Free Republic

I’ve got a sweet Daystate AirWolf .22 PCP. It has a 10 round magazine, a suppressor to keep the neighbors guessing, and can easily spit out about 70 shots in between air fill-ups with pinpoint accuracy. I shoot gophers in the head at 50 yards when they dare to poke up in my lawn. While initially very expensive to purchase the rifle, scope & scuba tank accessory, pellets are cheap, and so is air! I use it to teach my boys proper scope usage, breathing technique, and how to stalk game - in our backyard. Its wonderful for that, and not at all a Wally World “BB gun” (tsk, tsk). I recommend you check out this place if you are in the market for a premium air rifle local to Arizona or via mail order. http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/

I’ve got a sweet Daystate AirWolf .22 PCP. It has a 10 round magazine, a suppressor to keep the neighbors guessing, and can easily spit out about 70 shots in between air fill-ups with pinpoint accuracy. I shoot gophers in the head at 50 yards when they dare to poke up in my lawn. While initially very expensive to purchase the rifle, scope & scuba tank accessory, pellets are cheap, and so is air! I use it to teach my boys proper scope usage, breathing technique, and how to stalk game - in our backyard. Its wonderful for that, and not at all a Wally World “BB gun” (tsk, tsk). I recommend you check out this place if you are in the market for a premium air rifle local to Arizona or via mail order. http://www.airgunsofarizona.com/

I like the idea of the ‘adult conversation’. What I worry about is as soon as the first words are uttered, the racism card will be shown and THAT might trigger another real adult conversation our nation needs right now. Or maybe they’ll mention the dismal statistics of children being born out of wedlock, and how the welfare state not only encourages sloth, but encourages the cycle of poverty with breeding too many kids into this know-nothing/do-nothing lifestyle that still pays the bills somehow.

There’s just too many adult conversations to be had. The Dems will be too effective in their counterpoint by saying, “Don’t listen to those guys, they’re crazy and trying to control you (ref: chains)!”

Seems the Dems have done a great job controlling their constituents by killing their drive, and all but getting them to forfeit their ability to make positive contributions to society.

Is Ryan the guy to make those arguments? Going to be hard to sound nationally patriarchal at 43.

Nice article. Iran still needs to go, but we cannot underestimate their desire to constantly spin reality to the Iranian masses. They make Baghdad Bob look like a carnival barker.

In 1988, I was in the region as a sailor on board the USS Enterprise. We attacked Iran in operation Praying Mantis (probably the last time the US fired a shot directly at Iran). At the time we were told it was billed as the largest naval conflict since WWII.

There are several other historical anecdotes I would review if I were in a battle planning role today. Operation Earnest Will, Operation Praying Mantis, the Vincennes incident where the guided missile cruiser shot down an Iranian civilian airliner, and then the car-bombing of the Vincenne’s captain’s wife’s car sometime after all that.

That chain of events should give you some insight into the depravity of this regime...and its also about 25 year old information.

I learned something about negotiation as an 18 yr old there. No matter how much you disrespect your opponent, give them a plausible out. They will blame the great Satan, but they have nothing else to do but blame us. In that process, they will also do all they can, in totally unexpected ways to destroy our reputation in the eyes of the world.

When I was in, we were told the civilian airliner downed by the Vincennes was filled with dead people. They were able to recover the bodies fairly quickly (too quickly). Many were too intact for the incident, and had what appeared to be bullet holes in their corpses. Some were political opponents of the regime.

This is all hearsay, and I have no proof of this, but the sailors on the Vincennes said they thought there was a threat. They said they thought it was a combat plane with an IFF Transponder from an old F4, and that’s why they fired after several warning transmissions which went unheeded. Apparently this has been disproven according to an investigation, but that was the ‘scuttlebutt’ at the time.

