Pictures of an Exhibition

Saw these pictures at Mudville Gazette and Blackfive's site (among others). I have to give the Marines in the photo a lot of credit. Had it been me, I wouldn't have hit the SOB (though it would have been SO tempting) as I don't need the secret service sending a couple of rounds my way, but I would have given that vertical turd a small piece of my mind.

Something like the following:

"You, senator, are the biggest lying sack of shit it has ever been my displeasure to meet" "The dishonor you brought to all vets who served during Vietnam shall forever call one word to mind when ever I hear your name...and that word is TRAITOR!" "Now if you will excuse me I would like to finish my meal with my fellow comrades in arms...you might not understand wanting to eat and be with those to whom you would trust your back to." "But I do and so do they...Good day Asshole"

"Oh, and if you ever point your finger at me again, I will rip it off and shove it up your lying ass!"

I would probably face "Captain's Mast" (same as "Office Hours" for you of other services) for being unduly honest with the vertical turd with good hair, but it would be worth it.

Skipper: "Master Chief, bring the Petty Officer front and center."
Master Chief: "Aye Aye Sir!"
Master Chief: "Petty Officer 'Guy', front and center!"
accused Petty Officer "marches" to the proscribed spot in front of the Commanding Officer, and smartly comes to attention.
Guy: "Reporting as ordered Sir!"
Skipper: Reads the charges and asks if the accused is aware of the charges and understands same.
Guy: "Sir, yes Sir!"
Skipper: "Do you have anything to say in your defense?"
Guy: "Sir, no Sir"
Skipper: "Well, son, I have been ordered to pursue this and to resolve or reprimand as I see fit..."
Skipper: "Do you feel any remorse for your statements?"
Guy: "Sir, no Sir!"
Skipper: "As I would have thought...so you leave me no choice."
Skipper: (as he breaks in to a smile) "Charges are dropped...with the verbal admonishment of 'You might not want to do that again'."
"Further, you are fined the cost of one keg which is presently waiting to be emptied at the Enlistedmen's Club." "And you are confined to said club until the Master Chief feels you have been dually chastised." "Do you understand the conditions as they have been read to you?"
Guy: "Sir, Yes Sir!"
Skipper: "You are dismissed."
Skipper: Master Chief, escort this Petty Officer to his place of confinement."
Master Chief: "Aye Aye Sir!"

Yes, the above is a bit of day dreaming....but would be what I would do to one of my charges...if I was "Skipper".

As far as the presidential wanna be's "saluting"...besides the fact he is incapable of rendering a proper salute, due to his limp wrist and all, I would be sorely tempted to return it with a salute of my own....mine would require the use of only one finger. And that is all he deserves.

Coming Home

I received another letter from Russ on Thursday. He directed me to a post on Blackfive's site.

It brought back memories. Many years ago, I was part of the burial detail for the Navy, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. I was the bugler. And over the course of a year or so, we laid to rest a number of Sailors, officer, enlisted, young, and those who had lived life to its fullest.

As we were not involved in any conflicts at that time, there were no Sailors who returned from the heat of battle, to find peace in the sweet green hills of their home. But what the LtCol experienced, while escorting a young Marine home, struck a cord. It also says a lot about the real America. This is something you won't see or hear about in the "mainstream media", and perhaps that is for the better...they wouldn't understand.

Please go read this , and pay your respects to a young Marine, a hometown's honor and devotion, and a Marine officer who comes to understand what it means to be coming home.

Visits

I was busy visiting family who were in from out of state yesterday...so although I was able to comment here and there last night, there were no posts. Hope to change that today.

Ye old Sailor somewhere in the hinterlands of northern Illinois.

Just a Letter From a Vet

I received the following in my e-mail. And owing to the recent regurgitation of Kerry's war time service by those at the DNC. I thought this might be a great reminder of just what kind of character issues this wanna be war hero (or is it war protester?) has. Read it, get mad, but never forget he back stabbed all of his fellow Sailors and to an extent any who served their country...especially those who saw duty in Viet Nam.


Dear John,

After all you've been through in the past year, losing in the primaries and being unable to win reelection to your own Senate seat, I do hate to bring more uncertainty into your life; but I've noticed that since being named John Kerry's new best buddy, your Two Americas stump speech and your new commercial now include a challenge to voters that goes something like this: "If you don't think John Kerry is a leader, just ask the men who served with him in Vietnam. They'll tell you he's a leader," or words to that effect.

Well, OK, John, why don't we do just that? Let's ask them.

At a press conference in Washington this past May, an organization called Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, a group of former sailors who served in Kerry's unit in Vietnam, presented a letter to Kerry signed by more than 200 of his former shipmates calling on him to release his military records so that the truth about his abbreviated tour of duty, his spurious wounds and his undeserved medals could be revealed to the American public. Not surprisingly, this event and this organization were totally ignored by the major media, as they continue to be to this day.

Did you catch that press conference? No? Never heard anything about these ol' boys at all huh, John? Well, listen up, Senator.

