Just a reminder

2008-05-28T11:31:00.000-07:00

I'm blogging over at Exurbanleague.com now.

On haitus

2006-09-28T23:03:00.000-07:00

I'm posting my local and world political musings over at the Ex-Urban League now.

Good

2006-08-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Enough of the planning, let's see what you've got!

The Future Combat System gets go-ahead on weapons prototypes.

I'm really curious to see what they come up with, given our recent experience in Iraq, where it's been proven that although the Stryker is nice, fast and quiet; when RPG's (and worse) start flying, there's no substitute for armor plate when it comes to crew safety.

Maybe something like what the Swedes are up to, or the Brit's ideas on a new AFV.

Heh

2006-08-11T12:38:00.000-07:00

Via Crunchy Con.

What more needs to be said?

2006-08-11T12:22:00.000-07:00

Jeff Jarvis:

"Reuters reports that Muslims are “bristling” at the term Islamic fascists. Well, tough s***. I am bristling at the refusal of the Islamic world to condemn the murder and mayhem being rained down around the world by the extremist fascists among them. Rather than attacking the language in press releases, why not hold a press conference attacking the attackers?"

Why I am not a liberal

2006-08-07T14:09:00.000-07:00

Dean Barnett, guest-blogging over at Hugh Hewitt.com, knocks one out of the park, though I would disagree with him on the use of the word "Democrat" as a substitue for "liberal". It's not always been that way, and Clinton's classic "triangulation" strategy proved you don't need to veer to the hard left to win as a Democrat. (Pause, waiting for my some of my harder-right friends to stop hyperventilating...)

:-)

If the Democrats can find a "post-liberal" strategy, they'll be in fine shape for the future. But seeing today's world thru 60's coloured-glasses has gotten them nowhere, fast.

Any ruling that quotes Somerset Maugham

2006-08-05T13:09:00.000-07:00

...can't be ALL bad.

Though this one does test the limits (warning: PDF link).

"Plaintiff’s Motion to Compel Acceptance of Lunch Invitation", from our own Maricopa County Superior Court.

Oh, snap!

2006-08-01T13:23:00.000-07:00

The United Nations survives only because of big city New York, where hosts and hostesses still imagine it's a catch to have an ambassador from a foreign country to dinner.

Why I Am A Crunchy Con

2006-07-31T14:33:00.000-07:00

"...You will not find most American religious conservatives worrying much about greed."

And much to the chagrin of some of my friends, I find no offense in the DLC looking upon me as an ally.

25 years ago, I'd be a Reagan Democrat. Now I'm a Crunchy Con. Such is life in the middle.

Feed your head

2006-07-22T09:30:00.000-07:00

There's no sharper mind on the changing nature of journalism in a wired world than Jeff Jarvis.

So when he goes after the stuffed shirts that are network news anchors, the results are definitely worth reading.

"Gravitas, my ass. They read Teleprompters. And they look silly doing it in safari gear."

Ye-ouch.

Count me in

2006-07-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

Murdoc takes a look at the US Navy adding light carriers to the fleet.

I heartily support this. In asymmetric warfare, sometimes you don't the the 30 pund sledge of a super carrier, you need the gentle, firm tap of a finishing hammer. A light carrier would be easier to support logisitically, yet still have enough firepower to o'erwhelm 80% of the world's airforces by itself (Hello? Am I the only one that remembers the Falklands?).

Something around the same size as the new Brit carrier would fill in the gap nicely. The jeep carrier was vital in WWII, and it's needed today, too.

Cut out the cut and run

2006-07-21T08:32:00.000-07:00

The Plank, of all places, points out a fundemental truth: U.S. Troops are a stabilizing force in Iraq, and not the source of the terrorism.

Glad to see someone on the left is getting it. Now if only they can muzzle Muthra...

No safe harbour

2006-07-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

This should be a wakeup call to anyone who thinks that remaining neutral and trying appeasement is the way to end Jihadism.

There's a problem with Jihadists in Switzerland.

Switzerland. The country that makes Canada look like the home of cowboy diplomacy, is facing a threat from radical Islamists.

Someone else gets it

2006-07-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

"Rather than protecting democracy in the Middle East, European appeasement, camouflaged behind the fuzzy word "equidistance," now countenances suicide bombings in Israel by fundamentalist Palestinians. Appeasement generates a mentality that allows Europe to ignore nearly 500,000 victims of Saddam's torture and murder machinery and, motivated by the self-righteousness of the peace movement, has the gall to issue bad grades to George Bush. Even as it is uncovered that the loudest critics of the American action in Iraq made illicit billions, no, TENS of billions, in the corrupt U.N. Oil-for-Food program."

