Weekend open thread

| December 9, 2016

Above the fray

Above the Fray

Iranian soldiers scamper along high ropes in a military training exercise “like sparrows” in this image by Your Shot photographer Mohamad Ali Najib, backed by the dome of traditional Muslim architecture. While these troops certainly appear to know what they’re doing, they are actually students at an Iranian officer training school for the Islamic Republic of Iran Army.

Photograph By Mohamad Ali Najib

Category: Open thread

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Claw

First

Claw

And once again my superior F5 key punching skills rise to the top.

A Two-Fer.

Kiss my bling.

Veritas Omnia Vincit

2nd

Jon The Mechanic

Top 3.
Personal best

Red Ghost

Top five

AW1Ed

top ten.

Silentium Est Aureum

Not first, not last. All good.

GR_ATC

Top ten!!!

Hack Stone

Honorary Top Ten.

Skippy

TOP TEN
HEEEE HAAAAAAAA

Skippy

But I self-identify as NUMBER 1

? ? ? ?

IDC SARC

I was busy supporting the fight. Lolz

Ex-PH2

I have a small list of things I thought you’d hit when desperate:

The holes in a concrete block
A coil of garden hose
The drain in the bathtub
The cardboard tube in a roll of paper towels after you’ve stored a cookie dough roll in it
The grill on my Escape SUV
That moistened bimbo throwing swords at people from a bog
The Trojan Rabbit
A large open aspirin jar

Anyone can add to the pile, but do offer the poor fellow several choices.

Grimmy

“The cardboard tube in a roll of paper towels after you’ve stored a cookie dough roll in it.”

Huh.

Never thought of that one.
The cookie dough roll… that need to be scratch made or can you use that stuff you buy in a tub?

Ex-PH2

OH, I saw this on the mid-day news yesterday. A pastry chef, who has just published a new book on nothing but cookies, showed how you can store unused cookie dough like chocolate chip cookies by rolling it into a log form, then rounding it with a pastry scraper and parchment or waxed paper and storing it, wrapped in the parchment, in the paper towel roll, which is cut down the middle.

That keeps it from going flat on one side, and it’s good for two weeks in a zip bag in the fridge or six weeks in the freezer. A very handy way to make and store cookie dough ahead and only use what you want, instead of the entire batch.

She was using it for shortbread cookies, but I think you can use it for just about any kind of cookies, including the roll-and-cut sugar cookies. And I think I will make icebox cookie next week, because CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Grimmy

Oh. You were talking cooking stuff.

I thought you were talking about things a guy would hit as in being a self made man, or do-it-yourselfer.

Not that I was interested, you know. It’s just that I’d never heard of that particular thing and was pretty sure I knew all there was to know on that subject.

Ex-PH2

I always talk cooking stuff, Grimmy!

MustangCryppie

A jar of peanut butter, preferably smooth, NOT chunky, DEFINITELY NOT super chunk.

Mick

Being that IDC SARC used to run around with Marine Recon, I would like to submit the following options for consideration:

– A knot hole in a rough-cut pine board.

– Any of the ‘dancers’ at The Driftwood, The Brown Bagger, or Tobie’s down at Camp Lejeune.

– A Pringle’s potato chip can filled with raw chopped liver.

Semper Fi!

Beat Army!!!

Forest Green

On my last trip to MCBCL, I was disappointed to see the Brown Bagger had transformed into a Barber Shop. Did they leave the pole and offer a dance while you take a shave and haircut?

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

Not being in the chase for “First”, I was in my photoshop, scripting a photo of a target that I just perforated with my AR-15. 30 rounds in a 6 inch circle, suits me. All head shots.
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OC

Phuking sweet Frankie!!!!!

Ex-PH2

Cool!

A Proud Infidel®™

Doug is wearing a black Stetson and has a handlebar mustache.

Graybeard

Good job, Frankie!

Skippy

Nice ! ! ! !

26Limabeans

Looks photoshopped.

Closes browser, locks doors and goes hide in the closet…

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

Photoshopped? Well yes, the script is photoshopped. Those letters and numerals didn’t get there by themselves. hehehe.
But the rounds used can penetrate the average closet wall. Just sayin’.

26Limabeans

That is a really nice group.

Wilted Willy

Nice group there Frankie! It would make a nice headshot!

Skyjumper

I see a lot of “D.R.T.’s” with that kind of shooting, Frankie.

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

This is only because I shoot every day. I have only missed two days in a year. I was in the hospital on those days, and was limited to mind exercises.

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

I produce the good shot groups using these two rifles. The Henry .22 Lever gun gets more use on the range than the Bear Creek Arsenal AR-15, only because of ammo costs. They are equally fun to shoot, and entertaining to maintain. Both are equipped for night shooting, and both get used “in the field”. These are not “Cabinet Rifles”. They are kept loaded, and in strategic locations to where I am at any given time.
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26Limabeans

Nice setup. I used to shoot the Sig M400 with a 3x scope. It liked the 62gr Lake City.
The other AR was the Armalite M15 with the old “handle” sights, no rails or optics. It liked the lighter stuff with its slower twist.
Unfortunately they were lost in a boating accident. Pretty common.

A Proud Infidel®™

Hey Frankie, if .22LR ammo ever gets in short supply in your AO, I have a good source for it, just holler at me!

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

I am up on .22LR for now. I was gifted with two “Bucket of Bullets”, (1,400 rounds in each), and have them set aside, and have been able to replace all that I shoot by 150%, as I do with all ammo. I have been able to get both .223 and 5.56 pretty reasonably. My AR is chambered in .223 Wylde, making it a “multi caliber” weapon. Being able to occasionally get Mil-spec 5.56 helps with costs.

Claw

Okay. First serious (sarc) comment for this edition of WOT.

Does anyone know if the buffalo are still grazing on the Birdcage?

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

Yes, they are. Refer to two alpha 7 for the next.

Cable Dawg

“The Wildebeest is not Gnu.

I repeat, the wildebeest is not Gnu.”

Wait, is that last month’s code or this month’s?

Ex-PH2

Change the codebook cover to fuschia, add baking powder and shake until it bubbles and turns green.

