Please consider asking more in the way of questions on various topics.
The open attitude about sports reporting does not cross over to stories about the US Dept. of Homeland Security, big drug busts, The Troops, the War on Terror or local water quality.
If The Troops are fighting to protect American rights and freedoms- why does the NRA emphasize domestic politics instead of overseas military operations to preserve gun rights?
NRA War Propaganda video:
When the US Armed Forces are sent to Lebanon, Somalia, Haiti, Bosnia, Vietnam, etc.- how is that defending the US Constitution– or our rights and freedoms, or our physical security?
The Department of Defense track record for winning undeclared wars goes back to 1949.
Maybe all of the US should function like one, giant military base.
Freedom of individual expression could be fully controlled. No distractions. No dissent.
U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin of New York’s 1st Congressional District:
“Pat Tillman would have been a better choice for @Nike’s new “Just Do It” promotion. Pick a former NFL player and Army Ranger who died for our flag and national anthem rather than @Kaepernick7, a former NFL player who protested it.”
A large number of interesting comments follow the tweet linked above.
Congressman Zeldin,
US foreign policy goals and objectives are mapped out at the very highest levels of government.
Is there someone at the table- in those high level planning sessions- who makes sure that military operations overseas include a mission to die for our flag and national anthem?
Do the planners verify a mission to protect American rights and freedoms?
Does someone make sure the mission is to defend the constitution?
Is there anyone who verifies that the mission is to protect our physical security?
How does the executive branch of government defend the constitution via US foreign policy?
Congressman Zeldin,
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.
Never Forget:
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
I am indifferent to jet noise on Whidbey Island. I reject the idea that it is linked in any way to American rights and freedoms.
With all this talk of freedom- would it be OK to grow a marijuana plant in the back yard?
Can I take my 20 year old girlfriend (a responsible adult) down to the bar to order up a few beers for freedom?
Should we check with the Joint Chiefs of Staff first?
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Never Forget:
The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.
Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, federal minimum drinking age, interracial marriage, gay marriage, voting rights, etc. None of these have anything to do with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, or the outcome of military operations overseas.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
Stop with the glorification of undeclared/unwon wars in distant lands.
The NRA tells us that contacting elected representatives and voting is the way to protect gun rights. What role do The Dept. of Defense & The Troops play here?
Whatever happened to the formal congressional declaration of war?
This would be the time to hear from elected leaders and top generals on all the issues that have doomed the Department of Defense track record for winning wars since DOD was established in 1949.
Cantwell/Hutchison – Which one will work to end federal marijuana prohibition?
It took a constitutional amendment to prohibit the sale of a glass of wine- why no constitutional amendment to authorize a federal prohibition of marijuana?
The struggle:
Candidates do not represent the views of voters.
The voter is not part of the majority that controls politics.
Politics is controlled by majority rule. The majority of people who vote will align with one of two major parties. These parties agree in some key areas.
Question for the left and the right:
Any talk of shutting down undeclared/unwon wars that never end?
What stays the same no matter what political party or personality is in power?
“It was a risky play made by a desperate team that is well aware of its run-scoring issues over the past month and the current fight for a postseason spot that felt like an inevitability in June.”
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to his press secretary for answers? Presidents do so on a daily basis. Professionals are hired to provide only the desired version of answers to questions.
Ever see a pro football coach or quarterback refer reporters to a public information officer for answers to questions?
The open attitude about sports reporting does not cross over to stories about the US Dept. of Homeland Security, big drug busts, The Troops, the War on Terror or local water quality.
The story is always reported as a big success. Zero questions asked about why cartels are somehow able to move product past National Guard Troops, strict post 911 security protocols and federal agents manning a $40.6 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security- before the drugs end up in Hometown, USA.
Newspeople play the role of federal public affairs personnel during Operation Macho Swagger– a ride-along to let us know what is being done to keep the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca safe from B.C. incursions.
Has Port Angeles CBP been able to intercept any inbound meth or heroin? Even one time?
