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How Obama's 529 Plan Shows The Welfare State Is Doomed

Nice piece over at Reason.

The core of the problem is clear: the growing cost of the entitlement state. As the Congressional Budget Office warned earlier this week, over the next decade, "spending will grow faster than the economy for Social Security; the major health care programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and subsidies offered through insurance exchanges; and net interest costs." Tax revenues will stay essentially flat at around 18 percent of GDP, while spending, driven by entitlements, will rise to more than 22 percent of GDP. Longer-term projections indicate the cost of entitlements and interest on the debt will continue to rise in the decades after that.

In the bigger picture, the existing welfare state is unaffordable. Either it will have to be cut, or reformed, or paid for—by someone, somehow. The administration and its allies would like to reassure you that the someones who will pay for all of this will be limited to the richest of the rich, but in practice there’s only so much money that can be squeezed out of the extremely wealthy.

Which means that eventually, anyone looking for ways to keep the welfare state afloat will have to go after after the middle class—and, in particular, middle class savers. That’s where the money is. Sure, you can imagine alternatives, like a Value Added Tax (VAT), which might raise enough tax revenue to keep the budget in the clear. But it’s hard to imagine a popular political coalition forming around a regressive consumption tax that gives the government a major new revenue stream.

Be sure to read the whole thing.

Posted by: BenK at 08:19 AM




Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 No dump?

Posted by: HH at January 29, 2015 08:20 AM (Ce4DF)

2 Kinda quiet here.

Posted by: HH at January 29, 2015 08:23 AM (Ce4DF)

3 The drums have stopped.

Posted by: HH at January 29, 2015 08:23 AM (Ce4DF)

4
That which can't go on, won't, as Insty says.

Every time there's a story about the deficit or entitlements I point out to my 18 year old that it will be him paying it back. So, he really needs to develop some way of not being utterly useless because I'm consuming his future productivity.

He counters that his generation will just not pay China. And I explain worldwide economic collapse.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 08:23 AM (JtwS4)

5 Wait...we can't keep giving away free sh*t for votes?

De-Fuqua, you say.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 29, 2015 08:24 AM (fL+1V)

6 Obvious is obvious. Except to half the population.

Posted by: SE Pa Moron at January 29, 2015 08:24 AM (zxQ4h)

7 The Corgis have been summoned

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:25 AM (/kVvc)

8 Wait just one second. If spending is 4% more than revenue as a % of GDP, then all we have to do is cut 4%.

That should be easy with a Republican House and Senate.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:25 AM (Zu3d9)

9
That should be easy with a Republican House and Senate.

Just tipped the waitress. Will you be here all week?

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 08:27 AM (JtwS4)

10 Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:25 AM (/kVvc)

Abrams vs. Merkava.......it will happen soon.

Any comments?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:27 AM (Zu3d9)

11 Of course the welfare state is unaffordable. It is called communism and it has never worked before.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:27 AM (LJcWW)

12 Young progressive's hashtag campaigns will be no match for 5.56x45 when the burning times come.

Posted by: Baron Von Ottomatic at January 29, 2015 08:28 AM (73IFu)

13 Won't slow 'em down, though.


Gots. To. Spend.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at January 29, 2015 08:29 AM (DzAQD)

14 Abrams vs. Merkava.......it will happen soon.

Any comments?
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:27 AM (Zu3d9)


It will come down to training, maintenance, and ammo selection.

So...Merkava.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:29 AM (/kVvc)

15 I have said many times; get rid of the SSDI scam and a lot of these problems will go away.


In any case got to go. Probably will not be back today.



Posted by: Vic at January 29, 2015 08:29 AM (wlDny)

16 I have a plan in mind....

//Bill Ayers

Posted by: Sven10077 at January 29, 2015 08:30 AM (W2xDF)

17 The children need 22% of GDP dammit.

Posted by: Reality Man at January 29, 2015 08:30 AM (9AQdP)

18 How did Hezzbolah get Abrams M1 tanks?
Army surplus?

Ok, wait. the post is about taking social security away from old folks. Die you old fokkers, die, for the children. The future belongs to the children, so get out of their way you miserable old spiteful baaasssssturds.

"This means war." They screamed.

Posted by: Ned Grunchlk at January 29, 2015 08:30 AM (PKOtf)

19 "Abrams vs. Merkava..."


Merkava is pretty damn tough.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at January 29, 2015 08:30 AM (DzAQD)

20 [Did Reason have the black diamonds showing above? Funny how unicode looks okay on the front page but still won't work in acecomments. I'm sure it will all be cleared up soon. #2wks]

The welfare state works, it just hasn't been really tried yet. Once everyone is on welfare, and everyone turns all their earnings and properties over to the government, then the 5-year-planners will make sure everything works right.

Need I add /sarc ?

Posted by: mindful webworker - faring well enough at January 29, 2015 08:30 AM (yCZVl)

21 Three sick minutes. Yeah, you said it.

Posted by: The Great White Snark at January 29, 2015 08:31 AM (ee9LE)

22 Ya know

Historically, when a nation reaches the point where its going broke, it either folds or it hungrily reaches out for new territories and conquerin' opportunities, becoz resources and trade.

So lets make that the 2016 platform! Imperialism: Why the fk not?

Posted by: Bigby's Shadow Puppets at January 29, 2015 08:31 AM (3ZtZW)

23 How did Hezzbolah get Abrams M1 tanks?
Army surplus?
Posted by: Ned Grunchlk at January 29, 2015 08:30 AM (PKOtf)


They are captured Iraqi tanks that we sold them.

They are not as capable as the U.S. M-1.

Because Iraqis

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:31 AM (/kVvc)

24 Corgis called.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 29, 2015 08:31 AM (Vs6vA)

25 Math.

It's what's for dinner.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 08:31 AM (659DL)

26 Wait just one second. If spending is 4% more than revenue as a % of GDP, then all we have to do is cut 4%. That should be easy with a Republican House and Senate. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:25 AM

You are one funny guy, CBD.

The "Republican" Congress might -- just might -- keep the spending increases down to something less than 4%, though I regard that as a fantasy only slightly more unrealistic than someone introducing a resolution to impeach Choom Boy.

If the budget doesn't increase by 5-10%, expect lots of talk about the Fiscal Responsibility of Our Conservative Heroes.

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 08:31 AM (P8YHq)

27 Fight every single new tax. And when RINo's like Jazz Shaw endorse new taxes, fight them hardest of all.

Posted by: MTF at January 29, 2015 08:32 AM (FCsIb)

28 Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:29 AM (/kVvc)

And this too:

http://tinyurl.com/c8cbj2d

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:32 AM (Zu3d9)

29 By the way since some how the Merkava came up it appears Israeli Deterrence is completely gone. Iran/Hezzbelah killed to Israeli Soldiers and and Israel is accepting it. Sigh

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:32 AM (LJcWW)

30 The drums have stopped.



Dinner is served!

Posted by: rickb223 at January 29, 2015 08:33 AM (Vs6vA)

31 And this too:

http://tinyurl.com/c8cbj2d
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:32 AM (Zu3d9)


Loose screen door. Hurricane.

No assembly required.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:33 AM (/kVvc)

32
Next comes IRAs, etc.
I can't remember the name, but read not long ago about a SCOAMTT treasury pick who advocates replacing our savings with T notes.
My MIL used to tell me about how during the depression there had to be a member of law enforcement present when opening a safe deposit box. After owning gold was outlawed.

Posted by: Justamom's stealing hubby's pad at January 29, 2015 08:33 AM (Sptt8)

33 I don't know whats gotten into Boner lately. He hasn't pissed me off in days.

Posted by: maddogg at January 29, 2015 08:33 AM (xWW96)

34 The plan was also tremendously awkward for Obama himself. As the folds at Americans for Tax Reform have noted, Obama was not only a public booster of 529s, someone who as a Senator voted to make them permanent and praised them as tools to help families with college expenses in his book, he was also someone who relied on a 529 himself, contributing $240,000 to a 529 college fund for his own children back in 2007. Obama took advantage of the plan's tax benefits -- then proposed closing the door behind him.

Barry's just so special. So special even the short bus won't stop to pick him up.

Posted by: RickZ at January 29, 2015 08:33 AM (PR4ez)

35 If VagISIL or Hissy'bollah have the training standards of the Iraqi army or Syrian for that matter, Merkava.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:34 AM (+6nI6)

36 http://tinyurl.com/c8cbj2d
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:32 AM (Zu3d9)


Ya know we have pretty good looking women in the US Military also, but the sad thing is, since we don't allow them, or makes to carry, the pictures are not as good.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:34 AM (LJcWW)

37 Related to nothing except the fact that I want to:

http://goo.gl/SavajB

Probably NSFW. You have been warned.

Posted by: physics geek at January 29, 2015 08:34 AM (MT22W)

38
And this too:

http://tinyurl.com/c8cbj2d


OK, I'm ready to convert, shave 30 years off my resume, and go enlist.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 08:35 AM (JtwS4)

39 What did I miss? Who has Abrams tanks?

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:35 AM (LJcWW)

40 How do terror groups like ISIS and Hezbollah keep all that equipment maintained? Forget about the complex equipment, like tanks, even the artillery pieces need some maintenance. They have some trained people in the organizations and must have solid supply lines. Find those, and kill them.