Read the whole thing.

An Inconvenient Jew

2006-07-19T07:15:00.000-07:00

When the Bull Moose is on, he's really on.

And brother, is he on here.

It's deja vu all over again

2006-07-15T17:29:00.000-07:00

The Plank notes something I spotted as well: he recent move of Israel into southern Lebanon has a familiar ring to it.

Let's hope this time, it ends better both for the cvilians and our troops.

Git 'er done

2006-07-14T19:04:00.000-07:00

Jim Geraghty makes a plea for the same thing I've been asking for a while now: Stop the passion.

Heaven knows I'm passionate about somethings, but at some point, getting all riled up gets in the way of getting stuff done.

We need less passion, and more workin' in our leaders.

Joy!

2006-07-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

Hugh Hewitt's got a podcast now!

Finally!

Because, of course,

2006-07-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

if there's one thing Dan Rather needs, it's *less* oversight...

From IMDB.com

Rather Says HD Net Will Give Him "Unprecedented" Freedom

Dan Rather said Tuesday that he agreed to appear on billionaire Mark Cuban's HD Net after Cuban assured him that he would have "complete, absolute and total creative and editorial control" over his programs. He told reporters attending the semi-annual Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, CA that to be given that sort of free hand was "unprecedented in my own career." At CBS, he observed, he was forced to deal with "a chain of command that looks like the wiring of a nuclear plant." But on HD Net, he said, "the chain of command begins and ends with me." Cuban, who became rich during the days of the Internet "bubble" by selling his online company before it burst, said that he was aiming to offer an antidote to what currently passes for news. "We've got such a bad case of Internet and broadband ... where everyone thinks the Internet is the cure, and we've forgotten about what journalism is about." (And so has Rather. - ed.) Meanwhile, in an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw described Rather's departure from CBS as "a train wreck you could see coming for months."

Dan Rather, Journalism, HDNet

Blame the middle

2006-07-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Jim Geraghty :

"What periodically baffles me is the fact that an increasingly influential, vocal-as-all-hell faction of the Democratic Party has looked at their current circumstances – minority in the House, minority in the Senate, shut out of the White House until Jan. 20, 2009, 31 red states, etc. – and decided that their biggest problem… the figure who is most deserving of their ire, whose defeat is the highest priority is… Joe Lieberman."

Well-said.

Local flavour

2006-07-09T18:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Instapundit, I just found out about zonitics.com. They'll be on my daily read from now on.

Think carefully

2006-07-08T16:02:00.000-07:00

I dropped Wizbang Blog from my list of regular blogs I read because I found them to be a bit negative for my tastes. I much prefer to read people who have solutions, rather than point out problems all the time. Of course things are messed up, they've been that way since the Fall Of Man, and they'll be that way for a while to come still. Give my your answers, don't just point out how the other guy is wrong.

That being said, I thought this post about Kim Jong-Il was rather good:

1) The nation he is threatening is the one that invented nuclear weapons.

2) It is also the only nation to ever use those weapons in anger.

3) He has, at most, a handful of nuclear weapons, and we are a very, very big nation.

4) We have a hell of a lot more of them, the ability to deliver them to any spot in the world, and he has a very small nation.

5) Our national resolve is largely dependent on the occupant of the White House.

6) The current occupant of the White House has already invaded and overthrown two governments who pissed us off.

Politics, North Korea, Nukes

A litany of hate

2006-07-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

If you ever start to wonder that maybe it's true, that the West is just as bad as the Jihadists, read this.

Jihad, Islam, Hate Speech

If we are at war, terrorism can be defeated. If we aren’t, terrorism can be managed.

2006-07-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

"Those who see a war on terror see terrorism driven by factors we can influence, like tyranny, hateful cultures, corruption, and extremism. Those who view it as a law enforcement issue see terrorism driven by factors we cannot influence, like tyranny, hateful cultures, corruption, and extremism."

Read the whole thing.

Iraq, War, Terrorism

The clock is ticking

2006-06-29T19:26:00.000-07:00

...on the regime of Evo Morales, the pro-Chavez President of Bolivia.

You can resist any revolution, you can quash any rebellion, but as the rulers of the Ukraine and Lebanon found out, you can't fight the Protest Babes.

"Whiskey, Democracy, Sexy", indeed.

Update: "Is there a Global War On Ugliness? 'Cause if there is, I think we're winning."

Bolivia, Chavez, Protest Babe

Quis custodiet ipso custodes?

2006-06-26T12:33:00.000-07:00

"Who are they who watch the watchmen?"