The second thing that struck me was the ability to retaliate on our soil. The WTC bombing in 1993 was the first middle eastern terrorist attack in the US? I doubt it. Check out that car bombing of the captain’s wife’s car in San Diego. Hezbollah or someone got into the country then, and blew up her car. Its pretty obvious, but didn’t make the news.

What will happen if we attack Iran? We don’t have much choice at this point, but we better think through how we’re going to shut down the asymmetric retaliation they’re undoubtedly planning - and have threatened. We’ll spawn 1000 bin laden wannabes if we’re not careful.

I believe we need to have a very tight program that has three planks -1.) Absolute destruction of their military, political leadership, and command and control infrastructure - especially their auxiliary proxies like Hezbollah and other quasi-terrorist groups - that’s actually the easiest part of the campaign, bunkers and more advanced anti-ship and anti-aircraft missile systems notwithstanding.
2.) An effective strategy for regime change in Iran. We blew it a few years back with no support for the rioting youth, and again we missed an opportunity with the last election turmoil. We need to have those leaders identified, so at the appointed time, they step in to finger the regime loyalists. The Iranian people are quite educated, and I believe only a small minority constitute the religiously rabid militants. The help of these resistance partisans would be invaluable.
3.) We need to have a tightly integrated anti-terrorism campaign around the world (but especially covering domestic risks in the US). We should already have targets within the Iranian leadership suspected of promoting global hostilities, as well as known operatives, extended contacts and suspected sleeper cells globally - and be in a position to “roll up” those organizations simultaneous to the onset of airstrikes on the nuclear facilities.

That is what would work and just “delete” the Iranian regime in one fell swoop.

Just my $0.02

I would think this is an opportune time for those conservative political leaders living behind the Orange Curtain to call out these leftists who look to take advantage of any/every possible issue (however loosely related) to drive their agenda of hate and violence.

Let me see if I have this right...a mexican gang member - who I am guessing doesn’t fall into any of these categories: an honor student walking home from school, an altar boy, a young father ‘in between jobs’, an oppressed worker, a ‘Dreamer’ (or a member of some other protected class special interest minority group) - gets gunned down by the police in the act of committing a crime. As far as I know, the facts are not in dispute. He himself was unarmed, but he was actively involved in shooting at the police.

Next thing we know, we have these parasite leftist organizations who are taking advantage of the staged unrest to push their violent “by any means necessary” revolutionary agenda. Do I have that right?

I realize this incident happened close to FantasyLand, but we need to cut through the crap with some strong leadership, and we need it now. Why doesn’t one right leaning pol in that city stand up and say, “look, we all regret loss of life. But there simply is NO EVIDENCE that the cops shot this guy indiscriminately, with racial malice, etc. It is extremely unfortunate that youths in our community have lost respect for our laws to the extent that they choose to confront police with violence. Are we surprised that, as a result of this lawlessness, the consequence for our wayward young men is they lose their lives. As bad as that situation is, that doesn’t justify the deliberate, encouragement of escalating violence by groups seeking to hijack this event with what amounts to criminal intent in our city. Groups like (cue the slide show of these pictures with the groups’ names emblazoned on their placards)...the communist party, a socialist revolutionary group, Earth First (are they on the scene yet?), etc.. To my knowledge, the deceased was not a communist nor did he support any of these causes. We need to ask - why are these people here? What situation do they seek to cause in our community? Is that helpful in healing our community or do they seek to perpetuate the pain and hurt for their own self serving agenda? I call on these bused in agenda groups to immediately cease unlawful actions that promote ongoing violence on our streets. I call on citizens interested in healing our community and ending violence to reject the hate speech of these opportunist groups. I call on the police to establish a dialog with community leaders who actually live in our community...in the interest of instilling peace and calm in our city.”

There are plenty of groups with “revolution” in their names, etc. I would use this situation as Exhibit A to plead for some sanity in California. call out these fringe groups and demand to bring them to justice. Its not ‘free speech’ when organized GANGS come out under the guise of free speech and political sympathy to spew their hate and fan the flames of irrational discontent until the aggrieved parties feel compelled to retaliate against the authorities. Oh wait, that’s EXACTLY what they want.

