Cobol - Re: OT: Military Ranks/Computers : WAS Re: newbie question

Author

Re: OT: Military Ranks/Computers : WAS Re: newbie question

LX-i

2007-04-29, 9:55 pm

James J. Gavan wrote:
> LX-i wrote:
>
> Come on, come on, don't play 'Mr. Innocent' :-). Am I dreaming what I'm
> reading in Canadian papers. Polls in the States put Dubya's popularity
> rating down to 30% last time I looked. Not sure which old 'Eastern'
> bloc country, but Dubya can take heart that the other guy's popularity
> rating was down to 5% !

Right - but you said we didn't have to wait until 2008. According to
our Constitution, you're right - for new foreign policy (well, from new
folks anyway) we have to wait until 2009. Diplomacy is the domain of
the executive branch, not the legislative branch.

And, I find it really strange that Pelosi and company didn't have time
for the President of this country (who offered to meet with them to
discuss foreign policy), and the didn't have time to meet with General
Petraeus, the new US commander in Iraq. However, she *did* have time to
go meet with Bahar As

, the president of Syria (a state sponsor of
terrorism) and deliver a message from the US and Israel that neither
country had authorized her to deliver.

Elections have consequences, true - but a party control change in the
legislative branch doesn't change foreign policy.

And, regarding approval numbers - W's numbers are abysmal - the reason
for that is that on the Democrat side, he could cure cancer and they'd
still hate him for "stealing" the 2000 election. However, that hasn't
kept him from trying to play the middle a lot, to try to appease them.
That leads to high dissatisfaction among Republicans. Combine both
those, and you get what you get.

Those number are interesting, but you can't really make any inferences
from them. Just because someone says they disapprove of the President
(and that's a black and white question - no room for gray) doesn't mean
that they wish they had voted for the opposition party. As many things
as I feel he's rolled over on (Social Security reform, illegal
immigration reform, etc.), I *still* think we're better off than we
would have been under a President Kerry.

> Mind you looking at the tragic young men going through therapy,
> exercising with stumps for legs, or no limbs at all - not sure it's a
> situation I would want to be in. However, there is a military hospital
> in California that specializes in the brain damaged. One young sergeant
> who was interviewed was incredibly articulate and positive. He had one
> ear blown off and brain damage which left his mind absolutely blank
> about childhood memories. Part of therapy was getting him onto a
> bicycle. Then he suggested, and the military supported him
> enthusiastically, that he should get into motorized mountain bike
> riding. The got him the bike. As he said, entering competitions, and
> having to keep a mental log of venues, dates, times, competitors etc.,
> has helped his retentive abilities.
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> So as tragic as the Iraq War might be there are small dramatic positives
> when you look at the wounded to dead ratio.

That depends on how you look at it. I'd much rather come home from war
and spend time with my family for the rest of my life, even if I were in
a wheelchair. Sure, I wouldn't *choose* to spend the rest of my life in
a wheelchair. But, I *chose* to join the military; and, if in the
course of defending the nation, I had a "near-fatal" injury, I'd be very
grateful for the "near" part. :)

> Different from UK where you have an upfront fee/licence. Canada and I
> believe the States is probably a parallel situation. You may/may not pay
> for a cable initial installation fee. Then they put packages together,
> giving you different options and you pay according to the Level. I think
> it's a similar operation with the satellite dishes.

Yep - we paid $30 for an install fee, then get $30 off for 6 months (I
think - my wife does most of that stuff).

--
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"Who is more irrational? A man who believes in a God he doesn't see, or
a man who's offended by a God he doesn't believe in?" - Brad Stine

2007-04-29, 9:55 pm

In article < k_idndX2V7Xbo6jbnZ2dnUVZ_jqdnZ2d@comcast
.com>,
LX-i <lxi0007@netscape.net> wrote:

[snip]

>And, I find it really strange that Pelosi and company didn't have time
>for the President of this country (who offered to meet with them to
>discuss foreign policy), and the didn't have time to meet with General
>Petraeus, the new US commander in Iraq. However, she *did* have time to
>go meet with Bahar As

, the president of Syria (a state sponsor of
>terrorism) and deliver a message from the US and Israel that neither
>country had authorized her to deliver.

I find it a bit... humorous that her visit was trumpeted well in advance,
cleared through all appropriate diplomatic channels, argued pro-and-con
nigh unto the death by pundits, analysts, critics and supporters...

.... and some people are still innocent enough to believe that something
actually *happened* then that was not planned by and agreed to in advance
by all parties involved. Everyone in on the deal was under so much
scrutiny that she couldn't even bring a cake in the shape of a key!

DD

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