Comments for The Chirp Of Crickets 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 2003-2010 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:10:02 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification The Chirp Of Crickets Last night, our Commander in Chief delivered his address to the nation, on our new strategy on Afghanistan... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:30:55 -0600 Comment from Justthisguy on 2009-12-05 P.s. That cadet on our right hand as we look at the picture, closer to us than the guy with the "Kill Bin Laden" book, needs to learn how to do a proper poker face. I know he's right young, and all, but that facial expression is all over the internet now. I imagine he's already gotten at least one letter from his parents about that. Cameras are everywhere. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96124 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96124 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 21:05:18 -0600 Comment from Justthisguy on 2009-12-05 Reminds me of an episode at one of Billy Jeff's State of the Union speeches. As I recall, he paused to direct attention to a B-2 pilot up in the peanut gallery, and asked him to stand up for attention and praise. I'll never forget the expression on that AF officer's face. He was obviously trying to do it right; thumbs on trouser seams, feet at 45 degrees, face totally impassive, etc., but I swear I detected clenched jaw muscles and would not be surprised to learn that the guy had broken a tooth or two. I speak as one who thinks he's borderline-autistic and thus not too swift at interpreting facial expressions, but I'll take my oath before God and everybody that that officer was just hoppin' mad and controlling himself with difficulty. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96123 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96123 Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:51:31 -0600 Comment from Chadd in FL on 2009-12-04
Gore was there in '93?  I graduated in '94 and don't remember that at all, so I guess he didn't make very much of an impression.  I don't know if you remember SecDef William Perry's speech, but that brought eye-gouging brutality to new heights.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96106 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96106 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:55:13 -0600 Comment from Old Fat Sailor on 2009-12-03 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96079 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96079 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:46:11 -0600 Comment from AFSister on 2009-12-03 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96063 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96063 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:37:37 -0600 Comment from Boquisucio on 2009-12-03 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96055 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96055 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:53:17 -0600 Comment from Fishmugger on 2009-12-03
Yes the report was that they were march in at 1600 hours with the speech scheduled for 2000 hours. So it brings to mind an early dinner or no dinner until after the speech. Ya think refreshments were passed out for the long wait.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96054 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96054 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:07:50 -0600 Comment from Ironside on 2009-12-03 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96053 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96053 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 07:45:12 -0600 Comment from BillT on 2009-12-03 I don't suppose anyone is going to post on the content of that speech?

The content consisted of mentioning neither "victory" nor "enemy," but he *did* mention himself 44 times. And Gibbs proclaimed it "the most significant wartime policy speech in the history of the United States."

Okay, okay, I lied about Gibbs' statement -- he was asleep, too.

...the cadets had been sitting in the auditorium for 4 hours prior to the start of the speech.

That's pretty much Standard Operating Procedure, Miss L.

Length of time prior to the VIP's arrival depends on the rank of the commander: Majors have the troops in their seats 20 minutes prior, LTCs have them in their seats half an hour prior, COLs have them there 45 minutes prior, and GOs have 'em there fifty minutes prior. However, the longest pre-arrival time I ever had to be in place before a Presidential visit (former Pres Nixon twice, sitting Pres Bush I once, former Pres Clinton once, sitting Pres Bush II three times) was *one* hour.

We *did* have a two-hour wait for a visit from former Pres Jimmeh Cottuh, but he was a no-show, so it doesn't count.
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96048 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96048 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 03:09:35 -0600 Comment from Miss Ladybug on 2009-12-02 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96045 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96045 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:51:16 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-12-02
Stephen went to the same schools in St Louis SWWBO did.

And then there's this connection to MMA, '47.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96042 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96042 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:32:29 -0600 Comment from Casey on 2009-12-02 tidbit in comments:
Jay –

I don’t know how it is for USMA cadets, but I can tell you how it was for cadets at Missouri Military Academy, circa 1987.

When somebody important showed up to give some important speech, we cared a lot less about the speech (or the speaker) than we did about whether our shoes were shined well enough, and if our brass was polished well enough, to keep us out of trouble.

The rest was just a matter of not falling asleep during review.
 
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96039 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96039 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 20:19:03 -0600 Comment from RetRsvMike on 2009-12-02
]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96034 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96034 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:28:59 -0600 Comment from AFSister on 2009-12-02 I was wondering if that poor cadet caught snoozing would be making the internet rounds.... Looks like he did.  Keith and I busted a gut laughing when we saw that last night.

I commented to Keith that the lack of applause and enthusiasm was incredibly obvious, making me wonder if the cadets were told NOT to react to the speech until he was done.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96030 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96030 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 18:26:05 -0600 Comment from Argent on 2009-12-02 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96027 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96027 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:20:20 -0600 Comment from Argent on 2009-12-02 ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96025 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96025 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:37:24 -0600 Comment from John of Argghhh! on 2009-12-02
They did it to Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush, too.  I'm guessing they did it to both Roosevelts, Harding, Coolidge, and Harrison, if they ever spoke to them in an auditorium, vice in formation.

There's a reason Eisenhower Auditorium in the former Bell Hall at Fort Leavenworth was nick-named "Sleepy Hollow."  Many a famous personage was napped through in that auditorium.]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96023 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96023 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:09:29 -0600 Comment from 11B40 on 2009-12-02
Nice to see that Combat Infantry Badge on the "Kill Bin Laden" reader.  As the twig is bent, so grows the tree. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96020 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/12/the_chirp_of_cr.html#comment-96020 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:14:25 -0600