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Red herring and/or moot event. Or ask Joe Biden. Split control of government means not always getting one's way. Obviously, you didn't like the way the Garland nomination played out. edited to add: Given the make-up of the Senate as it was comprised at the time, no, no he wasn't qualified for a hearing and they acted via inaction accordingly. Spoken to your senators about this?

Corpseman and/or 57 states. Given the binary choice present last November 2016 between viable candidates Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump, enough people in enough states chose Trump. The establishment, on both sides, didn't take kindly to that and appear to be attempting to overturn the results that both surprised and scared it. Trump was not my first choice of the GOP (I won't use conservative except for, perhaps, a couple of them) candidates. But he beat 16 other candidates in the primaries, then more than enough people did not want Hillary, myself included. He won. No hanging chads, no other excuses. He won using the system that we in the United States have agreed to use in holding such elections. He won. So we are where we are today. The Establishment, instead of seeking to change to fit the voters, is attempting to change the voter's choice via shady methods. I'm agin that. Want to ensure it doesn't happen again? Run better candidates.

Intentionally ironic? If so, well played... I only know what I read in the "newspapers." https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/immigration-arrests-up-during-trump/2017/05/17/74399a04-3b12-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.b2fad21e5d64 Fake news?

Still not Hillary (or !Jeb!) Illegals crossing is down some 70%. Numbers being deported is up 40% (still miniscule, but it's a start) Media/Democrats/NeverTrumpers have decided they are going to undo the election results. Not to mention the freak show being generated is very effectively slowing the agenda he ran on to a crawl. If Congress has/wants to spend its time on Russia/Russia/Russia, well, not much gets done on taxes, Obamacare, and the rest https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/19/trump-press-coverage-sets-new-standard-for-negativity-study.html Not only are anonymous sources the primary means of attack, but their weapons are also anonymous. "Memo" is read to a reporter over the phone. "Someone is a person of interest," and, of course, Trump gets two scoops of ice cream. No verification of the charges/alleged facts/memos, just a breathless rush to print the latest rumor. Despite a string of being factually wrong articles in evidence. He, Trump has more than his share of negative traits to be sure, but A) he won. That should say something about the state of American politics today as well as the weakness of the other candidates EACH party ran, and B) he's still not Hillary. The man is not an idiot.

Fast & Furious (with the Attorney General held in contempt of Congress for ignoring a document subpoena)/IRS targeting Tea Party/Benghazi/Clinton home-brew e-mail server that the POTUS knew about and used/etc, etc, et-bloody-c... And not one damn special counsel in 8 years. 120 days and being the majority party in both House and Senate, as well as the White House, and the GOP rolls over, even is rushing to the microphone to bellow "Watergate!" Leviathans don't diet...

The leviathan decided on November 9, 2016 that it would not go on a diet.

All media sources have their biases. Most are for profit and their editorial stance relies on what corporate suits tell 'em to. That said, IMO about 80% are left-leaning to one degree or another. About 10% are right-leaning and a few try, but generally fail, to split the difference. As individuals, we all have our own bias and like to have it reinforced (well, duh!) That also said, take a stroll down memory lane and see if you honestly believe that Obama was subjected to the same scrutiny by as many and as relentlessly as the current Administration. While I'm nothing special, I do read left and right outlets. You find little nuggets that the other side conveniently leaves out depending on editorial slant. So you think Israel will ever share intel with us again? How much do we give them annually in foreign and military aid? And did you ask the same question when the previous Administration directly funded the political campaign of Netanyahu's last opponent? Wait, you are suggesting that it is the NYTs fault that an Israeli source was outed, and that they deserve retribution? There's no mention of Israel on any of the illegally leaked U.S./Russia discussions so someone with access to classified committed a felony and gave the information to the NYT. Yes, there should be some retribution on anyone committing a felony. Previous court cases say it's not the paper's fault and they can't be prosecuted, but the leaker can be. I hope so. Finally, in today's 5p.m. Eastern bombshell, just in time to make the evening news and talk shows. fired FBI Director Comey supposedly wrote a memo following a meeting with POTUS in February saying POTUS asked him to drop any investigations on Flynn. "Sources" in the FBI say they have seen the memo and Comey told them about it then. So, A) why didn't Comey come forward with such a charge before now? Why didn't he mention in his numerous Congressional appearances? Why didn't he resign in protest? Why didn't the "sources" do something about it then? B) Now acting, then deputy, director of FBI testified under oath that "no one had tried to impede the investigation." BTW, since 2003, the LA Times has been sitting on a supposedly damning speech recording that Obama gave regarding his views of Palestine and Israel. And they have refused to release it. Yet, a private conversation about "grabbing 'em by the pu$$y" is released just prior to the 2016 election in a vain attempt to derail Trump. Hmmmm, objective journalism? edited to add: When I lived in the DC area, my literal next door neighbor was Jayson Blair.

