Posts Tagged ‘history’

Let’s play what if Today’s Fitchburg City Counsel served…

Posted: February 17, 2010 by datechguy in local stuff, opinion/news
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…On April 18, 1775

President Hay: The counsel will come to order, we have several items to deal with including the bond issue concerning the water wheel for the public mill on the Nashua so I’m hoping that we can get through the public comment on the petitions concerning the events of this morning that Mr. Dawes has brought up quickly. First let us salute the flag:

(Crowd faces the Union Jack and sings “God save the King”)

President Hay: Let us resume: It is now time for public comment any who wish to speak to a pending resolution may do so.

Farmer John: Hello My name is John Conroy, I have a farm at the top of the hill and I’d like to speak about the need to send the militta to help fight the Royal Troops

Counselor Conry: Point of order Mr. President. The petition doesn’t mention anything about Royal Troops or fighting, it simply states request that we provide “aid” to the citizens of the towns of Lexington and Concord.

President Hay: I’d like to give the citizen a little leeway since he and the others have left their farm on such a muddy day but I’ll will remind you Mr. Conroy that the resolution does not mention fighting or Royal Troops so please avoid such terms.

Farmer John: Thank you, Mr. President, I would like to speak to the history of the actions of the crown, The Stamp Act the Tea act, the closing of the port of Boston and the arrival of the Lobersterbacks…

Counselor Conry: Point of order Mr. President these are not on the agenda. Please I request that you keep the witnesses arguments germane, and we should not be using the word “Lobsterbacks” either.

Counselor Kaddy: Mr. President I would like to point out that the situation is highly emotional and should be given time to be considered, after all the rider only arrived at the tavern this afternoon:

Tax Collector Dominic: I would like to know where the mayor is tonight when we are discussing this.

President Hay: Tax collector you are out of order, Counselor Reynolds..

Reynolds: Mr. President we all know the situation, it has been building the Boston Massacre 5 years ago…

Counselor Solomito: Point of order Mr. President I would like to hear the report of the City Solicitor

Solicitor Ciota: Gentlemen if you all observe the parchment in front of you, you can clearly see the crown rulings concerning such actions dating back to the Guy Fawkes, You will also note the penalties involved when Boston did similar things. We would be risking the same penalties or worse if we do the same as the case law clearly shows.

Counselor Kaddy: Mr President I think we are rushing these things much too fast, I think the 2nd resolution stating that we deplore the use of Royal Troops against the citizens of Concord should be studied for at least two weeks before we continue.

Counselor Tran: Mr. President my resolution is not legally binding and doesn’t mention the crown.

Solicitor Ciota: I would like to point out that even if the resolution to dispatch Captain Ebeneezer Bridge does not pass the second resolution would be prima facie evidence that we illegally supported the actions against the crown.

Counselor Reynolds: Patriots are dying Mr. President

Counselor Conry: I am sick of hearing people complain with handbills at Kimball’s store about me. Everyone here knows I’m personally opposed to Taxation without representation but I don’t want to bring our Town to further financial risk.

Counselor Boisvert: Mr. President couldn’t we consider Counselor Tran’s resolution after the vote on dispatching the milita?

President Hay: I’m sorry counselor Boisvert, the order of the vote has been decided.

Counselor DiNatle: Mr President I initially supported these proposals but with the advice of the city solicitor and the case law of nearly 100 years I’m convinced we will get in trouble if we do this.

Counselor Joseph: Let me quote the parchment of the solicitor: “Treasonable on its face.”

Counselor Reynolds: Gentlemen I beseech you to think carefully, the local miniute men will still be drilling at Kimball’s store, this is something we can’t ignore, the Royal Troops:

Counselor Conry: Don’t say Royal Troops!

Counselor Reynolds: I’m not afraid to say Royal Troops.

President Hay: Gentlemen the question has been called, the vote will take place now.

(Counsel votes 10-1 against dispatching the militia and 7-4 against deploring the actions of the crown)

Counselor Reynolds: Gentlemen history will not forgive us for this.

