Ring any bells?
The ACLU... America's Liberal Taliban
Friday, May 16, 2008
The Mojave Cross... A Different Perspective
Hmmmm. Soooo, a few myopic morons complain about a monument that doesn’t jive with their particular tastes because the people that erected it a long time ago included symbolism that is common among a particular religious tradition and ergo said morons want said monument destroyed. Ring any bells?
The ACLU... America's Liberal Taliban
Ring any bells? The ACLU... America's Liberal Taliban
New Kids on the Block back in Business! Now with S6R response!
Aparently New Kids on the Block are in concert again. Superbowl6Romeo was pictured when I told him the news.
The Mojave Cross in Pictures.
The Mojave cross was originally erected on the site in 1934 by members of the VFW as a memorial to veterans who died in World War I.
So as a PSA to the American (removal of) Civil Liberties Union, here are your next WWI targets that are close to the Circuit Court of DC.
Bladensburg, MD -- Put up by the American Legion in 1927 to honor those from PG county that died in WWI.
Towson, MD -- The Wayside Cross, dedicated on Defenders Day, September 12, 1921, is significant for its commemoration of the citizens of Baltimore County who died in the war.
Arlington, VA -- Cross overlooking the WWI area of Arlington National Cemetary.
And when you get done with the Crosses on Public land that commemorate WWI veterans, you can go super old school.
Cape Henry, VA -- This cross commemorates the site where a wooden cross was erected by the early English settlers upon their safe arrival to Virginia in April of 1607. According to George Percy, one of the early settlers, "The nine and twentieth day we set up a cross at Chesupioc Bay, and named the place Cape Henry."
All are on public land, 2 placed by a government entity, the other 2 placed by a private group.
But I sure don't see a precident for Cross shaped WWI memorials.
Good times....
The Mojave Desert Cross
I am reticent to post this, since no doubt our newest bestest buddy Anon will accuse me of posting something serious in response to him. However, S6R and I discussed this issue this morning and it does warrant some discussion.
The 9th Circuit decided yesterday against rehearing the case of the Mojave Desert memorial Cross. That means the previous order to remove the cross will stand. The 9th Circuit opinion is directly contrary to the 7th Circuit on the question of whether transferring land containing a memorial cross from government to public control will negate the First Amendment problems.
Anyway, S6R asked what effect this would have on crosses in Arlington and other veterans cemetaries. I happened to write a paper on that topic for law school, so thought I would post part of that paper which addresses that issue.
Enjoy (Except you Anon.)
If the Mt. Soledad and Mojave Desert Crosses are not spared, what fate awaits other veterans and war memorials? As noted above, these are the only two known which are specifically made in the shape of religious symbols, and these memorials do not contain religious imagery so much as the memorials themselves embody the shape of the most easily recognized of religious symbols. And, as some fear, will the next target of this religious expunging be the crosses in Arlington and other national cemeteries?
War memorials that have religious symbols embedded within the display, but which are not facially religious in nature, will probably find solace under the Court’s reasoning in Van Orden v. Perry. There a Texas resident sought to have a display of a monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments removed from the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. Noting that Establishment Clause cases present a challenge since our “institutions presuppose a Supreme Being, yet these institutions must not press religion,” the Court held that this case fell outside the Lemon Test because the monument was “passive” and thus the “analysis is driven both by the nature of the monument and by our Nation’s history.” Based on this analysis, the Court concluded that the monument could remain.
For any future litigation concerning religious symbols embedded within a Memorial, this bodes well. A war memorial is unlikely to ever violate the first prong of Lemon’s tripartite test, and thus faces problems with only the second and third prongs. The Van Orden decision takes war memorials outside the scope of Lemon, and looks at the historical underpinnings of the display. Under such an analysis, the vast majority of war and veterans memorials will likely be preserved, owing to the fact that most such monuments have stood for a long time.
It seems unlikely that anyone would seek removal of crosses from Arlington Cemetery, and even less likely that such litigation would be ultimately successful. The ACLU has stated emphatically that they have no intention of going after the grave markers, and asserted that such displays are in fact constitutional. On what legal basis they make this statement is unclear, as no such litigation has ever proceeded. But approaching such displays from a Lemon Test perspective, it is unlikely that any court would determine that the placement of crosses, stars of David, or even Wicca symbols on gravestones at the behest of fallen soldiers represents either an advancement of, or “excessive entanglement” with, religion.
Even more unlikely is successful litigation on either memorials or gravestones where the Court applies the Endorsement Test. Embedded sectarian symbols in a Memorial to fallen soldiers or long past wars would seem unlikely to send any message to adherents or non-adherents regarding their standing within a political community. With regard to gravestones, the clear and unambiguous message conveyed is that the service member who lies under such a device was in fact a member of the religion whose symbol adorns their final resting place.
The fate of the grave markers for unknown soldiers that are a cross is on significantly more precipitous legal footing. Those gravestones clearly are not there at the behest of the fallen or their family, as the individual lying beneath is “unknown but to God.” Should any litigation occur on those crosses, the key issue may very well be the distinction on whether the crosses were erected on the basis of pure mathematics (the majority of soldiers who fell in Normandy were demonstrably of the Christian faith) or whether the crosses represented an illegitimate furtherance of religion by those who made the determination to place crosses there and not some other non-religious marker. Either way, as the crosses have stood there in excess of 50 years seemingly without complaint, even were a party to have standing to seek their removal, a good argument on Van Orden grounds could be made for their continued presence.
Only time will tell what the addition of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito will mean for future of the Lemon Test. Preliminary canvassing suggests that the Mt. Soledad and Mojave preserve crosses are the only remaining crosses which serve as War Memorials, so resolution regarding those two landmarks will likely be directly limited. However, the initial canvassing by the ADF suggests that there are hundreds if not thousands of Memorials that contain religious symbols embedded within the display. The Van Orden decision would seem stem the encroachment of expunging such displays, but the one constant in Establishment Clause jurisprudence is the alacrity with which the standard evolves. Only time, and the Court, will decide whether the small cross in the desert will be uncovered or removed.
The 9th Circuit decided yesterday against rehearing the case of the Mojave Desert memorial Cross. That means the previous order to remove the cross will stand. The 9th Circuit opinion is directly contrary to the 7th Circuit on the question of whether transferring land containing a memorial cross from government to public control will negate the First Amendment problems.
Anyway, S6R asked what effect this would have on crosses in Arlington and other veterans cemetaries. I happened to write a paper on that topic for law school, so thought I would post part of that paper which addresses that issue.
Enjoy (Except you Anon.)
If the Mt. Soledad and Mojave Desert Crosses are not spared, what fate awaits other veterans and war memorials? As noted above, these are the only two known which are specifically made in the shape of religious symbols, and these memorials do not contain religious imagery so much as the memorials themselves embody the shape of the most easily recognized of religious symbols. And, as some fear, will the next target of this religious expunging be the crosses in Arlington and other national cemeteries?
War memorials that have religious symbols embedded within the display, but which are not facially religious in nature, will probably find solace under the Court’s reasoning in Van Orden v. Perry. There a Texas resident sought to have a display of a monument inscribed with the Ten Commandments removed from the grounds of the Texas State Capitol. Noting that Establishment Clause cases present a challenge since our “institutions presuppose a Supreme Being, yet these institutions must not press religion,” the Court held that this case fell outside the Lemon Test because the monument was “passive” and thus the “analysis is driven both by the nature of the monument and by our Nation’s history.” Based on this analysis, the Court concluded that the monument could remain.
For any future litigation concerning religious symbols embedded within a Memorial, this bodes well. A war memorial is unlikely to ever violate the first prong of Lemon’s tripartite test, and thus faces problems with only the second and third prongs. The Van Orden decision takes war memorials outside the scope of Lemon, and looks at the historical underpinnings of the display. Under such an analysis, the vast majority of war and veterans memorials will likely be preserved, owing to the fact that most such monuments have stood for a long time.
It seems unlikely that anyone would seek removal of crosses from Arlington Cemetery, and even less likely that such litigation would be ultimately successful. The ACLU has stated emphatically that they have no intention of going after the grave markers, and asserted that such displays are in fact constitutional. On what legal basis they make this statement is unclear, as no such litigation has ever proceeded. But approaching such displays from a Lemon Test perspective, it is unlikely that any court would determine that the placement of crosses, stars of David, or even Wicca symbols on gravestones at the behest of fallen soldiers represents either an advancement of, or “excessive entanglement” with, religion.
Even more unlikely is successful litigation on either memorials or gravestones where the Court applies the Endorsement Test. Embedded sectarian symbols in a Memorial to fallen soldiers or long past wars would seem unlikely to send any message to adherents or non-adherents regarding their standing within a political community. With regard to gravestones, the clear and unambiguous message conveyed is that the service member who lies under such a device was in fact a member of the religion whose symbol adorns their final resting place.
The fate of the grave markers for unknown soldiers that are a cross is on significantly more precipitous legal footing. Those gravestones clearly are not there at the behest of the fallen or their family, as the individual lying beneath is “unknown but to God.” Should any litigation occur on those crosses, the key issue may very well be the distinction on whether the crosses were erected on the basis of pure mathematics (the majority of soldiers who fell in Normandy were demonstrably of the Christian faith) or whether the crosses represented an illegitimate furtherance of religion by those who made the determination to place crosses there and not some other non-religious marker. Either way, as the crosses have stood there in excess of 50 years seemingly without complaint, even were a party to have standing to seek their removal, a good argument on Van Orden grounds could be made for their continued presence.