Washington Post, swiftly picked by the mob, reports via anonymous sources, that Trump revealed sources/methods when meeting with Russian PM and ambassador. The only Americans in the room besides POTUS were SecState, NSC Director Lt Gen McMasters, and another senior NSC staffer. All three have made on the record statements that it didn't happen. Hmmm, anonymous sources who physically weren't in the meeting room or on the record statements by the senior USG officals. But they are in the Trump administration so it's gotta be the anonymous sources that are correct, right?

Home unit would my recommendation. But, if you have a relationship with boss at current location, give it a try to save time. Bottom line, who in a position to raise hell, knows you now and can pick up the phone on your behalf? Re the IG, notionally, the IG where you are or your home station when you get there should be able to open a complaint investigation. It's not a "national" thing since it's about you. DFAS happens to be the buffoons screwing you over, but the idea is to get your problem solved ASAP. Yes, something about DFAS itself would be handled via HHQ levels. But at DoD, not USAF.

Squadron commander. Should solve this with one phone call. If not, he/she needs to make one more to: Then Wing. Ditto. Then State Adjutant General. Along with IG and congresscritters.

Given the final choices of the last Presidential election, I still, delightedly, fall back on my ABCs...Anybody But Clinton. Trump should've announced Comey's firing with "after careful consideration and listening to the advice from Shumer, Waters, et al, I fired him." Maxine Waters for President, 2020! (rings all the progressive bells - minority, woman, dumber than a box of rocks. Winning!!)

We're good. I just wasn't getting "principled" nor was I offended. I believe we are on the same page. If Big Blue keeps the stupidity set to 11, those of options will bail.

Not sure if "principled" is the right word. If it is, I am missing your point. If you meant pilots have an expensive skillset that has a real market value today, I'm with you. But remind me what adorns most of the GOs' upper left side of their uniforms in the Air Force, including, especially, the ultimate leadership in the USAF? So no, I don't think "principled" is the correct word choice.

Down goes Frazier, er, Comey... Left is screaming conspiracy while conveniently forgetting their anger/angst at Comey last October and even last week. Administration and defenders have gone defensive with no hope of regaining momentum. Too bad that whole serving "at the pleasure of the President" thing is glossed over. Comey porked himself multiple times in public including his latest one yesterday. By publicly commenting on the Clinton e-mail investigation, but laying out a case that was easily prosecutable (and would've if it had been any of us being so cavalier about classified) then saying she had "no intent" so no one would prosecute. Even if the statute doesn't give that sort of leeway, it was never his position to say so. Then his bumbling none answers regarding Russian shenanigans in the 2016 election made him look stupid. No tears shed at his leaving.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. Completely mindless and fairly funny.

but it is time to call it complete knowing what is likely to happen and let the chips fall where they may. Yes. Tell the tribal/warlord/Taliban, etc., "We are outta here. F' all the goats you want here, but do anything to help those who want to do harm to the U.S. and we will rain MOABs down until you can't see straight. Or a few nukes. Which I advocated for immediately post-9/11. al-Qaida conducted an attack that had strategic affects on us due to our advanced infrastructure. I was/am all for doing the same to them but since they don't really have the infrastructure, a few mushroom clouds oughta give 'em something to ponder. As it would for several others around the globe. But, we tried to do it on the cheap under Dubya initially, then just let it spiral out of our control. UFB.

I learned something today about baseops during the recent shenigans on this thread prior to them being wiped: You can only give four (4) feedbacks on any one (1) day. I was going to town on the buffoonery of the NSA expert and got the notification. Thanks, baseops!