Tom Macguire asks this question of the New York Times, and the Times comes up rather short.

Media, War on Terror, Journalism

Remind me again,

2006-06-21T14:01:00.000-07:00

which party is the "big tent" party?

Heaven knows Dubya's been tripping over his own shoelaces these past two years, aided and abetted by a GOP leadership in Congress that makes the Keystone Kops look like SWAT. And unless the Dems realize their constituency reaches beyond Kos, they're about to commit one of the greatest political miscues since Gore's 2000 campaign.

Devastating

2006-06-18T10:13:00.000-07:00

"What bothers me is that I haven't seen one recent story dedicated to the heroism of our troops given such consistent prominence in The Times or other leading papers. Nor have I read a front-page headline about a military medal ceremony and the story behind it, although every year I see front-page treatment in The Times of who wins the Oscars...Whose values dictate that winning a Navy Cross is less important than a Pulitzer, an Oscar or a PEN award?"

Ouch.

Excerpt over at Cox & Forkum, full text here (Use Mozilla and BugMeNot).

Iraq, Military, Journalism

Can't have it both ways.

2006-06-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

"Then again, if one wanted to argue that al-Qaida would not be in Iraq if we were not, one had to confront the fact that Zarqawi was actually there first. "

- Christopher Hitchens

Read the whole thing.

Heh.

2006-06-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

"And I need not remind you that no one was ever killed by a 226 kilogram laser-guided Dane."

Lileks, Al-Qaeda, humour

Lazy. Pure laziness.

2006-06-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

"Because from the perspective of local media, there's really only four templates for the Iraq story: unit leaves; unit comes home; someone's hurt really bad and dies; and a wife of a reservist or guard member who's getting screwed over by the mortgage lending company."

Read the whole thing.

Via Instapundit.

Iraq, Military, News

Godspeed, good luck and keep your head down

2006-06-13T13:18:00.000-07:00

Bill Roggio's embedded with the Princess Pat's in Afghanistan.

Give 'em hell, and come back alive.

Canadian Army, Afghanistan, Bill Roggio

I didn't leave the party, they left me

2006-06-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

Seth Swirksy is one of many that are wondering just how big the Democrat's big tent is. The message is clear : If you're center-right, there's no place for you in the current Democratic party. History is filled with Democrats like Truman and Roosevelt who were unabashedly pro-American, pro-Democracy and pro-human rights, and their legacy, along with Scoop Jackson and Sam Nunn's tireless work for freedom at home and abroad, is quickly being erased from the history books. I want a choice, I don't want one party to dictate my political options. The Democrats need to realize that if democracy works here, it might, MIGHT just work in Afghanistan, Iraq, Egypt and Barhain as well, and make that, and not cowardly retreat, the foundation of their foreign policy.

Politics, Democratic Party, Big tent

Heir apparent, no more

2006-06-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

In all the hub-bub over what the the death of Zarqawi means to the war in Iraq, here's a look at the bigger picture.

With bin Laden slowly wasting away due to kidney failure, and al-Zawahiri being a spiritual and not military leader, Zarqawi was definitely a prime contender (if not de facto figurehead) of radical Islam's most notorious faction.

al-Zarqawi, Al-Qaeda, Iraq

"The Iraqis who have risen up against the occupation..."

2006-06-08T08:08:00.000-07:00

...are not "insurgents" or "terrorists" or "The Enemy." They are the REVOLUTION, the Minutemen, and their numbers will grow -- and they will win."

Michael Moore - April, 2004.

"The hell you say".

Task Force 415 - June, 2006.

Good job, guys.

al-Zarqawi, Iraq, Military

As Elvis Costello once said,

2006-06-07T16:50:00.000-07:00

And as I walked on
Through troubled times
My spirit gets so downhearted sometimes
So where are the strong
And who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony?
Sweet harmony.

'Cause each time I feel it slippin' away, just makes me wanna cry.
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?

The Crunchy Con Blog asks that exact same question to the "Moderate Muslims" out there.

This quote at the end was particularly damning:
"Funny, but whenever liberals I know say there is no difference between Islamic fundamentalists and Christian fundamentalists, I ask them if they had to choose, would they prefer to ride on an airplane piloted by graduates of Bob Jones University, or graduates of a Pakistani madrassa?"

I served with some Bob Jones graduates in Costa Rica. If they're the same as the Taliban, I'll eat my hat.

Islam, religion, Culture Clash

Heroism, defined.