Only time will tell what the addition of Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito will mean for future of the Lemon Test. Preliminary canvassing suggests that the Mt. Soledad and Mojave preserve crosses are the only remaining crosses which serve as War Memorials, so resolution regarding those two landmarks will likely be directly limited. However, the initial canvassing by the ADF suggests that there are hundreds if not thousands of Memorials that contain religious symbols embedded within the display. The Van Orden decision would seem stem the encroachment of expunging such displays, but the one constant in Establishment Clause jurisprudence is the alacrity with which the standard evolves. Only time, and the Court, will decide whether the small cross in the desert will be uncovered or removed.
Another Moron post for Anon
Man Babies, what a ridiculous website. I'm fascinated by this. They take the Dad and the babies faces and swap them.
Naturally, saw this over at the Ace HQ.
Picture of the Day?
Sigurdur Hjartarson, owner and founder of the Icelandic Phallological Museum, poses next to a stuffed elephant penis at the museum in Husavik May 8, 2008.(Bob Strong/Reuters)H/t the Landlady
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Jimmy Carter, Line 1
"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along,. We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is –- the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."
-- President Bush, 2008.
====
Let the knashing of Liberal Teeth and wetting of Liberal Panties begin.
BTW, Happy 60th Birthday to Israel. Which is about 59 years and 364 days longer than some (most in the ME) had hoped you would last.
-- President Bush, 2008.
====
Let the knashing of Liberal Teeth and wetting of Liberal Panties begin.
BTW, Happy 60th Birthday to Israel. Which is about 59 years and 364 days longer than some (most in the ME) had hoped you would last.
Farce in the time of Cholera: The not so under oath testimony of IVAW
UPDATE: If you wish to listen to this nonsense, go here.
UPDATEx2: Bio and picture of Matthus found here.
UPDATEx3: A much better blogger than I, Jonn "the wildman" Lilyea has his post and pics up.
OK kiddies, here we go. TSO is back in his Attila the Celt chair, ready and eager to listen to the testimony of the heroes of IVAW and give you a blow by blow commentary on the asshattery that will ensue before the Congress. And by "Congress" I of course mean only those Members of the Progressive Caucus that actually go.
So, stand by for good times. It should have all the allure of watching John Tesh conduct an orchestra of homeless people play trashcan lids. It should be as exciting as playing lawn jarts while blindfolded. As dangerous as shaving your arse with Greg Louganis' razor. As soothing as cleaning a scrotal laceration with hydrochloric acid. As sexy as Rosie O'Donnell in a coconut bikini. As (ok, ran out of similes, make up your own.)
So, this is who we have to look forward to, from IVAW's homepage:
Jason Lemieux: Originally from Tupper Lake, New York, Jason Lemieux served as an Infantryman with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines. He served three tours in Iraq, serving in Karbala, Husaybah and Ramadi. He was honorably discharged from Active Duty with a Good Conduct Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon on July 9, 2006.
Lemieux will testify on loose rules of engagement, the killing of innocent civilians, and the hiding of these killings through falsified reports and cover-ups.
Scott Ewing: Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Scott Ewing enlisted in the army in 2004 as a cavalry scout. He deployed to Iraq with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in March of 2005.
Ewing will testify on "Operation Restoring Rights" in Tall Afar, civilian deaths, house raids, destruction of civilian property, and misrepresentations of the war in the media.
Geoffrey Millard: Originally from Buffalo, New York, Geoff Millard joined the NY Army National guard in1998 at the age of 17. He served for 9 years including tours of duty at ground zero after 9-11 and for 13 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Millard will testify on endemic racism during his tour of Iraq, including among high-ranking Army officers.
Kristofer Goldsmith: Originally from Long Island, New York, Kristofer Goldsmith deployed to Iraq in 2005 as a Forward Observer with the Third Infantry Division. He served in Sadr City and Baghdad, and was stop-lossed after returning from Iraq.
Goldsmith will testify on low morale and the psychological consequences of the "troop surge," as well as the breakdown of Iraqi infrastructure.
Vincent Emanuele: Originally from Chesterton, Indiana, Vincent Emanuele served as a Rifleman with the U.S. Marine Corp. He deployed to Iraq in 2004, and served in Al Qaim and Al Asad.
Emanuele will be testifying on the killing of civilians and livestock, the use of drop weapons, racism, and the destruction of property.
James Gilligan: Originally from Sayreville, New Jersey, James Gilligan served six years with the Marine Corp as an Infantryman and Combat Engineer. He was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, and was awarded two Combat Action Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Gilligan will testify on the abuse of civilians, looting, destruction of property, racism, equipment shortages, media misrepresentation, and "search and avoid" missions.
Adam Kokesh: Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Adam Kokesh volunteered in 2003 to go to Iraq with the 3rd Civil Affairs Group out of Camp Pendleton. He was attached to the First Marine Regiment, which was responsible for the Fallujah area.
Kokesh will be testifying about the creation of internally displaced refugees during the siege of Fallujah, changing rules of engagement, taking war trophy photographs, and abuse of detainees.
Sergio Kochergin: Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Sergio Kochergin served two tours in Iraq in a scout/sniper platoon with U.S. Marine Corp.
Kochergin will testify on loose rules of engagement, killing of civilians, dehumanization, and the use of drop weapons.
Luis Montalvan: Originally from Washington D.C., Luis Montalvan was an Army officer who served two tours in Iraq with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Montalvan worked extensively with General Petraeus in Southern Baghdad and the Western Nineveh Provinces. He was awarded over 30 decorations, including two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. In January-April of 2007 he worked with the American Enterprise Institute as a member of the Iraq Planning Group.
Luis Montalvan will testify on fraud, waste, and abuse perpetrated by U.S. contractors, negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of commanding officers, and misreporting on the "troop surge."
So, stay tuned for the good times that will ensue. I intend to just alter this post as they come in, so if anyone out there has a blog with an interest, they can link here.
As a primer, you should go read Kokesh's testimony which he posted at his website. I know for my part that this is the guy I look forward to hearing from the most:
We will also be joined by attorney Mike Lebowitz, who served in Iraq as a paratrooper with the elite Pathfinder Company of the 101st Airborne Division, and is currently a JAG captain with the Virginia Army National Guard where he serves as a defense counsel for the 29th Infantry Division, providing legal assistance to troops subject to adverse action.
In light of Mr. Lebowitz's testimony, I move we alter the 29th motto accordingly to reflect, "Let's Go! Up to the Hill and malign the 29th!" We went from Thomas Dry Howie, the Major of St Lo to Mike Lebowitz, the Captain who brought us to a new low.
Question for any leathernecks out there:
He [James Gilligan] was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, and was awarded two Combat Action Ribbons.
Two? It doesn't work like the CIB where you only get 1 no matter how many instances in various countries? Or is this guy a Desert Storm holdover?
__________________________________________
I love this stuff, God how I love it. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey is on the radio right now talking about the hearing itself. She's downplaying attendance at the hearings already, saying the timing is not good for big attendance. (Today is the vote on appropriations for FY08) Oh the huge manatees.
"The only money we should appropriate is for redeployment."
"Hope we get press for these wonderful veterans."
She's lamenting that IVAW's farce is not covered by the Washington Post, which marks the first time since the sports guy said UMASS should be in the NCAA tourney that I applaud the Post.
The radio station is rapping Pelosi for being a warmonger. And now she's saying that the public has finally caught up to her on knowing we need to surrender. She may have used a different word, but that was what she said.
Lillyea is inside. He's being protected by Coby. Seriously, Coby is built like an Abrahms, so should be interesting.
Ugh, now they are playing lowlights of the WSI with some soft guitar music in the background. I have a envelope opener shoved in my ear, if it gets too bad, I'm going to take the easy way out and just stab myself in the brain.
For the love of Spongebob, there is sobbing in the background of these audio files, which complements the musak guitar solo like topping a turd sandwich with rotten mustard.
IT IS NOT UNDER OATH. IT IS NOT UNDER OATH. IT IS NOT UNDER OATH.
It pained the radio guy to just say that.
________________________________________________________
OK, so here comes Lynn Woolsey's opening statement.
She owns half the Golden Gate Bridge. Presumably she means that is in her district. She's rambling bad. Already downplaying attendance. Apparently 80% of the 60 chairs in the hearing room are full. I imagine Coby takes up 3, and Lillyea is probably laying prostrate across another 3 or 4.
Apparently the testifiers are really really really brave for testifying.
"Iraq is the most important foreign policy failures in recent history. What a waste we have set ourselves up with."
Petreaus and Bush et al come up with power points which are not true, what makes this unique is that we can now hear directly from you who put your lives on the line for this President's failed policies. This is an extention of the WSI hearings in Silver Spring etc etc etc.
I want to shove a crayon up my nose a la Homer Simpson to block out all thought.
She's running through the history of "Winter Soldier" from Ghenghis Khan to today.
Looks like we will have various panelists. All the testifiers brought their own councel. (Good for them, they should, even not under oath.) 9 minute time period per speaker. Either way, Montalvan is not gonna make it I fear. Several panels apparently. 5 to a panel, 2 panels, then questions. Millard will finish it all up with his nonsense.
___________________________________________
Congresswoman Lee: She went to WSI. (I must have missed her.) She's talking about the Amendments to the DoD bill. Lamenting more money will be in the bill.
Says we've heard from everyone except from the troops. (Invite Bellavia to testify Ms. Lee, look forward to that testimony.) We are here to bear witness to the troof of IVAW.
