The Moderate Virginia Veteran

Testing... Does anyone still stop by?

2010-09-07T21:52:00.002-05:00

If so, please comment... I'm thinking of starting up again.

And, Amid Applause, the Phoenix Rises...

2006-05-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

...or, at least, that's how the story is SUPPOSED to go. The veteran has finished his period of mourning, self-pity, and personal discovery and has returned to dazzle you, the readers, with his sappy rhetoric and substandard vocabulary.

First, the veteran would like to know what the HELL is going on with Democrats fighting amongst themselves? Of course, no body of august delegates of the numbers that Congress holds is going to be in agreement all the time, or even most of the time. Why, though, can't our own side form some sort of united front? For that matter, why can't the Republicans? Could it be that, deep down, they realize the real difference between the parties lies not so much in distinct ideology, but in name and reputation? Congress has accomplished fairly little in the last few years, but now they're really crossing the aisle on several issues; issues such as immigration reform. Are we now seeing the beginning of a cross-split between the parties?

The veteran will have something a bit more substantial cooked up for you all by Sunday (baby steps, and so on...). Today, however, I have an announcement. The veteran will begin blogging, once per week, on a reader-submitted topic. Please send suggestions to modvavet_at_gmail.com. Please note: If your topic is selected for blogging, you will be identified as well as the veteran is able, to give credit where credit is due. If you wish for no recognition, please state so when you email your topic.

Yes, we're on hiatus

2006-04-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

My dad died, my fiancee is in the hospital, and the shit keeps rolling downhill... I'll be back as soon as conditions allow for me to think straight...

Conspiracy Theorists' Corner

2006-04-02T01:42:00.000-05:00

Aaaaargh! Since the veteran rarely indulges the notions of conspiracy theory, a subject which gets little enough media attention, I'd like to introduce "Conspiracy Theorists' Corner", a place for the [more verifiable] evidence available on certain subjects loved by those tinfoil-hat-wearing fans!

Today's subject is: 9/11!!!

Today, we have an article through Yahoo! News, focusing on audio recordings made during the 9/11 incident at the World Trade Center in New York. Keep in mind, folks, that the veteran is stone cold drunk while writing this.
Certain first-responders to the incident reported blasts that seemed entirely too much like controlled demolition blasts during the collapse of the buildings. Subsequently, certain people judging themselves as engineering experts have decided that the blasts were an elaborately-planned event by PNAC (the Project for a New American Century) to propogate american anti-Muslim sentiment and nationalist pride to contribute to a sole-superpower status for America. Yes, the veteran entertains these notions sometimes. Your beloved veteran's father died this past Saturday (03/25), the veteran is intoxicated, and willing to entertain ANY notion! The veteran is not qualified to legitimately argue against the theory put forth by many of the tinfoil hat people (many of them borrowed from legitimate engineers), so the veteran must therefore lend credence to these people, regardless of belief, as they may hold the truth! Aaaaargh!!!

The Veteran Has Been Smacked!

2006-03-20T21:51:00.000-05:00

Those sweet, lovable, hardworking ladies at I Talk Too Much were kind enough to give the ol' veteran's bloggything one smack! This may not sound like much, but hey, I was amazed at that much (let's be real here, it's not the most impressive site in the world, and IT2M HATES political blogs...). So, without further ado, the review:

This person refers to themselves in third person. It’s “this veteran” this and “this veteran” that. It’s a little odd, but not hard to read.

The template is clean and easy to read. Nothing fancy, and often that’s a good thing. Unfortunately it’s a political blog. This reviewer does not much care for politics. However to this veteran’s credit, for the times that material was lifted from another site, credit is given and there is usually some commentary about it (which, amazingly enough, usually isn’t dry). No plain regurgitation here. That deserves at least one smack.

Anyway, we'll get to some news tomorrow... After classes... After fixing the car windows... Sometime...

Quick Update: The Ports Deal... Again

2006-03-10T09:21:00.000-05:00

I was just informed that the whole thing is a sham. Apparently, they're not actually giving up the deal, but simply turning it over to an American company for the duration of the review. Check it out over at Finding Center.

Sad, Sad Shit

2006-03-09T20:25:00.000-05:00

Yes, it most definitely is. The veteran learned today of allegations that some of his fellow military members have been participating in orchestrated rapings of children at the nefarious Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad. Yes, this is sick. According to the accusation, this technique is being used to coerce information from the parents of these children, themselves prisoners. When did we stoop so low? WHY did we do this? If anyone can prove these allegations false, please tell us. This is about as sick as it gets. More can be found over at Daily Kos.

In other news, the port deal has officially been sacked. The House voted overwhelmingly to stop the deal, and Dubai Ports World, the UAE-owned company that would have been taking over, has rescinded any claim to the operations of our ports. The full story is over at Yahoo!

That's about the gist of it today. The veteran is tired now. Back to Law & Order...

New Changes Afoot!

2006-02-22T20:44:00.000-05:00

The veteran is, once again, playing with his blog template. While the vet was certainly a decent troubleshooter, he's never been much of a webmaster. If any of you fine folks can recommend a good place to get a free Blogger template with a patriotic style, please comment. Until then, if things look a bit odd, don't be concerned. The veteran thanks you for your patience.

And Now, a Return to the News...

2006-02-22T12:36:00.000-05:00

Lately, the veteran has been off on a few philosophical tangents, as well as bringing you some personal news. The veteran hopes you have enjoyed this foray into his life and his political philosophy. Now, however, it's time for a return to news-based commentary.

A founding Neocon claims the ideology is "now in shambles" (Fukuyama, as reported by Alex Massie), and that it should be dropped as a failed experiment. Francis Fukuyama, a member of the Project for a New American Century (along with Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, et al) pushed as far back as the Clinton administration for regime changes to autocratic nations, such as Iraq. The concept of neoconservatism, born of an altered leninist ideology, has come under massive fire during the last six years. Approval ratings for the President have stayed consistently low for well over a year now, the war in Iraq has become massively unpopular, and members of all sides of the political spectrum have resorted to massive mudslinging attacks in the absence of a definitive solution to the many problems born of this controversial political worldview.

The White House has lost much of the support it enjoyed during the early years of the administration, both from the Congress and from the public at large. Republicans in Congress, especially in the Senate, have been scrambling over the past year to distance themselves from the Bush White House and to adopt a more moderate, mainstream stance on both fiscal and social policies. Even here, in high conservative country (Johnson City, Tennessee), the veteran is seeing fewer and fewer Bush stickers and more anti-war stickers. Thankfully, the "Support the Troops" motto seems to have stuck around, as the veteran dearly loves his brothers and sisters in the Marine Corps and the other branches of the armed services (yes, even the Coasties).

In other news, the controversial sale of six East Coast ports to Dubai Ports World by the executive branch has widened the split between White House officials and the legislative branch. Amid little support from the House and the Senate, President Bush has stated that he will veto any legislation drafted to delay or block the deal. In a newer development, Bush has claimed that he had no knowledge of the agreement until after the fact, but he backs it wholeheartedly and will tolerate no dissent. Questions have arisen concerning the legality of the review process used to evaluate the coming deal, especially whether the administration was required to utilize a longer, forty-five day process instead of the twenty-five day process that occured.

While scattered reports have claimed that port security would be turned over entirely to the Dubai company, owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates, President Bush has claimed, in a new development, that customs and other security duties would still be carried out by Americans. While the veteran can clearly see the possible trade opportunities this sale would entail, he also recognizes that security will become a greater risk under this new port management. The average percentage of incoming containers screened runs at only about five percent currently, and this is simply another possible opening for a group, friendly to the government of the UAE, to infiltrate and attack U.S. soil or interests. Leaving all this aside, in the middle of a conflict marked by heavy anti-American sentiment abroad and anti-Arab feelings on domestic soil, this deal simply doesn't make sense politically. There was NO WAY that the administration didn't see the backlash coming from the populace on this one. Some reports (Google it) have gone so far as to claim this deal is the result of personal friendships between administration officials and the Dubai Ports World company. The veteran isn't sure about that, but he's certain this deal never should have come down the pipeline. What were they thinking?

Some excellent info on this controversy can be located over at the highly-controversial, entirely conservative, and very sexy blog of Michelle Malkin.

Personal Update

2006-02-14T21:17:00.000-05:00

The veteran isn't going to touch much on the Cheney shooting scandal today (other than to point out that similar circumstances for normal people usually lead to manslaughter charges), but instead, is going to let you, the readers, into his personal life a little.

This has been a spectacularly bad year. This blog usually isn't used for my personal cries for help, but it's bad lately, so I feel I should explain the recent lack of posts.

My birthday's this week. I'll be twenty-six. Yay!
That's the good part. Now for the bad.
My grandmother died a few months ago. You all know about that, if you've read far enough down. It looks pretty well like my father might be next. About two weeks ago, he broke his neck while cutting down a tree. It fell the wrong way, which is a bit of a fluke for him, as he's been cutting his own firewood since before my birth. If that hasn't complicated things enough, he's since been assaulted by pneumonia and a pesky staph infection. He's currently paralyzed from about the waist down, and portions of his upper body aren't working. He's breathing with the help of a tracheotomy, a ventilator, and his stomach muscles. His diaphragm is non-functional. He can move his arms, but has no motor control in his fingers. He re-broke his foot, which was broken the first time only about six months ago. In short, he's in bad shape. He's not quite lucid enough to be considered of sound mind yet (painkillers and antidepressants), but he's been asking for the docs to pull the equipment and let him go. Dad's always been very active, and once said something to the effect that he'd sooner die than sit behind a desk all day. Well, folks, it's looking like he probably wouldn't even be able to do that, at least for several years. He's only fifty-two, and this has come on him in addition to severe diabetes and heart problems. Believe me, I can understand where he's coming from, even if I can't say I've been there. I know that even if (when) I try to talk him out of this, if his mind's set on it, he's going to do it. I don't want my dad to die. Hell, I just finally really got to know him when he quit drinking in 2001, after my return from Japan.

I'm not going to go any further into this, or into the things going on with college and work. I thought you should know, though, and don't think I've forgotten you, even if I don't have time to write much right now. I'll be back soon enough.

-The Veteran

Reprinted with Permission...

2006-02-02T12:23:00.000-05:00

The veteran saw this little questionnaire on the site of his bro Poldark Maximus, who is probably one of the greatest somewhat-conservative thinkers of our time. I felt the need to answer a few of these questions...

"So we use Warner and Romney as our examples of candidates who can play +/- 5 feet to the right or left of the yellow line. Examples only, as there will surely be others who emerge. BUT EVEN AMONG THEM, they will need to answer certain “questions” which will then help us choose from among those who would pretend to unite us. Nothing will bore the nation quicker than candidates strenuously agreeing with each other on everything. So how will Romney and Warner respond to these very simple “Questions”?"

1. Is there anything better in life than a BLT? What is it?

-Hardee's Thickburgers. Or, perhaps, the Collosal Burger from Ruby Tuesdays.

2. You see an injured deer on the side of the road in its obvious death-throes. What do you do? A) Drive on down the road B) Call the State Police C) Draw your sidearm and shoot it in the heart D) Call your campaign manager and ask them what action would carry Ohio?

