Carmichael's Position

Poor Choice of Words...

Ok, I'm already a bit creeped out by the following article.  Glad they busted the dude, and I'm glad he's going to jail for awhile, looks like 50 years.  And no! It's not because the Air Force Captain in question is gay! Anyone convicted of raping another individual needs to serve time!  It is an evil vial crime!

Anyway... I was amazed to read the quote offered up by the military prosecutor after Capt. Devery L. Taylor was found guilty of raping four men and attempting to rape two others.

From the Navy Times and the AP: Note:  I publish this in it's entirety and provide the screen capture as proof because the article has subsequently been changed , with this quote and many other deleted.  New article here [Link]

Officer found guilty of raping four men

 

The Associated Press

Posted : Wednesday Feb 28, 2007 5:15:48 EST

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — An Air Force officer was found guilty Tuesday of raping four men and attempting to rape two others.

The nine-member military jury deliberated for about seven hours in Capt. Devery L. Taylor’s court-martial. Taylor showed no reaction when the jury of seven male and two female military officers handed down the verdict.

Sentencing was scheduled to begin Wednesday. Taylor faces up to six life terms — one for each victim.

Military prosecutors described Taylor, 38, as a serial rapist who met men in bars, spiked their drinks with the “date-rape drug” gamma-hydroxybutyrate, or GHB, and kidnapped them.

“I am pleased. I am emotional, but I am very, very pleased,” said Maj. Kathleen Reder, the military prosecutor. Reder praised the six victims who testified during the week-long trial.

“These men can sit up a little a little straighter now, I am proud of them,” she said.

Taylor’s civilian defense attorney, Martin Regan, declined comment pending the sentencing phase of the court-martial.

Regan had argued that each of the men willingly had sex with his client. Taylor testified that he had consensual sex with five of the men and that the sixth, who is openly gay, raped him.

Regan said his client’s only crime was being gay in the military and violating the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which bans people who are openly homosexual from serving in the armed forces.

Four of Taylor’s alleged victims were in the military when they met Taylor and Regan said they lied to protect their military careers, while a fifth wanted to join the Navy and feared being identified as gay, he said.

Damn!  "These men can sit up a little straighter now!????"  Are you kidding me?  No wonder they changed the article! 

Anyone Notice Something Different About this Year's USAF Thunderbirds?

Hmmm... something is new... different... refreshing somehow... can't quite put my finger on it though!  When I figure it out, I'll let you know. 

Anyway here's your United States Air Force Thunderbirds 2007!

Mexico is Ticked at the US for Border Trespassing

From the BBC

Mexico's Congress has condemned what it says is a border violation by US workers building a controversial barrier between the two countries.

Legislators say workers and equipment building a section of the barrier have gone 10 metres (yards) into Mexico.

Hmmm... Yeah... That stands to reason, because God knows our workers stayed on the Mexican side of the border, got jobs, had kids leveraging Mexico's universal health care care laws that insure that no one is turned away from hospitals, and enjoyed the civil Mexican laws that under NO circumstances if the police authorities detain an Illegal American, can they ask if they are in the country legally!  Good thing for those compassionate Mexicans.

No, Actually I fully agree that Mexico has every right to file a formal protest about our encroachment on their lands by 10 meters.  They should.  I'd consider it an overreaction if it were say... 9 meters but WOW 10 whole meters!  Man, that's paramount to an invasion! They should be pissed! As should we when their citizens are in our country illegally, by as much as say....... 900 MILES!

Whaaaaa!

Thumped by a Warthog!

The A-10 Thunderbolt II (Bullsh*t! Its the WARTHOG!) is known for its "crop dusting" style of flying.  But in the following clip the videographer realizes how much of a THUMP one can experience by the "Slow Ugly!"

Video: VERY low pass by A-10

Top Gun... Ask?... Tell?.... Don't!

Laughed my butt off on this one.  (HT to Blackfive).

As many of you know, I'm the acting editor of "The Tailhook Association Daily Briefing" and boy let me tell you how tempted I am to post this there too!  I'm pretty sure most of our readership (like 98% most) will have the same reaction to this that I do.  Hilarious!  But, I do have to be a bit cautious of the PC nature of things in a more structured setting.  Ehhh I'll run it by JR and see what he says.  Besides most Aviators (real ones! Not the Hollywood ones) really aren't that fond of Top Gun, the two word one... the real Naval Fighter Weapons School was TOPGUN one word!  (photo credit  Arthur Hubers)

Anyway:  Click the Play Button so long as young ones aren't about (Language Warning) but be prepared to laugh you butts off too! [link for those reading in an aggregator]

Chesty Would Get a Laugh Out of This!

