We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:18:31 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Coupla things that struck me today. First up - Tom DeLay and his comments about "Winning the War on Fat in the Federal Budget." Some of us are not amused. While I am not a fan of Rush Limbaugh's show (I do generally like his monologues, but once the callers start in, I'm outta there, I can only take so much group-think before my mind wanders), I'll say that Limbaugh's explanation is *also* plausible. In fact... I *hope* he's correct, otherwise I have to conclude that Mr. DeLay was hung-over or otherwise incapacitated. Y'all can decide as you wish. The... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html Thu, 15 Sep 2005 08:27:43 -0600 Well, actually, under the Stafford Act, the emergency declaration (this is why you go for it EARLY when you're a Governor) obligates the Feds to 755 of the bill, up to 90% if it's severe enough. This is a %90 event, and it's a statutory bill the Feds are due to pay. Of course, with that gives them the right to some say in *how* it's spent. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31993 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31993 Mon, 19 Sep 2005 18:44:08 -0600 authorization, not an appropriation? The former don't spend a cent, last I checked, and while giving it up is a nice gesture, it doesn't actually affect spending anyway. (I mean, there's no guarantee that spending was going to get appropriated, and until then, there's not a cent for it.)]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31990 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31990 Mon, 19 Sep 2005 17:23:32 -0600 Well, I do stand by what I said Mr. MacCloud. There is a double standard on 'sensitivity' issues in the US in favor of the democrats, but on the flipside no modern democrat will ever be seen as tough on crime or defense(Whittles 'Tribes' essay is a great example of the division and the logic behind why---oh, and I'm a graphite Babe-the-herding-pig. Not a grey sheepdog, no matter how much I think I am a sheepdog.). Ah, we youngsters. We don't understand how to play the game entirely yet. Like young cornerbacks in the NFL. Speed and reflexes and intesity. Sigh. Why do the PRC students get to have raw nerves? I dunno. Considering how Bing-Bing terrorizes Ah-Cheun into saying it's one big happy China I don't understand either. Why what some ecentric gwai-lou who hangs out at Castle Arghhh! has to say on the matter whould matter to a loyal citizen of the Middle Kingdom I have no bloody idea why. But it did, but it also made the ROC student very happy to see that someone here Stateside cared enough to pay attention to the situation. Plus, there's no explaining to some people either. Actually showing my PI PLA whitepapers available online about how PRC lays claim to 'the Three Island Chains' that include the Ryukus and other bits of Japan and the Philippines, and a decent chunk of the Pacific as 'territorial waters' to boot, didn't help. Just showed I was a right wing nut. Jeez. I can't wait 'til I finish. If anyone's interested I do get interesting stuff about the Taiwan/PRC situation occasionally--particularly from RAND and a few academics. Let me know and I'll pass it along. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31971 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31971 Mon, 19 Sep 2005 01:42:30 -0600 No worry, Ry. I am exploring very indirectly the state of US politics and the problem of division for division's sake. We do it in a series of insults, pokes and cartoon politics references. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31926 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31926 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 13:59:46 -0600 Ry - Alan was just in wingnut-baiting... what's it say that you fell for it? 8^D That was better than any Hairy Eyeball... Now, to the important stuff - which RAND study, and how come a PRC student gets to have exposed nerves, anyway? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31925 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31925 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 13:02:03 -0600 Oi. Did I mess up again(I really need to just stay under that rock don't I?)? Sorry Alan. You can take the pound of flesh tommorrow(though seeing your ode to Carter on your site I dunno if I should be appologizing ;)). Seeing as how I've already used up my 'in trouble for insensitivity' quota for the day. Got hauled into my PIs office after angering and causing a PRC student to rant for twenty who saw a Rand study I was reading and forwarded to a ROC student. (That's a mainland Chinese student going berzerk for something I sent to a Taiwanese student for those who don't know the difference) It doesn't help that they share the same lab space. Ai ya. After that my patience for 'you evil repbulican bastards, kiss my heiny as penitence' type stuff was a little short. So, if I went off half cocked, sorry. You're second in line, behind Sanger, for kicking my head in, okay? Or you could just have John teach you the Hairy Eyeball--that tends to keep me under my rock. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31923 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31923 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 12:36:37 -0600 soft-porn Playboy style bunnies...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31921 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31921 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 11:19:59 -0600 I think survivor would be more interesting if the tribal council had to EAT the person voted off... And all the baggage that entails.. :) http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31919 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31919 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 11:11:14 -0600 I forgot my emoticon! I can't believe I forgot my emoticon! ;-) There - that must clear up everything. But I still want a wabbit character in the Kar-toon. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31918 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31918 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:20:17 -0600 You're right, Alan - so Stop It! Else we send the RWDS's after you... Some people just don't get your humour, Alan... Hee. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31917 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31917 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 10:15:31 -0600 Hey - leave my generalistic abstract cogitations alone! You want to selectively slag feel free...but if you list all legislators who have found themselves and legal problems and it might be worth listening to. Otherwise that is just enemy-of-the-people divisionist rhetoric, party before nation jingoism. Shame. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31916 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31916 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 09:49:01 -0600 No, lets not abstract it a bit. Let's keep it very specific--inductive rather than deductive. Newt Gingrich--booted for a conflict of interest because he signed a contract with a book company. HR Clinton--signs similar book deal, yet is still there. Trent Lott--says something nice about a friend on his b-day and loses his job. Sen. Byrd, actual Kleagle in the KKK, is the teflon senator on race issues because he's a dem(even though he also was a dixiecrat just like Lott's friend). Oregon and Utah congressman(R) got the boot in the 90's for sexual harrasment suits(even though it was consensual the difference in power MADE it harrasment), but for the Playboy in Cheif we get 'getting a bj isn't a crime'. I'm sorry Alan, but there is a serious double standard at play. