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Monday, 30 June 2008

So Tell Us, Barry, “Who Else Sent You?”
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

It was, of course, inevitable. How could any politician rise so quickly on the legendarily corrupt Chicago political scene and be as pure as Obama’s devoted followers were purporting him to be? The question in the minds of skeptics was, “Who sent you?”

Well now we’re beginning to find out and it ain’t pretty. In a lengthy, and amazingly frank, Boston Globe article depicting the dismal results of Chicago’s attempt to develop and manage low income housing through private developers, we see that the candidate of change is nothing more than another Chicago machine-generated pol with his feet firmly mired in the muck of corruption of the city he chose to make his political base.

From the Globe article we learn that Tony Rezko, FOB, (Friend of Barack’s) whom we have known up to now only as a corrupt developer, was and is, in fact, a slum lord, although on a much grander scale than what we usually associate with that term. Using government subsidies which Obama helped them obtain, Rezko and other FOB’s, some now actively associated with his campaign, developed low income housing with fancy sounding names and substandard construction within Obama’s state senatorial district.

The article points out that it was Obama’s law firm and Obama, himself, that represented these slum lords when angry tenants complained about overflowing sewage, inoperable heating units and rat infestations. And guess what? Just as we’re expected to believe that Obama sat in his church for twenty years and never heard any of Reverend Jeremiah Wright’s racist diatribes, now we’re told Obama was unaware of the slum-like conditions his constituents were living in, conditions directly attributable to the thievery from public coffers of his political cronies like Rezko.

But getting to a partial answer of that old Chicago test of cronyism, “Who sent you?” will require you to read to page seven of the Boston Globe article where you find this:

“All the while, Tony Rezko was forging a close relationship with Barack Obama. When Obama opened his campaign for state Senate in 1995, Rezko’s companies gave Obama $2,000 on the first day of fund raising. Save for a $500 contribution from another lawyer, Obama didn’t raise another penny for six weeks. Rezko had essentially seeded the start of Obama’s political career.”        Emphasis mine.

Thirteen years later, the now out-of-business slum lord, Tony Rezko, is a convicted felon and on his way to federal prison, while his political protégé is trying to become the head of the federal government. Do you suppose foreign-born Tony understands irony? Do you think he’s scrabbling to find Eric Holder’s phone number? Although, considering Obama’s demonstrated willingness to abandon anyone who comes between him and the White House, Ol’ Tony probably shouldn’t hold his breath waiting for a return call. After all, the tens of thousands he has given Obama in the past are now chump change for a candidate who can forego public campaign funding without a backward glance at either his promises or his former mentors.

The true irony in all this is not that this champion of change is tainted; it’s by what he’s tainted. You’d at least think if this Pied Piper of America’s youth is going to be just another corrupt politician that it would be something hip like being in the pocket of some billionaire software developer or hip-hop promoter.

But slum lords? The Messiah of Change?

So what at first seemed nothing more than tainted whiffs of unwise political and religious associations by Obama are growing into a stench of ordinary political corruption that may very well be more than many moderate voters, even Democrats, can stomach. For sure there are increasing numbers of blowflies buzzing in and about the diminishing glow of that once-bright halo. Of course, for the Kool Aid drinkers, it will simply morph into a crown of thorns.

So tell us, Barry, “Who else sent you?”

Contributed by Russ Vaughn on June 30, 2008 at 12:26 AM in Obamanation, Politics, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

2008.06.30 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 30, 2008 at 12:24 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Saturday, 28 June 2008

2008.06.28-29 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about this weekend:

This weekend's Dem Doofusness roundup:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 28, 2008 at 05:14 PM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Friday, 27 June 2008

2008.06.27 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Today's Slick Barry roundup:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 27, 2008 at 01:40 PM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Thursday, 26 June 2008

SCOTUS upholds Second Amendment
Contributed by Bill Faith

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 26, 2008 at 02:25 PM in 2nd Amendment | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

2008.06.26 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Today's Darth Obamawacki roundup:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 26, 2008 at 12:08 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Wednesday, 25 June 2008

