This ain't Hell, but you can see it from here

Category: Reality Check

  • Why This Stuff Matters, Part 2

    We see a lot of military fakes here at TAH.  And often, it seems as if there’s simply no way of getting through to those sh!theads just how badly – and why – their false claims disturb legitimate veterans and their families.

    Most of the time, for fakes the words of the Captain character from Cool Hand Luke (the prison warden played by Strother Martin) are completely apropos:  “Some men you just can’t reach.”

    I thought about this for a couple of days, debating whether or not to post this article.  I decided to go ahead.   So here I’ll try yet again to explain to those fakers why stolen valor – and especially false claims regarding the Purple Heart – is so infuriating.

    Past history tells me I’m tilting at windmills.  Still, here goes.

    . . .

    In a previous article, I highlighted a comment from TAH reader Enigma4You, Wesley Wilson.  His comment regarding the Purple Heart and why those falsely claiming to have received this decoration should be ashamed of their lie is truly worthwhile reading.

    Wesley’s comment is eloquent, heartfelt, and moving.  And it gets the point across in a manner that only an absolute idiot could miss.

    And yet, that moving and heartfelt comment only tells part of the story.  It discusses the third-worst scenario regarding the award of the Purple Heart.

    . . .

    (more…)

  • Why This Stuff Matters

    In the William Derek Church discussion, regular TAH reader and occasional commenter Wesley Wilson (Enigma4you) left a comment that very eloquently points out why stolen valor matters.  The comment is focused specifically on the Purple Heart, but the sentiment is the same – albeit different in degree, perhaps – for valor awards, service awards, and special qualifications/service.

    I thought the comment was worth repeating, virtually unchanged and nearly in full, here.  I certainly can’t say it better.

    In so many places around the world right now US service men and women are defending and protecting our way of life.  As you and I sit safe in our home my own son is getting ready to deploy on the USS Philippine Sea.  My best friend’s son is in his second deployment in Afghanistan.  He has already gotten one Purple Heart this deployment.  I can’t think of a single Military award that is more unwanted by those that truly have it than the Purple Heart.

    (more…)

  • Today’s Entertainment, Courtesy of the PPACA

    Here ya go – today’s P!ss-Poor Asininely Comical Abomination Patient Protection and “Affordable” Care Act comedy news, courtesy of the Drudge Report:

    CO Man Applies for Health Insurance; His Dog Gets Coverage

    Number Insured Through Oregon’s Exchange So Far?  Zero

    Exchange Is So Flaky, Major Insurer Stops Advertising

    Some DC Plans Cover Abortion, Don’t Cover Hearing Aids

    Wanna Pay Through the Exchange?  Fuggedaboudit – Payment System Not Built Yet (Apparently That’s True of 60% or More of the Overall System)

    Used the Exchange?  Maybe You Should Go Get LifeLock or a Similar Service

    PPACA Web Site Crashes – Again – This Time While Secretary Sebelius Is Using It At A Public Function

    But There’s No Political Cost So Far, Right?  Well, Not Exactly . . .

    . . . As Three Current Senators Might Be About to Find Out

    Honestly, you couldn’t make this sh!t up.  No one would believe you.

    “Most transparent administration”, eh?  Well, transparency sometimes has disadvantages.

    Transparency exposes monumental incompetence clearly for all to see.

  • Looks Like Joe Was Right

    Well, there he goes again.

    The other day, the POTUS blamed “bad apple insurers” for the rise in premiums under the AHCA.  This in spite of the fact that it was the increased AHCA coverage requirements that caused the rise in premiums.  And the fact that regulations promulgated by his administrations HHS Secretary made it virtually impossible for a plan to remain grandfathered.  And in spite of the fact that his own advisors knew – and presumably told him – that millions would lose their existing insurance under the AHCA for exactly these reasons.

    In fact, this seems to be a pattern from the current Administration:  when problems occur, claim they didn’t or shamelessly blame others for your own failings.  According to this Administration, “Benghazi was because of an inflammatory film.”  “We couldn’t get anyone there in time to help.”  “We didn’t know about Fast and Furious when we testified before Congress”.  “No, the IRS didn’t target conservatives and rubber-stamp political allies and those with connections.” “No, we won’t monitor phone conversations of US citizens.”  “We don’t know how many signed up for the ACHA.”

    And don’t even get me started on the other “whoppers” the Administration has told about the ACHA – like keeping existing insurance and doctors if you’re satisfied with them, for starters.  That would take all day.

    Joe caught a lot of grief about his public statement.  But yeah, now it sure looks like Joe was right.

    No, not Joe the VP and his nonsense about shotguns.  Joe Wilson.

