Federal credibility is squandered over a period of decades. Now, people are scolded for wanting to be honestly informed on government activities. Well done. Something to get proud about.
Don’t lie to people and maybe they would be more patriotic.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Both major political parties are good with it.
Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this. Continuing on this path will wear down the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
There has been good news for recruiting recently after standards were modified to create a prep course category for training recruits.
Thousands of American families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Will they support new enlistments?
Our take:
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis.
Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist- no rehab/prep program required.
Why are these people not showing up at the recruiting office?
Any questions from newspeople?
Look for newspeople and school teachers to ask zero questions in this area:
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
“I don’t understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday night when asked why his supporters are so interested in the case. “It’s pretty boring stuff. It’s sordid, but it’s boring, and I don’t understand why it keeps going.”
“I think really only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going,”
The President could always ask his supporters what they think. Have a town hall meeting. Send members of congress back home to host their own town hall meetings. Listen to people when they speak up.
Just Be Honest could be a slogan for government to live by, no matter what political party or personality is in power.
The US federal government has been involved in decades of various events where records were sealed or redacted and files were kept secret.
Federal credibility is squandered over a period of decades. Now, people are scolded for wanting to be honestly informed on government activities. Well done. Something to get proud about.
Don’t lie to people and maybe they would be more patriotic.
Remember when the Trump admin kept promising to release the Epstein files? No? We’ve got you. Watch this supercut.
For Americans born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s, there have been several episodes over the decades where the federal government version of events may have fallen into question over the years, or may never have been fully resolved.
By now, some Americans may feel that both major political parties are manipulative and dishonest.
Conspiracy Theory?
Best case scenario- elected officials, public agencies, & a free and independent press work together to keep people informed.
Asking for clarification/better info is not the same as offering up any sort of conspiracy theory.
More information is better- this is how science and medicine works.
Blame Mexico and look for more Armed Forces recruits by modifying standards to create a prep course category for training recruits.
Our take:
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis.
Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist- no rehab/prep program required.
Why are these people not showing up at the recruiting office?
Image above: Don’t lie to people and maybe they would be more patriotic.
For Americans born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s, there have been several episodes over the decades where the federal government version of events may have fallen into question over the years, or may never have been fully resolved.
By now, some Americans may feel that both major political parties are manipulative and dishonest.
“What changed between Bondi saying the lists were on her desk and pledging to release them, to now assuring us no lists exist and acting as if only kooks would assume they did?”
“A few days ago, the president embarrassed himself by chastising a reporter who dared ask about disclosures Trump’s own team previously promised. It was a reasonable question (indeed, an obligatory one) to ask on the first opportunity since Trump’s team told us there was nothing to reveal. Aside from being lame and pathetic, Trump’s dismissive response contradicted accusatory comments he’d frequently made.”
Love the way Cenk Uygur narrates at 6:41 in the video below:
Unlike many local newspapers, alternative media is good with maintaining an active comment section. More than 4,000 comments are posted with the video above.
Old Man Blog Category
Thoughts on changes in American culture relating to those born roughly in the late 50s & early 60s.
Love to see newspeople interview elected officials and let us know how sending US Troops to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., is somehow defending the constitution.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars.
Both major political parties are good with it.
Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this. Continuing on this path will wear down the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
There has been good news for recruiting recently after standards were modified to create a prep course category for training recruits.
Our take:
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis.
Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist- no rehab/prep program required.
Why are these people not showing up at the recruiting office?
Any questions from newspeople?
National Guard
National Guard recruiting would be tricky.
Recruiters are looking for people who will need to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Why do the people of Home State, USA need services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Will there ever come a time when newspeople ask if there is any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war, linked to the movement of National Guard troops to an overseas location?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
Some will say obese teens and young adults are to blame for the big recruiting crisis. Thousands of young, intelligent and athletic Americans participate in college athletics each year. Certainly, they would qualify to enlist- no rehab/prep program required.
Why are these people not showing up at the recruiting office?
Any questions from newspeople?
Thousands of American families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Various family generations speak with each other.
Will they encourage new enlistments?
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this. Continuing on this path will wear down the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
In past decades, people could do time in uniform, then return to the US with a feeling that they were living in the best country on the planet.
That was before decades of military operations for your freedoms.
Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Just Be Honest
Elected officials and high level DOD civilians speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
The press plays along by not asking questions.