____________________________________________
Wow, that is it on Congresspeople.
KELLY DOUGHERTY
Exec Dir of IVAW. Thanks the CPC (Cong Prog Caucus). Says there were over 200 IVAW at WSI. (They were apparently disguised as geriatrics.) Continuing her duty to fellow human beings. Won't be easy to hear their testimony. (9 vets will testify now she says.) These stories are heartbreaking and disturbing and the real-lived experiences. "Occupation" is the word used most often. Human cost is what they will address. If congress wants to know the true cost, you must listen to us. One step in the process is listening to these veterans today. Kelly says they verified. She says not under oath, but wishes they were.
Came back angry and disillusioned, so she started IVAW. 1200 vets in IVAW now she says. While many have taken off uniforms, we are still working to bring our brothers home.
JASON LEMIEUX
Secretary of the Board for IVAW. Widespread destruction in Iraq. Painful to cut to 9 mins. Only the tip of the iceburg. 3 tours. Lima Company was ordered to shoot any suspicious persons, chain of command would take care of them. Even if they provided false info.
Extended to be an intelligence guy within unit. Morale plummetted, they used excessive force. ECP2 in Ramadi. Near Tamin city. During deployment, Lima guarded 24 hours a day. Sniper attacks. He submitted a report on one such attack. They took 4 rounds one day, and responded with hundreds and hundreds of rounds. Including tank rounds, even into civilian areas. "They were just shooting because everyone else was."
Lima Co XO asked for report, and then accused Lemieux of altering reports to meet his political views. Now he's defending his report. Report was falsified by the XO. We only know about this one because ECP2 was close enough to hear.
Ordered to disregard ROE. Shoot unarmed civilians. Understood they would be protected. His unit loyalty is not to America or Iraqi's, it is to each others safety at expense of everything else. He was ordered to falsify documents by his commanders. 3rd Batt, 7th Marines declined due to the inevitable mental breakdown of troops in combat.
____________________________________
SCOTT EWING: (No IVAW page)
19Delta. Civilian Casualties, Detainees, and Searches.
More civilians killed by the US than by the enemy. In Tall Afar. Went into a compound, 6 men against wall. Dead women on ground. Apache had launched rounds into the compound. He's providing aid now.
*Anon (a different one) seems to indicate I was too harsh on the 29th JAG. So, I take it back for now, hope he is right.*
Now Detainees. We detained 3 men because they were running. No evidence they did anything wrong. An old man approached after shot in foot, 4 of his friends were with him. They questioned them, in town for funeral, used a chem detective kit, no one had read the instructions.
Searches now. LTC Hickey said that if we tear apart house we lose the support of the people. In Sep 2005, large mission, cleared the entire city. "Search Aggressively" They basically destroyed the houses. All of this happened under supervision of the LT and PSG. (Showing slides.) Not behavior that would make headlines, it is important because of losing respect of people in Tall Afar. Again lamenting Loyalty over other traits.
______________________________________________
MY BESTEST BUDDY- GEOFF MILLARD
Thanks everyone for listening to soldiers. Summer of 2005, a year is a month, a month is a day, not sure what he is saying. Generals Secretary mad that he was one. Briefing story AGAIN. TCP shooting. (Christ, make UP A NEW STORY.) Mother Father and 2 children were killed. COL Rochelle 42ID, said "If these f'ing Hadjis learned to drive" Pansy ass radio edited it. Will get from Lilyea.
Everyone is a racist. "Hadji" is apparently the worst thing EVER. Then notes it is a saying of respect in ME, but we meant it bad, so it is bad. Like "Gook." (Really? Gook is a word of praise in Vietnam?) Entire unit was racist, he tried to address it, but couldn't.
______________________________________________________
Some new guy, missed name 'cause BNG called. (Goldsmith)
Was not duped by recruiters, all I ever wanted to do. That dream turned into nightmares. Joined to kill people. Changed his mind, now not a racist.
Bunch of pulp, no specific statements, plus he's showing pictures, which work VERY WELL over the radio. My guess it he's showing slides of Itchy and Scratchy, but who knows.)
Discussing presence patrols. (Shouldn't a Congressperson already know what they are?)
They faked humanitarian aid. Bechtel's Dry Run, by Dahr Jamail. (Which is always believable.)
The state of the city was in dire need of repair. More on lack of Potable Water and prevalence of sewage. He left 3 years ago, but he knows that it is now worse there. (I'm guessing he has Saruman's Palantir and watches the scene daily.)
More pics. Kids playing in poop. Trash. Sewage next to hospital. Pictures of dead Iraqi faces.
He was stop-lossed. And the military cuts off limbs of soldiers who get hit. (Not sure point here.)
He tried to commit suicide, and can't get the GI Bill, and McCain is trying to kill the money for GIs.
Ugh.
__________________________________________
End of first panel.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters: She's friends with Millard. Blah blah blah blah. Killings, executions of "suspected" people. Wonders who are those people? No one will ever know? (Maybe you should ask Mr. Owl.) She's moved by Goldsmith's testimony. Powerful, moving, she needed to be contained from applause. (I needed to be contained from biting down on the cyanide tablet hidden in my wisdom tooth by the Army when I was in a top secret unit.) More praising of Goldsmith. On verge of tears. (Me, not her.) She says she will get him his GI Bill, she will personally work on it. He says that telling his story is therapeutic. Says there are lots of people sitting alone in the basement yelling at foxnews to deal with their problems. (Buy an XBox dude. Or get a hobby. Like making things out of little sticks. Like a trebuchet. Then climb in it and throw yourself somewhere. Not a sermon, just a thought.)
(Apologize for the errors in spelling folks. Typing fast here.)
Some Congresswoman now, missed name. (UPDATE: Shiela Jackson Lee from Texas.) Let us welcome these vets to Washington. Bring 100,000 of your people. (1.2% of the way to that goal! Maybe we should let the war go on 66 years so you can get enough peeps?) No authority to be in Iraq. War illegal, someone is poisoning the minds (Presumably the Bush Family Evil Empire and Darth Rove with his brain-wave machine.) She's essentially advocating revolution here, not sure where she is going. Wants a Day of Honor, offerred as an amendment last night, so will look it up later to see who it is.
Now Congresswoman Barbara Lee with questions.
How does seeing all this affect your mental health and how do we move forward to stop suicide attempts don't occur and help with PTSD? (Yes, by all means let's ask the Doctors of IVAW)
Goldsmith: 1 week at basic doing bayonet training. (BS) Stab a dummy and yell kill with every movement. This is horrible. (I personally hugged the dummy's and occassionally gave their rubbery backs little hugs and whispered sweet nothings into their ears, but that's me, I'm a lover not a fighter.) Blood Blood Blood makes the grass road.
Millard: We didn't wait for VA, started our own PTSD group. We are not waiting for politicians to end the war, we end it every day. Start simply by getting people into college. (College is a panacea for PTSD.) Should be more mental health in VA. (Finally I agree with him.)
Woolsey (?): How do you deal with grief individually?
Jason: Got counselling at the VA but from an intern. Moved into the Soldiers Project. Psychologists who work for free. (Sounds like a good program, will look it up later, but maybe throw these people some praise.)
Ewing: He gets involved in IVAW to deal with grief.
Millard: Wearing the black shirt (IVAW) is what keeps him going.
Goldsmith: (I think, possibly not). Talks about VA claims backlog. He self medicated. He spent all his money on teh fire water.
_____________________________________________________
Panel 2 now. (Marcy Kaptur is now in da house. Praise where it is due, I like Marcy. She was the driving force in the WWII memorial, so hats off to her. She's still not right on this issue, but she does seem to care)
Announcer is saying 3 congresswoman cried, and one blogger nearly smashed his computer, however no animals were hurt in the recording of this farce. (This may only be 1/3 accurate)
VINCENT EMMANUAL
He talked to his platoon prior to testimony and this will be what he discusses. Pot shots taken at random cars in his town. Cars would pull off and stop, and his PLT would still kill the peeps in the car. Not isolated, happened most of the 8 months.
Mission to destroy bridge, fought out of ambush. Impossible to identify targets, thus, fired into town with no ID. A Marine was killed at a retrans site. (Al Quaim or something like that) Mortar fire daily, mortared them back. They would drop PUCs off in middle of the desert. Punching kicking... (Just see my take on his WSI testimony, because it is verbatim)
Mishandling the dead. Run them over. (Word for word the same, so resting my find-and-peck typing fingers.)
Just used the term "Sand-N*s." Wow. No intention of helping the Iraqis. Disdain and distaste. Did not trust command either. Attacked by those in unit if went for PTSD help. Many, like himself, turned to drugs and alcohol. (I turned to Warcraft.)
James Gilligan (No page)
Also tried to kill himself. Hates the entire GWOT. Talking about miclicks. (The demining thing.) Leaders were incompetant. Airpower pounded the hell out of the area with DU rounds. More on DU. (DU, DU, DU everywhere!) Today is CO day. (Is it? Didn't know that.) 1SG: "What if those ragheads broke into your house and raped your daughter."
He never fired his rifle, even though under attack. Did not believe in free fire orders, not moral. Search and Avoid. Marines in Fallujah used bayonets. (Not sure point) Now he's talking about how bad Family Readiness Groups are about spreading rumors. (He's right.)
