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Author: TriSec    Date: 02/12/2013 11:11:42

Good Morning.

Today is our 4,146th day in Afghanistan.

We'll start this morning as we always do; with the latest casualty figures from our ongoing war, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 2,177
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,080

We find this morning's cost of war passing through:

$ 1, 422, 633, 567, 500. 00


I've got a lot of ground to cover today, so let's dive right in. First off....women in combat. Seems like somebody in power agrees with me; there might be a decrease in sexual assault among our military as more women head off to combat. It's the old "safety in numbers" routine.


Repealing the longtime policy banning women from combat units will help the Pentagon’s effort to crack down on sex assaults, top military brass says.

The historic decision was announced Jan. 24 by Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It potentially opens to women about 237,000 jobs across the services, including 53,721 in the Marine Corps, Marine officials said.

The reversal was billed as an effort to afford women equal rights in the military to the fullest extent possible. But it also could curb sexual assault, which senior service leaders have characterized as an epidemic.

“I believe it’s because we’ve had a separate class of military personnel, at some level,” Dempsey told reporters at the Pentagon. “Now, as you know, it’s far more complicated than that, but when you have one part of the population that is designated as warriors and another part that’s designated as something else, I think that disparity begins to establish a psychology that in some cases it led to that environment. I have to believe, the more we can treat people equally, the more likely they are to treat each other equally.”

Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead, deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs, said he likes Dempsey’s observation. Making it clear to male Marines that women need to be treated equally is “the way we need to be,” said the three-star manpower chief.

“He’s your brother. She’s your sister. Treat each other accordingly,” Milstead said, describing the mindset he wants Marines to have. “You and your sister fight, but by God, let anyone mess with your sister and they’re going to deal with you.”


Only time will tell. Speaking of time, it's been a very long time for justice to take place in the case of Ruth Moore. This sounds vaguely familiar, and I may have reported on it before, but nevertheless it bears repeating. Ms. Moore was once a Sailor, and she was attacked by her superior officer. Now a Federal bill in her name is working it's way through Congress. Hopefully, it will make it easier for victims of sexual assault to receive care through the VA.


ELLSWORTH, Maine — When Ruth Moore was an 18-year-old Navy servicewoman, she was brutally raped by her supervisor, with the trauma ending her military career and beginning decades of misery and self-doubt. A quarter century later, the Milbridge woman is still serving her country — now fighting against sexual assault in the military.

It is still hard for her to tell her story. It begins when Moore enlisted in the U.S. Navy when she was a student at Washington Academy in Machias. Growing up poor in the tiny Washington County town of Pembroke, “college wasn’t an option,” she said.

Months later, she was violently sexually assaulted, twice, by her immediate supervisor when she was stationed at a base on the Azores. That trauma left her with a sexually transmitted disease, a false diagnosis of borderline personality disorder and a doctored-up military record. It also stole her innocence and her hope.

“My dreams were destroyed,” Moore, 44, said Friday.

But her story is also about what has happened in the 25 years since that awful time, as she stopped thinking of herself as a victim and instead became a fighter and worked to right the wrongs that had been done against her and against the many others who have also suffered sexual trauma while in the military.

“I’m still serving my country. Maybe not in a uniform, but I’m still serving my country,” said Moore, who has a ready smile. “This is a problem that America has right now, but we’re still Americans, and I have hope that we can fix this.”

She is heading this week to Washington, D.C., in the company of her husband, Butch, and their 11-year-old daughter, Samantha, to be present as U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree introduces the bill that has her name on it. The Ruth Moore Act aims to reduce the standard of proof for victims of military sexual assault so that they can more easily obtain benefits, similar to how the Veterans Administration two and a half years ago relaxed the burden of proof for combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Pingree, a Democrat from North Haven, introduced the bill in the last Congress. It didn’t pass then, but its need has hardly diminished, said her spokesman Willy Ritch. The congresswoman gets calls every week from veterans who have been sexually assaulted while in uniform, Ritch wrote last week in an email to the BDN. Dozens of them have the same story — often the attack was never reported and never included in their records, so when they later try to file for benefits related to the attack, the Department of Veterans Affairs denies them for lack of proof.