The post 911 era has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms. This urban legend has run its course. People have seen enough now to know this is no more than a marketing strategy. Uniparty newspeople play along by not asking questions:
The idea that the US Armed Forces are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms is repeated many times over.
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
Imagine a Japanese family. They are not US citizens. They come to the US each summer to visit family, go to Disneyland, see the Grand Canyon, etc.
They are pulled over for a minor traffic violation. They cooperate with the officer on the scene. Do they have less rights in dealing with LE authorities than someone who was born in the US?
“Let’s remind ourselves of some important points about free speech.”
“Freedom of speech is not a privilege that comes from the federal government or even from the Constitution, which is the document that called the federal government into existence. It is a fundamental, natural, God-given right that precedes the existence of government. As Jefferson pointed out in the Declaration of Independence, liberty adheres to all people, not just to American citizens. Thus, the First Amendment doesn’t give people freedom of speech; instead, it prohibits the federal government from infringing on freedom of speech.”
“Thus, everyone — Americans and foreigners alike — have the absolute right under genuine principles of freedom of speech to criticize and condemn Israel, Jews, the Vatican, Catholics, Muslims, blacks, Italians, Asians, gays, or anyone else to their heart’s content. They have the right to question the Holocaust and claim that Hitler didn’t kill one single Jew. They have the right to question the legality by which the state of Israel was formed and also the right to question the legality by which the United States acquired the northern half of Mexico.”
“In fact, people also have the right to advocate terrorism, mass killings, and serial killings and to openly praise terrorists, mass killers, and serial killers. They have the right to praise the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the U.S. invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. They also have the right to celebrate the U.S. government’s torture of people at Guantanamo Bay and the CIA’s and Pentagon’s state-sponsored assassinations of both Americans and foreigners.”
JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:
Elected officials and high level DOD civilians speak of the US Armed Forces as if they function as some sort of giant civil rights organization.
The press plays along by not asking questions:
Any time since the catastrophic military failure of 911 has been a time to tell the American people that US troops are sent to distant lands to defend American freedoms. This urban legend has run its course. People have seen enough now to know this is no more than a marketing strategy.
Memorial Day Marketing
Goodbye Armistice Day
Thank You for your sacrifice Troops. Your efforts are playing an important role in marketing our products.
Uniparty newspeople play along by not asking questions:
The idea that the US Armed Forces are sent to distant lands to defend American rights and freedoms is repeated many times over.
The reality is that American freedoms may come and go and appear to be completely unrelated to military operations/US Troops in distant lands, or the Sound of Freedom.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our 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.
American freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense, the outcome of military operations overseas or jet noise over Coupeville.
Did the Joint Chiefs of Staff send The Troops to safeguard American freedoms?
Was it the Viet Cong that set up laws in 16 US states to prohibit interracial marriage?
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
Love to see the press, school teachers, sports announcers and politicians come clean on how any of this was linked to American rights and freedoms or defending the constitution.
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
JFK speaks about the role of the press and voices of dissent in a free society:
Conspiracy Theory?
Maybe there would be less in the way of conspiracy theories if people felt like they were properly informed.
Where is the press in all this?
Love to see more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
What we get now is sort of a press release style of news reporting where a statement is prepared by whatever agency was involved in the latest policy update, drug bust/federal grant money award, etc.
Newspeople post the statement as is. A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
Regular newspeople don’t seem to have permission to ask hard questions.
Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc.
In government, it is fully understood that people will not have access to complete information through everyday channels.
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 impacted by sewage treatment plant outfalls.
Are people who work for newspapers and TV news folks given permission to go out and to do interviews related to public policy? If elected officials and people who run government agencies are not available to be interviewed, that should become the story.
Mainstream media functions like paid actors reading a script.
Americans do not live in a free and honest society. Today, the mainstream media will function like paid actors reading a script:
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
Less respect for the federal government. Less respect for the press.
Local newspapers are suppressing online comment sections, getting away from asking questions related to public policy, and telling us they need more support from subscription and advertising sales while lining up for federal bailout cash.
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can elected officials of any party or any member of the press help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
Decades of undeclared/unwon DOD wars and talk of defending American rights and freedoms that never seems to stand up to any questioning or discussion. The US press won’t touch it.