Isn’t “inciting a riot” a crime anymore?

Seems any ol’ “tragedy” will do for these hate groups to foment violent responses by the leftist revolutionary groups.

Interesting. Hard to argue good looking people are preferred in a lot of scenarios. How old did you say your daughter is?

(just kidding)

Let’s hope we get someone to come forward in the next 6 months who we can all get behind. If its Palin, so be it, but she should step up her game.

There is no chance I will either sit out the vote or put in a protest vote no matter who the candidate is!

Speak softly and carry a big stick, eh? I agree there has to be a certain conveyance of power for an ideal candidate.

Let me ask you a question, assuming you are actually a woman, CajunGirl. You mentioned Haley Barbour’s weight and Jindal’s height as hampering qualities for them to achieve higher office. To what extent does the physicality of a female candidate influence their electibility? I am asking if its an issue for you or for others. I don’t see that it is for me, but does that impact female voters at all?

By the way, McCain is very short (5’7” - in heels - vs Obama who is at least 6” taller than McCain)...to what extent do you think that played in the appeal of the candidates?

For me, its more more in the way they communicate.

You’re right, but the corollary is also true. You can support her all you want and it won’t change reality.

As CajunGirl just said, whoever the nominee is, I will support. I am not militantly opposed to Palin, just saying she’s not the best I have seen nor has she demonstrated leadership qualities to me.

I am more than ready to be proven wrong...I hope you would echo the same sentiment.

Was she the first or only person to rally to those causes? NO. She was just one of many talking about those races. Why would you credit her with having a significant role there?

She also endorsed Hoffman in NY23, which was a gutsy move since it went against the GOP establishment, but only after there was a movement afoot in the blogosphere. (see comments about no original thoughts). I am painfully aware she also supports McCain for AZ Senate (grrrr)...and in other cases she supports the GOP. How hard is that? You want to give her credit for supporting the straight ticket?Gutsy? Who would vote for a candidate BECAUSE Sarah endorsed them? I don’t think many Republicans would say that’s the reason they’re supporting a candidate, and NO Independents would cite Sarah’s endorsement as the tipping point.

If her endorsement came with some sort of insightful views on why that candidate was qualified or strategic to achieve a larger goal, then OK, but nope. Her thoughts on Facebook and Twitter are very small talking points and not very insightful. I don’t mean to refudiate your case, but you will have to try harder.

you assume she would have lost the inescapable ethics trial...which in itself is troubling. Either she didn’t have anything to hide (and in prevailing would have shown up the left) or she chose to step aside, “choosing her battles”. I think the state would defend her, not her personal finances.

You don’t think the moonbattery will intensify at the presidential level? Look at how our side went after Hillary (Rose Law Firm, Whitewater). Not saying it wasn’t justified, but if they had some goods on her as governor, they would step up the fight if she made it into the whitehouse.

For me, its not that she quit that (again, FOR ME) makes her less desirable as our next president...its that she hasn’t demonstrated the skills of an executive.

I am a CEO of my own business. I have about 100 employees. And I am learning first hand, that as your company grows, the leader needs certain abilities to continue to be competitive, inspire employees, and win customers. Namely, I have to have a keen ability to analyze situations and be decisive as the volume and velocity of decision points increases. That means I have to think on my feet, and be able to form a quick position (in some cases less than one minute). I also have to have an awareness of our financial position at all times. I need to make on the spot judgements whether to pay someone more, concede a discount on a customer, and other cost benefit analyses. I also need to be an articulate public speaker. Whether speaking to a customer group of 20 people, our 100 person employee group, or 1000 at a tradeshow, at this level, I need to come across as a smooth speaker. No verbal pauses, an ability to make my viewpoints concise and articulate. I was not born with these skills, I have to work on them, and the importance of those skills is gradually overtaking the technical competence I have amassed in my field. So, I see this progression of skills in my own career, and I want to see this in a candidate I support. You hear about the litmus test for leadership: started a business, made a payroll, etc...I know first hand what kind of tempering to your leadership mettle those sleepless nights worrying about whether you’re making the necessary moves to make that payroll. It makes a difference.

