A.M. Links: President, Congressional Leaders to Meet About Sequester Today, Bradley Manning Says He Leaked Secrets to Start War Debate, F-35 Cleared to Fly After Crack in Engine Found

• 

  White House

  The president will meet with congressional leaders today to talk about the sequester, which is supposed to start kicking in some time today.

• Bradley Manning says he leaked government secrets to start a debate on the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• The Pentagon's fleet of F-35s are cleared to fly again after the engine maker said it was confident it could fix a crack appearing in some engines.
• China claims the U.S. is hacking its military systems.  
• John Kerry says he's going to talk to Turkey's prime minister about the latter calling Zionism a "crime against humanity."
• Mitt Romney sat down for an interview with Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace set to air Sunday. He says he's glad the election's over.
• Girls Gone Wild is filing for bankruptcy.
• SpaceX is preparing for its third launch to the International Space Station. 

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Comments

[Fist of Etiquette]

The president will meet with congressional leaders today to talk about the sequester…

NO SEQUESTRATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.

[Rich]

There is no talk. There is only doo-doo.

/Yoda

[Enough About Palin]

Talk there is not. Only doo-doo there is.

[Just Counterfly]

Sequestration?

We talkin’ ’bout sequestration? Sequestration?

[mnarayan]

I just hope we can pay another bill.

[LTC(ret) John]

+1 Alan Iverson

[wareagle]

and +.5 Jim Mora.

[mnarayan]

I’ve always wished those quotes had been combined into one. Something like

Playoffs? Who’s talking about playoffs? I’m talking about practice. Not a game. Just practice.

Attribute it to Jallen Morverson.

[LTC(ret) John]

Excellent – that would be a classic rant-mashup. Now, if we could get someone to combine Lee Elia’s famous Cub Fan rant and Tommy Lasorda’s post-game “what did I think of Kingman’s performance” rant, we’d have the ultimate.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

You poor Cubs fan.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Speaking of Dave Kingman. Look at that ‘stache!

[LTC(ret) John]

Cubs fan?! TAKE THAT BACK!

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Sox fan, eh? Sorry about that.

[Brett L]

Sox fan, eh? Sorry about that.

Why? Because people living today have seen his team play in a World Series?

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Just sorry I assumed he was a Northsider. I got nothing against the White Sox. Hell, some of my best friends are Sox fans.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

It’s too cold to play any later than September. That’s why you should always end your season then.

[MJGreen]

You’ve all seen this, right?

[wareagle]

and they’re gonna talk about what? Goddammit, they both agreed to it and we all see what a do-nothing thing that it is. Is a 1% reduction in the rate of increase really that serious? Or it is more a reflection of how stupid DC thinks the people are –

[Fist of Etiquette]

They’ll talk about how they’re going to spin the fact that, contrary to their hysterical claims, social and military interests weren’t devastated.

[mad libertarian guy]

They’ll need to explain the lack of dead bodies in the streets and grandmothers not in jail for stealing cat food.

[Ted S.]

The grandmothers not in jail is easy: the sequester closed down the courts, so they couldn’t prosecute the grannies.

[Enough About Palin]

But we had an airtight case.

[Jerryskids]

What do you mean the sequester doesn’t mean anything? It’s only a few hours old and Girls Gone Wild is already bankrupt!

[Pro Libertate]

Can we abort this government during the first sequester?

[Killazontherun]

So long as you see their sonogram first. Just because it doesn’t move much doesn’t mean its dead. It’s just an inherited trait.

[JW]

NO MAKE-WORK JOB, NO PEACE.

[Joe M]

We should call today the first day of the Post-sequester Era, or PSE, for future generations to remember this horrible turning point in our history.

[Just Counterfly]

The austerity!! It burns!! Zee goggles do nothing.

[DJF]

Water will be unbreathable, Air will be undrinkable
Beef will be horsemeat, fish will be unnamable.
Aircraft passengers will be ungropeable
Americans will be undroneable.