Uncle Sam is having a hell of a time finding people to sign up for the US Armed Forces. Pretending that decades of undeclared/unwon wars are linked in any way with American freedoms is the kind of dishonesty that will snuff out the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
“The Internet, obviously, has been the mainstream media’s worst enemy. That’s because people were now able to discover websites, podcasts, videos, and other such things that were willing to tell them the truth about their villainy of their own government. The mainstream media has been having trouble ever since.”
Glenn Greenwald:
Glorification of military service / total nonsense:
WA Secretary of State
Our right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces.
Do you have a veteran in your life you would like to thank?
If a right to vote has always been protected by the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, how come women were not allowed full voting rights at the end of WWI?
Why the need for a 1965 Voting Rights Act if overseas military operations somehow secured voting rights?
If a right to vote is protected by the US Armed Forces, what becomes of that right when the US leaves Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, etc., without a victory?
Look for the mainstream press to ask zero questions in this area.
Mainstream media functions like paid actors reading a script.
Americans do not live in a free and honest society. Today, the mainstream media will function like paid actors reading a script:
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
“…oh, ok. so they were traumatized, they get on a bus, the bus driver drops off the kids in gene’s front yard and takes off. does that sound feasible?”
The Oak Bay Starfish take:
School district employees are background checked. Chain of custody protocols are in place for district transportation staff/school bus drivers. Bus routes are well established.
On this day, school district transportation staff member/bus driver releases students at Gene Rosen’s front yard?
Next up: Gene parks the kids downstairs while he goes upstairs to gather stuffed animals to bring down and share with the kids along with juice.
At this moment, what is going on with the parents, LE personnel, first responders, and the school bus route driver?
The kids boarded the bus in an orderly fashion to begin the bus ride home. The ride home then ended at the home of Gene Rosen for some reason?
School bus company releases parent/guardian cell info to Gene:
They want us to rent a vacation spot in Ocean Shores, WA.
The beach here is pretty plain and not too interesting for photos. Further north on the WA coast, or on down to OR is where the more scenic beach views are available. Never mind about all that, just imagine a rocky coast with a storybook lighthouse and you’re good. Keep your imagination turned on, because there is no other way to experience this scene at Ocean Shores.
We see big money, big polling numbers, big crowd estimates, big celebrity enthusiasm, big news and social media coverage, big patriotism, and big support from people who made it to the very highest levels of government and politics.
During the last century, there was a tradition among American families where one generation after another would do time in uniform.
2024
Ask any supporters of any political party if they are sending young family members down to the US Armed Forces recruiting office to sign up. If people are feeling good about their country, wouldn’t this cross over to supporting new enlistments in the US Armed Forces?
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, the Pentagon seems to specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. Understandable why young people & their parents & grandparents would take a dim view on all this. Very hard to find news articles that will entertain this point.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
Newspeople refuse to ask:
What happens when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft?
Bad timing for a draft, because The US Dept. of Defense has been squandering prestige and credibility at home and in distant lands over the past 40 years or so.
Thousands of US families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Four-star officers and high level DOD civilians built careers made of undeclared/unwon wars. Now they must mastermind ways to recruit a new generation.
Last Century
During the last century, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina would be no place for a Marine to have long hair. Looks like USMC standards have slipped.
Decades of undeclared/unwon DOD wars is now the norm. Look and see if the new military aid packages create any wave of enthusiasm to sign up.
Some may say it is time to bring back a draft.
They tried that during the Vietnam War. They found out they had to stop.
Last time there was a draft, children were raised by the WWII generation, in families where Mom and Dad were married to each other.
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations. Things are slow over at the recruiting office.
Prediction:
The breaking point will come at the US Armed Forces recruiting office.
“Oyhut State Park is not one of the busier state parks in Washington. It’s located on the north shore of North Bay, near Ocean Shores, and near where Highway 109 meets Highway 115.”
“Damon Point was the resting place of the SS Catala, originally recommissioned as a floating hotel in Seattle for the 1962 World’s Fair. It was moved to Ocean Shores and eventually ran aground at Damon Point, greatly contributing to accretion of sediments. The wreckage was finally removed in 2007.”
Ran aground? Was Catala underway prior to beaching?
Some of this can just honestly be confusing. Some seems to be sloppy sharing of information, and some seems to be a deliberate intent to create a scene that does not exist.
“Oak Harbor is the largest city on Whidbey Island, located on the North end of the island. Whidbey Island is home to Windjammer Park and is known for its gorgeous ocean views.”
The body of water adjacent to the town is called: Oak Harbor.