Newspeople, reporters and journalists are free to ask basic public policy questions and post updated reports at any time.
Has anyone ever seen the press question the Port Angeles Border Patrol/CBP on their role in keeping heroin out of the Puget Sound area?
US Border Patrol, Port Angeles, WA
Secret arrest statistics, denied FOIA requests, heroin in the community, no cross-border USBP arrest in more than 8 years, and zero questions from the press.
Are fraudulent overtime claims still the norm at Port Angeles?
Each year, at the Super Bowl, the US Dept. of Homeland Security promotes their own image Re: preventing criminal activity. Why do these impressive capabilities fail to keep meth and heroin trafficking cartels from moving product into the US?
The Troops
Local paper in a military town-
About two years ago, hometown pride was running high when they posted:
“Last year, signs went up closing the waters around Penn Cove to any shellfish harvesting because testing revealed high levels of paralytic shellfish poison. The biotoxin can potentially lead to fatal paralytic shellfish poisoning in humans if consumed.”
Sports has tended to be a more honest part of American culture. Lately, well known players are involved in a marketing campaign featuring Salute to Service TV ads to fix the glorification of military service messages in our minds.
Undeclared/unwon wars that never end?
0:24
The purpose is to protect our freedoms:
Don’t miss our companion blog- found here: Old Man Blog
When the news is created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press:
“Comments are disabled for this video.”
Love to see newspeople ask:
If special games require special security– what keeps regular games safe? Crowd size/capacity is similar at several stadiums.
What prevents terror strikes at hundreds of events & locations unsupervised by federal authorities?
What other parts of the entertainment industry feature uniformed federal agents as part of the security team?
With such an impressive handle on US Dept. of Homeland Security screening– why do Heroin-Trafficking Cartels continue to move product into local communities?
How do you keep terrorists and their weapons out by checking retail items after they show up in Minneapolis? Did the confiscated items make it through any port of entry?
In the news: The VFW, American Legion and the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department tell us that people who did time in uniform are heroes who protect our freedoms:
“The purpose of this program is to remind the public of the vital service given and sacrifice made by our neighbors through their military service, and to thank them for their service protecting our freedoms,” Posada said”
“Each hero, or his or her family, received a plaque Tuesday night and soon will be recognized with a personalized banner to be displayed above South College Road near Bradley Square for the next six months.”
Doing time in the US Armed Forces & living in the community are the two qualifications for being a hero and protecting our freedoms.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.
In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.
As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.
If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.
Why do we pretend that the US Armed Forces function as some sort of giant civil rights organization?
Good luck to today’s youngest generations. The indoctrination levels are higher now than when I grew up during the Cold War.
If The Troops were an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Troops were nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Sports has tended to be a more honest part of American culture. Lately, well known players are involved in a marketing campaign featuring Salute to Service TV ads to fix the glorification of military service messages in our minds.
Americans were never meant to agree on matters of a personal nature. This is why we have so many different churches here.
People have different ways of observing special days on the calendar.
Maybe some of the guys who never made it back would have enjoyed marking the occasion with BBQs, loud music and women in bikinis.
No government recommended protocols or guilt trips required. Isn’t this what freedom is all about?
Maybe some of the people who never came back would have wanted Americans to spend some time reaching for an honest understanding of US foreign policy, rather than repeating the phrase “Thanks for your service.”
Maybe they would wish to live in an honest society.
Maybe they would question individuals who claim that Americans wouldn’t have the freedom to post comments on newspaper websites if people had not given their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect that freedom.
Hey school teachers– where did this idea come from? Were US troops sent to Vietnam so that Americans could be free to send letters to the editor?
Is there any case in which the US Armed Forces have been sent to distant lands on a mission to protect freedom of speech?
Is protecting freedom of speech even part of training scenarios?
If The Troops are fighting for your freedom to share ideas on the web, or to have a Barbeque- why would you be scolded for doing so?
