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/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 15:56:46 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ...buzzing around in email, talking to mid-level policy wonks in various PA shops around the Puzzle Palace and Combatant Commands, and I'm having this chat with a "Senior Government Official" as we were discussing the overall labyrinthine (and oft-times conflicting) blogging policies... among other things, the recently published blogging policy of the Combined Arms Center, put out by LTG Caldwell. [Update: the way that reads, you might take away that I'm not happy with LTG Caldwell's guidance - on the contrary, I think it's one of the best out there on the topic. -the Armorer] The subject which lit this... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:41:48 -0600 Hey, Bill - it looked good when it left here... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72614 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72614 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:09:05 -0600 "If it’s a good idea, you will like it as soon as they explain the whole package." Someone once decided it would be a good idea to send me out with a Low Light Level camera to film the night crossing of an NVA regiment from Cambodia into the Delta. From 300 feet. Just as the TOT arrived. They explained the whole package and I *still* didn't like the idea one iota... ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72609 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72609 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:24:37 -0600 "If it’s a good idea, you will like it as soon as they explain the whole package." Whoever quoted this is full of bull. People do not always like a good idea once explained because they don't always view it as a good idea. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72605 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72605 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:54:10 -0600 People say they value truth, but they don’t like pain, and resent the bearer of unwelcome truths. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72603 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72603 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:42:12 -0600 The profoundly populist world-view of Jacksonian Americans contributes to one of the most important elements in their politics: the belief that while problems are complicated, solutions are simple. False idols are many; the True God is One. Jacksonians believe that Gordian Knots are there to be cut. In public controversies, the side that is always giving you reasons why something can’t be done, and is endlessly telling you that the popular view isn’t sufficiently "sophisticated" or "nuanced"—that is the side that doesn’t want you to know what it is doing, and it is not to be trusted. If politicians have honest intentions, they will tell you straight up what they plan to do. If it’s a good idea, you will like it as soon as they explain the whole package. For most of the other schools, "complex" is a positive term when applied either to policies or to situations; for Jacksonians it is a negative. Ronald Reagan brilliantly exploited this. As in the case of Andrew Jackson himself, Reagan’s own intuitive approach to the world led him to beliefs and policies that appealed to Jacksonian opinion right from the start. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72602 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72602 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:42:49 -0600 Sounds like my parenting philosophy. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72599 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72599 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:26:57 -0600 John, WELL DONE! We, the Military/Veteran Community, need to remember, there is an over ridding responsibility for support of our troops in harm's way. Does this mean we always agree on the "facts" of the situation? No, but when we correct, we correct the facts and do it respectfully within the Military/ Veteran Community. We may not think about it, so much, but this community reflects on our original oath in joining the military in service to this Nation. The question comes up, just how tight or disciplined are we talking about? Are we talking of the cold world of absolute math, where 2 + 2 will always equal 4 on the hex or base ten scale? This is the world of absolutely no flexibility, Good grief, even in the world of machinery, there must be enough space for lubricant or it will freeze. Even when we think of math, we think of the low levels of computer languages, there is a built in flexibility or even the computer then "freezes up". John, maybe I'm standing in need of correction. There is an obsolete term, let me see if I can remember it. Oh yeah, I think it's called, "common sense with a military/veteran plugin". XBradTC, about the big stick, having it is one thing. The real thing to have is the wisdom of knowing, how, when and where to use it. Everybody have a GREAT week, Grumpy http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72594 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72594 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:55:13 -0600 Now here's a guy that gets it. Say what you mean, and mean what you say, with a little walk softly and carry a big stick mixed in for good measure. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72593 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2008/04/okay_there_i_wa.html#comment-72593 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:49:25 -0600