If you visit their website, Swiftvets.com or a sister site, Wintersoldier.com, you'll see some choice quotes from those fellows who served with your new best buddy. From Admiral Roy Hoffmann, his former commanding officer, come such phrases and characterizations as:

"Contempt for the military and authority..."

"Arrived in country with a strong anti Vietnam War bias and a self serving determination to build a foundation for his political future..."

"Aggressive, but vain and prone to impulsive judgment, often with disregard for specific tactical assignments..."

"A loose cannon..."

"Bugged out of Vietnam..."

and finally, "Not fit to command."

I'll bet you a Florida precinct that any good trial lawyer would consider someone of Admiral Hoffman's stature an unimpeachable witness, wouldn't you? Loose cannon? Bugged out? Not fit to command? I'm not causing you to have any second thoughts here, am I, John? Hmmm?

Now take a listen to retired Navy Captain, Charlie Plumly, who had Kerry,

"under my command for two or three specific operations before his rapid exit."

Plumly is even less charitable to your new bud than the admiral. His quotes on Kerry's service include these colorful expressions,

"Devious, self-absorbing, manipulative, disdain for authority, disruptive."

And then he gives us this little jewel,

"But the most common phrase would have been requires constant supervision."

Boy that's a comforting thing to read on the resume of the guy who wants to control the world's greatest nuclear arsenal, isn't it? Makes it a little more understandable why your buddy was willing to swallow a Republican as his number two in command, doesn't it, John? You do have to give him credit for knowing he needed a more experienced hand like McCain watching out for him. Sounds to me like what he really needs is Dick Cheney, hear me, John?

Then there's Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, now deceased, Chief of Naval Operations at the time of Kerry's service, who said,

"With Kerry's large ambitions, his career in Vietnam will haunt him if he were ever on the national stage."

Oh my, and just look at who's up there on that stage with him, bringing up that career at every opportunity. Hey, John, as a trial lawyer you've got to know some good investigators. Why don't you part with a few thou and check some of this out? I mean this could take the _expression, "egg on your face" to a whole new dimension, know what I mean?

The Swiftvets website has several testimonials from others who served with your buddy and none are laudatory. On the contrary, they are replete with refutations of John Boy's claims in his book, Tour of Duty, ranging from emotional denials of the war crimes Kerry depicts there to ridicule of his wearing that leather flight jacket on the campaign trail and claiming it brought him luck in Vietnam,

"No one wore such a jacket in 90+ heat."

You sure you want to keep bringing this guy's service record up in every speech, John? I know it's easy for someone who never served to be a little overawed, but good grief, even a weenie liberal lawyer ought to be able to figure out you don't wear leather jackets on jungle patrols, you know? And what's with this flight jacket business anyway? What was John Boy flying over there? Sure as hell wasn't a supersonic F-102 interceptor like George Bush, now was it?

But of course! Why didn't I think of it? That jacket could explain the minor nature of his award-winning wounds; kept all that nasty flak and flying lead from really hurting him instead of just breaking the skin, you know? Guess that's why he calls it his lucky jacket. But I got tell you, Man, speaking of breaking, I'm sitting here breaking out in a sweat just thinking about it. I mean, jungle fatigues were hot enough; but leather? With fleece lining? Whew, man, that's hardcore!

Well, I guess I am going have to admit this, John. In this regard, you're right; there are Two Americas: there's the America that believes your buddy wore a fleece lined, leather aviators jacket in the jungle; the America that will mindlessly heed your impassioned challenge to listen to the bought and paid for endorsement of the half dozen or so enlisted crewmen your buddy has shanghaied into his campaign. Then there's that other America, the one out there waiting for the media to let us hear the more than 200 voices of those who served well and honorably, both officers and enlisted, who are telling the truth about your good ol' buddy. Somehow, some way, I believe, I pray, that will happen.

And even if it doesn't, what those truth tellers are saying has relevance for you, John. Think about it; your oh-so-affectionate, backslapping partner bugged out on them and then libeled and slandered them viciously to serve his own political goals. So you might just want to consider this, Senator: if you guys lose in November there will be Two Americas all right. And you can bet your biggest contingency fee anyone Kerry can blame for costing him the goal of his life sure won't be part of his America anymore. Talk about getting a "Dear John" letter.

Think, Johnnie Boy, think. Didn't your ol' Daddy ever teach you nuthin' bout leopards and spots?

Russ Vaughn
327th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne Division
Vietnam 65-66




The items in bold were done by me. But the quotes were just as they are.
Go to hell John F'n Kerry...and take your leather jacket too...maybe it will bring you luck.

Stroke Me, Stroke Me!

This from Drudge via London's "The Daily Mirror" . Saddam "allegedly" suffered a minor stroke. And may not have long to live. This is definitely interesting...but considering the source and that lawyers for the former dictator in chains are trying to use this for one reason or another.... Well, lets give it the 48hr rule and see if the story has legs. Still, could this be a case of his bad karma catching up to him? One can only hope.

20/20 Heinz-sight?

With a tip of the Squid-lid to Eric at BitsBlog .