-B

3. Do you pray at your desk, in bed, or in the shower? To whom?

-Wherever I can, and to my own personal understanding of God.

4. Smooth or Ribbed?

-Screw that. Studded. If at all (monogamous relationship)

5. Boxers or briefs? (Women may choose between cotton or silk)

-Boxer-Briefs, also known as Trunks

6. Is the NSA doing God’s work or the devil’s work?

-Andy Kaufman's work. You decide.

7. You meet Jacques Chirac at a bar sipping his drink. You A) Buy him a Bud B) Buy him a Stella Artois C) Buy him a whiskey and tell him to go fuck himself.

-Buy him 151 and coke drinks until I can derive the secret of the nationalized 35-hour work week. Then I slap him on the back of the head before stalking off.

8. You meet Angela Merkel at a bar sipping her drink. You A) Sit next to her and buy her a whatever B) Ask her if she knows the real story behind Ronnie Regan and Maggie Thatcher C) Let her buy you a drink and thank America for liberating the world from Fascists and terrorists at the cost of thousands of American lives.

-B

9. The battery on your pacemaker has run out and you feel your heart stop. You A) Tear through your wallet for a picture of your wife and kids B) Try to remember who you asked to run as VP C) Ask the driver to stop at the next Wal-Mart.

-A

10. One pass, one completion, 30 yards for 100 years of World Peace. Who do you choose? A) Brady B) Manning (Peyton for God’s sake) C) Rothlisberger D) Hasselbeck

-I play football. Watching it on TV just bores me. Sorry.

11. True or False. Smaller states should be merged into larger ones to reduce the total to around 20, saving the American Taxpayer $750 billion a year in stupid and redundant state overhead and taxes.

-In an ideal nation, yes. Sadly, it ain't gonna happen.

12. You find yourself in the middle of a corn field with the sun high overhead and slightly to the North. You whistle and your dog answers, running to where you crouch on one knee as you sift good earth between your fingers. There is no sound other than the wind rustling though the corn husks. Your own sweat cools you as God intended it. You A) Are late for a meeting B) Take out your cell phone and check the stock-ticker C) Remove the batteries from your pacemaker, lie down in the corn, close your eyes and let go.

-A (I'm always fashionably late)

13. The penalty for CEO’s who defraud their shareholders of billions of net-worth and pensions should be A) 10-20 years B) 10-20 amps C) 10-20 minutes of degrading questions from Ted Kennedy or Harry Reid.

-B (I'll take C if it's televised, though, or perhaps a combination of the two)

14. You are in the middle of a dream which has you face down in the muff of your favorite starlet. You A) Thank God for the universally accepted concept (in all religions) of a “freebie” B) Wake up and rip the cat off your face C) Get distracted by some random thought of Nancy Pelosi and ruin this dream for everyone.

-A

15. Ribs or Brisket?

-Brisket AND Ribs.

16. Wet or dry Ribs?

-Hot Sauce.

17. “Compassionate Conservative” or “Hands-off-the Wheel” liberal?

-Pragmatic Moderate.

18. “Scoop” Jackson (D) or Nelson Rockefeller (R) ?

-Rockefeller on Mondays and Jackson on Thursdays.

19. Hubert Humphrey (D) or Barry Goldwater(R) ?

-Goldwater. All the time.

20. Bill Clinton (D) or Hillary Clinton (D) ?

-Slick Willy.

21. Ronald Regan (R) or George W. Bush (R) ?

-Ron Reagan (the son)

22. Angelina Jolie or Kate Beckinsale?

-Which one is on my face?

23. Barbara Streisand or Kathleen Turner?

-Kathleen.

24. Doris Day or Rock Hudson?

-Neither.

25. You are incredibly concerned about the cultural and social fabric of the United States. The Census Bureau predicts the 300 millionth American will come into being in 2006, most likely in the Southwest and most likely illegally. Pentagon planners tell you the country will need 28-30 combat ready divisions for the next 30 years. Northern white boys have slipped into a world of moral equivalency spewed forth by Bill Maher, Al Franken and Howard Dean. You A) GET IT – in one of the greatest Ahha ! moments of your lifetime B) Don’t get it and continue to draft mindless immigration legislation C) Check the batteries in your pacemaker to see if they were made in Guadalajara?

-A

26. True of False. “I know the second verse of ‘America the Beautiful’”

-Oh, beautiful for pilgrim's feet...

27. “ I own … A) a John Deere tractor B) a John Deere hat C) John Deere stock D) all of them and a Kubota front-loader to boot”

-A lawnmower.

28. Jesus, God, Allah and Mohammed are A) Gods and prophets B) Interesting and presumably nice residents of the Middle East dead for roughly 2000 and 1400 years respectively C) The largest cause of death and unrest in the world (perpetrated in the name of peace and eternal salvation) D) Close friends who exchange Christmas Cards in the after-life.

-A and C

29. “I have in my mind today and am willing to discuss … A) the names of my key cabinet appointees B) the names of my Federal judge and SCOTUS appointees C) The names of all White House intern appointees D) The names of those I will pardon in the 8th year of my presidency”

-A and B. C is omitted due to privacy considerations.

30. The worst American President/Governor of the last 5 years was A) Jimmy Carter B) Bill Clinton C) George W. Bush D) Jimmy Carter

-The whole freakin' lot.

31. The Best Invention of the last 20 years was A) Lethal Injections B) memory foam house slippers C) Punch Card voting D) the AFLAC Duck.

-AFLAC!!!

32. The Worst Invention of the last 20 years was A) Title IX B) lights at Wrigley C) “Self Affirmation” as an American religion D) Atlanta Airport E) Al Gore

-The Stairmaster.

33. “ When I can’t sleep at night I … A) Drink warm milk B) Jerk-off for the good of the Republic C) Blog D) first c, then b. “

-D

Hopefully that was as informative for the rest of you as it was for me. Thanks, PM!

Why Overturning Roe v. Wade Is a Non-Issue

2006-01-25T07:08:00.000-05:00

Oooooookay... The veteran is going to break this one down for you Barney-style (as we say in the Corps). The Supreme Court should not (and WILL not) overturn Roe v. Wade. There are a multitude of very complicated reasons for this, but the ol' vet's going to give you one of the simpler ones: The decision of Roe v. Wade is based heavily (almost entirely) on the premise of an implied right to privacy in the Constitution (this is based partially on Amendments III-V, as well as a few other lines). When Roe v. Wade was decided, it became a major affirmation of that right. The two are intertwined on a high level. If Roe v. Wade is overturned, Constitutional constructionists will be able to easily argue that the right to privacy is non-existent, and therefore, need not be observed beyond those instances specifically cited in the Bill of Rights. Let me put this into perspective for you...

If Roe v. Wade is overturned, within the proceeding years we face the possibility of:
-Child Protective Services performing random, unannounced inspections (whether you're home or not)
-Properties other than residences being subject to search or inspection without warrant (yes, you Conservatives, that means your places of business)
-Stronger laws governing how you have sex, when you have sex, and IF you have sex
-and various other possible infringements.

The Supreme Court will not take such possibilities lightly. Yes, the possibility exists that enough of the court is mad enough to take the chance, but it's highly unlikely.

Housecleaning...

2006-01-22T17:44:00.000-05:00

If you're perusing the blogroll, you may find that a few links have vanished. These links were removed according to a variety of very loose criteria ranging from whether I think adding them was one of those 'seemed like a good idea at the time' things to whether they've linked back to me (no, you need not do so to get onto my blogroll, but it helps). If anyone now missing would like to return to the blogroll, shoot me an email (you can find it in my profile) and let me know. Return links are always appreciated, especially if you've been on my roll for a long freakin' time. Also, I'm going to do some other cleaning and organizing in the near future...

On Alito

2006-01-14T12:52:00.000-05:00

The veteran feels the need to weigh in on the paradigm that is Sam Alito (affectionately referred to by my more lefty buddies as 'Scalito'). There are several points that make the veteran distrust this candidate for the Supreme Court. First of all, his record of opinions (which has been analyzed by both Harvard and Annenberg) strongly suggests a pro-business bias detrimental to individual litigants. While the veteran readily acknowledges the need for corporate entities and their vital role in our capitalistic hodge-podge, it seems that Alito may be unfairly taking sides. Don't even get me started on the issue with Vanguard, as the excuse presented seems to change on a fairly frequent basis. His usage of membership in an overtly sexist college organization to obtain a job confounds me, and detracts from his credibility, whether he was an active participant or not. His opinions (official and unofficial) on abortion rights and privacy rights leave little to debate, regardless of whether he claims he never actually held those views. However, the veteran would like to present a theory of his own: Alito isn't a serious threat. Yes, he's going to tip the balance more toward big business, but he's not going to try overturning Roe v. Wade. The simple fact is that to do so would be madness, and may even place him in physical danger. It's not going to happen, short of confirmed nominations to a group of openly zealous fundamentalists. Yes, we should complain openly about this nomination. Yes, we should continue factfinding and analysis of Alito's past exploits. Reality, however, should keep him from making any major changes. Don't fear the Alito, but feel free to dislike the Alito. That is all.

Where Have I Been?

2006-01-13T21:45:00.000-05:00

Heeeeeeey... The veteran has been without beautiful internet access for most of a week, but we gots it back on now! There'll be a new post tomorrow.

The Presidential Standard, As Devised by the Veteran

2006-01-07T14:13:00.000-05:00

The veteran would like to present, for your approval and commentary, proposals in the form of campaign speeches for a presidential candidacy. This will be a series of individual speech portions posted as I write them. This first section has been edited for typos, but not for conciseness. It deals with the addition of new checks and balances to all three branches of government, to provide a more equal balance between them.

Part I:

"Some of you are unsure of what to expect from me as a President. This is perfectly understandable... These last few years have been chaotic for those in all quadrants of the political map. I'm here to tell you today that I bring no definite, permanent solution to the table. I guarantee, however, that no other candidate can claim, in good conscience, to do so either.
I do bring, however, a plan that may well help to build our American future and reunite our divided populus. Long has partisan strife prevented effective solutions from being pushed through our august houses of legislature. The President was never meant to lead Congress. He was meant to review their decisions and to provide to them a transparent and realistic view of the situation on the ground, as well as to serve as one of many guides to help them conduct their business effectively and efficiently. The framers of our lauded Constitution saw each branch of government, legislative, judicial, and executive, as equal partners. As President I will seek to bring bipartisan cooperation and action back to our Congress through a program involving three things:
First of all, certain figures on both sides in the past have seen fit to draw voting lines in such a manner as to be overly beneficial to their individual parties. I will seek the support of the American people by direct referendum to tell the Congress that we will not accept unfair, ineffective partisan districting to upset the balance of our legislature. With your help, we can persuade the Congress to produce a nonpartisan independent committee to oversee all districting within the borders of our nation. These men and women will review all plans for redistricting prior to their implementation to ensure the maximum fair result, accurately representing all demographic sections. In this manner, we will ensure that all elected officials share power.