The Real Command Influence
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

In dismissing the very dubious war crimes charges against Marine LTC Jeffrey Chessani, his trial judge, COL Steven Folsom, said this:

"Unlawful command influence is the mortal enemy of military justice,"

COL Folsom was referring to influence within the Marine Corps command structure, specifically involving two officers of general rank. We should all applaud the colonel’s decision as it would make no sense whatsoever for the Marines to try an officer for failing to investigate crimes that to this point several military courts have failed to establish ever occurred. With one exception, all of the Haditha Marines now have been exonerated. The exception is SSGT Frank Wuterich and if the Marines insist on pursuing his prosecution, they will find themselves in the position of trying to prove homicidal behavior on the part of a non-commissioned officer whose troops apparently killed no one in an unlawful manner according to Marine courts. The only conclusion is that he acted alone, and in the midst of battle, while commanding his troops, somehow single-handedly slaughtered more than twenty innocent Iraqi civilians.

Sounds preposterous, right? Well, that’s apparently what the Navy would have us believe. And make no mistake about it, it is the Navy that controls military prosecutions in the Marine Corps, and the Navy appears willing to pursue this prosecution even though SSGT Wuterich’s subordinates and his two superiors who were charged have all been cleared by military courts. That leads us to speculate that either SSGT Wuterich killed those Iraqi civilians all by himself or Navy JAG is desperately in need of at least one face-saving conviction in this Haditha mess.

Or is there another reason? Perhaps command influence from a higher level? Most civilians are unaware of the tremendous pressure members of Congress are able to bring to bear on military commanders. If a particular senator or congressman doesn’t happen to be on a committee or subcommittee with direct oversight over military budgets or affairs, you can bet one of his cronies does. This congressional pressure is particularly influential with flag rank Navy officers and generals in the other services because their promotions into these lofty ranks require congressional approval.

By now you must have guessed where this is going. Consider…who is the most powerful person in this situation who stands to not only look like the grandstanding, blowhard fool that he is but could perhaps be threatened with defamation lawsuits by the young Marines whose lives he turned into hell by publicly proclaiming them “cold blooded killers.” Ah yes, that would be the reigning Prince of Pork and should-be federal prison inmate, John Murtha. Think about it, with a single conviction of any one of the Marines charged, Murtha can claim vindication and use that conviction as an effective defense against any defamation suits from any of the other defendants.

So the question begging to be asked is whether or not this congressman, who was videotaped by the FBI as indicating he is bribable, is pulling strings behind the Navy/Marine Corps command structure to pursue this phony war crimes prosecution to the bitter end. Murtha claims to be an ex-Marine to which I say, you may have worn the uniform, John, but you are sure as hell no Marine. As I have said before, the Marine Corps motto is Semper Fi, always faithful; John Murtha’s motto is Semper I, always him.

Contributed by Russ Vaughn on June 25, 2008 at 12:11 AM in Iraq, Mad Jack Murtha, Russ Vaughn, US Marine Corps | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

2008.06.25 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Today's Obamania roundup:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 25, 2008 at 12:09 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Tuesday, 24 June 2008

TAPS -- Lt. John D. Werntz, USAAF
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

It is my sad duty to inform you that we have lost one of our Old War Dogs, one of our precious few remaining from WWII, John D. Werntz, and, as a retired professor from Columbia University, one of the most erudite and academically accomplished Dogs in this motley pack. So typical of the warriors from his time, John downplayed the importance of his role in that great conflict. Yet like so many of those who came home to an America finally at peace, minimizing their contributions as they put this horrible war behind them, John had actually been an important participant, a key warrior in a huge, historical, military event, the invasion of France and the conquering of Nazi Germany.

Read some of John’s contributions to this site and you will find him saying that he did nothing more than help a jumpmaster push a stick of paratroopers out the door over Normandy, failing to mention that while he was performing that supposedly ho-hum task, deadly German flak was bursting within and all around that invading fleet of C-47’s that carried the paratroopers and towed the glider troops who would disrupt German operations and allow the main American forces to break out of the beach heads. Many of the planes around John and his crew went down, but of that he makes no mention.