A Traitor of Uncommon Girth

Oh well....I had hoped never to write a word about this piece of amoral trash. The man piece of shit is nothing short of everything that is truly anti-American. To say he is incapable of saying anything remotely close to the truth (well, ok if we go by the dictionary he *can* say something treasonous, so technically speaking that would be "close to the truth"...but I digress) is an understatement. That overly large pussball wouldn't know the truth if it reached up and bitch slapped him if it could find his face, what with his head so far up his rather wide ass).

So, why am I waxing so about this large vertical turd? It's because while reading posts by Kim and Mrs. du Toit who both referenced THIS. I could not in good conscience be quiet about this dung heap any longer (and I apologize for offending dung heaps everywhere.)

Please RTWT.

Now you can understand why this post is here. Now you know our country has a master propagandist FOR THE OTHERSIDE in our midst.

But what to be done about this steaming pile of waste? There is precedence for his kind.....

Tokyo Rose was ultimately found guilty of treason for her use of the media during WWII
Lord Haw Haw was ultimately found guilty of treason by the Brits (and hung).

So when will we get to see Michael Moore + rope + steel reinforced gallows, some assembly required.

An Islamic Caliphate in Southeast Asia?

A number of folks have been wondering where our next front will be in the on going WoT. Though there is still much to be done in the Mid East, with the newly minted government of Iraq, and the growing threat of a nuclear Iran. The enemy is not strategically static. There are other parts of the globe which have been ignored for far too long.

Specifically we are talking about Southeast Asia. If left unchecked (existing terrorist and revolutionary movements) the repercussions can will be physically far reaching. They will have a sound and secure base (more likely, bases) from which to export terror 'round the world. And potential control of a number of shipping lanes throughout the area.

For a number of years now, many of the so called rebel groups have taken to the seas and these shipping lanes to conduct numerous acts of piracy. Shades of the Barbary Pirates of old. Is it just a coincidence the religion of that old band of marauders happens to be the same as the current group?

And it will be economically disastrous as well. This would be done by placing a choke hold on shipping lanes (as noted above),and by the systematic limiting of trade partners, by changing the political climate of any number of Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia) to one of a pro-Islamic state. These would, of course, become governments against the west/US.

I have known, and still know folks from that region of the world. Many old shipmates and Marines who have lived and been stationed there, talked about the rebels in the southern provinces of the Philippines. Islam, and or those who use that *faith* as a mask for political and personal gains have been and continue to make increasing gains in that part of the world.

But don't take my word for it. Belmont Club makes some very interesting and informative comments here , here and here.
Personal Effects adds to the conversation right here.
Baby Troll Blog adds his dash of spice to the mix .

And just to stir the pot a bit more....
North Korea needs money. Though I am sure the face on any transaction would be they need it to feed and provide comfort for *their people*. I suspect most monies generated by arms and missile sales line the pockets of the few at the top of the Dictator Food Chain ™ . If the rebels and Islamists of Southeast Asia become strong enough and or are able to get *donations* from other *branches* of their terrorist cabal, It is not inconceivable they would arm themselves with weapons or missiles with which to use against .....hmmm Australia? Or perhaps a clandestine attack against Singapore?

Naaaa, that would never happen....just forget about the Bali bombing...why most of the followers of Islam in Southeast Asia are just poor peace loving people who; "Want to remove the yoke of Christian dominated government oppression from their shoulders ™" . They just want to live in peace with their neighbors. An Islamic Caliphate in Southeast Asia? It will never happen.

If you believe that....have I got some stock options to sell to you!!

The Navy, It's not just a job...It's a High School

The Navy, "It's not a job, it's an adventure!" or so the old recruiting slogan used to go. But if Chicago's mayor Daley, and the Navy have their way, there will be a new military academy on the north side of town.

This is not a new program, there are two military schools already in Chicago. Chicago Military Academy and Carver Military High School, both on the south side of the city. As of two years ago the amount of requests to go to these public schools turned military academies has far exceeded demand.

They're in the midst of the city. The challenges, many and varied. Time will tell if by installing a sense of discipline, and military bearing will produce young adults able to meet the rigors of the real world and higher education, better than their peers in other inner city schools. Here's to their success and to the success of students attending.

A Mother's Choice

There has been a lot of discussion about the NY Times columnist who chose to terminate the lives of two of her three children. She brazenly stated she did it for convenience sake, a lifestyle choice (Robin Leach red courtesy phone!),that she had no responsibility other than to herself.

That is patently false. For when one person cheapens (her)humanity and the basic goodness of a society, we are all the poorer for it. And this morally deficient female is a very sad example of the level to which we have sunk.

What is perhaps more disconcerting...I wonder how many more are out there like her? Or is this something that could have just as easily happened 40, 50, 60 years ago?

Which brings me to a story....

December 1954

The doctor sat across from the twenty something woman. She was from all appearances healthy, with red hair a pretty face, and all in all a fine figure of a woman.

The doctor did not like having the discussion he was about to have. But in his heart there was no other choice. "We have stopped the hemorrhaging." "You should be fine, but based on what I can tell, the baby you are carrying is no longer alive."

