-
Posts
2,097 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
58
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Gallery
Blogs
Downloads
Wiki
Everything posted by brickhistory
-
Did I miss where he resigned as a serving general officer? Or was it as a political appointee? (It was the latter) I'm not hung up on the GO/FO thing, but they are as responsible for our geopolitical weakness as our political class. Same thing in fact...
-
Best (kidding) alibi yet has been Prince Andrew's deposition some time back when the accuser said she was introduced to him at a party and he was "really sweaty." Randy Andy's reply was that he never sweats ever since his Falkland Island combat tour. Sorry, ol' boy. I'm pretty sure you are fcuked. And not in a good way this time...
-
I'll give this one a "maybe." He and SECAF were 'fired' over the multiple nuke buffoonery events, but, yes, it was a disagreement with USAF and SECDEF over Predator CAPs vs. F-22s. So, the 'maybe' part of this was did he resign over principle or get fired? Huge difference. If it was resigned over principle and we needing more than the relatively few F-22s we did buy, then good on him. And Gates is definitively in the "failed us" category of VMFA187 above. Failed us in Afghanistan and left us light on firepower for any near/peer fight. Thanks, Bob!
-
Agree, but would add in our most senior military leadership for some several decades. Post- Fogelman, name one four-star that has resigned in protest or over principle. The guys who are supposed to provide their best military advice to our civilian leadership. Now, granted, they may have pointed out the issues behind closed doors, which they are supposed to do, but not one has resigned over being ignored. Indeed, it certainly appears that at least one sitting general took it upon himself to conduct different foreign policy than his duly-elected, Constitutional boss. Those cushy corporate boards and revolving very senior gub'mint posts ain't gonna fill themselves...
-
As a 'great' American once said (paraphrased), "Somebody did something..."
-
a. If the countries actually near-by aren't willing to stand up against The Bear, why is it on us? Germany, France, et al, you lead. We'll follow the sounds of crickets to find the your NATO fight and join in. That is, of course, assuming you have the cojones to ignore the lack of gas that Russia isn't sending your way and you are shivering in the dark. b. Big China can and will assimilate Little China eventually; likely within Xi's lifetime (aka Winne the Pooh). And we won't do a thing. Regardless of Administration, but especially under this one, by the time we could get there in any meaningful way, it's a done deal. CCP is willing to take the casualties; I'm not sure Taiwan is prepared to. I know we aren't. Nor would we trade Shanghai for L.A. in any large-scale exchange.
-
With the current Administration? Don't bet on it... Kamala admits she's smoked marijuana
-
Repeat felon that got out days ago on $1,000 cash bail for charges including reckless endangerment, domestic abuse, resisting arrest, and bail jumping. Previous arrests include a felon in possession of a firearm.
-
Shooting people for not wanting a mildly effective, yet no long term studies on side-effects or potential problems down the road for an injection that has to be repeated, apparently, ad infinitum. Not to mention these are the exact same tactics used by the BLM protestors, including during Dutch protests, and the authorities let 'em sweep on by with the arson and destruction. Yet being hesitant or resistant to said shot (note, it's not a "vaccine" by the scientific definition until Fauci said otherwise) gets you shot. Either way, the state ensures you get some sort of shot. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/police-netherlands-open-fire-covid-lockdown-protesters-european-nation-rcna6231 Seems legit...
-
Safe? Based on what clinically sound studies? We've chased this squirrel before. This crash program did produce something that helps. It is not a "vaccine." Effective? If you get the shot, you can still transmit the virus. If you get the shot, you can still catch the virus and get sick. At a not insignificant percentage either. Best tool? Maybe. But too many other avenues of research/treatment have been shut down arbitrarily for me to accept the efficacy on blind faith and gubmint say-so. The draconian 'mandate' isn't helping their case and makes me dig in my heels. Especially given all the political exceptions - USPS, illegal aliens, attending 'peaceful protests,' etc, etc. This virus is either so deadly to all of the US or it's not. The counters produced thus far are either ways to defeat the virus or they are not. Exceptions literally and figuratively weaken the argument for a vaccinated population. The FDA, yesterday, asked a federal court to grant it permission to answer FOIA requests in 2076. Yes, I'm skeptical. I also do not want to lose the freedom of choice argument currently underway. Otherwise, we all will continue to lose our freedoms. As we have doing at an alarming rate since at least 2001. All in the interests of "safety."
