Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

December 21, 2004

We Are The ’80’s!

Filed under: International — Bunker @ 7:30 am

Ed Driscoll writes about the release of a “Live Aid” DVD, and the philosophy of help put forth–endlessly–by the left.

The Who performed their ’70s anthem, “We Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The Boomer and MTV generations frequently forget how often they get fooled again.

While Live Aid was spectacular television, it was just another in a series of Big Events from people who believed that throwing money at a problem eventually solves it. Eerily, it forecast how the left would interact with Iraq: Substitute Mengistu for Saddam Hussein and it’s amazing how all the rest of the players stay the same–the BBC, the United Nations, and celebrities who believe that despots can be reasoned with to do the right thing. We won’t get fooled again? Of course you will.

I spent some time in Mengitsu’s Ethiopia. The famine was simply a weapon of mass destruction, the oldest and most often used. Money and food sent to Ethiopia had to go through his hands, and he wasn’t going to let his enemies receive any of it.

Kinda like Oil for Food.

December 20, 2004

Rummy Should Stay

Filed under: Government,Military — Bunker @ 6:22 pm

Some people want Donald Rumsfeld gone.

“I’m not a fan of Secretary Rumsfeld,” Lott, R-Mississippi, told the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday morning. “I don’t think he listens enough to his uniformed officers.”

Lott added his voice to that of John McCain, the Man Who Would Be King. Paulie, et al, talked about this topic. Nathan Hale thinks it’s time for Rummy to go, too.

I pay attention to Paulie and the gang because they are far closer to the Pentagon action than I am. But I worry that the “uniformed officers” Lott is talking about are senior ones–generals and admirals–at the Pentagon. They are seldom happy about change, and Rumsfeld has been very (dare I say it?) progressive about the form the military should take. My knowledge of junior officer opinion comes second-hand, and they overwhelmingly support Rumsfeld.

If Rumsfeld manages to make it through eight years as SecDef, the military will change. Eight years is a third of the normal military career. It represents some 24,000 new officers graduating from the military academies and assuming leadership positions. Those commissioned second lieutenants or ensigns in 2001 can end up with gold oak leaves in that time. Bureaucracies change slowly, but military line units adapt far more rapidly than ossified headquarters. And the Pentagon houses many relics in uniform or suit and tie.

Personally, I’d like to see him stick it out for both Bush terms. His attitude can certainly bring change, and the young professionals out there can make sure it meets the requirements of line units rather than those of people far removed from operations.

Go on the Attack

Filed under: Government,Society-Culture — Bunker @ 5:48 pm

Today, Neal Boortz had a segment on the dismissal of Christmas from public observance.

Make no mistake. This is not about separation of church and state. This is not about congress not making a law affecting the establishment of religion or the free exercise thereof. This is not about trying not to offend people. This is about punishment. This is about retribution. This is about the red vs. the blue. This is a war being waged by elite leftists against what they perceive to be the great unwashed, the God-crazed inhabitants of the red states; the people who put George Bush back in office for a second term.

Of course, the aegis of all this is “separation of church and state” perceived as something mandated by the Constitution. Let’s refresh our memories a bit, shall we?

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

One of Neal’s callers cited this, once again, emphasizing that only Congress could actually violate this part of the Constitution. I agree, but Neal pointed out that the Fourteenth Amendment is used to extend this constraint to state and local governments.

No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

Okay. Let’s do just that. ACLU–are you in favor of that extension? Do you as an organization believe that the First Amendment should apply to city ordinances as well as federal law? C’mon, ladies and gentlemen…it’s a simple yes or no question.

Good. I knew you would agree. So, I expect the ACLU to now go after every city and state which has laws and ordinances “prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” That includes prohibitions against Christmas trees, carols, and Nativity scenes.

Sure, I’ll hold my breath waiting for that to happen.

December 19, 2004

Background

Filed under: General — Bunker @ 1:45 pm

I wanted to add a little Christmas spirit to the site, and played around with my basic green css, but found some help here:

Web graphics from Castleberry Arts

There are some other very nice seasonal graphics there. You might want to browse on over and take a look.