Claw

That was a semi serious question for anybody who had been stationed at Ft. Campbell recently.( the past 20 or 30 years or so)

I know there were buffalo on Clarksville Base (Birdcage) in the early 70’s when I was there. I left Campbell in 74 to go to Ft. Benning and never returned.

I see now that the Clarksville, TN Tourism Board is touting that a fairly large herd of buffalo are readily available out at the Land Between the Lakes and I was just wondering if the herd on Clarksville Base had been rounded up and trucked over there to start a new herd. They’re saying it’s kind of like a little Yellowstone East over there in the LBL.

So, a little help? Anybody been there recently?

A Proud Infidel®™

I still remember when there was a Buffalo Corral on Ft. Riley. It was also said that they had a herd grazing in an enclosure surrounding the main AHA on that post. Think about it, some would try to get through the fencing and barbed wire, but who in their right mind would want to risk getting trampled by a 300 pound Bison?

Claw

300 pound? Lightweight calf./smile

3,000 pounds is more likely.

Who says Zeroes don’t count?

Hack Stone

300 pound Bison? Aren’t you being a bit cruel? Sure, they may weigh 300 pounds, but those girls at the Enlisted Club are just looking for some companionship.

2/17 Air Cav

CLAW. A couple of years ago, I described the Old Sabre Heliport where the Cobras, Loaches, and Hueys slept. I asked about the place, too, and mentioned the buffalo. Well, a lady commenter said her husband was a pilot, if I recall correctly, and the bottom line is that we wouldn’t recognize the place. No buffalo and a permanent (not the snap-together pads on grass as there were back then) heliport. The place was a game reserve. It’s still called Sabre but that’s about it.

Claw

Thanks 2/17 and Frankie. I read where the elk herd over there at the LBL Natl Rec area were brought down from a refuge in Canada and so I wondered if the bison herd had come from the Birdcage.

Things were a lot different 45-50 years ago on Campbell and with all the modernization to the post I’m pretty sure the herd has been long gone. But I thought I’d ask anyway.

Tony180a

I’ve never heard of buffalo on Campbell. My Battalion moved from Bragg to Campbell in 87. Sabre Army Airfield brings a chuckle to me. We had some INTAC instructors from SWCS come down and my Company used it for a driving course back 2003. 101st was deployed and no aircraft on the airfield. Crashed a shitload of cars doing pit maneuvers on the flight line. followed by a super thorough police call.

Claw I’m amazed at the amount of new construction and changes to Campbell within the past 5 – 10 years. There are buffalo at LBL and the Elk herd is thriving as well. I had an old team mate that hit an elk in his car at LBL. (totaled it)

2/17 Air Cav

They roamed around the bunkers. Don’t tell me the bunkers are gone, too.

2/17 Air Cav

Actually, they didn’t do much roaming at all. They usually just laid around and stank.

Tony180a

There were bunkers behind Cav Country. I wish Ft Campbell would get a location and FFL on the TN side of post so us retirees with a Tn address could buy guns from the PX.

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

I can’t help you now, but will ask friends who are currently active duty there. When I was at Ft. Campbell, there were USMC guards, (with live amo), around the perimeter, roving and in guard towers. I watched several times at large bomb carts were hauled from Campbell Arm Air Field to “Clarksville base Naval Annex”, aka “The Birdcage”. The topographical maps of the day were totally flattened within the fences, no buildings shown, no elevation shown.s

ChipNASA

PPPPBBHHHTTTTT!!!!!!

I wasn’t paying attention this week.

Don’t care.

Dan Bernath, YOU CAN EAT ME RAW WITH A FLAV-O-STRAW!!

Ex-PH2

You’re all just 😛 😛 😛

I don’t care. I have my own fish to fry. It is snowing here, and since the Farmer’s Almanac predicted the cold and the snow, and the ‘professional weathermen’ sneered at the FA and OFA’s forecasts, who is laughing now?????

I have stuff to do. If you want recipes, let me know what. I’m going to make chili later on, and cornbread.

I found out my orphaned cat Miss Punkin Squawkypants likes to embed herself in the empty cellophane packaging for multipacks of paper towels and bath tissue. I have pictures. She is funnier than a porcupine in a bag full of marshmallows, and as mean as a snake when she’s really pissed off.

ChipNASA

So she takes after her Mommy??

XOXOXOXOXO

😀 😀 😀 😮

Ex-PH2

I don’t know. She was thrown out of her home by people who used to live on my street and when I asked if she was theirs (when they showed up to get their furniture), they left very quickly. If she’s like her mom, then she’s mostly feral, and uncivilized, but she never puts a paw on the furniture. Never. Eats like a starving warthog.

Graybeard

Young co-worker was going to do us a favor & make us some chili for lunch today.
Her first mistake: she used beans. That does not count for chili in Texas.
Her second mistake: she used dried pinto beans, which she had not soaked overnight.

“Lunch” ought to be ready by 1700z.

OWB

That’s funny.

I actually like me some beans in chili, but I call it chili with beans. You make chili and add some beans later sometimes. But I’m with ya – Yankee “chili” can be very good, tasty even, but it ain’t real chili. Celery in chili? Carrots? That’s soup, not chili. Then again, I eaten some mighty fine chili soup.

HMC Ret

Commissary occasionally has stew bones, buck or so a pound. If I can’t get them there, HoneyBaked Ham sells them. I simmer the bones for several hours, cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight. The following day I scoop off the congealed fat and then proceed with the bean recipe, cooking the beans in the stew bone juices. My favorites are split pea, Navy and pintos. ALWAYS served with cornbread.

Roger in Republic

Have any of you watched an NFL game with the new Monochrome uniforms? I have and I think they are the gayest thing I have ever seen. Gay and stupid. Oft times the colors clash and in one case the combination caused me to suffer vertigo. It looks like the Good Idea Fairy showed up at Nfl headquarters and gained entrance to one of their marketing meetings.Football was never ment to be played in soft pastel colors. Who designed these things,Tom Ford? And they wonder why their ratings a re going down the toilet.