2006-06-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

While the bloody slugfest of Omaha Beach gets a lot of press these days (I wonder what today's media would have written about that battle: "Allies clinging to thin sliver of beaches, taking fearful losses!"), it's important to remember that D-Day was an international effort, and somehow managed to be successful without the backing of the U.N.

Remembering Juno Beach, the second-most heavily defended beach on Normandy. And depsite that, a troop from the 1st Armoured Hussars was the only unit on D-Day to achieve it's objective.

Heroes, all.

D-Day, Juno Beach, Canadian Military

Piling on

2006-06-05T13:56:00.000-07:00

Look, when your "exposé" on how the 2004 election was stolen gets taken apart into small, quivering pieces by Mother Jones, NPR, Salon.com and a leading Democratic pollster, maybe it wasn't a good idea.

And even if the 2004 election was stolen in Ohio, that would have meant Kerry won the electoral vote, and lost the popular vote.

Dems 2000 - "Screw the electoral vote, only the popular vote matters!"
Dems 2006 - "Screw the popular vote, only the electoral vote matters!"

Waffling, indeed.

Elections, ohio, Fake but accurate

Power play

2006-06-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

For years, the GOP has told minorities that tend to vote Democratic they should give voting Republican a shot, if for no other reason than leverage with the Dems, "If you don't give us what we want, we're out of here!".

So, does the same apply to the Religious Right?

How come,

2006-06-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

there's not more outcry over illegal immigration from the protectionist wing of the Democratic Party?

The reason not to outsource / encourage free trade is that it sends American jobs out of the country.

And this differs from illegal immigrants from other countries coming here to take American jobs?

Immigration, outsourcing, Free Trade

Remember, and remember well

2006-05-28T08:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big fan of Memorial day being turned into another excuse to sell stuff, and I'm definitely not a fan of lists of fallen soldiers being published by groups and organizations as a way of pushing an anti-war/anti-military agenda.

Let's remember that war is horrible, and that in that horror, amazing acts of courage and valour can be found. Here's a few:

Sgt. 1st Class Ray Smith, Congressional Medal Of Honor, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross /Air Force Cross Recipients for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The Silver Star Recipients for Operation Iraqi Freedom (including the first woman to win a Silver Star in Combat since WWII).

And countless others. Heroes, all.

It amazes me that in all the hoopla and hype over Operation Iraqi Freedom, I had to go digging for this information.

And on a semi-related note, I was one of those who thought that Adm. James Stockdale was a bit... buffoonish as Ross Perot's Vice-Presidential candidate in 1992. Then I read this:

"Stockdale...deliberately inflicted a near-mortal wound to his person in order to convince his captors of his willingness to give up his life rather than capitulate. He was subsequently discovered and revived by the North Vietnamese who, convinced of his indomitable spirit, abated in their employment of excessive harassment and torture toward all of the Prisoners of War."

I'm sorry, Jim. Rest in peace.

CMOH, Silver Star, Medals, Memorial Day

Fakin' it

2006-05-23T13:33:00.000-07:00

While others may blast this rather lame attempt at playing the "Our soldiers are racist killers" card, I'll give them credit:

At least they didn't try to use a ~~doll~~ action figure as their spokesman.

Fake+but+accurate, Military, Oops

Unintended Consquences

2006-05-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Do all those who want to see the U.S. and it's allies pull out of Iraq right away prepared for this?

What about this?

Never again.

Vietnam, Shame, Embassy Roof

The Truth (-iness) Will Out

2006-05-21T11:09:00.000-07:00

TruthOut.org just set a new standard in the non-apology apology.

"The Rove Indictment Story as of Right Now
By Marc Ash,

Fri May 19th, 2006 at 04:23:39 PM EDT :: Fitzgerald Investigation

On Saturday afternoon, May 13, 2006, TruthOut ran a story titled, "Karl Rove Indicted on Charges of Perjury, Lying to Investigators." The story stated in part that top Bush aide Karl Rove had earlier that day been indicted on the charges set forth in the story's title.

The time has now come, however, to issue a partial apology to our readership for this story. While we paid very careful attention to the sourcing on this story, we erred in getting too far out in front of the news-cycle. In moving as quickly as we did, we caused more confusion than clarity. And that was a disservice to our readership and we regret it.

As such, we will be taking the wait-and-see approach for the time being. We will keep you posted."

Two things:

1. An apology that states "Gosh, we're sorry we're just so on top of things and know so much we're ahead of the rest of you." isn't my idea of admitting you did something wrong.

2. An apology should also include a promise not to do it again. So is TruthOut.org going to promise to report only old news from now on?

Via The Corner.

TruthOut, apologies, truthiness

Good

2006-05-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

Canadians will be in Afghanistan for another two years, at least.

