VETERANS: Memorial Day?

Monday, May 30, 2011

http://www.keywestlou.com/2011/05/weather-comment-again-absolutely.html

*** begin quote ***

A United States submarine lost during World War II was discovered this week. Ten miles off Key West in 600 feet of water. It was the USS R-12. The submarine was of World War I vintage still in use during World War II. It went down on July 12, 1943. Sank in 15 minutes. Forty two lives lost.

*** end quote ***

Memorial Day is, or at least was, supposed to be about vets who didn’t come home.

Instead it’s become a time for sales, barbecues, and vacations. Rowdy weekends at the shore for kids.

An excuse for chicken hawk politicians to parade their “patriotism”. Easy to make speeches when it’s not your ass being shot at. Let’s send the politicians to the front for the duration of every war they start. No more sending other people’s kids. You want a war, you lead it.

Like that’s ever going to happen.

When did generals stop leading form the front?

Here’s a story of 42 men in WW2. 66 years later.

That’s what Memorial Day is supposed to be about.

On Tuesday, contact your congress critter, ask them what they did on Memorial Day and when are we bringing all the youngsters home from all the wars we are fighting. Tell him that you’ll remember that answer in November.

I blame the women for all this war. Yup, ever since they were given the vote, they haven’t been using it wisely. That’s why we got Prohibition and Organized Crime. And, why don’t we have a representative number of women in Congress?

And, my best argument.

“Yes, when we get out of here. We’re going to have to fix that. You know we control something that can get it done. Not the ballot box, but the other box. (A giant sucking sound as pure Miss Marie used that very rude idiom.) We can end war.” — character “Marie” being anti-war in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 262

And, a little later down the page, more bluntly:

“Yes, Miss Marie. Thank you, Miss Marie. You’re my hero.” “Isn’t it heroine?” “No, Miss Marie, in our new world run by women, there will be no sex discrimination. We control the box.” With no hint of self- consciousness or shame. “Dear, that’s not a nice way to say it. And, box is very crude. I’m sorry I used it but I was … incensed that war should happen. Maybe you could say ‘we control the future generations’?” “OK, but those balls will be blue before I let my man start another war.” Knowing she’d done all she could, Marie said, “When this is all over, we should talk my dear. We should really talk. Now away with you. Carefully mind you.” — character “Abigail” declares peace to character “Marie” being anti-war in CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 262

Let’s stop this nonsense before next Memorial Day!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | VETERANS | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: The first item first column on Drudge says it all

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The first item first column on Drudge says it all.

*** begin quote ***

MARCH 19, 2011

OBAMA: ‘Today we are part of a broad coalition. We are answering the calls of a threatened people. And we are acting in the interests of the United States and the world’…

MARCH 19, 2003

BUSH: ‘American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger’…

*** end quote ***

Donna Nobis Pacem!

Would anyone like to go back to the last Presidential campaign? I said here and vocally that the only truly “Peace” candidate was Ron Paul. Everyone told me that BHO44 was that “Peace” candidate.

“barbara streisand”

I told you so. And, it gives me no pleasure to say that. If I was smarter, I would have been more persuasive. But, when I say there is no difference between the R’s and the D’s, everyone tells me there’s a difference. Look at “today’s conservatives” and “today’s liberals”?

Where do we get the moral authority, let alone the Constitutional authority, to wage war on Libya?

IMHO from a moral, strategic, and tactical basis, this is an outrageous disaster.

So what are you going to do about it?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Ranting, Ron Paul, VETERANS | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: BHO44 does something I agree with

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/03/01/obama-flag-to-half-staff-for-army-corporal-frank-buckles-world-war-i-veteran/

OBAMA: Flag to Half Staff for Army Corporal Frank Buckles, World War I Veteran
March 1, 2011 posted by Veterans Today

*** begin quote ***

As a mark of respect for the memory of Army Corporal Frank W. Buckles, the last surviving American veteran of World War I, and in remembrance of the generation of American veterans of World War I, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that, on the day of his interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day.

*** end quote ***

Here’s one where there is no disagreement.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Political, VETERANS | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: PTSD is pushed under the table

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The long road home
Boston Globe
by Bob Kinder

“Men and women, having seen years of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, are killing themselves in record numbers. Many are divorcing. Some are addicted. Scores are angry and violent, unable to process their wartime experiences. Yet, routinely, these same brave veterans are kicked out of the service and denied benefits or hope of getting well. The problem isn’t new. … In 2007, under intense congressional pressure to improve mental-health care for combat veterans, the Department of Defense acknowledged it was unfairly discharging combat troops by erroneously claiming a service member had a personality disorder rather than post-traumatic stress disorder.” (11/11/10)

http://tinyurl.com/26ty47s

# – # – #

Interesting. How does that jibe with the nation’s “care”?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | Ranting, VETERANS | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

VETERANS: “a grateful nation remembers”; I think not!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

201011070809.jpg

“A grateful nation remembers”

You have to be kidding me. Remembers? No one even knows it’s Veteran’s Day or Armistice Day. Other than store “sales”, “We, The People” don’t remember. If we did, we wouldn’t permit young men and women to put their lives at risk for anything but the most well-thoughtout urgent national interest. And, when they come home broken or in a box, we’d give them the respect they deserve.