Nearly 90 percent of victims do not report their attack out of fear of retaliation, he wrote. The Ruth Moore Act, if it passes, would make it so that victims need only a diagnosis of a mental health condition and a link between the assault and that condition to receive benefits.


But now with women heading to combat roles, here's something I bet we never thought off. Should women register with selective service now? I'm thinking probably yes.


WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — The Pentagon’s new policy of allowing women in combat jobs has raised new questions about an issue that the U.S. Supreme Court settled 22 years ago. Should young women be required to register with the U.S. Selective Service System just as young men do?

The U.S. Department of Defense issued a Jan. 24 memo that will give more women an opportunity serve in combat roles and military jobs that had been reserved only for men.

In a 6-3 vote in 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that because women were not allowed in combat, only men were legally required to register with the government under the Military Selective Service Act.

The selective service system has the names and addresses of nearly 15 million men ages 18 to 25 in its files, according to the agency’s website. The military is currently all-volunteer, so the service, once called ‘the draft,” isn’t used.

Richard Flahavan, a spokesman for the selective service system, said Congress would likely change the law and require women to register because the Pentagon has allowed women in combat roles. However, no bill has been introduced in Congress to do that, he said.


Finally this morning...meet America's newest recipient of the Medal of Honour. Ssgt. Clinton Romesha is fortunately still with us, and joins the rarefied air of living MOH recipients. But alas...it's virtually unknown. I noted last night on FB that the story cross-posted from IAVA only had 12 likes. Kinda sad. I'm sure most of us can name a handful of historic MOH recipients off the top of our heads...the current generations just don't seem to care.


WASHINGTON — President Obama is awarding the Medal of Honor to an Army veteran for his courageous leadership during a daylong firefight in Afghanistan.

Former Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha is being recognized Monday at the White House for his actions during the 2009 attack on Combat Outpost Keating in the mountains near the Pakistan border. About 50 U.S. troops were at the outpost when it came under fire by hundreds of Taliban fighters, and Romesha led a fight against the enemy to protect the camp.

Eight U.S. soldiers were killed in the fighting and another 22 wounded, including Romesha, who was peppered with shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade but fought through his wounds. He dismisses his injuries as “nothing” compared to those suffered by some of his fellow soldiers.

“I’ve had buddies that have lost eyesight and lost limbs,” Romesha said in a news conference last month after Obama called to tell him he would receive the award. “I would rather give them all the credit they deserve for sacrificing so much. For me it was nothing, really. I got a little peppered, that was it.”

Jake Tapper, a CNN anchor who wrote a book detailing the firefight, said many key officers at the outpost were away the day of the firefight and Romesha rose to the occasion and filled the leadership vacuum. But he said Romesha remains astonishingly humble.

“Everything was just about his buddies and trying to save his fellow soldiers and trying to do everything he could, literally everything he could, at great risk to his own life over and over,” said Tapper, author of “The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor.” “He’s still very broken up about how he couldn’t save everyone. He saved lives that day, without question, but eight of the guys died that day and that still tears him up.”

Romesha also served twice in Iraq and will be the fourth living Medal of Honor recipient for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. It is the nation’s highest military decoration for valor.


And so it goes...another week at war.
 

98 comments (Latest Comment: 02/13/2013 02:57:37 by TriSec)
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Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 13:09:28
This is a wonderful AAV today TriSec. I am of the mind that Women having the same access to positions in the military will indeed cut down sexual assault in the military. Assault is about power and giving women equality helps.

It's due to the lack of equality played a part in creating the wretched situation that Ruth Moore is fighting.

And yes, if we are to continue with a selective service women should register. Conversely, we could get rid of altogether.

good morning!