Coffee

Filed under: General — Bunker @ 1:25 pm

I’m a bit of a coffee fiend. I prefer coffee or milk as my beverage over anything else.

Today I stopped in at the local book store to pick up a final gift or two, and wanted a cup of coffee. You remember those, don’t you? A cup of coffee.

I’ve had coffee around the world, from the tepid “almost” kind in England to the syrupy Central American version–without milk or cream. But all I want is the flavor of coffee. I don’t ruin my coffee with cream or sugar. So I certainly don’t want any other contaminants in it.

“Give me a Grande (I hate saying “Grande”) of coffee.”

“Do you want a Venti for only ten cents more?”

“No. Just a Grande. Of coffee.”

Okay, venti is French for twenty–a twenty-ounce cup. Why not just call them small, medium, and large? Why do we need to interject “Continental Flavor” to the naming conventions? It reminds me of how everything in England had “continental” undertones when the vendor wanted to sound exotic.

“Which kind do you want? We have this, and this, and this, and this.” I didn’t catch all the names. Too exotic for a simple coffee drinker.

“I just want coffee, no flavors but coffee. You have too many choices, and I simply want a cup of coffee.”

The girl behind the counter was obviously flustered, and fixed me a cup without my making a choice. It was apparent that I had upset the entire equilibrium of her universe because I wanted something with a mere two syllables, and no exotic modifiers. “Would you like room for some cream?”

“No. Just coffee.”

I had similar issues in one office I worked in. I took a coffee pot in and told everyone they were welcome to partake. I had one rule–When I went to pour myself some coffee, there had better be enough in the pot to fill my cup. Some offered to help pay for the coffee, but I declined–and reiterated my rule. Someone asked about cream and sugar, and I told them they would have to bring their own. One guy brought in fancy flavored creamers. Girly coffee.

I really have no issue with people who want a walnut derivative, cinnamon sprinkled, whipped cream covered, saccharine-laced substitution for coffee.

I just hate that we’ve turned into a nation where plain old everyday coffee is the exception to the rule.

**** UPDATE ****

Okay, now I find we have a new Homespun Blogger: Coffee Spills. Coincidence or conspiracy?

December 17, 2004

Panel on Media Bias

Filed under: Media — Bunker @ 6:08 am

Last night I went to a panel discussion hosted by Republican Future, a local group of young Republicans. Jim Lago was one of the panelists. Also included were the editor of the local college newspaper, the host of a local political television program (think “Meet the Press”), a Professor of Communications, a business news publisher, and a liberal/progressive radio host. The topic was Media Bias.

The discussion was pretty good, with panelists responding to questions from the hosts, and a couple from the audience. I must say Jim got the best of them all. Probably the best moment for me was my own simple and unwanted intrusion. The liberal television politico talked about the recent restaurant smoking ban imposed by the city council, and was quite proud of his support. He said his support was because he felt children were at risk in restaurants where smoking was allowed, so he wanted to protect the children. He felt conservatives should support it, too. “If you want to protect children before they are born, you should want to protect them after they are born.” I said, “And vice-versa.” A lot of audience heads nodded. He had no response.

The progressive radio host (sorry, I don’t recall his name), made a comment I really wanted to address, but never got the chance. He concluded that conservatives listen to talk radio because they like simple answers, then quoted Mencken about simple answers almost always being wrong. This must be the nuance John Kerry is so attached to.

Perhaps more to come. The progressive has a new radio show beginning in January, and I would love to do some call-in. He offered to have me on the show as well. But his show is on Saturday mornings–about the time I make the turn and tee off on the back nine. Maybe I’ll carry my cell phone.

Saigon

Filed under: Military — Bunker @ 5:49 am

Kev had an interesting sojourn enroute to visit his old haunts. Any time I hear how distraught all Vietnam veterans are about their experience, I think of people like Kev and others I have known who have a tremendous desire to revisit.

Seeing things through older eyes and a different perspective is somehow reassuring.

You guys did good, and you did right. God bless you all. Have a great time.

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