jmcalli's Comments (62)

“I'm grateful for Stanley Bing. Your essay on retirement was brilliant and I'm proof that you were correct.”

“Yes, but at what cost in human lives? Afghanistan may be safer than being near one of his motorcades. ;-)”

“How convenient for Lou. Now he and Geraldo Rivera will be together at the same network.”

“I'd rather die in a hospital bed when I'm 96 as opposed to breaking my neck car car surfing in my 20's. THINK ABOUT IT.”

“I have visited both Nagasaki and HIroshima. It was educational and humbling for this career military man. Obama should make the gesture as it would be within his character and consistent with his message.”

“Why should Arlen have remained Republican? He didn't change; the GOP changed and he realized he could no longer agreed with their agenda. Why would any reasonable person want to be a Republican?”

“Medicaid is a joint federal/state entitlement, so if the states want to criticize it they are pointing their fingers at themselves. If states funded it adequately there would be more private dentists willing to treat Medicaid patients. As it stands, in some states dentists can't afford to treat them because reimbursement rates are too low for them to meet their expenses.

A better solution for poor patients might be to just bypass the private sector and create public health dental clinics, fully funded by the states and federal government (Medicaid), and staffed with providers and auxiliaries who are paid not by the procedure but for their hours of service. That's how it's done in many areas of public health including HMO's, the military, VA, prisons, etc.”

“I don't think the M4 has a shorter range than the AK-47, just the opposite. The M4 carbine is basically a short-barrel version of the M16. Its round has a higher muzzle velocity and flatter trajectory, giving the M4 longer range and greater accuracy than the AK-47. The M4 round tumbles and fragments when it strikes flesh, creating a huge wound channel and generally does not over-penetrate. The AK-47 fires a heavier round, at slower velocity. In general, its round penetrates its target and continues on into whatever or whoever is behind it.

The M4 is "surgically precise" and is preferred in the hands of a trained soldier. The AK-47 is more of a "pray and spray" firearm.

Unfortunately, the M4 has a potential weakness, a direct impingement gas system that allows exhaust gas and metal particles to build up in the action under heavy use. The M4 requires more maintenance than the AK-47.”

“I wish I could take credit for this thought, but I clipped it from another poster.

"Remember, a party predicated on the notion that government sucks and can't do anything right can't possibly run an administration that doesn't suck and can do anything right. Competent conservative governance would instantly invalidate conservatism's core tenets.

"That's why Bush named horse lawyers to FEMA, and why fourth-tier law school grads have infested every corner of the Justice Department. George W. Bush wasn't an anomaly, he delivered the most effectively conservative administration in history."”

“I am delighted that the Republicans have yet another opportunity to display their outrage ;-). I am also delighted that the world is holding a mirror up for America to look at itself. I hope we take the time to study our reflection.”

“It's no wonder the AF is such a confused and convoluted service. This from airforce.com:

"The First Core Value: Integrity First

"The Airman is a person of integrity, courage and conviction.

"Integrity is a character trait. It is the willingness to do what is right even when no one is looking. It is the moral compass, the inner voice, the voice of self-control and the basis for the trust imperative in today's military.

"Integrity is the ability to hold together and properly regulate all of the elements of a personality. A person of integrity, for example, is capable of acting on conviction. A person of integrity can control impulses and appetites.

"But integrity also covers several other moral traits indispensable to national service.
Courage

"A person of integrity possesses moral courage and does what is right even if the personal cost is high.
Honesty

"Honesty is the hallmark of the military professional because in the military, our word must be our bond. We don't pencil-whip training reports, we don't cover up tech data violations, we don't falsify documents and we don't write misleading operational readiness messages. The bottom line is: We don't lie, and we can't justify any deviation."

The AF twists the concept of "Integrity" into forcing a person to lie about who they are. They equate courage with integrity but when a person is courageous enough to admit who they are they are condemned.”

“It happened regularly during the Vietnam draft. I had several friends at the aircraft factory where I worked in San Diego who mentioned during selective service physical exam that they were gay (they weren't). They were declared ineligible and returned to their jobs...and their girlfriends.”

“I agree. I'm not an attorney, but it seems like a stretch to claim Letterman engaged in "sexual harassment" when the woman involved, Stephanie Birkitt, isn't complaining.

In order for this argument to have any significance, anywhere, wouldn't Mr. Shargel need to be the attorney for Stephanie Birkitt, or at the very least get her to issue a statement claiming that Letterman harassed her? Mr. Shargel is really on a fishing expedition and I hope the court cuts him off.”

“This should be easy. All conservatives need to do is remove the New Testament and any references to Jesus.”

“1sparrow, your action was honorable. Please don't change your character because you perceive someone took advantage of you.”

“I'd tip her a buck.”

“Absolutely. And he is from Georgia ;-).”

“Yes, he's being the "good cop." But we need someone to be the "bad cop." Biden seems to have lost his voice.”

“Mr. Miller has an excellent chance of going to Washington. He came close last election, after being ignored by the DCC and spending much less on his campaign than Wilson did.

It's going to be different this time. He has a war chest.”

“Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)
ART. 88 - CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS

Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”

“We're not; we're donating for the first time!”

“The headline is wrong. Now it's $668,579.00. Looks like Miller is receiving about $1,000.00 a minute! And I guess most people are in bed now in the states (it's noontime here).”

“I donated.

$666,111 and 18,163 donors.”

“I need to correct myself. You're right. Arlen was a legal officer in the USAF, '51 to '53.”

“I don't think Arlen Specter is a veteran himself, although his father was. But I agree with your statement that Arlen has done a LOT to support veterans.

I contributed to Joe Sestak's campaign for congress but I'm going to support Arlen for the senate.”