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31915 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31915 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 09:28:59 -0600 But abstract it a bit. Is there not an odd thing happening in the last few years where moral wrongs are worse than white collar crimes? I am quite disgusted, for example, that Martha gets a show after getting out of the slammer. All the while she claims something like it was a "techicality" - not really bad to lie to an investigator. Look at DeLay - generally I would suggest the defence to the ethics charges are that these are technical things, not indicative of a plan or wickedness. But snuggle up to the attractive girl and you are going to hell. I don't think of this as a partisan thing so much as a degradation for the rule of law and the courts supported by politicians who attack "trial lawyers" and that sort of thing. Is that fair? [I am sure I can think of how to turn this into a reason for the right to eat its own...give me a moment or two...] http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31914 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31914 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 09:12:24 -0600 Notice the words "congressman" and "resign," Alan. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31913 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31913 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 08:31:18 -0600 Err...maybe because getting a bj is not a crime? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31912 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31912 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 08:26:58 -0600 Feh, Alan. Name me a democrat politician hounded out of office, or quietly told to go away, in recent memory. Democrat congressmen boff underage interns or commit adultery, as an example, might get embarassed or *shudder* censured. Republican congressmen resign or go to jail. Spare me. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31911 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31911 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 08:11:34 -0600 Not by the right. It is time for them to eat their own. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31910 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31910 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 08:06:01 -0600 If she's got a nice profile, I can take the bunny. As for Cheney, c'mon, Alan, you can do better than that. He's been caricatured so much he's old news. Get creative! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31907 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31907 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 07:20:09 -0600 Gee - I woke up thinking that was ruder than I meant to be...and I was right?!?!? You are right about the cartoon. I think we control the agenda there now. I want a bunny character introduced. There has never been a political cartoon of any vlaue which did not have a bunny. Any make fun of Cheney. No one is making enough fun of Cheney. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31906 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31906 Fri, 16 Sep 2005 06:37:43 -0600 I know that Alan. The difference is, when your side is in power, you spend all the same money happily, on all the same crap and more, and your constituents are happy about. When the Right is in power, their constituents grump about it. And would the Left even suggest the redirection of funds, or rather, just raise taxes... which wouldn't go down after the issue was resolved... now would they? And have you been paying attention to the 'kartoon' this week? Muir has been Bush-bashing, if gently. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31904 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31904 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 20:36:02 -0600 Err...the state of your Federal budget has nothing to do with lefties, John - check the results of the last election. That one was worthy of that Kar-Tooon you run. Start asking the righties why they are wasting the money and you might actually find someone in a position to make the decision...except...they've been making all the decisions that got the budget where it is. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31903 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31903 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 19:54:27 -0600 bridge to nowhere might be a start in the right direction. And it won't throw the ferry crew out of what little work there is...]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31901 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31901 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 15:59:03 -0600 Don't watch Survivor television. I can only stand a little of the Family Worship Center at a time. Interesing observations about donating. The governor of GA got the legislature to suspend, for one month, the state's cut of the gas sales. That is a whopping .15 a gallon. 87 octane is down to 2.59 a gallon. That is what he did to give the state a break. Since no government body ever met a tax they didn't like, we know at midnight 9-30 it will end. I wonder what pork they can trim from the budgets to send to Katrina relief. Thanks for the thought. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31899 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31899 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 13:55:32 -0600 Here's an idea: ad hoc fed gov't bonds to use for reconstruction in LA, Mississippi, and other states affected by natural disasters this year. Everybody wins(no bait and switch with tax money ten years down the line.) Survivor: Wife got me hooked. The only fun is predicting the outcome from week to week, and commercial break to commercial break based on personality traits of the cast. We bet pocket lint on it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31895 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31895 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 13:23:52 -0600 Here is how you make Survior type shows interesting....take a group of 10 people and a pot of $10 million. Put them in a nasty environment, maybe similar to current, but harder. When a person leaves the group (For *any* reason) the pot shrinks. [Going from 10-9 people means that the pot goes from 10,000,000 to 6,750,000, ie. each player only gets 750,000 instead of 1,000,000.] Here the object is actually to survive, not that anti-survival BS. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31893 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31893 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 12:07:01 -0600 ... except that, as of that date, my regiment still rode into battle, sword in hand. Cavalry, y'know. Cheers JMH http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31891 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31891 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:45:39 -0600 Newark? It'll take more than two million bucks to dig through all that asphalt and find actual soil... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31888 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2005/09/thursday_olio.html#comment-31888 Thu, 15 Sep 2005 11:06:41 -0600