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"Black Hawk Down."................revisited
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Oct 12, 2009 4:14 pm
1065 Views
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........President Bush like many before him will be defined by one issue. With President Clinton it was scandal, with GHW Bush it was read my lips and of course Nixon it was Watergate. Those incidents overshadowed all the positive things those men accomplished. Iraq was President Bush's albatross. The flaw of his strategy was you cannot win the hearts and minds of people with military might. Finally in 2006 he changed course and with new commanders to implement it, Iraq has been a success in terms that we can have an exit stratgey that establishes the goals we have set.........During the Presidential campaign last year Candidate Obama made many references to the fact that Iraq was the unjust war and Afghanistan was not. He scored many a political point with his base and independents over that issue. His dilemma now is should he commit additional resources (40,000 more troops) that his commanders on the ground say he needs to be successful or should he cave in to his liberal base and his Parties leadership and refuse their requests. In the middle of all this is our military men and women and their allies serving in Afghanistan. Causalties are mounting and our enemies are embolden as the war is going badly for us. The last time a President ignored requests from the military for additional resources disaster struck. Think "Blackhawk Down" my friends. You know it was more than a book/movie it was an actual incident. American bodies were dragged through the streets of Mogadishu. This precipitated a withdrawl and from that moment on we were viewed as weak by our enemies. Does President Obama want a replay of that incident? He has weakend America enough by his apologies to other Countries. Now he must take a stand like his predessor did. He must be firm and resolute in protecting our Countries security. He must not be defined by another "Black Hawk Down"...........Wear your flag pin with honor sir, place your hand over your heart and be the man that was before you. America asks nothing less........
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15
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The Geography Riddle
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Oct 11, 2009 8:46 pm
1197 Views
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......I like riddles. Some are simple and some are hard. I like the ones where you have to use logic and they make you think and explore possibilities to arrive at a solution. I put this one in the simple column for I dont want to confuse anyone....
The Geography Riddle...........What do all these places have in common. Nashville, Cleveland, Dallas, Trenton, Lansing, Columbus, Madison, Washington, Jacksonville, Waco and Denver? Oh I almost forgot Halifax.....and Broadway.
Have a nice day everyone.....
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I deserve an "OSCAR"................
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Oct 9, 2009 7:24 pm
907 Views
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......As I got the news this morning that President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize I was genuinely pleased for him. I had no idea he had even been nominated. Anyway back in 1987-1988 I was living in the Raleigh/Durham area and would go to Durham Athletic Park on many occasions those summers to watch the minor league Class A Durham Bulls plays baseball. The Bulls were selected to be the minor league team that was featured in the movie "Bull Durham" starring Kevin Costner and Susan Sarandon. When filming the movie the stands had to be filled with people for reality purposes. I decided to be an extra and we were paid $35 bucks and a free box lunch each day we showed up (3 days total). After the Presidents Nobel Peace Prize I think I should get recognition too. I think I will get in touch the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and let them know just where they can send me my "Oscar" Those who have seen the movie if you look real close I am in seat 22f section 6 frantically waving when "Crash" (Costner) comes to bat............I will auction the Oscar off on ebay and give the proceeds to charity. Aren't you all happy for me?
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13
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photo fri. seasons #2......now this is winter......
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Oct 9, 2009 10:39 am
789 Views
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.....Last February I went home to Maine for a funeral. I normally dont go down to Maine in winter but it was a close relative so I felt needed. This was taken one night from the corner of my Brothers house. When trying to fly out a week later the flight was delayed a day because of (you guessed it SNOW). My Brother tells me as long as the snow does not cover the mail box its considered a mild winter.....nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina in the winter.......
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15
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photo fri. seasons....... A Country Road, takes me home.
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Oct 9, 2009 7:35 am
779 Views
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.....CJC being from West Virginia loves the song "Take Me Home Country Roads" by John Denver. This picture was taken this past August driving to my sons home in very rural Pennsylvania. I guess you could call it A County Road in Summer....
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16
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SFF War on Health Care.....
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Oct 6, 2009 5:31 pm
1671 Views
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.......As the health care debate rages on in SFF its easy to see that many (not all) in Europe and Canada are putting their two cents in on what America should do. This situation reminds me of a book I read not long ago about the American War between the States (Civil War) in 1860. A captured Confederate Soldier from Virginia was being interrogated and was asked " Why do you fight so hard and be so willing to die if you own no slaves?" his reply to the Federal Officer? "because you are on my land." I think th ats the attitude of most Americans. They are aware that your Government takes care of your health and they are also aware that you are heavily taxed for that privilege. We really don't want your input. We really don't care how good you have it. We are happy for you and want you to continue to send your tax dollars to your government. America will find a solution and it will be unique to this Country and the needs of its citizens. Whether you like it or not we really don't care. Was that arrogant? You bet it was. Just like that Rebel Soldier said, every time you chide us about our health care system we will tell you "You are on our land".......
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48
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America's Trillion Dollar War.......