The young woman fought back tears. This was to be her first child, tangible proof she and her husband were more than husband and wife, they were a family.

"What do I do now doctor?"

"Well, it appears you are still carrying the child...but due to the large amount of blood lost...it is more than reasonable to assume if you carry this baby to term...it will be stillborn." "I could set up more tests, but this is my considered opinion."

Jane got up and dressed for the ride home. Christmas was fast approaching, but the precious gift she carried was gone...or so the doctor was telling her. What was next? How could she tell her husband? What should she tell him.

"Jane, here, take this." The doctor gave her an address and phone number. "I want you to think about this. You don't have to carry this burden. I trust this gentleman will take care of your concern, if you agree with my diagnoses and decide not to carry the child to term." "I am not saying you shouldn't, but that you do have a choice if you desire it."

Jane nodded, and holding back her tears, left the office.

She thought about it over the course of the next few days. The doctor was good, and a respected member of her community. Jane knew he had put his reputation and career on the line by just giving her the name and information of someone who would rid her of her child. She also knew in her heart of hearts, her baby wasn't dead. And the doctor had said she could try and carry the baby, to term.

Jane tore up the card. This was to be her first baby and damn it, she would carry it ...the baby was still alive...she just *knew it*. Jane wanted that July baby, she would not willingly give up hope.

May 1955

"Get in the car honey!" John was holding the door open for his wife, now in her seventh month of pregnancy. "Damn", he thought, this is too early, she can't be having the child now. Maybe it was just false labor....but she was in pain and after last Christmas, John wasn't going to take any chances. He drove off to the hospital, just minutes away.

The hours went by. John paced the floor in the waiting room...going through smokes like they were going out of style. "What is happening?" "Is she alright?" "What about the baby?". They had arrived at the emergency entrance, the nurses had escorted his bride of almost a year quickly inside. After parking the car, John went in and was directed to wait where all good fathers to be are sent.....the expectant father's waiting room.

The good doctor, the same one who had consoled her back in December, now told Jane to push....hard! Although he had given her a choice back then, he now had to use all of his skills to try and bring this child into the world....two months early.

Jane pushed....and pushed again....and this time she heard a "plop" as the baby arrived in the world in the usual way. Jane was drained...but when she heard the cry of new lungs..."Oh dear God, it sounds so weak, so tiny...". It was a boy! The child had all his fingers and toes, his head covered by a mass of black hair. But he was so tiny, and weighed only a few pounds at birth.

July 1955

John and Jane arrived at the hospital on a hot July day. Their "miracle baby"...the one her doctor had, with all the best of intentions, thought was never going to make it to term, the one the doctors and nurses didn't think would make it in the first week or two after he was born...was going home.

###

Granted this story takes place almost fifty years ago. But even back then abortions could be had. There were any number of *good* doctors who did refer their patients, when the need arose, to one who performed that task. Often it might be a fellow doctor who did things like that on the side....many times it was not.

We have many more medical advances today, which allow for a two month preemie to (barring complications) easily make it. Back fifty years ago, there wasn't much more then the grace of god and incubators.

Unlike the monster who usurped the power from god to choose which of her children would live or die, Jane sought to continue fighting for the child inside her. Jane had thought of more than just herself. She thought of her husband and the family they were going to be with the addition of the baby.
Unlike the monster who was more concerned with her lifestyle, to Jane and her husband this was never an issue.

But it's just a story.....who the hell is this old fart trying to impress with his rambling moral stories? I don't know, I kinda like Jane...seems to be quite the feisty gal. But even an old crusty Sailor...has got to love the woman who fought so hard back then to bring him into the world...don't you think? "Thanks mom....I love you."

Pardon our dust!!

Better than 3/4 's through my new layout. Watch this space! With luck it will be up and running today.

Update Other than some minor peeking and tweeking , we are live and ready to rock and roll. And I will freely admit this couldn't have been done without the help (and amazing skill of not laughing at her husbands dubious coding skills) of my favorite web mistress, otherwise known as my wife. Thanks Sweetieheart!

Pax America

 The Curmudgeon had an interesting post, called "The Exceptions" (ok, they are all interesting...and if you don't go and visit, let alone drink deeply from his well of wisdom....you will be all the poorer for it...so get thee hence!). It deals with those who spread hate while they hide in the shadows, those who would sponsor same, our battle against same, and the tangible end result of our engagements. (this is paraphrased, you really have to read it).

 
So the comments drifted towards the idea of a Pax America....and my little brain cells decided to issue a comment...which mutated into the following.
 
We are the one remaining super power. To be sure China may, at some point in the future also assume the mantle of "super power", but they are not there yet. The USSR is no more, and Europe despite their hope of becoming a united economic juggernaut (The European Union), becomes weaker with each passing day, due to economic hardening of arteries caused by the nacartic of socialism.
 
Looking back, Britain was the last to see her empire span the globe. Indeed for centuries "The sun never sets on the British Empire.".
 
Is it now America's turn in the "everlasting day" of empire?
 