How long would it take to walk or ride a bike to the nearest Ocean? What route would be best to take?
Has anyone ever posted an ocean photo that was taken at Oak Harbor?
Will there ever come a time when newspeople ask if there is any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war, linked to the movement of National Guard troops to an overseas location?
Thousands of US families have now had a loved one who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Will they encourage new enlistments?
Both major US political parties may be forced to downsize their ambitions for various overseas military operations when American families no longer send the young ones to enlist and will not support a draft.
To me, the most interesting people in politics are the people who are willing to question their chosen political party.
Are newspeople forbidden to ask questions related to Homeland Security funding and performance?
Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Newspeople asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
After a Port Angeles CBP buildup that took place more than a decade ago, is there any follow up made by the press to inform the public on whatever results have been achieved?
Massing US Border Patrol agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca fails to keep more than 392 pounds of meth and two pounds of fentanyl powder from arriving in Port Angeles:
When news/social media posts are created by federal employees, there’s no need to deal with any awkward/real questions from the press. Love to see a free and independent press step up to ask questions as time goes by.
If the USA continues a pattern of undeclared/unwon DOD wars over the next 50 years, will it still be considered a plus to bring military experience into a big election season?
What would become of American rights and freedoms and the constitution?
As time goes on, the consumer choices we have are becoming more restricted by a combination of government and big business policies, not Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden or the next bad guy DOD will be going after in distant lands.
Another of many examples where American freedoms may come & go-completely unrelated to military operations/US Troops in distant lands, or the Sound of Freedom:
Both major parties are good with a land of the free holding pattern where 18-20 year old adults are seen as second class citizens.
Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults.
Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Several of the people commenting here, seem to feel that this move is controversial or not a good idea.
Good Luck With The Big US Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
Freedoms come and go. None of the above are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.
Years ago, I began to think of the mainstream media as Information Suppression Specialists because newspeople had stopped asking questions related to public policy.
Voting is highly emphasized in American culture. Asking questions related to public policy takes a lower priority.
Washington State Ferries
Here at Oak Bay Starfish, we have been posting Re: WA State Ferries for years. A favorite story was the auto tollbooth upgrade at Mukilteo. Here is what we found on the web:
Unlike many cities of its size, Port Angeles maintains a significant Homeland Security/CBP/Border Patrol presence.
Newspeople have a long history of not asking questions in this area.
New Port Angeles USBP Station opened more than a decade ago. Would any newsperson ever ask: Has the new station played any role in keeping cartel drugs from arriving on the Olympic Peninsula?
Newspeople remain silent.
Massing US Border Patrol agents at the southern edge of the Strait of Juan de Fuca fails to keep drug overdoses down in Clallam County.
Does Port Angeles CBP provide any advantage in keeping cartel product from arriving in Port Angeles? Newspeople play along by not asking questions. News links and sources here:
US Troops sent to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., are somehow defending the constitution?
IfUS Troops were never sent to Syria, Lebanon, Somalia, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia, etc., what would have become of American rights and freedoms and the US constitution?
Would any newsperson ever ask:
The US Dept. of Defense (established after WWII, in the late 1940s) has been associated with what wars won by the US?
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
The small papers will say they need more support from subscribers and advertising dollars or cash from the federal government to stay alive. All this because COVID or the internet or lack of newspaper sales, or a free and independent press that needs taxpayer support.
People who take no public funds, private donations or advertising dollars are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press? Call for unpaid volunteers and you’d get better news coverage than what we have now.
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
“Funding for the boat was issued through the Homeland Security Grant Program under Operation Stonegarden.”
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Has the Island County Homeland Security-funded patrol boat been involved in any arrest or seizure related in any way to the US/Canada border?
What is the history of “cross border activity” related to Whidbey Island?
Newspeople remain silent.
Airport Security Screening
Show up early to wait in line and squeeze the toothpaste out of the tube at the airport?
Would any newsperson ever ask:
What keeps the terrorists of the GWOT from creating a disruption at the back end of the screening line?
Has anyone ever seen any member of the press ask questions on this?
War on Terror
REAL ID
Would any newsperson ever ask:
If REAL ID is critical to the safety of America, have travelers out at the airport been less safe since 911?
The new REAL ID requirement for domestic air travel has been extended now to 2025.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
If the CIA (est 1947) serves as an advantage to the US, why does the Department of Defense have such a poor record of winning undeclared wars going back to 1949, the year DOD was established?
