Lost a Plane

Lucky no one was killed, but we lost a P-3 in Afghanistan this week.

Navy Times has details.

Too many details if you ask me.

Southern, Racial, Manners, or Just Me?

There's a report today about Obama campaigning in a "white" BBQ place in North Carolina today, choosing it over the "black" BBQ place a few doors down.

"But some of the other older white diners looked surprised and slightly uncomfortable as Obama stopped at their tables to shake hands....

The writer implies that the discomfort is because Obama is Black.

May I suggest something else? When I'm eating BBQ, whether it's ribs or a pulled pork sandwich, I'm eating with my hands. I wash them before eating. Then while I'm eating may put them in my mouth. I will NOT offer them to someone who stops by the table, and conversely, when if I see someone I know and stop by their table to visit, I don't offer to shake hands. In my book, it's impolite.

So if some guy from Chicago shows up wanting to shake hands while I'm eating ribs, yes, I would feel "slightly uncomfortable" too.

It's not race. It's manners.

Don't Dis Obama

If Obama the Candidate quashes dissent, What Do you think Obama the President would do?

I fear not enough people will not see the pattern until too late. In Missouri government attorneys threaten political campaigns with slander charges. Radio stations trying to get non-Obama guests are swamped with calls and complaints. A business in Maryland is threatened with boycotts for supporting a political candidate. I already wrote about Team Obama sic'ing the Secret Service on a non-supporter. The media is paying some attention to how his goons are "outing" Joe the Plumber.

This is the tolerance of the Left.

Obama McCain Debate

Verdict

McCain wins the debate. But it won't make a damn bit of difference.

You thought Bush was smug?

Just wait.

Live Bloggin the Debate

2100

Actually last time it wasn't that much fun...

to MC Why is ur plan better?

MC: Greed on Wall Street and DC. Catalyst was Fannie and Freddie. We must reverse decline in home ownership. 300 billion to homeowners.

yuch

OB: Plan MC and I supported is working. Bad CEOs. I have plan for middle class. No tax breaks for companies, tax cuts for people. No IRA penalty. MC plan is bad.

Commie Obammie speaks more clearly

MC: relates plumber encounter. Want;s to help plumber Joe get his businesses.

MCCain is incoherent

2109

OB: MC wants taks breaks for Big Bad Oil. Taks the rich. Taks breaks for everyone.

MC: Attacks on "spread the wealth." Good conservative, but MC doesn't sound committed.

OB: Warren Buffet my friend can pay more. So can Big Oil. Middle class needs a break. Somebody's gotta pay.

MC (interupts) Let's not increase taxes on anyone.

To Obama: Deficit spending? Ur cost is 200 Billion in the red. What will u cut?

2114
OB Taxpayers will get their money back from bailout. I propose more taxes to pay for all spending my increase. We need to invest.

Where in the Constitution does it give the federal government power to invest?

MC: My home buying plan is the same thing Hillary proposed.
That's comforting
MC is energized now.
Kill marketing assistance and subsidies for ethanol, end tariffs on Brazilian sugar for ethanol. Kill earmarks. Cut out all the pork.
OB: Says have to focus on the programs that work. Earmarks are tiny
OB is gittin shaky. MC should keep attackin.
OB links MC to Bush...
MC: I'm not Bush, if you wanted to run against Bush, u shoulda done it four years ago. Obama voted for more money than Bush wanted. Who have u stood up against.
touche'
OB: I was against tort reform, I have a history of reaching across the aisle.
OB is still shaking... MC should attack again
OB: U want 8 more years of Bush economic policies
MC: I have opposed my party lots. Ur argument isn't convincing
MC not winnin' points with the base tonight... he's going for broke
Questions: U guys are getting nasty. Will u say it here?
MC: OB said no to town hall meetings. I regret some negative turns, especially when Congressman Lewis called me and Sarah bombers. and OB didn't repudiate it. OB has spent more money on negative ads than any one ever.
MC: U lied to the American people.
Wow
OB: Waa, John, all ur ads are negative. 527's are making tough accusations. Attack me for four weeks, I don't mind, but we can't do 4 more years of Bush.
MC: Ur running ads that misstate my position and spending huge dollars to attack me.

OB: is now defending Lewis...he probably went over the line. American people are cynical about politics.

MC: I won't stand for you criticizing the people at my rallies. I repudiate it. U don't.

OB is back to his talking points. I think he's shaken. He's saying we should debate
MC: What is Obama's relationship with Ayers, he gave 800k to ACORN.