Chesty Puller himself would get a good laugh of this one! 

One sunny day in 2009, an old man approached the White House from across Pennsylvania Avenue, where he'd been sitting on a park bench.  He spoke to the Marine standing guard and said, "I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton."  The Marine replied, "Sir, Mrs. Clinton is not President and doesn't reside here." The old man said, "Okay," and walked away.

The following day, the same man approached the White House and said to the same Marine, "I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton". The Marine again told the man, "Sir, as I said yesterday, Mrs. Clinton is not President and doesn't reside here."  The man thanked him and again walked away.

The third day, the same man approached the White House and spoke to the very same Marine, saying "I would like to go in and meet with President Hillary Clinton." The Marine, understandably agitated at this point, looked at the man and said, "Sir, this is the third day in a row you have been here asking to speak to Mrs. Clinton.  I've told you already several times that Mrs. Clinton is not the President and doesn't reside here. Don't you understand?"

The old man answered, "Oh, I understand you fine, I just love hearing your answer!"

The Marine snapped to attention, saluted, and said,  "See you tomorrow, sir."

And for those of you still wondering who "Chesty" Puller was:  Here's a brief, but I highly recommend reading up on a true American Hero!

Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller (June 26, 1898 – October 11, 1971) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps and was the most decorated Marine in history. Puller was the first United States Marine to receive the Navy Cross, the U.S. Navy's second highest decoration after the Medal of Honor, five times. During his career he fought bandits in Haiti and Nicaragua, and participated in some of the bloodiest battles of World War II and the Korean War.

Good Night Chesty!  Wherever you are!

Strike One!

Damn!  Lost out on the first offer we made on a new town home.  Too bad too, Ginger was really liking this one (I was too) I thought it was a great deal, but evidently so did someone else who beat me to the offer by a day.

On to our next hunt!  Anyone in Denver know someone who is selling a nice house or town house?  Inexpensive!

Ah well! 

Spent the Weekend House Hunting

I'm not a big fan of "Shopping."  I'm the kind of guy that knows what I want when I go to the store, I walk in, pick up the items I need, pay for them, then head back home.

Well, as I learned this weekend, that ain't so easy when it is a HOME that I am shopping for. 

I spent pretty much the entire long weekend looking at Realtor.com (actually Ginger spent the majority of time doing that part), then we spent countless hours down-selecting from a really long list, picking a choice of 10-15 places Ginger and I wanted to see, submitting those to our Realtor then going and seeing them, to hopefully select something we like.

Turned out, the actual visiting of these places turned into another round of down-selecting instead of "Whoo-Hooo!  THAT'S IT!"  I won't go into the ones (actually more like twos) that we really liked and are interested in making an offer on.  Don't want to jinx anything and all.  But lemme tell you, some of the places we visited were SUPER EASY to eliminate from the possible list.

It was an amazing study in human character.  From really nicely cleaned up places where obviously the owner wanted to sell a place, to foreclosures where the owner (now the bank) will have an extremely difficult time selling thanks to the actions of the previous residents (the foreclose-ee).

See if you can see anything wrong in the following photos, look closely often it is the subtle things that would discount a place.  Obviously some who have never watched "Designed to Sell" on the Home and Garden Network.

Above: Water damaged ceiling.  Never a good sign.  Below:  This place was in foreclosure and listed some $30,000 below all the other properties in the community, believe me, I'm sparing you the worst photos!  And you are SO thankful blog posts cannot exude smell!  But if you could sniff between your toes after playing a day long racquetball tournament.... you'd be gett'n warm!

And this one (below)... I really actually feel for this owner.  Inside this townhouse was quite impressive; brand new kitchen, new tile floors, fresh paint, new vanity in the master bath, and new carpet.  Every effort had been made to sell this place, but in every room I couldn't shake a slight feeling of sea sickness.  I grew up on the water so I really couldn't figure out why.  Until we made it to the basement, and saw the numerous foundation cracks and the heaved floor despite the pilings driven and poured in the floor.  The building was leaning... dramatically.  And to illustrate how much, I provide the following picture, with plumb lines to help see just how dramatically.  Needless to say... Down-Selected.

Man, I hope I don't have to make too many offers.  Shopping around really isn't all that fun!

With all the Damn Snow We've had this Year.... This Made Me Laugh!

Here in Denver, we've had snow on the ground since late December!  Not normal for the Mile High City (contrary to the belief by many that we are buried in snow every winter... we're not Duluth!)  It is finally beginning to melt, I'm down from the 27 inches of snow in my yard at its peak (I know nothing compared to the Northeast right now) to about 3 inches! 

