Monthly Archives: January 2018

A USNI News article on the charging the the McCain and Fitzgerald commanders noted that three Fitzgerald junior officers were charged, but contained the mention:

A chief petty officer also faces a dereliction of duty charge that has already been preferred related to the McCain incident.

That’s news to me. I again searched the report and found no relevant mention of “chief”. The main mentions of a”chief” were in the context of post-collision rescue/damage control efforts. I wondered whether that related to post-collision acts.

Thus, perhaps the chief either did something so significant or clearly criminal that they charged him before charging the CO or something so unrelated to the cause of the incident that they charged him as the result of a separate, less detailed investigation.

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Who’s to say Immigration is bad?  I certainly approve of immigration.  My paternal grandfather immigrated from (ahem) Norway in 1929, legally.  He most certainly assimilated.  He married an earlier immigrant, a woman of English and Algonquin descent.  He insisted that his children speak flawless English, and would clout my father on the head if his surreptitiously studied Norwegian crept into his native English.  This drove a love of precision in the use of our magnificent language through the generations right down to this day.  My two sisters and I enjoy sharpening up on each other whenever we get together.  My maternal great-great-grandfather immigrated … Continue reading →

As I have observe the scene over the decades, I have a few key points I remind my self of regularly:

1. A Political Party is a Machine to Win Elections for a group of members. When people confuse that with ideology, things go awry.  Politicians are specialists in winning elections and then operating government. Like Doctors, or Plumbers. To expect more is to live miserably.

Parties become coherent and dynamic when either of two things happen.
1. A Charismatic Leader Emerges who can deliver votes
2. Donors have a unified front to deliver money to achieve focused goals.

It is fortunate that item one and two cannot co-exist in the same time and space.

Successful Parties sacrifice ideology to results when necessary.

After a Charismatic … Continue reading →

Because swine like this guy are still welcome in the Party as prominent members:

http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/455311/mike-murphy-jamie-weinstein-show

Pull quote:

“The old smoke-filled rooms were mostly about how do we win and move the ball forward. They were professional politicians, which is the art of getting policy victories for a point of view by organizing and persuading,” he argued. “People say, ‘Oh, it’s anti-democratic,’” he continued. “No, that’s what the general election is for. I like the idea of party elites making rational choices in the primary.”

It’s that time of the week again, when we connect for another town hall meeting in the Village of the Darned.  We will try to start off @ 730PM unless BDB posts an earlier time.

Jam a topic in the comments below and let people read up if you like.

If the software tells you that you’re the only caller, don’t you believe it!  Press on with the access code and you’ll probably find us in there!

US: 515-604-9908

Access Code: [see chat in “BDB Chat” tab above]

Select International Local Dial-in Numbers

Japan +81 3-5050-5104
Switzerland +41 43 550 70 62
United Kingdom +44 330 998 1256

If you need a different number (calling from Uzbekistan, say), let us know in the BDB Chat.

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I will freely admit I was not a big fan of Trump in the election but voted for him because the concept of Hillary was just too overwhelming. Not that my vote made any difference – I live in Illinois, where corruption was reborn from the old Tamney Hall.

Still, I have to say, much has changed over this last year, mostly for the good. But not all.

– I note the republicans are talking about saving DACA, an abomination that needs to be gotten rid of like a cancer that it is.

– I note the wall as campaigned about is not going to happen. Instead some farce “over 10 years” is being proposed, and we all know what that means. It ain’t gonna happen.

… Continue reading →

Open your blue books and write the non verbal language conveyed here.

You have 48 seconds.

A story passed on  from an excavator over coffee next to the backhoe.

“Two guys I know were planning some easy pickings for thefts at a show coming up at the convention center in Portland.”

I nodded and took another hit of the hot black Dunkin Donuts nectar.

“An older family member told them it might be a bad idea.”

I am always glad to hear responsible adults still exist.

“Turns out it is the annual gun and knife show.”

I laugh out loud.