Since the end of WWII, we have and continue to, both directly and indirectly export America and its values/mindset at an ever increasing rate. Some of this influence has been, and is, in the form of "Power projection" and the business end of a gun. But I would argue the majority has been done via economics. And that is perhaps where we differ from past "Pax".
 
We won the economic wars against the bankrupt system espoused by Marx and his followers (though others still dabble in mutated forms). And we seek an economic *victory* against the supporters of Mao's little red legacy. (the jury is still out on that one).The fact Europe has been trying to marshal its various nations, for the past 10 years or more, to become "The European Union", speaks volumes. They seek to become their version of "us". To be able to flex a combined economic muscle they hope would be our rival. For they have no military to speak of.....economics is the only way they *can* go.
 
Russia has embraced capitalism with a vengeance...but are still trying to rise out of the rubble of communism.Even the Chinese are trying to become more capitalistic without loosing the states hold over the people...I would suggest it is a matter of time before the government in China finds itself at the point of having to drop the remaining bits of Mao, and become much closer to Taiwan in how they operate.
 
America was the driving force behind all of this. And unlike, past empires, we have no colonial troops in place to impose "the will of the crown" on the natives in said colonies. For we have no colonies!
Now, we have had (and have) military in some parts of the world, at the request of the host nation or due to treaties. There are no conquering armies. Even in parts of the world where a couple of months before, we fought to remove the shackles of oppression from a people who knew only fear, now finds us there insuring they are allowed to grow as they will. They need not fear the freedom to decide their future will be taken away from them.
 

 We have the most energetic economy.
The brand names of many of our products are known world wide. Coke ™  is as common an object in the far east as it is in America. The promise of America calls to all corners of the world.We, to some extent provide an American influence in the products we market to other countries, along with the images presented by the various media which finds its way across the seas. These form an image of Americans and America that may be right (or very distorted) but always leave an impression.It may not be perfect, but what we offer as a people, as a nation, surpasses all others. Though other governments may find fault and allow their envy and national pride blind them, the common man is interested in what America is like and about. I know this from personal experience. For in every country and port I visited, when talking with the locals, the questions always came back to "What is America really like?"And products produced by American companies were always in demand. (of all things Marlboro â„¢ and Levi's â„¢ come to mind).
 

 So wrapping this all up what do we have?

• America is the only super power in the world.
• America's military might is second to none.
• America's economic engine, while not the only one driving the world's economy, is the single strongest indicator and moving force behind same.
• American brand names/products/companies exert a major influence on others outside of America proper.
• American media (books, magazines, television shows, radio, and movies) present various views of America to many other people in the world. Often the sole source of information as to what others believe America and Americans are.
• America is still perceived to be "The land of opportunities".
• America, in concert with others, or alone, has been the major force  in the liberation of people world wide.

We *are* if not already there, entering into a time that can only be referred to as the beginnings of a Pax America. There is nothing requiring us to stay with this. But our great nation has everything to gain by staying the course. And if we choose to return to a state of isolationism, we have much to loose, not only economically but in human life as well.

If we close the borders and let the world spin on its own...with out American drive, influence, or unbridled optimism of a better future for all mankind, western civilization will be dealt a staggering blow. A blow from which it may never recover.

A "Pax America" may not be perfect, but much like our country, it (IMHO) would be the best thing out there.

Will He or Won't He

Well, now it is being reported on Drudge "Da Coach" has told the station manager of WDWS, a small down state radio station, he is not going to run for the Illinois US Senate seat. This conversation allegedly took place off air between Ditka and said manager. On the other hand "Iron Mike" is expected to show up at Chicago's Navy Pier tonight for a GOP event. So, we shall see. Personally, I hope he runs...and this is just a fake out...to the press and others.

UPDATE
ABC news (radio) and WLS radio are officially reporting Mike Ditka has declined to make a run for the US Senate. Reasons given were he would have to give up his continued commercial endorsements and his sports commentary during football season, along with his wife having strong reservations against him running for office. Damn.

Da Coach

Ahhhhh politics in Illinois, ya gotta love it. It is well known our Republican candidate for the US senate, Jack Ryan, stumbled just a tad, when his divorce papers became public knowledge...or that is what the spin-meisters would have you believe. The reason I would not vote for the man is really quite simple...and the same thing I felt about Clinton. I don't give a damn what they do in their bedrooms or off times...that is something they have to answer to their consciences and their God about. What I do care about is they both lied. One to his country and the committees looking into his tomfoolery. The other, to the senior members of his party who were willing to stand behind him and do their best in supporting his bid for the US senate seat being vacated by Senator Fitzgerald. I'll make it easy for those to whom morals are at best situational....Character counts.

So now the Republicans are wondering who is going to be our standard bearer come this November?

Well, what started out as a half hearted gag...may just become a force to be reckoned with. The Chicago Trib has an article today, (you have to register..but it only takes a minute) which states there is a growing interest in "Iron Mike" Ditka, as a valid contender for the job. And Ditka himself has not ruled it out.

