Guard Dog

Sestak is out. Never heard of him? Probably why he's out. So... what? 17 now? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/former-pa-congressman-joe-sestak-exits-presidential-race/ar-BBXC296?ocid=spartanntp

These are actual pictures from the Florida Turnpike between Wildwood & Orlando. You may think you live in a weird place. Sometimes I think TN is weird. But friends... until you've lived in the sunshine state you don't know s--t about weird!

It's that time of year again!

Steve Bullock is out of the race. He is the only Jacksonian Democrat that was running. Hell, he's one of the few left in existence. I would have voted for him had he been nominated. https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/dec/2/steve-bullock-democrat-ends-struggling-presidentia/?utm_source=onesignal&utm_campaign=pushnotify&utm_medium=push So the Dems have just one chance to get my vote: Tulsi Gabbard. I'd still vote for her despite some recent misgivings. The rest of them? No chance in hell.

First of all your generalization about Republicans is wrong. There are numerous dirtbags who gravitate to all political parties for reasons. Generally speaking Republican voters are just people who want the government to do some things but not do others. Just like the Democrats want the government to do other things but not some other different things. Second you probably should read a few books about Lincoln, the US civil war, and the years leading up to it before you attempt to comment on it. Because every word you said was wrong.

Majority of surveyed Republicans think Trump is a better president than Lincoln. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/472460-poll-majority-of-republicans-say-trump-better-president-than-lincoln In my own opinion only that isn't a terribly high bar to meet. I don't share the general public's or history's rosy recollection of the Lincoln administration. But I am absolutely not a "ends justify the means" kind of guy.

Watched Captain Marvel. It was alright I guess. Mostly unoriginal and Captain Marvel is as uninteresting as Superman because invincible = boring. But.... Brie Larson in a skin tight suit... THAT was a marvel.

Gabbard? Never say never but I really doubt it. Not only has she said "no" repeatedly a third party bid would do her far more harm than good. There is a hard reality everyone who runs as a third party candidate must face: you are not going to win. The Libertarian candidates understand this. That is why we run candidates like Gary Johnson, Bill Weld, Bob Barr, and Harry Browne. They are all capable and competent politicians but they are also older with their careers behind them rather than before them. I voted for Gary Johnson in 2012 & 2016. The objective of his candidacy was not to make him President. The objective was to get 5% of the popular vote and achieve Major Party status for the LP. Ditto with Bob Barr in 2008 although I voted for McCain that year. These guys knew what they were doing. In modern US politics you have to play a "long game" to get on the debate stage. It is virtually impossible to do now what Perot did in '92. Gabbard is 37 years old with a career in front of her. She has staked out some turf in the Democrat party no one else is standing on. Her attacks on the DNC as an institution have made her unpopular right now, but that can change in one election cycle. She is to the right of Sanders and the left of the DNC. She is the only candidate talking about non-interventionism which will make her popular with the right. She is a candidate with a real shot at future success if she is careful. Particularly if a "safe" candidate like Biden goes up there and loses to Trump. But also if a crazy left winger goes out there and loses to Trump. But if she bolts to the Green Party, it's over. The Green Party in the US is a hot mess. They have never had 50 state ballot access for one of their candidates. In 2016 Jill Stein was only on the ballot in 45 states. Which was the most ever for a Green candidate. As of today the 2020 Green Candidate is only on the ballot in 21 states. Still some time to improve that but it is running out quickly. Running as a Green right now is Quixotic. Just to contrast the LP has a state party in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico & Guam. The LP candidate will be on the ballot in all 50 states and has been every year since 1992. One caveat though, over the years since '92 the LP has not existed in every state so the candidate was on the ballot as a independent. But now we are fielding a state party and candidates in all 50. Just contrast the two organizations, LP & GP. The LP is a lot more organized with better resources and still a Presidential run is hopeless if your goal is to actually be elected. But if you are willing to go out and further the future gains of the party that is attainable. But even to come to the LP would be a bad move for Gabbard. If she sticks to her guns, stays in the Democrat Party, and stands on the ground she has staked out she actually COULD become President someday. Just not next year likely.

Not Jill Stein is it? She's no secret and wasn't much of a weapon. Her wrapper is a llittle loose.

So I wonder how many Thanksgiving dinners were ruined by politics last night? https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/nov/27/donald-trump-supporters-brace-thanksgiving-dinner-/ Wasn't going to happen where I was. I can guarantee you I was the only non-Trump supporter in the room. In fact I was probably the most politically liberal one in the room by a long way.

I'm taking Sunny & Bella with me to the VFW in a little while. We'll have our Thanksgiving there. Deep fried turkey, smoked ham, lots of sides and I'm bringing desserts. I ordered a large sweet potato pie, pecan pie, apple pie, and a pound cake from the Kroger Bakery. We are celebrating together with the American Legion and Marine Corps League this year so it should be a pretty good turn out. Afterwards I expect cigars, expensive whiskey and football long into the evening. I only wish Tommy were here.

Netflix cancels MST3K! https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/27/entertainment/netflix-mystery-science-theater-3000/index.html

I haven't read any on that list yet. But these have been added to my to-do list:

The Secretary of the Navy is not a political position despite being a political appointee. If the President and his team are worth their salt the job usually goes to a career bureaucrat with the experience and ability to manage a unique and complex organization. Preferably someone with experience in the Naval Service like Spencer. People in positions like that generally steer clear of the politics and if they say a thing is so I take that at face value if it sounds right. Where the "no actors but bad actors" comes in is when two elected officials from differing politics are telling me two different things. More and more I am coming to think the very act of wanting political power is a disqualification for having it. Too often people ask candidate what they are going to do in office and not WHY they want that office. WHY did Donald Trump want to be President? Not that crap about "making America great". That is a slogan not a reason. Why does Joe Biden want it? Of all the people running there are only two candidates I can say why they are running and what they want. Sanders whose ideology drives him to run. And Gabbard whose military experience drives her to run. That does not make either a good candidate but at least they are transparent about what they want. The rest... don't know. A combination of ego and want of power and neither is a good thing. We have a bellyful of that right now.