OB: Ayers was on a board with me and other people. Ayers isn't involved in my campaign. ACORN is a community organization. Had nothing to do with us. I represented them along with USDOJ. My associates are... blah...
Obama was ready for this attack _ scores
MC: responds... OB looks smug

Who u bring in Government, tell me about Joe:
OB: Best foreign policy credentials. Working Joe.
weak

Welll I think I'm gonna see what milblogs are doing...

moar funny pictures

Federal Agents Investigate Citizen for Not Supporting Obama

An Obama volunteer calls and asks the citizen for support:

"She asked if I was an Obama supporter, to which I replied, 'No, I don't support him. Your guy is a socialist who voted four times in the state Senate to let little babies die in hospital closets; I think you should find something better to do with your time.' (And then) I hung up."

This is what the Obama volunteer hears:

she said, "I will never support Obama and he will wind up dead on a hospital floor."

This is the result:

A Lufkin woman received a surprise visit from the Secret Service last week because of a "death threat" comment she reportedly made about Sen. Barack Obama to a campaign volunteer asking for her support of the presidential candidate.

This is what the citizen says afterwards:

"I find that repugnant and violating — that some person got her undies in a bundle because she didn't like what I had to say."

Get used to it.


Quotes from the Lufkin Daily News, h/t Drudge

ABC Blows a report on ACORN

They us Obama's talking points, give the last word to ACORN, and highlight that McCain spoke at an ACORN sponsored event.

Failed to mention Obama "...paid more than $800,000 to an offshoot of the liberal Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now for services the Democrat's campaign says it mistakenly misrepresented in federal reports."

Nothing to see here. Move along.

How Naive of Me...Sigh

Charles Gibson opened the ABC Evening News with a teaser about "hidden bias."

For a brief moment the thought flashed across my mind that they were going to do a story on the media being in the tank for Obama. The last example of which is this MSNBC story.

But no. My hopes were quickly dashed. The bias in question is that of voters who won't tell pollsters the truth about their willingness to "vote for a Black man."

Silly me.

moar funny pictures

moar funny pictures

McCain "Reaches Across the Aisle" and gets jack-slapped

The last paragraph in the story "In August, while appearing at a forum on faith, McCain was asked to name three "wise people" he would listen to. He cited Lewis as well as Gen. David Petreaus, head of U.S. troops in Iraq, and former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, a top adviser to his campaign."

Now let's go to the opening "Rep. John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and veteran of the civil rights movement, says the negative tone of the Republican presidential campaign reminds him of the hateful atmosphere that segregationist Gov. George Wallace fostered in Alabama in the 1960s."

That's gotta hurt.

h/t Drudge

Why I can't vote for Obama

In any organization decisions have to be made. In the best, that decision-making authority is distributed so that people have the power to act at the appropriate level. Those people are accountable for their decisions, for the good or harm that comes from them.

There are times... there will be times, when only the senior leader can make the decision. Times when the harm or good are great and the conflicting interests or lack of data are great too. These are the times when senior leaders earn their keep, if they can make a good decision.

Any leader will have a track record of decisions. Some good some bad. When the good outweigh the bad, people will have confidence in the leader. And when the bad decisions outweigh the good, people will have little confidence.

Obama has two traits that concern me. One is a propensity to throw (or make a show of throwing?) under the bus allies who were previously convenient. The other is to make bad decisions about who he associates with, who he gives money to, how he holds folks accountable.

If he were elected, and the crisis comes up, would you want to be the one holding the briefing paper and saying "Mr. President, this is your decision."

The Difference Between McCain and Obama

Tonight's debate, after a retired Chief Petty Officer asks a question on Iran and Israel....

McCain (up close, hand on shoulder): "I learned everything I know about leadership from a Chief..."
Obama (from his stool): "Thanks Terry, we honor your service."

Obama doesn't know what a Navy Chief is. McCain does.

Any questions?

Live Bloggin...

9:03 "Excellent questions" I'll be the judge of that...