Personally I would like to see no combat roles for anyone, but that's me -- I am a dreamer,



Comment by wickedpam on 02/12/2013 13:44:37
Morning

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 14:17:04
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 14:17:26
Morning.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 14:20:24
Happy Darwin (& Lincoln) Day! :tries to evolve:

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 14:20:56
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....



Same here. What a deliberate insult to POTUS.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 14:23:43
Dear Salon,

I've been a reader for about 15 years now. Please dump David Sirota.

Thank you.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/12/2013 14:24:45
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....



Same here. What a deliberate insult to POTUS.



I still don't understand why the Secret Service hasn't stepped in and pulled the invite

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 14:29:46
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....



All about Rep Steve Stockman (CM)*, Texas


*Crazy Moron

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 14:31:55
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....



Same here. What a deliberate insult to POTUS.



I still don't understand why the Secret Service hasn't stepped in and pulled the invite
We'll see if he even shows up tonite.


Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 14:52:58
Quote by Mondobubba:
Dear Salon,

I've been a reader for about 15 years now. Please dump David Sirota.

Thank you.
It's so sad what has become of him.


Comment by Scoopster on 02/12/2013 14:59:33
Mornin' all..

You'll be happy to know that link to the MOH story that IAVA linked on FB is up to 841 likes. I also gave it a share to spread the word a bit more.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 02/12/2013 15:00:52
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....



Same here. What a deliberate insult to POTUS.



I still don't understand why the Secret Service hasn't stepped in and pulled the invite
We'll see if he even shows up tonite.


He shouldn't even be allowed in the chamber since he's been investigated by the Secret Service for his threats against the President. Of course, the RW media will be there to show how a pants shitting, draft dodging, child raping "patriot" is "oppressed".

I wonder who will volunteer to make an ass of themselves tonight.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 15:07:17
Everything wrong with american politics explained right here in this headline:


GOP Backs Path to Citizenship Unless Obama Supports It

A new Washington Post poll finds that 70% of Americans said they would support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, including 60% of Republicans.

But when the same question was asked of a separate sample of respondents, this time with Obama's name attached to it, support dropped to 59% overall and just 39% among Republicans.


Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 15:27:58
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....



Same here. What a deliberate insult to POTUS.



I still don't understand why the Secret Service hasn't stepped in and pulled the invite
We'll see if he even shows up tonite.


He shouldn't even be allowed in the chamber since he's been investigated by the Secret Service for his threats against the President. Of course, the RW media will be there to show how a pants shitting, draft dodging, child raping "patriot" is "oppressed".

I wonder who will volunteer to make an ass of themselves tonight.



That would be Steve Stockman of Texas. He's already made an ass of himself by inviting the Nuge as his guest. See my post below about what a loon Stockman truly is.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 15:39:11
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....


All about Rep Steve Stockman (CM)*, Texas

*Crazy Moron
The guy is borderline criminal if you ask me.


Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 15:43:33
I AM A SCOUT

I have not learned hate.
I have not learned discrimination.
I have not learned exclusion.
I have not learned bigotry.

These things are all counter to what a Scout is supposed to be.


(I wrote my manifesto last weekend. I think sometimes I should re-read what I wrote.)

This is going on facebook later. (can't get it from work.)


Comment by Will in Chicago on 02/12/2013 15:48:26
Quote by Raine:
This is a wonderful AAV today TriSec. I am of the mind that Women having the same access to positions in the military will indeed cut down sexual assault in the military. Assault is about power and giving women equality helps.

It's due to the lack of equality played a part in creating the wretched situation that Ruth Moore is fighting.

And yes, if we are to continue with a selective service women should register. Conversely, we could get rid of altogether.

good morning!

Personally I would like to see no combat roles for anyone, but that's me -- I am a dreamer,




I have to concur. I think that if people are serving in equal roles, discrimination becomes much harder against someone whom you work alongside each day.

As for myself, I am job hunting, going over a few things in case I need to make a lesson plan for the school that I interviewed with on Friday, and job hunting. I applied to a few things in Massachusetts. I will hopefully get a full time job, but if not, I will put money aside from subbing for a Virginia teaching license. (I sense that something good will happen soon.)