Posted by: MTF at January 29, 2015 08:36 AM (FCsIb)

41 Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:32 AM (LJcWW)

Yup. And the Spanish ambassador is blaming Israel for the death of the Spanish rapistpeacekeeper on the Lebanese side of the border.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:36 AM (Zu3d9)

42 Bandersnatch, don't you have a date?

A. Throat punch
B. Emus in a box
C. Raptors in a box.
D. All the above?

I think you are up to D now.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:36 AM (+6nI6)

43 Open borders and a welfare state?

Not sustainable

Posted by: Laws of Physics at January 29, 2015 08:37 AM (V70Uh)

44 "And this too:

http://tinyurl.com/c8cbj2d
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:32 AM (Zu3d9) "
You can see it in their eyes.
Full of life, hope and happiness.

Now, look at the hags-in-a-bag.

Nothing.
No future, no hope, no happiness.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 29, 2015 08:37 AM (fL+1V)

45 The big money is in the endowments of the major education institutions. Since they have been hoarding money at the same time they have jacked up tutiton this would also be politically popular.

Posted by: NC Mountain Girl at January 29, 2015 08:37 AM (a55JS)

46 Its too early to read the entire piece. Basically it says we are F*CKED.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humaniatrian at January 29, 2015 08:38 AM (F2IAQ)

47 1
No dump?

Con-on-sti-pay-shun, it's makin' me wait....keepin' me way-yay-yay-tin".

Posted by: 1bulwetweft - smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy at January 29, 2015 08:38 AM (CzJOg)

48 Wait just one second. If spending is 4% more than revenue as a % of GDP, then all we have to do is cut 4%.

That should be easy with a Republican House and Senate.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:25 AM (Zu3d9

Coffee its not just for drinking anymore.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humaniatrian at January 29, 2015 08:39 AM (F2IAQ)

49 Hissy'bollah even has the transporter needed to carry an Abrams on roadways.

Thanks to Gaylord's foreign policy 'success' in Iraq, A-10 video of them plinking M-1s is just a matter of time.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:39 AM (+6nI6)

50
I think you are up to D now.

What did I do?

(Not denying anything, I probably did it, but it's not drinking time yet and I don't remember giving offense.)

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 08:39 AM (JtwS4)

51 The important thing is, if it feels good we should do it for the children.

Posted by: Fritz at January 29, 2015 08:40 AM (UzPAd)

52 Wait until they force the MyIRA on all the retirement accounts. Then, the fecal matter will hit the oscillator...

Gov'ment needs the moola, because it only knows how to spend, not 'purchase' or 'produce'...

That will be an epic fight, and one that brings BigGov down.

Posted by: Ibin Pharteen at January 29, 2015 08:40 AM (zL/eJ)

53 Silly Bandersnatch, I am the Imperial scorekeeper for Her most Puissant Empress AlextheChick the Only.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:40 AM (+6nI6)

54 How do terror groups like ISIS and Hezbollah keep all that equipment maintained? Forget about the complex equipment, like tanks, even the artillery pieces need some maintenance. They have some trained people in the organizations and must have solid supply lines. Find those, and kill them.
Posted by: MTF at January 29, 2015 08:36 AM (FCsIb)


They don't. Which is why I'm not worried,

An M-1 tank takes 8 man-hours of maintenance per day to keep it running, and that includes the days that it is doing nothing more than sitting in the motorpool.

You also have to operate it correctly. Its turbine engine requires a 3-minute cool down every single time you fire it up, no matter how short that time is. If you don't do that, over time you get a build-up of coke in the combustion chamber. When that happens, you lose power. Let it keep happening, and pretty soon the thing won't even fire up.

I'm not really worried about hadji figuring this out after spending several years in the Middle East.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:40 AM (/kVvc)

55 Yay! Not Dump!

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:40 AM (GQ8sn)

56 Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:35 AM (LJcWW)

The assumption is that ISIS has captured some Abrams from the Iraqis.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:41 AM (Zu3d9)

57 He counters that his generation will just not pay China. And I explain worldwide economic collapse.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 08:23 AM (JtwS4)


It's not even that. I mean, that's a secondary explosion. The primary is the devaluation of the US dollar. When that happens here... we're boned.

And our sons will pay the price.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:41 AM (fwARV)

58 If you don't do that, over time you get a build-up of coke in the combustion chamber. When that happens, you lose power. Let it keep happening, and pretty soon the thing won't even fire up.


I'mma take care of that for you!

Posted by: Zombie Marion Barry at January 29, 2015 08:42 AM (GQ8sn)

59 Tax revenues will stay essentially flat at around 18 percent of GDP,
while spending, driven by entitlements, will rise to more than 22
percent of GDP.

... fixing this problem is simple ... we just go to the "lockbox"

Posted by: Al Gore at January 29, 2015 08:42 AM (e8kgV)

60 The assumption is that ISIS has captured some Abrams from the Iraqis.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:41 AM (Zu3d9)

They will be non functional in a month.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:42 AM (LJcWW)

61 Sean you are assuming they keep the filters up to date, that sand is a great abrasive on the turbine blades.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:42 AM (+6nI6)

62 >>Open borders and a welfare state?

>>Not sustainable

A lot of our betters have convinced themselves that mass immigration is the only way to make our welfare state sustainable. Rather than trying to reform any of the programs which is unpopular, much easier to bring in all these new "taxpayers" to make the programs solvent.

They never seem to get around to explaining how our tax system that only taxes the top 50% of earners in the country is going to magically change a new army of lawn care specialists into taxpayers.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 29, 2015 08:43 AM (g1DWB)

63 The left loves to scold the rest of us about "sustainability", yet not a single one of their Utopian government programs is ever economically sustainable.

It turns out that Utopia is expensive and unsustainable economically. Utopia can only exist for as long as it can steal assets from pre-Utopian economies. The primary scheme in place today is to print and borrow as much as possible and get Utopia embedded in dependent sub-cultures before the productive economic collapses. After that- the left will be forced to run Utopia on force, just like Stalin did in the Soviet Union.

Posted by: theBuckWheat at January 29, 2015 08:43 AM (nmcha)

64 As always, I used to think they are coming for your 401(k) was batshit and now I'm stunned it hasn't happened.

Math is a vicious mistress and math is going to demand that the money come from somewhere. The ridiculously rich do not actually have all the money. There's a much larger Scrooge McDuck pool sitting there spread out all across the country. At some point, that pool is going to be tapped. Then the fun begins.


BC and I discuss voters rejecting the reality of the money running out in this week's podcast. Link in my nic. /pimp

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (mf5HN)

65 " When that happens here... we're boned. "

A future in trading material commodities.....gold, ammo, liquor, medicine......for life's needs.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (DzAQD)

66 Sean you are assuming they keep the filters up to date, that sand is a great abrasive on the turbine blades.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:42 AM (+6nI6)


I'm not assuming that, but it's another good point.

Trust me...Mohammand cannot figure out a weapon any more complex than a crew served machine gun.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (/kVvc)

67 Tax the unicorns.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (5+sBB)

68 The captured Iraqi armor requires it's users to partake in jumping jacks.

So yeah, they're screwed.

Posted by: RWC - Shopping for Justice! at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (fWAjv)

69 A Merkava with three IDF hotties in the back?

Posted by: Jean at January 29, 2015 08:46 AM (ztOda)

70 Don't you just loving the smell of fresh theft and tyranny in the morning?

Posted by: The roost aint what it used to be at January 29, 2015 08:47 AM (fC+Kl)

71 "And our sons will pay the price."

hence, teaching the son the tools our 'education' would never provide. Or, divert hm to the service (USMC) for heightened training

Posted by: Ibin Pharteen at January 29, 2015 08:47 AM (zL/eJ)

72 Too bad we didn't install a failsafe on this armor.

"Oh it fell into bad guy hands... *click*"

*BOOM*

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:47 AM (+6nI6)

73 BC and I discuss voters rejecting the reality of the money running out in this week's podcast.

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (mf5HN)


I've tried to convince a friend's mom several times that the money doesn't exist, but she will not budge. Neither nor my friend can get her to acknowledge simply math. Funny thing, though: she's an exceptionally smart woman who, for some reason, has bought into the idea that the free lunch actually DOES exist. Reality is-sadly- going to bitchslap her in the not too distant future.

Posted by: physics geek at January 29, 2015 08:47 AM (MT22W)

74 A Merkava with three IDF hotties in the back?

Posted by: Jean at January 29, 2015 08:46 AM (ztOda)




I'll be in the bunk tank.

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:47 AM (GQ8sn)

75 Trust me...Mohammand cannot figure out a weapon any more complex than a crew served machine gun.


Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (/kVvc)


Fuck that noise. Mohammad can't figure out side-straddle hops.
http://tinyurl.com/puntlj3

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (fwARV)

76 I spent most of 90's trying to train Arabs how to operate equipment we considered idiot proof. It wasn't.

Posted by: Jean at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (ztOda)

77 EC, wrong type of 'crew serve' you thinking of.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (+6nI6)

78 Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (/kVvc)

We have to assume that some of the American-trained Iraqi tankers have gone over to ISIS. So there is probably a small pool of knowledgeable people.

of course the baseline is still true: Arab + hi-tech does not mix.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (Zu3d9)

79 I spent most of 90's trying to train Arabs how to operate equipment we considered idiot proof. It wasn't.
Posted by: Jean at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (ztOda)


Yip.

Try explaining boresight procedures to an Iraqi "tanker"

Go on. I'll wait.

I'll be waiting until 2025 too.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:49 AM (/kVvc)

80 AlextheChick, even if the giant lockbox filled with USG IOUs actually existed I fear they would think its just a giant conspiracy to scare them.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:49 AM (+6nI6)

81 >>>A Merkava with three IDF hotties in the back?

"And we'll have fun fun fun til Bibi takes the armor away..."

Posted by: Bigby's Shadow Puppets at January 29, 2015 08:49 AM (3ZtZW)

82 EC, wrong type of 'crew serve' you thinking of.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (+6nI6)



My "main gun" needs three IDF hotties to operate.