Helicopter crash, asked to go to site to aid pilot, told no, don't go. (More stories, none of which really go anywhere.) Destroyed some dudes car, stole stuff, did bad things. He was a tunnel rat in 'Stan. His unit breached a safe and stole money from a safe. He gave up his SAPI plate to another guy. Inadequate armor. Plastic doors on humvee. HE was in an NBC recon unit.
1SG of HHS ran down kid etc etc etc. Heard this one at WSI also. Threatened the kid.
____________________________________________________
Keith Ellison (first Muslim Rep now there too.)
ADAM KOKESH
Talking about his background. Joined to be a hoo-rah marine. Volunteered for Civil Affairs. bashing the Pres etc. Now showing ROE card. "They couldn't even cut the card square." (Holy Sheep dung batman! They gave you an assymetrical ROE card? Nazis!)
Reading ROE card.
Fallujah Blackwater story. CP shooting, same story as WSI. The slide of the car blown up again. Guy blown back in seat. (Radio guy: Looking at picture of incinerated skeleton".) Picture is a "trophy". Quoting the VVP guy again: "Don't ever let your government do this to you." Same old, same old.
Women and Children to leave city, but families had to be seperated. Not magnanimous. (Incontheievable!) Deliberate or careless attitude towards refugees.
"Marines shooting up firefighters" story again. We were there to make it look good, not to actually do good. He has names, dates, grid coordinates. (None of which means jack shite since nothing seems to have violated the RoE, and I don't need a 8 digit to know war sucks.)
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Sergio Kochergin
Found left behind vehicles. They were used for a car derby. Then they destroyed the cars. Dead Iraqis everywhere. Led a family to the corpse of some dude that was killed, everyone cried.
Najaf- Only humanitarian work was to paint a park.
Al Sadr- Our unit was on a task force to arrest him. Spent time training for raid. Then mission was cancelled. No one told him why. (Um, maybe because you were a CPL? Just guessing here) Al Sadr apparently a bad guy, who knew?
Orders from command was to rough up everyone, trust no one, put as much fear in them as possible. Nothing in Najaf was ever fixed. Instill fear.
Second deployment was to el anbar.
Drop Weapons. Flyers posted that snipers were killing civilians. They also carried shovels as drop items.
Had Vietnam flak, an M16, no night vision, where was all the money going? Generals and others had everything good. He's on verge of tears. Was called a "friggin coward" by his command. Doctors don't care, just hand out drugs. Story of the marine who killed himself.
Lillyea just called, he popped smoke. Same as last time. yup, sure is.
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MONTALVAN (Montalvan is a one name cat for me, like Cher, Shrek and Bono.)
I love puppies, rainbows, unicorns, strong masculine men, and the smell of petchuli clinging to my clothes. (Actually, I blocked it out, so that might not be what he said.)
Some guy died and this is a letter to him. (Some guy named Ted).
Here's his blog.
Corruption, negligence, dereliction of duty. (OK, this is the guy.)
(For you 7 people reading this, I really tried to blog Montalvan, I just can't do it. I'd rather go line dancing with Richard Simmons, Bea Artur and Mr. T. than listen to this.)
Montalvan has 1 minute, skipping down, Lee Dynamics are criminals, no accountability, no SOP, something something something.
He's coauthored a ton of things, beaten his drum, raised issue of dereliction of duty by generals and they perpetuate lies. Strongly urges you to take measures. (Thank God, He's done)
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Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur Discussed more funding for VA, important message, being rather moderate. Can't say I argue with much she is saying.
Question: ROE. Were they unclear?
Someone answering that ROE is confusing. I think it is Adam.
Congressman Keith Ellison starts to speak, but alas.....
Taking a break to vote. Back in a minute says Ellison, Kokesh says great, bring everyone back.
I'm in my office giving myself a wedgie. I may give myself a swirlee in a minute too, in solidarity with the plight of someone or other.
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Not a single thing here was new. Not one iota of interesting factoids.
And now the radio is interviewing Millard, with Montalvan to follow. This make announcer has a serious crush on these dudes.
New Memo via Millard, while there is only 7 Congressmen, there are a ton of Staffers, so this is great! Huge movement! (Insert scatological reference here)
Some guy is going to refuse to return from IRR in the upcoming testimony Millard says.
Montalvan on the radio again.
He pontificates with such emphasis, his words are so disjointed that by the time he strings together a verb and a noun you are decomposing. Every single syllable is like the shock and awe of his vocabulary. I can not understand a single thing he says. He does for the spoken tongue what Gilbert Gottfried does for seduction.
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It's over.
I believe it was Kurtz that said it best: "The horror, the horror."
Still on the radio, interviewing Kokesh and some other guy. Kokesh is saying Marines are over-represented in the IVAW. Wow. Take that USMC!
OK, it's about time for TSO to sign off and go do the crying game shower. Like Ace Ventura finding out that Einhorn and Finkle were the same person, I'm going to use a brillo pad and chlorox and then go beat puppies until I get my self-esteem back. (You know, cause all us on the right who are veterans are evil, barbaric, war loving maniacs.)
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OK, spoke too soon, looks like it ain't over until the fat lady sings, and she may not be in attendance.
A Jersey Congressman (Payne Confirmed, Payne) spoke, and now some other final thoughts from the CPC.
Some Congresswoman now discussing status of bills on redeployment. She then says she will get with Kokesh to get the names, dates and grid coordinates.
Asks about Fallujah, clearly didn't know there were 2 battles of Fallujah. Kokesh more on easy over right and failing at both. (This is like a mantra to him. I think he is likely rocking back and forth and contemplating getting more underwear at K-Mart, K-mart in Cincinnati.)
Kokesh blaming deaths on the State Department. (WTF?)
Ellison speaking now. Asks a question, and Montalvan is answering.
OK, he's saying the surge is a horrible idea. This is the same man who at WSI said he told his superiors they needed MANY more people. I think Montalvan really has lost it.
Now he says that withdrawing will cause huge loss of life, but we need to do it anyway to save money and because we have no plan. A withdrawal would force the hand of tribal leaders to sort it out on their own, even though there will be huge deaths. We should guard the borders! (Hell yeah! Oh wait, he meant Iraqi borders. damn.)
Of course Montalvan's policy position conflicts directly with IVAWs, so Kokesh is leaping in to do damage control.
Ellison now asking about Iran. Says the Iraqi's love Iran, and Mahmood the Madman was greeted with great cheers etc.
Kokesh says that Basra was fixed by the Iranians.
Ellison is telling story of going to Iraq and says "I'm not claiming some Hillary Clinton kinda thing."
And now Montalvan is saying that Iranians are attacking US troops in Iraq, but that that doesn't really deserve any sort of response militarily.
Now Sheila Jackson Lee with closing statement/question. Would you work with us in working to bring 100,000 people to the Mall? (Only if it has a Borders bookstore and a food court.) Montalvan agrees "in principle." Ugh.
Kokesh says only if there was substance to it, not just a show of anti-war force.
"James" (Gilligan?) is flying a flag upside down, and calls for impeachment, everyone claps.
Lee wants to know if they would submit documents under oath. "Absolutely yes" from everyone. Yeay! We got our wish. Unfortunately, none of their stories ranks even a cursory review, although I would want that one guy's XO to speak up.
MILLARD is making closing comments
1) Immediate withdrawal, Congress needs to do so today, stop funding the killing of our troops.
2) Care for our veterans by passing GI Bill
3) Reparations for Iraqis, he is confident that the CPC will make it happen to save the soul of America.
Will Congress save us? (By throwing me a life boat so I can row out of this tsunami of crap.)
(Here's the asshat who is refusing deployment, Matthis Chiroux)
Montalvan is now offering a tour of the "mean streets of Iraq" (I shi'ite you not.)
And thus it ends, not with a bang, but with a simper(ing jackass).
UPDATEx2: Bio and picture of Matthus found here.
UPDATEx3: A much better blogger than I, Jonn "the wildman" Lilyea has his post and pics up.
Lilyea sent along this picture of the Great Montalvan.
No word on whether he put himself to sleep or if this is narcolepsy.
OK kiddies, here we go. TSO is back in his Attila the Celt chair, ready and eager to listen to the testimony of the heroes of IVAW and give you a blow by blow commentary on the asshattery that will ensue before the Congress. And by "Congress" I of course mean only those Members of the Progressive Caucus that actually go.
So, stand by for good times. It should have all the allure of watching John Tesh conduct an orchestra of homeless people play trashcan lids. It should be as exciting as playing lawn jarts while blindfolded. As dangerous as shaving your arse with Greg Louganis' razor. As soothing as cleaning a scrotal laceration with hydrochloric acid. As sexy as Rosie O'Donnell in a coconut bikini. As (ok, ran out of similes, make up your own.)
So, this is who we have to look forward to, from IVAW's homepage:
Jason Lemieux: Originally from Tupper Lake, New York, Jason Lemieux served as an Infantryman with the Third Battalion, Seventh Marines. He served three tours in Iraq, serving in Karbala, Husaybah and Ramadi. He was honorably discharged from Active Duty with a Good Conduct Medal and a Combat Action Ribbon on July 9, 2006.
Lemieux will testify on loose rules of engagement, the killing of innocent civilians, and the hiding of these killings through falsified reports and cover-ups.
Scott Ewing: Originally from Providence, Rhode Island, Scott Ewing enlisted in the army in 2004 as a cavalry scout. He deployed to Iraq with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment in March of 2005.
Ewing will testify on "Operation Restoring Rights" in Tall Afar, civilian deaths, house raids, destruction of civilian property, and misrepresentations of the war in the media.