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 15:51:51
Quote by TriSec:
I AM A SCOUT

I have not learned hate.
I have not learned discrimination.
I have not learned exclusion.
I have not learned bigotry.

These things are all counter to what a Scout is supposed to be.


(I wrote my manifesto last weekend. I think sometimes I should re-read what I wrote.)

This is going on facebook later. (can't get it from work.)




Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 15:52:33
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....


All about Rep Steve Stockman (CM)*, Texas

*Crazy Moron
The guy is borderline criminal if you ask me.



Ummmm...

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 15:55:15



Happy Mardi Gras!



Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 16:01:34
Dr. Maddow with the SOTU history lesson!



Comment by trojanrabbit on 02/12/2013 16:01:41
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
I have to say I am still disgusted that Nugent is attending the SOTU....


All about Rep Steve Stockman (CM)*, Texas

*Crazy Moron
The guy is borderline criminal if you ask me.



Ummmm...


Borderline?

You'd think deliberately inviting someone on a Secret Service watch list might in itself be a criminal act.

Taze them both.

Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 16:05:02
This just in to our crack AAV staff...


Published 10:25 a.m. ET -- An Obama administration senior official said Tuesday that during the president's State of the Union address he will announce that 34,000 of the 66,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan will be brought back to the United States within 12 months.

By this spring, a senior administration official said, Afghan forces will be “assuming the lead across the entire country, with the United States and ISAF (the International Security Assistance Force) stepped back to a train-advise-and-assist role. In that capacity, we will no longer be leading combat operations, but will provide support to the Afghans” during the 2013 and 2014 fighting seasons.

“By the end of 2014, we will responsibly bring our war in Afghanistan to a close,” the official said.




Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 16:28:08
Caller wants to round up the gangs and the mexicans?

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 16:46:23
Billy from Texas... you silly little false equivalency fellow.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 16:52:30
Quote by Raine:
Caller wants to round up the gangs and the mexicans?



Was Malory Archer calling?

Comment by Scoopster on 02/12/2013 17:05:12
Topless protestors celebrate the pope's abdication in Paris.

Unfortunately safe for work pic.. they darkened it up a LOT.

Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 17:09:42
BTW, the BC Eagles rule, unless it's the Beanpot, in which case they're punks.

*grumble, grunt, rant, rave.*

Disclaimer: Mrs. TriSec went to BC. I wernt to EMT School at Northeastern.


Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 17:11:59
Comment by Scoopster on 02/12/2013 17:13:20
Comment by livingonli on 02/12/2013 17:14:43
Good day, folks. It really does seem like people on the right would flunk a mental competency hearing if you look at this current lot.

Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 17:47:30
Would it be inappropriate to bring a lightsaber to therapy tomorrow?


Comment by trojanrabbit on 02/12/2013 18:05:29
Quote by TriSec:
BTW, the BC Eagles rule, unless it's the Beanpot, in which case they're punks.

*grumble, grunt, rant, rave.*

Disclaimer: Mrs. TriSec went to BC. I wernt to EMT School at Northeastern.

Northeastern BSEE here

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 18:36:37

That frightens me.

Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 18:50:24
*TriSec returns to Dust, per the Bible*

For some reason, there was a brief discussion about 'The Breakfast Club" here in cubeville. (Particularly the song, " Don't you forget about me")

I casually mentioned that the video was kinda cool, shot the day after Hurricane Gloria (circa 1985)and they were being blown about.

"I was five."
"I was seven."
"I was a senior in High School".

I was apparently already headed for retirement. (Class of 84.)

Damn this getting old business. I don't like it.


Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 18:59:33
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 19:00:21
Quote by TriSec:
*TriSec returns to Dust, per the Bible*

For some reason, there was a brief discussion about 'The Breakfast Club" here in cubeville. (Particularly the song, " Don't you forget about me")

I casually mentioned that the video was kinda cool, shot the day after Hurricane Gloria (circa 1985)and they were being blown about.