At first I was thinking this would be a waste of time....sheesh, "Da Coach" as a senator...get outta here. But I thought about it for a day or so and ya know what? Why shouldn't he run. No he is not perfect but he has character and unless proved otherwise, integrity. Much like the fella the libs love to hate, that Texan in the oval office, Ditka means what he says and says what he means.

The majority of the blue collar folk here in Illinois, and more importantly, in Chicago, identify with him, cutting across party lines. He could not only give Democrat Senator candidate Barack Obama a run for his money....if Ditka is true to himself and those who admire him...he could win.

And why shouldn't he run? Not politically experienced or connected? Well, we have had a preponderance of lawyers, educators, and landed gentry in our top political seats in this state for a long time. Perhaps it is time for one of us blue collar types to take a crack at it. Hell, even the cynic would have to agree he couldn't do any worse than some of the other *more legitimate* folks, who ended their terms in shame (in either party, by the way).

There is something else to look at. IF he runs and IF he wins....he could turn a state that was supposedly locked in the Dems side for the presidential race, into a real horse race. Think about that. If nothing else it may require the dems to spend more time, money, and energy in a state they thought was theirs. This means less time and money is spent in other states. It can only help the Bush team, if done right.

"Da Coach" winning in Illinois? Hey, we have been in come from behind races with him at the helm before, and won.....bet we can do it again.

IMAO IS....2

I is for insanity that reigns there
M is for the mirth which you supply
A equals antics that are madcapped

O the oriental spin you ply

I ingenious situations daily
S the smiles you make they multiply

Put this altogether you get
IMAOooo IS ....2
So Happy Blogsaversy from me.

(sung to the tune of M-O-T-H-E-R...sorta kinda)

Keep up the good work Frank...we need the smiles now more than ever. And those ninja monkeys need to you to keep them in their place.

Keeping A Weather Eye Out...

Well, just read something which really hit home. I think this ol' salt pretty much hits the nail on the head. I know this same feeling has been building up and churning in the back wash of my mind, and yes it may indeed be time to "set condition W", for the stormclouds are a brewing. But Jim says it so much better than I. Now go read this and see if you agree battle lines are being drawn. At the very least tis time to keep a weather-eye out. Come back and vent, but firstRTWT.

Box or Twist-off??

It is a day for taking care of other odds and ends. That being the case, and the fact I can't think of a darn thing that impassions me to write, I give you *The List*. It was gleaned from that fount of wit and wisdom, Mrs. du Toit ,who in turn, acquired it from the ever popular Mr. Esmay , who....well you get the idea. You will note, btw, none of us are in complete agreement. And that IMHO makes this little bit of real estate called the US of A, all the better for it. (marching in lockstep my rosy red...well, again, you get the idea.)

See where you stand.....enquiring minds want to kvetch.

1. Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly?
Kelly always seemed more *manly* to me for some reason..Astaire perspires (if at all), Kelly sweats.

2. The Great Gatsby or The Sun Also Rises?
The Sun Also Rises Some Hemingway is a good thing.

3. Count Basie or Duke Ellington?
The Count (one more time!)

4. Cats or dogs?
Dogs

5. Matisse or Picasso?
Matisse

6. Yeats or Eliot?
Eliot

7. Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin?
Keaton Chaplin was more the artiste...Keaton was *funny*

8. Flannery O'Connor or John Updike?
Updike

9. To Have and Have Not or Casablanca?
Casablanca The ultimate Bogart film (with the possible argument being "The Maltese Falcon")

10. Jackson Pollock or Willem de Kooning?
Pass on em both. Abstract art (is that an oxymoron, or what?)

11. The Who or the Stones?
The Who

12. Philip Larkin or Sylvia Plath?
pass.

13. Trollope or Dickens?
Dickens

14. Billie Holiday or Ella Fitzgerald?
Holiday

15. Dostoyevsky or Tolstoy?
Tolstoy

16. The Moviegoer or The End of the Affair?
Pass

17. George Balanchine or Martha Graham?
Balanchine

18. Hot dogs or hamburgers?
Hamburgers

19. Letterman or Leno?
Letterman

20. Wilco or Cat Power?
Pass

21. Verdi or Wagner?
Wagner (ride of the Valkires rocks)

22. Grace Kelly or Marilyn Monroe?
Marilyn

23. Bill Monroe or Johnny Cash?
Cash

24. Kingsley or Martin Amis?
Kingsley (only because I have read bits and pieces of his sf anthology)

25. Robert Mitchum or Marlon Brando?
Mitchum

26. Mark Morris or Twyla Tharp?
Pass

27. Vermeer or Rembrandt?
Rembrandt

28. Tchaikovsky or Chopin?
Tchaikovsky (it's the Russian in me)

29. Red wine or white?
Red

30. Noel Coward or Oscar Wilde?
Coward

31. Grosse Pointe Blank or High Fidelity?
High Fidelity

32. Shostakovich or Prokofiev?
pass

33. Mikhail Baryshnikov or Rudolf Nureyev?
Nureyev

34. Constable or Turner?
Constable

35. The Searchers or Rio Bravo?
Rio Bravo (better over all movie but the Searchers was perhaps Wayne at his acting best.)