-
Interesting kerfuffle between OK Guard and DoD. A F U to your mandate while folks are Title 32. Other states have been contacting OK to see how they did it. I expect/hope more states to join the pushback. As far as I know, there has been no official DoD response, but an anonymous source to Voice of America (odd choice of venue) stated that DoD would push OK out of the Guard and simply list them as a "state militia." Supposedly a threat to OK funding. My money is on the NGB 'union' winning this one. Good...
-
Red Notice. Meh... Dwayne "Rock" Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gidot as international art thieves. Exotic locales. Dance-like fight scenes. Not much story. They did this for the paycheck. Don't regret seeing it, but wouldn't recommend it or watch again.
-
Curious how the calls for "can't we all get along" arise when one political outlook is in power. But should a different one get into office, everyone is Hitler. I'm all for reasoned conversations. I'm not for turning the other cheek after the first one is black and blue. And usually under some sort of federal investigation whether it be Congressional, DOJ/FBI...
-
Speaking of Project Veritas, the FBI has been raiding numerous homes of the their journalists, including O'Keefe's. Searching for the "stolen" diary of the President's daughter. Which contains some icky stuff concerning "inappropriate" showers with said daughter and senile Joe. (Diary was supposedly left behind at a rehab clinic and found by next patient who tried selling it to various outlets including Project Veritas) Project Veritas did NOT run any of the material and tried to return it to a Biden lawyer who refused it. So they turned it over to law enforcement for return to Biden's. Another outlet did print some of the material just prior to the election, but it gained no traction with any major outlets. Imagine if that were Trump's name associated with said showers - like the non-existent Russian golden showers or insinuations of incest with his daughter. I used to have so much respect for the FBI. Now, I wouldn't give them the time of day and would instantly lawyer up if an agent so much as said "Good morning" to me. Sad.
-
https://www.mediaite.com/news/feds-arrest-analyst-tied-to-salacious-steele-dossier/
-
Well, that oughta take care of any more flybys... Sure am glad you are appointed the arbiter of what is and isn't useful information. Ditto for deciding for everyone else what's best for them. Good gig. How'd you get it?
-
I doubt he runs for a statewide office in Illinois. Don't see the votes to put him in. I stick with my future talking head auditions with a real chance of a weekend show, initially, on CNN or MSNBC prediction. He'll get lots of airtime for the 2022 election cycle and those will be his chance to move into his own pundit show. "Kinzinger Zings" or some such. I'm trademarking the name, btw. Good gig if you can get it.
-
I disagree with the sentiments toward Powell. Overall, a decent man. He became part of the Leviathan which provided him a very good life, so his defense of it wasn't unexpected. As to McCain, as a combat vet and genuine war hero for his POW time, I gladly admit my admiration for his service. To his personal and political life, not so much. Look up "Keating 5." His personal hatred for Trump caused McCain, in his final days, to give a middle finger and vote to keep Obamacare. He also played a big role in circulating the fake Steele dossier around DC and the media. So much for service to country above self. Rocking the establishment wasn't appreciated. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/senate-confirms-cindy-mccain-former-gop-sen-jeff-flake-top-n1282457
-
The guy (assumption) answered the question. I appreciate it. I pretty much disagree with his position, but at least he answered the query. Attacking him won't change his mind. It will probably make him dig in even deeper. We can debate the actions and policies of the current Administration, but personal attacks won't change his past or future vote. I'd like to hear from other Biden voters and see your opinions.
-
The satisfaction of leaving on my terms. I already formally retired last year and am drawing a retirement check for a 12 year GS career. Although I liked the folks I was working with, including management, which is a rarity, doing government work was just not for me anymore.
-
https://www.wbez.org/stories/congressional-map-puts-kinzinger-in-left-leaning-district/08fa3566-03bb-447b-8dc5-679d9fefc39d Hopefully, AMF.