[alittlesense]

Don’t forget, dogs and cats living together!

[Bardas Phocas]

The bathwater must be lower by a half an inch — THROW OUT THAT BABY!

[mad libertarian guy]

Half an inch. If we want to compare the federal budget and sequester to a bath, it’s down a few drops at most.

[Just Counterfly]

Just a reminder, it’s Troll-Free-Friday, please participate in all the events!

[db]

I’m not really a joiner.

[mnarayan]

I thought that was thursday?

[LTC(ret) John]

We are expanding it to both.

[Just Counterfly]

I used an Executive Mandate to change it to Friday, since I’m usually a lot busier on Thursday and sometimes can’t make it into the links.

[Palin's Buttplug]

Never heard of you and I have posted here six years.

[Bobarian]

And this is PB’s blog, the rest of us are just here for his amusement.

[mnarayan]

I guess it’s not particularly surprising, then, that in no one has every accused you of being good at basic deductive reasoning in all that time.

[BakedPenguin]

C’mon guys, it;s troll-free Friday, and you both just responded.

[Killazontherun]

Is it fair to call shrike a troll? He is more like the monster that regenerates and comes back no matter what you do. Oh wait, that is a troll. Never mind.

[Enough About Palin]

“Never heard of you and I have posted here six years.”

All the while sucking Michael Moore’s balls.

[Ted S.]

You do realize that both you and db responded to the troll. 😉

[mnarayan]

It’s not Thursday though so it’s fine.

[Restoras]

Fight the good fight!

[Fist of Etiquette]

Bradley Manning says he leaked government secrets to start a debate on the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Breaking a contract with noble intent is still ultimately breaking a contract.

[Just Counterfly]

Who cares, as longa as he’s out in time to take the Broncos to the Superbowl.

[Drake]

But without Brad, we would never have debated those wars!

[Juice]

I posted this downthread, but I’ll repost it here:

If you like that the US military presence in Iraq is almost completely diminished and permanent bases are no longer an option, then you’ve got Bradley Manning partially to thank for that. The Iraq files that were leaked included the attempted coverup of war crimes by US special forces. This information caused a huge popular backlash in Iraq that sparked the decision by the Iraqi govt to not allow criminal immunity for US forces, precipitating the withdrawal. Added: Sure, there were previous war crimes, but these were the straw that broke the camel’s back.

[Jordan]

There’s nothing wrong with breaking an unjust contract. Most of the “secrets” he leaked should not have been secrets.

[wareagle]

doesn’t really matter. No one forced Manning to join the Army. Doing so means you agree to their rules, even teh ones you don’t like.

[MJGreen]

And breaking the contract means life in prison?

There should be some form of punishment, ideally in the form of compensation, for breach of contract. Doesn’t mean any punishment is just.

[Drake]

Sure – and Privates in Army Intelligence are just the ones to decide what information ought to be classified.

[John]

Exactly. Fuck him. He knew better than that. I don’t think he should go to jail for life. But ten years in the can and a DD is about fair.

[Jordan]

Sometimes, yes. I certainly wouldn’t vote to convict him.

[wareagle]

secrets have always been a part of intel and Bradley knew it. He did something wrong and knows it.

[Jordan]

The U.S. government long ago lost any claim to secrecy or loyalty they once had. Fuck them.

[LTC(ret) John]

Then you resign, quit and leave.

If we want people (and politicians) held to oaths of office, we cannot except only those we approve of breaking them, consequence free.

If he really thinks he did right, the penalties he faces will be worth it to him, and whatever cause he was trying to advance.

[Jordan]

Their oath is to the Constitution, not the government.

[LTC(ret) John]

And none of them seems to be adhering to it.

[Jordan]

And none of them seems to be adhering to it

But Bradley Manning was.

[Enough About Palin]

I’ll give him credit for not killing himself like that little hacker pussy whose name I can’t recall.

[StackOfCoins]

I can’t must any sympathy for this argument. The political class regularly breaks common and constitutional law to achieve their (usually evil) ends. Manning betrayed the military to make some of these evils known.