Geoffrey Millard: Originally from Buffalo, New York, Geoff Millard joined the NY Army National guard in1998 at the age of 17. He served for 9 years including tours of duty at ground zero after 9-11 and for 13 months in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Millard will testify on endemic racism during his tour of Iraq, including among high-ranking Army officers.
Kristofer Goldsmith: Originally from Long Island, New York, Kristofer Goldsmith deployed to Iraq in 2005 as a Forward Observer with the Third Infantry Division. He served in Sadr City and Baghdad, and was stop-lossed after returning from Iraq.
Goldsmith will testify on low morale and the psychological consequences of the "troop surge," as well as the breakdown of Iraqi infrastructure.
Vincent Emanuele: Originally from Chesterton, Indiana, Vincent Emanuele served as a Rifleman with the U.S. Marine Corp. He deployed to Iraq in 2004, and served in Al Qaim and Al Asad.
Emanuele will be testifying on the killing of civilians and livestock, the use of drop weapons, racism, and the destruction of property.
James Gilligan: Originally from Sayreville, New Jersey, James Gilligan served six years with the Marine Corp as an Infantryman and Combat Engineer. He was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, and was awarded two Combat Action Ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Presidential Unit Citation.
Gilligan will testify on the abuse of civilians, looting, destruction of property, racism, equipment shortages, media misrepresentation, and "search and avoid" missions.
Adam Kokesh: Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Adam Kokesh volunteered in 2003 to go to Iraq with the 3rd Civil Affairs Group out of Camp Pendleton. He was attached to the First Marine Regiment, which was responsible for the Fallujah area.
Kokesh will be testifying about the creation of internally displaced refugees during the siege of Fallujah, changing rules of engagement, taking war trophy photographs, and abuse of detainees.
Sergio Kochergin: Originally from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Sergio Kochergin served two tours in Iraq in a scout/sniper platoon with U.S. Marine Corp.
Kochergin will testify on loose rules of engagement, killing of civilians, dehumanization, and the use of drop weapons.
Luis Montalvan: Originally from Washington D.C., Luis Montalvan was an Army officer who served two tours in Iraq with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment. Montalvan worked extensively with General Petraeus in Southern Baghdad and the Western Nineveh Provinces. He was awarded over 30 decorations, including two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. In January-April of 2007 he worked with the American Enterprise Institute as a member of the Iraq Planning Group.
Luis Montalvan will testify on fraud, waste, and abuse perpetrated by U.S. contractors, negligence and dereliction of duty on the part of commanding officers, and misreporting on the "troop surge."
So, stay tuned for the good times that will ensue. I intend to just alter this post as they come in, so if anyone out there has a blog with an interest, they can link here.
As a primer, you should go read Kokesh's testimony which he posted at his website. I know for my part that this is the guy I look forward to hearing from the most:
We will also be joined by attorney Mike Lebowitz, who served in Iraq as a paratrooper with the elite Pathfinder Company of the 101st Airborne Division, and is currently a JAG captain with the Virginia Army National Guard where he serves as a defense counsel for the 29th Infantry Division, providing legal assistance to troops subject to adverse action.
In light of Mr. Lebowitz's testimony, I move we alter the 29th motto accordingly to reflect, "Let's Go! Up to the Hill and malign the 29th!" We went from Thomas Dry Howie, the Major of St Lo to Mike Lebowitz, the Captain who brought us to a new low.
Question for any leathernecks out there:
He [James Gilligan] was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, and was awarded two Combat Action Ribbons.
Two? It doesn't work like the CIB where you only get 1 no matter how many instances in various countries? Or is this guy a Desert Storm holdover?
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I love this stuff, God how I love it. Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey is on the radio right now talking about the hearing itself. She's downplaying attendance at the hearings already, saying the timing is not good for big attendance. (Today is the vote on appropriations for FY08) Oh the huge manatees.
"The only money we should appropriate is for redeployment."
"Hope we get press for these wonderful veterans."
She's lamenting that IVAW's farce is not covered by the Washington Post, which marks the first time since the sports guy said UMASS should be in the NCAA tourney that I applaud the Post.
The radio station is rapping Pelosi for being a warmonger. And now she's saying that the public has finally caught up to her on knowing we need to surrender. She may have used a different word, but that was what she said.
Lillyea is inside. He's being protected by Coby. Seriously, Coby is built like an Abrahms, so should be interesting.
Ugh, now they are playing lowlights of the WSI with some soft guitar music in the background. I have a envelope opener shoved in my ear, if it gets too bad, I'm going to take the easy way out and just stab myself in the brain.
For the love of Spongebob, there is sobbing in the background of these audio files, which complements the musak guitar solo like topping a turd sandwich with rotten mustard.
IT IS NOT UNDER OATH. IT IS NOT UNDER OATH. IT IS NOT UNDER OATH.
It pained the radio guy to just say that.
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OK, so here comes Lynn Woolsey's opening statement.
She owns half the Golden Gate Bridge. Presumably she means that is in her district. She's rambling bad. Already downplaying attendance. Apparently 80% of the 60 chairs in the hearing room are full. I imagine Coby takes up 3, and Lillyea is probably laying prostrate across another 3 or 4.
Apparently the testifiers are really really really brave for testifying.
"Iraq is the most important foreign policy failures in recent history. What a waste we have set ourselves up with."
Petreaus and Bush et al come up with power points which are not true, what makes this unique is that we can now hear directly from you who put your lives on the line for this President's failed policies. This is an extention of the WSI hearings in Silver Spring etc etc etc.
I want to shove a crayon up my nose a la Homer Simpson to block out all thought.
She's running through the history of "Winter Soldier" from Ghenghis Khan to today.
Looks like we will have various panelists. All the testifiers brought their own councel. (Good for them, they should, even not under oath.) 9 minute time period per speaker. Either way, Montalvan is not gonna make it I fear. Several panels apparently. 5 to a panel, 2 panels, then questions. Millard will finish it all up with his nonsense.
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Congresswoman Lee: She went to WSI. (I must have missed her.) She's talking about the Amendments to the DoD bill. Lamenting more money will be in the bill.
Says we've heard from everyone except from the troops. (Invite Bellavia to testify Ms. Lee, look forward to that testimony.) We are here to bear witness to the troof of IVAW.
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Wow, that is it on Congresspeople.
KELLY DOUGHERTY
Exec Dir of IVAW. Thanks the CPC (Cong Prog Caucus). Says there were over 200 IVAW at WSI. (They were apparently disguised as geriatrics.) Continuing her duty to fellow human beings. Won't be easy to hear their testimony. (9 vets will testify now she says.) These stories are heartbreaking and disturbing and the real-lived experiences. "Occupation" is the word used most often. Human cost is what they will address. If congress wants to know the true cost, you must listen to us. One step in the process is listening to these veterans today. Kelly says they verified. She says not under oath, but wishes they were.
Came back angry and disillusioned, so she started IVAW. 1200 vets in IVAW now she says. While many have taken off uniforms, we are still working to bring our brothers home.
JASON LEMIEUX
Secretary of the Board for IVAW. Widespread destruction in Iraq. Painful to cut to 9 mins. Only the tip of the iceburg. 3 tours. Lima Company was ordered to shoot any suspicious persons, chain of command would take care of them. Even if they provided false info.
Extended to be an intelligence guy within unit. Morale plummetted, they used excessive force. ECP2 in Ramadi. Near Tamin city. During deployment, Lima guarded 24 hours a day. Sniper attacks. He submitted a report on one such attack. They took 4 rounds one day, and responded with hundreds and hundreds of rounds. Including tank rounds, even into civilian areas. "They were just shooting because everyone else was."
Lima Co XO asked for report, and then accused Lemieux of altering reports to meet his political views. Now he's defending his report. Report was falsified by the XO. We only know about this one because ECP2 was close enough to hear.
Ordered to disregard ROE. Shoot unarmed civilians. Understood they would be protected. His unit loyalty is not to America or Iraqi's, it is to each others safety at expense of everything else. He was ordered to falsify documents by his commanders. 3rd Batt, 7th Marines declined due to the inevitable mental breakdown of troops in combat.
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SCOTT EWING: (No IVAW page)
19Delta. Civilian Casualties, Detainees, and Searches.
More civilians killed by the US than by the enemy. In Tall Afar. Went into a compound, 6 men against wall. Dead women on ground. Apache had launched rounds into the compound. He's providing aid now.
*Anon (a different one) seems to indicate I was too harsh on the 29th JAG. So, I take it back for now, hope he is right.*
Now Detainees. We detained 3 men because they were running. No evidence they did anything wrong. An old man approached after shot in foot, 4 of his friends were with him. They questioned them, in town for funeral, used a chem detective kit, no one had read the instructions.
Searches now. LTC Hickey said that if we tear apart house we lose the support of the people. In Sep 2005, large mission, cleared the entire city. "Search Aggressively" They basically destroyed the houses. All of this happened under supervision of the LT and PSG. (Showing slides.) Not behavior that would make headlines, it is important because of losing respect of people in Tall Afar. Again lamenting Loyalty over other traits.
______________________________________________
MY BESTEST BUDDY- GEOFF MILLARD
Thanks everyone for listening to soldiers. Summer of 2005, a year is a month, a month is a day, not sure what he is saying. Generals Secretary mad that he was one. Briefing story AGAIN. TCP shooting. (Christ, make UP A NEW STORY.) Mother Father and 2 children were killed. COL Rochelle 42ID, said "If these f'ing Hadjis learned to drive" Pansy ass radio edited it. Will get from Lilyea.