Second, I will work to provide appropriate criteria to ensure that members of Congress are fairly and accurately screened on a term basis for links to corrupt activity. I will NOT do so in a way that intrudes unduly into the private lives of these citizens, but rest assured, I will fight to see that all documentation detailing possible public-arena corruption are brought to light, and that these members are replaced by the good voters of their state. No state of our union should suffer the shame of a corrupt congressman pulling the wool over their eyes for years at a time. Again, I call upon you for your help in this matter. This will only be possible with the overwhelming support of the great American public, from which all our government power is born.

Last, I will seek fair and moderate term limits for the legislature. It is my feeling, and I hope you share it, that long-term members of Congress are tempted on a frequent basis to abandon the principles of good government for personal gain. No, lobbyists and large business contributors are not going to vanish, and to seek that would be a disservice to those groups and businesses that DO have the best interest of the public at heart. I propose, therefore, a stricter election standard for members who are completing their fifth term in the Congress. I propose that a congressman or senator who has maintained the trust and respect of his constituents will be able to claim a significant advantage in any term election. Therefore, I propose that members of the Congress that are seeking incumbent reelection to a sixth or further term must successfully procure a sixty percent share of the vote in a two-way election, and at least forty percent in a three way election. In the rare case of a higher split, this trend shall continue as the situation suggests. It is my sincere belief that this will keep our congressmen rotated in such a way to reduce corruption and overbearing seniority issues that cause unfair conflict in the hallowed halls of the Capitol.

As your President, I shall also seek to provide to you a fair and impartial judiciary. An overly partisan executive currently, either through proper appointments or recess appointments, can stack the judiciary in such a manner as to provide an overly biased view of our Constitution. Therefore, I propose that the Senate shall choose, by means of seniority, a committee evenly apportioned among all parties in the Senate, to provide a truly equal and fair consent for these appointments. In short, if the Senate is composed of three parties, the committee should be composed of two representatives from each party. If a party is only represented by one member, then that member shall have the authority to choose a second as his partner, with no restrictions on his choice. Thusly, we may be assured of the most impartial advice and consent possible for our judiciary nominees. In this way I feel that we can keep our Supreme Court fair and balanced, with no overwhelming majority ideology. Secondly, I propose that stricter standards are put in place for the legislature and the President to check corruption through a transparent account, on a case-by-case basis, of whether judiciary members may create a conflict of interest through opinions on certain cases.

None of this would make a true difference unless the executive branch were also appropriately and equally checked. I propose, therefore, that both the legislative and judiciary branches provide concise, accurate reports on all candidates, to be presented in an open manner to the populus at least one month prior to Presidential elections. These reports should take into account all criminal acts since the age of full majority, twenty-one. They shall also provide any evidence of corrupt activities in the political arena, as well as the private arena. Religious preferences, other personal beliefs, and other matters deemed appropriately private by the investigating committees shall not be part of the reports, as these matters are, in essence, part and parcel of these citizens' private lives and should only be discussed at the initiative of the candidates themselves. The reports should provide evidence directly, with no further analysis save for that which is deemed to need clarification, to prevent an overly biased presentation. These reports should also be revised and presented mid-term, to account for any further information the public should be privy to."

-J. Bradley Emery, Democratic Candidate

NOTE: The numbers I threw out for congressional terms are just that: numbers. Someone pointed out to me that they might be setting the bar overly high, and if I ever actually run, I'll get a research team on it so I can make them a bit more.... realistic.

My Democratic Mantra...

2006-01-05T11:47:00.000-05:00

I'm reprinting these comments to provide a better understanding of the driving force behind this site, and my ambitions. Reprinted from the comment annals of the Neo Con Blogger:

Poldark Maximus said...

To observe that Mr. Mountjoy occassionally shares turf held by our leftist bretheren would be the same as to suggest your boy Mark Warner could run as a Republican.
Potentially not a bad idea -- what possible turf does Warner share with Howard Dean? Turn a new leaf, Mod Vet, and power up with the True (Republican) Believers. Bring Warner with you. Poldark Maximus.

Brad said...

To some degree, I agree with you, PM. I think my reasoning may be slightly different, though... So correct me if you agree with what I say.
Mark Warner could fit the idealist Republican mold as a bastion of fiscal accountability. As a Democrat, he emphasizes the most sane and effective face of the party of the left, while still appealing to the honest sensibilities of the mainstream right. However, one must face the fact that the current section of the right wing in power doesn't so much comply with traditional Republican or conservative ideology. I'll refer you, for one point, to this:
http://forums.bluelemur.com/viewtopic.php?t=4626
It's a better explanation by far than my meager skills could forge without many hours of cramming and research. While Warner might work well as a Republican, to do so would equate him in the eyes of many with the current administration, which is to some degree born of broken liberalism. 'Tis sad, I think, as I'd be more than satisfied voting for him no matter which party he aligned himself with. As far as Howard Dean goes, he has let down his brethren to a nauseating degree. We thought we were getting a warrior; we thought we were choosing a master and commander of liberal thought, willing to challenge the hard right with steadfast resolve. Instead, we got a wimp. I would also like to clarify for you this: That I support the true right even as a Democrat, regardless of whether I agree with some of their ideology. This is what makes me a moderate. I cannot however, in good conscience, willingly support the travesty that composes the sect of the right that currently holds power... Also, I'm still by a significant degree more a liberal than a conservative on most issues. My greatest ambition is to create policies that fall in line with my slightly-left ideology but are also built to draw the broad support of both liberals and conservatives. To achieve true bipartisan policy is my goal, my passion, and my driving force.

-Mod

*Edited for typos*

A Quick Explanation of Extremist Moderates

2005-12-29T13:14:00.000-05:00

The vet coined a possibly-new phrase today: The extremist moderate. Now, here's an example of what this means:

That little stick-guy there? He's an extremist moderate. What this stick-guy does is stand completely off the line, enabling him to grab onto the ends of the line, and hence, snatch up some of the ideology of the extremist ends of BOTH sides (Say, wanting a massive government downsizing but, at the same time, wanting damn near every power in the book granted to the Executive branch). Kinda like a neocon, only more honest and vocal about their opinions. That stick guy is my pal the not-so-aptly named Neocon Blogger. Maybe that'll put a few things in perspective for those that are wondering. If not, at least they'll know for certain that the vet can't do shit with a paint program.

The 2008 Elections

2005-12-27T04:00:00.000-05:00

For your approval, I, the Moderate Virginia Veteran, present my candidate for the Presidential election in 2008. His name is Mark Warner. Many of you know him, some may not. I'm here to tell you why he's your candidate as well.

First off, Mark Warner is a Democrat. Before you sign him off, keep in mind that you've not quit reading my site yet, and I'M a Democrat as well. Mark Warner is possibly one of the smartest men in America. He made his fortune by jumping into the cellular phone boom in its early stages, and helping to push it along. Yes, this man sees the value of capitalism, and he's not afraid to use it. He's a true-purple moderate.

Mark Warner has proven his worth. He's been a successful businessman. He won election to the highest office of a conservative southern state. Not only did he win that election, but he turned that state around after the deficits wrought by his Republican predecessor tore the state apart. That state, my friends, is my home. It is Virginia. We've been home to, at last count, at least eleven Presidents. We generally have enjoyed great benefits from Warner's administration.

Mark Warner is not afraid to make hard decisions for the good of the state. When the Republican-led national Congress made cuts of social programs to cut the budget, they countered them with nearly twice the amount in tax cuts, many of which went to those making over $200,000 per year. This is not smart fiscal policy. When Mark Warner took over Virginia, he also made small, across-the-board cuts. He partially restored a tax on automobiles that his predecessor had cut. Does that sound like a Democrat? Yes. Do you know what the first thing he did, before the budget cuts and the small tax hike, was? HE CUT HIS OWN SALARY. Yes, the Governor of Virginia cut his own income to help offset the deficit. He then pushed his budget plan through an overwhelmingly Republican state congress and, in the end, he gave us a surplus.
This man, this Governor, this Democrat recognizes the value of compromise. Yes, sometimes, compromise is out of the question. Let's face it though, people. In America, compromise is usually the only was to accomplish anything. Mark Warner is a master of compromise. Because of this, most of the children of my state have healthcare. The unemployment level in my state has dropped. The schools in my state have more of the money they need to educate our children.

In closing, the veteran would like to present this Governor's credentials. Mark Warner was chairman of the National Governors Association from 2004 to 2005. Under his administration, Virginia rated highest of all the states in the nation by the Government Performance Project. Further information can be found here:

Mark Warner's Wikipedia Entry
Mark Warner's Governor Website
Warner for President
Forward Together PAC

This man is our candidate in 2008. He has proven, time and time again, that he can win the hearts and minds of Democrats and Republicans alike, and that he can work with both lucratively. He will bring to our nation a vast improvement.

The Open Source Universal Healthcare Project

2005-12-27T03:57:00.000-05:00

This is just a quick notice- The OSUHP site is up and the veteran is looking for comments and volunteers. The purpose of the project is clearly posted on the site, so if you're about to make a comment on 'nasty liberal/commie/socialist ideas', perhaps you should have a look at the SoP first. You might find it both interesting and enlightening. But, enough with the talk- Go have a look!

http://osuhp.blogspot.com

Signing Off for Stickmas...

2005-12-24T07:17:00.000-05:00

All of me here at the Moderate Virginia Veteran would like to wish you a joyous Stickmas and a Happy New Year! Butterstick card is borrowed from Wonkette!

Non-Political News: Microsoft Gives Up on Macs

2005-12-19T15:13:00.000-05:00

Microsoft has decided that Apple's own browser, Safari, whoops so much ass that they've decided to stop supporting IE for Macintosh. They're actually recommending switching to Safari or another browser better suited. This is a nearly unprecedented admittance of defeat by Microsoft, who is also facing assassination by Google. Safari kicks ass. Not as much as Firefox, but it still kicks ass.

Homeland Security at Work

2005-12-19T15:08:00.000-05:00

Federal agents recently visited the home of a University of Massachusetts student over a library book. The student was working on a research paper, and had asked for a copy of Chairman Mao's Little Red Book O' Communism (not actual title). This pretty much illustrates what's happening because of the Patriot Act (set to expire soon, unless the filibuster can be overturned). What does a socialist handbook have to do with fundamentalist terrorism? Hell if I know.

Yale Releases Report on Alito

2005-12-19T15:00:00.000-05:00

Note: Links to PDF document- Get Adobe for Windoze here or, for Linux, here.

Yale has released an official research document on the most likely effects of Samuel Alito's appointment to the Supreme Court. The veteran has only read portions, but it seems to suggest a justice dedicated to big business, wealthy litigants, and GOP interests. It also suggests that Alito will rule against the little guy on a fairly frequent basis. Don't take my word for it though; click on the title link and read it yourself.

It's Getting Serious Now...

2005-12-19T14:54:00.000-05:00

Dems on the House Judiciary Committee are publishing a report in book form on the Bush administration's activities surrounding the war in Iraq. This is important, not only because it will likely be fairly in-depth, but also because, for it to be credibly accepted, it must seriously account for documentation and reasoning behind all charges leveled. It discusses how the committee was stonewalled when asking for documentation from the administration, what crimes have been committed, et cetera. Once this is published, I'll be looking for a report on Annenberg about it. If this is the straight shooter we're hoping for, it could bring down the entire Neocon house of cards.

