Ghost of BiB

I thought you would like the attention. No one gives me any. I get banished to consumer forum because of soup. You da man, Ed. You're a good sport, and that's what makes it fun.

We're bordering on thread crossover and identity loss here, but I still think it's a valid point. What ends up happening is that everything is a compromise, so everything is watered down and not as effective as it could be. Whether providing free anything to illegal aliens is, to me, not a federal issue. First, there shouldn't be 11 million of them, but the horse is out of the barn. Each local economy is affected in a different way, and it should at the highest level be a state issue on how to deal with it. See, places like California have a border. Of course their should be federal border controls and enforcement, I highly advocate that. But, if you have a problem with illegal immigration you, as a State can supplement the effort, and not cry that Washington isn't fixing your problem for you. National Defense, OTOH, is mandated by the Constitution. Something that the "rights" championeers often wave, but ignore when something doesn't fit. The federal government has a constitutionally mandated responsibility to provide for a common defense. It is also the purview of the executive branch to determine policy direction. Once the policy direction has been established, it's up to the rest of the government bsically to support it. That doesn't mean blindly saying "Charge", but it also doesn't mean effecting legislation to circumvent it. It's Congresses job to legislate, not to determine defense policy. Well, crap, I could go on and on, and also have.

Talia is getting a little old, isn't she?

Who did the Braves get for a bag of bats and a couple cases of baseballs?

Damn. You heard I might be having a visitor...

I'm hungry. What we got, Chef?

What keeps coming to light everytime any subject of this nature comes up, is that there are literally thousands upon thousands of constantly moving pieces to foreign policy-national security. Then, they have to be weighed against the thousands upon thousands of pieces in other issues of national concern. Many of which there are seriously competing interests for funds. This sh-- ain't easy, and no one is ever going to get it all right. Less government isn't necessarily the answer. More efficient government is (which would by definition result in less, but...). Also, everyone getting back into their own lane wouldn't hurt matters any. What is the function, by definition, for the federal government again? How about state, local, whatever? Where is it written that the Federal Government is responsible for retirement accounts? Where is it written it provides medical care?

Anyone notice that Alaska Darin hasn't been posting a lot lately? Hmmm....

Good running backs aren't all that hard to come by. Get another one down the road. It's equally possible he'll be average.

You know what's REALLY funny? Virtually everyone on the board knows who it really is... Except Ed.

Hmmmm...

DC telephone book. Not much plot, but boy, what a cast.

Hmmm... Scott? Lawnfood? Lawn? ...grassy knoll?

Probably not, but you get my meaning. I've seriously considered writing a book on this stuff, but I'm too lazy, corrupt and incompetent.

I'd say maybe, but CTM tells Ed that he's an idiot to his face, and is too lazy to log out and shift identities.

And as defense planner, my job has been to tear it to pieces, wargame the hell out of options, and show the policyites why their miracle political BS sucks. A good, comprehensive defense plan for the US will be able to withstand that level of scrutiny. When it doesn't it needs to be fixed. Our laws, how we enforce those laws and our security should be under the same microscope-but given latitude to change. The difference here, is after going through all that (with much more of an emphasis on civil rights and laws that you probably would ever believe) the chemists aren't accusing you of violating your civil rights when you tell them the molecule doesn't work.

Ed is ieatcrayonz.

That's my high set.

Coy Wire probably has a higher hit count too, and he's not a hero.

Hey, I get asked thing like "When did you last attend a nuclear targeting training update"? Or, "What's the last mass-casualty table top scenario you worked on" Probably not real appropriate in this case.

My way of knowledge...

What originally got my hackles up, is the Auto-Bush-Bad response to something. None of this cost stuff came up until much later. I'm not defending Bush by saying that, either. But some folks, you among them automatically start in with the abuse of your rights whenever anything regarding domestic surveillance is mentioned. Conversely, any possible shot that can be taken at what physical security is in place is fired as well. The dynamics of even attempting to provide for some level of security inside a free and open society, with a zillion miles of border and seacoast are extremely complex. The only possible solutions involve integrating a complex, multi-layered system of defenses, in depth. Also, many at a distance from those borders. but, hell, there's problems doing that too. You (and others) seem to be against anything going on, and seem to be convinced most everyone involved is incompetent and corrupt, and I guess the thought is the Democrats can do it much better. After all, didn't they just publish a comprehensive strategy in specific detail as to how and why? Just seems to be the theme. I have different opinions. I have a lot of problem with a lot of the stuff going on too.

What would Dale Dribble think?

Or give chocolate milk. That comes from brown cows, you know.

Damn those Wright brothers, anyway. A couple hundred feet? What's up with that? Should have stuck to bicycles. I'm in favor of using whatever we have, and make it better as it gets better. Spend money on stuff that isn't 100%? Anyone want to discuss a laser powered fusion reactor research device somewhere out in the desert? More than a billion over budget and may never work? Oh well, that's energy independance related. Can't spy on anyone shooting a bb sized target with a hundred laser beams with a three billion dollar flashlight.