9:04 People bailout... Obama... Bush and McCain were the problem. Need oversight. Crack down on CEOs. Tax cuts for middle class. Mo money to state and local government.
McCain... Americans are angry and fearful... Energy independence and low taxes is the solution. Home values... he would buy up bad mortgages. "Stabilize home values"
TB Secretary?
MC "Not you, Tom." WTF? Warren Buffet or Meg Whitman.
BO Don't hep the people up top.
9:11
Oliver Clark: What in the bailout will help people out?
MC: It's rescue. I added protections. Jab at Obama and his cronies for Fannie and Freddie Mac. Obama took more money. Need to buy up bad loans to stabilize home values.
OB: Explains credit market. Problem was deregulation. I wrote a letter and went to Wall Street. I never promoted Fannie Mae, it was McCains guy. (Doesn't answer the charge). Takes over the rescue homes theme. Slick.
9:16
OB: Need to keep families in homes and get special interests out... Boy, he just took over McCain's themes.
MC: The American worker can fix it.
9:18
How can we trust either of you?
OB: Understands. Lots of blame to go around. Blame Bush. Complains about deficits, but will SPEND MORE? WTF? Spending cuts too... net cut. Where, he doesn't say.
MC: Understands. System is broke. I've taken on special interests. Look at our records. I say go to watchdogs, you'll see liberal big spender.
9:22
This is pretty boring.
9:23
What are your priorities?
Health, energy, entitlement.
MC: work on all three. Addresses each.
OB: energy. Russia Venezuela are benefitting (they shouldn't implied). Quotes JFK
Health care #2
Education #3...
Wants to cut programs line by line. McCain cuts 200 billion
9:27
What sacrifices do we need to make?
MC: Cut programs...(just took Obama's theme) eliminate earmarks. Spending freeze. Transparency. We can do it.
OB: 9/11 unity... Bush missed opportunity to call to service.
9:31
OB: Need offshore drilling and clean coal. Save energy at home... He'll be making sure you can do it. Double the Peace Corps, make sure to get everyone involved. WTF
9:33
Too much debt?
OB: start with Washington. Need more revenue. Soak the rich.
MC: OB wants to raise taxes. We have lost jobs, but created small business jobs, he'll tax that. I'll give you money.
9:37
Social Security. Brokaw asks for a pledge.
OB: Will fix entitlements in first term. Soak the rich. Don't cut taxes. Changes the numbers... what is it?
MC... look at our records... I actually was listening not typing. Good stuff.
9:43
Environment?
MC: Me and Joe did something. Nukes.
Boring again.
The wife likes Obama.
We can do it.
OB: Biggest challenge of our time... (but he didn't mention it up top)... we need investments from government. The environment/energy is a national security. I favor nukes. McCain voted against alt fuels... we can't drill our way out. Need alt fuels. Gov;t funding with private sector.

side bar... Obama criticizes McCain for corporate tax cuts, but then talks about "working with industry" to do this or that... how does the Federal gov't "work with industry" if not by giving subsidies and tax breaks.

OB: We will work with your employer to lower premiums... (tax breaks for HMOs?)
9:52
OB: Fight for patients.
MC: blah blah 5000 tax credit
Flat hair transplant joke.
boring again
OB: Healthcare is a right. He will "help" lower the premium. You have to make sure your child has health insurance. (Scary)
No consumer protections in Delaware? Gaff.
9:59
How will economics help us act as a peacemaker?
MC: America is the greatest force for good in the history of the world. When to go in, when not, is the question.
OB: has a prepped "don't understand" response. goes to Iraq. Troops are honorable. Too much money in Iraq. Remembers the respect thing. Darfur? Will change.
Brokaw: Use force for humanitarian for no national security interest?
OB: We have to consider where "possible" but can't do it all. Will set up a no-fly zone in Darfur.
MC: Whatever we can, but have to benefically affect the situation. Somalia was a mistake. Lebanon was a mistake. Don't make it worse.
10:08
Respect Pakistan sovereignty?
OB: Iraq was a distraction. Pakistan is plotting to kill Americans.
Wife is bored again
OB: Change our policies with PK. Expand aid. WTF? "Insist" they go after terrorists.
Kill Bin Laden, crush Al Qaeda.
MC: OB will attack PK. GEt the support of the people.
Boring... and this is a subject that interests me.
back and forth
10:16
OB: did he just endorse a dictatorship?
10:21
OB: resurgent Russia. More than moral support. Finance and "concrete" assistance. (military?)
10:25
Navy Chief!!
MC give Props to Chief Petty Officers!
Hah... until now I was calling it a draw. What will OB say to the Chief?
10:26
We can never allow a second Halocaust.
OB: Thanks Terry, we honor your service.
OB doesn't know what a Chief is.
Debate is over for me....

Damn

Just found that we've lost another CT in the war.

Cryptologic Technician (Maintenance) 3rd Class Matthew J. O’Bryant, 22, of Duluth, Georgia. O’Bryant was killed in the September 20, 2008 attack on the Marriott in Islamabad. He was assigned to the Navy Information Operations Command at Fort Meade, Md.

My deepest condolences at this time of loss. His sacrifice will forever be remembered. He joins the hallowed ranks of those Naval cryptologists who gave their all.

Biden is Wrong and the Press is Too

It sounded like Governor Palin prepared well for the debates. But isn't there a fundamental assumption that you opponent will rely on truth to rebut your arguments?

So how does one prepare for a debate when your opponent will lie? More importantly, when your opponent will lie and the press will not do its job and call him on it?

Face the facts. Biden got them wrong. Wrong on the Constitution, wrong on Hezbollah in Lebanon, wrong on McCain's record, wrong on Afghanistan.

These are matters of import. Palin can learn McKeirnan's name. Biden should know the other stuff by now. That's supposed to be his strength.

The media is blind... and the left is their guide dog.

Disgusting.