Multiple Post Day?

2005-12-19T14:41:00.000-05:00

Yes, you've been so patient, so loving, so... Aw, Hell, you deserve it! Mini-multi posts!

Looking for the perfect Christmas Gift? Give the gift of stem cells!
No, this is not a prank. It might even be a good thing.

A Christian nudist camp? If Bush were really being advised by God, he'd be pushing this one. I only say that because I'm told I think I'm God.

A political action committee to impeach Bush? Where do I sign up?

That's all for now. On to the real news for the day...

If you're looking for an informative new post...

2005-12-19T00:40:00.000-05:00

...Come back later. The veteran is currently wrestling with that most devious of foes, influenza.

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ME!!!

2005-12-07T14:08:00.000-05:00

As of 2:08 PM EST, the veteran has now had his 1000th unique visitor since he changed his counter a couple of months ago. This means, barring dynamic IP leasing and the use of different machines by returning visitors, around one thousand different individuals have visited the veteran since September twenty-fifth of '05. Whoopee!

Immigrants and Jobs and the Economy, Oh My!

2005-12-06T19:20:00.000-05:00

The veteran is on a roll lately for making posts based on personal experience, so here's a new one for you.

I moved to Gray, a small town on the outskirts of Johnson City, Tennessee, a couple of months ago. Right now, I'm working for Mountain Empire Oil Company (not-so-aptly named, as their claim to fame is running a string of convenience stores in TN and Virginia) and waiting to apply to ETSU for Spring semester. I've noticed something in my time here: This area is a haven for a HUGE number of illegal immigrants. Yes, right here in Bible-Belt-Bill-Frist-Conservative Country, USA. Every night I serve a large number (anywhere between five and twenty) illegals at my store. I can't sell many of them beer, as the only identification they carry is foreign, and I can only accept U.S. or state issued ID, visas or passports.

To set the record straight, I have nothing against these people. They work hard, come in at four or five in the morning for coffee, and again around midnight for beer, cigarettes, and necessities. By all accounts, they have a massively long work day. They're good people.
My gripe is about why they're here. Am I conservative on some issues? YES. These people shouldn't be here. They shouldn't have made it across the border. They don't belong here without so much as a green card.
With that in mind, I propose two ideas: Seal the border properly, for one. We can't afford them. Their presence detracts, at least in a small way, from jobs that I could have been working. They eat up my resources. Several of them don't speak a lick of English, and the only other language I speak, even in small measure, is Japanese. Plus, I feel bad when all they want is to unwind a bit after work, I can see that they're of age by the birthdate on their (insert South American country here) identification card, but I can't sell them beer.
The second portion of the solution is this: All that foreign aid we're putting out needs to be reevaluated, and some of it needs to go toward fixing the general economic conditions in South America. Most of these immigrants are from Mexico. Look out Vicente Fox, 'cause it's ass-whuppin time. Take care of your people. They don't deserve the conditions they live in, either here or at home. The economy in Mexico and its neighbor nations is the primary cause of illegals coming here. It needs fixin', and it needs it now.
One last point: fix the immigration system. For those that need it, getting into the United States shouldn't require stealth or permanent tension headaches from trying to navigate the red tape. For those that need it, ensure they can get in and become proper, naturalized citizens. Teach them English. Give them the proper aid required to procure a roof to sleep under, jobs, and needed education. The current system is, at best, chaotic and, at worst, detrimental.

Why? Because I Said So.

2005-12-06T19:01:00.000-05:00

Yes, the veteran is peeved. Given, I stay peeved these days, but I can typically handle it. There was something tonight that just pissed me off though. There are certain rules of etiquette that go along with blogging. I want to create more traffic and maybe get myself a few cross-links on the way, so I use links2blogs. I wouldn't mind making a few dollars extra (this veteran is dirt poor), so I have a couple of ads (only targeted ones, and one for Firefox, 'cause it kicks ass). Is this within reason? So far as I know, yes. And it's all ON MY OWN BLOG. What I saw tonight was this guy who runs Gobbleblog blatantly wasting server space by creating a second blog with only one post JUST TO LINK TO HIS REAL BLOG. It's stupid, it's wasted space, and it's almost like a popup-ad. Do you build a fake Wal-Mart just to put a sign in the window that says, "Visit Wal-Mart at 1200 E. Main Street"? Seriously, man, if you're having trouble with traffic, there are better ways. You're just going to piss people off. I'm not going to post a link and encourage this guy, but the 'adblog' is called "The Rape of Lady Liberty", and it will show up on links2blogs occasionally. Watch out for it.

My Obligatory Christmas Post

2005-12-02T14:01:00.000-05:00

Guess What? I'M FRIKKIN' PIRATE SANTA!!!

I love you. You're santa but you still manage to be
a pirate. You're crazy enough to throw a couple
of yo ho's in the general xmas-ness

What kind of Santa are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Notes on Mr. Murtha and More Amazing Media...

2005-12-02T11:10:00.000-05:00

First point: One piece of the John Murtha plan that seems to have mostly escaped the attention of the media: He didn't call for a full retreat from the Mesopotamian region. Specifically, what Congressman Murtha asked for (in his own words) was-

"My plan calls: To immediately redeploy U.S. troops consistent with the safety of U.S. forces.
To create a quick reaction force in the region.
To create an over- the- horizon presence of Marines.
To diplomatically pursue security and stability in Iraq"
War in Iraq by John Murtha

Specifically, what Mr. Murtha requested was a strong rapid response team based just over the border in Kuwait, ready to jump in when the Iraqi armi can't cut the mustard. This is neither difficult to imagine nor is it 'cutting and running'. Kuwait is right next to Iraq (a country roughly the size of California, and not nearly as oblong). Airstrikes and quick deployments to aid embattled Iraqi soldiers would be relatively simple logistically, and our troops would be based in a reasonably non-hostile section of the region. Less troop strength would be required. The Iraqi security forces would have a further incentive to stand up and take responsibility. WE CAN'T HOLD THEIR HANDS FOREVER. The plan is, in my opinion, fairly logistically sound (leaving aside unforeseen problems). Whether or not you agree with Murtha's position, perhaps having a better understanding of what that position actually IS will help you to make a better informed decision in favor or against. This post has been inspired by Poldark Maximus, an excellent blogger and a scholar in his own right.

In other amazing stories...
A few days ago, the veteran picked up a copy of the Wall Street Journal for the first time ever. While WSJ is certainly a bastion of conservative capitalist thought, the ol' veteran finds it to be worth a read by anyone with the time. The amount of detailed stock information available is stunning for a daily paper-based publication, and some of the Op-Eds are enlightening. For example (and I can't remember who the writer was), there was an article on the philosophy and ideology of John McCain. Friends, whether you like McCain or not, I think you'd find this to be quite an objective perspective. The author compares McCain to Teddy Roosevelt (the vet's favorite President of all time) and to Robin Hood. Check it out if you get the chance.

For those in the arena for a 'what the f*ck, over?', the Gubernator has hired on Dem Susan Kennedy (not one of 'the' Kennedys) as his Chief of Staff. Reps in Orangeland are pretty upset, and understandably so. While Schwarzenegger ran as a moderate Republican, he's been keeping Cali Republicans happy recently with his hard-right initiatives (they failed) and his H2. Unfortunately, while keeping his conservative base happy, he also threw himself out of favor with the other half. By hiring on Kennedy (former Deputy Chief of Staff to Gray Davis), Schwarzie may be showing regret at leaving the center and alienating his largest base. Hopefully, this will work in his favor. I hear she's a great advisor. The article can be found at the NYT.

That's all for now, folks. Come on by, and tell your friends! Also, remember: real webheads don't use Internet Explorer. Click on that little Firefox link at the top of the page and see what security and speed are all about.

Iraqis are Ready to Discuss U.S. Pullout

2005-11-27T10:17:00.000-05:00

Note: Links to NYT article. This requires a free online subscription

While opinions differ widely on both ends of the political spectrum, it seems that the majority of Americans are, at this time, at least supportive of a set timetable for coalition forces to withdraw from Iraq. Apparently, the Iraqi government supports this initiative as well. At a conference in Cairo, Iraqi officials from all major parties called on the twenty-first for a timetable for U.S. and coalition troops to leave Iraq's fledgling military to its own resources.
While there were compromises and concessions made (welcome to Realpolitik 101), Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish officials have agreed that it is in the best interests of Iraq for us to set a date, within the next year or so, to gradually brings our troops home. While this is not a complete victory for certain factions who wish for an immediate and complete abandonment, it is certainly a long stride toward forcing the hand of our current administration to relieve our brave soldiers of the burden they currently bear. If this leads to a successful timetable, we'll have the satisfaction of knowing that we won't be in Iraq for the rest of the decade, and our troops will come home with the knowledge of a job well done.

GOP Separatism and the Difference Between Neocons and Traditional Republicans

2005-11-21T04:48:00.000-05:00

First off, the article linked to in the post title is only a starting point for this topic- How Congressional Republicans are beginning to distance themselves from the White House and the Neocon stereotype.
Recently, House and Senate Republicans have begun distancing themselves from the Neocon political ideology of the Bush White House. This is largely due to severely declining support for the current conflict in Iraq, but is built also on a by-and-large rejection of policy proposals falling in line with that ideology (i.e., privatization of Social Security and Medicare, the non-traditional Neocon support for illegal immigrants, etc.). Some Republicans and Democrats with more traditional leanings may be confused by this concept, so let the ol' vet put it into perspective for you: Bush, Cheney, et al are NOT normal conservatives. They fall into a category referred to as Neocons, which differs on a large scale from traditional conservatism. One example is the Neocon policy toward illegal immigrants: Neocons typically support (or, at least, don't reject) illegal immigration into the country, as their take is that these immigrants mostly take jobs that Americans don't want, and aren't a large burden on government social programs. The traditional Conservative take on this subject is that illegal immigration should be stopped in its tracks, as regardless of whether Americans want those jobs, they NEED them. Also, traditional Conservatives feel that illegals DO create a significant burden on the government (while not paying taxes), and therefore should be removed, forcibly if necessary. Another example is the excessive spending that has taken place in the last few years under this administration. Traditional Conservatives are great supporters of fiscal responsibility, i.e. not spending more than we can afford to. The current administration has financed our current conflict not with slight tax raises, as is the more traditional way of financing a war, but mostly with foreign loans. Yes, a large portion of the money financing this conflict has come from borrowing. We'll be owing that back, with interest, here in just a few years. Traditional Conservatives wouldn't like that very much. Let me reiterate that for you: Traditional Conservatives would raise taxes as opposed to borrowing foreign money for this war. The current administration's tax cuts, combined with non-efficient spending on foreign military engagements, has destroyed the federal budget. Whatever happened to fiscal conservatism? It was left behind a couple of decades ago. Bush is a fiscal liberal. That's what a Neocon is.
I'd go on with this rant, but the vet is severely ill at the moment. More later.

Cheney Hate in My Adopted State

2005-11-15T12:39:00.000-05:00

According to Duncan Mansfield (AP), anti-war protestors directed their anger at the Vice President at the groundbreaking of a new public policy center in Knoxville, TN. The Baker Center, named for former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker (who was honored at the event) is, in Mansfield's words, "being created to foster greater appreciation of public service and understanding of government." Baker was a major player in the downfall of fmr. President Richard Nixon.