  • From The Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Files

    the era of Über political correctness has struck the a brigade in Army’s 4th Infantry division.  Before I get to commenting too much about the major douchegasm that a full bird Colonel just had, I’ll let you read what he wrote.

     

    Hazing

    Hazing2

     

    Done reading?  Are the NCOs in the audience turning red?  that’s right sports fans, you are no longer to “smoke” your privates, as this might be considered “hazing” and is counter productive.  Correcting deficiencies will now fall to sending the hapless privates to a class and inspecting the deficiencies until they’re corrected.  There will be no unique or embarrassing corrective measures.  The memo makes it pretty clear that all the measures that were effective and novel in making sure shit bag privates square themselves away most ricky-tick will now be a thing of the past.

    Pah-THETIC!  Look any private that isn’t terrified of his NCO’s wrath obviously has some bad NCOs.  Everything from cleaning their room, to having their weapon cleaned properly and in a timely fashion are vital to military life, and though the Army can sometimes focus on the bullshit routines of garrison there is nonetheless a solid reason for each of those routines.  Having a private yell out “I LIKE TO F**K MY BUDDIES!” as loud as he can while running in a circle holding his rifle over his head might seem cruel at first glance, but ask that private if he’ll ever flag a friendly with a loaded weapon again.

    I have learned a lot of vital lessons because an NCO took me out to the grass and smoke the crap out of me.  Because I knew that my NCOs would come down on me like a ton of bricks my uniforms for Motorpool Monday formations were always pressed and my boots were so well shined I could have used them to shave with.  Because of an NCO making me do elevated push ups while I listed the parts of a 9-line, I remembered them.  Because of an NCO dummy cording a giant brick to a guy and making him carry it everywhere, I never forgot my weapon.  These lessons have a way of staying with you too.  Even now long after I’ve gotten out of the Army I’m always early to any meeting I might be having.

    Expecting the NCOs to churn out quality soldiers that can go anywhere do anything, while simultaneously tying their hands up makes about as much sense as a poopy flavored lollypop.  Unfortunately the society that America is becoming sees adversity  and hardship as having no value.  Everyone is a special little rainbow.  All we seem to be producing are obnoxious self obsessed fat assholes.  How we expect our Army to continue to rock and roll kicking asses and taking names when we can’t even drop someone is beyond me, but no doubt that is exactly what we’ll be expecting of them

  • Not a good week to be the President

    Well it isn’t even Wednesday yet and already President Obama is having some serious migraines.  First there were the Benghazi whistle blowers (and apparently there are even more waiting in the wings) whose testimony is both scathing and damning.  Then there was the IRS scandal, in which the IRS targeted both conservative (specifically but not limited to the TEA party), and Jewish groups.  NOW there is news out of the Associated Press that they had tons of their phone records seized in an apparent dragnet to find leaks.  If he wasn’t already in hot water he sure is now, and the shuckin an jivin isn’t cutting the mustard that it used to.  Many of the journalists and news services that the Obama administration could count on as go to guys are starting to ask very tough questions.  Watching Jay Carney or the President’s most recent press briefings look down right uncomfortable.

    Let’s deconstruct some of this real quick to see just how much trouble the President is in.  Let’s start with the big one last week; Benghazi.  At first glance it’s pretty straight forward, someone screwed up and people died.  Ask any Joe that ever had a 2LT call for fire and they’ll tell you it happens a lot more than we’d like to admit.  But there’s more to it than that.  We know for instance that Tyrone Wood’s team from Global Response Staff (GRS) were clearly aware of the attack at the consulate in Benghazi at 2140, and were ordered ordered by higher not to go.  They left anyway at 2205 local.  We know that Glen Doherty’s team was actually in Tripoli, and had to bribe or even hijack a plane to go to Benghazi.  We know that an SF LTC was ordered to stand down by higher (presumably AFRICOM) and said to the acting Chief of Mission “this is the first time the diplomats had more balls than the military.”  We know that Ambassador Stevens and Sean Smith were overcome by a petroleum fire in their safe room after the compound was breached, and we know both were dead by the end of the night.  The ride back to the CIA annex by Woods’ team was under fire and one of the vehicles had flat tires but nonetheless made it to the compound where they received sporadic fire all night.  At some point during this Doherty’s team managed to make it into the compound before the final assault which included mortar rounds began.  When it was over Woods and Doherty were dead.

    What followed was undeniably a cover-up for political purposes.  A really shitty video was blamed and the denials for support were covered up.  UN ambassador Susan Rice became an unwitting pawn in this and went on all the Sunday talk shows with this truly ridiculous story, which we already knew was wrong.    From all that we’ve been able to glean they knew within 24 hours that it was Ansar al-Sharia, and they knew that this was specifically a terrorist attack.  White-wash or cover up, the American people were lied to, and they kept on lying to us.  Even now they’re making like this is all politics.  It begs the question if they’ve lied about this monumental goof, what else aren’t they telling the truth about.