But when I saw this today over at  Steve Ambrose's blog "The Woodshed" I had to laugh!  Being a nomadic southerner and all...  Steve titled his post "How to measure snow in the south!"   Yep, that's about the size of it!

Your Educational Dollars at Work

I hate this!  Especially because this happened at my alma mater San Diego State University.  Do I hate that Campus Police (AN ACTUAL POLICE DEPARTMENT! NOT SECURITY GUARDS!) tazered a skate rat?... [Link]

Nope!  Actually I found that part to be entertaining in a Jackasstically Sadistic, Popcorn-eat'n, Bug-zapper and a sixpack kinda way! 

What I hated were the interviews with the "Victim" (I prefer "perp"!) and his "supporters" afterward!  Yeah... there's a brain trust!  On the bright side... I'd send my kid there, looks like the curve is gett'n easier!

All this does is lower the quality of my bachelors degree from San Diego State University. 

Rumor now has it, that while you're driving through SDSU's campus, they'll throw a diploma in your car!  THAT'S NOT TRUE!...

You got to STOP First!

Hate the Holiday, Love the Girl!

I can't stand the feeling of Obligation, where I feel I am taking action not based on my own desire rather, I am being compelled by some social requirement.

Valentine's Day is a biggie in that category.  This day is obviously not for me!  I see this day for those dudes who do not show their love for their significant other on a daily or semi-daily basis.  I celebrate 360 +- Valentine's days per year just not with all the candied hearts with stupid sayings and the $200.00 dozen roses (yeah there's a few days per year that would definitely not qualify!... But I'm sure Ginger has a few that come to mind with me too!) Allow me to explain from a slightly different tack.

I'm kind of a practical joker, I love to help people relax by perp-ing a few folks.  All in fun and nothing too embarrassing.  The intent is to put smiles on faces not humiliate.  I do this year around, not just on April 1st, actually I take April 1st off from Pranks and Jokes as I view that day as amateur 24hours. It's the same view I have of the Hallmark Card Holiday, "Valentine's Day"... It's for Amateur's.  It's a 24 hour Chick Flick, only we are the actors!    

But, I don't want my griping about the DAY to be misconstrued as a lack of care or love for the woman in my heart.  Nothing could be further.

Ginger and I have been together now going on some 9 years, we're not married... yet... but will be someday.  She and I only have the bond of love and friendship keeping us together, and it is a great bond as far as I am concerned. 

So on this day that everyone feels "Compelled" to express that which should be expressed damn near every day.  I figured I'd simply remind Ginger today, as I did yesterday, and the day before that, etc...  That I love her and I'm glad she continues to put up with me.  Thanks Gin.

And Then Spoke Joe

This reaffirms my suspicion that Joe Lieberman had to hate his tenure as Al "The Tree" Gore's running mate.

Thank you Joe for standing your ground.

Mr. President, our nation has reached a critical crossroad in the war in Iraq. More than four years ago, this chamber voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, a tyrant who slaughtered his own people, attacked his neighbors, and threatened our security. Thanks to the courageous service of the men and women of our military, that evil regime was overthrown. And in its place came hopes of democracy in the heart of the Middle East and a victory in the war for the hearts and minds of the Muslim world.

As of today, those hopes have not been realized. Because of the ruthless conduct of our enemies, as well as our own failures, we instead today find ourselves on a knife’s edge in Iraq.

Now, a new course has been chosen. A new commander is in place in Iraq, confirmed by this Senate. A new Secretary of Defense is in place at the Pentagon, confirmed by this Senate. And a new strategy has begun to be put into action on the ground in Iraq by our troops.

It is altogether proper that we debate our policy in Iraq. It should be a debate that is as serious as the situation in Iraq and that reflects the powers the Constitution gives to Congress in matters of war.

But that, sadly, is not the debate that the Warner-Levin resolution invites us to have. I am going to speak strongly against this resolution because I feel strongly about it. I do so with respect for my colleagues who have offered it, but I believe its passage would so compromise America’s security, present and future, that I will say so in the clearest terms I can.

The resolution before us, its sponsors concede, will not stop the new strategy from going forward. As we speak, thousands of troops are already in Baghdad, with thousands more moving into position to carry out their Commander’s orders. This resolution does nothing to alter these facts.

Instead, its sponsors say it will send a message of rebuke from the Senate to the president, from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other. But there is a world beyond Pennsylvania Avenue that is watching and listening.