Everyone is a racist. "Hadji" is apparently the worst thing EVER. Then notes it is a saying of respect in ME, but we meant it bad, so it is bad. Like "Gook." (Really? Gook is a word of praise in Vietnam?) Entire unit was racist, he tried to address it, but couldn't.
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Some new guy, missed name 'cause BNG called. (Goldsmith)
Was not duped by recruiters, all I ever wanted to do. That dream turned into nightmares. Joined to kill people. Changed his mind, now not a racist.
Bunch of pulp, no specific statements, plus he's showing pictures, which work VERY WELL over the radio. My guess it he's showing slides of Itchy and Scratchy, but who knows.)
Discussing presence patrols. (Shouldn't a Congressperson already know what they are?)
They faked humanitarian aid. Bechtel's Dry Run, by Dahr Jamail. (Which is always believable.)
The state of the city was in dire need of repair. More on lack of Potable Water and prevalence of sewage. He left 3 years ago, but he knows that it is now worse there. (I'm guessing he has Saruman's Palantir and watches the scene daily.)
More pics. Kids playing in poop. Trash. Sewage next to hospital. Pictures of dead Iraqi faces.
He was stop-lossed. And the military cuts off limbs of soldiers who get hit. (Not sure point here.)
He tried to commit suicide, and can't get the GI Bill, and McCain is trying to kill the money for GIs.
Ugh.
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End of first panel.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters: She's friends with Millard. Blah blah blah blah. Killings, executions of "suspected" people. Wonders who are those people? No one will ever know? (Maybe you should ask Mr. Owl.) She's moved by Goldsmith's testimony. Powerful, moving, she needed to be contained from applause. (I needed to be contained from biting down on the cyanide tablet hidden in my wisdom tooth by the Army when I was in a top secret unit.) More praising of Goldsmith. On verge of tears. (Me, not her.) She says she will get him his GI Bill, she will personally work on it. He says that telling his story is therapeutic. Says there are lots of people sitting alone in the basement yelling at foxnews to deal with their problems. (Buy an XBox dude. Or get a hobby. Like making things out of little sticks. Like a trebuchet. Then climb in it and throw yourself somewhere. Not a sermon, just a thought.)
(Apologize for the errors in spelling folks. Typing fast here.)
Some Congresswoman now, missed name. (UPDATE: Shiela Jackson Lee from Texas.) Let us welcome these vets to Washington. Bring 100,000 of your people. (1.2% of the way to that goal! Maybe we should let the war go on 66 years so you can get enough peeps?) No authority to be in Iraq. War illegal, someone is poisoning the minds (Presumably the Bush Family Evil Empire and Darth Rove with his brain-wave machine.) She's essentially advocating revolution here, not sure where she is going. Wants a Day of Honor, offerred as an amendment last night, so will look it up later to see who it is.
Now Congresswoman Barbara Lee with questions.
How does seeing all this affect your mental health and how do we move forward to stop suicide attempts don't occur and help with PTSD? (Yes, by all means let's ask the Doctors of IVAW)
Goldsmith: 1 week at basic doing bayonet training. (BS) Stab a dummy and yell kill with every movement. This is horrible. (I personally hugged the dummy's and occassionally gave their rubbery backs little hugs and whispered sweet nothings into their ears, but that's me, I'm a lover not a fighter.) Blood Blood Blood makes the grass road.
Millard: We didn't wait for VA, started our own PTSD group. We are not waiting for politicians to end the war, we end it every day. Start simply by getting people into college. (College is a panacea for PTSD.) Should be more mental health in VA. (Finally I agree with him.)
Woolsey (?): How do you deal with grief individually?
Jason: Got counselling at the VA but from an intern. Moved into the Soldiers Project. Psychologists who work for free. (Sounds like a good program, will look it up later, but maybe throw these people some praise.)
Ewing: He gets involved in IVAW to deal with grief.
Millard: Wearing the black shirt (IVAW) is what keeps him going.
Goldsmith: (I think, possibly not). Talks about VA claims backlog. He self medicated. He spent all his money on teh fire water.
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Panel 2 now. (Marcy Kaptur is now in da house. Praise where it is due, I like Marcy. She was the driving force in the WWII memorial, so hats off to her. She's still not right on this issue, but she does seem to care)
Announcer is saying 3 congresswoman cried, and one blogger nearly smashed his computer, however no animals were hurt in the recording of this farce. (This may only be 1/3 accurate)
VINCENT EMMANUAL
He talked to his platoon prior to testimony and this will be what he discusses. Pot shots taken at random cars in his town. Cars would pull off and stop, and his PLT would still kill the peeps in the car. Not isolated, happened most of the 8 months.
Mission to destroy bridge, fought out of ambush. Impossible to identify targets, thus, fired into town with no ID. A Marine was killed at a retrans site. (Al Quaim or something like that) Mortar fire daily, mortared them back. They would drop PUCs off in middle of the desert. Punching kicking... (Just see my take on his WSI testimony, because it is verbatim)
Mishandling the dead. Run them over. (Word for word the same, so resting my find-and-peck typing fingers.)
Just used the term "Sand-N*s." Wow. No intention of helping the Iraqis. Disdain and distaste. Did not trust command either. Attacked by those in unit if went for PTSD help. Many, like himself, turned to drugs and alcohol. (I turned to Warcraft.)
James Gilligan (No page)
Also tried to kill himself. Hates the entire GWOT. Talking about miclicks. (The demining thing.) Leaders were incompetant. Airpower pounded the hell out of the area with DU rounds. More on DU. (DU, DU, DU everywhere!) Today is CO day. (Is it? Didn't know that.) 1SG: "What if those ragheads broke into your house and raped your daughter."
He never fired his rifle, even though under attack. Did not believe in free fire orders, not moral. Search and Avoid. Marines in Fallujah used bayonets. (Not sure point) Now he's talking about how bad Family Readiness Groups are about spreading rumors. (He's right.)
Helicopter crash, asked to go to site to aid pilot, told no, don't go. (More stories, none of which really go anywhere.) Destroyed some dudes car, stole stuff, did bad things. He was a tunnel rat in 'Stan. His unit breached a safe and stole money from a safe. He gave up his SAPI plate to another guy. Inadequate armor. Plastic doors on humvee. HE was in an NBC recon unit.
1SG of HHS ran down kid etc etc etc. Heard this one at WSI also. Threatened the kid.
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Keith Ellison (first Muslim Rep now there too.)
ADAM KOKESH
Talking about his background. Joined to be a hoo-rah marine. Volunteered for Civil Affairs. bashing the Pres etc. Now showing ROE card. "They couldn't even cut the card square." (Holy Sheep dung batman! They gave you an assymetrical ROE card? Nazis!)
Reading ROE card.
Fallujah Blackwater story. CP shooting, same story as WSI. The slide of the car blown up again. Guy blown back in seat. (Radio guy: Looking at picture of incinerated skeleton".) Picture is a "trophy". Quoting the VVP guy again: "Don't ever let your government do this to you." Same old, same old.
Women and Children to leave city, but families had to be seperated. Not magnanimous. (Incontheievable!) Deliberate or careless attitude towards refugees.
"Marines shooting up firefighters" story again. We were there to make it look good, not to actually do good. He has names, dates, grid coordinates. (None of which means jack shite since nothing seems to have violated the RoE, and I don't need a 8 digit to know war sucks.)
________________________________________
Sergio Kochergin
Found left behind vehicles. They were used for a car derby. Then they destroyed the cars. Dead Iraqis everywhere. Led a family to the corpse of some dude that was killed, everyone cried.
Najaf- Only humanitarian work was to paint a park.
Al Sadr- Our unit was on a task force to arrest him. Spent time training for raid. Then mission was cancelled. No one told him why. (Um, maybe because you were a CPL? Just guessing here) Al Sadr apparently a bad guy, who knew?
Orders from command was to rough up everyone, trust no one, put as much fear in them as possible. Nothing in Najaf was ever fixed. Instill fear.
Second deployment was to el anbar.
Drop Weapons. Flyers posted that snipers were killing civilians. They also carried shovels as drop items.
Had Vietnam flak, an M16, no night vision, where was all the money going? Generals and others had everything good. He's on verge of tears. Was called a "friggin coward" by his command. Doctors don't care, just hand out drugs. Story of the marine who killed himself.
Lillyea just called, he popped smoke. Same as last time. yup, sure is.
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MONTALVAN (Montalvan is a one name cat for me, like Cher, Shrek and Bono.)
I love puppies, rainbows, unicorns, strong masculine men, and the smell of petchuli clinging to my clothes. (Actually, I blocked it out, so that might not be what he said.)
Some guy died and this is a letter to him. (Some guy named Ted).
Here's his blog.
Corruption, negligence, dereliction of duty. (OK, this is the guy.)
(For you 7 people reading this, I really tried to blog Montalvan, I just can't do it. I'd rather go line dancing with Richard Simmons, Bea Artur and Mr. T. than listen to this.)
Montalvan has 1 minute, skipping down, Lee Dynamics are criminals, no accountability, no SOP, something something something.
He's coauthored a ton of things, beaten his drum, raised issue of dereliction of duty by generals and they perpetuate lies. Strongly urges you to take measures. (Thank God, He's done)
__________________________________________________________
Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur Discussed more funding for VA, important message, being rather moderate. Can't say I argue with much she is saying.
Question: ROE. Were they unclear?
Someone answering that ROE is confusing. I think it is Adam.