"I was five."
"I was seven."
"I was a senior in High School".

I was apparently already headed for retirement. (Class of 84.)

Damn this getting old business. I don't like it.



Bitch, please.. I was a college grad.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 19:03:40
Comment by wickedpam on 02/12/2013 19:05:24



I still can't believe 4 people called 911

Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 19:06:45
Quote by Mondobubba:



Bitch, please.. I was a college grad.



Yeah, but you were already old then.

(flees state)


Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 19:54:24
Tri, I apologize if the following analogy offends you as a (lapsed) Catholic and a person of Sicilian descent.

I was reading something that yesterday about the Panzerkardinal's abdication likening the priesthood to the Mob... just sayin...

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 19:59:31
Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 20:18:35
achooo! achooo! achooo! achooo!

Comment by wickedpam on 02/12/2013 20:23:13
Quote by Raine:
achooo! achooo! achooo! achooo!


bless ya

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 20:23:52
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 20:28:19
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Mondobubba:



Bitch, please.. I was a college grad.



Yeah, but you were already old then.

(flees state)



I am the blog fossil

Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 20:32:13
Quote by Mondobubba:
Tri, I apologize if the following analogy offends you as a (lapsed) Catholic and a person of Sicilian descent.

I was reading something that yesterday about the Panzerkardinal's abdication likening the priesthood to the Mob... just sayin...



Ooog, right into stereotype. I had a couple of uncles "in the business". (Both of them, a priest and a bookie. Not the same uncle. :-P)


Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 20:33:18
OK, Anonymous --- this is stupid.

they want to hack the SOTU. Basically they want to control in the internet to protest control of the internet.

Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 20:36:49
Say, now that I've given up Newsvine for Kos, I very rapidly discovered the "Kossack Air Force"....a stream of aviation articles, every bit as dorky as the kind I write. ( wets self from excitement )



Comment by wickedpam on 02/12/2013 20:40:35
Quote by Raine:
OK, Anonymous --- this is stupid.

they want to hack the SOTU. Basically they want to control in the internet to protest control of the internet.



well that's just dumb

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 20:51:17
Quote by TriSec:
Say, now that I've given up Newsvine for Kos, I very rapidly discovered the "Kossack Air Force"....a stream of aviation articles, every bit as dorky as the kind I write. ( wets self from excitement )




:Assumes Jack Nicholson's accent from "The Departed": You uncle, he was connected down Providence way then?

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 20:51:42
Quote by Raine:
OK, Anonymous --- this is stupid.

they want to hack the SOTU. Basically they want to control in the internet to protest control of the internet.




Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 20:54:08
RIP Charlie Morgan

Morgan leaves behind a wife, Karen, who will not be eligible for the survivor benefits afforded to a male military spouse, and nor for social security benefits that would help her take care of their 5-year-old daughter, Casey.


Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:08:04
Well, I'll be damned.


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters Tuesday that he will not honor any holds placed on the nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense.


Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:09:24
Quote by Mondobubba:
RIP Charlie Morgan

Morgan leaves behind a wife, Karen, who will not be eligible for the survivor benefits afforded to a male military spouse, and nor for social security benefits that would help her take care of their 5-year-old daughter, Casey.
You should watch :TRMS: from last night about this.




Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:12:26
I heard on MSNBC that Gabbie Giffords is going to be a guest of John MCCain tonight at the SOTU.

Comment by wickedpam on 02/12/2013 21:18:33
Comment by TriSec on 02/12/2013 21:19:03
Quote by Mondobubba:



:Assumes Jack Nicholson's accent from "The Departed": You uncle, he was connected down Providence way then?


No, actually. He was a North End man.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 21:23:40
Quote by Raine:
Well, I'll be damned.


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters Tuesday that he will not honor any holds placed on the nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense.