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:50 AM (GQ8sn)

83 Funny thing, though: she's an exceptionally smart woman who, for some reason, has bought into the idea that the free lunch actually DOES exist. Reality is-sadly- going to bitchslap her in the not too distant future.

Posted by: physics geek at January 29, 2015 08:47 AM (MT22W)


Let me share an insight I've had (had forced upon me) about this. I've always claimed that my folks, though batshit liberals, were intelligent people.

They are not. This woman is not smart. She's incapable of rational thought. For her, the free lunch is something to be taken on faith. It's dogma.

Not intelligence.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:50 AM (fwARV)

84 of course the baseline is still true: Arab + hi-tech does not mix.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (Zu3d9)



To reiterate: http://tinyurl.com/6ub5avf

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:50 AM (/kVvc)

85 "http://tinyurl.com/puntlj3"


Jeezus.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at January 29, 2015 08:50 AM (DzAQD)

86 Because eventually, you run out of other people's money. Where have we heard this before?

Posted by: ALH at January 29, 2015 08:51 AM (yAPdC)

87 How else can the Government be sure your 401k is safe? The must take it and put it into a lock box.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 08:51 AM (5+sBB)

88 Speaking of military maintenance...

I was watching the show 'Revolution'. In it, the whole world has been without power for 15yrs. In the final show I saw, the bad guy suddenly gets power to his base and has an armed helicopter in the air within a few minutes.

Really? That's when I stopped watching.

Sheesh...

Posted by: HH at January 29, 2015 08:52 AM (Ce4DF)

89 Trust me...Mohammand cannot figure out a weapon any more complex than a crew served machine gun.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM


This reminds me of the "experts" in the U.S. military who, prior to 1941, were claiming that Japanese aviators weren't worth a shit.

And even if the Muzzies can't figure out how to use a particular weapon, the law of averages suggests that they might inadvertently operate some major-league weapon at least once.

Once is enough to screw up the day for a lot of innocent civilians....

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 08:52 AM (P8YHq)

90 Fuck that noise. Mohammad can't figure out side-straddle hops.
http://tinyurl.com/puntlj3

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:48 AM (fwARV)

Thank you.

Yes, I was too lazy to find the video.

Posted by: RWC - Shopping for Justice! at January 29, 2015 08:52 AM (fWAjv)

91 86 Margaret Thatcher?

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 08:52 AM (5+sBB)

92
To reiterate: http://tinyurl.com/6ub5avfPosted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:50 AM (/kVvc)


How did he even manage to have that article published?!

"Why Arabs Lose Wars" has got to be the ... most everything bad...

And it's true.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:53 AM (fwARV)

93 And even if the Muzzies can't figure out how to use a particular weapon, the law of averages suggests that they might inadvertently operate some major-league weapon at least once.

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 08:52 AM (P8YHq)


Have a lot of experience with M-1 Abrams tanks, do you?

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:53 AM (/kVvc)

94 Mohammad can't figure out side-straddle hops.


The next exercise will be....the side-straddle hop!


*in unison* THE SIDE-STRADDLE HOP!!!!


Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:53 AM (GQ8sn)

95 They should pass out the grenades before PT.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (5+sBB)

96 Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:50 AM (GQ8sn)

RE: Israeli Women.

Yes, they are beautiful. And sexy. And run the gamut from classic blond beauty to dark-skinned exotic.

But there is one unifying thread through all of them.

They are bitches.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (Zu3d9)

97

Fuck that noise. Mohammad can't figure out side-straddle hops.


That is cruel. Also hilarious, and mostly hilarious.

I know training-up Achmed is a nice idea, but all the ones we trained in Mosul ran away a few months ago and all the ones we trained in Yemen ran away last week.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (JtwS4)

98 OT Great morning start. I had to take the boy over tho the hs because me missed the bus. The car had no heat, the windshield frosted over so that I couldn't see very well and on the way it overheated and it had to be towed. Teen was complaining that there was no heat in the car. I sad, "Well, THAT will teach you not to miss the nice warm bus." I am grateful that I had triple AAA, but the other car is in lousy shape too.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (DXzRD)

99 91 Yes, you are correct!

Posted by: ALH at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (yAPdC)

100 Affix bayonets. Counter column, march.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (5+sBB)

101
Have a lot of experience with M-1 Abrams tanks, do you?

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:53 AM (/kVvc)


Ooooh! I've been within 30m or so when that main gun sent a few rounds downrange. Holy balls.

Here ends my experience.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:55 AM (fwARV)

102 *in unison* THE SIDE-STRADDLE HOP!!!!


Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:53 AM (GQ8sn)


The Side Straddle Hop is a four-count exercise executed at a moderate cadence. I will count the cadence, you will count the repetition!

Ready? BEGIN!

I said begin!

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:55 AM (/kVvc)

103 I was watching the show 'Revolution'. In it, the whole world has been without power for 15yrs. In the final show I saw, the bad guy suddenly gets power to his base and has an armed helicopter in the air within a few minutes.

Really? That's when I stopped watching.



IIRC, the bad guy was someone from before the dark times that knew how to turn off the nanobots that killed all the power. He had a way to use electricity and other power sources, but kept that card tucked away for emergencies.

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:55 AM (GQ8sn)

104 Where do these douche bags in the White House come up with the pronunciation for the "Talleeebon".

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 08:55 AM (LJcWW)

105 Money exists. The Federal Reserve creates it. When the U.S. Treasury needs to sell more bonds, the Fed creates more money. Problem solved.

Posted by: The Weimar Republic at January 29, 2015 08:56 AM (V70Uh)

106 Yes, they are beautiful. And sexy. And run the gamut from classic blond beauty to dark-skinned exotic.

But there is one unifying thread through all of them.

They are bitches.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (Zu3d9)


And it's because they know that they are beautiful. And sexy.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:56 AM (/kVvc)

107 The next exercise will be....the side-straddle hop!


*in unison* THE SIDE-STRADDLE HOP!!!!

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:53 AM (GQ8sn)


So I had a kill had - tiny Korean dude - lead PT one morning. He said, in a no-shit Mr. Miagi voice - "We will do side-straddle hops. We will do... many of them.

I remember thinking 'he's willing to say '200,' so how the fuck many is many?

We did all of them.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:56 AM (fwARV)

108 This reminds me of the "experts" in the U.S. military who, prior to 1941, were claiming that Japanese aviators weren't worth a shit.

The Japanese never thought of preventive maintenance as beneath them. When an Arab army defeats the Israelis on a Tsushima or Pearl Harbor level, I'll listen.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 08:56 AM (659DL)

109 But there is one unifying thread through all of them.

They are bitches.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:54 AM (Zu3d9)



I must break them.

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 08:56 AM (GQ8sn)

110 Old joke about Iraq and its army.

Q. When training, why are Iraqi troops only allowed a five minute break?

A. Any longer, you'll have to retrain 'em.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:56 AM (+6nI6)

111 Have a lot of experience with M-1 Abrams tanks, do you?"

I've pulled the trigger on a few different RPG type devices.

Really, really simple. And effective.

Much like the (at first) derided AK.

Posted by: anon a mouse at January 29, 2015 08:57 AM (/jpU8)

112 Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 08:52 AM (P8YHq)

In modern times, Israel has fought four major wars and countless smaller ones with Arabs. The US military has fought three wars.

There is a huge amount of experience and data to show that Bannion is correct, even ignoring his own experience.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 08:57 AM (Zu3d9)

113 I'm keeping my day job. It doesn't pay real well, but something is better than nothing. I'm too responsible to be a welfare queen.

Posted by: ALH at January 29, 2015 08:57 AM (yAPdC)

114 Ooooh! I've been within 30m or so when that main gun sent a few rounds downrange. Holy balls.

Here ends my experience.
Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 08:55 AM (fwARV)


This is why hearing in my left ear ain't so hot anymore.

Because I was 23...and dumber than a pound of cum.

"Earplugs?!?! Earplugs are for pussies!"

Posted by: Sean Bannion, M-1 Range Safety Officer at January 29, 2015 08:58 AM (/kVvc)

115 Have a lot of experience with M-1 Abrams tanks, do you?

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:53 AM


Absolutely none. But I do know that underestimating the enemy is a sure way to get your butt whipped. You might want to discuss this with Gen'l Custer.

I also know that people can sometimes make complex systems work even when they haven't the foggiest notion of what they are doing.

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 08:58 AM (P8YHq)

116 I got nothin' this morning.

Going to see Alan Parsons tomorrow night. That should be cool.

I guess that's something.

Posted by: Citizen X at January 29, 2015 08:59 AM (7ObY1)

117 "The car had no heat, the windshield frosted over so that I couldn't see very well and on the way it overheated and it had to be towed."


Pretty much classic symptoms of a cooling system with weak antifreeze in it.

Coolant freezes solid overnight.
Heat from engine doesn't make it to heater core due to frozen coolant.
Engine overheats in freezing weather because coolant isn't moving through engine and radiator to carry heat away.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 29, 2015 08:59 AM (fL+1V)

118 Who will provide the free $hit?

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 08:59 AM (5+sBB)

119 Iraq fought an eight year war with Iran. An Iran going through the spasms of revolution. Eight years. And all Saddam got was a mountain of skulls and the border in the same spot as when he started.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:00 AM (+6nI6)

120 >>The Japanese never thought of preventive maintenance as beneath them.

That's very true. I was in Kuwait about 7 years after the invasion and there were still many building with bullet holes and other war damage that hadn't been repaired. I remember my customer saying something like we don't do maintenance, we (as in someone they hired) just put up a new building.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 29, 2015 09:00 AM (g1DWB)

121 There is a huge amount of experience and data to show that Bannion is correct

That doesn't sound right at all.

Posted by: physics geek at January 29, 2015 09:01 AM (MT22W)

122 "When an Arab army defeats the Israelis on a Tsushima or Pearl Harbor level, I'll listen"

They don't require armies to murder thousands of civilians.
Of course, we even provided the flight training...

Posted by: anon a mouse at January 29, 2015 09:01 AM (/jpU8)

123 "Coolant freezes solid overnight."


A classic with tractors and heavy machinery. When you fire them up to warm them up in cold weather you keep an eye on the temp gauge. If they warm up too fast you may have a problem.

Posted by: Ricardo Kill at January 29, 2015 09:01 AM (DzAQD)

124 I'm not assuming that, but it's another good point.

Trust me...Mohammand cannot figure out a weapon any more complex than a crew served machine gun.
Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 08:44 AM (/kVvc)



This is something I've bothered you with before but isn't this also an issue with stateside law enforcement getting weapons and vehicles?

It's not that cops are too stupid to do the maintenance, it's that the cops don't know how to do it, aren't being trained how to do it and, most importantly, aren't being given the budget to do it.

I mean, it's not like you can trundle the personnel carrier down to Jiffy Lube for an oil change.

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (mf5HN)

125 Do you think we are over-reacting about Zero in the same way the progs over-reacted about W?
Naw, nevermind. Zero has earned every bit of our disrepect. He's a total Clusterflop.

Posted by: ALH at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (yAPdC)

126 Alan Parsons Project?

http://youtu.be/BZWBw_gupXE

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (+6nI6)

127 Afghani jumping jacks.

http://tinyurl.com/npsonfc

Posted by: RWC - Shopping for Justice! at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (fWAjv)

128 Zionist bankers used the Wall Street machine to steal trillions with RethugliKKKan help. Much of the Treasury is now in the hands of the Carlyle Group. Now apparently our historic first multiracial President, Barack Obama, whom I support completely, is too busy with other matters of state to ruthlessly prosecute them and reclaim those lost dollars. That does not mean that America stops. All loyal Americans must say no to the Zionist occupation of the financial markets and find justice for the Palestinian people while ending our history of imperial racism.

Posted by: Mary Cloggenstein from Brattleboro, VT at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (/0fQX)

129 They never seem to get around to explaining how our tax system that only taxes the top 50% of earners in the country is going to magically change a new army of lawn care specialists into taxpayers.

Sure we'll lose some money on every transaction but we'll make it up in volume.

Posted by: The Precedent's Used Car Lot at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (zxQ4h)

130 According to their 2008 tax returns, the Obamas took advantage of a unique feature of 529 plans that allows account owners to front-load five years' worth of contributions, $240,000 in total for the two girls. They did so without triggering gift taxes -- now levied on any gift exceeding $13,000 a year. Form 709, the federal gift-tax form, shows that Barack and Michelle Obama made equal contributions of $120,000 each, or $60,000 to each of the two children in 2007.

As of March 2014, close to ten percent of 529 accounts are owned by households with income below $50,000, over 70 percent are owned by households with income below $150,000, and almost 95 percent of 529 accounts are in households with income below$250,000.

Posted by: I'm not a meteorologist or even an actor playing a meteorologist at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (e8kgV)

131 The Side Straddle Hop is a four-count exercise executed at a moderate cadence. I will count the cadence, you will count the repetition!
Ready? BEGIN!
I said begin!

Alright! No one told you to stop commentin'!

Posted by: zombie colour sergeant bourne at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (L6/+u)

132 They don't require armies to murder thousands of civilians.

That's terrorism, not military capability.

As PJ O'Rourke said, "Winners have air forces. Losers hijack planes."

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 09:03 AM (659DL)

133 I mean, it's not like you can trundle the personnel carrier down to Jiffy Lube for an oil change.

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (mf5HN)



Not just that. All the parts that make it go too. Do the police motor pools have contracts with the suppliers?

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 09:03 AM (GQ8sn)

134 I think the 529 plan thing is why we are all doomed. Because the idea of free college is out there, and we will do it at some point. Watch, we will elect Elizabeth Warren and it will happen.

But, no, we won't pay for it.

So it isn't just the socialists that are doomed, because we are all socialists now.

Posted by: blaster at January 29, 2015 09:03 AM (Rx8ML)

135 Wait just one second. If spending is 4% more than
revenue as a % of GDP, then all we have to do is cut 4%. That should be
easy with a Republican House and Senate. Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo
at January 29, 2015 08:25 AM

You are one funny guy, CBD.

The "Republican" Congress might -- just might -- keep the spending increases
down to something less than 4%, though I regard that as a fantasy only
slightly more unrealistic than someone introducing a resolution to
impeach Choom Boy.

If the budget doesn't increase by 5-10%, expect lots of talk about the Fiscal Responsibility of Our Conservative Heroes.


Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 08:31 AM (P8YHq)

Guys, there's an important word you're missing (unless you it's too early and I'm missing the snark). The 4% annual gap between outlays and receipts does not equal 4% of spending. 4% of the current GDP is ~$700 billion, which is about 17.5% of government spending. That's the amount that would have to be cut (or revenue brought in via taxes) every year to bring those two numbers into balance. Total defense and non-defense discretionary spending was only ~$1.1 trillion in FY2014. The other $2.9 trillion came from entitlements and interest.
You cannot bridge this gap without touching the entitlements, which is why we are boned.

Posted by: Virginia SoCon at January 29, 2015 09:03 AM (+/C3g)

136 Absolutely none. But I do know that underestimating the enemy is a sure way to get your butt whipped. You might want to discuss this with Gen'l Custer.
Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 08:58 AM (P8YHq)


You have no idea what I know, nor the extent of my background both in theory, and praxis.

I have personally engaged the (Arab) enemy with multiple weapons types.

They suck. Their tactics suck.

I have all of recorded history since Lepanto backing me up.

But you're going to compare Arabs to a martial people like the Japanese and then tell me that I'm underestimating them and in doing so I'm the second coming of George Armstrong Custer.

Instead, I think you're underestimating what you know because history, psychology, sociology, and anthropology certainly don't back you up.

I'm not guilty of hubris here. You are.

I at least have data combined with experience. You have a vague feeling.

Posted by: Sean Bannion, M-1 Range Safety Officer at January 29, 2015 09:04 AM (/kVvc)

137 Important Doom news. I often joke about what sign we will use to identify ourselves in the camps.

Well, today I saw on Woot! something that answers the question.

http://hoboninja.com/store/item.php?id=40493


Posted by: blaster at January 29, 2015 09:04 AM (Rx8ML)

138
Afghani jumping jacks.

Squishy question. Is this fair? I mean, we know what jumping jacks are because we've done them since first grade.

Is there an element of "Achmed can't learn baseball" to this?

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 09:05 AM (JtwS4)

139 I mean, it's not like you can trundle the personnel carrier down to Jiffy Lube for an oil change.
Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (mf5HN)


You can't?!?!?!?

Posted by: Chief Wiggum at January 29, 2015 09:05 AM (/kVvc)

140 I think the 529 plan thing is why we are all doomed. Because the idea of free college is out there, and we will do it at some point. Watch, we will elect Elizabeth Warren and it will happen.

But, no, we won't pay for it.

So it isn't just the socialists that are doomed, because we are all socialists now.

Posted by: blaster at January 29, 2015 09:03 AM (Rx8ML)


It's the mindset behind it that terrifies me.

"You're saving money? Excellent. Give it over."

It's why the NYTimes ran an article condemning stay-at-home parents because their labor is untaxed.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:05 AM (fwARV)

141 Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:02 AM (mf5HN)

The heavy equipment that US law enforcement is getting from the military is essentially the same as the heavy trucks operating on our highways. Big diesels, big tires, big transmissions.

Bannion's ride is a very different animal.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:05 AM (Zu3d9)

142 Today is the anniversary of the birth of William McKinley (1843), our 25th President. In many ways McKinely was the antithesis of Barack Obama. He was a believer in manifest destiny, and American exceptionalism. He was a deeply religious and principled man.

"Without competition we would be clinging to the clumsy antiquated processes of farming and manufacture and the methods of business of long ago, and the twentieth would be no further advanced than the eighteenth century."

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at January 29, 2015 09:06 AM (vPh3W)

143 The other $2.9 trillion came from entitlements and interest.
You cannot bridge this gap without touching the entitlements, which is why we are boned.
Posted by: Virginia SoCon at January 29, 2015 09:03 AM (+/C3g)

exactly.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 09:06 AM (LJcWW)

144 Hey, I'm okay if Ace has to pay for my wants, its the part where I have to pay for Ace's wants that really sucks. Who wants to be a serf to keep Ace in Value-rite and hobos?

Posted by: Super Creepy Rob Lowe at January 29, 2015 09:06 AM (oDCMR)

145 RPG is a kickass effective inexpensive weapon. I cannot understand why we don't have an equivalent weapon. Stupid and arrogant. I expect is the reason.

Posted by: maddogg at January 29, 2015 09:06 AM (xWW96)

146 I at least have data combined with experience. You have a vague feeling.


Posted by: Sean Bannion, M-1 Range Safety Officer at January 29, 2015 09:04 AM (/kVvc)


Well.

That didn't take long. *scans through comments for 'fire for effect' orders*

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:06 AM (fwARV)

147 >>>>>I know training-up Achmed is a nice idea, but all the ones we trained in Mosul ran away a few months ago and all the ones we trained in Yemen ran away last week.

Obviously, we need to eliminate the running requirements from their PT

Posted by: Bigby's Shadow Puppets at January 29, 2015 09:06 AM (3ZtZW)

148 "A classic with tractors and heavy machinery. "

Yup.