What we say here is being heard in Baghdad by Iraqi moderates, trying to decide whether the Americans will stand with them. We are being heard by our men and women in uniform, who will be interested to know whether we support the plan they have begun to carry out. We are being heard by the leaders of the thuggish regimes in Iran and Syria, and by Al Qaeda terrorists, eager for evidence that America’s will is breaking. And we are being heard across America by our constituents, who are wondering if their Congress is capable of serious action, not just hollow posturing.

This resolution is not about Congress taking responsibility. It is the opposite. It is a resolution of irresolution.

For the Senate to take up a symbolic vote of no confidence on the eve of a decisive battle is unprecedented, but it is not inconsequential. It is an act which, I fear, will discourage our troops, hearten our enemies, and showcase our disunity. And that is why I will vote against cloture.

If you believe that General Petraeus and his new strategy have a reasonable chance of success in Iraq, then you should resolve to support him and his troops through the difficult days ahead. On the other hand, if you believe that this new strategy is flawed or that our cause is hopeless in Iraq, then you should vote to stop it. Vote to cut off funds. Vote for a binding timeline for American withdrawal. If that is where your convictions lie, then have the courage of your convictions to accept the consequences of your convictions. That would be a resolution.

The non-binding measure before us, by contrast, is an accumulation of ambiguities and inconsistencies. It is at once for the war but also against the war. It pledges its support to the troops in the field but also washes its hands of what they are doing. It approves more troops for Anbar but not for Baghdad.

We cannot have it both ways. We cannot vote full confidence in General Petraeus, but no confidence in his strategy. We cannot say that the troops have our full support, but disavow their mission on the eve of battle. This is what happens when you try to wage war by committee. That is why the Constitution gave that authority to the President as Commander in Chief.

Cynics may say this kind of thing happens all of the time in Congress. In this case, however, they are wrong. If it passed, this resolution would be unique in American legislative history. I contacted the Library of Congress on this question last week and was told that, never before, when American soldiers have been in harm’s way, fighting and dying in a conflict that Congress had voted to authorize, has Congress turned around and passed a resolution like this, disapproving of a particular battlefield strategy.

I ask each of my colleagues to stop for a moment and consider this history carefully. Even during Vietnam, even after the Tet Offensive, even after the invasion of Cambodia, Congress did not take up a resolution like this one.

Past Congresses certainly debated wars. They argued heatedly about them. And they clashed directly with the Executive Branch over their execution. But in doing so they accepted the consequences of their convictions.

This resolution does no such thing. It is simply an expression of opinion. It does not pretend to have any substantive effect on policy on the ground in Iraq.

But again, I ask you: what will this resolution say to our soldiers? What will it say to our allies? And what will it say to our enemies?

We heard from General Petraeus during his confirmation hearing that war is a battle of wills. Our enemies believe that they are winning in Iraq today. They believe that they can outlast us; that, sooner or later, we will tire of this grinding conflict and go home. That is the lesson that Osama bin Laden took from our retreats from Lebanon and Somalia in the 1980s and 1990s. It is a belief at the core of the insurgency in Iraq, and at the core of radical Islam worldwide. And this resolution—by codifying our disunity, by disavowing the mission our troops are about to undertake—confirms our enemies’ belief in American weakness.

This resolution also sends a terrible message to our allies. I agree that we must hold the Iraqi government to account. That is exactly what the resolution Senator McCain and I have offered would do. But I ask you: Imagine for a moment that you are a Sunni or Shia politician in Baghdad who wants the violence to end—and ask yourself how the Warner-Levin resolution will affect your thinking, your calculations of risk, your willingness to stand against the forces of extremism. Every day, you are threatened by enemies who want nothing but to inflict the most brutal imaginable horrors on you and your loved ones. Will this resolution empower you, or will it undermine you? Will it make you feel safer, or will it make you feel you should hedge your bets, or go over to the extremists, or leave the country?

And finally, what is the message this resolution sends to our soldiers? I know that everyone here supports our troops—but actions have consequences, often unintended. When we send a message of irresolution, it does not support our troops. When we renounce their mission, it does not support our troops.

We heard recently in the Senate Armed Services Committee from General Jack Keane, who said of this resolution. “It’s just not helpful… What the enemy sees is an erosion of the political and moral will of the American people… Our soldiers are Americans first. They clearly understand there’s a political process in this country that they clearly support… But at the end of the day, they are going to go out and do a tough mission, and I certainly would like to see them supported in that mission as opposed to declaring non-support....”

Everyone here knows that the American people are frustrated about the lack of progress in Iraq. Everyone here shares that frustration. And as elected representatives of the people, everyone here feels pressure to give expression to that frustration.