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Are passports/enhanced/REAL IDs effective in keeping cartel drugs out of the US?
Standard driver’s licenses have not been accepted at the border since 2009.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
If sending US troops to Afghanistan and creating a $49.8 billion US Dept. of Homeland Security was meant to keep bad people from coming here to do bad things, why are drug cartels able to move product into all 50 states?
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Has General Milley’s Operation Macho Swagger reduced access to cartel product anywhere in the US?
Has there been enough time for newspeople to ask questions?
Newspeople remain silent.
April 1, 2020 C-SPAN
WWII costume reminds us of a time before decades of undeclared/unwon wars stacked up.
The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.
Respect for The National Guard
These are the people who need to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
Why do the people of Home State, USA need services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
The US should maintain strong and ready military forces.
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.
Super Bowl
Tune in to any Super Bowl in the post 911 era to see the press promote a big US Dept. of Homeland Security show of force to keep the big game safe. TV newspeople skip asking questions and play the role of federal public affairs staff instead:
The folks who can’t keep fentanyl trafficking cartels from moving product into various US communities are keeping the Super Bowl safe. Way To Go Team.
Would any newsperson ever ask:
If special games require special security-what keeps regular games safe? Crowd size/capacity is similar at several stadiums.
Are fans less safe at regular games?
What prevents terror strikes at hundreds of events & locations unsupervised by federal authorities?
What stops terrorists from going 2 states over and driving a truck across the playground at a daycare center?
“…WSP Vessel and Terminal Security Troopers responded to the MV Kaleetan upon its arrival at Colman Dock. By that time, WSF crews had already secured the suspect, who had boarded the vessel by vehicle.”
Not my idea to promote the concept that riding safely on the ferry requires gun boat escorts, SWAT teams and K-9s on the job to detect explosives.
If a guy decides to fire a gun during a 60 minute ferry crossing and WSP waits to respond until the ferry arrives at Colman Dock, how is this security?
Will newspeople follow up and let us know if the guy who purposefully fired his handgun from the ferry had a concealed carry permit?
Did he pass any sort of background check?
Whatever happened to this guy?
A 5th grade book report would require more in the way of asking questions.
Life wasn’t meant to change after the big Saddam Hussein & Osama bin Laden takedowns.
Decades Past Sept 11th, 2001 – The People of New Jersey Need Services In Iraq and Syria
Another cheerful delivery by TV newspeople.
Will there ever come a time when newspeople ask if there is any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war, linked to the movement of National Guard troops to an overseas location?
Four-star officers and high level DOD civilians built careers made of undeclared/unwon wars. Now they must mastermind ways to recruit a new generation.
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up. Trouble is, maybe those family members expect more from a commitment to enlist than decades of undeclared/unwon wars. The press, four-star officers, and elected officials will avoid owning up to this.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Four-star officers, high level DOD civilians, policy think tanks and the press will avoid being honest about how DOD has been used over the past 30 years. They tend to avoid discussing a track record that is not attractive to the parents, grandparents, young people and veterans of America.
Respect for The National Guard
The people of Minnesota need more applicants to maintain a place to live and a regular job in their hometown area when they are not doing time in foreign lands helping DOD with undeclared/unwon wars and missions completely unrelated to their home state.
A few decades back, people might think of the National Guard as one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer plus a way to support your home state by being ready to get called out for floods, fires, natural disasters, civil unrest, etc. Maybe a way to help the next state over if they needed it.
Thousands of men and women who signed up for the National Guard in the past 25 years did tours in places like Syria, Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.
Any members of the press available to show up and ask why the people of Home State, USA needed services in distant lands, absent any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war?
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials, top Pentagon Generals and the press earned it.
For those who are ready to take a break from the social media/emoji version of the internet:
Uncle Sam is having a hell of a time finding people to sign up for the US Armed Forces. Pretending that decades of undeclared/unwon wars are linked in any way with American freedoms is the kind of dishonesty that will snuff out the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
A symbol of the US Dept. of Defense (Established in the late 1940s/after WWII) track record with undeclared/unwon wars.
A symbol of newspeople not asking questions, and a federal government that is OK with telling lies about freedom, then blaming young people and their families when they lose interest in showing up.
Or, a symbol of federal government credibility and followers of both major parties, elected officials, newspeople and school teachers not asking questions.
A giant credit union uses social media to brag about supporting The Troops. The big charity drive delivers another image of what it’s like to do time in today’s US Armed Forces.