I don’t know the actual attrition figures for John’s unit, the 72d Troop Carrier Squadron of the 434th Group of the 9th United States Army Air Force, but they were substantial in that initial airborne assault and in the subsequent airborne operations that kept our allied invasion forces pressing ever eastward until Germany capitulated. John wrote of his pilots wrestling with the controls of the aircraft trying to maintain formation over hot drop zones but minimized his essential contributions as aircraft navigator to that effort. It matters not your crew position in an aircraft being shot at by antiaircraft guns, the right round kills all of you.

But true to his character, the only casualties John ever wrote about on this site were the infantry soldiers that his planes ferried back to hospitals in England. And even in those writings, John was humbled by the sacrifice of those ground soldiers and, as always, downplayed the role he and his fellow airman played in saving the lives of so many of those grievously wounded infantrymen by lifting them out of the combat zone and whisking them back to the intensive care they needed in military hospitals in England.

In writing of these medical evacuations, John did cite some members of his unit as heroes: the air evacuation nurses who provided the emergency in-flight medical care those wounded soldiers needed to sustain them until they arrived in England. Somehow or another, I just have this image in my mind of a selfless, young LT. Werntz, back there in the cargo compartment of a C-47, doing everything in his power to support those nurses and their missions of mercy in every way he possibly could.

I never met John Werntz and yet I have a tightened throat and tears backing up in my eyes as I write this because this man with whom I exchanged witty, sometimes biting, emails represented to me a personal contact into the Greatest Generation that I am losing in my own family, as all but one has succumbed in that final battle. I wish that I could have met John at one very special place: the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Somehow I think that John could have made a visit there something very special with his wit and insights. I would urge anyone reading this, if you have a WWII veteran in your family, take them to see their memorial. You will never regret the sacrifice of time and money. Just do it! Your reward will be the joy in their faces in seeing the tribute their country has belatedly bestowed upon them.

My greatest regret at this very moment is that I did not write this when John could still read it so that he would know how much this veteran of a later war admired his “Aw shucks, I didn’t do anything,” humility.

I know, all too well, that is the mark of a real warrior.

Russ Vaughn

***

Bill Faith adds:

I won't pretend to have Russ's gift with words but I was also saddened to learn yesterday of the death of a true friend. A brief excerpt from the email I received from his niece:

Just a short note to tell you that Old War Dog John Werntz a/k/a "John "72nd TCS" Werntz" died yesterday, June 22, 2008.  In circumstances typical to elderly individuals, John took a fall, fracturing his pelvis. He was taken to hospital in Scranton, Pa. where they operated on him, inserting a pin in his hip. Shortly after, he was transferred to a facility in Wilkes Barre, Pa. As he was suffering from both a heart condition and emphysema, the slippery slope was also very short. I did manage to spend the afternoon with him on Friday and, although he had been in some pain, he was deep in a drug induced sleep when I left. The staff informed his best friends, [Mr. and Mrs. "Gene Harrison"], that he died in peace.

Read the bio John sent me when he consented to join become a charter member of the Old War Dogs pack here. There's also a slightly different version of his bio on this page.

***

Promoted from the comments:

Posted by: Mike Connelly aka The Gray Dog

I join with Russ and Bill (and all others who knew John) with feelings of loss and sadness intermingled with an appreciation for having had the opportunity to know and correspond with this cleverest of the Old War Dogs.

I say cleverest, because words were both John's playground and palette. Playground, because he wrote with a certain whimsey and lilted phrase that made me think back to both an older yet simpler time. He made reading his prose both interesting and fun. Yet, I know he took language very seriously (he corrected my writing more than a few times.) That is why I also say words were his palette. He was an artist that chose each word carefully because it was always the exact word needed to color the particular sentiment he intended.

Given his military and academic credentials, John was not only humble but totally approachable and giving. Having lost my father (WWII Navy vet) almost 20 years ago, there were many time that John's solid values, wisdom and encouragement served as a surrogate.

I won't go further, as John would not appreciate my attempts to deify him in this comment section. As Russ indicated, John did not see himself as heroic and he eschewed the notion of the being part of a "Greatest Generation." Let me simply end by saying "Thank you John for all of the gifts you gave to me and everyone. I will miss you."