At any rate, he seems at peace with himself and his actions. I wish he could walk but that’s practically a non-possibility.

[sarcasmic]

Gwyneth Paltro says she should have worn a bra.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs…..ments.html
I think she looks fine.

[RBS]

I’d say she should never wear a bra.

[Just Counterfly]

Except when she’s nursing, because that’s nasty. /Cleveland

[Ted S.]

How about the bra, but nothing over it?

[John]

Her tits are nice. But there is something about her face that makes me think of every awful, bitchy female boss I ever had.

[Bobarian]

The only thing wrong with her tits are that they’re attached to a wacko.

[Killazontherun]

Gotta admit, though she is one of those stars who annoys the hell out of me, those cans are well stacked.

[Restoras]

She does have lovely boobies.

[sarcasmic]

Britney Spears is so past her prime.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs…..s-gym.html

[Just Counterfly]

She is getting a little bit long in the everything.

[Rich]

I was always a bit put off by the nose.

[NeonCat]

Never found her sexy or appealing.

[Restoras]

She was always nothing more than a Hooters girls that just so happened to be in the right place at the right time.

[sarcasmic]

Taylor Swift has sex with another dork.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs…..ether.html
Breakup song already in the works.

[bmp1701]

I never understood the supposed appeal of Swift.

Also, LOL at her banging a Ginger Midget.

[tarran]

I don’t think she’s banging him, or vice-versa.

IIRC she is an attention seeking in public and very frigid in private. Which explains the guys getting involved with her and then running away.

[KDN]

She’ll make a great beard.

[Jordan]

Yeah, no kidding. She’s pretty, but not amazingly so. And her songs are pop garbage.

[mad libertarian guy]

I never understood the supposed appeal of Swift.

Because your eyes are clearly dysfunctional.

[Killazontherun]

She’s kind of on the gorgeous side, so what’s there to get?

[Just Counterfly]

If she’s going to sleep with people no one has ever heard of, my name’s in the book. Just sayin’.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

I’ve been reading the book for six years, and I’ve never seen your name.

[Bee Tagger]

Girls Gone Wild is filing for bankruptcy.

The hearings will be on late night weekend CSPAN programming.

[Just Counterfly]

Freaking Union labor ruins everything.

[Brett L]

That dude should’ve know better than anyone that titties want to be free.

[Enough About Palin]

http://www.dailymotion.com/vid…..TDIl6Lqm8A

[Drax the Destroyer]

And the internet destroys another, once great, company. WHEN WILL THEY REGULATE THE INTERNET? WHEN!??!?! WHEN WILL THEY PROTECT THE MOM AND POP PORNOGRAPHERS?!!!

[sarcasmic]

Paula Deen is still creepy as ever.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs…..-loss.html
John would fuck her.

[Rich]

‘That loose skin has to go somewhere!’

Right on! Fry it up with some grits, y’all!

[db]

*retch*

[T]

Well played, Rich. Disgusting, but well played.

[Enough About Palin]

“John would fuck her.”

He’d have to stand in line behind her two boys.

[sarcasmic]

It’s not Tony’s fault that he can’t learn.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sci…..badly.html
Scientists confirm that some people really are just plain stupid.

[Restoras]

It’s a sock. Socks are neither stupid or intelligent – they are just socks and all they crave is responses.

[Fist of Etiquette]

The Pentagon’s fleet of F-35s are cleared to fly again…

But their F-150’s are still in the shop.

[Just Counterfly]

Aha, so that’s what that noise was this morning. The entire CHICOM Air Force doing a 180 over the Pacific to head home.

[DJF]

They were terrified of a fighter that has yet to fire a gun or shoot a missile.

But don’t worry the Pentagon has already started to receive “production versions” of the F35 so I am betting that they will eventually get it to actually fire a weapon.

[Brett L]

so I am betting that they will eventually get it to actually fire a weapon.