Grimmy

The NFL is currently in the end phase of full on SJW convergence.

In a few years, teams will be made to hire players by sexual pref/racial/psycho disability quotas and any reference to actual skills and or abilities will be forbidden by law.

A Proud Infidel®™

I gave up on the National Felon League this year, the multimillionaire adolescents sitting or kneeling during the playing of our National Anthem was the final straw!

Red Ghost

Ditto

Hack Stone

Xerox that for me. I just don’t care anymore. I don’t even have the game on as white noise.

OC

What API said.
Who is this Tom Ford fella?
It is a fella, right?

2/17 Air Cav

I watch Red Zone most Sundays. It’s a DISH thing. No commercials, no bullshit at all. All day Sunday, Red Zone will televise teams that are in the red zone. When things are slow and no team is deep, they’ll bounce around the league. It’s perfect. At the end of the long day, Red Zone finishes with every TD scored by all teams that day.

Roger in Republic

Same for ne, I don’t think I have watched a complete game this season. In fact, Red Zone has ruined Sun, Mon, and Thur night football for me. It has become too boring with all of those three and outs,

Daisy Cutter

Gay?

There’s nothing gay about watching men in tight pants running around slapping each other on the butt.

Ex-PH2

Not sure what you mean by ‘new’ monochrome uniforms, but the Bears play in dark jersey/white pants or white jersey/white pants, or white jersey/dark pants, depending on whether it’s away or home game. That’s been going on for decades, not something new.

HMCS(FMF) ret

“Color Rush” is what Nike calls them… fucking disgusting.

2/17 Air Cav

27% drop in viewership from last year. That’s a lot of lost revenue. I feel bad. No, really. Very bad.

26Limabeans

The 49ers will soon be wearing rainbow motif.

A Proud Infidel®™

UMPTEENTH!!!

The dregs of the Dutck Rudder Gang can go sit and spin on a pile of broken glass after tapdancing in a minefield.

Sparks

Here Sergeant!

OldManchu

Hello everybody! Stay warm and focused! God bless this site / blog! Discovered it in 2013 and it has warmed my heart and health ever since that day.

26Limabeans

I quit my therapist when I discovered this place.

11B-Mailclerk

“This Ain’t Hell” is what American Legion / VFW / AmVets / etc. should have been!

Thanks Jonn.

(Maybe you should sell sponsor memberships, or challenge coins, or something….)

Hack Stone

Or commemorative mailbox doors.

HMC Ret

Roger that. I’m a relative newcomer … 2-3 years, I think. Enjoy posers getting their due and the give and take among those posting here. One of the first sites I visit each morning. Jonn does a good job, although he is a miscreant. (See what I did there with that give and take thingy?) I can give; I can take. I’m a firm believer in self-deprecation. It’s good for my soul. Blessings to all, even the posers. I wish you no harm, I only want you to stop what you’re doing, claiming honor not earned.

Ex-PH2

You can bribe him with rum and cheap cigars, or maybe expensive cigars. That’ll make him happy.

Hondo

This just in: per the State Bar of California, Daniel A. Bernath IS STILL DISBARRED!

If anyone is interested, the reason why may be found here.

Yo, Danni-boi: hope being a world-class jackass was worth it.

Ex-PH2

I’m quite sure, Hobo, that he’ll try another venue some day. Fella’s got to have a hobby in retirement, you know. 😉

Toasty Coastie

**Giggles at “Hobo” ((smiles))

Making Japanese Cotton Cheesecake and Hot Chocolate Cookie Cups….. I’ll leave you all some when they come out of the oven…

Enjoy your weekend <3

AW1Ed

Danni-boi, what are the FIVE most useless things in aviation?
Runway behind you.
Altitude above you.
Two seconds ago.
A dog duct taped to the co-pilot seat.
And FUEL LEFT IN THE BOWSER!

HMCS(FMF) ret

For everyone’s general info, Danni-boi and his butt buddy, QuEeFeRs, will be “working it” at the local “Flying J” truck stop this weekend.

It seems that Dani-boi has a “cash flow” problem and DuLlAsS needs some coin to get the piss stains out of his purple jump suit.

Reb

Hondo,
But, but, but Bernasty said he retired and didn’t give a ratsass about the license in California and hasn’t practiced there in twenty years.

If he didn’t give a damn, why fight the disbarment case?

WITTLESS has still not COMETH, probably near the airport giving sex to any man to collect Nicole’s for a parachute jump. Drunken pig, I hope he forgets to pull the rip cord…he’s no longer in love with me but is with my buddy PROUD?

Grimmy

http://www.portman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=3765A225-B773-4F57-B21A-A265F4B5692C

Senate Passes Major Portman-Murphy Counter-Propaganda Bill as Part of NDAA

Portman/Murphy Bill Promotes Coordinated Strategy to Defend America, Allies Against Propaganda and Disinformation from Russia, China & Others

***********************

Ok, there’s what they say the bill’s about, then there’s the use it’ll be put to.

Anyone else find this coinkydinkal with the “fake news” lies the Killery Krew and MSM are pumping out lately?

Yeah, sure, Killery ain’t gonna be POTUS, but her kronies infest every single hall of power and abuse in our gov.

I’m starting to wonder if this wasn’t pre-planned to shut down any attempts to hold Killery’s Krew to any accountability post her expected win?

There is actually zero chance in hell that this bill started getting written and worked up *after* the “fake news” lies started.

Daisy Cutter

0bama orders an investigation as to who was behind the hacking of DNC emails.

So, he doesn’t go after anybody doing wrong but goes after the people that exposed it?

Grimmy

Actually, the meme that’s being floated now is that Trump asked Putin to hack Killery’s emails and that’s what gave us wikilinks.

As stupid as that sounds, watch it gain traction.

LC

Alright, I’ve got a question – how do some of the pro-Trump (not just anti-Clinton) voters here feel about the news coming out that the President-elect is skipping most of his security briefings? I’d think that for an outsider, with no previous security experience, this would be even more critical than if someone with credentials and access were skipping them.

Does this make anyone else question his preparedness for world events come inauguration? If not, why?