This is not a new challenge. It is one that every democracy in every long, difficult war has had to confront.

Nearly a century and a half ago, at a site not far from here, an American president wrestled with just this problem. It was in the midst of a terrible war—a civil war—in which hundreds of thousands of Americans were fighting and dying to secure the freedom of millions long and cruelly denied it.

“We here highly resolve…”—that was Lincoln’s message at Gettysburg. It was a message of resolution, of conviction against adversity, of hope against despair, and of confidence in the cause of freedom, which is America’s cause.

Today, in the depths of a terrible war, on the brink of a decisive battle for Baghdad, let us have a serious debate about where we stand and where we must go in Iraq. That is the debate we should have—but it is not the debate that this resolution would bring.

The sixty vote requirement to close debate was put in place by our predecessors as a way to stop the passions of the moment from sweeping across our country and through Congress in a way that will jeopardize our future. Because I believe this resolution, if passed, would have such an effect, I will respectfully oppose the motion for cloture.

I thank the President and yield the floor.

Isn't this Communism? Ms. Clinton?

I'm a stock holder in a number of companies.  My desire is for my companies (that's right owning stock is owning the company... or more appropriately partially) to make a profit.  Insuring I get paid a dividend, or my stock value increases.  It's part of trying to get out of the rat race and live my life independently. 

So, I find statements like the one Hillary made last Friday to be very disturbing!  Exxon Mobile (XOM)made a HUGE profit last quarter.  So naturally this is wrong!  Publicly owned corporations are certainly not allowed to earn profits!  This money should rightfully belong to the state!... Her quote:

"I want to take those profits and put them into an alternative energy fund that will begin to fund alternative smart energy alternatives that will actually begin to move us toward the direction of independence."

Uh... HUH????   Look chick!  Anyone has the right to own Exxon Mobile Stock!  That's right you can have a piece of this pie.  Envious?  Buy the frigg'n stock and share the wealth!  But of course in a Hillary  Administration you will not have the need to buy the stock because the GOVERNMENT will provide for you!

Translation:

"I want to TAKE those PROFITS [of a publicly held company... out of the stock holders bank accounts] and put them into an alternative energy fund [slush] that will begin to fund alternative smart energy alternatives [Exxon profits go to Exxon's competition] that will actually begin to move us toward the direction of independence."

Market economies will prevail.  Hilliary, if you want Exxon Mobile, Shell, BP etc... to start to develop alternative energy.  Tell them you won't tax them a dime on any dollar spent on developing renewable energy sources that allow our Dodge Chargers to still accelerate 0-60 in 4.2 seconds. 

Two things will happen. 

1. The stock price will soar!
2. These companies will devote a significant amount of their profits to developing said energy source.

And those of us who are investors in these companies will continue our path to wealth.  Hmmm, and not dependent on the "State!"  Now THAT'S INDEPENDENCE!

Been Working on a Project

Haven't been blogging much the past few days.  Work has been SUPER busy with a number of ongoing projects that I'm trying to keep on top of. 

And, I've been working on a bit of a "Skunk Works" project.  My trip to San Diego last week wasn't entirely for just pleasure, although every time I return to my "declared" home I enjoy the serenity it brings me (something I haven't had much of lately!)  I went to San Diego to give a briefing to the Executive Director of the Tailhook Association on an idea I had on how to better deliver the message we try so hard to share.

Originally I pitched the idea of creating a Tailhook Blog to our local Chapter Organizer, Hans Schmoldt.  He in turn nudged it up the ladder to the "Boss"  Capt. JR Davis.  Next thing I knew I was invited out to Tailhook Headquarters in San Diego to present my ideas.  What an honor. 

Our presentation went very well, and Capt. Davis was quite receptive to the concept and very willing to let me run with the idea.  So that's exactly what I've been doing, running with the idea.  I've created the initial draft of what we are calling "The Tailhook Association Daily Briefing" I still have some layout and style work to do but it is now up and running.

We,in the Tailhook Association, are looking to share the realm of Naval Aviation to all who are interested in learning the culture and professionalism of those who serve by wearing the wings of gold.   All in a more conversational way.  If you're interested or know someone who is, please by all means head over the "The Daily Briefing "  and let us know what you would like to see from a site like that.  We'll be happy to accommodate.  Again, as I noted earlier I am still working on the layout so all suggestions are welcomed.

So please bear with me as I try to create a pleasant community experience over at the "Daily Briefing," continue to take care of my clients at work, take care of my pool team, play in my racquetball league, go to the gym, eat and sleep.  My posts here my be a bit sparse for the next coupla.