Another thing on Carol's symptoms was the windshield fogging up.

Could be due to no heat for defroster.
Could be weeping heater core blowing moist air onto cold windshield.

Had a Capri, 5.0 which every time I raced it to high revs, the heater core popped. First sign, besides the sickly sweet smell?

Windshield glass directly above defroster vents would fog up.

They finally came out with a restricter for the inlet hose to keep from over pressurizing at very high revs.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (fL+1V)

149 They will abolish private property, comrade.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (5+sBB)

150 We are about to move from the Gold Standard to the Lead Standard.

Stock up.

Posted by: Roy at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (VndSC)

151 In the bigger picture, the existing welfare state is unaffordable.

You can pretty much start and stop with that comment. Oh and, auto-correct flagged flagged "unaffordable" as not being a word. Apparently the auto-correct folks are based in D.C.

Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (5buP8)

152 Bannion's ride is a very different animal.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:05 AM (Zu3d9)


It's even more of a difference animal when you remove the governors on the engine.

Not that I would do that, or even, say, get an M-1 up to 75 mph.

No. Not at all.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (/kVvc)

153 Bannion's ride is a very different animal.



Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:05 AM (Zu3d9)


So far.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (fwARV)

154 Only in government is spending less an anathema as a cure for fiscal balancing. Government always works off growing tax receipts, or tapping "untaxed" pools of savings or income to fiance their balance sheet.

Nobody in the real world works like this if they want to survive. We cut the family budget or company budget to adjust to fiscal realities. In fact government encourages people and businesses alike.

Apparently that's good for thee, but not for me. Their hypocrisy, blatant stupidity or lack of faith in our ability to reason, has no bounds. So- does the whole think have to collapse or present an existential crisis in order to be fixed? According to long-time denizens of Washington the answer is a resounding- yes.

Posted by: Marcus T at January 29, 2015 09:08 AM (GGCsk)

155 Perhaps our Islamic warrior trainees would stand and fight better chained to a stake driven deep into their native sand.

Posted by: maddogg at January 29, 2015 09:08 AM (xWW96)

156 Posted by: Virginia SoCon at January 29, 2015 09:03 AM (+/C3g)

Oh, I understand very well what that 4% is. I was making a joke.

Well, it isn't really funny. It's vomit-inducing actually.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:08 AM (Zu3d9)

157 "A culture populated by absurdly small princesses and hulking male heroes can change the way men and women see themselves'


... just what we needed, a new form of discrimination .. body type

Posted by: I'm not a rocket scientist or even an actor playing a rocket scientist at January 29, 2015 09:08 AM (e8kgV)

158 We are about to move from the Gold Standard to the Lead Standard.

Stock up.

Posted by: Roy at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (VndSC)



We can go back to the gold standard right now, and we have all the gold we need to do it.



Every US dollar will henceforth be backed by 3 atoms of gold.



See?

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 09:08 AM (GQ8sn)

159 136 Sean Bannon

My only fear is the developing idea of pan nationalist Muslim identity ever trumping tribal identity.

If and or when that happens in a caliphate might let it happen will they get their heads out of their butts and punch to their weight

Posted by: Sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:09 AM (W2xDF)

160 Sean is a tanker not a track toad or *gasp* a Stryker Ryder.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:09 AM (+6nI6)

161 Not that I would do that, or even, say, get an M-1 up to 75 mph.

No. Not at all.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (/kVvc)


When asked, one is supposed to only state that the vehicle in question, whether an M-1, an H-60 or a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier, can 'exceed 35mph.'

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:09 AM (fwARV)

162 No. Not at all.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:07 AM (/kVvc)

I hate you.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:09 AM (Zu3d9)

163 There's a much larger Scrooge McDuck pool sitting there spread out all across the country. At some point, that pool is going to be tapped. Then the fun begins.



Over/under before rope meets lamppost?

Posted by: rickb223 at January 29, 2015 09:10 AM (Vs6vA)

164 We can go back to the gold standard right now, and we have all the gold we need to do it.

Every US dollar will henceforth be backed by 3 atoms of gold.

See?


Now you've done it. Every Paulbot Goldbug is doing the actual math on this right now.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 09:10 AM (659DL)

165 If and or when that happens in a caliphate might let it happen will they get their heads out of their butts and punch to their weight
Posted by: Sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:09 AM (W2xDF)


True.

But they're not there yet.

Doesn't mean our nose never gets bloodied or no one ever gets hurt. Just means I know how this movie ends.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:10 AM (/kVvc)

166 Over/under before rope meets lamppost?

Posted by: rickb223 at January 29, 2015 09:10 AM (Vs6vA)


I'll take the over, no matter what timeframe you set.

We will not take that sort of action. Not ever. No one's willing to be first.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:10 AM (fwARV)

167 Posted by: Sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:09 AM (W2xDF)

That's a great idea!

We should make Cairo the capital of this new entity!

Posted by: Gamal Abdel Nasser at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (Zu3d9)

168 Washington Nearsider, even going NOE in a Huey can seem really really fast.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (+6nI6)

169 The heavy equipment that US law enforcement is getting from the military is essentially the same as the heavy trucks operating on our highways. Big diesels, big tires, big transmissions.

Bannion's ride is a very different animal.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:05 AM (Zu3d9)



Well, yes, I know that. But even taking care of a big rig is still very different than taking care of a car.

As EC said, it's making sure you have suppliers for all the parts that make it go and having someone who knows what you have to do to make it go. Not to mention having access to a person who can replace the parts that make it go.

Again, I'm not saying the cops are too stupid to figure this out. I'm saying that different requirements exist and it doesn't appear to me that a whole ton of thought has been given to downstream costs.

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (mf5HN)

170 When asked, one is supposed to only state that the vehicle in question, whether an M-1, an H-60 or a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier, can 'exceed 35mph.'
Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:09 AM (fwARV)


Or "can service targets at ranges in excess of 3,200 meters"

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (/kVvc)

171 Side straddle? I read that as side-saddle and have not stopped giggling......

Posted by: Russkilitlover at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (qP1Yy)

172 "When asked, one is supposed to only state that the vehicle in question, whether an M-1, an H-60 or a Nimitz Class Aircraft Carrier, can 'exceed 35mph.'"

"While USS xxxx is a nuclear weapon capable ship, I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons onboard at this time."

Used to have to say that a lot.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (fL+1V)

173 My only fear is the developing idea of pan nationalist Muslim identity ever trumping tribal identity.

Human nature would indicate 180 degrees otherwise.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (659DL)

174 Fort Knox is where they keep the IOUs.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 09:12 AM (5+sBB)

175 Washington Nearsider, even going NOE in a Huey can seem really really fast.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (+6nI6)


See, now we're entering my wheelhouse. I have many, many hours in multiple H-60 variants.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:12 AM (fwARV)

176
Posted by: Gamal Abdel Nasser

*Snort*

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 09:12 AM (JtwS4)

177 Afghani push ups.

http://tinyurl.com/p6636os

Back left at :30 is auditioning for couch fuc*er.

Posted by: RWC - Shopping for Justice! at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (fWAjv)

178 Yeah the United Arab Republic.

A footnote in history and one line of dialog in a Johnny Quest episode.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (+6nI6)

179 Speaking of bitches, why all the butthurt at the White House over a slight breach of protocol? You'd think Obama would get over it already, considering the dunce chews gum while visiting foreign dignitaries.

Gum, for Christ's sake!

Posted by: Fritz at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (UzPAd)

180 Again, I'm not saying the cops are too stupid to figure this out. I'm saying that different requirements exist and it doesn't appear to me that a whole ton of thought has been given to downstream costs.
Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (mf5HN)


Most of those parts are common to civilian vehicles. The engine is diesel, there are plenty of diesel mechanics around.

There are no super high-tech systems in an MRAP. CBD is right, they are basically heavily armored trucks.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (/kVvc)

181 I at least have data combined with experience. You have a vague feeling.

Posted by: Sean Bannion, M-1 Range Safety Officer at January 29, 2015 09:04 AM


Well, excuse the hell out of me for doubting your competence, General MacArthur sir.

If I didn't make it sufficiently clear for your Overwhelming Military Expertise to comprehend, my initial point was not that you were wrong, which I have no reason to believe you are. What I was saying is that even if a Muzzie cannot make a tank -- or any other technology-based weapon -- operate properly for an extended period, there is still an excellent chance that they can make it operate once, and inflict some serious hurt on their opponent.

I further believe that anyone who doesn't understand and accept that possibility stands a better-than-even chance of being a grease spot in the road.

Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (P8YHq)

182 We can go back to the gold standard right now, and we have all the gold we need to do it.
Every US dollar will henceforth be backed by 3 atoms of gold.

See?
Posted by: EC


Butter still costs 1/2 ounce.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 29, 2015 09:14 AM (Vs6vA)

183 Gamal Abdel Nasser

So, go read the "Why Arabs Lose Wars" article that Bannion cited.

And then think about the PARADES in that guy's honor after the Six Day War.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 09:14 AM (659DL)

184 I further believe that anyone who doesn't understand and accept that possibility stands a better-than-even chance of being a grease spot in the road.
Posted by: MrScribbler at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (P8YHq)


You mad, bro?

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:15 AM (/kVvc)

185 Uh oh Sean; someone has their nose out of joint, is in high dungeon, and I fear is about to flounce off stage left.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:15 AM (+6nI6)

186 There are no super high-tech systems in an MRAP. CBD is right, they are basically heavily armored trucks.

Which every PD should still definitely no possess.

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 09:15 AM (659DL)

187 U.S. experts weren't the only ones dissing Japanese aviators. The Brits joked that their planes were made from bamboo and rice paper. And then Singapore.