A Proud Infidel®™

B. Hussein 0bama has skipped the vast majority of them during his time in orifice.

LC

I don’t think that’s actually true – I believe the basis of that claim is that he would often opt for reading the PDB instead of getting it in person, but aides claim he is briefed daily. On matters I was familiar with, I’d do the same if I were President – I read faster than people talk. On matters I wasn’t familiar with, I’d opt for an in-person briefing so I could ask questions.

Regardless, I’d be equally critical of Clinton if she had won and were ignoring intel briefings. If we say President-elect Trump can skip them because President Obama did (just for the sake of argument), would you have been fine if Sanders had won and skipped his?

I may not lean conservative, but I want a President who is engaged and informed on critical issues. D or R doesn’t matter.

2/17 Air Cav

Pence is attending six briefings a week. Trump has asked to be briefed on specific subjects and has been. Carter attended all of his, I’m sure, and phuked things up beautifully. The One probably attended all or most of his before he was sworn in and look what he did with Red Lines, the Arab Spring, Syria, Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Did I mention Libya? Anyway, no big deal. Trump will be informed and will consult with those he needs to consult with, I have no doubt. He has a team approach, unlike The Emperor and unlike Jimmah, about whom it is said he studied everything like a student cramming for exams and involved himself in shit that he should have delegated to others. Last point. The scary part of this is that The Emperor remains on his throne until next month. I’d feel better if Trump were in there now.

rgr769

Jimmah insisted he control scheduling of all the sports venues at the WH, as I recall.

LC

A team approach is fine, but ultimately it comes down to one person making a decision – yes, with input from the team, but the responsibility ends with them.

I can say with certainty that I’d be equally appalled if a Democrat won and was turning away the security briefers – can you say you’d be equally at ease if Sanders won and was telling the IC, “Nah, I don’t need to know that stuff.” The Presidency is not a 9-5 type job – it requires you heart and soul, and while the day-to-day operations of the job don’t begin until inauguration, the responsibilities begin immediately after -well, before, actually- the election.

Similarly, now word is coming out that Mr. Trump will remain executive producer of a reality TV show while President and .. I’m pretty damn disappointed in that, too. Do you think that’s a good use of time? I’m not completely against the President-elect, but there are some things -things which I apply to any President-elect- that just don’t bode well. Even conservatives should be able to admit that – it’s a question of conservative principles vs. a ‘party-first’ mentality.

2/17 Air Cav

LC. You are now being cute. I googled the issue and Trump will have no active role with the show at all. When did The Emperor write his book(s) by the way? Or find the time to play so much golf? While he was not resting for the many things he said he would not rest for? You do know that Trump is not yet president, right? He is the president elect, a private citizen technically, and he can do whatever he likes when he likes.

LC

I didn’t say he’d have an active role, and didn’t mean to imply it either – he’s going to be an executive producer, and that can mean many things. Conway, his spokeswoman, is quoted as saying it’s something he’ll do in his ‘spare time’, so that implies some sort of activity. But what President has spare time to devote to reality TV?

My fear is that he’d be slightly involved, but my hope is that the backlash against this news will make it be an honorary title for now, and (if I’m optimistic) forfeited before the show begins.

Simply put, the Presidency should be his only job. It’s too big a role for any other responsibilities, and really shouldn’t be tied to any other business. That’s my opinion, not necessarily law, but I think it’s a good one.

And yes, I think if you look through my past comments here, you’ll find I’ve criticized the President for his time playing golf. I understand we’re all human and need some relaxation time, and arguably you can think about complicated things while playing golf, but I want a President who will work their ass off for four years. If I’m really dreaming, I want a President who’ll work their ass off for four years and then get out – not even bothering with all the re-election nonsense.

One can criticize President-elect Trump while also criticizing President Obama. It needn’t be one or the other.

Ex-PH2

LC, I think you are reading far too much into gossip chewed up by a biased media, the so-called ‘press’. They’re picking at everything little thing because they aren’t on the inside, sitting at the table while he’s discussing ‘bidness’ with people. They should learn that their place is reporting the news, not speculating, and you’re falling for their bait, hook, line and sinker, which is exactly what they want.

Take a chill pill, okay?

2/17 Air Cav

“I didn’t say he’d have an active role….” Okay, then, if that’s the case, why bother writing anything about it? He will have no role that takes any of his time. So, that’s that, right?

Ex-PH2

Source, please.

There is a ton of current info available in the news at various credible sources.

Graybeard

I, too, would like to know the source of that assertion.

Ex-PH2

OKay, explain why he was getting briefings before the elections, and now suddenly, he is not. See, I take these reports with a grain of salt.
This is a quote from the Reuters article: ‘An official on the transition team said on Thursday that Trump has been receiving national security briefings, including “routine” PDBs and other special briefings, but declined to specify their content or frequency, saying these matters were classified.’

I do not know what the issue is here, but it appears to me that someone is making a mountain out of a molehill, generating issues where there are none. I would call this bird-dogging, mostly because the majority of source you linked to, such as WaPo and The Hill, are anti-Trump to begin with and will do whatever to discredit him. The others aren’t much more than gossip columns, in my view. And the video copied from Fox refutes Chris Wallace’s question ‘why isn’t he getting any briefings?’

This is stirring an empty pot.

LC

He received some briefings before the election – generally leading candidates do. But they typically pick up quite a bit after the election, going to one a day, and according to the IC, he’s basically uninterested. He is having Pence attend, and you can make the argument that’s good as Pence will inform him of anything, but I feel it’s the responsibility of a President to have their finger on the pulse of the IC. Not just an R President, or a D President, any President.

And yes, he is receiving briefings.. to the tune of about one per week. So his transition team is correct. But he’s not getting them as frequent as is typical of a President-elect in recent years, and especially one without the foreign experience of Mr. Trump. (And his transition team is wrong in that getting a PDB isn’t classified, though the content is – the ‘D’ in it stands for ‘Daily’.)

And the video from Fox didn’t refute the question – it confirmed he isn’t getting the briefings the IC want to give him, and is instead relying on his own sources. Much as I want to like GEN Flynn, he’s looking a little questionable these days, and also isn’t in the loop on the latest intelligence.