36. Comedy or tragedy?
Comedy

37. Fall or spring?
Spring

38. Manet or Monet?
Monet

39. The Sopranos or The Simpsons?
The Simpsons (much better when seen more than once...those writers are great)

40. Rodgers and Hart or Gershwin and Gershwin?
Gershwin (only because I can't get enough of Rhapsody In Blue)

41. Joseph Conrad or Henry James?
Conrad

42. Sunset or sunrise?
Sunset

43. Johnny Mercer or Cole Porter?
Cole Porter he is a god.

44. Mac or PC?
PC

45. New York or Los Angeles?
L.A. been there, but never made it to the big apple

46. Partisan Review or Horizon?
pass

47. Stax or Motown?
Motown

48. Van Gogh or Gauguin?
Van Gogh

49. Steely Dan or Elvis Costello?
Steely Dan

50. Reading a blog or reading a magazine?
Magazine (but only because I like the feel of paper in my hands. Content-wise it is a draw)

51. John Gielgud or Laurence Olivier?
Olivier

52. Only the Lonely or Songs for Swingin' Lovers?
Swingin'

53. Chinatown or Bonnie and Clyde?
Chinatown. No contest.

54. Ghost World or Election?
Pass

55. Minimalism or conceptual art
Minimalism...by the slimist of margins

56. Daffy Duck or Bugs Bunny?
Bugs

57. Modernism or postmodernism?
Modernism

58. Batman or Spider-Man?
Batman

59. Emmylou Harris or Lucinda Williams?
Emmylou

60. Johnson or Boswell?
Johnson

61. Jane Austen or Virginia Woolf?
Austen

62. The Honeymooners or The Dick Van Dyke Show?
Dick van Dyke (I loved Norton in the Honeymooners, but Mary Tyler Moor in capri pants?...grrrrrawwwlll)

63. An Eames chair or a Noguchi table?
No clue, if the table is stable, the chair causes one to doze off after dinner? They work for me.

64. Out Of The Past or Double Indemnity?
Double Indemnity (Stanwyck,MacMurray,Robinson....says it all)

65. The Marriage of Figaro or Don Giovanni?
Figaro

66. Blue or green?
Blue

67. A Midsummer Night's Dream or As You Like It?
Midsummer (it's one Pucked-up comedy....hey, I couldn't resist)

68. Ballet or opera?
Opera

69. Film or live theater?
Film (but some things are just made for the theater, period)

70. Acoustic or electric?
Acoustic.

71. North by Northwest or Vertigo?
North by Northwest (one of the rare cases where I have to pick between Stewart or Grant. But North is the better flick)

72. Sargent or Whistler?
Sargent

73. V.S. Naipaul or Milan Kundera?
Pass

74. The Music Man or Oklahoma?
Music Man It isn't fair! Preston rocks as the salesmans, salesman, but who can't enjoy one of the best musical put downs anywhere in hearing "Poor Jud's dead..."?

75. Sushi, yes or no?
with sake *anything* is edible....but sober, I'll pass thank you.

76. The New Yorker under Ross or Shawn?
Only good thing about the New Yorker is the cartoons....and when Thurber had the occasional piece inside.

77. Tennessee Williams or Edward Albee?
Williams

78. The Portrait of a Lady or The Wings of the Dove?
Lady

79. Paul Taylor or Merce Cunningham?
Pass

80. Frank Lloyd Wright or Mies van der Rohe?
Wright (mostly because I lived just down the street from one of his homes, or one ripped off from his designs, as a child)

81. Diana Krall or Norah Jones?
Krall she breaths new life into Porter and others.....but damn, Jones does have a voice.

82. Watercolor or pastel?
Pastel

83. Bus or subway?
Subway

84. Stravinsky or Schoenberg?
Stravinsky

85. Crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Crunchy....my kids have no taste...they go for the smooth...but the extra peanutty goodness of crunchy, with hersey's coco mix sprinkled on it , on toasted bread....mmmmmmm, heaven on earth.

86. Willa Cather or Theodore Dreiser?
Pass

87. Schubert or Mozart?
Mozart

88. The Fifties or the Twenties?
I'll take 50's please...perhaps if we try again we can get the last 50 years right this time. (and 50's Vettes, need I say more?)

89. Huckleberry Finn or Moby-Dick?
Finn.

90. Thomas Mann or James Joyce?
Mann

91. Lester Young or Coleman Hawkins
Young......proving there *is* something to be said for unsafe sax.

92. Emily Dickinson or Walt Whitman?
Dickinson

93. Abraham Lincoln or Winston Churchill?
Lincoln (but this is a closer one than seen at first blush....both rose to greatness during times of great crisis. Still, I have to go with the homeboy.)

94. Liz Phair or Aimee Mann?
Pass

95. Italian or French cooking?
French

96. Bach on piano or harpsichord?
Piano. ya gotta love the 88 string guitar.

97. Anchovies, yes or no?
no (but with sake.....)

98. Short novels or long ones?
Long

99. Swing or bebop?
Swing

100. "The Last Judgment" or "The Last Supper"?
Supper

And there you have it. Feel free to tell me how uncultured and or how uncouth I am (as if you need an excuse).
And being from Illinois, I can be bribed (a prerequisite for living in 100 miles of Chicago).