Posted by: Russkilitlover at January 29, 2015 09:15 AM (qP1Yy)

188 Which every PD should still definitely no possess.
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 09:15 AM (659DL)


Absolutely concur.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:16 AM (/kVvc)

189 Not to worry, we will be seeing hyper-inflation before default.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 29, 2015 09:16 AM (t//F+)

190 I operated a M270 SPLL, which is basically a Bradley with rocket launchers where the troops would be. Not the easiest thing in the world to maneuver through narrow Euro streets, I may have left some piles of granite dust in my wake, where curb stones once existed.

Posted by: Lincolntf at January 29, 2015 09:16 AM (2cS/G)

191 Or "can service targets at ranges in excess of 3,200 meters"

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (/kVvc)

(Whilst standing onboard the Washington showing Tiger Cruise folks multiple fun things)... Ladies and gentlemen, this weapons system is capable of striking targets between 500 and 8,000m. For reference, the flight deck you are standing on is over 300m from bow to stern.

(Kid in crowd) How far is 8,000m

(Response) Forever.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:16 AM (fwARV)

192 >>That's a great idea!

>>We should make Cairo the capital of this new entity!

And that's exactly why I think it is unlikely that we will ever see some pan-Arab nation. Lot of loud voices calling for one but they tend to low on the food chain. No way do I ever see the oil sheiks in Saudi or other assorted tyrants agreeing to give up power.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 29, 2015 09:17 AM (g1DWB)

193 Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:11 AM (mf5HN)

I wasn't suggesting that you didn't know that (Oh look! UPS is here with a big box!).

Americans tend to be pretty good at maintaining their toys, and the knowledge base for heavy truck maintenance is readily available to most police departments. And I will bet that a large % of these military vehicles are being treated as exactly that: cool toys.

But you are correct that as big things break, the odds of a consistent parts stream existing, especially considering who is running our executive branch, are slim.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:17 AM (Zu3d9)

194 Oh, I understand very well what that 4% is. I was making a joke.

Well, it isn't really funny. It's vomit-inducing actually.




Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:08 AM (Zu3d9)

Sorry about that, CBD. I thought you knew better than to say that seriously, and you did. However, I run into this type of ignorance frequently, and working on the financial projections of the US Government is one of my current responsibilities. Let's just say that boned would be a improved outlook.
I know it's heresy, but at this point, I don't see any way of getting out of the hole that we are in unless we raise tax revenue. However, that can only occur after we reform/eliminate the welfare state and the scope of the federal government. In addition, the taxes will need to start coming from the 47%.

Posted by: Virginia SoCon at January 29, 2015 09:17 AM (+/C3g)

195 Most of those parts are common to civilian vehicles. The engine is diesel, there are plenty of diesel mechanics around.

There are no super high-tech systems in an MRAP. CBD is right, they are basically heavily armored trucks.
Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (/kVvc)



Ahhh okay. No, seriously, thank you, that's good to know.

I need to learn more about car repairs. My brother (YES I HAVE A BROTHER BC OMG) just bought a 1960s Ford truck and he's in the process of completely rebuilding it. Yes, I'm jealous.

I just want to be able to change my oil without needing super duper high tech equipment to do so.

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:18 AM (mf5HN)

196 What I was saying is that even if a Muzzie cannot make a tank -- or any other technology-based weapon -- operate properly for an extended period, there is still an excellent chance that they can make it operate once, and inflict some serious hurt on their opponent.

See my note above about the distinction between terrorism and military capability. To win, it's going to take more than once and it even takes more than superior numbers. It takes intelligence, training, tactics, maintenance, logistics, and leadership. So what if you can crank the damn thing once?

Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at January 29, 2015 09:18 AM (659DL)

197 Gwinnett Co SHeriff apparently was able to fix their M-114. Though seriously guys, the airborne troops hated those rattle traps.

http://youtu.be/eu9WqykqQVA

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:19 AM (+6nI6)

198 Guten morgen, mein fapperschen!

Posted by: Insomniac at January 29, 2015 09:20 AM (2Ojst)

199 I linked this yesterday re: this topic.
Levin was on top of it too, a day earlier. Glad to see Reason discussing it too.

Bottom line, people need to get this.

Mark Levin opened his show last night talking about what he says is the absolute greatest threat America faces internally. He points out that we are getting warnings from the trustees of the social security system, from the trustees of Medicare and Medicaid, from the CBO, and from the GAO, with all of them saying we are headed for the abyss. And nobody is talking about it.

the rightscoop

pretty scary stuff

http://tinyurl.com/nbbbm44

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at January 29, 2015 09:20 AM (IXrOn)

200 Vast ist Herr Glutes?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:21 AM (+6nI6)

201 If you don't take college savings plans, it will only mean the perpetuation of the rapist patriarchy.

Posted by: Sabrina Ruben Erdely at January 29, 2015 09:21 AM (9GG/0)

202 Abrams vs. Merkava.......it will happen soon.

Any comments?


Who do you see crewing the Abrams, Saudi's? I'll go with the "Young Lion".

Posted by: Paladin at January 29, 2015 09:21 AM (4kpbt)

203 >>There are no super high-tech systems in an MRAP. CBD is right, they are basically heavily armored trucks.
<<

Damn. They don't come with reactive armor as an option?

That's a deal breaker.

Posted by: Marcus T at January 29, 2015 09:22 AM (GGCsk)

204 the rightscoop

pretty scary stuff

http://tinyurl.com/nbbbm44
Posted by: artisanal 'ette at January 29, 2015 09:20 AM (IXrOn)


I remember someone responding to my original comment on this that there are people talking about it. Yeah, we are, but that is not who Levin is referring to...

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at January 29, 2015 09:22 AM (IXrOn)

205 I think our command post carrier had 5 wheels.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 09:22 AM (5+sBB)

206 I just want to be able to change my oil without needing super duper high tech equipment to do so.

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:18 AM (mf5HN)


Funny. I never really thought of a ladder as high tech equipment.

Posted by: physics geek at January 29, 2015 09:22 AM (MT22W)

207 Gwinnett Co SHeriff apparently was able to fix their M-114. Though seriously guys, the airborne troops hated those rattle traps.
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:19 AM (+6nI6)


They sure must like repairing track.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (/kVvc)

208 Posted by: Virginia SoCon at January 29, 2015 09:17 AM (+/C3g)

I disagree. With sufficient will, the budget can be balanced in a reasonable amount of time without increasing taxes.

But the real issue is the overbearing regulatory state, and until that changes, we will not be able to grow our way out of the deficit.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (Zu3d9)

209 Mark Levin opened his show last night talking about what he says is the absolute greatest threat America faces internally. He points out that we are getting warnings from the trustees of the social security system, from the trustees of Medicare and Medicaid, from the CBO, and from the GAO, with all of them saying we are headed for the abyss. And nobody is talking about it.

the rightscoop

pretty scary stuff

http://tinyurl.com/nbbbm44
Posted by: artisanal 'ette at January 29, 2015 09:20 AM (IXrOn)


And the Magic Negro and his merry band of communists have constructed all their wet dream programs like Fredocare to explode AFTER or in 2017 so it will be someone else's problem.

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (LJcWW)

210 To win requires one side to give up the fight. I'm not impressed with our betters willingness to fight...

Posted by: anon a mouse at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (/jpU8)

211 Beware the ma in purple boots who will come and rape your 401k.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (5+sBB)

212 I disagree. With sufficient will, the budget can be balanced in a reasonable amount of time without increasing taxes.

But the real issue is the overbearing regulatory state, and until that changes, we will not be able to grow our way out of the deficit.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (Zu3d9)

without touching the entitlements, I don't see how that is possible

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (LJcWW)

213 My Jimmy Dean breakfast sausages have several tiny pieces of bone in them.

Dammit. I coulda broke a tooth.

I should take a picture and see if they'll send me free stuff.

Posted by: Citizen X at January 29, 2015 09:24 AM (7ObY1)

214 >><Mark Levin opened his show last night talking about what he says is the absolute greatest threat America faces internally.<

Honestly, I can't listen any more. He's a smart guy and when he talks about solutions, I listen. But it's become mostly a chicken little show and a lot of screaming about this or that.

Expose things and explain them? Sure. Sensationalize them to a degree that people get frothy at the mouth? No thanks.

Posted by: Marcus T at January 29, 2015 09:24 AM (GGCsk)

215 With sufficient will, the budget can be balanced in a reasonable amount of time without increasing taxes.



Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (Zu3d9)


No. It can't. Not unless you gut entitlements.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (fwARV)

216 Barack Obama is a SCOAMT.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (kff5f)

217 I need to learn more about car repairs. My brother (YES I HAVE A BROTHER BC OMG) just bought a 1960s Ford truck and he's in the process of completely rebuilding it. Yes, I'm jealous.


You have a brother?!?!?!



*runs*

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (GQ8sn)

218 213 My Jimmy Dean breakfast sausages have several tiny pieces of bone in them.

Dammit. I coulda broke a tooth.

I should take a picture and see if they'll send me free stuff.
Posted by: Citizen X at January 29, 2015 09:24 AM (7ObY1

Did you buy them with Food Stamps? If not, you are SOL.

Posted by: Misanthropic Humaniatrian at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (F2IAQ)

219 Yeah the M-114 was supposed to compliment the Sheridan. Give airborne a fig-leaf of mobility and armor.

*snort giggle*

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (+6nI6)

220 178 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:13 AM (+6nI6)

Yeah the United Arab Republic.

A footnote in history and one line of dialog in a Johnny Quest episode.