If you believe the President-elect can do no wrong, I guess this is all fine. If you’re more on the fence, it’s pretty worrying. As I said above, there’s news coming out now that the President-elect will stay on as executive producer of his reality TV show – is that also just fine for a President of the United State of America? I’ve said before I want a President who works hard, but I meant works hard at the Presidency, not side projects.

I try to be pretty independent in my analysis, but these two things strike me as pretty bad missteps for the incoming President.

Graybeard

I reference en toto my comment below (December 9, 2016 at 3:41 pm)

rgr769

Why the phuck would he need daily intel briefs? He doesn’t have control over any organ of government for over a month. If some serious shit happens, I am sure he will hear about it. Don’t be a whiny hand wringer. Go back to DU or HuffnPuff.

LC

Because there’s lots to learn. That’s why the IC does these briefings to begin with.

Hack Stone

He can read about in the newspapers, the same way that President Obama learned about Hillary Clinton’s email server. And the IRS targeting conservative groups. And the ATF Fast And Furious operation.

LC

Posted a few links; they’re awaiting moderation.

Grimmy

@LC:

I assume, by default, that the shit you mentioned is just made up bullshit.

LC

I just posted some links which are awaiting moderation; it isn’t bullshit, it’s crystal clear he’s skipping the official briefings, though Conway insists he’s being briefed by ‘credible sources’. Pence gets daily, official briefings.

Graybeard

Sooo… we have as “sources”
A) The NY Times, whose credibility went the way of the Dodo a long time ago.
B) Hearsay from some DC insider who is concerned because our President-elect does not do things the way the insiders have always done it – with a buried by-the-way that the President-elect is receiving daily briefings.
C) WaPo – see “A)” above
D) Some reporter claiming our President-elect is receiving about one brief a week rather than one a day as the Trump camp asserts.

And I’m suppose to believe these reports… why?

Oh No, MrBill!

At this point I’m taking this claim with a barrel of salt. It may be that President-elect Trump is not taking the briefings in the same way as others, is getting daily updates, or something else.

26Limabeans

Fake News

I don’t care if he skips them all and has someone else take notes until he is sworn in. Properly vetted of course.

GR_ATC

You mean his house keeper can’t just take it all down and send it via gmail?

🙂

LC

Given that he’s already engaging foreign leaders and, I’m guessing, it takes a little while to get up to speed on complicated national security issues, I’d prefer he learn as much as possible as soon as possible.

Forest Green

If he has learned not to bow to any of them, that will go a long way; and since the fulcrum of national security matters is MONEY, I’ll take his expertise over the pretender in chief, Sanders or Clinton any day.

2/17 Air Cav

“I’d prefer he learn as much as possible as soon as possible.”
I’d prefer that Baracka get out of the White House now. Neither one of us will get what we want.

Hack Stone

I would prefer that Barack Obama would have learned to pronounce Corpsman correctly and that United States Marines are not to be used as umbrella stands, but I am just deplorable, so my concerns don’t matter.

Grimmy

I’d prefer it if folks who insist on vomiting up dumbassery invented by “credible sources” that we know, for a fact, lie through their teeth at every opportunity, sit the fuck down and shut the fuck up.

But that’s just me.

Ex-PH2

I’m with you, Grimmy. This speculation is a ridiculous waste of time.

11B-Mailclerk

Assuming your info is sourced, and not some sort of rumor, then the question is, did he request the information in a written/electronic report, instead of a meeting?

Meetings are generally a waste of time, unless the folks there need to make a decision to take an immediate action. Information dumps can best be done in a report of limited size, and follow-up questions submitted.

(Hypothetically) “This is a brain dump, not a briefing. Put the information into a report format, one page summary and one page per item. Have that to me by 9am each week. I will send follow up questions. Answers back to me in 4 hours. If I ask for an in-person follow up, be here the day after at 9am for 30 minutes, with the people who can answer my ‘follow up meeting’ questions in person.”

“Your time is as valuable as mine. Do not waste it.”

I would go there in a New York Minute if the “brief” was mostly if/possibly/on-the-other-hand ass-covering pablum.

LC

I tend to agree with respect to a report vs. a meeting, but I’d think that if that were the case, Kellyanne Conway would’ve said as much, or the various intelligence officials would have. He claims he is getting briefed by ‘credible sources’, but as nobody seems to know who those are, and it isn’t the official IC brief, it doesn’t eliminate the concern (for me).

Again, Pence is getting the daily brief, which is good.

11B-Mailclerk

I acknowledge your sources above. (And assumed you would provide them in my prior comment.)

Trump is. ….not like most folks. I do in that Concur. He approaches the business at hand in his own way, and it seems to work for him, more so than more conventional ways work for many others.

He also likes to “stir the puddin'” to put it mildly. There is no doubt in my mind he does outrageous stuff to outrage people, thus putting them off balance. Basic Judo – attack the other guy’s “center”/balance while maintaining yours.

Also, there are a whole bunch of folks with knives out for Trump, who will do -anything- to smear, de-legitimize, and otherwise disrupt, if it has any chance at all of hindering him.

Keep that last bit in mind when someone says “But he is not doing important X! This is Bad!”, Also keep the bit before it in mind, as he may be feeding the ankle-biters the line for another good yank.

Kinda like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown.

I await results. I remain hopefully skeptical.