There's so many reasons to stay and stabilize that country, and only rabid anti-Americanism as a reason to leave.

Canadian Army, Afghanistan, Politics

Mmmn, coffee

2006-05-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Looks like at least one Democrat has woken up and realized that the threat of impeachment proceedings against Dubya would be a powerful rallying point for the G.O.P.

Now if only they'd get a plan for Iraq that didn't involvle helicopters evacuating embassy personnel from the roof...

Democrats, 2006, Impeachment

What?

2006-05-16T13:51:00.000-07:00

The Liberals cooked the books, hid costs, and didn't tell Parliment?

I'm shocked, SHOCKED I say!

Liberal, gun registry, useless

Another thought exercise

2006-05-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

Would you consider a car magazine that talks about the "Chevrolet Mustang" a good authority on cars? What about a food magazine that attributes The Whopper sandwich to McDonald's?

So how come people trust the New York Times on military and defence matters?

Military, media, oops

Well said

2006-05-12T09:24:00.000-07:00

Babbling Brooks over at The Torch perfectly describes the futility of an "exit strategy":

"It seems to me that asking when we'll leave Afghanistan is like asking a paramedic when she's planning to stop performing CPR on a heart-attack victim just clinging to life. Don't be surprised when she snaps at you with annoyance: when the patient no longer needs my help to live - now bugger off and let me do my job."

Sure, we'd like to know the answer to every question. But sometimes, the answers aren't there immediately. That's not to say there won't be an answer, it's just that right now, there isn't one.

Iraq, Afghanistan, exit strategy

A thought exercise

2006-05-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, suppose you followed around an anchor for ESPN for a year or so. And during that year, they bought clothing/memorablia/tickets for the Boston Red Sox, moreso than any other baseball team. They hung out with Sox players after games, and went to charity auctions featuring Boston Red Sox players and the causes they represent.

Would you trust that ESPN reporter to be an unbiased source on the New York Yankees?

So why do people trust the media to be unbiased?

media bias, politics

Big business and the little guy

2006-05-08T11:57:00.000-07:00

According to conventional wisdom, the Democrats are funded by "The Little Guy", the "Average Joe" and other grass-roots collectives. Big fund-rasing machines are the Republicans stock in trade, with their closed-door, back-room antics.
Except, of course, that nine of the all-time top ten political donators gave to the Democratic Party.

Political contributions, Democrats, Unions

To boldy sponsor

2006-05-05T15:27:00.000-07:00

what no one has sponsored before.

THIS is how NASA should work: Enable private industry to build the tools needed to expand into space.

Space, NASA, X Prize

As if I needed another reason

2006-05-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

to ignore what Janeane Garofalo says.

For the record, I think she's a terrific actress. But as a political commentator, she's out of her ever-lovin' mind.

scientology, mixed nuts, Air America

Oh. My.

2006-05-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

From The Corner.

"Dear Soft Thinkers of the Left
I am going to save you some time. You no longer need to email me every time I take some position in favor of the War on Terror , the invasions of Iraq or Afghanistan, or in fact any pro-military stance. I now am completely and thoroughly informed that I am a chickenhawk, that it is "easy" to support a war when I don't have to put on a uniform and fight, and that I am a coward who would only sacrifice other people's loved ones. And to save you further time, I am going to expose myself even more. I am a hypocrite and chickenhawk in the War on Crime, as I continue to avoid donning a badge and a gun and busting down doors to catch bad guys, even though I support sending in real police to do the job. I am a complete coward in the War on Fire, because I have never put on a yellow slicker and an oxygen mask to go stand on the front line in the battle against a burning building. And that's while completely admitting that I would be great at squirting the big hose. Additionally, and this is a little painful, I am a loser, hypocrite, chickenhawk, and barely half a man in the War on Weeds. I tried digging them out of my yard, but found I didn't have what it takes, so now I sit in my comfy chair and watch while other people's loved ones put themselves at risk. I'm sorry."

And, for the record, I myself am a hypocrite and a chickenhawk in the War On Bad Beer. I sit back and buy Anchor Steam, Sam Adams and Blue Moon White Ale, and let others risk their lives and the lives of their young ones by trying to home-brew. I'm sorry.

beer, war, chickenhawk, the corner

Brutal

2006-05-03T12:36:00.000-07:00

You know you're stuck in a rut when people are building Web programs to mimic your writing.

Ouch.

Via Kausfiles.

Iraq New York Times Bob Herbert

Maybe America wasn't ready

2006-05-03T11:21:00.000-07:00

to embrace the idea of a woman as President.