You rang? Homesteading is great for some who get their base of preference. Not so much for the Minot/Cannon/etc folks. If you want to move those folks, where do you put them? Same for overseas return folks. Where do you put them? What do you do with joint-spouse folks? Special needs? Pretty soon the pipeline gets clogged up beyond recognition. And for the current up or out construct, how do you show career progression for a dude who flies the line at Base X for 5 years? Not defending or attacking the premise, just stating the institution's viewpoint of the issue. Lots of butthurt when the bright shinys got to have their cake and assignment too, but Joe Bag o' got the sticks followed by a remote. Also, Congress drives the train for budget and MILCON. They simply don't care about efficiency or QOL. They care about votes and the what the various Committees of 50 or other vampires do for them. Not about you who most likely isn't a resident, i.e., a voter of their anyway. You'll be gone a few years and Joe Local will still be there expecting to make his money off Uncle Sam's troops. You are a commodity. Vote with your feet accordingly.

Perhaps a troll. Perhaps a Kool-Aid chugger par excellance until Big Blue decided he had gone far enough even though he swallowed with the best of 'em. 60 to zero in the results of one board does sting a bit, don't it?

"Gina" might disagree with your new perspective. Are you seriously proposing taking current, healthy rated officers and moving them into mid-level captain and junior FGO support mission positions? Since you and yours have done so well in keeping a lid on the rated manning levels such that we are in the state we are today, how will you solve the drain/acquisition of non-rated officers who see, under your scheme, that they have NO incentive to work harder or smarter in their selected fields since only rated will be chosen for the O-6 and above ranks. Mighty disheartening for any bright shiny Lts who want to serve their country. And never mind about the specialized training that both the rated officer needs for his/her performance, but also that of the support fields? You can't fill your beloved programs that you claim need "the best rated" to fill those turd slots. How are you going to get the manning to fill the non-rated support jobs that comprise the majority of the Air Force using rated officers? To recap, you want to put aviators into your beloved A1 personnel cubicles. How much to train the rated guy? What is one of the primary reasons for rated guys to be bolting at unsustainable rates currently and you want to increase the non-flying demands placed on them? How about supporting a culture where results regarding the primary mission matter? If you fly, you fly. If you are support, you support the flyers. And those that can't/won't hack the mission, regardless of the role, are culled from the herd. Those that do, are suitably rewarded/promoted. Instead, you and your ilk have created the current "everyone is special" climate. Again, I ask: if at Base X, the Wing Commander is a flyer and his/her MPF sucks and takes 1/2 days off, who is at fault? Ok, lil' Kim. Where are your troops and bases? All of them belong to us now...

It costs how much to train a zipper-suited sun god? How many short of requirements are we now? And the argument is that wings are a universal leadership badge? With another argument is that guys want to do what they are actually trained, at great expense, to do and fly? And you want Big Blue, having spent that kind of money, to put rated in all the support areas that suck? It would seem we have done that in the past and yet we are still where we are today. In fact, you can argue since the senior leadership is still nearly all rated officers, that they are not hacking the mission to include, especially, support. If the wing commander is a pilot, why does his MPF suck? Just a different perspective and/or be careful what you wish for...

You kids and your danged technology... Missed it. Sue me...

So a VADM will be working as a senior VP for some defense contractor shortly since the boys embarrassed Big Grey on the national stage (story ran in a lot of outlets, left and right). Also 100 guys will be getting a line number at one of the majors soon. Ballsy move.

Errr, it's springtime in Maryland. Weather today was high of 70. Lots of really brown, dry grass in the foreground and the trees in the background are pretty bare. The Ivan-wannabe that looks photoshopped is in a medium to heavyweight jacket. Pilot not interacting, at least in the one shot, with the photographer who probably was using his, wait for it... cell phone. Not buying it. Happy to be wrong, but it doesn't like right. Glad the pilot is ok.

Bannon is out, certainly. Some reports he accomplished what he set out to do regarding the bloated NSC. Others that McMaster booted him. I suspect the latter. But Bannon retains his clearances and ability to attend NSC principals' meetings. Just not as one of them. He still, apparently, has ready access to the Boss which is all that really counts in DC (or really anywhere...). I also note that Susan Rice just cannot help herself from going full retard. The frag pattern from "the Russia thing" is going to get some Obama people. Good. The DC leviathan is a threat to all of us, especially a partisan IC which in my experience, it is. I hope there are lots of political casualties on both sides. I hope some real oversight of the IC and individual privacy checks resumes and isn't pencil-whipped like it largely has been. Because the temptation to peek is too strong for nearly any political type, regardless of rank/position. People gonna be corrupted absolutely. My Georgia accent version of the famous quote...