You know me Anna and 10 years ago I'd have agreed with you completely, however I have been ruminating on what Obama means for Western Civ and I find the answer I am arriving at disquiets me to a degree I am slowly becoming pessimistic vis a vis the US versus Islamia.

The strength of the west vice the Asians and Muslims was our ability to find commonality of identity amongst disparate people. We put our tribalism in portion to a common creed, and in so doing we enabled the use of the Troupes coloniales in defense of France, the Buffalo Soldier in defense of America, and the Commonwealth forces in defense of Jolly Ole'. This was a great force magnifier after the enlightenment when we faced the Muslim and Asian forces who were evolving from a great central power to loyalty to nascent warlords and tribal strong men.

The roles seem to be reversing the Muslim forces are the one cleaving to an ideal no matter how distorted while the politicians who are brooking tribal identity in the west are being rewarded for disrupting the gelling that used to grant the western nations greater punching power per unit fielded.

I am not saying we're at crossover yet, but I do know at some point we are going to pay a price for our current glidepath.

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (/4AZU)

221 the rightscoop

pretty scary stuff

http://tinyurl.com/nbbbm44
Posted by: artisanal 'ette at January 29, 2015 09:20 AM (IXrOn)



I will take minor issue with the no one's talking about it. I've been hearing since I was 18 don't bother planning on Social Security being there when you retire. Nearly everyone I know in my generational cohort, no matter left or right, will laugh openly at the idea that any of us will receive one single penny from Social Security. So, yes, it's been discussed to death.

It's been discussed to death by everyone but Our Betters who are in charge of fixing this mess. Oh there's the odd Social Security blue ribbon panel who proposes very modest changes and then everyone freaks the fuck out. But there have been no serious discussions about what is going to happen by those who are supposed to fix it.

The only people talking about it are the ones who cannot get their elected officials to do anything about it.

Good times, good times.


Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (mf5HN)

222 This is by design.

Barack Obama isn't very smart, but he studied Marx.

And Marx studied the French Revolution.

And the French Revolution started by a fiscal collapse.

So you get:
(1) Fiscal collapse
(2) ???
(3) Worker's* utopia!

*I don't know who really "works" in Obama's utopia, but there you are.

Posted by: AmishDude at January 29, 2015 09:26 AM (nhrSk)

223 And the Magic Negro and his merry band of communists have constructed all their wet dream programs like Fredocare to explode AFTER or in 2017 so it will be someone else's problem.
Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (LJcWW)


yes, financial time bombs all after he leaves

and people won't know what hit them, and blame the current leaders - because they cannot think beyond the moment

Levin remarked on one of the budgets mentioned in the blurb, and said just that one was unsustainable after 2025. Somehow we have to prepare for this. I just don't know how to protect our children and grandchildren, nephews and nieces, etc, who will be hit the hardest because they will literally not have a future.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at January 29, 2015 09:26 AM (IXrOn)

224 The Reason guys are blowing the unicorn. The welfare state will NEVER end; if necessary, there will be expropriations to make it continue. IRAs, 401(k)s, various individuals will be seized, a VAT will be imposed, whatever it takes to keep the bread and circuses going. Why go to such trouble? Because the political class knows that when the benefits run out the riots begin.

Posted by: joncelli at January 29, 2015 09:26 AM (RD7QR)

225 Today's cars are built to make oil changes nearly impossible without much equipment.

Posted by: Boss Moss at January 29, 2015 09:26 AM (5+sBB)

226 208 Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (Zu3d9)

We have a company store party in the Kingship and the King won't let us dig coal to balance our debt...

I give you Barry's war on Fracking and AK crude.

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:27 AM (/4AZU)

227 Did you buy them with Food Stamps? If not, you are SOL.

Of course not. I'm one of Obama's hated middle class private sector worker drones, busting my ass daily to support his free shit army while being insulted by my President for it.

But I'm not bitter.

Posted by: Citizen X at January 29, 2015 09:27 AM (7ObY1)

228 Hate to go off topic, but here it is. I'm sure everybody was wondering how my septic tank pumping went. When I built the wrap-around deck I left a trap door for the soil pipe cleanout, NOT the septic tank plug. So, after taking up 24 sf of deck and finding the septic plug, I added another trap door for it. Price for pumping was 130 U.S. Muy bueno, que? Cheap for taking away 1000 gallons (2 septic tanks) of unwanted smelly crap.I wonder what the cost to clean up that pile between Virginia and Maryland?

Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2015 09:27 AM (go5uR)

229 Except the UAR failed because of geographical separation.

As for the Caliphate, IIRC the last time all three centers - Cairo, Damascus, and Baghdad - were under the control of one leader was that pesky Kurd Saladin.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:28 AM (+6nI6)

230 Corgis.

Lynch time.

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:28 AM (+6nI6)

231 228 Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2015 09:27 AM (go5uR)

~ 140 trillion and growing...

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:28 AM (/4AZU)

232 Expose things and explain them? Sure. Sensationalize them to a degree that people get frothy at the mouth? No thanks.
Posted by: Marcus T at January 29, 2015 09:24 AM (GGCsk)


that is why I go to therightscoop
they break clips down to the meaty content

I don't have time to listen to the shows. I prefer having music on all day.

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at January 29, 2015 09:29 AM (IXrOn)

233 Total debt is greater than GDP. We run trillion (A trillion seconds is 31,688 years) dollar deficits. There is no good way this ends. Either we end it early (in which case: wailing and gnashing of teeth) or we let it end naturally (in which case: famine, disease, poverty, wailing, and gnashing of teeth).

What's the acronym?

WASTF

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) - TrueCon at January 29, 2015 09:29 AM (kff5f)

234 The NY Times is going after Netanyahu like he was Hitler. I'd say Stalin, but the NY Times loved them some Stalin

Posted by: Nevergiveup at January 29, 2015 09:29 AM (LJcWW)

235 229 Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:28 AM (+6nI6)

The world wide web, and telecom make micromanaging a lot easier Ms Puma...

we'll see...it'd help us a lot if we had a President who was not trying to aid the Caliphate.

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:29 AM (/4AZU)

236 So we read a couple of days ago Obama sent a team to help the Left in Israel defeat Bibi.

Than a commenter posted this this morning

Yesterday the State Department hosted a conference of terror groups trying to overthrow the military government in Egypt. That's the one headed up by al-Sisi, the only prominent muslim leader in the world openly calling for a reformation and peaceful coexistence with non-muslims.

This is Government By Fucking Idiots.
Posted by: MTF at January 29, 2015

So the Left in America insinuated Bibi was interfering in Obama's hopes and dreams for Change in the ME (and we know how His dreams end up)

anyway . I'm sure this will end well.

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:29 AM (nqBYe)

237 But I'm not bitter.
Posted by: Citizen X at January 29, 2015 09:27 AM (7ObY1)

That makes 2 of us.
So suck it up Sunshine :-)

Posted by: Misanthropic Humaniatrian at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (F2IAQ)

238 What I was saying is that even if a Muzzie cannot make a tank -- or any other technology- based weapon -- operate properly for an extended period, there is still an excellent chance that they can make it operate once, and inflict some serious hurt on their opponent.



Toyota pick up carrying an Abrams main gun. Would love to see the result of one round fired.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (Vs6vA)

239 So when Texas leaves the Union, how boned is the US then? Super or Mega?

Posted by: jmel at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (t1oUn)

240 >>Mark Levin opened his show last night talking about what he says is the absolute greatest threat America faces internally. He points out that we are getting warnings from the trustees of the social security system, from the trustees of Medicare and Medicaid, from the CBO, and from the GAO, with all of them saying we are headed for the abyss. And nobody is talking about it.


Actually, Romney and Ryan had a platform that was based largely on entitlement reform and it's been part of Ryan's roadmap for years. But again, its wildly unpopular because Dems and the msm demagogue it to death as throwing grandma off a cliff so nothing ever gets done.

Posted by: JackStraw at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (g1DWB)

241 Sean, I would point out that the major expansions of Islam have occurred when their opponents are disorganized, disunited or focused elsewhere:
The initial rise against the Persians happened during a collapse period combined with a major black plague outbreak. The move into Anatolia was because they were riding on the tails of the Mongol expansion, the taking of north Africa and later Iberia was against a previous invasion by the Vandals collapsing the previous Roman administration, and at the time the Vandals were still fighting each other and the natives.
I am not saying you are wrong, but I am pointing out that Islam fights best against dispirited, disunited, uninterested foes, and are really effective against populations who really can't tell the difference between the invaders and their own masters.

Posted by: Kindltot at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (t//F+)

242 Is ever a wrong time to say that Jarrett and Ayers are the worst type of dividers and there is a special place in hell for both of them?

Posted by: Seems Legit at January 29, 2015 09:31 AM (A98Xu)

243 Good times, good times.


And yet when someone (I won't name names GEORGE W BUSH) tried to privatize Social Security to ensure that we could keep the money that is taken from us by force of arms to be held in trust until we're old, he's demonized.

Everyone knows Social Security won't be there for us. Literally everyone knows this.

And yet still they shriek, scream and shill when someone tries to help them keep what they've earned.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, Keeper of the Guards, returned from 1080 exile at January 29, 2015 09:31 AM (fwARV)

244 I will take minor issue with the no one's talking about it. I've been hearing since I was 18 don't bother planning on Social Security being there when you retire. Nearly everyone I know in my generational cohort, no matter left or right, will laugh openly at the idea that any of us will receive one single penny from Social Security. So, yes, it's been discussed to death.

Posted by: alexthechick - My preeecciiiooouuusss at January 29, 2015 09:25 AM (mf5HN)


I've always assumed that I would never get a penny out of Soc. Sec. because I've always been good at arithmetic. My thought was that if I saved and invested wisely, I'd be able to live comfortably in my old age. The last couple of decades has finally made me realize that if entire economic system collapses, my savings and investments will either be a) worth jack shit or b) stolen by the government. That's probably the reason why I've gone long in tar, feather and pitchfork futures.

