It seems both the UK & the US are embroiled in blogosphere pissing contests between leading bloggers. In the UK its over the Labour smear campaign that has embroiled some of the top political blogs in the UK. The Telegraph tries to sort through the mess. Not exactly surprising as Labour has never really grasped the blogosphere and are obviously worried by it.
On the other side of the pond we have a squabble between Charles "Little Green Footballs Johnson" and pretty much the rest of the anti-Jihad blogosphere Including Jihadwatch's Robert Spencer, Atlas Shrugs and most anyone else you care to mention. Poligazette attempts to crack the nut and urge it to end. Much of it depends on where you fall on the Geert Wilders issue, Johnson is not a fan, and the rest of them are, including myself.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Spring blogger squabbles?
Tea Party meme getting noticed...
But not always for the right reasons. Its not surprising to see someone bringing race into it. There is an implicit taint of playing the race card in this piece. Well not so implicit really; since most of the people he sees at tea parties are white they must be there because of race. I suppose suggesting to him that the MSM is deliberately avoiding filming any minorities would be a shock to him. In fact the guy doesn't know what he is talking about really.
In Maine we are getting all sorts coming out in support not all Republicans by far. There are people who are completely fed up with all sides pushing big government. One could say that this is easier to believe in Maine; home of both Sen. Collins & Snowe neither of who could be described as small government conservatives. It is a shame Mr Broughton has decided to make broad generalisations, race bait and malign the intentions of all those attending tea parties.
Peter Roff on the other hand is more positive about the movement and suggests we are invoking the spirit of those who were fed up with George III and his taxation of the colonies.
Both pieces are a clear example of why keeping the tea parties non-partisan is key to making them attractive to all types of people sick of big government. In Maine, as in other states, there are those from a particular party or movement thereof, that have attempted to hijack the cause for partisan gain. This defeats the object of the exercise and is counter-productive. That said, the more tea parties there are the better for whatever reason they are being held.
Cross-posted @ Red County...
Update: Not surprisingly ACORN are planning to disrupt, discredit and otherwise malign the Tea Party movement anyway they can in an organized way. Not exactly shocking and entirely predictable if you know the behavior of the left.
Update II: More on the whole ACORN sabotage effort.
Stormbringer on the Pirate situation..........
Let us review of the immediate situation in the Indian Ocean: 1X lifeboat with 4 pirates + 1 US hostage vs. US Navy destroyer USS Bainbridge and now guided missile frigate USS Halyburton (with compliment of helicopters). Latest sitreps indicate the pirates’ allies are moving other commandeered merchant vessels (the previously hijacked 20,000-tonne German container vessel Hansa Stavanger and possibly three others) into the area to further complicate the scenario. A USN P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft is keeping close tabs on the situation.
In a separate incident, French special forces stormed and freed a yacht held by pirates; during the course of the assault operation one hostage was killed and four others were freed.
The suggestions I’ve seen to date in the media only seem to address the immediate situation, i.e. “have some snipers take out the pirates in the lifeboat”, and “put private security contractors on the ships passing through the area”.
Both these themes are reactive in nature, and both of them seem to miss the big picture.
The situation at sea will resolve itself one way or the other; I will refrain from armchair quarterbacking the guys who have eyes-on at this time – there are any number of factors that complicate the sniper plan. At this time all I can do is pray for Captain Richard Phillips, who it seems offered himself as hostage in exchange for the safety of his crew. The man is a hero, and he certainly deserves more regard from his President, who declined discussing the issue with journalists for the second day in a row on Thursday.
What strikes me as odd is the fact that, despite all the comparisons by media wonks regarding America’s first foreign policy crisis - the wars with the Barbary Pirates (1801–1805, 1815) – nobody seems to grasp the big picture here.
Suggestion, Mr. Obama:
#1. Give the pirates in the lifeboat anything and everything they are asking for. To date, the pirates have demonstrated good faith in dealing with ransom-paying governments, and the two million dollar ransom is chump change compared to keeping the current naval presence afloat on standby.
#2. As soon as Captain Phillips has been returned to safety, and BEFORE the next situation arises, announce that: A) piracy on the high seas will no longer be tolerated and B) any remaining hostages being held either at sea or in the pirate strongholds in Somalia be released immediately.
Mr. Obama is a basketball player; in basketball the only way to win is to take the ball into enemy territory and make the other side play defense, a.k.a. Full Court Press. The way to play out this strategy here is to announce that all known pirate dwellings (they live in palaces, apparently) will be destroyed within 48 hours. To prove we are serious, one of the palaces chosen at random will be destroyed within 24 hours. Then - whether or not any remaining hostages are released - blow the pirate palaces to smithereens. Take them apart brick by brick, right down to the foundation stones. An AC-130 Spectre gunship flown out of our bases in the Horn of Africa should be able to accomplish this task overnight.