Posted by: OWB

Sharing good stories helps us through our grief. John's passing has left a serious hole in my heart with only memories to fill that emptiness.

It was a distinct pleasure to spend time in John's presence. He was exactly as you who did not meet him would expect. The sharp wit. The gentle strength. And always a supportive friend.

In life we each have moments which stay with us not only for being special but defining. In this case, it was a moment which might be described as a capping moment. It was a culmination of many memories, a summary of life experiences, emblematic of all things important in my life.

Memorial Day week-end 2007 many of us who have never witnessed it got together for the Run for the Wall. After sharing a cab ride from our hotel, John, Mr & Mrs Gene Harrison and I took up our position at the DC end of Memorial Bridge for the Run. What a day! The weather was miserably hot. It was loud. We all grumbled. We paced. We fussed. But, we would not budge until every last motorcycle had gone by. Conditions were not ideal for us, but we enjoyed it. We shared stories. We ate. We watched out for each other. We each walked around a bit without supervision. I laughed. It was a wonderful day to share with very special people.

The sadness is mixed with joy in remembering this and other stories shared with John. He was a buddy, a substitute father, and so much more.

Some day I will no longer see an item and try to send it to John. Some day...

Contributed by Russ Vaughn on June 24, 2008 at 12:13 AM in John "72nd TCS" Werntz | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack

2008.06.24 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 24, 2008 at 12:11 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Monday, 23 June 2008

“They killed innocent civilians in cold blood…”
Contributed by J D

[This post has been bumped by the webmaster to keep it near the top of the site longer.]

J. D. Pendry

Two years ago I wrote an article titled On Your Hands. I wrote it on the same day that I received in my email internet photographs of the mutilated bodies of Private First Class Kristian Menchaca, 23, of Houston and Private First Class Thomas L. Tucker, 25, of Madras, Oregon. I reached the point where I could no longer tolerate the insane babble coming from the mouths of certain politicians who clearly and daily place their politics ahead of the well-being of the men and women the majority of them voted to send to war. Now, the article appears to be making its umpteenth lap around the internet (wish I had a nickel for each time it has been re-posted somewhere) only this time one of the unauthorized editors of it decided it would be better if I was identified as a USMC Sergeant Major.

Read the rest:

Contributed by J D on June 23, 2008 at 01:15 AM in Iraq, J D Pendry, Mad Jack Murtha | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

2008.06.23 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Today's Obamania roundup:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 23, 2008 at 01:05 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Saturday, 21 June 2008

2008.06.21-22 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about this weekend:

This weekend's Obamanation report:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 21, 2008 at 12:45 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Friday, 20 June 2008

2008.06.20 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 20, 2008 at 02:01 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Thursday, 19 June 2008

2008.06.19 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 19, 2008 at 06:33 PM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Wednesday, 18 June 2008

2008.06.18 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 18, 2008 at 02:38 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Tuesday, 17 June 2008

To Know Him is to Love Him
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

Back in the late fifties and early sixties when I was a young soldier, a new girl group called the Teddy Bears had a monster hit with a song written by Phil Spector (now there’s a guy with his head on straight) in which, in close harmony, they declared their unquestioning love of Him. That song came immediately to mind when I heard some Obamaniac say breathlessly on TV that, “To know him is to love him.”

When I Googled the lyrics, I was surprised to see that this song still lives in a contemporary version recorded by Amy Winehouse (now there’s a woman with her head on about as straight as her jailhouse tattoos). That’s good, because my version, dedicated to Obamaniacs, who, of course, all have their heads on straight (and probably many of them are devoted Amy Winehouse fans) is more fun to read if you know the tune and hum it as you read these updated lyrics.

Enjoy.

To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him;
To see that big ol’ toothy smile makes our goofy lives worthwhile;
To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him;
Boy, we do.

He’ll be so good for us, when he reigns over all of us;
Everyone knows they’ll see that day; if they’re not thrown beneath the bus;
Yes, just to know him, is to love, love, love him;
And we do.

Why can’t others see? How blind can they be?
Someday they’ll see, that he was meant to be.

