A LOT of wasted bandwidth.
1. Stop slanging each other. The 'Ad Hominem'"argument" just wstes
every one's time. (I say bring back the Code Duello and that would
help cut it down.)
2. Lying to the media is really really dumb and should give y'all a
very good idea of the person's character and social intelligence.
Cheney's been caught twice in the past week, so far. I wonder what
else lies in the hearts and minds of Cheney and his ilk? Sorry, I'm
not the Shadow.
3. I was taught very early on in the service that 'taking care of the
troops' was a priority. So why do we have hungry children and worthy
people who are homeless? I note that Reagan was the one who closed
many insane asylums and turned the patients loose to fend for
themselves as best they could.
From the Bible - "Am I my brother's keeper?"
4. Medals don't necessarily mean much - a lot depends on how good the
writer was and what kind of reception the recommendations got at HHQ.
I remember our Group Co saying once that the squadron I was in didn't
have any outstanding pilots - they were just doing their job, hence no
AF Commendation Medals. At the same time he wasn't qualified in the
aircraft - never did qualify in it - and had no idea what we did as
ADC F102 pilots. OTH I know a troop who as Awards and Decs Officer for
his outfit loaded himself and his squadrons up with gongs.
5. FWIW most aircrew nowadays get Purple Hearts posthumously. F4 was
totally lacking in armor, except for the center windshield, which was
thick glass - and failed to stop the 51 cal that nailed one of my
friends. The pitter brough the bird back to Cam Ranh Bay.
6. Now let's show a little more civility to each other. Or, agree to
meet in the morning and settle it personally, to keep the heat down.
7. Get your ass out and vote!
Walt BJ