In the context of just the Gallagher case posing with the corpse c\was what they call a "lesser included offence" Something prosecutors do in the event they can't/don't make the case for the bigger charges. This way they get him on something. It's probable the Court Martial would have liked to convict him on the bigger charges but could not in good conscience do so because of the problems with changes in testimony and other facts that raised credibility problems with the witnesses. It was not a clean case. Except for that one charge. Now as to why posing with a corpse in that way is bad, behavior like that gives the enemy a propaganda opportunity. It gives them a picture to show their people what barbarians they are fighting. One thing the US Military drills into all ranks from boot camp/basic all the way to OCS and from Private/Seaman/Airman all the way to General/Admiral is bearing and professionalism. Be composed, professional, and deliberate in all things you do. Even in combat. Acts of cruelty, barbarity, or even glorification of violence like this are what the Naval Service calls "Conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline".

IF everything is true he is a real POS. But there are a lot of conflicting stories. Plus the US Military is not at all hesitant to throw one of it's people under the bus over the mere appearance of wrong doing. I saw that happen with my own eyes. So I can't say what Gallagher did or did not do insofar as shooting civilians. His own people turned him in but a court martial did not convict. Posing for pics with a corpse is a weapons grade stupid thing to do because it give propaganda material to the enemy. Losing a rank is usually the least of a court martial conviction so IMO he was lucky that was all that happened. As for losing his Trident pin, who is or s not a SEaL is entirely the prerogative of the commander of the SEaLs. They can kick anyone out of any reason or none. In this case at least there was a good reason. So Trump stepped on a lot of toes here. And yes he is within his power to do so it would have been wiser if he hadn't. The worst part is you are right on target about this action appealing to a certain voter base. In fact if everything Gallagher did were proven true I'm afraid most of them would be cool with it.

Conflicting stories about Spencer coming out. One account has him resigning because Trump meddled in the Gallagher mess. The other has him being fired by Esper for going around him to work out a deal on Gallagher with the President. The letter makes it sound like neither are true but the former is closer to the truth. As the CiC the President has the absolute prerogative to intervene as he did. But just because you CAN do something does not mean it's a good idea to do it. The two takeaways from this whole sorry affair is this: Spencer knows how to write a letter with some snark in it while still looking respectful. A skill I can appreciate! The other is Trump = Chaos.

Biden has been a "public servant" his entire career. Since 1960 he has been in either the House, Senate, or White House. So the biggest paycheck he has ever received was $228,000 pet year while he was Vice President. But according to Forbes he is a multi-millionaire with two luxury houses in Delaware and one in DC. His net worth is between $10M & $11M. More than a lifetime on the public dole can account for. I am 100% certain there is plenty of dirt to find. Haven't you ever wondered why Hunter Biden was on the board of directors of a foreign energy company while his father was Vice President? He had no business being there especially for that salary. Haven't you ever wondered just what the Ukrainians were actually buying? Of course none of that makes what Trump did OK. But that's the point I'm always trying to make. There are no "good guys". There are nothing but villains on your ballot. No angels in hell.

Things are getting surreal in Sodom-on-the-Potomac. Giuliani says is "they" "suicide" him or he disappears all the documents are coming out. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/giuliani-says-biden-documents-to-be-released-if-i-disappear/ar-BBXewkq?ocid=spartandhp https://dailycaller.com/2019/11/23/rudy-giuliani-fox-news-ed-henry/ Hmmm seems to me if you had all this good stuff release it right away and then there is no need to "suicide" you. Except for revenge I guess. There is always that.

Hey Ivanka Trump. Before you quote a book it's probably a good idea to actually READ it first! https://www.newsweek.com/ivanka-trump-accused-hypocrisy-after-tweeting-fake-quote-impeachment-1473476 BTW "Democracy in America" is a great book that should be read by every American. It's the perspective of a foreigner on the US after it's founding. There is a dog eared copy of it on the bookshelf behind me right now.

Working on patent for an idea for a solar powered clothes dryer. It is essentially an aluminum frame box with opaque 8mm polycarbonate panels making up the walls and top. Something to pass heat but mitgate UV. The clothes are laid on steel rack a few inches over a tar coated aluminum, bottom. The tar is to absorb and radiate heat so there is thermal transmission both up and down. The idea is seal the unit and use an installed hand plunger to draw all the air out of the unit once the clothes are placed inside. As the solar heating builds up the water in the clothes evaporates. The evaporation elevates the pressure in the unit (which we depressurized before starting). Convection forces the water vapor (cooler) air to the bottom of the unit. At the lowest point the unit will have a spring loaded pressure relief that will open when the internal pressure builds up and vents the moisture laden air from the bottom of the unit. I think the theory is sound.

What does make a good juror? I am just curious. Most of them don't want to be there so I'd imagine spotting one that does and figuring out their angle would be high on the list of things to do in voire dire. But generally speaking, what are they looking for?

New drinking game.... every time a talking head says "quid pro quo" take a shot

Don't get selected! I've found that erratic behavior usually does the trick. Conversations with invisible friends never fails.