Archive for February, 2010

Ok what about Don’t ask, don’t tell?

Posted: February 4, 2010 by datechguy in Afghanistan war, opinion/news, war
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I’ve teased supporters of this president in the past because he has been unwilling to address items such as “don’t ask don’t tell”, but I’ve never devoted a piece to my opinion on the subject so here goes…

My opinion on “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is a variation of Lincoln statement on slavery.

Our goal should be having the strongest most efficient military in the world. We need a military strong enough to reassure our friends and to give our foes pause. I am in favor of anything that supports that goal.

If we can meet this goal by officially allowing homosexuals to serve in the military openly, I would support it.

If we can do it by banning homosexuals from military service openly I would support it.

And if we could do it allowing homosexuals to serve openly in some capacity but not in others I would support that too.

Our enemies are trying to kill us, they are not going to wait to ask who we pick up in bars before they try. The most efficient military possible is in the interest of everyone of any race creed color or sexual orientation. My only interest when it comes to the military is its ability to fight and win.

I’m not a soldier, I will likely never be a soldier the people who can answer this will be our soldiers and those willing to serve. Not me.

I will say this to the two sides of the argument:

You might remember that according to Ken Burns Masterpiece The Civil War 85% of American Blacks in the north of military age served in the Union army. They understood what the war was about. Given the beliefs of Radical Islam, I think that Gay Americans would be highly motivated to serve to fight against a fundamentalist Islamic foe that wants them dead and would not be inclined to oppose it.

on the other hand…

We also have an all volunteer military, if the numbers of homosexual recruits are insufficient to make up for the number of straight recruits who would be unwilling to serve with them to the point where it hurts our ability to fight then the needs of the service have to be the priority.

What do you think and why?

How is this “ripping” Limbaugh?

Posted: February 4, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news
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This story is an excellent example of making up a headline to fit one’s template. Here is the headline:

Palin Camp Rips Limbaugh, Hits His “Retard” Comment As “Crude And Demeaning”

here is the actual quote:

I asked Palin spokesperson Meghan Stapleton for comment on Rush’s rant, and she emailed me this:
“Governor Palin believes crude and demeaning name calling at the expense of others is disrespectful.”

What is missing from this sentence? Does Governer Palin think that Rush Limbaugh’s “rant” as Mr Sargent refers to it amounts to: “crude and demeaning name calling”?

Do you get that from that statement? I don’t. Do you see Rush mentioned in that reply? I don’t. Do you see an attempt to make a fight between Palin & Rush where there isn’t and to take the heat off Rahm Emanuel? Yup.

This is the same type of wishful thinking reporting that allowed the Boston Globe to believe that Martha Coakley was 15 point up 9 days before the election. And apparently the wishful thinking is not confined to the left.

Guys I don’t get paid to report (but feel free to kick in here). I expect better from people who do.

Oh and by the way, lets quit this “R” word idiocy. The word people were talking about was retard. r-e-t-a-r-d. It is a perfectly good word and is defined in the dictionary here. We should as a rule treat people with respect and not be crude and insulting to others, but lets also not be afraid of words nor treat ourselves with such fragility that we can’t cope with them.

The weaker we make ourselves the weaker we will be.

Update: If I’m reading Ann Althouse right she is with me on the Palin camp rips Rush nonsense.

Update 2: Rush says the same.

My final election report comes after Scott Brown…

Posted: February 4, 2010 by datechguy in elections, opinion/news
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…has been sworn in.

Just got back from the Alamo restaurant where I met a friend and mentor from my first computer job for lunch.

The food is good, not as spicy as I’m used to, but the portions were generous and the people pleasant and the ambiance enjoyable particular for a history buff. The tacos were less spicy but had a generous portion of meat and the Fajita was very tasty. I still prefer the Boarder Grille and Bar but I’d eat there again without hesitation.

During that very late lunch I told my friend the entire story of Stacy’s week here in Fitchburg. He was totally fascinated by it.

And then he told me about his Polling place in Sharon Mass. He is a very liberal man in a very liberal town that ended up going for Coakley. He and his wife shake their head when they know I watch Fox and listen to Rush:

When he went to the polling place there were a bunch of Brown supporters in the cold holding signs for their candidate.

There were a pile of Coakley signs leaning against the building facing down.

He was VERY surprised at the Brown win he couldn’t believe that he could pull it off. When I asked him if that’s because he thought democrats would turn out or because he thought it would be stolen if it was close, he demurred saying he thought national democrats wouldn’t allow it. Make of that what you will.

Because of the long story and a train cutting across Rte 117 on the way home I didn’t get to see the Brown swearing in on TV.

But now comes the time to govern. If he does so honestly and above board and makes sure people understand why he takes the positions he does, he will do fine.

Update: Oh and Robert Stacy is on the road again.

Yes, that’s right, folks. Despite the law-enforcement dragnet across Virginia and Tennessee — “Be on the lookout for a black 2004 KIA Optima . . .” – I have arrived at an undisclosed location in Birmingham. Political intrigue and shenanigans are afoot down here in God’s country, and I’ll be updating regularly.

While en route — 785 miles in 15 hours, including a two-hour nap in the car this morning at a rest area near Bristol, Tenn. – I had several phone conversations with Alabama political activists. I’m learning more about the scandals swirling around state attorney general Troy King. A parade of King’s aides have been called before a federal grand jury, and the “Truth On Troy” blog has more.

Down in the Wiregrass Country (2nd Congressional District), Tea Party candidate and Marine Corp veteran Rick Barber slammed the Obama administration’s proposal to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

I met Rick Barber during the Brown campaign, he was up north volunteering to help out. He seems a decent enough fellow. I’d have no problem voting for him. I’m not familar with his opponents in the primary to make a judgement on them.

I will be very interested in hearing…

Posted: February 4, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news
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…the opinion and the comment of our humanistic friends over this story at Vanderbilt:

Last week, a Vanderbilt University Muslim chaplain publicly acknowledged what those of us who study shariah Islamic law know… Awadh Binhazim, when pressed on whether or not shariah Islamic law requires the death penalty for homosexuals, asserted that yes, it does. Furthermore, he stated: “I don’t have a choice as a Muslim to accept or reject teachings.”.

Sense of events comments further:

As a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School, I know that the university generally and its religion departments specifically fully embrace conceptually and practically gay rights. The teachings of the Jewish and Christian scriptures that say that homosexual practice is sinful are either simply ignored or reinterpreted by the professoriate. This is a very strong institutional value of the university.

So what are we alums to make of Awadh Binhazim

What indeed? Over to you guys.

Exit question: Memeorandum doesn’t list this story, would that be the case if it was a person of a Christian denomination? (trick question we already had that answered last week)

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