    And then there’s that IRS bit.  See this is actually the most serious for the President and his team.  Why?  Well look at the first bullet point of Article 2 of the Nixon Articles of Impeachment.  As Joe Biden might say “it’s a big F**king deal.”  The fact that he even joked about it in 2009, is all the more disturbing.  Asking a Jewish group “what you feel about Israel,” or asking a conservative group who their donors are is not only highly irregular, but flat out illegal.  The key words being used for this scrutiny should have everyone’s jaw dropping.  Giving undue scrutiny, or harassment to a group concerned our president is violating the constitution is extremely disturbing.  More than that we’re now learning that this wasn’t just a few low level joe schmos, but high level people were aware of this program, and if they did not encourage it they certainly did nothing to stop it.  Potentially the head of the IRS may have lied to congress in May of 2012.  The president is trying to downplay it saying that investigation is needed, but there’s already been one, and it’s pretty clear what happened if not whose behind it.

    Then there’s that little bit about the AP.  Now as far as we know none of the phones were tapped, but as many as 300 reporters may have been effected.  In the journalist world nothing, and I mean nothing will make them go on the attack like even the insinuation that someone’s spying on them.  Keep in mind that this can not happen without the Attorney General, Eric Holder signing off on it.  This was all done in secret, without anyone at AP’s knowledge, and is potentially violating the First Amendment.  This is pretty important too, because if there has been one group covering for Obama more than anyone else, it has been the press.  Stories that might be considered embarrassing to the Obama administration have for years not received the full attention of the press with a few notable exceptions.  I truly think these days are over.  Whatever else happens from here on out the Obama administration is going to have a lot of explaining to do.

    So where does that leave us?  Well Benghazi is most definitely not a “sideshow,”  and despite what some say, help could have been given, if the administration acted immediately after the first attack, and could have helped to fend off the final attack.  If there truly was no help available then why in the world were so many commands caught with their pants down when everyone on the ground clearly stated they needed more security not less?  With The IRS scandal, well need I remind you that is an impeachable offense (not making this up).  Will the president be impeached?  Probably not, but it is possible.  At the very least it will get congress off their asses and taking a close look at how the Gub’ment is being run.  We might have a very real, and practical example of Big Government being so big it literally does not know what it’s doing, or we might have the truly dirtiest part of Chicago politics at play.  Either one is not good for “We the People.”  Lastly we have the AP scandal.  While in itself this is perhaps a minor event in the era of the PATRIOT Act, do not be surprised if there’s serious push back on this one.  Nothing chills a reporter’s bones like the federal government scaring away their souses, and potentially censoring them.

    In my personal humble opinion I think Obama is going to wish he hadn’t gotten reelected.  His second term is not starting off great, and his Dodge Dip Dive Duck and Dodge routine isn’t working anymore.  With Fast and Furious, a DOJ that suppressed a voter intimidation case, a DHS that refuses to enforce immigration, a total overhaul of health care that gives frightening powers to non-doctors, an AG that was held in contempt of congress (a first in history), A stagnant recovery, “Green Jobs” that are just a very expensive way to waste money, and a national debt that is not getting any better any time soon. . . Well to say that things are going to look pretty bad for his legacy is something of an understatement.  The word Impeachable is actually not out of the realm of possibility sadly enough.  Of course if that ever were to happen, Joe “fire a shotgun in the air” Biden will be our new president.  I don’t know about you but I wouldn’t trust that man to run a latrine detail.

  • A message from one of our Gold Star Moms

    I apologize to everyone, I’d fully intended to post this article yesterday by one of our resident Gold Star Mothers, Denise Williams who publishes at the Plainfield Patch. Late is sometimes better than never, I hope that’s the case today, in this Mothers’ Day message “Flowers From Strangers “;

    To say there is no other loss like that of an only child is an understatement of epic proportions. The fact there is nothing with which to compare it is evident in the lack of a word in the English language to describe this loss. I am no longer a mom, though I was once.

    Sadly, I’m not alone in this position of having once been a mother to an only child. Thankfully, I’m not alone as I’m in contact with other women, most of whom I’ve never met in person, who understand me in ways no one else can. I’m heartsick knowing how many of us are out there but grateful beyond words we have found each other.

    Still, grief is a solitary journey. Even members of the same family will grieve differently. We each have our own thoughts and feelings, many of them shared but just as many are our own to bear, struggle with, take comfort from and even reject.