I’ll believe that “a grateful nation remembers” when:

• Military funerals are attended by the President or Vice-President, the Senators of that Vet’s State, their Congressman, the Governor, their state reps, their county reps, and their municipal reps. At least then, these “decision makers” would get the fullest sense of the cost of these escapades.

• When our troops are brought home from the 160+ countries. Why are we still in on the DMZ in South Korea and German? Didn’t those wars end long ago? Time for a new foreign policy and new Department of Defense.

• When our broken vets are fixed as best we can in a dignified humane fashion. “We, The People”, through the politicians we elected made this happen. We have to step up to our responsibility. We have failed. The politicians and bureaucrats are to blame. And we have to change the system.

• When we have a “war tax” to ensure that every American regardless of income level or station in life is overtly paying for these foreign excursions. Remember the Spanish American War Tax on every cell phone. Let’s bring it back! (I don’t advocate taxes.) But this will remind everyone every month that we have wars going on and they need an “exit strategy”!

Then, I’ll believe that “a grateful nation remembers”!

Donna Nobis Pacem!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | VETERANS | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

TINFOILHAT: Getting rich off the dead and maimed

Sunday, August 1, 2010

http://dumpdc.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/wikileaks/

Wikileaks
Who’s Hiding What and Why
by Fred Reed

*** begin quote ***

If you don’t think that contracts—money—have a great deal to do with wars, reflect that all those hundreds of billions of dollars end up in pockets, and those pockets do not belong to soldiers. Makers of body armor, boots, ammunition, helicopters, on and on, are rolling in gravy. All this half-watched loot flows in cataracts at the price of at most sixty dead American kids a month (and lots of brain-damaged droolers, but what the hey). A bargain. Afghans don’t count.

*** end quote ***

Who’s getting rich off the AfPak war?

Is this another case of privatizing the profits and socializing the losses?

Time to change policy. And if, like baseball, we can’t change the policy, change the head coach!

In this case, ALL incumbents should be shown the door. While the new politicians may be worse than the current, we should just keep the revolving door spinning. Could we do any worse?

How about we pick folks from the unemployment office? At least, then they will have a job. And, when they select their staff, they have to take folks from that unemployment office. It may increase costs a little, but it may cut down on the graft and theft.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | ADMINISTRIVIA | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVERNACIDE: Gooferment has to be charged with these due to inattention to detail

Sunday, July 18, 2010

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_upshot/20100716/us_yblog_upshot/record-number-of-u-s-soldiers-commited-suicide-last-month

Fri Jul 16, 11:34 am ET
Army suicides hit record number in June
By Liz Goodwin

*** begin quote ***

Thirty-two soldiers took their own lives last month, the most Army suicides in a single month since the Vietnam era. Eleven of the soldiers were not on active duty. Of the 21 who were, seven were serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Department of Defense said.

*** end quote ***

This is a terrible finding. I can guess at what maybe the cause: PTSD, financial problems, marital problems, “sandbox rage”, or even just the trauma of a buddy getting killed, maimed, or injured. Whatever the reason, a nation, if it was truly grateful for these people’s service, then there would be a Herculean effort in finding the cause and dealing with it.

I suspect that other than a few dedicated individuals in the Gooferment, this would like to be forgotten. I’d expect the VFW, AmLegion, AmVets, and the DAV to be leading the charge.

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | GOVERNACIDE | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVEROTRAGEOUS: How do We, The People treat our vets

Thursday, July 8, 2010

http://www.sturgisjournal.com/opinions/columnists/x909196607/Bruce-Coulter-VA-acts-fast-when-it-feels-the-need

VA acts fast when it feels the need
By Bruce Coulter
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jul 07, 2010 @ 11:47 AM

*** begin quote ***

“Currently, the VA considers any reimbursement that compensates a veteran for his or her expenses due to accidents, theft or loss as income. Only reimbursements of expenses related to casualty loss are currently exempted from determination of income,” he wrote.

Under current law, if a veteran is injured in an accident or victimized by a theft and receives compensation to cover medical expenses, replacement cost of the items stolen, or for pain and suffering, he or she is subject to losing their pension.

“This means that the law effectively punishes veterans when they suffer from such an accident or theft,” Hastings said.

Despite the efforts of the veteran and Hastings, the VA has refused to reinstate the veteran’s pension.

To prevent a repeat of the VA’s idiocy (my words, not the congressman’s), Hastings introduced The Pension Protection Act of 2010, H.R. 4541 on Jan. 27. The bill would prohibit the VA from counting casualty windfall payments as income for the purposes of determining eligibility for the non-service connected pension benefit.

*** end quote ***

Gooferment!

Still haven’t heard anyone name a Gooferment that works (i.e., effectively accomplishes its mission, efficiently use the resources given it to accomplish an outstanding result, and cost-effectively at a cost that the folks can afford). We’ll leave aside the morality of stealing people’s wealth to do stuff that they didn’t agree to fund, don’t agree with, or don’t want to have anything to do with. Some “Land of the Free”. Free as long as you do what the plantation owners in the District of Corruption want you to do.