Note: Many thousands of The Troops are 18-20 year old adults. It is not legal for them to buy a six pack of beer on or off base in the USA.
Trying to recruit a younger generation for US military service – Late 2023
Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens. This was not the case in the Vietnam War era. More wars = less freedom? Ask your recruiter or elected official. Post in comments and let us know what they told you.
Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?
Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911? Needy military families who require a charity drive to cover for over 1.1 million meals?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed military families in need to come up short on over 1.1 million meals while relying on their normal paycheck instead of accepting charity?
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Four-star officers, high level DOD civilians, policy think tanks and the press will avoid being honest about how DOD has been used over the past 30 years. They tend to avoid discussing a track record that is not attractive to the parents, grandparents, young people and veterans of America.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the Pentagon specializes in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
A society where honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion, but the questioning and discussion rarely takes place. Well done newspeople.
January 6th
Seems like a post 911 Washington DC would be one of the very most prepared cities in the world to host gatherings and events of a friendly or unfriendly nature. Sort of like the Super Bowl, but every day, not just one day each year. Sort of like SWAT teams ready to show up on Puget Sound ferry boats an hour after a bad person attempts to do a bad thing by surprise. Zero questions from newspeople. Comment section shut down.
Don’t worry-The Super Bowl and public affairs will be safe:
Would the DEA be out of work if a $51.6 billion (every 12 months) US Dept. of Homeland Security was able to keep cartel product from showing up in all 50 states? Look for newspeople to avoid similar questions.
Today, the mainstream media will function like paid actors reading a script:
Private citizens are stepping in and going out with a camera to see and document what is going on.
Instead of waiting for school teachers to teach about individual rights and limited government authority, waiting on the press to ask questions, or courts to handle cases, these guys go out and update us with a quick reality check.
Today, sports culture is where the free and independent press is alive and well.
Think of an NFL game. Coaches and quarterbacks face the press after every game and answer questions, win or lose.
No press secretary. No public relations spokesperson. No freedom of information act requests. No classified documents.
Instant replays, commentary in the broadcast booth, analysis from network studios, sports talk radio, etc. Fans get tons of info all of the time. No chance for conspiracy theories to develop. Missed calls by NFL officials may be discussed for weeks on end. No such thing as: “We can’t comment on an ongoing investigation.” Instant replay is for all to see. Sports writers are OK with being critical of coaches, teams, players, the rule book, the league, referees, team owners, when the season starts and ends, etc. This is what a free and independent press looks like. Go ahead and have sports writers cover public policy, Homeland Security and US Dept. of Defense news and I’m good with that.
In 2023, the press tends to support government agencies, departments and policies rather than question them.
Zero questions from small or large newspapers. Zero questions from TV newspeople.
The small papers will say they need more support from subscribers and advertising dollars or cash from the federal government to stay alive. All this because COVID or the internet or lack of newspaper sales, or a free and independent press that needs taxpayer support.
People who take no public funds, private donations or advertising dollars are free to ask questions at any time. Why not the press? Call for unpaid volunteers and you’d get better news coverage than what we have now.
I’d be more interested in paying (again) for a local paper subscription if there was more in the way of newspeople asking questions.
Uncle Sam is having a hell of a time finding people to sign up for the US Armed Forces. Pretending that decades of undeclared/unwon wars are linked in any way with American freedoms is the kind of dishonesty that will snuff out the energy American families once had for encouraging young people to enlist.
Good luck with your US Armed Forces recruiting crisis.
Today, 7,950 comments are posted with the video above.
Recruiting Crisis/Reality Check
Thousands of American families have had a loved one in the regular or reserve US Armed Forces who did one or more tours in Iraq or Afghanistan. National Guard too.
If we can just get the veterans, parents and grandparents of the USA to recommend an enlistment to the young family members in their life, things will be looking up.
The US Dept. of Defense spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
If DOD was an NFL team, sports talk radio would feature comments like:
The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
Any college or pro football coach would have been fired a dozen times over for what DOD has done with the US Armed Forces during the fake GWOT era.
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
Symbol of a free and honest society. A society where newspeople went easy on asking questions Re: overseas military operations/undeclared unwon wars over the past 30 years or so.
A society where honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion, but the questioning and discussion rarely takes place.