Sen. Reid was on the NPR Mosheen this morning, I can't recall exactly what he said, but is was something to the effect that there has never been a filibuster of SecDoD and he didn't want to see it start now.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 21:24:39
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Mondobubba:



:Assumes Jack Nicholson's accent from "The Departed": You uncle, he was connected down Providence way then?


No, actually. He was a North End man.



Not a friend of Whitey's then?

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:25:20
According to Randi, sounds like they may be catching up with Dorner.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:29:09
Big bear, shots fired officer down, maybe more than one.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:33:15
Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 21:42:20
Quote by Raine:
Big bear, shots fired officer down, maybe more than one.



Yes this is ending badly. Very badly.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:47:16
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by Raine:
Big bear, shots fired officer down, maybe more than one.



Yes this is ending badly. Very badly.
They are bringing in MEd vacs.


Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 21:48:20
With the amount of police along the roads of Big bear --- this better damn well be Dorner.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:11:07
He's in a cabin, cornered I believe.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:14:49
Scanner is describing the cabin I am looking at on TV. Dorner is inside there.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:21:40
they just revoked all helicoptors from the air

Comment by wickedpam on 02/12/2013 22:22:05
listening to KTLK they are saying that the helio's are being pushed back

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:27:35
No Fly Zone is not a good thing.

Comment by Mondobubba on 02/12/2013 22:27:56
Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:30:17
Scanner is very quiet now. I think he may have hostages. can't tell.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:32:32
I would really like for Dorner to come out alive.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:39:48
"Code 33 has been lifted."

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 22:43:33
LA times reporting that a couple is being held hostage.

Comment by Raine on 02/12/2013 23:28:23
On of the police officers shot has died.

Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 01:57:51
Anyone lurking for SOTU?


Comment by Raine on 02/13/2013 02:03:44
WE are here.

No nugent sightings...

Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 02:04:29
Wonder if Mr. NuSwine made it to the chamber? (I will not use the term "gent" in any connection with him.)



Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 02:05:26
I am stretching my vodka supply. Drank most of it during the storm weekend.

Although I do have some 90-proof bourbon kicking around.



Comment by wickedpam on 02/13/2013 02:08:41


Comment by Raine on 02/13/2013 02:14:22
Someone fed Boner a lemon

Comment by wickedpam on 02/13/2013 02:14:59
Quote by Raine:
Someone fed Boner a lemon


at least he's less orange this year.


Comment by Scoopster on 02/13/2013 02:15:11
Checking in! I'm curious as to the significance of the green ribbons..

Comment by Scoopster on 02/13/2013 02:16:31
The Boehner minds the applause! This transgression will not stand!

Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 02:17:11
Newtown, Scoop. Newtown.



Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 02:17:48
Note that Bonehead isn't wearing one. Guess he approves massacring babies.



Comment by Scoopster on 02/13/2013 02:19:09
Quote by TriSec:
Note that Bonehead isn't wearing one. Guess he approves massacring babies.

I've noticed several of the goons aren't wearing them..

Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 02:19:20
"The state of our Union is Strong".

And there go Quint's figernails down the blackboard.

"The state of the Union sucks, and it's HIS FAULT!!!!" (points at Speaker)


Comment by Raine on 02/13/2013 02:20:43
Quote by Scoopster:
Checking in! I'm curious as to the significance of the green ribbons..
Bob and I have those Ribbons.

They are Newtown Ribbons.


Comment by Raine on 02/13/2013 02:34:57
someone give Boner a pepsi gin with tonic....

Comment by Scoopster on 02/13/2013 02:38:39
Is it just me, or does Boehner look like he's breathing through gills?

Comment by wickedpam on 02/13/2013 02:42:29
Quote by Scoopster:
Is it just me, or does Boehner look like he's breathing through gills?


just noticed he's clenching his jaw - he looks like an old sour puss


Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 02:55:04
So I'm far enough removed from my C-section that I've started a wee bit of calisthenics.

Or, "goddamnsonofafuckingBITCH!" Ouch.



Comment by TriSec on 02/13/2013 02:57:37
Well, much as I love the Prez, this is starting to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher.