Archive for the ‘war’ Category

Another reality check: Don’t ask don’t tell

Posted: October 11, 2009 by datechguy in opinion/news, war
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There has been a gay rights march in Washington and the president has again promised to repeal “Don’t ask don’t tell” so in keeping with today’s theme it’s back to reality:

Don’t ask don’t tell is enacted into law in 1993 by congress

The Democrats have had control of congress since 2006

The Democratic majority increased significantly in 2008

and now the bottom line:

At any time they wanted the Democrats could introduce and push a revision of the law that establishes Don’t ask don’t tell. Republicans would not be able to stop it. The fact that they refuse to do so indicates that they either don’t believe in the modifying the law or that they believe it will cost them politically. This indicates either dishonesty to their supporters in the Gay community or political cowardice.

There is no other possible explanation if anyone has one I’d be delighted to hear it.

For myself I’m rather indifferent on the matter. I’ve heard opinion from soldiers on both sides of the fence. It would seem to me that they type of person willing to volunteer for the risks of military service is less likely to be disruptive to discipline.

One might say that considering we are fighting now in predominantly Islamic countries that it might be a problem but the same could be said for women in combat.

My primary interest is winning. If it will help us win, then we should do it, if it won’t then we should not. If it makes no difference then I’m indifferent.

I’m not with HRC on issues like Gay Marriage or the Church but I hate to see people used, and these people are not only being used but are letting themselves be used. It’s disgusting.

Update: When you have Me, Robert Stacy McCain and Andrew Sullivan on the same page then something is wrong.

King Charles the Pious says all of us on the right will be disgusted by this, I don’t see how since first of all as a liberal democrat we wouldn’t expect different, what we are disgusted by is his using people and people being used. Perhaps he still thinks Andrew is on the right? Anyway check memorandum to see what people are actually saying.

Cassandra does the job the MSM won’t

Posted: October 7, 2009 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news, war
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and actually puts out the McChrystal stuff in full and in context:

As with the leak of McChrystal’s report, observers would do well to exhibit a bit more skepticism and ask a few more questions, chief among them being “Who benefits from these leaks and ugly insinuations?” Clearly it’s not McChrystal: the media are calling for his head on a platter. He’s being treated every bit as badly as David Petraeus was during the Surge, but for the opposite reason: where Petraeus was called a coward and traitor for not speaking truthiness to the American people, McChrystal is being told he has no business speaking truth in public. The real irony here is that neither man did what he was accused of but the Left attacked these men anyway for failing to support their preferred narrative.

Any source who chooses to spread paranoid, unsubstantiated, third hand rumors about what McChrystal or Obama are rumored to have said when transcripts of the General’s speech and Q&A session are easily available should be dismissed out of hand.

The ratings seem to suggest that this is taking place. That would also explain the FCC’s move. Jeff Jarvis is worried:

And there is the greatest myth embedded within the FTC’s rules: that the government can and should sanitize the internet for our protection. The internet is the world and the world is messy and I don’t want anyone – not the government, not a newspaper editor – to clean it up for me, for I fear what will go out in the garbage: namely, my rights.

What I now truly dread is that the FTC is holding hearings about journalism on Dec. 1 and 2. As Star-Ledger editor Jim Willse (full disclosure: he hired me a few times) said in my Guardian podcast last month (full disclosure: I work for the Guardian): the words, “we’re from the government, we’re here to help,” should be met with trepidation.

Hey nothing to worry about, just because these guys admire Chavez it doesn’t mean we will see stuff like this.

There are times when being wrong…

Posted: October 2, 2009 by datechguy in war
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is wonderful.

Then again logically he is a more valuable commodity alive than dead thus is it important for them to prove life. After all we now know such proof was worth the release of 20 terrorists.

Hey Chuck now that Yon has an interview on hot air…

Posted: September 30, 2009 by datechguy in internet/free speech, opinion/news, war
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…are you going to attack him for “associating” with people who have “racist friends?”

Just asking ya know.

Update: Snark on Charles not withstanding; anything Yon says is worth listening to.

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