Counselor Conry: What did you think they’d be building a monument to you and Captain Bridge by the river or something?

Good news from the war front:

Posted: February 16, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, war
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Looks like a big fish has been landed:

The Taliban’s top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces, according to American government officials.

The administration is allowed to take credit here and we should not hesitate to approve when they either do something right or get out of the way to let our agencies do it. The war is an American problem not a republican or democratic problem.

Then again when the first words out of the mouth of some is this:

Apparently Baradar has been in custody since last week and is being interrogated by both the Paks and us. (This is why the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Group exists.) The ultimate point of fighting the Taliban is to compel them to give up fighting and accept some version of a post-Taliban order in Afghanistan. Torturing Baradar — which the Pakistanis have been known to do — is counterproductive to that effort. If we treat the guy respectfully, in a demonstrated way, it might spur a reconsideration of Taliban goals. I am not counting any chickens, but any hope of a game-changing possibility will be foreclosed upon if we or our allies torture Baradar. Let’s be smart — and true to Obama’s stated principles/executive order. If there was any doubt whatsoever, the Abdulmutallab case proved we don’t need to torture to get good intelligence. emphasis mine

What is he a baby seal? Shall we just make up signs that say “Save the Terrorists?” When the very first words out of some people’s mouths are this nonsense you wonder what world they live in.

Some people just shouldn’t be taken seriously.

If I am George Soros

Posted: February 15, 2010 by datechguy in Uncategorized
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I’d be financing 3rd party Tea Party candidates in every congressional race I can.

If you think Democrats are NOT thinking of doing this you’d better think again. Historically the best features and issues of 3rd parties are adopted by one of the major parties and they tend to be folded in, otherwise you are going to get a series of plurality elections.

Morning Joe is also talking about this as an advantage for Harry Reid.

Remember Bill Clinton never won 50% of the popular vote in either of his elections. I’m with Glenn Reynolds on this one:

I think it’s smarter for Tea Party activists to target primary races, rather than starting their own party as seems to be happening in Nevada. Two words: “Ross Perot.” Two more: “Ralph Nader.”

I would actually run candidates in both democratic and Republican primaries. There is no reason why a person who is fiscally conservative can not be liberal in social issues. Cast a wide net and work together when you can.

A little perspective people

Posted: February 15, 2010 by datechguy in baseball, internet/free speech, opinion/news
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There has been a bit of a fuss about Eric Erickson and his decision to keep out birthers and truthers from Red State.

I have already given my opinion on both subjects, but in terms of Red State here are my thoughts:

1. Everybody has a right to their opinion

2. Everybody has the right to try to propagate that opinion as best they can.

3. That doesn’t include a right to post at RedState.

Just over 16 months ago I signed up for a free blog at wordpress and began blogging here. How successful that blogging has been was dramatically illustrated recently. There is nothing to stop anyone with internet access from starting their own blog and making their case to a world wide audience. If your arguments are skillful then others who agree will link and eventually notice will be given outside your circle.

But to expect Erickson to give you a platform against his will? Sounds a lot like an entitlement to me, not very conservative.

If your argument is good it can stand up under fire, otherwise you are like the kid in the old Ty Cobb story.

You don’t know the story? It’s from the 1985 edition of the Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract (p.113) and goes like this:

A small town pitcher 6′ 4″ says he can strike out Cobb on three pitches anytime and writes Cobb’s manager saying it only will cost him $1.80 train fare to find out. Jennings sends the cash and after warming up then send out Cobb. As James tells the story:

Cobb hit his first pitch against the right field wall. His second pitch went over the right field wall. The third pitch went over the center field wall. Cobb was thinking they ought to keep this guy around to help him get in a grove.

“Well,” said Jennings. “What have you got to say?”

The pitcher stared in hard at the batter’s box. “You know,” he said, “I don’t believe that’s Ty Cobb in there.”

For suggesting reading I would name Eject Eject Eject’s famous post on conspiracy theories: Seeing the unseen. Give it a read, think about it and then make your choice as you will and remember this, there is no shame in being wrong, everyone is wrong about some things.

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