But then again, maybe they are...

Condoleezza Rice, Commander In Chief, television

War profiteers, powerful politicians, scandal...

2006-05-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Cheney, Rove and Haliburton, right?

Nope. France's Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Airbus.

Does this scandal pass the "Global Test"?

France, scandal, Airbus

Never forget

2006-05-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

While some might think it's cool to be a Communist, Catallarchy has a very insightful rundown of Communism's victims, just in time for May Day.

Via Instapundit.

May Day, Communism, Dustbin of History

Oh please,

2006-04-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

...let this be true.

Please.

The side that learns the fastest, wins. And turning your fighters into more of a military force in the face of the strongest military force on the planet seems a little ill-advised. But then again, sweet reason isn't Al-Zhaqwari's prime motivation.

Technorati Tags: Iraq, Al Qaeda, Military

Once again,

2006-04-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Hugh proves that he's the sharpest tack in talk radio.

Attention, KKNT : Lose the two fratboys you have in afternoon drive time, and bring Hugh back.

Hugh Hewitt, Nuestro Hymno, immigration, National Anthem

Someone was listening

2006-04-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

Give cheap video cameras to the troops, and let them make their own war documentary.

"Are things rosy? Are there butterflies flying around little squirrels and people hugging us?" he said. "No. But are we killing babies and destroying the whole country? Absolutely not."

Sounds about right.

Iraq, war, filmmaking, new media

Elitism, defined

2006-04-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

Who'd have expected such insight from CBS?

"We Know What's Best For You".

Media elitism Democratic politics

Oh this is just too good

2006-04-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

Dan Rather may blog after leaving CBS.

Where do I even start?

CBS Hubris blogging irony

Adapt and overcome

2006-04-25T09:30:00.000-07:00

What happens when you send tanks and armored personnel carriers to a country where their role is limited? You change the way you fight a war (warning: PDF link).

The side that learns the fastest, wins.

Technorati Tags: Armor, Iraq, tactics

Napolitano giveth,

2006-04-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

the burden of proof is now on prosecutors to prove it wasn't self-defence in home-invasion cases,

and from the same article, Napolitano taketh away,

"Napolitano signed the self-defense bill one week after she vetoed an NRA-backed measure to prohibit her from imposing emergency restrictions on guns and ammunition during a declared state of emergency."

Buy them now. Avoid the disaster-rush.

Technorati Tags: Arizona politics, firearms, law

Heaven knows I'm not a squid,

2006-04-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

nor a snake-eater, but the idea of spending half a billion dollars on a sub just to deliver SpecOps troops sounds rather stupid, especially when you can buy subs that are just as quiet, and do so much more.

Technorati Tags: Submarines, special operations, procurement

On the outside, looking in

2006-04-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

I can sympathize with this, as I am furrineer myself

A BBC Correspondent sees a Democratic party in disarray.

Which hurts the GOP, too, as you're only as good as your opponent.

Technorati Tags: politics, Democratic, media

Happy birthday, dear Liz,

2006-04-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to you-oooo.

One of these days, you Yanks are going to learn the proper words to "God Save The Queen" and stop messing around with this bloody "My country, 'tis of thee" nonsense.

Technorati Tags: Queen Elizabeth, royalty, birthday, Windsor

To serve and protect. REALLY, REALLY protect.

2006-04-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

So you've got a problem with crime in the parking lot of your store.

You hire former members of the Ghurkas, of the nastiest, toughest fighting units in history, to do your parking lot security.

"Bosses at the branch of IKEA in Nottingham, east central England, drafted in five ex-members of the feared Nepalese fighting force three weeks ago after a spate of thefts and high rates of car crime.

Since then, not a single crime has been reported."

Translation: Criminals in Nottingham may be dumb, but they're not THAT dumb.

Technorati Tags: Ghurkas, security, British Army

Hear, hear

2006-04-19T10:21:00.000-07:00

*pounds shoe on desk*

Three ways to fix the Canadian military.

Via The Torch.

Technorati Tags: Canada, politics, military, procurement

Today We March,

2006-04-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

tomorrow, we don't vote!

Kinda makes you wonder about how many people in that crowd of 100,000 here in Phoenix were actually able to register...

Technorati Tags: immigration, voting, arizona

Hey!

2006-04-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

Woodley's blogging now!

Cool!

