Ghost of BiB

That's why I'm in charge. You don't think I watch? You still have a job, though - don't you?

Something Darlene and I talked about back then was why did Vince Foster's family pretty well fall off the face of the earth? I don't recall ever once hearing any comment whatsoever - nor an attempt to get one, from Foster's wife. Nothing. It's not like the press not to go there especially when later these issues and questions came up. Who would know better than Mrs. Foster? Never did get an answer to that. Anyone know? Seriously. Vince at some point had a lot of loyalty to Hillary, and I well remember the spin the White House put on his suicide note (Basically, he killed himself because people were picking on Bill and Hill...right...), but what is causing his wife's "loyalty" to this gang? She lost a husband, and the father of her children - whatever happened. That, to me - just doesn't seem right.

Thanks, Deb. Nice to see you too. This was just some idle office conversation that came about while some people who are frequently at Capitol Hill were by the place on other business. I don't know how it got started. I don't follow politics very much, they were talking about McCain, and I was just wondering myself about the Hillary angle. Unless something drastic happens, I don't see Hillary running on her own at this point. It's 2006. 2008 isn't that far out, and she hasn't been in the limelight much. Or, does the DNC feel that because she's Hillary she doesn't need to be? If she were actually going to run - and that's been decided, I would think they would have her visibly leading the charge on more legislation and stuff.

That's not what your time sheet says.

pissant.

If McCain goes to the Democratic party and becomes the '08 Candidate - is this Hillary's road into the White House (as VP)? Or, would she be enough of an anchor to cost him the sure win?

Right... ..... OK - someone, anyone explain to me - BESIDES BECAUSE HE'S THE VP - why this has any significance or importance warranting the attention? I just don't see it. I don't care. It doesn't mean anything.

I thought some about how I would handle this, were it me. Were it me, I'd have waited a while to have a clearer picture before any press announcement. I would have immediately assumed that there would be absolutely no possible way that this wouldn't get to the media at some point - so what are my other considerations? I wouldn't want to be in the position of having to respond to the press at the same time I was trying to learn information myself as to the man's condition and prognosis. I would also consider keeping the press off the lawyer's family until they could get a handle on it themselves. As for the being drunk part, as I recall Cheney has ongoing heart issues. Is it a good idea for people with chronic heart conditions to drink to excess? When major members of government travel and do things in terms of their own personal business, I think it's kept pretty low key. I'm guessing one doesn't have the same level of security apparatus set up at a hunting ranch as one does on an advertised trip to a foreign capitol. Did anyone really know he was there? Were I responsible for security - I would have kept things from the press as best I could until the VPOTUS was out of the area, or under a level of security where I had full control and resources. Either case would take time to establish. As I understand it (haven't been keeping up like some) he spent time at the hospital with his friend and the family. Much easier to secure quietly, then having announced it to the media. In short, I think there are other factors that need to be weighed in. Is this a "politically" significant event warranting immediate disclosure? No. So, don't.

I don't know. I still haven't figured out why anyone cares at all - barring those personally involved.

More on who this guy is.

Could be, don't know. I was more interested in the conversation about relationships. They track with a lot of other things I've heard.

Interview

Yup. The council doesn't only approve candidates, but has veto authority over the rest of the government, plus most of the strong military and oil loyalties are with the clerical, rather than the political end. Relations between the US and Iran had the potential to be a lot better more than once over the last 20 years, but they generally shot down any progress.

Those KOC can be dangerous, with those swords and beers.

I think you can get Brian Boitano's number from Darin. He might know.

Isn't this the point where someone should say "Halliburton"?

I, for one, don't have any problem with that. Dominating the news with it is another matter. I don't think it's politically motivated, but more of a farce that American press has become - which is why I don't view much anymore. Anything else happen in the world in the last few days? Everyone is the Enquirer. Everyone wants the Enquirer. Then, we get either "they can do no wrong" or "Halliburton", from the carefully thought out 30 second mass analysis. Then, sadly, we are allowed to vote. Wonder why we have the system we do?

Good read. You made a much better explanation of tiny bb's far flung than I did.

Sad, isn't it. For all I know, the last guy I shot had a heart attack too. Anyone care? No.

Word. Never waste time on a heart shot. They keep coming straight at you (Jim-Bob reference...how long is it going to take SouthPark to do a JB hunting episode on this?)

I use a 20 gauge and either 7.5 or 8 shot on small birds. Roughly one ounce of actual shot. About 350-400 actual "B-B's". Works on Rabbits, too. I generally tend to go a lot heavier on lawyers, though.

Point taken.

I'm not real clear here. Am I a moron, a neo-con, both or simply uninformed?

It's actually treated as both, as well as financial, political, diplomatic, etc. The published national strategies towards this and other issues call for combining and synergizing all elements of national power into a common mission. Wonderful thoughts and words - but difficult in the execution because of the legacy systems of doing things. It will take time to work out new lines of authority and communications issues - for you guys out there in the IT world, how easy do you think it is to interface multiple different networks (some of them secure past "top secret") so everyone can have a common operating picture? As Tom alludes - the "laws" haven't kept up with the changes and blending in approach and in mission space. Creation of just one piece, the NID has already probably really screwed up the federal codes. I haven't been following, but I haven't seen Congress addressing that (except to posture when appropriate). Baseball steroids are MUCH more important to the country, as a whole. The NCTC is intell focused, but has people from all walks of government sitting at the table. NORTHCOM, who is responsible for Homeland Defense, has an interagency group that is about three pages long that is intimately involved with operations. This is all new territory and it will take a while to work the kinks out. All the argument from both sides sounds like bantering semantics, to me. The laws being quoted don't fit the current situation. And holy geeze - what would it take to get the laws changed? Look at the Patriot Act. National Strategy for Combating Terror

Accuracy and brevity. I think it's pretty safe to say that anyone regularly posting here knows that, so I didn't feel it worth mentioning. That said, KBR does it's own thing. Mother Ship Halliburton is primarily concerned with energy, mostly oil. KBR was purchased by HB, but operates generally independantly. The only reason folks scream "Halliburton" as a mantra is because of Cheney. I have yet to see the press, or the liberals attack Disney over ABC programming or the commentary of Joe Theisman. No one says "Disney Sucks" when refering to ESPN. When was the last time anyone blamed Philip Morris for a bad bag of Oreo cookies? It's the age of buyouts and mergers. One would be hard pressed to find many big players not owned or linked to someone else. That goes for the construction industry as well as the cookie industry. Look up Koch, or Gammon-Skanska.