Flyover Land

[Netzach]

Isn't it ridiculous? I'm still hoping that Coleman will realize that all he's doing with his continued lawsuits is disenfranchising all of the state with our reduced representation, rather than the handful of votes he's continuing to fight over.

Expecting Coleman to gain a conscience is like expecting summer in March.

 

[Netzach]

The Brits tried it before and failed. Personaly I dont see why we are supporting a government which has just legalised rape.
Must install spellchecker

"Untakeable" is a good assessment. That's my understanding anyway, based mostly on conversations with ex-military and policy jock kinda people.

A lot of the craziness, however, is attributable to having been invaded by Russians. It's not like every Muslim country has gone this route.

 

[AngelicAssassin]

Proportionatly more ... Brits have been killed in Afghanistan.

Boneheadedness from the mid-1800s in support of the East India Company doesn't count.

But I suppose a country that won both world wars single handedly will prevail

Hate to break it to you, but that wasn't mentioned, nor implied.

in a region which has been the grave yard of many a superpower.

i find amusing the referenced "many a superpower" include Britain and Russia. Considering the nation in question has been a stalemated chess board between those particular superpowers for over 150 years, you'd think neither would want anything to do with it again. But then (pardon the unknown author quote) the definition of insanity is doing the same (fruitless) thing repeatedly expecting a different result. i'll simply suggest there's a huge difference between colonizing a country in support of another jewel and attempting to minimize the effects of a group that support(s/ed) yet another with a death wish for anyone that doesn't share the beliefs of either.

BOT, i've made my views on the OP issue clear. i can agree with the President's forbearance as CinC in light of more pressing (to include the tangent referenced above) issues. He might be playing the long game.

Considering any seated Chief Executive can put aside the declarations (especially those made under the CinC hat) of predecessors, the correct method for dealing with same sex marriage (and removing some of the political bs at the Chief Executive level) is through the States ... at the Union level. Let enough States get a referendum on State level ballots. Follow that up with the introduction of a Constitutional amendment in either house of the legislature. As the Congressional debate begins, the President throws out DADT in favor of "No longer relevant, no longer prosecutable" turning up the pressure on Congress. If/when passed, the States have seven years to get 3/4s approval. If approved, California and Georgia no longer have a choice. If not approved, the next Chief Executive has the prerogative of addressing the issue again. S/he certainly can't look any more idiotic than precedent setting California.

 

[WriterDom]

Proportionatly more Canadians and Brits have been killed in Afghanistan. But I suppose a country that won both world wars single handedly will prevail in a region which has been the grave yard of many a superpower.

http://icasualties.org/OEF/ByNationality.aspx

That's true. I should have said with the exception of Canada and the UK. Of course, the US spends about 3 times as much on defense than the Germans. They get a good night's sleep knowing we protect them.

Plus all our troops in Germany? Pretty much international welfare the way I see it

 

[Homburg]

Plus all our troops in Germany? Pretty much international welfare the way I see it

Not sure why this is relevant to the thread, but the sentiment is fairly correct. The troops and their families pour loads of money into the German economy.

 

[Netzach]

Not sure why this is relevant to the thread, but the sentiment is fairly correct. The troops and their families pour loads of money into the German economy.

And funny how you hear nothing on the BBC and the better US news outlets but the EU trashing the US as being fiscally shameful, when the German economy has been an oxymoron for 20 years and Barclay bank made Bernie Madoff look moderate.

 

[Homburg]

And funny how you hear nothing on the BBC and the better US news outlets but the EU trashing the US as being fiscally shameful, when the German economy has been an oxymoron for 20 years and Barclay bank made Bernie Madoff look moderate.

I can really see the point to maintaining Rammstein AFB. We use it. And we've drawn down on our military involvement there, sure. But there's still way more presence in Germany than it needs.

I vaguely recall there being all sort of unrest and unhappiness the last time we talked about a big drawdown though. I found it really funny, because, man, so many Germans just hated on us when I was over there.

 

[ZRT]

I vaguely recall there being all sort of unrest and unhappiness the last time we talked about a big drawdown though. I found it really funny, because, man, so many Germans just hated on us when I was over there.

People in tourist traps hate tourists but starve without 'em. Snowbirds are major economic contributors to Phoenix, but they hate on snowbirds all the time over there. For that matter, Arizona wouldn't have half the economy it does if well-to-do elderly folks didn't retire over there, but they hate on them, too.

People are irrational.

 

[Homburg]

People in tourist traps hate tourists but starve without 'em.

Yep, I live in a touristy area, and Tour-on (rhymes with "moron", get it? ) hate is rampant. We're missing those tour-on dollars like crazy right now though.

That said, we don't pull knives on tourists and spray graffiti all over the place saying "Tourists go home" or "DIE YANKEE TOURIST" etc. There was some serious anti-American hate in Germany in the 70's and 80'2. Amusing to see it turn around, as I know that same little bastard that pulled a knife on myself and a friend because he hated the "American oppressors" is now the same age I am, and probably reliant on American dollars

 

[jockdom]

The land itself is your worst enemy. If someone disappears there, your chances of finding them are slim, and digging them out can be brutal.

Have you seen the movie "The Beast" (also called "The Beast of War")? 80's film about a Soviet tank and crew in the invasion of Afghanistan. It was an interesting action-ish film based on a play called "Nanatawai."

Have you seen 9th company? It's a russian film about a group of recruits, following them from basic training to afghanistan(a bit like full metal jacket). Brutal stuff.

 

[Homburg]

Have you seen 9th company? It's a russian film about a group of recruits, following them from basic training to afghanistan(a bit like full metal jacket). Brutal stuff.

No, but it sounds interesting.

 

[Homburg]

Vermont joins in and makes it a four-way. And does it with a veto override vote.

You go, Vermont.

 

[00Syd]

I just heard!!!

Go Vermont! Go Vermont! Go Vermont!

 

[Etoile]

Wife and I are making a rainbow peeps cake to celebrate this one-two victory.

 

[Netzach]

Vermont joins in and makes it a four-way. And does it with a veto override vote.

You go, Vermont.

How the eff did they get that governor anyway? wth Vermont?

 

[Homburg]

I wondered the same thing, but, hey, VA voted in a democrat senator that is pushing for prison reform and drug decriminlisation, as well as voting for a black democrat for president. Stranger things have happened.

 

[Netzach]

I wondered the same thing, but, hey, VA voted in a democrat senator that is pushing for prison reform and drug decriminlisation, as well as voting for a black democrat for president. Stranger things have happened.

I said that then thought immediately, of course, the Democratic party is perfectly capable of running someone who will lose VT.