While the event only featured Mr. Cheney as a guest speaker, it's good to see some members of the home team down here in Tennessee (so long as there's no pie-throwing involved). Some may question the reasoning behind this protest, as the purpose of the event had nothing to do with the current administration's policies, nor was Cheney there specifically to continue leading the nation on. However, this is yet another sign of the growing unrest throughout the nation, to include the red states. What would Bill Frist have to say?

As Barely Noticed on the MSNBC Ticker...

2005-11-10T07:58:00.000-05:00

This morning around 6:10 or so, while watching Imus, the veteran observed a short headline in the ticker, pronouncing that a Constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage has passed a Senate panel headed by Kansas Republican Sam Brownback. This is the worst kind of sliding-it-in, because few people (except those like me who are overly observant of news tickers), will have seen it. I couldn't find anything on MSNBC.com about it, and at the time, there was no mention of it on any of the morning newscasts I was flipping through. If you have any gay friends, are gay yourself, or support the idea that marriage is up to couples and churches and not the federal government, tell whomever you can about this sneak attack on the rights of same-sex couples everywhere. Hopefully it will be defeated (again).

New Work for Miers

2005-11-06T07:35:00.000-05:00

So, whatever happened to dear old Harriet Miers, you ask? The President has given this White House counselor a new and difficult task- To train White House staff on ethics. Following the indictment of former Deputy Chief of Staff Lewis Libby, President Bush has ordered that all staff take courses in ethics to prevent such a problem occuring again. While this may just be a move to pacify the constituency, perhaps in the wake of DeLay, Frist, Libby et al, this will be just the thing to revitalize the White House. The original article can be found at MSNBC.

And, Finally, Here Come the Indictments...

2005-10-27T21:29:00.000-05:00

After watching MSNBC tonight, the veteran is a bit lost as to what Joe Scarborough's opinion on the leak case is. It would seem he's all for taking out Scooter Libby (who's certainly not an unknown), but he gave little information on how he feels about Karl Rove (a slippery bastard, to be sure). At any rate, it's starting to seem much like a reality show. In other news, Harriet Miers has withdrawn herself from the nomination to replace Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Miers, a relative unknown with around twenty-seven years of regular judicial experience, made the decision completely on her own according to the White House. With her readily apparent lack of knowledge on Constitutional law (yes, there is a difference between that and regular laws, if you're a newbie), it would seem to be a wise choice on her part. It remains to be seen, however, whether the President will lose face over this affair, and who he will nominate next.
Also, it would seem that a small SNAFU with The Onion has caused some angst in the hallowed halls of the White House. Quite simply, the Onion is a source of satire and parody, much like Wonkette (both are wicked funny). The use of the Presidential Seal along with parody speeches has inflamed relations with the White House, and there appears to be a protest going on in retaliation (against the White House). For your disapproval, therefore, I present my copy of the Presidential Seal:

Just an Observation...

2005-10-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

The veteran read over on BradBlog (yes, a decidedly left blog, and quite entertaining to boot) that the renowned Ms. Coulter seems to have an issue with the First Amendment (also amusing, as she seems to support the slighty altered version of the Second that the NRA and Ashcroft tout). Annie makes all her money by USING her First Amendment rights, doesn't she? Ol' Ann's always good for a chuckle, though (in a schaudenfreude sort of way).
Also, developments with the administration are interesting as usual. DeLay's slowly getting an all-American boot up his ass, Bush is appointing no-name judicial nominees, and we're still playing in the sandbox. The veteran's going to be seeing that new movie, Jarhead, as soon as he gets a chance. Talk to you all soon!

Batshit Craziness!!

2005-10-05T11:36:00.000-05:00

Well..... Grandma died, my car died, our move fell through at the last moment, et cetera... Just wanted to let you all know that I might be on a bit sporadically for the next week or two...

On another note, John Roberts was confirmed and is now the new Chief Justice, Miers is taking the place of Sandra Day O'Connor, and Cheney's becoming even more obscure as Frist and DeLay are getting chewed up and spit out by the legal system. More later, kiddies!

Yes, A Good Portion of the World is Not Happy With Us

2005-09-24T19:40:00.000-05:00

David Ignatius of the Washington Post, reprinted in first the Wall Street Journal and then in Intelligence Summit (where I found it), speaks to the fact that much of the known world, and particularly the Middle East, isn't very happy with America right now. Now, before you tell this veteran, "That article came from WAPO, it must be liberal!", I'd like for you to have a look at the original article. Mr. Ignatius asserts that the Iraqis are tired of being occupied. Yes, this assertion has been flung around by the left aplenty, and the veteran fully agrees with the sentiment. However, this writer for the Post goes on to take the stance of hardcore realpolitik; that is, the realist's view of foreign relations. He asserts, quite clearly, that once we "...learn to accept our unlovableness," we'll finally be able to pursue a foreign policy friendly to American interests. It sounds like this man from the Washington Post, a newsrag famed among conservative bloggers and net junkies for its 'liberal bias', isn't much of a liberal at all. Score one for the objective mainstream media, and screaming radicals be damned (on both sides).

The FACE

2005-09-24T00:55:00.000-05:00

Don't get me wrong. I'm not criticizing Michelle Malkin's physical appearance. I just thought that this photo catches one of the most priceless expressions this veteran has ever seen on anyone's face. Also, it somehow cheers me up.

Jeanne Allen Emery, I love you

2005-09-23T21:32:00.000-05:00

My grandmother passed away tonight.

Conservative Columnist Steve Sailer Describes How Birthrate Affects Party Ties

2005-09-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

This article, from The American Conservative, highlights an interesting comparison between birthrates of major metropolitan areas and rural regions, and how they influence voting demographics. Specifically, Mr. Sailer speaks about white birthrate, and how the birthrate is typically lower in the major metropolitan areas than it is out in the boonies. Using this technique, he explains how the red states manage, with their lower population per square mile, to continue keeping up with the blue states, which generally have a very high population density in their cities (the blue states are mostly on the two coasts, with the red states overwhelmingly squeezed in the middle). Mr. Sailer seems to go off on a tangent of speculation toward the end of the article, speaking about how the blue staters are, in his view, more prone to racial prejudices than the red staters, and makes a rather poor, barely supported case to that effect. Overall, however, his theory of birthrates may be an important contribution to political science.

Outstanding! We Got Us A FORUM People!

2005-09-21T22:06:00.000-05:00

Come on down to the veteran's personal, super-moderate forums. Here, you'll be treated as an equal, no matter what your political affiliation. The veteran's forum is here to foster further understanding and cooperation between the ends of the political spectrum, and to provide an airing place for moderates where they can feel comfortable. Come on in!

To the forums...

Dragging It Into The Light: Why The Left Keeps Harping About Bush Crimes

2005-09-19T00:02:00.000-05:00

Here we are, again... The veteran got into a scuffle and had bullshit called on him when he mentioned some of the drunken escapades of the Bush twins during a casual forum conversation. What I'm providing here is simply a resource of mainstream news articles (links to the originals) so that any Bush supporters stopping by can see what all the ruckus about the 'Bush Family Crimes' is about. If any of the news companies listed wish to have their link(s) removed, please email me at modvavet@verizon.net, and I'll take them down immediately. That being said, here's the links, categorized by person or persons involved. More will be added as the veteran comes across them.

Barbara and Jenna Bush (the Bush twins) -Underage drinking

http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/04/27/bush.daughter (CNN)
http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/05/30/jenna.bush (CNN)
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/metropolitan/1042530 (Houston Chronicle)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/1379000.stm (BBC News)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/03/02/national/main275777.shtml (CBS News)
http://www.caller2.com/2001/march/03/today/texasnew/19209.html (Corpus Christi Caller-Times)
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_20010601/ai_n10691906 (Chicago Sun-Times)

Noelle Bush (Jeb's daughter) -Prescription fraud and crack cocaine

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/LAW/10/17/noelle.bush (CNN Law Center)
http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/09/10/noelle.bush (CNN)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/01/29/national/main326007.shtml (CBS News)
http://www.sptimes.com/2002/09/11/State/Police__Cocaine_found.shtml (St. Petersburg Times)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-09-10-cocane-bush-daughter_x.htm (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/01/29/noelle-bush.htm (USA Today)

John Ellis Bush (Jeb's younger son) -Public drunkenness and resisting arrest

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9373195 (MSNBC)

Laura Bush (First Lady) -Vehicular manslaughter (no charges leveled)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/e1698.htm (USA Today)
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3910b26e685a.htm (reprinted from the Associated Press)

Columba Bush (Florida First Lady) -Smuggling/Defrauding U.S. customs

http://www.sptimes.com/News/62299/State/Gov_Bush_says_his_wif.shtml (St. Petersburg Times)

More links will be added as I find them.

Presidential Approval Ratings: The Clock Is Ticking

2005-09-10T21:33:00.000-05:00

As approval ratings for the President hit a new low of 38% (NewWeek), many are wondering what effect, if any, this will have on the 2006 and 2008 elections. The President is quickly approaching the final approval rating of Jimmy Carter (34%), and slumping towards that of Richard Nixon (24%). (About.com) We're facing a political crisis the likes of which fully half of us have never personally been a party to. The Republicans are, in all likelihood, going to have to provide a candidate that, right off the bat, can show both charisma and talent. The current President has shown little of either. For those of us who see the slow merging of the Republican party and the Democratic party in America, however, we're going to have to see a very strong candidate, regardless of party affiliation. Next year, chances are excellent that the Congress will fall into the control of the Democrats again. When (and if) it does, the people must be there to tell them that we're tired of having the wool pulled over our eyes by BOTH parties, and they'd better be providing a viable alternative.

An End to the 'Mutual Annihilation' Policy, But Is It Worth It?

2005-09-10T21:21:00.000-05:00

This should be simple. The Pentagon is proposing a stategy that will finally, permanently, put the Cold War policy of Mutual Annihilation on the backburner. The new policy, drafted by the Joint Chiefs, will allow for the use of a preemptive nuclear strike against even a vocalized threat of nuclear attack on the United States. The document still has a few heads to pass before it gets to Rumsfeld's desk, but even the concept of this plan may raise some serious points of debate. Do we, as a nation, have the right to attack on the basis of a mere threat? Well, we have to face the reality that a threat of nuclear attack may well be followed with an ACTUAL nuclear attack, something we, as Americans, must resist by every means necessary. There are problems, however, as to how this policy may be used by the government. There is always the possibility of falsification, as we have seen from the multiple, mostly debunked justifications for the conflict in Iraq. We will have to worry about this, not just from Mr. Bush, but from every Commander-In-Chief selected for office so long as this policy remains in effect. There are strong arguments to be made by both sides (and there WILL be sides), and this policy is one that may never be resolved within the American populace. If ever there was justification to accuse OR laud a government for playing at being God, this is, officially, it. Stay tuned for more information as your friend, the veteran, comes across it.