Technorati Tags: blogs, politics, new blogs

Fire away

2006-04-18T11:26:00.000-07:00

Betsy's Page notes something I have as well : The lack of calm rhetoric on the Left side of the blogosphere. After the unfortunate demise of Kirk's blog, I've been struggling to find something to replace his blog on the links on the sidebar of this page, and I must say the pickings are rather slim.
I'm not devoted to any one party or the other, and I like the give and take of a robust political debate. You could call me very pragmatic about politics, whichever side works, I go with. And my hyperbole filters are set VERY high, which makes reading most lefty blogs (and more than a few ones to the right as well) hard for me to do on a consistent basis. As Jerry Garcia once said, "Ain't got time to hate, barely time to wait."

Finally

2006-04-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Jeff Jarvis states it well: "For what came out is that Dvorkin, Cunningham, and I agree broadly (I hope I don’t mischaracterize their views) that objectivity, as upheld in j-schools of yore, is a false god; that honest, fair, and complete reporting in spite of any personal perspectives, prejudices, or assumptions is the right standard; and that relevant disclosure is good. "

He's one of the very few old media guys who gets what the world we're in now actually looks like.

A good idea gone horribly wrong

2006-04-17T12:43:00.000-07:00

Testing the fire-fighting foam dispensers is a good idea, right up to the point where they won't shut off.

Oops.

More, please

2006-04-16T18:56:00.000-07:00

Via Small Dead Animals comes this account of a CTV reporter embedded with a platoon of the PPCLI.

We need this more than ever, and I agree with those who say we need more war reporters who've been through the military. We have ex-athletes aplenty in sports reporting, former politicians on talk shows, and ex-CEO's headlining business shows. Why can't we have more ex-soldiers reporting on military affairs? Why must Michael Yon be the (almost) lone voice, crying in the wilderness?

Conflicted

2006-04-14T08:47:00.001-07:00

The Bull Moose is just one of many that are calling for Rumsfeld's retirement.

I'm of two minds on this. On one hand, no one's done more to shake the military out of it's post-Cold War doldrums than Rumsfeld. Cancelling Paladin and the Comanche took cajones.

But politically, something needs to be done, and soon, to bolster support for the Iarq War at home.

"Rumsfeld should resign because the Bush administration is losing the war on the home front. As bad as things are in Baghdad, America won't be defeated there militarily. But it may be forced into a hasty and chaotic retreat by mounting domestic opposition to its policy. Much of the American public has simply stopped believing the administration's arguments about Iraq, and Rumsfeld is a symbol of that credibility gap. He is a spent force, reduced to squabbling with the secretary of state about whether "tactical errors" were made in the war's conduct."

And I reluctantly agree with that.

About time

2006-04-13T15:44:00.000-07:00

A great Op-Ed today in the Washington Post.

Support the troops by listening to what they want. Why is that so hard to understand?

Woo-hoo!

2006-04-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

No work for me on May 1st!

I will demonstrate my solidarity with the peaceful, freedom-loving workers of the U.S. by sitting out in my backyard and drinking a cold one (or three).

The backyard of my ostentatious display of Bourgeoisie materialism, built on the backs of the helpless proletariat, that is.

Hmmmn, maybe that's not what they were thinking of with this protest...

Fantasy's Island

2006-04-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

If Doonesbury says it, it must be true.

Except, of course, it's not.

First, do no harm

2006-04-10T10:15:00.000-07:00

Look, I understand times are hard in the photo-j biz. I used to be one myself.

But inaccurate reporting is worse than no news at all.

The photo agencies are in a difficult position. Western customers demand a constant stream of photographs from dangerous locations around the globe, said Emmanuel Dunand, AFP's bureau chief in New Delhi, but threats from terrorists or insurgents against Westerners often force the agencies to rely on local stringers to get those images. The pressure on these photographers can be very great, said Dunand, a native of France. "The entire population there says, 'Yes, this is an American shell that landed,' and this guy is being paid $5 a photo and will not go deeper, and he sends the photo with total faith."

Ummn, how about putting in embeds reporters again, or this that too blindingly obvious?

The ugliness of persecution

2006-04-09T07:31:00.000-07:00

Thousands of people will be marching in the streets Monday to defend their national heritage and their rights as immigrants. But there is an overlooked immigrant population in the U.S. who are ignored and whose rights are trampled on daily by the uncaring masses.

The Canadians.

You can buy salsa in every convenience store in the country, but just try to find a Circle K that carries Molson's!

There's mexican food restaurants all over, but no Tim Horton's!

Shamrock makes dulce de leche milk, but have you heard of Nanaimo bars?

We celebrate Cinco de Mayo and Dia de los Muertos, but no one in the U.S. knows when Stompin' Tom Connors was born!