-
Soooo, the Chinese flu literally almost killed me earlier this summer. I didn't think I was especially at risk as, although I'm in my late 50s, I wasn't overweight, didn't have any known complicating factors, etc., etc. Was not vaccinated because A) I remember the anthrax fiasco from before and B) wanted a fully approved FDA vaccine in place before getting the shot(s). Although I retired last year, I actually started work again as a GS again because I was bored and a buddy asked me to apply. Was only in the saddle for a month when I got sick after going TDY. Two weeks of hospitalization included two periods of the question on whether I would continue to breathe or not. Turns out that the pneumonia I had 25 years ago doesn't go away, it just nurses its' drink in the corner of my lungs until the friendly Chinese hooker named Covid shows up and wants to party and things got out of control... I never understood the part when terminally ill patients just give up - we are trained in the "will to survive" thing at SERE and as part of being alive. Now I do. I have never been that utterly exhausted/tired/just wanted it to stop and hope to never again. I was fine if the light turned out permanently. 13L/min of O2. Essentially pressure breathing in order for enough oxygen to get in me to keep me alive. I recount the melodrama above because after I got out of the hospital, ol' Joe decides he's king and says I got to get vaccinated. Even though the vaccine doesn't prevent the virus, has noted/documented side-effects, and, this is the important part, I ALREADY HAD THE VIRUS AND RECOVERED. My body is swimming in antibodies. My lung specialist says not to get said vaccine for at least a year as I am likely to have a severe reaction and my lungs, already now f'd because of this, wouldn't take kindly to another CCP orgy. But that's not good enough. So I thoroughly enjoyed quitting. F' the Man. Fortunately, I'm in a position to do so. Please note that nothing written has been put out by the President so legal challenges are difficult, although some are underway. Federal departments, like DoD, have put out their own directives. Those also are under challenges. But the sneaky part is Biden having corporate America do his bidding without said Presidential direction. Get a jab or lose your job. Seems a bit Stalinist-like to me. Not to mention, the President does not have that power under our system of government. No law has been passed. Yet many people are happy, even eager to comply. Want the vaccine? Great, go get it. Don't want it? Don't especially since the virus shrugs off the vaccine anyway. It's all fun and games until the President and the bureaucracy decide what the limits of your freedom are. Without you getting a say so. Comply or else. For your own good, of course. It's great to be the one deciding, ain't it?
-
Sure wish she'd encountered some of that incompetence... Wonder what I can get for $1,600...
-
Don't do this, but if you do: TLDR: If you inadvertently bring a firearm and try to go through an airport TSA checkpoint, TSA imposes civil penalties (primarily a fine, but more issues below). They will call law enforcement who will decide if any criminal activity is involved. Highly jurisdiction dependent. STORY: Wife flew to east bumfcuk Louisiana to visit her parents. (I'd rather take a bullet than spend time with them...). She drove them from there to Memphis, TN. Since she flew, she left her concealed carry weapon at home. Once in Louisiana, however, and knowing Memphis' reputation, she took her Dad's .38 as a just in case. Trip over, she flew from tiny airport in Lafayette, LA back to TX. Except she forgot about her Dad's .38 as it was not in her normal routine and place in her purse. TSA caught it, wife admitted the mistake, showed contrition, embarrassment, and accepted responsibility. As I wrote, this is a small airport and this was the first found firearm in anyone present's memory. Sheriff's deputy on duty questioned her, took and unloaded the .38, they called FBI for background check (wife is retired USAF O-5), kept the gun, let her proceed. She was not arrested nor issued any citation. AFTERMATH: TSA issues a Notice of Violation (NOV) anywhere between 10 days and 2 years after incident. NOV spells out facts and options for violators. Note, as this is administrative law, you only have to be found to have done the act. Intent/mitigating factors do not enter into the finding. Max fine can be up to $13,000 based on entirety of circumstances, how the miscreant acted (hence the take responsibility/act embarrassed advice above. Entirely different, of course, if law enforcement reads you your rights and arrests you.) TSA increases the fine based on various factors - were you using the pre-check line? Add money to fine. Was there a round in the chamber? Add to fine (oddly, different rule for revolver, no additional fine). Repeat offense? Ca-ching! (Should never be a first one, let alone follow-on idiocy...but stuff happens, I guess). If in pre-check program, likely to be kicked out for 36 months The NOV lists the offense and offers to "settle" your case for a reduced fine if you pay it immediately and don't chose any option that drags this out for them. We hired a retired TSA lawyer who specializes in this stuff. He, while working for TSA, helped write the administrative law that he's now making bank off of defending. Pretty good gig on both ends of that... Paid his fee of $400 and listened to his advice which was let him handle it by contacting TSA who reduced the "pay it now" fee by one-half. So all in, this was a $1,600 dollar mistake by my thoroughly embarrassed wife. Could've been so much worse as the initial "pay it now" fine was $2,500, or up to around $5,000 if we'd protested and lost. According to lawyer, no further ramifications, i.e., no-fly list, enhanced screening, further federal law enforcement scrutiny, etc., are likely. She goes back to LA in December and will pick up the .38 from the Sheriff's department with no further action required. So don't do this. Another reason why I am against any kind of concealed carry where the weapon is not on my person.
-
Finally got to watch it. Yep, spot on.