The Chinese word for ‘Crisis’ breaks down into = ‘Danger + Opportunity’ 
This is Obama’s opportunity to demonstrate decisive leadership, to honorably emerge from this high seas dilemma. Piracy is the scourge of civilization; combating pirates in the most brutal manner possible has propelled leaders from Julius Caesar to Thomas Jefferson to greatness and glory. If Barack Hussein were to take this decisive step, the United States will be respected by law-abiding people everywhere, and feared by criminals and terrorists anywhere.
Of course, Barack Hussein Obama will not do this, any more than William Jefferson Clinton had the testicular fortitude to do so to the lawless Somali thugs immediately following the Battle of Mogadishu in October of 1993. If he had done so, it is quite possible the civilized rule of law might be more prevalent in the Horn of Africa than the current set of circumstances.
STORMBRINGER SENDS
Editors note:
STORMBRINGER is the pseudonym of a US Army (retired) Special Forces Combat Diver NCO, still serving in other capacities
News....
Pirates must be hunted down and their vessels sunk on sight. Time to play rough. (H/T Mark H)
Slush money: Civil servants get a £250 bonus just for 'struggling' into work in the snow. Pathetic.
Family of father stabbed to death by three thugs is denied compensation... because he tried to fight back.
Disgusting.
Fined £75, the man who pinned up a sign and 'harmed a living tree'. Nuts.
Teachers prepare to boycott SATs exams as Schools Secretary Balls warns: 'You can't just break the law'. The Teaching Unions have wrecked our education system.
Row as Number 10 emails 'smear Tories'. Shows how dirty Labour are.
Trio arrested over bomb 'plot' may have used security jobs as a cover. What the f**k happened to vetting?
First US Army officer to graduate from Sandhurst. Good for him.
Plane takes off without pilot at vintage airshow. Explain that to the insurance company.
Cargo ship captain attempts to escape pirate captors. Brave guy. I hope he survives.
Barack Obama 'can't live without Entourage and The Wire'. He will be guest starring next.
Shooting parties take flight as recession hits the big guns. A financial disaster for many. There again I was brought up to shoot for the pot. You kill it, you eat it and never shoot more than you need. The mass slaughter of the corporate shoots is financially necessary but not in the spirit of the countryside.
Moscow’s military occupation continues despite peace deal. Moscow has pulled off a coup with no complaints from the west.
You stopped us from vetting people, says Pakistan envoy. We don't seem to check anyone coming in.
and finally....
Save The Lame-O 80s Rockers! Jules was to save the Pet Shop Boys.
Lawyers- Need Bigger Boobs? (H/T JMH)
Exclusive: Corrigan Brothers....American Dream
The story of the Song
Visiting New York last June the Brothers visited Ellis Island and were immediately inspired to write this song. Reading the stories of the International Emigrant experience to the USA. The resilience of all emigrants and their subsequent contribution to American society inspired Corrigan Brothers, Ger,Brian and Donncha to write the song. Written in New York and recorded in Ireland ,American Dream is a tribute to the Irish who have made an enormous contribution to the USA!
Video: The Climbing Digger
This is very clever. We posted the pics a while back, now the video has appeared.
H/T Dave H
Borrowed from Foxnwolf
Salesman of the year......
This is a poster found in a gun shop in Wheatland, OK. The best ever! 
H/Ts 45 Govt & Jackie G
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A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds.
After explaining the commandment to 'honour' thy Father and thy Mother, she asked, 'Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?'
Without missing a beat one little boy (the oldest of a family) answered, 'Thou shall not kill.'
H/T Liz B
Friday, 10 April 2009
Take aim.....
A man goes into a gun shop for a telescopic rifle sight. The assistant takes one out, points out the window and says: “This baby is so good, you can see right into my house on that hill way over there.”
The man looks through the sight at the house and starts laughing.
“What’s so funny?” asks the assistant.
“Well, I can see a naked man chasing a naked woman around your house,” replies the customer.
Snatching the ’scope back, the assistant cranes his eye through the sight and sure enough, there is his wife, naked, being hotly pursued by an excited young man.
Furious, the assistant says to the man, “If I give you two bullets, will you blow my wife’s head off with one and take the man’s dick out with the other? I’ll give you the telescopic sight for free if you do.”
“Okay,” the man says, as he takes out his rifle and attacks the sight. Taking a quick look through it before loading, he hands one bullet back. “You know what?” he says. “I think I can do this with just one shot.”