Argh!

Regardless about how you feel about any of the wars, these vets believed our sacred pledge. And, this is how we allow it to be redeemed in our name?

Argh squared!!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | GOVEROTRAGEOUS, VETERANS | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

LIBERTY: The USA has been overthrown; by professional politicians and bureaucrats

Thursday, June 24, 2010

http://www.keywestlou.com/2010/06/i-slept-late.html

My Life in Key West
Thursday, June 24, 2010
I slept late.

*** begin quote ***

President Obama did the right thing yesterday in the General saga. He was correct to replace McCrystal. The chain of command has to be followed. Civilian control of the military has to be respected.

I dislike a professional army. And we have one. There is always the danger of a military take over. Trust my concern. That is how revolutions occur in many countries. And with all the crazy factions out there today, it is a possibility.

I have spoken of this concern on the radio show and in this blog in the past. Just beware. Ever cautious.

The solution to the possible danger is simple. Return to the draft. Or perhaps one or two years of compulsory service starting at 18. If such occurred, our military would be less a possible danger to democracy. It would also result in less wars. Politicians would be less inclined to get us involved if their contstituent’s children would definitely have to serve.

*** end quote ***

>I dislike a professional army. And we have one.

Interesting that the Dead Old White Guys felt the same way. The Army was supposed to be disbanded after two years. And yet we have one? Navy was OK Constitutionally.

AND, don’t over look what the Dead Old White Guys may have found inconceivable. FBI, DEA, and all such bureaucrats with guns. Do not forget the KGB! Err, I mean Homeland Security and the TSA.

We should be afraid. Very afraid. You’d have thought that Obama coming form the Left side of the aisle, the side supposedly for Civil Liberties, would have dismantled some of these “Bush” or right wing intrusions. But, NO! Demonstrating that both sides of the aisle (supposedly separate and distinct “hate each other” political parties) merely want to take power over others. They are all alike: reward their friends, punish their enemies, and feather their own nests.

>There is always the danger of a military take over.

I’d suggest that we have been “taken over”. Not by the military, but by a class of professional politicians. They don’t follow the Constitution. (Lysander Spooner was right!) And, they do what they want and loot the public treasury at will. (If you think not, explain the so called “health care” vote. Most don’t want it. It wasn’t about “health”, “health care”, or even “health care insurance”. It WAS about seizing the power to control people by restricting their “heath care”. Just like any totalitarian.) No we need a “French Revolution” where these new aristocrats are removed from power.

>Just beware. Ever cautious.

I think the time for “awareness” is long over. If we are to have ANY hope of liberty, the Tea Parties must succeed in turning Congress into a revolving door. One term and your gone. Reduce the size of gooferment by a half or two thirds. Renege on the debt; end the Fed; and return to honest money. Stop the drug war and empty the prisons of non-violent offenders.

>The solution to the possible danger is simple. Return to the draft.

Oh, how could you advocate a return to slavery? Have you forgotten the lessons of the VietNam war? Remember Bush in the National Guard? Sure, the elite’s children will never go to war. And, like anyone cared about killing their constituents’ kids!

> Or perhaps one or two years of compulsory service starting at 18.

Slavery! My personal bias is that only combat vets should vote. Like Heinlein wrote. http://tinyurl.com/p4n8e

“Interestingly, Heinlein also received some complaints about the lack of conscription in Starship Troopers (the military draft was the law in the United States when he wrote the novel).[50] Heinlein was always vehemently opposed to the idea of conscription (calling conscripts “slave soldiers” and arguing that a nation which was not able to find volunteers to fight for it did not deserve to endure).’

Or how about this?

“No man or group of men—including any group of men calling themselves “the government”—is morally entitled to initiate (that is, to start) the use of physical force, the threat of force, or any substitute for force (such as fraud) against any other man or group of men.” The Market for Liberty” Linda & Morris Tannehill 1970

May I suggest a short less than ten minute video? “An Animated Introduction to the Philosophy of Liberty” http://www.isil.org/resources/introduction.swf

It is a simple yet intelligent introduction to libertarian ideas.

Perhaps, it might change your thinking?

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | LIBERTY | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

GOVERNACIDE: Only vets should vote

Monday, May 31, 2010

201005282346.jpg

Today, I think and pray for all the dead — vets, non-vets, the “draft dodgers”, and those that have had their lives ruined by wars throughout our history.

I’m reminded of Washington’s “entangling alliances”. I think of Heinlein’s “Only vets should vote” and decide when to send troops in harm’s way. I think of all the venial politicians and some of the larger mass murders, some of whom were Presidents; they have led us astray.

But mostly I pray for all the lost potential.

And, of course, for my fellow vets, for the boys and girls in the field, and for the “dim bulb” politicians and bureaucrats who can’t seem to steer us to peace.

Signed, a USAF vet 70-73, who defended Maryland to the best of his meager abilities!

# # # # #

Leave a Comment » | GOVERNACIDE, VETERANS | Tagged: | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

« Previous Entries
Next Entries »