Friends and Lovers

Today seems like it is time to tie up a few loose ends. So, here goes.

First Things First

This is directed at the bottom feeder of the legal profession (with apologies to those in said profession, who have scruples) who saw fit to enlighten us with his ignorance, by commenting at True Blue "This buds for you" ™ ....
Though I will give you points for defending your friends(?), clients(?), fellow travelers in the political cesspool of Illinois politics(?), perhaps you need to bring your own veiled threats back into line. It is her site to do with as she pleases. And she was more than gracious in stating in black and white what would happen if she was inundated with unsolicited political advertisement.
Not that it is any of your business, but we have voted republican before (especially at the national level) and may do so again. I can also understand the group you are (by nature of your comments)affiliating yourself with, to be filled with youthful exuberance. This is to be expected, especially with the political climate as it exists today (and more power to em that they are willing to take part in our grand experiment).
That having been said....when a child is in error you slap their hand and give guidance in the error of their ways. That is what Deb did in her response to the errant political posting/comment and the individual who posted it. Nothing more, nothing less. Get over it and yourself.

Second (and much more important) Things Second

I have noticed a pleasant increase in the number of visitors to this little bit of Naval lint ™. And it is high past time to give credit where credit is due. To all those who have linked and visited here I can not thank you enough. I can't for the life of me think of anything (well.....ok, there *are* a couple of things *grin*) which equals knowing folks from all over choose to stop by, and at the very least, care to read the chicken scratch herein. And those who leave a few words of wisdom, pithy thoughts, or other choice words, so much the better. I wish there was a way to meet each and every one of you, the conversations alone would be something for sore ears.

And conversely, dropping by at each of your sites, always brings about some food for thought. Sometimes I won't comment, as some one else has said what I would have many times better. But there were more hours in the day so I could savor each of your "homes on the net" to the fullest.

So again, Thank you all, the light is always on, feel free to drop on by any time.

Last But Definitely Not Least

Though I would visit many a site and comment as the mood struck, it was the efforts of my better half, which tipped the scales and pushed me into the pool of blogdom. We have our ups and downs (what married couple doesn't), but through it all she remains my partner, my love, my best friend. She also has one hell-of-a site. (Ok, I'm biased..deal with it. *grin*) Yep, I am talking about Deb and you need to check out her bit of net-estate here. She is a red meat eating, ol' Sailor loving, red white and blue American gal. I am a lucky guy.

Now go and carry out the Plan Of the Day.

Can The Gloves Come Off?

It was announced today the Lebanese-born Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun has been killed by a terrorist group in Iraq.

"We would like to inform you that the Marine of Lebanese descent has been killed, and you will soon see the movie with your own eyes," said the statement, signed in the name of the group's leader, Abu Abdullah al-Hassan bin Mahmoud.

Here is the link to the news article at FOX news. Please note it is off the AP wire, so lets not jump on fox for such things in the story as "Iraqi militant group" vice calling the bastards what they really are.....scum sucking mother fucking terrorists.

Mr. President, can our service men and women serving over there, TAKE THE GLOVES OFF NOW????.

Make A Difference

So, a bill passes the house by a substantial margin. Said bill HR4323 is already funded, so it will not involve an increase in monies from some other part of the federal budget or your pocket (in the form of increased taxes). But what was the bill about you ask? Oh, nothing that important.....JUST THE DEFENSE AND SAFETY OF OUR TROOPS OVERSEAS THAT'S ALL!!

Just a tad hot under the collar here. There was no reason to oppose this bill. Both sides of the aisle spoke favorably in support of same. Yet, when the vote was taken 97 voted Nay and there were 51 absent. All but 2 of the Nay sayers were Democrats. This is partisan politics at its worst. They would vote against a bill which costs noting and can save at the very least one servicemen's life? What makes it even more contemptible to me, is a number of the congress critters on the nay side hale from the Peoples Republic of Illinois. At least my local critter voted correctly (thank you Congressman Manzullo!).

But now the bill is in the hands of the Senate, specificity the Senate Armed Services Committee. Get a hold of VA. Senator John Warner, he is the chair for said committee. Do it by e-mail or phone 202-224-2023. Let him know your feelings, but be polite and stay on topic. Then get a hold of your local Senators. They need to know there is strong public support for the passage of this bill.

We can make a difference in the welfare of our troops....CALL or E-MAIL NOW!

Now go and carry out the plan of the day.

Update: Sheesh, a big tip o' the squid lid to BLACKFIVE for giving the heads up on this initially. You want the straight dope on what is going on with the troops, he is "da man".

Qualifications of Pond Scum

Just haven't been finding something to light my fire blogging-wise, for the last couple of days. Then I received an e-mail from "The Federalist". It made my day.

I have read John *Fuckface* Kerry's resume, and it is really quite impressive. Don't believe me? Well, here have a look. It speaks for itself. Now if I could just find one for that hairy legged junior senator from NY...