The Lowdown On That Katrina Chick

2005-09-08T12:32:00.000-05:00

There seems to be some confusion as to whether the substandard response to Hurricane Katrina was the fault of the federal government or the state/local government of New Orleans and LA. While this is certainly a topic worth debate, it would seem that both sides are promoting a well-defined "It's the OTHER guy's fault!" style argument. The truth is that there were definite, horrible mistakes made on both sides of the proverbial fence. Were the Louisiana authorities partly to blame? YES! Due to the lack of a mandatory (and enforced) evacuation beforehand, thousands still remained in the affected area during and after the hurricane. School busses, which were earmarked as part of the published evacuation procedure, stood dormant prior to the storm. The issue of the already-filthy canal and sewage systems were not addressed properly. And so on, and so forth...
As to the federal side, there have also been numerous hiccups. There was the slow initial response from the President, which probably sowed much paranoia and fear in the citizens of New Orleans, possibly contributing to the current nightmare state that currently exists in the area. It took nearly a week for National Guard troops and extra police to arrive (in part due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East), which also created a detriment to orderly assistance and evacuation. There has also been talk of the previous cuts in funding to the Army Corps of Engineers in the area, who were working on numerous projects to strengthen the area against just such a disaster. All in all, the federal government has done little to remedy the situation, which is becoming increasingly out of hand. The veteran is rather tired at the moment, so he'll be signing off for now. As always, he welcomes your comments, both supportive and critical.

Guantanamo Detainees Mean Business

2005-07-21T12:32:00.000-05:00

According to the BBC world service, fifty-two detainees at the controversial Guantanamo Bay detention facility (read: prison) in Cuba are currently holding onto a three day hunger strike, protesting the "inhuman" living conditions of the facility. As is general knowledge, Guantanamo Bay (affectionately nicknamed 'Gitmo') is the site of a massive detention and interrogation program for multinational terrorism suspects and those deemed to be collaborators and informants. Much controversy has arisen over the care and treatment of the detainees, some of which might objectively be referred to as torture. Precious little useful intelligence has emerged from this facility, which houses many charged with no actual crimes and held indefinitely. Many of the lefty persuasion have raised an outcry for the release of these detainees, held away from U.S. shores and the Constitution that, on U.S. soil, would protect the detainees from much of the suffering they are made to endure and, probably, require the release of most of them. The question must be asked of whether we, as a nation, are a noble, sophisticated people, or simple savages. Accountability for this facility must be more strictly maintained and enforced, if our government wishes to keep the facility open. Give those who have committed crimes the trials they deserve, and release the rest. Let no more word of such brutal and unnecessary captivity pollute the government that serves us. No, not in our name. Not in the name of America.

Karl Rove-Guilty or.... Guilty?

2005-07-12T13:38:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the long hiatus... The veteran has been a very busy little boy lately, what with my summer job and still taking a couple of classes. Let's talk about the Rove controversy. As many probably know, Karl Rove is currently under scrutiny (if not outright investigation) for the possibly outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. For those who don't understand the lingo, the evidence points to him having blown her cover. This is a rather severe federal offense at least, and a possible threat to national security at worst. For right now, Rove has been keeping things under wraps, and neither he, nor his lawyers, nor the White House have much to say about the incident, other than 'he didn't do it'. Well, the veteran thinks that he did, and apparently, so does most of the democratic party. Step up, Karl Rove, and admit your guilt. Name some names. Be a man, you wretched tool. Sincerely, The Moderate Virginia Veteran.

House Republicans Pass New Budget-Massive Social Program Cuts Countered By More Tax Breaks

2005-04-28T21:06:00.000-05:00

The veteran sees the nation going down the toilet. It's headed that way, and I dare anyone to refute that with hard evidence. The House today passed a new budget that somehow seems to contradict itself. This budget will make massive cuts to social programs, such as Medicaid, student financial aid, government pensions, etc. That alone, while painful to many Americans, might have really helped to turn the economy around (assuming that no one got sick and everyone could already afford college tuition). However, on top of this, they're also trying to push through $106 billion dollars in further tax cuts. Friends, we already pay lower taxes per capita than the vast majority of industrialized nations on the planet. How badly do your taxes hurt you? Hey, Bill Gates! Do taxes really kick you in the wallet each year? Are you on food stamps? No, I didn't think so. No offense to my example, Mr. Gates, but that's where the cuts are going to go. Michael Moore will have the opportunity to write another friendly thank-you letter to President Bush for his tax break, and that means he'll have more money to contribute to non-neocon candidates! YAY! Seriously, folks, we're screwed. We're getting to the point where the economy is starting to hit a downhill slide from which we might not recover. Once again, 'It's the economy, stupid!'

Let's Talk About Condi and Terrorism

2005-04-16T11:41:00.000-05:00

From Knight Ridder's Washington bureau: The annual international terrorism report for 2004 has been cancelled. The question in front of us, dear readers, it "Why? Why would they cancel a report on international terrorism, a report that might draw public interest?" The veteran will tell you why. The Bush administration wrote a check that they couldn't cash. The fabled 'war on terrorism' is a losing battle. Let's talk about terrorism, in general, for a moment. When the planes crashed into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a Pennsylvania field, President Bush called for a mighty campaign to eradicate terrorism from the face of the earth. Where is the problem in this, you may ask? Well, the administration's dirty little war propoganda makes it seem like terrorism is a new thing; the propoganda makes it seem like Al Qaeda's little charade is the most horrible terrorist threat in history, led by the most dangerous terrorist leader in the world. Friends, this is a misleading and inaccurate idea. Terrorism, much like war, has been around as long as mankind has stalked the earth. Does the veteran back up Bin Laden's little jihad? HELL NO. Osama Bin Laden is a right bastard, and that's a nice way of putting it. Is his organization the worst or only terrorist organization in the history of the world? ANOTHER HELL NO! How about guerilla fighters in Viet Nam? How about Stalin's little killing teams that made communism in a country as large as Russia possible? How about our own Ku Klux Klan and other private militia groups in the United States that propogate violence against people based on race, gender, and religion? The veteran is willing to bet that since the advent of the hand-held weapon, there have been at least a thousand terrorist groups in the world at any given time. George Bush and Condoleeza Rice would like to impress upon us, the American People, that terrorism will die with Al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents. They don't want us to read about the some 635 SIGNIFICANT terrorist attacks in 2004, not counting those made by Iraqi insurgerents. No nation on Earth, I repeat, NO NATION ON EARTH possesses the financial or military resources to eradicate terrorism completely. Sorry, folks, it's not gonna happen. The National Counterterrorism Center tried to make their annual report, but Condi's State Department shot it down. They don't want you and me to know that this is one fight we can't win. Yes, the federal government should keep some things secret in the interest of the populace. This, however, is just to cover their own overpaid asses. I'll get off my soapbox now.

A Tough Fighter for Military Freedom

2005-04-10T14:27:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the post name; I couldn't think of anything better. The veteran is happy to announce that the movement to allow open gays and lesbians into the U.S. military has a strong fighter on the Republican side. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from Florida is currently fighting for a new bill that will allow homosexuals into the military, openly and freely. I, for one, see this as an exciting opportunity for our national defense. Upon passage of this bill, homosexuals who may be afraid of legal persecution in the military will no longer need to fear, and it may even boost recruiting and retention significantly enough to reduce callbacks and stop-losses. Having had several homosexual friends while I was in the Marine Corps, I can say from experience that being gay does NOT make one a poor soldier/seaman/marine/airman (I've known gays from each branch). This is a great opportunity to win a major battle against bigotry and boost our numbers greatly. Don't fear the change; embrace the improvement.

Back

2005-04-04T00:50:00.000-05:00

The veteran just got in from spending the weekend with his [sort of] mother-in-law in Marion, VA. We're back pretty late as there was a rather dire accident on I-81 approaching Wytheville. A tractor-trailer appeared to be partially hanging over the side of an embankment, and traffic was backed up several miles. I'm off to bed, and hopefully there'll be an update worth making tomorrow.

Pope John Paul II Close To Death

2005-04-01T13:16:00.000-05:00

The Vatican is currently denying claims made by italian press that the Pope has died. As of 2:10 PM EST, CNN and Rawstory are working on this developing story.

Goodbye, Mrs. Schiavo

2005-03-31T12:27:00.000-05:00

It's finally over. Terri Schiavo died today, at age 41. The veteran expresses his condolences to Mr. and Mrs. Schindler and their children, as well as to Michael Schiavo, the husband of the deceased. This entire matter blew up in the past month into a massively unnecessary political controversy. My greatest joy is that Terri will no longer be the center of such foolishness, and the harpies of the Bush administration will no longer have her to push around for their own political gains.

And Now, A Message From The State Of Indiana...

2005-03-30T18:22:00.000-05:00

This veteran has seen some authentically strange things in his lifetime, such as a non-conservative conservative winning a presidential election, the laziness of fellow lefties, and now, censoring of established classical art. David and the Venus de Milo, along with a few other statues, have been ordered off the lawn of an Indiana yard art business. According to the Associated Press and SFGate.com, "Indiana's obscenity law prohibits the display of nudity where children might see it..." says Frank Butler, county zoning inspector. However, Indiana state law also allows exceptions for pieces that are of artistic value. So, the Venus isn't passing for art these days?
Also, in some more pressing news, the Quad-City Times and AP published a piece today about how our favorite senior citizens, the AARP, are against the President's social security replacement [plan]. According to the article, six out of ten members are against the President's proposal. Six out of ten? Is that all? Anyway, the veteran, as always, fully supports the fight to fix social security as opposed to RUINING IT, which seems to be the basis for the Bush [plan]. The full article can be found at the Quad-City Times.

Sorry

2005-03-28T22:23:00.000-05:00

Not much happening in the country lately... Schiavo is still alive, Bush is still kickin', and the veteran can't find anything terribly interesting to post on. Any readers with good leads please either email me or post a comment on this post, so I can gripe about something.