Congressman Keith Ellison starts to speak, but alas.....
Taking a break to vote. Back in a minute says Ellison, Kokesh says great, bring everyone back.
I'm in my office giving myself a wedgie. I may give myself a swirlee in a minute too, in solidarity with the plight of someone or other.
____________________________________________________
Not a single thing here was new. Not one iota of interesting factoids.
And now the radio is interviewing Millard, with Montalvan to follow. This make announcer has a serious crush on these dudes.
New Memo via Millard, while there is only 7 Congressmen, there are a ton of Staffers, so this is great! Huge movement! (Insert scatological reference here)
Some guy is going to refuse to return from IRR in the upcoming testimony Millard says.
Montalvan on the radio again.
He pontificates with such emphasis, his words are so disjointed that by the time he strings together a verb and a noun you are decomposing. Every single syllable is like the shock and awe of his vocabulary. I can not understand a single thing he says. He does for the spoken tongue what Gilbert Gottfried does for seduction.
________________________________________________
It's over.
I believe it was Kurtz that said it best: "The horror, the horror."
Still on the radio, interviewing Kokesh and some other guy. Kokesh is saying Marines are over-represented in the IVAW. Wow. Take that USMC!
OK, it's about time for TSO to sign off and go do the crying game shower. Like Ace Ventura finding out that Einhorn and Finkle were the same person, I'm going to use a brillo pad and chlorox and then go beat puppies until I get my self-esteem back. (You know, cause all us on the right who are veterans are evil, barbaric, war loving maniacs.)
___________________________________________________
OK, spoke too soon, looks like it ain't over until the fat lady sings, and she may not be in attendance.
A Jersey Congressman (Payne Confirmed, Payne) spoke, and now some other final thoughts from the CPC.
Some Congresswoman now discussing status of bills on redeployment. She then says she will get with Kokesh to get the names, dates and grid coordinates.
Asks about Fallujah, clearly didn't know there were 2 battles of Fallujah. Kokesh more on easy over right and failing at both. (This is like a mantra to him. I think he is likely rocking back and forth and contemplating getting more underwear at K-Mart, K-mart in Cincinnati.)
Kokesh blaming deaths on the State Department. (WTF?)
Ellison speaking now. Asks a question, and Montalvan is answering.
OK, he's saying the surge is a horrible idea. This is the same man who at WSI said he told his superiors they needed MANY more people. I think Montalvan really has lost it.
Now he says that withdrawing will cause huge loss of life, but we need to do it anyway to save money and because we have no plan. A withdrawal would force the hand of tribal leaders to sort it out on their own, even though there will be huge deaths. We should guard the borders! (Hell yeah! Oh wait, he meant Iraqi borders. damn.)
Of course Montalvan's policy position conflicts directly with IVAWs, so Kokesh is leaping in to do damage control.
Ellison now asking about Iran. Says the Iraqi's love Iran, and Mahmood the Madman was greeted with great cheers etc.
Kokesh says that Basra was fixed by the Iranians.
Ellison is telling story of going to Iraq and says "I'm not claiming some Hillary Clinton kinda thing."
And now Montalvan is saying that Iranians are attacking US troops in Iraq, but that that doesn't really deserve any sort of response militarily.
Now Sheila Jackson Lee with closing statement/question. Would you work with us in working to bring 100,000 people to the Mall? (Only if it has a Borders bookstore and a food court.) Montalvan agrees "in principle." Ugh.
Kokesh says only if there was substance to it, not just a show of anti-war force.
"James" (Gilligan?) is flying a flag upside down, and calls for impeachment, everyone claps.
Lee wants to know if they would submit documents under oath. "Absolutely yes" from everyone. Yeay! We got our wish. Unfortunately, none of their stories ranks even a cursory review, although I would want that one guy's XO to speak up.
MILLARD is making closing comments
1) Immediate withdrawal, Congress needs to do so today, stop funding the killing of our troops.
2) Care for our veterans by passing GI Bill
3) Reparations for Iraqis, he is confident that the CPC will make it happen to save the soul of America.
Will Congress save us? (By throwing me a life boat so I can row out of this tsunami of crap.)
(Here's the asshat who is refusing deployment, Matthis Chiroux)
Montalvan is now offering a tour of the "mean streets of Iraq" (I shi'ite you not.)
And thus it ends, not with a bang, but with a simper(ing jackass).
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
RIP Archie Boucher
Archie Boucher entered the Army at age 17 at the advent of WW II. He lied about his age so he could get into the fight. He served as a tail gunner on a bomber in the Army Air Corps over Europe and managed to beat the odds and survive. His tenure as a tail gunner eventually earned him a Purple Heart. His trip home on a troop/medical transport earned him a second Purple Heart when the ship was torpedoed and he broke his back. His second Purple Heart was awarded to him personally by Eleanor Roosevelt. He also served combat tours in Korea during the Korean War. He served in the Army, the Army Air Corps, and The Air Force (without ever having to switch services) and finally retired during the Viet Nam War. His medal box looked like a museum case featuring every medal from 1942 to 1967. He even had an Arctic Service Medal.
He spent the rest of his life living in a self-imposed state of perpetual labor. He was a workaholic to the nth degree. He was tough as nails and feared nothing. He once took off down the block buck naked chasing some guys that tried to steal the elderly neighbor’s chair from across the street. He was also a very cold, closed up, and sometimes heartless man. He was my stepfather and the only person I ever called “dad” face to face.
I never really liked the man nor felt close to him like a son should, but I feared him and respected his military service, raw guts, and work ethic.
RIP Dad.
He spent the rest of his life living in a self-imposed state of perpetual labor. He was a workaholic to the nth degree. He was tough as nails and feared nothing. He once took off down the block buck naked chasing some guys that tried to steal the elderly neighbor’s chair from across the street. He was also a very cold, closed up, and sometimes heartless man. He was my stepfather and the only person I ever called “dad” face to face.
I never really liked the man nor felt close to him like a son should, but I feared him and respected his military service, raw guts, and work ethic.
RIP Dad.
Irony
Drinking a beer (a beverage which I’m sure he rarely drinks), in a bar (an establishment that I’m sure he rarely frequents), and pandering to the common man (which I’m sure he loathes). But the real irony here is this: that beer was more likely than not produced by an Anheuser-Bush brewery… so if he paid for that beer, he just contributed to Mrs. McCain’s coffers and ergo to the effort to elect his adversary. Pretty much par for the course as far his political savvy is concerned.
We're Having an Adventure!
Well, Bridget the Flogging Molly Chick and I, the Poet Laureate, are having an adventure. An adventure that includes men in uniform. LOTS of men in uniform. You see, this week DeeCee has been invaded by police officers for National Law Enforcement Week. Now, aside from honoring them, thanking them for their service and remembering those lost, they also carry handcuffs. Wish us luck, boys!
UPDATE: Sad to say, Bridget will be having an adventure. I will not as I wasn't able to get all my work done. I feel like Cinderella. Maybe my fairy godmother will come along and whisk me away to the Pit. Having seen some of the brave men of the police forces in town, I am SURE Bridget will have lots of fun!
UPDATE: Sad to say, Bridget will be having an adventure. I will not as I wasn't able to get all my work done. I feel like Cinderella. Maybe my fairy godmother will come along and whisk me away to the Pit. Having seen some of the brave men of the police forces in town, I am SURE Bridget will have lots of fun!
Skvoznyak's Tuesday Selection
This is Battlestar Galactica babe Grace Park, who plays Lt. Sharon "Boomer" Valerii, Lt. Sharon "Athena" Agathon and all of the other Number Eight Cylons in the show. Because of the way Season 4 of the show is going, she's pretty much the only reason I watch anymore.
Now, there's good news and bad news regarding Grace. We'll start with the bad...
...she's into one of those "we should all sacrifice more" global charities. The good news, however, is...
...she's stunningly hot. Above, you see a picture of her just having gotten out of my shower.
Above, you see one of her publicity stills.
Regardless of her taste in music, wearing a T-shirt with the word "anthrax" on it in a major terrorist target such as NYC is pretty bad form. She should remove that shirt immediately.
Grace is one of those women who is capable of making men get hard just by her stare alone. You will remain seated for the next 45 minutes. If you actually have to be somewhere else soon, you could try thinking about baseball...
...or you could settle in and dream about Grace being your personal housemaid. Your call, really.
She's been in some magazines, you know. Below, here are three shots from her appearance in Maxim...
Any of you guys who make fun of the decor of my living room will be pummeled without mercy. She picked it out.
I keep trying to tell her that she doesn't have to warm herself up, but the girl just as is stubborn as Tricia Helfer is.
Typical self-conscious chick. Here, she's asking me if she looks fat.
Below, here's a picture of her from SciFi Magazine...
...and below, she appears in an English-language Korean mag called KoreAM.
I had never heard of the magazine before looking for these pictures, but I think I would have bought this issue.
Of course, it would have taken me quite a while just to get past the table of contents.
This is what she looked like when I took her to her senior prom. She cleans up nice, but looks a bit different without her makeup. Observe...
...this is her high school yearbook picture. I include this for all of you "Countdown to 18"-type pervs.
Now, let's take a look at her other professional credits. She hasn't always been a Cylon, you know. Keeping with the youth theme for a moment...
...this is Grace as Shannon NG in a Canadian teen issues-exploration drama called Edgemont. She was a regular, appearing in 50 episodes.
Above, an obligatory BSG shot.