To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him;
We suck up every word he speaks, we unfulfilled old sixties freaks;
To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him;
Man, we do.

Why can’t others see? See truth like you and me?
Someday they’ll see when he turns back the sea.

He’ll be another JFK, lighting the world along his way;
Charming a Persian reprobate, creating love from jihad’s hate
Yes, just to know him, is to love, love, love him;
They will too.

Why can’t others see? See truth like you and me?
Someday they’ll see, when he corks Rush and Hannity.

To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him;
Who cares he has no resume, we blindly love him anyway;
To know, know, know him, is to love, love, love him;
Boy, we do.

Contributed by Russ Vaughn on June 17, 2008 at 12:37 AM in Obamanation, Politics, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

2008.06.17 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 17, 2008 at 12:35 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Monday, 16 June 2008

What’s Fair Is Fair?
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

John Hinderaker over at Power Line has pointed out another example of Obama and his campaign advisors failing to think through a policy issue before he begins to expound on it. In a speech in Ohio, Obama announced that he would eliminate the cap on Social Security withholding for those earning $250,000 and up, citing the unfairness of those who now earn up to $102,000, the current cap, having to pay withholding on all of their income while billionaires are scot-free above that amount.

Now, whether that is fair or not is a debatable issue. As Mr. Hinderaker points out, Social Security was designed to be a “safety net not a welfare redistribution system.” Whatever the merits of that debate, the fact remains that if it is unfair for Americans earning up to $102,000 to be taxed on their total earnings while billionaires skate, why is it not just as unfair for those earning $102,001 through $250,000 to skate as well.?

Hinderaker cynically points out that this particular income distribution group is where Obama finds his greatest support, the multi-degreed intelligentsia, so we’re seeing the kind of targeted sweetheart deal Chicago machine politics is famous for. I’m a bit less cynical: based on what we’ve been seeing coming out of this campaign recently, I think it’s just poor thinking and sloppy work. The question is, do we want four years of such poor thinking and sloppy work?

Contributed by Russ Vaughn on June 16, 2008 at 01:00 AM in Obamanation, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

2008.06.16 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 16, 2008 at 12:58 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Sunday, 15 June 2008

Oil, freedom and little men...
Contributed by J D

J. D. Pendry

Democracy demands that little men should not take big ones seriously; it dies when it is full of little men who think they are big themselves. – C. S. Lewis

Happy Birthday to the United States Army, Established June 14, 1775.

We transfer about 400 billion dollars in national wealth each year to nations not so friendly toward us to buy oil. Not very many politicians complain about that. However, daily they are heard to complain about the money spent fighting the ideology born in those nations that manifested itself in the murder of 3000 innocent people in a single act.

Read the rest:

Contributed by J D on June 15, 2008 at 04:20 PM in J D Pendry | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Saturday, 14 June 2008

2008.06.14-15 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about this weekend:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 14, 2008 at 11:29 PM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Friday, 13 June 2008

2008.06.13 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 13, 2008 at 01:41 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Thursday, 12 June 2008

2008.06.12 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 12, 2008 at 02:47 PM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Wednesday, 11 June 2008

Doin’ the Dap
Contributed by Russ Vaughn

[Editor's note: Russ wrote this several days ago, then decided maybe the timing wasn't just right for it and asked me to sit on it a while. After I sent him enough links to a barrage of "news" pieces like this one he finally consented to let me add a link or two to it and post it.]

Has anyone noticed that Barack Obama and his wife seemingly have no compunction about performing an African-American solidarity hand ritual [video here, for instance] when they are on stage and in the public eye? What I’m referring to is the Dap, a ritual handshake that I came to know as an Army NCO back in the 60’s as a sign of black solidarity and defiance of the military system.

Wikipedia’s entry claims the symbolic exchange was adopted by the white mainstream in the 60’s. I think whoever wrote that may have been less than objective in their desire to make the Dap seem societally and racially inconsequential. The only place I’ve ever seen the Dap being used by whites is among young white and Hispanic males who seem to think that every in-your-face aspect of black gangsterism and contempt for society is worthy of emulation. Unfortunately, that includes many clueless young white males who follow professional sports and worship too many of the less than worthy examples who populate that scene.

