Dann Todd's 'Dain Bramage'^**

The Iraqi Constitutional Election

Glenn Reynolds has all the links one needs.

by Dann 

|

Staging An Event

Apparently there are some folks that are concerned that the soldiers 'practiced' for their teleconference with the President. It doesn't seem like such a big deal to me. I practice what I'm going to say to the heavy hitters all the time.

This soldier, that was a part of the teleconference, doesn't think it's much of big deal either.

Rush had some cogent thoughts on the subject today. The media doesn't seem to mind when it stages an event. For example (and Rush didn't come up with all of these....I've added a few on my own.)

• The NBC story where they rigged a GM truck to explode in order to have a visual that matched their story line. They weren't the first to do such a thing.

• Dan Rather's fabricated story about Mr. Bush's National Guard service

• CNN making "US Go Home" signs for Somalis to wave at their cameras.

• Lots of video and photos from Iraq.

So Mr. Bush's teleconference was prepped by media specialists. So what. We are engaged in a war. And if the only way to get past the media is to stage such events, fine. Especially when the media seems to be working so hard to cheer for the other side.

by Dann 

|

How To Get Moderate Republicans To Vote For Democrats

Rox Populi has posed just that question. My problem is that I'm not a moderate Republican. I am a Libertarian that is occasionally immoderate.

That won't stop me from responding....

• An understanding that we live under a Constitutionally limited republic.

  • Not a democracy.

• Develop a passion of individualism on every issue.

• Understand that the US is the solution far more often than it is the problem.

• Understand that Al Qaida and company has declared war on our nation. Act accordingly. You may want to refer to the histories of FDR and Harry Truman for viable role models on this subject.

• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility. Cut current programs to fund news ones. Surely you can find some waste in the federal budget!

• Demonstrate a willingness to irritate the public sector unions.

• Eschew European style socialism.

• Every American loves Hollywood's movies. We all want to experience New York. That doesn't mean that those places ought to be the inspiration for every federal government initiative.

• Treat the 2nd Amendment like you do the 1st and the 14th.

• Stop trying to prevent people from realizing the consequences of their own bad decisions.

• Repeat after me...."Communism is evil". Repeat as necessary.

The only problem is that Hell would have to freeze over first.

by Dann 

|

Back in Iraq

Michael Yon has become embedded in Iraq....again. He's there to watch the elections. Just the story of becoming an embed is interesting reading.

by Dann 

|

Lebanon

I've posted links to Michael Totten's blog before. He's back in Lebanon reporting on all he see's. Start at the top and just keep reading.

The world is a much broader place than you or I could ever imagine. Thankfully, there are people like Michael that are willing to explore it and report what they find. He finds encouraging news and discouraging news. Sounds like normal in my world, how about yours?

by Dann 

|

No Progress For Our Campaign In Iraq

None whatsoever.

by Dann 

|

Military Humor

Gotta love it.

by Dann 

|

Gunner Palace

There has been at least one documentary made about the war in Iraq. Michael Tucker filmed "Gunner Palace" from late 2003 until early 2004. He was embedded with the Army's 2/3 battalion; the Gunner's. They were living in Uday Hussein's bombed out party palace.

Mr. Tucker does an outstanding job as a documentary film-maker. He records the reality on the ground for that year of hell. You see our American soldiers; warts and all as opposed to CNN's warts and more warts. (As I saw it put elsewhere.)

It is a difficult film to watch if you take too much baggage into it. The anti-war types will be loving some scenes right up until a soldier comes on screen and quietly expresses satisfaction with the job he has to do. The pro-war types will wonder how a soldier can be so hard and so thoughtful all at the same time. Those that have served will see something else entirely.

I found myself remembering what it was like in the service. All the different types of people you served with. The way we were all pulling for a common objective. And the way we all found things to bitch about. The 'suck' was the worst and most gawd-awful place to be....oh how we loved it.

Gunner Palace is about what our soldiers are having to deal with in Iraq. There are high points and there are low points. And there are points that aren't high or low....they are just there. Something to make you think.

You can read more about it here or go to any of these links as well. Roger Ebert has reviewed it and gave it 3.5 stars.

Or you can go rent it and see for yourself. Please do.

by Dann 

|