Federal Court Rules Against 'Feeding Terri'

2005-03-22T22:30:00.000-05:00

With all due respect, the veteran refuses to touch the base question of this quagmire with a ten-foot pole. A federal judge ruled today that Terri Schiavo's feeding tube would not be reinserted. The veteran does not officially have a stance to voice on whether Schiavo should be kept alive or not, as both sides make compelling arguments. What I don't agree with is the fact that Congress got into this mess in the first place. Schiavo's parents, Bob and Mary Schindler (any relation to the subject of 'Schindler's List'?) have been waging a war against Terri's husband, Michael Schiavo, over whether Terri should live or die. According to Schiavo, Terri has suffered long enough and would not have wanted to live this way. Her parents claim that she is occasionally responsive and may improve with therapy. So far, several court-appointed doctors have reviewed Terri's case and examined her, and each have stated that she is in a 'persistent vegetative state', meaning, in a nutshell, that she's the next best thing to brain-dead. Some doctors hired by the Schindlers have rebutted this diagnosis. Who knows? The Schindlers have some video of Terri appearing to respond to outside stimuli, but the human body does respond to things reflexively, and video can be faked. Terri Schiavo, if a ruling is not made in the favor of her parents, will die within a week or two from starvation and/or dehydration. Her attending doctor believes that she does not possess the mental capacity to register any discomfort from this action. Michael Schiavo, on one hand, has had a steady relationship with another woman for several years, and has fathered two children by her. He claims that if Terri is allowed to die, any money left over from an earlier malpractice suit filed on Terri's behalf will go to charity. One must ponder a few questions based on what we know: Does Michael have Terri's best interests at heart? Even though he has 'moved on' with his love life, he could have simply obtained a divorce and left Terri to the care of her family, thus leaving behind the responsibility. This might suggest that he really feels she would want the plug pulled. He could want the leftover money, but if she does die and he reneges on his voluntary charitable donation, SOMEONE is going to lynch him. Are Terri's parents simply holding on to a hope, certain to be washed away? Pretty much all of the doctors not hired by the parents have stated that she'll never improve, which might suggest that they specifically sought doctors that would rule in their favor. A truly objective viewpoint is impossible in their case, so once again, who knows? Should the federal government step in against [repeated] rulings from Florida courts that she should be allowed to die? This is not an issue for Congress, any more than professional baseball and steroid use. Republican Senator John Warner of Virginia (Goooooooo VA!) has stated that he feels this 'political football' is a violation of 10th amendment responsibilities reserved to the states. He feels that it is "...unwise for the Congress to take from the state of Florida its constitutional responsibility to resolve the issues in this case." Mr. Warner, thank you for getting to the heart of this issue. Whatever happens to Mrs. Schiavo (Lord, have mercy on her soul), this is not an arena the federal government belongs in. This is a private matter and should have stayed a private matter.

ANWR: Both Sides of the Story

2005-03-20T18:12:00.000-05:00

[Note: The link to the NY Times article requires a login. Registration is free.]
There seems to be a lot of debate going on about whether we should begin drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, as well as many rumors. The veteran read an excellent article today on the New York Times website that gives some facts and opinions from both sides of the debate. First of all, Congress will probably allow the drilling, so it's mostly up to the oil companies now. The oil companies, however, are still unsure of how to proceed. They concede that no one really knows how much oil is there to be found. An estimate of the exploration involved before any real drilling can be started puts the exploration at at least two years. Some companies seem more than willing to go for the black gold, but many are hesitant, as they are unsure of the profitability of this "experiment".
The environmental side seems mostly worried about the prospect of disrupting caribou herds in the area. One herd of caribou has continued to grow at a steady rate near the existing oil derricks nearby, but another herd has experienced a significant dropoff in reproduction, currently at about 120,000. Another area of debate is how much land would be taken up by a drilling operation. Most of the oil companies claim that they can drill diagonally for quite some distance and won't need much room, but some studies have also shown that most rigs can only drill a bit over a mile horizontally, in which case the surface operation may have to be much more wide and scattered than current oil company estimates claim. This veteran still holds that we already have alternative energy sources available to us, and we should begin implementing them now to offset the high petroleum price. Unfortunately, big oil tends to lobby against this course of action, as they are certain to lose profits in the process. As far as ANWR, no verified estimate is really available on how much oil exists beneath the serene Alaskan wilderness. Drilling will have to wait for decisions, exploration and construction that will take years before producing results. Why don't we start using some of the alternative resources we already have freely available? Fight the oil companies: their profit, right now, is our loss.

A Senate in Turmoil

2005-03-15T20:39:00.000-05:00

As Senate Republicans gear up for a monumental battle over Supreme Court nominees, Democrats led by minority leader Harry Reid have threatened to call to a halt all nonessential Senate action. In his first post the veteran detailed the Republican push to remove the filibuster; the last bastion of the senate minority against majority oppression. Majority leader Dr. Bill Frist and his associates in the Senate are still pushing for this vital component of political compromise's demise. Reid has stated in a letter to Frist that, barring certain exceptions, Senate Democrats would "stop or slow" any business put forth in the Senate until this matter is cleared and the filibuster is no longer in danger. Reid and his comrades now take a mighty stand against the most partisan Senate in recent history. One can only hope they possess the nerve, and the numbers, to win.

UAW Discriminates in Parking Based on Political Affiliation and 'Foreign Automobiles'

2005-03-14T23:53:00.000-05:00

The veteran would like to apologize to his associate, Mr. Smith, for the lateness of this post. Mr. Smith kindly contributed this news story yesterday.
United Auto Workers has recently ordered that Marines from reserve unit 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, based in Detroit, may not use the UAW parking lot if they drive foreign automobiles or display pro-Bush decals on their cars. While the veteran is ardently pro-labor, he finds this display of partisanship ignoble and crass. Until recently, Marine reservists have been allowed free access to the parking lot. Apparently, however, the union feels that certain Marines are showing a marked disrespect for their fellow Americans by driving the foreign-brand cars and displaying disrespect for organized labor by openly confirming their political affiliation with the neoconservatives. This veteran believes that the union might make a more acceptable judgement based on the fact that these Marines are members of a force that goes off to foreign countries to protect our homeland and our right to have organized labor, regardless of their political views or their desire for fuel-efficient foreign cars. It is truly unfair to extend this parking access to some, but deny it to others based on such biased reasoning.

Where is the Support?

2005-03-13T23:02:00.000-05:00

On the tenth, at Auburn University, President Bush performed at a rally to gain support for his controversial Social Security overhaul plan. Strangely enough, the majority of the audience at this and other presidential rallies has been hand-picked from people who already support the President's plan. According to the Associated Press, only thirty-seven percent of American citizens support the President's privatization proposal, with very little chance of a sudden updraft of support in the near future. Apparently, Bush feels that by broadcasting raucous cheering for his plan, he will gain massive support within only a few days for a plan that is so vehemently degraded that many members of his own party in Congress refuse to touch it, for fear that their constituents will tear them apart.

Baptist Church Protests Homosexuality; Angers Southern Baptist Convention

2005-03-12T12:08:00.000-05:00

The veteran feels that the congregation at Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas may want to reexamine Christ's feelings towards gays, as all people. Christ loves Everyone. It's scattered throughout the Bible in many places, but this particular group apparently missed it. They demonstrated in protest to a [possible] school-approved gay-straight alliance, carrying signs saying 'God hates fags' and 'Fags are worthy of death' (see photo in original news story). The veteran is appalled that members of a modern congregation, especially in such a major denomination as the baptist church, could apply this kind of highly negative pressure on any group, let alone simply gays. Perhaps they're attempting to get shipped off to Jerry Falwell's fold instead?
The Southern Baptist Convention expressed some outrage at the actions of the group (it was led by Phelps' grandson), stating that Pastor (?) Phelps is not part of the Southern Baptist Convention and that "we don't want him to be."

Beating a Dead Horse

2005-03-09T22:40:00.000-05:00

The Republican-controlled congress now has six days to pass legislation involving the restructuring of social security before the end of this session. Many House and Senate Republicans, in light of recent polls, are slipping away from the President's proposal, which would allow younger workers (i.e., those not currently approaching retirement age) to establish private investment accounts for part of their social security wages, while accepting a reduction in guaranteed benefits from the government. The polls are showing a severe lack of support for the President's proposal, citing the fact that no very specific plan has been laid out for the public and that private investment accounts can fail, due to fluxuations in the stock market and poorly-educated investors. Republican aides have also claimed that even those workers who choose not to take the investment option will very likely face a reduced guaranteed benefit upon retirement. The President has pushed his proposal hard in the last month, traveling the nation and campaigning for his proposal in several different states. While the proposal may again face congress as soon as next year, the veteran believes that if the President doesn't make major changes to the policy and more effectively market his proposal to the American public, chances are that the proposal will not pass during President Bush's term in the White House. While the veteran concedes that certain well-educated and option savvy workers may be able to turn the proposal to their financial advantage, one must look at the established fact that the average American worker is not proficient in the language of investments, and will, quite surely, lose money on the deal. Also, the possibility that workers who opt out of the private accounts will still face a lower benefit from the government has shut the ears of many to the proposal. The veteran also wonders where the President intends to get the funding to put this proposal into effect, should it pass at some time in the future, as the current administration seems preoccupied with slashing taxes and social programs, while financing the bones of what is left with massive international borrowing (this is why the economy is supposedly getting better; we're borrowing massive amounts of money from other countries to pour into our struggling nation). The veteran would like to know how the Bush administration intends to pay this money back. Who's going to get the bill, you ask? WE ARE. And that's all I have to say about that.

Blogger 2: A Blogger Will Rise

2005-03-07T20:55:00.000-05:00

Back (and still slightly ill), the veteran has a few thoughts on Garrett Graff. A Harvard graduate and former employee of Howard Dean, Graff is now the first blogger to be admitted to the [illustrious?] White House press corps. After five days of nearly nonstop calls, the ardent blogger of 'FishbowlDC' finally received a day pass. He cites a possible intervention by the head of the White House Correspondents Association and by the mainstream media for the driving force behind his eventual success. This may become a great new precedent for internet-based journalism and commentary, both partisan and non-partisan. The veteran congratulates Mr. Graff and wishes him even greater success in his future endeavors.
Also, in a story on Yahoo!, the Senate faced down a democratic proposal to raise the minimum wage by $2.10. This is not a radical increase, but it might have been helpful (especially with a few regulation caps on large companies to nix any compensatory price raises). While a large increase in minimum wage would likely only drive inflation higher, a smaller raise, such as this one, might have helped many lower middle and poverty-stricken citizens to make their rent for the month. Senate republicans adopted a counter-proposal of $1.10 an hour to establish a compromise, but this, too, was voted down. The veteran applauds both the democratic side and the Republicans, if their outreach was sincere and well thought out and not simply a pacification measure.

Where Will YOU Be When The Epidemic Hits?

2005-03-01T00:07:00.000-05:00

Today the National Institutes of Health received a petition from over 700 scientists and researchers, including two Nobel Prize recipients, protesting large cuts in general pathogen research that have been taking their toll since 2001. The cuts were designed to give greater money to bioterrorism and germ warfare research, which is important, but the cost to research on more common pathogens, more readily dangerous to the general populace, was very taxing. Cuts as much as twenty-seven percent have been levied on research to combat dangerous diseases such as tuberculosis. The veteran understands the dangers of possible bioterrorism and germ warfare (he's worn his gas mask enough), but feels there must be a better way to fund this research than taking more money away from those researchers studying to combat the more immediate threats.

An Admirable Article by Pat Buchanan

2005-02-27T18:00:00.000-05:00

It is a given that this veteran has not always been a huge fan of conservative pundit Pat Buchanan, but an article he recently wrote for The American Conservative is changing my mind. Buchanan speaks with a clarity rarely found in today's mainstream media and assertively addresses the President's democratic (?) jihad. He cites overarching Wilsonian interventionism as a basis for the administration's mighty war to bring democracy to nations that are not yet ready for it. Buchanan brings a heartfelt and yet stern warning to the Bush administration and the citizens of America. I now laud this man, whom I formerly did not truly respect, for his patriotism and his honesty. Patrick Buchanan, with this article you have shown yourself to be a true American.