Think of the baseball cap worn with the bill in back or cocked at a defiant angle. In either case the bill is incapable of performing the function for which a baseball cap was designed: to keep the sun out of your eyes. Therefore the only purpose of such wearing of a baseball cap is to signify, “Screw you, I ain’t wearin’ my cap the way you say, or, in other words, militant defiance of the rules of society. You have to pity the clueless white boys who do this thinking it’s cool because the black dudes do it. It might be of interest to cultural anthropologists that a significant percentage of the same individuals who now wear their baseball caps askew or reversed also tend to display an unusually high number of unskilled tattoos and multiple body piercings, generally numbered in inverse proportion to their demonstrable intelligence and academic achievements.

But back in the days before lip rings and wraparound tattoos, when defiance of rules had limited forms of expression, I can’t begin to remember how many young black paratroopers I went through angry confrontations with over this cap issue. I always won because Army regulations concerning dress codes and the authority of rank backed me up. Of course the young black soldiers considered me a racist but, in truth, I was nothing more than a good but strict NCO, who believed that when you wore the uniform, you respected that uniform and what it represented; you wore it properly as described by regulations formulated through hundreds of years of consideration and deliberation regarding decorum. You wore your hat straight, period; Staff Sergeant Vaughn had no tolerance for racial or political demonstrations.

But what I had no ability to deal with was the Dap; Army regulations failed to address this African ritual which young black soldiers used openly and defiantly to demonstrate their solidarity with other “brothers” and their contempt for their superiors and the system. I might be able to chew a young black private’s ass out hard for any number of legitimate reasons, but when I was finished, he’d turn to other black soldiers and do the Dap, saying silently but very clearly, “Screw you, and screw the Army, Sarge.”

Perhaps it is my past head-on experience with this very unsubtle display of racism that makes the hair rise on my neck when I see a potential American president and first lady openly performing this ritual on stage and before the world. Most whites don’t have a clue as to the racist undertones of this seemingly harmless exchange of closed fists and knuckles, but you’d better believe that every black who sees it understands completely the message of racial solidarity it is meant to convey. And make no mistake about it; misguided wannabee white boys aside, it is a deliberate, racially exclusionary ritual.

Were there an equivalent form of Klan or white solidarity handshake and John McCain employed it, can you imagine the media outrage? Obama, clueless as he seems to be about so many things, probably has no idea that there are millions of white military veterans who see his Dapping his wife onstage as a reminder of ugly racial issues in their past. It cannot help him.

[Draw your own conclusions, but as far as this old dog is concerned that "cute little fist bump" had its origins in a different place and time and tells me all I need to know about our "post-racial" candidate, as if I didn't already have enough other reasons to vote against him. I spent 2 years on a university campus before joining the Air Force and two more after I was discharged and the only place I ever encountered The Dap was in Viet Nam. ]

Contributed by Russ Vaughn on June 11, 2008 at 12:23 AM in Obamanation, Russ Vaughn | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

2008.06.11 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 11, 2008 at 12:20 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Tuesday, 10 June 2008

2008.06.10 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 10, 2008 at 02:18 PM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Monday, 09 June 2008

2008.06.09 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about today:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 9, 2008 at 12:35 PM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Sunday, 08 June 2008

Nation adrift...
Contributed by J D

J. D. Pendry

During the Democratic Convention of 1968, I was a month shy of 16 years old. I watched on television as Mayor Daley’s police force warred with the hippies and Yippies who were rioting in the streets. A generation brainwashed to believe that a nation wanting freedom was not worth defending from communist oppression had no problem rioting in the streets of our cities while their privileged mentors stayed above the fray and egged them on.

Read the rest:

Contributed by J D on June 8, 2008 at 07:27 PM in J D Pendry | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack


Saturday, 07 June 2008

2008.06.07-08 Politics and National Defense Roundup
Contributed by Bill Faith

Worth knowing about this weekend:

Contributed by Bill Faith on June 7, 2008 at 12:23 AM in National Defense, Politics | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

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