H/T DML
Things you do see in Norfolk......A Whisky Distillery
Find out more HERE
I feel a field trip coming on.
Wow: The Kings Firecrackers......
....This was the half time show at a Naval Academy Game. It is totally amazing and must have taken hours of practice.
H/T Tom
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Tax Reminder........from Rico
And as smooth-talking and glib Joe "golden tonsils" (or was that "plugs?") Biden would have you understand IT'S YOUR PATRIOTIC DUTY!!!*
And besides...Obama wants to make being an ILLEGAL immigrant LEGAL and give them your hard-earned tax-dollars anyway, so that's FAIR and quite all right, si?
Hey, YOU....yes you, Tax-payer shnook..."que pasa homie...now bend over and take it from Team Obama again!"
*Unless you are a candidate for a position in the Obama-Biden administration or a current member of Congress, then all bets are off and you don't have to pay any taxes or penalties!
Tax Reminder.........April 15, 2009
Important tax reminder:
Don't forget to pay your taxes......
Muchas gracias!
21 million illegal aliens are depending on you!
RANGERS vs SPECIAL FORCES...........
The Chief of Staff of the Army asked his Sergeant Major, who was both Ranger and Special Forces qualified, which organization he would recommend to form a new anti-terrorist unit. The Sergeant Major responded to the General's question with this parable:
If there were a hijacked Boeing 747 being held by terrorists along with its passengers and crew and an anti-terrorist unit formed either by the Rangers or the Special Forces was given a Rescue/Recovery Mission; what would you expect to happen?
Ranger Option
Forces/Equipment Committed: If the Rangers went in, they would send a Ranger company of 120 men with standard army issue equipment.
Mission Preparation: The Ranger Company First Sergeant would conduct a Hair Cut and Boots Inspection, while the officers consulted SOPs and held sand table exercises.
Infiltration Technique: They would insist on double timing, in company formation, wearing their combat equipment, and singing cadence all the way to the site of the hijacked aircraft.
Actions in the Objective Area: Once they arrived, the Ranger company would establish their ORP, put out security elements, conduct a leaders recon, reapply their camouflage, and conduct final preparations for Actions on the OBJ.
Results of Operation: The Rescue/Recovery Operation would be completed within one hour; all of the terrorists and most of the passengers would have been killed, the Rangers would have sustained light casualties and the 747 would be worthless to anyone except a scrap dealer.
Special Forces Option
Forces/Equipment Committed: If Special Forces went in, they would send only a 12 man team (all SF units are divisible by 12 for some arcane historical reason) however, due to the exotic nature of their equipment the SF Team would cost the same amount to deploy as the Ranger Company.
Mission Preparation: The SF Team Sergeant would request relaxed grooming standards for the team.
All members of the team would spend a grueling afternoon at a quality spa ensuring physical abilities would be honed.
Infiltration Technique: The team would insist on separate travel orders with Max Per Diem, and each would get to the site of the hijacking by his own means. At least one third of the team would insist on jumping in HALO.
Actions in the Objective Area: Once they arrived , the SF Team would cache their military uniforms, establish a Team Room at the best hotel in the area, use their illegal Team Fund to stock the unauthorized Team Room Bar, check out the situation by talking to the locals, and have a Team Meeting to discuss the merits of the terrorists' cause.
Results of Operation: The Rescue/Recovery Operation would take two weeks to complete and by that time all of the terrorists would have been killed, (and would have left signed confessions); the passengers would be ruined psychologically for the remainder of their lives; and all of the women passengers would be pregnant. The 747 would be essentially unharmed, the team would have taken no casualties but would have used up, lost, or stolen all the "high speed" equipment issued to them.
H/T Stormbringer
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Rising TAXES........from Rico
I know you see this coming. Taxes are going UP!
Tax collections are tanking right along with everything else [kudos Obama-Reid-Pelosi] and the deep-thinkers are RAISING TAXES to offset falling tax revenues. It's not just the Federal gooberment that is going to sock-it-to you, but it is starting to happen at the State gooberment level right now.
- Of course, the most Socialist "welfare" states are (a) being hardest hit, and (b) the ones first to look at fleecing the sheeple to sustain their unsustainable "free ride" for the unproductive and the moochers.
- Have you been watching the Governor (D) of New York?
Of course YOU and I have to make do with less in hard times. Live within our means. NOT SO for Government! They cannot do without, so instead of cutting spending they are looking at raising taxes.
This is brilliant. It is exactly like trying to "fill" a sinkhole that is getting deeper by the day with our tax dollars.
The fun is just starting. The tax-spenders have the cross-hairs squarely on the tax-payers.