“Sir, as long as we leave it hooked to the external generator, we have enough power to open the gun bay, deploy the cannon, and fire the weapon. However, when we try to start the engine it breaks. So. If you could get the enemy to come to us…”

[LTC(ret) John]

Maybe they should use Boeing Dreamliners?

[Just Counterfly]

Just think how many missiles you could cram into one of those.

[Brett L]

Was reading an article about Boeing trying to sell the F-18 Superhornet to the Canadians as a viable alternative to the F-35. Only, you know, the Superhornet really works.

[Francisco d Anconia]

Sigh.

[Fatty Bolger]

Hell, we’re still buying them ourselves. The F-35 may still be the future, but that future seems to be moving farther away, not getting closer.

[Francisco d Anconia]

I am unable to defend the acquisition process. It is dictated by Congress. It is the most messed up system on the face of the planet.

HOWEVER, these problems with the F-35 are trivial. ALL new aircraft have bugs. They will be worked out. For the love of god, it is still in flight test. Condemning this jet at this point would be the height of stupidity. You will have wasted the hundreds of billions already spent on development AND THEN be required to start from scratch (spending countless more billions).

So, should we fix the bugs for millions or start over for billions?

[Restoras]

So, should we fix the bugs for millions or start over for billions?

The money we’ve spent is a sunk cost and should in no way should enter into any calculation of the future of the program.

[Francisco d Anconia]

The money we’ve spent is a sunk cost and should in no way should enter into any calculation of the future of the program.

That only works when you have the luxury of walking away. In this case it means you need to start over. And wait another 20 years for the new product. You spend the money twice before getting a ROI.

[Restoras]

I understand your point but if the thing isn’t going to work (not saying it isn’t) wouldn’t it be better to stick with the Super Hornet until the technology the military wants works better? It’s not like we’re likely to be invovled in any kind of war in the near or middle future that will require the F-35 for us to win/survive.

I also realize that the concept of sunk cost is utterly lost on everything related to government.

[Francisco d Anconia]

wouldn’t it be better to stick with the Super Hornet

That would mean the potential of having to fight 5th generation technology with 1970s technology. It is unsurvivable. The new shit is truly THAT MUCH BETTER.

Remember, you wouldn’t see a replacement for 20 years. The Russians and Chinese have systems that are near parity with our 5th gen shit now. In 20 years time they will have improved over even that. And they will sell them. God knows who could have the shit before we could field something able to compete.

And the real threat is not other fighters. It’s the Surface to Air missile technology. Out 4th Gen equipment cannot survive in such an environment. The F-22/35 were designed just because of the proliferation of double digit SAMs. Nasty, nasty shit! They are cheap, easily deportable, mobile and they NEVER miss.

These are some of the reasons you need to be the player developing the newest toys. It’s not because they are cool and we want to play Buck Rogers. It’s because without them (if the bad guy has them) you WILL get your clock cleaned.

[Restoras]

Fair points.

I guess my issue is with our current fiscal/financial condition in general. My thought being that if we don’t address the fact that we are currently broke it won’t matter how great our military technology is in the future becasue we simply will not have any money to fight an actual full-blown war with.

As I see things now, it is inevitable that China will have complete hegemony in Asia within the next 15-20 years. Europe will devovle into its tradition of killing each other every generation or so with Russia possibly looking to establish its own hegemony in the region, though this is far less likely than the Chinese in Asia owing to Russia’s own demogrpahic problems.

So this leaves us staring at the teeth of a fully armed and likely agressive China that we do not have the strength to take on, thereby leaving Asia to them, and Europe reverting to its old ways and us without the strength or will to get involved yet again.

Therefore what do we really need the F-35 for? Not saying that we don’t, just suggesting that realistically speaking I am skeptical that it will be the fortune that turns the tide of any future war in our favor.

[Francisco d Anconia]

There is plenty to cut in the military but you must first change the foreign policy. Define the purpose of the military as primarily defensive in nature and then fund it to that level, while preserving the technological advantage.