LC

I have zero problems with his putting people off-balance, but the unanswered question behind his outrageous stuff is whether he does it with a thought-out plan or if he’s really just a bit reactionary. Take for one example the Twitter-fight he had with the “Hamilton” cast on Broadway. On the one hand, you have some saying he’s a guy with a fragile ego who can’t take any criticism, and on the other you have people saying he’s a genius because that deflected the media away from news about his Trump University settlement. Which is it? I think Trump supporters are likely to say the latter, and I’ll grant you that’s possible, but I don’t know. And while I’m somewhat anti-Trump, I’m generally anti- any politician. I couldn’t stand Clinton. I think general skepticism is warranted. Can you say with any certainty his moves are genius vs temper-tantrum-like reactions? If so, how? Sure, plenty of people are out to get him, and sometimes for ridiculous reasons. I saw a liberal in ‘dismay’ over his pick of Mattis because, hey, that guy said shooting people is fun! They were outraged about that! I said to them, “Do you know what Marines train for?” Stuff like that is stupid,… and obscures potential real issues. I mean, try to imagine just for a moment that back in 2008, President-elect Obama decided to turn away intelligence briefers and, while President, serve as executive producer of a reality TV show. Surely that’d warrant some criticism, no? I think that applies equally now. And the key point is ‘equally’. I do try to take things with a grain of salt when I hear liberals complain about minor stuff, but I have a set of ideals I want in a President – any President – and amongst those are a dedication to the responsibilities of the hardest job in the world. That means it’s your only job, and you work your ass off on it. You learn what you need to learn, and you operate with the goal of being the most knowledgeable person around. I sincerely hope… Read more »

Forest Green

‘credible sources’…Let’s see; he’s been talking to Flynn repeatedly. I would guess 5 minutes with him ought to equate to hours with a White House accredited flunky.

Forest Green

I guess Mattis and Kelly have nothing to offer either.

Ex-PH2

Well, personally, I’d give a fat $1 bill to see him hold a news briefing – NOT conference – in which he says to the attendant cub reporters, “My understanding is that you think I’m not getting any kind of security info. You aren’t there, I am. I know a bodacious lot MORE than all of you put together. And I don’t have time to answer any questions, so sit still and be quiet. You might learn something.”

Forest Green

I’d pitch in for that also. Love to see him knuckle those fatheads.

A Proud Infidel®™

I wonder how many times we’ll get to see Trump hand liberal media moonbats their asses on a platter like Ronald Regan did to Sam Donaldson? All that money Donaldson made as a news yap and he still wore a toupee that looked like a roadkill possum with a dye job!

SFC D

I’m here, now what?

ChipNASA

When in doubt, Whip it out!!
😀 😀 😀

GR_ATC

D’s out for the SFC!

SFC D
2/17 Air Cav

You buy, of course.

Sparks

As a reminder, actor and veteran of WWII, Kirk Douglas is 100 years old today. Happy Birthday Mr. Douglas. Thanks for your service and a lot of great movies.

HMCS(FMF) ret

I didn’t realize he was that old… looking back at his pictures when he was younger, I’m guessing he made a lot of women go “weak in the knees” when they saw him on the big screen!

26Limaberans

With co stars like Lana Turner and Lauren Bacall there must of been plenty of “weak knees” to go around.

Ex-PH2

Yeah, my favorite was ‘Rough Night in Jericho’. George Peppard and Kirk Douglas in the same movie. My night was complete.

26Limabeans

I lost count so I’ll just set right here if this seat isn’t taken.

Love the lighting rod on the dome.
I wonder what else it does.
Signal guys just gotta know.

Graybeard

43rd.
These noon-time meetings at work are cramping my style.

MCPO NYC USN Ret.

50st!

fsckity fsck

John Giduck – the turd with a face!

My John Giduck pre-Holiday tribute song
(sung to the tune of the Batman song)

Fat fuck….duh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na

Fat fuck….duh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na

FAT FUCK….duh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na

Fat fuck….duh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na-nuh-na

fat fuck, fat fuck, Giduck!

I’ll be here all weekend, folks. Please tip your waitstaff!

HMCS(FMF) ret

61st… and damn proud of it!

Wilted Willy

Sorry to say that today I learned my cancer has returned, surgery is scheduled soon to figure out what they will do next if anything? I only hope to see my asswipe brother, David “Doc” Shrum be arrested and put in prison for all of his bullshit fraud and stolen valor. His bullshit killed my father and he didn’t even attend our mothers funeral. How much lower than snake shit can you get? I hope I live to piss on his grave!

LC

Very sorry to hear of that, Wily. Good luck with the surgery, and I’ll hope for a speedy recovery and an encouraging prognosis.

Graybeard

Prayers, Willy.

Ex-PH2

Sorry to hear this, Willy. Just live every day as if there is no tomorrow.

And forgive your brother. He has bad karma all over him. He’ll get hit by it soon enough.

HMCS(FMF) ret

Thinking of you and hoping for the best. As for your brother, his time will come.

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

I am hoping that your cancer’s ass can be kicked, and run off. I have seen far too much cancer that wasn’t beaten, most of that being very close, (not myself, but family, friends, pets, etc.). This is one ugly assed disease that needs to have a cause found and eliminated.

11B-Mailclerk

What the fucking fuck?

Willy, do -not- let a shitbag live rent-free in your mind!

-You- have the fight of your life on your hands, and you better get square with that right the fuck now. Seek the Good that brings you joy and savor it. Do that which gives you purpose and achieve it. Your mission is to live -your- life, to -your- goals, and kick that bullshit cancer to the curb.

Put the shitbags out of your life, and most importantly – out of your mind-, right this freakin minute!

Now -focus- on the tasks at hand, and carry on!

Aysel

^^this, 10 times this

Reb

Wow! Awesome advice!!

26Limabeans

Sorry to hear that Willy. I have two sisters that have won the fight so keep fighting. It can be beat.

Commissioner Wretched

Sincere sympathies, Willy. Wishing you the best with the surgery and subsequent treatment and a long and happy life thereafter.

Reb

I’m so sorry for the loss of your father and the cancers back. Praying the surgery goes well and KARMA gets your no good brother and hits him hard…

ex-OS2

Fucking bullshit, not first.

Cocksuckers.

2/17 Air Cav

Hey, the stock market is up about 1200 points since Trump won. Nice. Consumer confidence is up, folks are anticipating no new taxes and maybe a reduction is some. The “experts” in the world of finance predicted that Wide Load would win and that, if she did not, the market would dive deep. The brainiacs, including economics professors, based that upon the market’s liking predictability, not surprise. Had Wide Load won, the market would have remained level, maybe a few points up, they said, because of the continuity The Bitch of Benghazi would have brought to the job. Wrong. Wrong. And wrong.