I won't rest until the universal Canadian beliefs of aggressive forechecking in the neutral zone, adding a "u" to "flavor", "behavior" and "neighbor" and beer that doesn't suck is spread throughout the U.S.

I won't rest until Hockey Night In Canada is on PBS, just like Maya and Miguel and Plaza Sesamó. Our children need to learn that fighting gets you fight minutes in timeout, err, the penalty box.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE, EH?

Whew

2006-04-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

It's a darn good thing that only conservative Republicans are insensitive bigots, otherwise Joe Wilson's latest comments might have been taken as gay-bashing.

Naw, a trusted security advisor to the Kerry campaign would never do such a thing. Only the GOP bigots do that.

This is how you do it

2006-04-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Unlike other "conscientous objectors" whose idea of volunteer service is to cut and run on their friends at the first sign of trouble, 'Desmond Doss did it the right way.

Truly a hero.

Stop and think for a minute

2006-04-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

News services all over the country are reporting that Iran's new "flying boat" really is a high-tech wonder capable of stealthy evasion of radar.

Aside from the fact that this "hi-tech plane" uses ideas that are quite old and ineffective, look at the picture in the story. In order for a plane/ship/whatever, the metal parts that reflect radar need to be hidden away and covered in stealthy material, a la the F-117 Stealth Fighter and the B-2 Bomber.

This Iranian wonder has the engine on a post, above the body, with a huge radar-reflecting propeller attached to it, a configuration that's as stealthy as a bungalow.

Funny how that little fact isn't making it into the news...

A worthy cause

2006-04-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

This group first showed up as a blog ad on the right of the page, but I like what they're doing so much they deserve a post of their own.

Things like this and other "micro-capital" projects like Heifer International and Kickstart are what will change the world, not some mega-huge UNESCO project.

Power from the people

2006-04-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

An interesting article on demographics and conservatism.

The liberal baby bust.

End of an era

2006-04-03T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Black Watch Regiment is disbanding.

Sins of omission

2006-04-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

Michael Barone on media bias.

"I remember a conversation I had with a broadcast news executive many years ago.

'Doesn't the fact that 90 percent of your people are Democrats affect your work product?' I asked.

'Oh, no, no,' he said. 'Our people are professional. They have standards of objectivity and professionalism, so that their own views don't affect the news.'

'So what you're saying,' I said, 'is that your work product would be identical if 90 percent of your people were Republicans.'

He quickly replied, 'No, then it would be biased.'"

And somewhere in the Senate, a cricket is chirping

2006-04-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

Senator Feingold's grandstanding censure stunt is getting all the support it deserves.

Welcome to the party, pal !

2006-03-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

It's always nice when someone wakes up to the fact that there are tigers in the jungle.

Good to be first

2006-03-30T10:10:00.000-08:00

There's plenty of blame to go around in the ongoing Arab-Israeli conflict. But when you elect terrorists to lead you, don't be shocked if other countries aren't thrilled.

Yay Canada!

Mark Steyn says it best,

2006-03-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

as usual. His thoughts on the recent problem in Afghanistan with Christian converts is priceless.

"In a more culturally confident age, the British in India were faced with the practice of 'suttee' - the tradition of burning widows on the funeral pyres of their husbands. Gen. Sir Charles Napier was impeccably multicultural:

'You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: When men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks, and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.'".

Read the whole thing.

Yes, you are

2006-03-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

That's why it's called illegal immigration.

Now, that being said, I'm in favour of looser immigration laws and more immigrants. (I mean, if they let me in...). The fact is, they're needed here, and they want to come here. But please, let's not call those who break U.S. law to get here anything other than what they are: criminals.

A study in contrasts

2006-03-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

We:
Rescue hostages who can't find it in the hearts to thank their liberators.

They:
Use doctors sympathetic to the "insurgency" to kill wounded soldiers in hospitals.

Moral equivalency, indeed.

fingers in ears

2006-03-23T09:53:00.000-08:00

Nope, no connection between invading Iraq and the war on terror. None whatsoever.

Especially if we can ignore things like this.

The first lies we tell are to ourselves.

Never again

2006-03-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

Will we see this.

You done did good, have fun in retirement.

Smart. Very Smart.

2006-03-21T08:56:00.000-08:00

Christopher Hitchens is (almost) the last of a dying breed: The Liberal Hawk.

And when he speaks, he speaks well.

Dodged a bullet here...

2006-03-21T08:46:00.000-08:00

Whew.

And the world yawns in boredom. Again.

The thinking grunt's think tank

2006-03-20T09:29:00.000-08:00

Great idea. I especially like the fact that it's a two-way conversation.

The side that learns the fastest, wins.