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Oct 5, 2009 8:58 am
889 Views
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.......When considering the cost of War many factors are involved as never is the dollar amount the true cost. One can never put a dollar amount on the physical and emotional scars that war impacts the individual. The only measure that can be applied is the expenditure worth the effort. Many say it is never worth it and many say it is. America is currently engaged in a Trillion dollar war. No its not in Iraq/Afghanistan. Its the War on Poverty. Incredible as it may seem, we Americans transfer more than a trillion dollars each year to low-income families through a bewildering variety of Government programs, all in the name of fighting poverty and inequality. That’s about seven times the cost of the Iraq/Afghanistan war. 1 trillion a year in perspective is more than double the total that America spends for national defense annually............. If a trillion dollars were simply given to those counted as poor by the federal government (37 million in 2005), it would amount to $27,000 per person. That’s $81,000 for a family of three, higher than the median income of all American families, and far greater than the poverty threshold of $15,577. ............By any standard a trillion dollars is a very large sum. So is the expenditure worth the effort? Are we winning this war? has there been improvements? Since President Johnson declared this war in 1964 we have been fighting it for a long time. Each year the cost continue to rise. in order to see progress in this war we must pose the following questions.........
1. Is the low-income population more independent and self-supporting than before the War on Poverty?
2. Has the annual trillion-dollar expenditure eliminated poverty in America? Reduced it dramatically?
3. Has the annual trillion-dollar expenditure reduced inequality? Are the egalitarians grateful to the American people for their sacrifices in this area, or are they continually carping about increasing inequality?
4. Are more disadvantaged children being raised in stable two-parent families today than before the War on Poverty?
5. Are the children in low-income families getting good educations that prepare them for productive lives as adults? Have the racial gaps in educational achievement been eliminated or greatly narrowed?
6. Has illegitimacy been reduced in the low-income population?
7. Is crime lower today than in the 1950s, before the War on Poverty?
..........The answers paint a very bleak picture of the accomplishments of the War on Poverty. There are some positive returns on our “investment,” but we have a right to expect a lot more for a trillion dollars a year. Perhaps it is time to stop worrying about an exit strategy for the War in Iraq/Afghanistan and formulate one for the War on Poverty.............Spreading the blanket of wealth over our Poor does not solve the problem, Its time to fix the furnace to stay warm.
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16
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What Wiil You Tell Your Children?
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Oct 3, 2009 7:43 am
1283 Views
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.......Yesterday during photo friday I submitted a picture taken by me of my two grandaughters exploring an F4 phantom jet. We all had visited an air museum in Corning NY the nearest large city from where they live in a remote area of Pennsylvania. One very adverse comment was posted which I considered offensive but in keeping with the spirit of photo friday I did not respond to that poster's comment. I will now.
The comment....... "You take little girls to war museums?......do you tell them stories about grandpa dumping napalm on little girls and their mummies?..... Did you tell them about the screaming terror of the people and the defoliation of their land.....and how you were all cozy and insulated in your plane while you acted as a mindless puppet for your twisted superiors?......did you tell them that most people in their country now believe it was a huge, tragic mistake?....Oh well, they will learn soon enough......then what will they think about their grandpa?"........
..........War is a terrible thing and anyone who has ever been involved be it an 18yr old private or an old seasoned General to our Commander in Chief has not felt saddened and affected by "collateral damage". As a member of Marine Air group 16 I served a tour of duty as a door gunner in VietNam on a helicopter. In October of 1970 Typhoon Kate struck the lowlands in Northern I corps outside of DaNang Viet Nam where our Group was located. High winds and torrential rains pounded the area for over a week. The severe flooding resulted in thousands of VietNam civilians being in eminent danger of death. In a race against time plans were quickly formulated and the war was put on hold as the Air Group responded with a massive rescue operation. Launching into extremely bad weather the helicopter crews often flying at low altitudes with reduced speed, visibility and high winds were directly responsible for saving the lives of over 12 thousand Vietnamese men women and yes the children. The consummate aeronautical skill of the pilots and crew was evident as they pulled frightened typhoon flood victims and their belongings to safety. At the risk of their own lives flying in terrible weather conditions were not enough, often times taking intense and accurate enemy ground fire, the mission continued. For 4 days this round the clock effort placed a heavy burden on all MAG personnel on flight crews and supporting elements. The Marines responded to this challenge with a vigor not normally seen........Yes I will tell my grandaughters about the horror's of war and yes I will recount my experiences with them and yes I will tell them how "cozy" I was and yes I will tell them that no matter how much we tried collateral damage occurred despite all efforts to avoid it.......God bless our men and women in the Military for whom much is asked much is expected and given.
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34
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50 years ago Today.......a toy was born
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Oct 2, 2009 1:12 pm
942 Views
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.......I know we are not supposed to post more than 2 pictures on photo friday so I will make a blog out of this. 50 years ago today Chevrolet introduced a new car line. It was radical in design and engineering and no American Car Company has ever come close to its uniqueness. On October 2nd 1959 Chevrolet Motors Division rolled out the very first Corvair. Compact in design with a flat rear engined opposing 6 cylinder it was immediately popular. For whatever reason it fell from favor whom many say was the result of a Ralph Nader book "Unsafe At Any Speed". It did probably have an impact on some sales but the nail in the coffin for this car was the Ford Mustang and the introduction of Muscle Cars in the mid 60's. Chevrolet seeing this trend phased out the Corvair in favor of the CHevy Camaro in 1967. Over its 9 year life Chevrolet produced a little over 1.8 million Corvairs. Its final year 1969 only 6000 were made making a 1969 Corvair quite rare. Here is a picture of my "Baby" a 1966 Corvair coupe. I really like its clean flowing style and it gets lots of looks and head turning........My Toy.
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