Ex-PH2

If you did not get your ‘Notice of 2017 Income’ from SocSec today, you soon will. I get another $4, to keep the home fires burning. I am grateful to all the little people who contribute the spare $.0002 to offer that to me.

I’m going to watch the evening news and the alarm and wonderment of weather forecasters who were warned months ago about this winter by the Farmers Almanac and the Old Farmers Almanac. Seriously, sometimes I think you yell ‘Fire’ and they’d try to put it out with bottled water.

Sapper3307

That dollar menu at McDonalds is looking better now.

11B-Mailclerk

Nah. The left will (HONK!) that “dollar” menu up too, with $15 per hour minimum wage.

26Limabeans

Got it. Medicare monthly premium went up the same as the increase leaving me with the same net amount. But inflation is like really low so there’s that. Not.

Ex-PH2

If you need gas at lower prices, type ‘gas prices in -your city or state-‘ into your search block, and the gas price map for that area will come up. I use it all the time. Set up by Gas Buddy.

26Limabeans

Tnx. I have to drive 21 miles round trip just to check my mail. Gas prices are pretty even around here unless you find yourself far from the nearest town.

blackflag79

Just when I thought America couldn’t get any more ‘Merica, somebody comes along and figures out how to play slide guitar on a shotgun. Rev. Peyton of Big Damn Band FTW.

AW1Ed

That. Kicks. Ass. Thanks!

11B-Mailclerk

Someone call Ted Neugent! Quick!

Friend S. Wilkins

Got a Friday Night Feel Good Story for you. Idiot tries to sneak a huge TV out of a Walmart in Florida and gets thrown in the slam just 16 days before Christmas. Just the day before, Idiot successfully steals huge TV from the very SAME store.

http://wwmt.com/news/offbeat/man-tries-to-sneak-a-55-inch-tv-out-of-walmart

Tony180a

That definitely qualifies as a feel good story. Hate thieves!!

gitarcarver

I didn’t see this in this thread but thought it was well worth posting:

War veteran with brain injury gets free Palm Bay house

U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Busch was deployed for multiple tours in Afghanistan, and he suffered a traumatic brain injury during his military service. Now, the retiree, his wife, Yuri, and 3-year-old daughter, Natisha, have received a house in Palm Bay via the city’s Homes for Warriors program.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Friday afternoon at the family’s new home on Butler Avenue Northeast, just north of Palm Bay Hospital.

Prior to the ceremony, a team of Florida Power & Light “elves” deployed a bucket truck and helped decorate the home with more than 1,000 energy-efficient LED holiday lights.

More here: http://www.floridatoday.com/story/news/2016/12/09/war-veteran-brain-injury-gets-free-palm-bay-house/95058050/

Palm Bay is in Brevard County which may ring a bell.

Devtun

Farewell Greg Lake. Emerson & Lake are gone – only Palmer remains.

Roger in Republic

Just one more comment before I punch out. GO ARMY,BEAT navy!!!!

Green Thumb

The False Commander “Phony” Phil Monkress (CEO of All-Points Logistics) works balls.

Go Army!

AW1Ed

A General Mattis Christmas Story. https://blog.usni.org/2010/12/17/a-general-mattis-christmas-story “Featured from the National Museum of the Marine Corps Museum’s Facebook Page A couple of months ago, when I told General Krulak, the former Commandant of the Marine Corps, now the chair of the Naval Academy Board of Visitors, that we were having General Mattis speak this evening, he said, “Let me tell you a Jim Mattis story.” General Krulak said, when he was Commandant of the Marine Corps, every year, starting about a week before Christmas, he and his wife would bake hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of Christmas cookies. They would package them in small bundles. Then on Christmas day, he would load his vehicle. At about 4 a.m., General Krulak would drive himself to every Marine guard post in the Washington-Annapolis-Baltimore area and deliver a small package of Christmas cookies to whatever Marines were pulling guard duty that day. He said that one year, he had gone down to Quantico as one of his stops to deliver Christmas cookies to the Marines on guard duty. He went to the command center and gave a package to the lance corporal who was on duty. He asked, “Who’s the officer of the day?” The lance corporal said, “Sir, it’s Brigadier General Mattis.” And General Krulak said, “No, no, no. I know who General Mattis is. I mean, who’s the officer of the day today, Christmas day?” The lance corporal, feeling a little anxious, said, “Sir, it is Brigadier General Mattis.” General Krulak said that, about that time, he spotted in the back room a cot, or a daybed. He said, “No, Lance Corporal. Who slept in that bed last night?” The lance corporal said, “Sir, it was Brigadier General Mattis.” About that time, General Krulak said that General Mattis came in, in a duty uniform with a sword, and General Krulak said, “Jim, what are you doing here on Christmas day? Why do you have duty?” General Mattis told him that the young officer who was scheduled to have duty on Christmas day had a family, and General Mattis decided it was better… Read more »

Silentium Est Aureum

Hey, Bernath!

I heard someone saying you liked cock sandwiches, but I stuck up for you and told them you didn’t like bread.

rgr769

I hear he is still DISBARRED, and he can’t practice (if you want to call it that) law anywhere on the planet.

A Proud Infidel®™

He was DENIED admission to the Oregon bar for manifold reasons:

http://caselaw.findlaw.com/or-supreme-court/1447944.html

HMCS(FMF) ret

That “DEADBEAT DAD”, thingy really bit him in the ass, didn’t it?

A Proud Infidel®™

AS TO other things, like cashing a settlement check sans his Client’s permission, destroying all of his Client Records,…

Daniel A. Bernath, perpetual failure and bad example in life!

Ex-PH2

This story is what I really like about the lamestream media: all sorts of allegations by no real verification of sources. This time, it’s the CIA’s anonymous tipster, and Russai did naughty things with hacking e-mails and stuff, and yet — well, I just don’t think it made a whole lot of difference because the people who cook up this kind of news release forget that the rest of us are able to think for ourselves.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-cyber-russia-idUSKBN13Z05B

But while you’re at it, this article in Fortune Magazine says, in plain English, that the judge who canceled the recount in Michigan demanded by Jill Stein did so because she has no legal basis for making that demand.

http://fortune.com/2016/12/08/michigan-election-recount-canceled/

Also note from the sidebar, that America now has more than 5,000 breweries, and counting. We must be doing something right. I wonder if Five Beers knows about this.

