Thursday, September 24, 2009

Guns: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Lately, I've been going to a gun range and shooting a 40 cal Glock. I'll admit it. It's fun, and mui macho. Afterward the guys and I go for beers and a guy's guy movie - you know, like the Hurt Locker.

I don't own a gun, and I don't plan on getting one, but I have a healthy respect for them and I know how to use one. I think it's safer for me and my family NOT to own a weapon. I am not planning for Armageddon, storing food in the basement and loading up on ammo. Yet, there are some Second Amendment freaks out there who believe that weaponizing themselves is the only way to roll.

Unfortunately, there's a bad and an ugly side to weapons that people on the "gotta have 'em" side of the argument often forget. Case one occurred last night where two men were gunned down in cold blood. Case 2, also happened yesterday where some 8 year old kid now has to live the rest of his life knowing he killed his two year old sister.

And, if you review the comments on both those articles, you see the extremes. None of them can erase the tragedy, which brings me to the point.

My security minded and enforcement agent friend that we typically go to the range to shoot with explains it this way: Not every one should be allowed to own and carry a weapon. There should be a battery of tests, and proof that you know what you are doing before you are considered for a license, let alone actually own one. When you finally pass through all the tests and make it through the mandatory training, you would have to prove that you would store your weapons and lock them properly. Unfortunately, that won't even save you from yourself, it seems. Knuckleheads abound.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

The World Has A Taste For The Flavor Of Sarah

No doubt Ms. Palin got paid an obscene amount of money to deliver this speech reported today. But if you ask me, it sounds like 80 minutes too much of Sarah.
In a wide-ranging, 80-minute speech to fund managers in Hong Kong today, Palin spoke about issues ranging from Alaskan fishing to energy independence to U.S.-Sino ties. She repeated calls for “market-oriented” health-care reform and said governments shouldn’t regulate executive compensation.

The Fed and the government sent a message to companies that “the bigger that you are, the more problems that you get yourself into, the more likely the government is to bail you out,” Palin said in the closed door speech, according to a tape of the event given to Bloomberg News. “Of course the little guys are left out then. We’re left holding the bag, all the moms and pops all over America.”
Well, right there we see the fundamental flaw in Palin's logic. She doesn't believe the government should control executive pay, but we should be looking out fot the Moms and Pops who will have to burn their life savings to cover the costs of their "insurance" premiums in order to ensure the fat cats at the top are stuffed to the gills with profits? Can you protect the fat cats while watching out for the "little" guys? When Sarah Palin claims to speak for the people, the US of A is in for a bumpy ride.
"I'm going to call it like I see it and I will share with you candidly a view right from Main Street, Main Street U.S.A.," Palin told a room full of asset managers and other finance professionals, according to a video of part of the speech obtained by the Associated Press. "And how perhaps my view of Main Street . . . how that affects you and your business."
Since when does a former Veep candidate, a former Governer who quit, and turned highly paid public speaker represent the "people" of America? I'm left wondering how the people in the "packed" audiance was able to stomach the event, and also how much she was paid to deliver this horse manure.

I've found at least one person who was there discussing it. I'm sure there's more.

Blog on friends. Blog on all.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

"I Seved With John McCain In the Tonkin Gulf..."

This is an interesting and valid perspective:
I served with John McCain in the Tonkin Gulf and later served on the staff of CTF-77 staff where I learned the truth about high ranking military commanders. They always want more resources and those resources are always comprised mainly of troops. They promise their political masters in Washington victory if just given a little more. And they present the terrible vision of defeat if they don't get their way. That way they can blame Washington when they, as they know they will, fail. President Obama is being set up to be the President who failed in the war on terror by the men wearing stars on their shoulders and colorful evidence of their bloody experience on their chests.

Friday, September 18, 2009

What We Need Is A Fundamental Overhaul Of How We Finance Public Education Across The Board

Take a look at UC President Yudof's address and tell us what you think:

Part One:



Part Two:



Part Three:

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Elephant Is Squashing It's Own House

If you ask me, the GOP has a serious amount of house cleaning to do. And only they can do it:
I’ve been loath to admit that the shrieking lunacy of the summer — the frantic efforts to paint our first black president as the Other, a foreigner, socialist, fascist, Marxist, racist, Commie, Nazi; a cad who would snuff old people; a snake who would indoctrinate kids — had much to do with race.
Racism is the GOP's elephant in the room that no one is dicussing. Unfortunately, the right thinking republicans (if there are any), may not have the spine to challenge their racist peers.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Food (and a song) For Thought

This was fun. Catchy tune. Good point:

Number One in Prisons: Number ? in public schools?

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

More-on Good Ol' Fashioned Republican "Family Values"

Those of you who pay attention to hypocrisy may have already seen this bit on the Talking Points Memo. But really, can you find a bigger zealot for "family values" that violates the very principles they are trying to foist down our throats?



Spasmodic objections to "perverted" behavior followed up with actual real perversion can't get anyone reelected. Any one taking bets as to how long the taxpayers of Orange County decide they don't want to cover his salary and yank his seat? Better yet, where's the outrage from the "moral" majority?

Blog on friends. Blog on all.

P.S. Looks like Duvall Resigned on his own accord. Would you hire the man for anything other than working in the porn industry now?

Tuesday, September 08, 2009

The No Controversy Controversy

In another of a long list of clues that the extreme right is out of touch with America, there apparently some controversy over the fact that the President addressed the student body of the U.S.A. today. That is, if your school was fortunate enough to have the wherewithal to have an internet connection that worked, you could have watched the President deliver the most non-controversial speech ever.
  • Stay in school.
  • Respect your teachers and parents.
  • Some kids come from disadvantaged backgrounds, but don't let that hold you back.
  • Don't quit.
  • Failure is an excellent teacher, etc....
Perhaps the most controversial thing in the whole talk could have been when he suggested that "When you quit on yourself you, quit on your country." Come on, if I give up on myself, the country swings in the balance? I don't think so.

What's really out of balance is a set of arguments that suggest the President speaking to the student body of America is something inherently bad (even before you hear the content) and to be feared. Come on people. Wake up. This is America. We were founded on the honest critique of government, but you can't criticize if you don't listen.

Blog on friends. Blog on all.

P.S. Here's some more liberal indoctrination if you didn't get enough of it on the other links provided:

Thursday, September 03, 2009

Another Example Of Right Wing Warped Values And Hypocrisy

On September 8, in what the Department of Education is touting as a "historic" speech, President Obama will be talking directly to students across the U.S., live on the White House website. But some parents and conservatives are blasting the president, calling the speech an excuse to brainwash American children.
Interesting. Instead of marveling at the fact that the President is using new technology "broadcast" a live discussion to students across America about the importance of education, the right wingers do what? Of course, if the riechwingers witnessed GWB doing the same thing, and talking about abstinence, would their tone be different? You betchya.