Posted by: physics geek at January 29, 2015 09:32 AM (MT22W)

245
My brother (YES I HAVE A BROTHER BC OMG) just bought a 1960s Ford truck and he's in the process of completely rebuilding it. Yes, I'm jealous.

One of the most impressive things I've ever seen was over the winter when I was 10 years old.

Neighbor BFF's father took apart every piece of their station wagon's motor. Literally, every valve, bolt, component, and scrubbed each with kerosene and a toothbrush. Then put it back together.

And it wasn't even broken. That was his idea of maintenance.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 09:32 AM (JtwS4)

246 Seems legit, Why limit your choice to those 2 names?

The left in general love angry or scared peoples to take charge of.

They have to help them become angry and scared to Take Charge of them.

leadership at its best.

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:33 AM (nqBYe)

247 I disagree. With sufficient will, the budget can be balanced in a reasonable amount of time without increasing taxes.


But
the real issue is the overbearing regulatory state, and until that
changes, we will not be able to grow our way out of the deficit.



Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (Zu3d9)

First, I don't think we have sufficient will. Exclude interest (because you have the pay the full amount of interest due), and you have to cut spending for everything 20%. 20% off of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. 20% off of DOD. Exempt something, and you have to increase the percentages cut.
I agree, our regulatory state does inhibit growth. However, to say that we can grow our way out of this, even accompanied by entitlement reform, is IMO naive. There is a structural problem that must be addressed. Better growth would help, to be sure. But we've doubled our debt-to-GDP ratio in the last 8 years, and it's only going to go up from here.

Posted by: Virginia SoCon at January 29, 2015 09:33 AM (+/C3g)

248 Toyota pick up carrying an Abrams main gun. Would love to see the result of one round fired.
Posted by: rickb223 at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (Vs6vA)


I've seen that only instead of a 105 there was an antiaircraft gun on the back.

Let's just say that the fire was....inaccurate.

Which made getting close enough to plug him with a AT-4 vastly more simple.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:33 AM (/kVvc)

249 239 Posted by: jmel at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (t1oUn)

If the band of states from Texas to Ohio over to Alabama and say New Mexico North to Montana and Idaho with maybe the Dakotas seceded they would be an economic powerhouse within 3 decades and the US would be a theme park.

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:34 AM (/4AZU)

250 13mm heavy machine gun or did they try to fit a single barrel Shilka?

Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:34 AM (+6nI6)

251 someone that is bored please read my 236 so i don't feel all alone in the corner typing non things.

lol

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:35 AM (nqBYe)

252 Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:33 AM (nqBYe)

-----

Oh, I heartily agree. I believe those two have had the most power over Barack Hussein Obama.

That communist prick in Hawaii who acted as his surrogate father will surely die in the flames of hell too.

Posted by: Seems Legit at January 29, 2015 09:35 AM (A98Xu)

253 Today's cars are built to make oil changes nearly impossible without much equipment.

Which pisses me off mightily. Growing up I was required to learn how to change oil, fluids, filters, tires, and all of that before I was allowed to get a car. My family said "Jiffy Lube" was a symptom of America getting dumb, fat, and lazy.

Today - you need a masters in engineering to get past the engine cover.

Posted by: @JohnTant at January 29, 2015 09:35 AM (eytER)

254 >>>is in high dungeon,

The upper levels are where they give thumbscrews and hang you from the wall. Very la-di-dah

Posted by: Bigby's Shadow Puppets at January 29, 2015 09:35 AM (3ZtZW)

255 of course that means you have to also read my 251 to sooth my sad.

(no guilt here, oh no)

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:36 AM (nqBYe)

256 251 Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:35 AM (nqBYe)

Willow f**k the NYT...

there I agreed and cost huckadoodle his wings and halo for another day.

Posted by: Sven S Blade a.k.a. El Assassin@sven10077 at January 29, 2015 09:36 AM (/4AZU)

257 someone that is bored please read my 236 so i don't feel all alone in the corner typing non things.

lol

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:35 AM (nqBYe)



Morning willow! Yes, you are right as usual. The WH and press are in it together to paint him as a villain.

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 09:37 AM (GQ8sn)

258 sniffing..l tears welling up..

lookin gfor a kleenix...

don't feel guilty ..

it's ok, really..

chokes up a little..

i'm ok really..

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:37 AM (nqBYe)

259 117, Or a busted thermostat.

Posted by: chiefjaybob at January 29, 2015 09:38 AM (t2lvB)

260 13mm heavy machine gun or did they try to fit a single barrel Shilka?
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 09:34 AM (+6nI6)


Can't really remember. Looked a lot like a ZU-23

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:38 AM (/kVvc)

261 I wonder if Obama has ever thrown or taken a punch.

I think not.

He has a very silly attitude about winning/losing, leadership, sacrifice and human behavior.

Posted by: Seems Legit at January 29, 2015 09:38 AM (A98Xu)

262 Can't really remember. Looked a lot like a ZU-23

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:38 AM (/kVvc)



Quad damage!!!

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 09:39 AM (GQ8sn)

263
*pats willow on the head*

Oh, btw, you've been willowed.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at January 29, 2015 09:39 AM (JtwS4)

264 it's ok, really..

chokes up a little..

i'm ok really..
Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:37 AM (nqBYe)


willow? Do you need to be....comforted?

Asking for a friend.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:39 AM (/kVvc)

265 >>>My Jimmy Dean breakfast sausages have several tiny pieces of bone in them.

Shoulda bought the boneless sausages.

Posted by: Bigby's Shadow Puppets at January 29, 2015 09:39 AM (3ZtZW)

266 Has anyone heard a noise that Moochelle has really really really really really really pissed off the Saudis by her behavior?

Posted by: Kindltot at January 29, 2015 09:39 AM (t//F+)

267 sven!

EC whew thanks..

now is this typical for a President?

to send folks to defeat our previous allies in Allied countries elections?

remember i'm still on a learning curve here.

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:39 AM (nqBYe)

268 Bander gah!

shoes Sean away for a moment, Lays head on MRS Bannions shoulder..

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:41 AM (nqBYe)

269 now is this typical for a President?

to send folks to defeat our previous allies in Allied countries elections?

remember i'm still on a learning curve here.

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:39 AM (nqBYe)



Take a guess.

Posted by: EC at January 29, 2015 09:41 AM (GQ8sn)

270 CLOWARD PIVEN STRATEGY

Posted by: sound awake at January 29, 2015 09:43 AM (7A/Jm)

271 EC.. srzly i don't know if it has been done before with an Allie

Posted by: willow at January 29, 2015 09:43 AM (nqBYe)

272 I am not saying you are wrong, but I am pointing out that Islam fights best against dispirited, disunited, uninterested foes, and are really effective against populations who really can't tell the difference between the invaders and their own masters.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 29, 2015 09:30 AM (t//F+)


That's correct. It also strengthens my point.

Posted by: Sean Bannion at January 29, 2015 09:43 AM (/kVvc)

273 247
I disagree. With sufficient will, the budget can be balanced in a reasonable amount of time without increasing taxes.


But

the real issue is the overbearing regulatory state, and until that

changes, we will not be able to grow our way out of the deficit.





Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 29, 2015 09:23 AM (Zu3d9)

First,
I don't think we have sufficient will. Exclude interest (because you
have the pay the full amount of interest due), and you have to cut
spending for everything 20%. 20% off of Social Security, Medicare,
Medicaid. 20% off of DOD. Exempt something, and you have to increase the
percentages cut.
I agree, our regulatory state does inhibit growth.
However, to say that we can grow our way out of this, even accompanied
by entitlement reform, is IMO naive. There is a structural problem that
must be addressed. Better growth would help, to be sure. But we've
doubled our debt-to-GDP ratio in the last 8 years, and it's only going
to go up from here.


Posted by: Virginia SoCon at January 29, 2015 09:33 AM (+/C3g)


***********************
Late to the party, but one thing that corrects the deficit in the short run is inflation. A good bout of inflation increases real taxation because it reduces nominal deductions, actually increases real taxes for items that are not indexed, and (assuming wages keep pace) throws a lot more people into the AMT. It reduces real outlays because while some (most) costs go up with inflation, some (like service on the existing debt) are fixed payments and their real cost will go down. Now, if inflationary expectations are built into the system, nominal interest rates go up, so in the long run it's a wash, but there is a short-term deficit reduction effect. I'm not saying it's a good thing, just pointing out that it is a policy tool.

Posted by: Caesar North of the Rubicon at January 29, 2015 10:11 AM (5f5bM)

274 "72
Too bad we didn't install a failsafe on this armor.

"Oh it fell into bad guy hands... *click*"

*BOOM*


Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at January 29, 2015 08:47 AM (+6nI6)"

Apparently we did install a failsafe, although less dramatic than what you suggest. The failsafe built into American military equipment is that it requires regular maintenance by competent individuals. Such people are scarce on the ground in ISIS controlled areas.

Posted by: Obnoxious A-Hole at January 29, 2015 10:39 AM (KDbAT)

275 So Charley don't surf?

Posted by: Eromero at January 29, 2015 11:10 AM (go5uR)

276 Alright! No one told you to stop commentin'!


Posted by: zombie colour sergeant bourne


Great movie you were in, mate.

Posted by: Moderate Salami at January 29, 2015 11:24 AM (/Ho8c)

277 Escort girls http://REGMODELS.RU

Posted by: Tina at January 30, 2015 04:39 PM (uV0j1)

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