Ex-PH2

And in Pennsylvania, Stein’s supporters have dropped their recount suit, owing to the cost of the lawsuit. Okay, sure.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/jill-stein-supporters-drop-pennsylvania-recount-suit-1480810987

Wisconsin, I believe was doing its own recount, anyway, without that silly bimp’s insistence, because that’s what they do. They found 49 more votes for shrillary, who still didn’t win.

So much for trying to interfere with a legal process in a free country, you skank. Blow it out your shorts.

Green Thumb

Word.

Frankie Cee "In the Clear"

ARMY/NAVY Game over. ARMY had its way with the goat.

26Limabeans

Watched the last three quarters once I realized it was available here. (Fox)
The Army uniforms made them look like a SWAT team. Psychological edge?

2/17 Air Cav

This topic probably deserves its own thread and it should be written by Combat Historian. It’s about a fellow who had his Ph.D. before the US entered WW II, a man who had, through his mentor, met Hoover, FDR, and many politically powerful people before the war. He taught at Columbia and Barnard and, for all of that, he was just drafted in July 1942 and was just another Army private. “It was very good for a desk-bound professor to get out and march 25 miles with full pack, and run six miles before breakfast and do all those other things which were physically hardening,” he said in a 1985 oral history interview for the Harry S. Truman Library. After BCT in South Carolina, he applied for OCS, was accepted, and was sent to Fort Knox to train as a tanker. At Fort Knox, he was tapped for an altogether different job, to write a history of the armored force. He had what he called “a dream job” for months and then, in late June 1944 arrived at Normandy. He traveled with the First and Third Armies and interviewed privates and generals and witnessed the war first hand. He was promoted to captain and, as was customary at the time, he covered the two bars on his helmet with a greasy, sticky material used to waterproof jeeps. I’ll let him tell the rest: “So one day when I had this stuff over my helmet, why, General Patton drove into our camp, resplendent with his pearl-handled revolvers and gleaming stars on his helmet, and the flag, a red flag with the stars, boldly flying on his jeep. He looked over at me and in his high nasal voice said, “Come over here, Captain.” And he said, “God damn it, are you proud of your rank?” And I answered, “Yes sir,” saluting rather shakily. And he said, “Well, then dig that goddamn stuff off your helmet or I’ll rip that insignia off of your uniform right here and now.” This was mixed with a number of other expletives that made me shudder… Read more »

Claw

Today is Indiana’s Statehood Bicentennial.

So, to all my fellow Hoosiers out there, let’s keep the celebratory gunfire to a minimum.

After all, it is Sunday.

Eden

Just remembered that the WOT is still active, so I’ll put this here: Can any of you recommend (or recommend avoidance of) any specific VA facilities in Texas for an elderly service-connected vet with the usual health issues? My father is looking to move back to Texas. He’s looking at Harlingen, but I don’t think he should consider anywhere along the border. What about San Antonio?

2/17 Air Cav

The 1-11 Crapernickers played the 3-9 Jets today. Looked like it was going to be the Crapernickers’ game, up as they were by 11 points in the 4th quarter. But they are the Crapernickers and didn’t disappoint, losing the lead as the Jets evened the score at 17. The game went into overtime and went final minutes later: Jets 23 Crapernickers 17. Life is good. Very good.

Tony180a

Hopefully the cowboys will follow suit as well tonight.

Reb

Today is Sunday and I didn’t want to tell the story until today. My young one has a class at school where volunteering in your community is 80% of her grade. She choose to volunteer at our VA hospital and adopted four veterans who are blind (via service, disease or age) to read to. These men were having a hard time adjusting to being blind. We met with each one separately and then as a group. When her new friends asked why she chose to read to veterans the whole story of SSGT JAMES M. RAY came flowing from her mouth. She said as neither my Nana or I can do anything for SSGT Ray, I can for you. Two hours turned to three. They asked her to bring SSGT Rays file and the box of bracelets. Then they choice the book GONE WITH THE WIND off a list of books. Saturday morning we took her there with another book instead. LORD OF THE RINGS. Before she started reading the book she read SSGT Rays file and left nothing out. Then she did something I didn’t like. Do you think he was left behind? I was surprised that each said yes. She passed around the box of bracelets and other things that I collected over the years. She read what each sticker, banner and bracelet said and left my vest for last. After examining the vest the youngest Marine thought she should wear it while reading so SSGT Ray could listen too. Then she said I brought a newer book to read and told them the name. Well that good since three have seen the movies. I sat and listened to her read the book. I watched smiles on their faces throughout the six chapters. When she was finished the guys were disappointed that they had to wait until next Saturday. Pozz asked if she could cone back the next day. I couldn’t say no… On Sunday she went back and read another six chapters, but during one she was trying to make the book more comfortable on her lap… Read more »

2/17 Air Cav

That’s one helluva wonderful story Reb. May I suggest that you also post it in next week’s WOT so that more of us may read it? If you don’t, I will. Terrific story. If you cannot button the portion of your shirt that covers your chest, I well understand.

Reb

2/17 Air Cav..
would you repost for me? I’ve got more to this story to post?

What I forgot to say was the book weighs 27 pounds.. Gone With The Wind is 37. A promise was made between the five that nobody will be abandoned after she finishes her class. So until they get Sick of her know it all attitude her weekends are booked until then. They all agreed to name the class “FRIENDS FOR LIFE”. I offered to pay for the Braille kits, but she said “I’m buying them with my chore and allowance money (she puts half in her bank account) and its a need not want purchase for my students”

The four men also insisted that she address them by their first names, instead of SIR. So she asked if she could address them by their Military rank explaining its rude to call a respected person by their given name.

I can’t wait to see what happens next weekend?

Reb

2/17..I’d love to repost but I don’t know how..I’m not computer literate and still use lawbooks instead of searching on the law websites…..