Getting shredded by Couric and Gibson are leading indicators that for whatever reason, the experience she does have has not forced the development of those skills I outlined above. I can’t think of a Governor that would have been less prepared for that kind of interview. Nothing that followed since she’s been on the national stage has convinced me otherwise.

I agree with her policies, I just think with the depth of knowledge she shows in her arguments, she sounds like any other Republican out there - my neighbors, my coworkers, etc. That’s not enough for me, and I question whether that’s enough to win the office and govern fairly.

Having said that, I recognize she has the guts to come forward and get up on the podium. I like that, I appreciate that, and that does make her stand out. But standing at the mike and repeating what we all know and read does not make HER a leader. That makes her a mouthpiece. I don’t know who is out there that would make the best leader for the Republicans today, but we’re in dire need.

We’re living through the consequences of electing an inexperienced leader, and we can’t make that mistake again.

You People? Hey now FRiend! What’s with this ‘YOU PEOPLE’!?!? (just kidding)

I appreciate the well documented argument, and clearly there is some merit to your perspective. However, Palin supporters can’t selectively praise her for ‘standing up to Obama and the liberal elite’ and say she quit her job because she was no longer able to do it with all the attention she was getting. Either she is tough enough to take the heat and do her job or she’s not. If being a popular target of the left while trying to execute the duties of the Alaskan governorship is too distracting, what have you seen her demonstrate that shows you that she can handle the presidency?

Looking back, I don’t know how Bush did it. I think he should have stood up to his critics, answer back at least a little, and I would have liked Sarah to show that kind of mettle to go against her critics and expose them as the desperate frauds that they are. No such luck.

I live in Arizona, and I’m guessing its the newness of the SB1070 thing, but I am just waiting for motivated leftists to dig into Brewer’s history, sift through her trash and pull out all the stops to find something that will besmirch her. I am sure this coming gubernatorial race (Brewer’s first) will be brutal with national resources doing opposition research on everything she has ever done.

So. To address your arguments one x one:

She quit honorably because she wasn’t able to do the job any longer because she was attracting too much attention from the left. You believe voters would have preferred her to step aside.

First, I believe that is supposition on your part that you know the will of the Alaskan people. Had she defeated a few of these ethics probes, they would have subsided. However, you assume she would have been clinging to power, broke, gasping for air. Why such desperation? Even the moonbats give up after a while. But no, she quit. I don’t think quitting is an option at the presidential level.

I am not outraged that she quit. She can do whatever she wants, but it doesn’t demonstrate the stamina (I won’t say courage) to weather the presidency.

Smack down? Don’t flatter yourself.

Those politicians continued to serve out the offices they were duly elected to serve in. As distasteful as it is with that list of shady characters, they did serve out their terms as elected. Politicians milking jobs? duh.

“Higher Calling”...come on man. The thinly veiled religious fanaticism associated with Palin followers has got to stop. Let’s not become easy targets here. Her facebook jabs at Obama didn’t do everything. She’s not elected, has no power, and her facebook comments were pretty indicative of the right wing sentiment on every issue. Which is my major point with her - she’s not a thought leader, or projecting original thoughts. Nothing she posted isn’t something Rush or Steyn or Hannity hadn’t been chatting up. EVERY Republican is against Cap’n’Trade. Every senator and congressman had been complaining about that. Don’t grant Palin some power she doesn’t have. I don’t think anyone would honestly cite her as the most influential person in the mix at this point. She has NO power...period. As for her endorsements...Again, I live in Arizona. I saw Sarah campaigning for McCain. So don’t tell me how she’s bravely endorsing conservatives as a rule.