Gay Marriage in Virginia and Assault Weapons-Links Below

2005-02-26T20:02:00.000-05:00

The veteran is ashamed of the strong bigotry being shown in the legislative branch of his home state. Today VA lawmakers in both houses passed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in Virginia and refusing to recognize same-sex marriages valid in other states. I am a firm advocate of separation of church and state, and do not believe a view based on the concept of biblical sin has any place in government. Nor do I bring my religious beliefs into my personal relationships. I love all my friends, both straight and gay, and I think a person can do a lot more harm in the world than just having a homosexual relationship. Why can't we deal with the real problems in Virginia, such as unemployment? Governor Warner has done an outstanding job repairing our broken economy, but there's still more to be done and he's on his last year. You can find the story on the amendment on the Lowell Sun Online.
Let's talk about assault weapons. The law defines an assault weapon as an automatic or semiautomatic weapon (that is, one that fires multiple shots from one trigger pull or one that will fire each time the trigger is pulled without needing recocking). The law also requires that, to be considered an assault weapon, it must have "...two or more of the following:

A folding or telescoping stock
A pistol grip
A bayonet mount
A flash suppressor, or threads to attach one
A grenade launcher" (see Guncite.com)

Many assault weapons are actually of lower caliber than conventional hunting weapons, but generally, people don't need a bayonet mount or a flash supressor to hunt game animals. These types of weapons are specifically made for killing humans. As a gun enthusiast and veteran of the Marine Corps, I understand this distinction well. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, of California, is now looking to reinstate the assault weapons ban that ran out in September of 2004. Senator Feinstein faces steep opposition this year in both Republican-controlled houses of Congress, but is adamant about this bill, designed to make the streets of America safer. True, these weapons only make up a small part of gun crime, but they are of the type most used by organized criminals and assassins. These weapons belong only in the hands of law enforcement and the military; weapons designed for killing humans do not need to be in the hands of average-Joe huntsman! Sen. Feinstein also faces significant opposition in the House, where Speaker Hastert and Majority Leader Tom DeLay have stated that they will not allow this legislation to come to a vote. Many assault weapon advocates, such as the NRA, cite the U.S. Constitution as a general guarantee of the right of average Americans to bear firearms, but the Constitution clearly states in Amendment #2 that "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" (see House.gov). Do we still maintain many state militias? If not, then why would a civilian need a weapon designed for shooting human targets? The original article can be found at The San Francisco Chronicle.

On Scott Ritter, James Guckert, and Social Security

2005-02-25T22:45:00.000-05:00

Today, I'll give commentary on three recent stories, to make up for being lazy. Links will be included in commentary.
A U.N. weapons inspector and former Marine, Scott Ritter, claims that the U.S. will commence bombing of Iran beginning in June of 2005. Ritter delivered this claim while speaking at the Olympia Theatre in Washington state. Ritter, an ardent opponent of the war in Iraq, stated that President George Walker Bush has received and approved plans to commence an aerial assault on Iran. The attack is supposed to be aimed at strategic nuclear development targets, but there is speculation that neoconservatives in the administration are also pushing an agenda of regime change in a country with high petroleum exportation.
Ritter also claims that the Bush administration rigged the supposedly 'free' elections in Iraq, altering vote counts to keep the United Iraqi Alliance, a Shiite organization, from winning agains Ayad Allawi's organization. The original article can be found at United for Peace of Pierce County, WA.

Conservative journalist (?) Jeff Gannon, also known as James Guckert, may be investigated by the administration following a call by Senate democrats. Guckert, a reporter for Talon News, was allegedly a plant for easy questions at press conferences given by members of the administration. He has also allegedly posed nude for homosexual porn sites and does work as a gay male prostitute at a rate of $200.00 per hour. So far as I know, Guckert has no actual press credentials outside his work for Talon News. The story on the call for investigation can be found here.

Your social security is now being ably defended by an army of senior citizens. The AARP is coming under fire from a conservative organization, USA Next, which has begun hiring consultants from the controversial Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. The republican lobby plans to commence an agressive television ad campaign denigrating AARP, through which they hope to convert AARP members to their own lobby. This surprises me, as the AARP is generally made up of seniors who know the system well and see the shortcomings in the Bush plan. They have fought social security privatization as well as changes to Medicare drafted by neoconservative republicans. This seems to me to be an agressive, unwarranted attack on the senior citizens of America, who are working to protect the interests of future retirees as well as their own. An excerpt of the original New York Times article can be found here.

Well, that about wraps it up for tonight. I have a foreign affairs exam tomorrow that I need to finish studying for. Good night, America.

A Little History Lesson

2005-02-22T08:19:00.000-05:00

This Virginia veteran has seen many complete disavowments of history, but this one is particularly disturbing. The Christian Heritage Center of Fishersville, VA, at a rally Monday, honored many of the founders of our nation. Unfortunately, Jefferson was not one of them.
Jefferson, an antifederalist, was one of the forerunners of the american republican party. It strikes the veteran as odd that this religious group, who sang the praises of George W. Bush at their rally, went on to publicly denigrate this bastion of party tradition. They held that Jefferson's policies were based on reason, and not faith. I am, again, amazed at the lack of historical knowledge put to use by a group attempting to portray the revolutionary period of history, and especially by the lack of a historical knowledge of their own shared party. The Virginia veteran thinks that maybe they should examine their own philosophy a bit more closely.

The Pioneer of Gonzo Journalism Dies

2005-02-22T00:21:00.000-05:00

Hunter Thompson, author of 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas', has died on Sunday, Feb. 20th, at the age of 67. Dr. Thompson was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his Colorado home. He was a profound critic of the Nixon administration and both Bush administrations, and a forerunner of the 'new journalism' movement, where a reporter places himself as a character in a narrative (loosely). We will miss Dr. Thompson's irreverent, wildman way of reporting events in America, and his death is a loss to us all.

Good Night, Hunter, Wherever You Are.

A Warner/Clark ticket for '08?

2005-02-20T19:22:00.000-05:00

Well, here's hoping so. I fully support Mark Warner for a run for the White House. He's taken my state from near-bankruptcy and turned it back into the thriving commonwealth I remember and love. My government/foreign affairs professor (Allen Trigger) is a personal friend of the governor's, and I hope to meet him some day myself. I'd also like to see Gen. Wes Clark get on that ticket with him. A strong, fiscally conservative moderate democrat combined with a smart, centrist four-star general? Sounds like a winning ticket to me! Stop on by the link in the title and get your name down on the petition to put Warner in the White House. You'll be happy you did.

Big Brother is Watching You, the Sequel

2005-02-14T23:37:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 1984. The Patriot Act is about to expire (mostly), and Shrub wants to have it renewed. No surprise, really, but it's a bitch. I hate the thought of my phone being tapped. I don't wanna suffer because I make detrimental comments about the government. I feel cheated. Of course, I fully buy in to the theory that Bush and Co. might have 'arranged' the 9/11 incident, to help along their PNAC pals. As farfetched as it may be, it DOES make some sort of sense out of the whole thing. Here's hoping for a moderate in the next election.

Dr. Rice Shows Her True Colors

2005-02-11T00:32:00.000-05:00

Well, this isn't exactly news, but the Herald Sun news from the Outback brought up recently how ol' Condi must've had a brain-fart when she claimed the admin hadn't had any warning of Al-Qaeda's intent. The fun part is I watched the 9/11 commission question her about the report titled 'Bin Laden Determined to Strike in U.S.', or something like that. She claimed it was all just "...historical information", and had no bearing on anything that happened, when it in fact gave pretty detailed information on the possible Wheres and Hows, if not the Whens. I'm doing a position paper on how Condi isn't qualified for her new job. Any suggestions for points are welcome.

Europe Is Apparently Tired of the Shrub

2004-12-13T17:44:00.000-05:00

Well, here we go again. A poll taken in several European nations by an international polling company, 'Ipsos', has shown with some clarity that most of Europe looks upon America with disfavor, but most especially, our *cough* President. France and Germany came out with more than half those polled having anti-U.S. feelings, and many in Spain, Britain and Italy were looking pretty anti-American as well. This doesn't come as a big surprise as our foreign policy is generally frowned upon by most of the world, but some of these countries have been major allies in the past. Tony Blair's control of Britain has kept the military resources of the country on our side, but there have been frequent antiwar demonstrations as well as calls for Blair's impeachment by the Brits. It seems as if he's not very popular in his own country lately ^_^. Australia and Canada also showed up on the poll, demonstrating a marked dislike of the Shrub administration. Sure, we're a superpower NOW, but what happens when these foreigners get pissed off one too many times? Is Bush going to defend us against what will [probably] be a TRUE coalition of the willing, opposing our policies? The people have spoken, both here and elsewhere, and the government has ignored us...

The Duck Slips on a Banana Peel

2004-12-11T01:50:00.000-05:00

After soldiers applauded the Guardsman who posed the question of inadequate armament to Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, he had the audacity to [essentially] tell the Guardsman to shove off, citing that we "...go to war with the army we have, not the army we wish to have..." and that 'simple physics' was the main cause of the problem... Not sure where physics comes into it, but he went on to cite how production is at a peak level and the required products simply can't be produced that fast. Fortunately, ArmorWorks of Tempe, AZ seems to have a suitable rebuttal for the wayward SoD. The company, which was granted a contract to make a certain amount of armor within a given timeframe, says that it could easily double production if the order is given. It seems somewhat odd to me that the Defense Department isn't pulling out all the stops to provide our troops with the supplies they need, especially in light of all the Shrub administration's support (HAHA!). Why don't our troops have the protection they need?

Tom DeLays the Inevitable

2004-12-09T21:47:00.000-05:00

Well, House majority leader Tom DeLay has done it again... After three smackdowns for ethics violations having to do with fundraising scandals, he's pulling out all the stops. His lawyer has rebutted the charges with a 'Contempt of Congress' countercharge and is threatening to throw another representative and a watchdog group in jail. What jail, you may ask? We don't know and, apparently, they don't know either. The last Contempt of Congress charge was leveled back in the '40s. Why can't DeLay just face up to his [already proven] crimes and do the time? Why do the House Republicans feel that he's worthy of keeping his post if he ends up getting indicted? What makes these people feel that they're above the law? Visit Raw Story or Blue Lemur and stay tuned!

FILIBUSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2004-12-04T17:34:00.000-05:00

Well, there's not much new in the 'news'. The Republicans of the Senate are attempting to push through a change in policy that would weaken the filibuster; the main defense of the minority against majority rule. Specifically, the repubs worry that dems will use the filibuster to blast away at conservative supreme court nominees, but they are probably also afraid of the left fighting some of the more extreme right bills that are going to be coming through Congress (and they ARE coming, just you wait and see). Whatever happened to the days when Congress worked together as one mass, largely unfettered by the extreme agenda of either side? Or was that all some absurd pipe dream I cooked up after reading my government textbook? Whatever it was, I wrote my [repub] congressman about it, although I don't really know what his view on the whole scenario is (he's Bob Goodlatte, btw).

Hate & Bigotry in the Deep South

2004-12-03T00:53:00.000-05:00

In a news story published in the Birmingham News here:Republican rep. Gerald Allen seeks to ban literature concerning homosexuality from all public schools and libraries in Alabama. The only person I know from Alabama is one of my marine buddies, stationed in NC. He's extremely intelligent, but apparently is not representative of the average in his state (which also recently voted down a motion to remove segregationist language from the state constitution). How far will it go? Bigotry is alive and well in the US of A. Booyah!