Never let it be said that I'm not fair. If you prefer one of the other female Cylon models, I've got you covered (if you're into the guy Cylons, you're SOL). Click on the above image to see the full-sized shot. Highly recommended.
Keeping with the "I've got you covered" theme, here's a bonus shot of Jessica Alba. This image is from Grace's appearance as "Female Breeding X5" in Dark Angel episode "Designate This."
Above, we see Grace as a bridesmaid in Dead Zone episode "Speak Now."
This is Grace as Fran Yoshida in Jake 2.0. She appeared in four episodes.
Almost every current living Canadian actor and actress, Grace included, has appeared in Stargate: SG-1. Above, we see Grace as Lt. Satterfield in fifth-season episode "Proving Ground."
Above, Grace plays Satchko in an episode of The Outer Limits called "Time to Time." This was on the SciFi Channel early yesterday morning, and that episode was the inspiration for this post. Before anyone asks, the blonde's name is Kristin Lehman, the only exception I can currently think of to my "All living Canadian actors and actresses have appeared in SG-1" rule.
Above, TSO gets his only imdb.com credit as he stands next to Grace. TSO got the gig because it didn't cost anything to make him up. In this fourth-season episode of Andromeda, Grace plays Doctor 26Carol (not a typo).
Remember L.A. Law? There was a TV movie about the show in 2002, and Grace played a character named Charmaigne in it.
Lastly, Grace was in "Romeo Must Die" in 2000, playing a dancer. Rather than distract you from the following images, I'm just going to shut the hell up and let you enjoy them.
Oh, man. I'll be in my bunk.
Tuesday Titillation -- 13 May 2008
So my buddy, Cubs fan Bobby D, told me yesterday about last week's episode of "Two and a Half Men" where they had filmed a spoof episode of CSI. And he told me that there was a red head that played a role based on Marg Helgenberger's "Catherine".
What? Who Dares to compare to Princess Marg?
Bob didn't know who it was that played the role. So the search was on...
Gentlepersons, I give you Jamie Rose.
Jamie runs an acting school in California.
Your crack investigating staff will not rest until we have verified this claim.
To your bunks.
What? Who Dares to compare to Princess Marg?
Bob didn't know who it was that played the role. So the search was on...
Gentlepersons, I give you Jamie Rose.
Jamie runs an acting school in California.
According to Jamie's Blog, the above bust is not entirely hers and was enhanced for the show.
I quote:
(BTW: that chest is not entirely mine...part of a gag in the show...EGADS!)
EGADS, indeed.
Your crack investigating staff will not rest until we have verified this claim.
Her blog further states that she just completed filming an Episode of "House." Here is hoping that she and Cuddy are in another House dream sequence and her character does not spend the hour in a bed and the recipient of yet ANOTHER CAT scan!
If you missed Cuddy pole dancing last night during a dream sequence, well, wow.
To your bunks.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Remember: There Is No Immigration Problem In America
Postville, Ia. – At least 300 people were arrested today at the Agriprocessors, Inc. meat packing plant, federal officials said.
The operation, which targeted people who illegally used other persons Social Security numbers and were in the U.S. illegally, was the largest of its kind in Iowa, said Claude Arnold, a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to an affidavit, “Based on information thus far developed in the investigation, it appears, based on 2007 fourth quarter payroll reports, that approximately 76 percent of the 968 employees of Agriprocessors were using false or fraudulent social security numbers in connection with their employment.”
====
76% would be 700+. This could be the highest per capita of felons.
From the Federal W-4 Form:
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certificate and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete.
Employee’s signature
(Form is not valid
unless you sign it.)
The operation, which targeted people who illegally used other persons Social Security numbers and were in the U.S. illegally, was the largest of its kind in Iowa, said Claude Arnold, a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
According to an affidavit, “Based on information thus far developed in the investigation, it appears, based on 2007 fourth quarter payroll reports, that approximately 76 percent of the 968 employees of Agriprocessors were using false or fraudulent social security numbers in connection with their employment.”
====
76% would be 700+. This could be the highest per capita of felons.
From the Federal W-4 Form:
Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this certificate and to the best of my knowledge and belief, it is true, correct, and complete.
Employee’s signature
(Form is not valid
unless you sign it.)
Group pushing Clinton as VP choice tied to her campaign
WASHINGTON — A group called VoteBoth has been leading the charge for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to team up on the Democratic ticket.
But the people behind it come from just one of those camps — Clinton's — and one of their goals may be keeping Clinton's White House prospects alive.
The group's founder, Adam Parkhomenko, until recently worked as an assistant to Patti Solis Doyle, who was Clinton's campaign manager until February. Parkhomenko in 2003 founded the Draft Hillary for President Committee.
VoteBoth's spokesman is Sam Arora. He's a law school student who in recent years worked for Clinton and for former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's presidential campaign chairman.
VoteBoth's Facebook page lists three others as administrators, all with Clinton connections.
But the people behind it come from just one of those camps — Clinton's — and one of their goals may be keeping Clinton's White House prospects alive.
The group's founder, Adam Parkhomenko, until recently worked as an assistant to Patti Solis Doyle, who was Clinton's campaign manager until February. Parkhomenko in 2003 founded the Draft Hillary for President Committee.
VoteBoth's spokesman is Sam Arora. He's a law school student who in recent years worked for Clinton and for former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's presidential campaign chairman.
VoteBoth's Facebook page lists three others as administrators, all with Clinton connections.
Being the verbose and in-depth post wherein I discuss how political platitudes regarding the finest fighting force ever are unquestionably innaccurate
Enough already. Not everyone should be retained.
H/T someone.
Ralph Hardy is living The Sniper Lifestyle
This is the greatest article ever. And it will be my last one for a few days.
A 13 year old from Texas who stole his Dad's credit card and ordered two hookers from an escort agency, has today been convicted of fraud and given a three year community order. Ralph Hardy, a 13 year old from Newark, Texas confessed to ordering an extra credit card from his father's existing credit card company, and took his friends on a $30,000 spending spree, culminating in playing "Halo" on an Xbox with a couple of hookers in a Texas motel. [Who among us hasn't on occasion dreamed of playing Halo with a couple of hookers? I mean, why wouldn'y you want to do that? Seriously, stealing is wrong, but this is like stealing a loaf of bread to feed a starving family sort of thing. I mean, how can such an altruistic goal ever be punishable? This is a malum prohibitum not malum in se violation.]
The escort girls who were released without charge, told the arresting officers something was up when the kids said they would rather play Xbox than get down to business. Police said they were alerted to the motel by a concerned delivery clerk, whom after delivering supplies of Dr Pepper, Fritos and Oreos had been asked by the kids where they could score some chicks and were willing to pay. They explained they had just made a big score at a "World of Warcraft" tournament and wanted to get some relaxation. On noting the boys age the delivery clerk informed the authorities.
[Dude, why malign these kids. They wanted to play Xbox and THEN get it on. Jesus. It's what you do after Halo. Dr. Pepper, Fritos and Oreos are like Cialis. Dude, I challenge you to eat that mixture and play Halo with hookers and not feel the need. It's not possible. Seriously, my sail is hoisted just contemplating it.]
When police arrived at the motel they found $3,000 in cash, numerous electronic gadgets, an Xbox video console with numerous games, and the two local escort girls.
Ralph had reportedly told police that his father wouldn't mind, as it was his birthday last week and he had forgot to get him a present. The father, a lawyer said he had been too busy, but would take him on a surprise trip to Disneyland instead.
[Disneyland blows. You are a lawyer dad, put out for the kid.]
Asked why he ordered two escorts, Ralph said he thought it was the thing to do when you win a "World of Warcraft" tournament. They told the suspicious working girls they were people of restricted growth working with a traveling circus, and as State law does not allow those with disabilities to be discriminated against they had no right to refuse them.
[Since the advent of written language, no better paragraph has been written. Ever. The Bible is pedantic compared to this paragraph. You have hookers, warcraft, midgets and a travelling circus, followed by a legal argument. GREATEST PARAGRAPH EVER.]
The $1,000 a night girls sensing something up played "Halo" on the Xbox with the kids, instead of selling their sexual services. Ralph's ambition is to one day become a politician.
[A lot of people might argue that Ralph's dream has been ruined. Not so, I'm already ready to vote for Ralph now based entirely on his fiscal discipline. Look at how much money this kid saved over Elliot Spitzer.]
RALPH HARDY, YOU SIR, ARE A HERO.
H/t Opie and Anthony.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Pot Head
No, literally. Check it out…
HOUSTON (Reuters) - Authorities in Texas have filed corpse-abuse charges against two men who allegedly removed a skull from a grave and used it as a bong.
The Harris County District Attorney's Office confirmed on Thursday that misdemeanor abuse of corpse charges have been filed in the case.
One of the men allegedly told police they dug up a grave in an abandoned cemetery in the woods, removed a head from a body and smoked marijuana using the skull as a bong.
Police found the cemetery and a grave that had been disturbed but are still investigating the rest of the story, officials said.
Okay, this reminds me of a story that a fellow soldier told me a long time ago regarding the removal of head from an old grave. I suppose the big difference here is that the head was never turned into drug paraphernalia and was ultimately returned to its once and final resting place.
I do think that it’s kind of a double standard though: dig up an American body for your personal use and you’re a grave robber… dig up an Egyptian body and put it in a museum and you’re an archeologist. Bottom line is that you’re disturbing hallowed ground from somebody’s point of view.
That being said, I will gladly donate my skull to the pursuit of reaching altered states once I and my family are done using it (I th