And then TRADE WITH EVERYBODY. You do not fight those you are dependent on for economic prosperity.

Intimidate none, trade with all.

[Brett L]

Well, except that the F-35 is something like $100B and 6 years overdue. If it were on time and budget, they’d have gone through this in 2007, and I’d have more sympathy for them.

[Francisco d Anconia]

If it were on time and budget, they’d have gone through this in 2007, and I’d have more sympathy for them.

Yep.

The system sucks. It doesn’t allow for inevitable problems arising. While all military contractors game the system and are thereby shitbags, you must give them credit for the following:

They are developing the most advanced piece of machinery ever devised by human hands. It’s brand new technology. It’s not like a new model car where you add a couple of drink holders and change the logo. This is no shit, brand new, state of the art stuff. It takes 20 years to put it all together. Do you think there are going to be a few hiccups in a program like that?

Congress allocates money to the flowed out program. The money is only good for two years. If there is a perturbation in the program and that money doesn’t get spent within its two year time frame, Congress takes it back, requiring the services to completely re-flow their program and re-request the funding.

Oh, but wait, there’s more. You can only request developmental funding every other year…

So, depending on when the hiccup comes in the cycle, a minor problem can cause multi-year delays.

It is fucked up beyond comprehension. And the blame lies firmly in the lap of the United States Congress.

[sarcasmic]

Bartender fired for calling cops on drunk driver.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new…..river.html

[Just Counterfly]

I wasn’t going to click until I hovered and it said “Female bartender”, and then I did click and I was disappointed.

The End.

[Virginian]

You’re tending bar at a Legion post, and you can’t get some of the other guys there to take him home, or to get his keys from him at least? I mean, it’s the Legion. Surely the bonds of brotherhood forged in battle include giving a drunk buddy a ride home.

[Just Counterfly]

You are assuming any of them were legally sober.

[Virginian]

Eh, there’s legally sober and there’s sober enough to drive.

[Just Counterfly]

We’re talking about a Legion post.

[T]

I dunno. I’m a VFW member (and American Legion as well) and you know what I learned from the experience? I didn’t like most of those assholes when I was in the service, and 20 years on, I still don’t like most of them.

[LTC(ret) John]

I departed the Legion (they are not required to be war vets like the VFW) – bunch of Blue Falcons.

[Bee Tagger]

John Kerry says he’s going to talk to Turkey’s prime minister about the latter calling Zionism a “crime against humanity.”

Yeah, Kerry isn’t about to go for that jive Turkey’s been talking.

[Just Counterfly]

Repording for Turkey.

[sarcasmic]

The days when you could board an airplane without having to remove your shoes.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/new…..ravel.html

[Drake]

A retro airline would be so popular. Run the ads in black and white even.

[Ted S.]

A retro airline would be so popular.

Did Pan Am even make it all the way through its one season before getting cancelled?

[Drake]

How does that matter?

[Ted S.]

It wsa a show about a retro airline, and didn’t seem to have any popularity.

[sarcasmic]

I’m thinking it was the five-head.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvs…..-Week.html

[Brett L]

How does she get her face on her head with that thing?

[mad libertarian guy]

No. Because despite sone great looking ass, the show sucked donkey balls.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Let people smoke, slap stewardesses’ asses, and have sex in the bathroom. A new golden age of flight for all (…men).

[Fist of Etiquette]

Girls Gone Wild is filing for bankruptcy.

Yeah, moral bankruptcy. Also, the other kind.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Mitt Romney sat down for an interview with Fox News Sunday’s Chris Wallace set to air Sunday. He says he’s glad the election’s over.

Otherwise he’d still be wasting his time.

[Bee Tagger]

Mitt Romney sat down for an interview with Fox News Sunday’s Chris Wallace set to air Sunday. He says he’s glad the election’s over.

47% of his dogs with wind-swept fur agree.

[Drax the Destroyer]

Well teabagged, you made me spit out my coffee. I hope you are happy.