Inexperience: As an executive the 2.5 years of governor of one of the least populated and least complex states, mayor of wasilla (ahem), and helping run a small business. Yeah, I’d say that’s not a lot of experience. If she had more experience, she would have chewed up Couric and the other leftist media types. She didn’t. Larger states, more complex scenarios, more direct involvement in varied executive roles would have necessarily made her more decisive, a better communicator, and forced her to have her positions more thought out. She’s just not there yet.

I appreciate a debate. I hope someone we can all agree is a better choice than Sarah comes along (and soon). We can all go and vote this person into the presidency and feel great about it as conservatives.

Well said Kandy! I think the stakes are high...and we need to win. Having said that, I think winning and governing successfully are two different subjects. Any Republican can win...Palin should not run, as I don’t think Palin is the one “we’ve been waiting for”.

She signed a 4 year deal with the people who elected her. In my book, I’d say that’s a deal she should have honored (not to mention the value of the experience). Obama didn’t quit until he announced he was running for higher office and won. Had he lost, he’d still be a senator - ala Kerry, McCain, Clinton. Sarah didn’t run for anything when she quit. She quit to focus on speaking engagements and ???

Look, its not a personal slam against her credibility as a person or her character necessarily. Again, Sarah only looks qualified in comparison to someone as inexperienced as Obama...but doesn’t mean she’s qualified. She does not have the skills and/or experience one would expect in that role...and that’s a matter of opinion. To turn this into something more is a mistake.

Aren’t you going to great lengths to argue whether she ‘quit’ or not? She did, plain and simple. As to constitutional duties, SHE was elected by the people, not the “capable successor” she determined would do a good job.

Would you feel a little upset if you were an Obama voter and he quit to leave the job of President to the “capable” hands of Biden?

on second thought, don’t answer that...but you get my point!

Agreed...who will be there is anybody’s guess!

...hate the most?

What about the people who want to raise your taxes, limit your freedom, and weaken your country?

We need to be a bit more FRiendly in our discourse.

Is it your opinion that Palin is the best possible candidate to be the Republican nominee for president?

Electric? She does have charisma. Yes. But so does Obama. And that got us the big gov’t liberalism you warn about. Have I made my point?

How do we know Palin can lead? Seems like a huge leap of logic.

Thank you Cajun. I don’t like the disagreement either, but better to get it out now, as long as I see every one of you at the polls in November. We can’t let our disagreements turn to apathy. We saw what that can do. Let’s get it out now, and put the best candidates on the field.

We can even help to educate our FRiend from Ohio.

I’ll take your rage and wrath and raise you some critical thinking.

You’ll learn (perhaps later in life) that just because someone is a Republican doesn’t mean they should be immune from criticism, especially internally to this kind of forum. I live in Arizona - McCain is from here. He is Republican but often associated with liberal programs and thinking. Therefore he is called a RINO, and is a frequent target on this forum.

I want Sarah to speak out, stir up the base, heck, I’ll even hope she motivates you to get out there and vote for candidates that will cut taxes and embrace conservative policies. None of that means she is the most qualified person to be president.

Do you see the difference?

I spent years in the military, college, and have founded two businesses. I took orders to learn how to give them. That makes me have some leadership credentials, and accolades I receive as a leader I can attribute to the years I spent learning how to lead. Do you see how my past experiences are relevant to my own career progression?

I want to see that in presidential candidates for the most prestigious job in the world. When I look at Sarah’s CV/resume, I don’t see that same level of progression. Sorry to say the mayor of Wasilla gig doesn’t come across as especially challenging or preparatory to run the free world. A brief stint as governor, harsh treatment from the media, or making speeches around the US don’t necessarily impress me either. I think compared to Obama’s resume, she has more potential, but that’s because his resume is ridiculously underqualified. I have higher hopes for the future. Is that wrong?

Just the way I evaluate the facts as I see them.