    I’m not comfortable with many of those quaint phrases that seem to give others comfort. “I’m the mom of an Angel”, “My son deployed to Heaven”, “God needed another Angel”, or “God too gave his only son” not only give me no comfort, they often make me angry. Sometimes very angry, depending on who is offering these empty platitudes.

    You should click over and read the rest.

  • About that IRS thing

    The TEA Party is pretty wary of the federal government, its a well known fact that they think the Federal Government has become corrosive towards individual liberty.  You could call the TEA Party a coalition of conservatives and libertarians.  You could call them paranoid.  You could call them funny.  You could call them idealistic.  You could call them wacky.  All of these tittles do have some element of truth to them.  It’s not like a guy walking around in a tri-corner hat with teabags hanging from it  is necessarily hard to make fun of.  But whatever else the TEA party is/was, it was and remains a legitimate political movement.  Our laws are created to protect any group of people that are passionate about any issue, and there are groups from both sides of the isle that are exempt from taxes because they are legitimate political groups.  Speech, it would seem is the one thing the Government isn’t trying to tax these days.

    Only, that doesn’t seem to be the case.  Apparently the IRS has been harassing groups with the words TEA party or Patriots in the title.  What it all boils down to is after the Citizen United ruling in 2010, the number of groups seeking 501(c)(4) status increased in order of magnitude.  Many of those groups were conservative, like the TEA party.  What appears to have happened is that following this sudden outgrowth of the TEA party, and the Citizens United ruling, some low level bureaucrats in the IRS specifically targeted the conservative groups.  They would target for auditing, demand donor information (which is illegal), name of who sat on the board (inappropriate), and in certain cases apparently asked question about the children of the leaders of these groups (HIGHLY inappropriate).  Keep in mind all of this is in the space of 2010-2012.  The run up to the 2012 election saw a lot of TEA party groups complaining about harassment, which most everyone dismissed as right wing wackos who were paranoid about the government.  Turns out they were right.

    Let’s step back for a second and look at that.  The IRS was using it’s almost God-like powers of paper to cause these people no end of grief.  If you haven’t been harassed by a government agency you have no idea what a nightmare it is.  Think bumbling psycho stalker that happens to have all the keys.  The term “harassment” doesn’t do it justice.  But there’s something else that should send a cold chill of fear down your spine.  a branch of the Federal Government used its power to assist a political ideology, or  more accurately to punish an opposing political ideology that could have potentially, affected the election.  That should stop everyone cold.  That should cause congress, and the American people in all areas of the political spectrum break out in a cold sweat.  The gears of government are choosing a winner.

    I know that Romney probably would have lost anyway, I know that Obama was still riding the “historic” wave, and the TEA party were just dismissed as loonies, but history has shown time and again that suppression of a political ideology by gears of the governing body is a very bad thing.  I’m not saying that the Sturmabteilung are going to be marching down the streets, or that the anarchists are going to finally “bring it all down.”  What I’m saying is that like Rome we have reached the apex of our power.  Our great philosopher leaders have come and gone.  We’ve had our Ceasars, we’ve had our Marcus Aurelius, and now the Praetorian Guard is auctioning off the crown.  This is a mark of corruption, perhaps of well meaning individuals, though that’s probably not the case.  We have devolved to the point were we are willing to intimidate and bully the very people our Constitution was designed to protect.

    It should not matter to you where you stand on the political spectrum.  You may personally despise the TEA party.  You may be diametrically opposed to everything they stand for, at the end of the day you should still defend them from government abuses, and protect their right to free speech.  It should not matter how despicable you find them, the principle is the same, if it can be done to them, it can be done to you.  If you are say a died in the wool Paulbot, or a die-hard Obamanut you should be on your phones to your senator or representative, calling them demanding an investigation.  Your party affiliation should never matter when the feds are harassing someone about their political beliefs.  What’s even worse is that this is being put out by pencil pushers.  Its a tyranny of bureaucracy.  There’s no congress critter to throw out of office.  Much like a “fire and forget” javelin anti tank missile once the mountain of paper avalanches on someone, there’s no way to recall it.  It should give you all a cold sweat that one stroke of a pen in the wrong place, one decimal point in the wrong spot, one “low level” clerk in an office in Ohio can make your life a living hell or send you to jail.

    This is your government doing this.  You, sitting there reading this, have a roughly 1/308,745,538 +/- ownership stake in the federal government.  Every bit of good it does on your behalf, every piece of property it owns, and every misstep it takes belong in some portion to YOU.  Abraham Lincoln called this a government “Of the People, By the People, and For the People.”  If the Government is picking winners, if the People don’t give a damn.  If the People are so apathetic that they do not act when their rights are clearly threatened, that they do not take ownership of their government, then this will no longer be the case.  It will be a government “Of the Government, By the Government, and For the Government,” and the people can go screw themselves.