A society where TV newspeople perform like paid actors reading a script:
“Homelessness has risen rapidly in much of the city, with hundreds dying on the streets each year. 2022 brought a record-breaking 310 deaths in King County (mainly Seattle), many associated with drug overdoses. A large proportion of the homeless are mentally ill.”
“There is a reason that the UW has been rated as the worst public university in the U.S. for protecting freedom of speech. KNKX listenership has declined greatly, with listeners driven away by its shrill, politized fare.”
“The GAO concluded that leaders at the Pentagon are not only failing to provide oversight — instead choosing to largely punt the issue to the branches — but they also don’t consider it a priority. The result has been bureaucratic finger-pointing, with no one office or leader willing to own the issue.”
Anybody fired over this?
Where is the Cold War era Sergeant Major or First Sergeant who would have raised hell to take care of The Troops. Are they encouraging the young people they know to sign up today? The guys that did a couple tours in Iraq or Afghanistan- are they sending young family members down to enlist?
There has been a big stir over a blocked senior military promotion system. TV newspeople will avoid interviewing people who offer up a voice of dissent. Stalling the administrative steps to promote top level officers might lead to what? Decades of undeclared/unwon wars? A giant Dept. of Defense that was nowhere to be found on 911?
Why would high level promotions be awarded to people who are part of the system that allowed The Troops to live in the barracks described below?
“The Department of Defense will no longer issue the Global War on Terrorism Medal to all service members, ending a two-decade period during which the award was given to everyone in the ranks to signify America’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Random Thoughts for the Uniparty
Currently serving four-star officers and high level DOD civilians have been associated with what wars won by the US?
US jet aircraft have been able to strike targets in what wars won by the US?
Did the advantage of US air power allow the undeclared wars in Iraq or Afghanistan to be prevented, won or shut down?
The Vice President refers to the USA as a democracy in the video below. Question for newspeople and school teachers everywhere: If it’s a democracy, when do we vote on undeclared wars?
Alternative Media and Comedians – Asking the Questions and Highlighting the Issues
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the politicians, four-star officers and high level DOD civilians who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
If I was with the press, I would ask Lt. Col. Bushatz if the Kosovo deployment was also somehow related to American rights and freedoms. I’d ask if it was related to defending the US Constitution.
I would ask Lt. Col. Bushatz if the freedom talk is just for federal holidays and overseas military operations.
Bosses over at the media outlet probably would not want these sorts of questions to be presented to military authorities.
Newspeople Avoid Asking Questions
Will there ever come a time when newspeople ask if there is any military emergency, national emergency, draft, or declaration of war, linked to the movement of National Guard troops to an overseas location?
Both major political parties are now OK with treating 18-20 year old adults as second-class citizens. Can you explain the militarized version of freedom here?
Alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and firearms restrictions are in place for 18-20 year old adults. Is there any state where recreational marijuana laws remove prohibition for adults at age 18?
Doesn’t seem to fit with a society that can’t stop bragging about freedom, thanking the troops for freedoms, fighting wars for freedoms, staging military jet flyovers at sporting events for freedom, etc.
Certainly, Americans do not live in a free and honest society.
Hey school teachers, are the Joint Chiefs of Staff sending The Troops to fix any of this? Will National Guard deployments from Hometown, USA to distant lands (already been done for decades now) enhance American rights and freedoms?
Lt. Col. Bushatz,
Honest and meaningful ideas stand up to questioning and discussion.
The US Armed forces have been operating in the Middle East for decades now. These military operations are somehow linked to American rights and freedoms? Please explain.
Tough Assignment
Trying to recruit a younger generation for US military service after the US Dept of Defense already spent the last 30 years squandering prestige and credibility overseas and at home.
Decades after the lessons of Vietnam, it feels like the people who run the Pentagon specialize in undeclared/unwon wars. The DOD brand has been wrecked.
Understandable why young people and their parents and grandparents would take a dim view on all this.
School children are taught about a free enterprise system. They grow up to find out that the federal government will tell them what kind of shower head they must install in the bathroom, and what type of gas can they must buy for their lawn mower.
Did hostile forces in distant lands attempt to replace US consumer demand with government demand and end the free enterprise system?
Several news sources published this quote. View them here.
The idea that sending hometown troops to Africa would be linked in any way with keeping the people of Salisbury Maryland safe and free calls for more discussion.
Mayor Day,
While the troops were deployed, federal law was signed prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to adults age 18-20.
Can you help us to understand the militarized version of freedom here?