[SugarFree]

Poor GGW… If a company that seeks success in free t-shirts and the lack of understanding consequences can’t make it America, what hope does the artisanal mayo industry have?

[Palin's Buttplug]

GGW was always a weak second to Dreamgirls anyway (in quality).

[Fist of Etiquette]

SpaceX is preparing for its third launch to the International Space Station.

APPLAUD THE BIG FAT GOVERNMENT CONTRACT EVERYBODY.

[bmp1701]

I’m applauding SpaceX building a launch vehicle with wild and wacky features like a launch-escape system. Also, unlike NASA, they haven’t done impromptu experiments to determine whether a red-hot human skull will punch through the roof of a Texas farmhouse.

[Just Counterfly]

I hate NASA as much as anyone, but come on, if you could get someone to fund a study like that you’d do it.

[KDN]

Nothing wrong with the studies. It’s the live experiments that are a problem.

[Pro Libertate]

Oh, Fist, this is qualitatively different. Give it a little time, and the customers they have will be more diverse.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I stand by my biting remark.

[LTC(ret) John]

You stand by, biting your remark?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Exactly.

[Pro Libertate]

Your error is merely compounded then.

[John]

So anyone else have to dodge planes falling out of the sky and other Somalia like conditions this morning? Anyone else planning to form a gang and become a warlord in our post sequester world?

[SugarFree]

I’ve been wrapping cricket bats with barbed wire all morning.

[John]

I already had my old football shoulder pads fitted with spikes just for this morning.

[SugarFree]

I call dibs on “Toecutter,”

[Bobarian]

I’m installing quad spear guns on a mount in the back of my Ranchero…

Still need to find a fleshy headed mutant to ride around and man the guns.

[Specail Sauce]

Doug: I was a one man force, like Charlton Heston in Omega Man… Did you see it? It’s a beauty.

Doug: Fleshy Headed Mutant are you friendly?

Bob: No eh, like radiation has made me an enemy against civilization.

Doug: Alpha base this is Doug McKenzie, I have spotted a Fleshy Headed Mutant in Sector 16B.

Bob: (Ping pong balls bouncing off his head) Ouch, ouch! Take off you hoser!

[Rich]

If “Talk Like A Pirate Day” is a thing, surely “Dress Like Mad Max Day” should be institutionalized.

[wareagle]

Road Warrior Animal returns.

[PS]

I notice Lord Humungous is conspicuously absent this morning.

There’s been too much talk!

[Just Counterfly]

The wasteland just got a whole lot bigger.

And wastier.

[gaijin]

expanding waistlands…call in the 1st lady!

[RBS]

Our mayor had an aneurysm, does that count?

[Just Counterfly]

Depends, do you live in Hill Vally, CA?

[Fist of Etiquette]

Where is IFH? Being from Down Under, she can tell us what a post-apocalyptic environment such as this will look like.

“Who runs Sequestertown?”

[Just Counterfly]

Holy crap, there are so many parallels I never thought of.

A city run on pig shit.

Bust a deal, spin the wheel.

Two dollars enter, ten dollars leave.

[Brett L]

My breakfast of meat and eggs hasn’t poisoned me yet.

[db]

I’m really glad I took the time mount the twin 1919A4s to my truck last night. The commute was pretty dicey today but I managed to run all the roadblocks built with burned-out buses and Segways and only use about 300 rounds of ammo.

[NoVAHockey]

traffic was extra light.

and i figure we can divide DC between us. you take the maryland side, i’ll take VA.

[John]

Yes. And we can declare Georgetown and open city for slave raiding for coeds by both sides

[NoVAHockey]

done.

[Virginian]

and we’ll flip a coin, and the loser has to take Sandra Fluke.

[John]

Give her to Warty.

[NoVAHockey]

those are harsh terms. but it is harsh world now.

[Virginian]

The Lord of Cleveland shall have She Who Must Have Her Birth Control Paid For.

I lay claim to the Valley of the Shenandoah.

[NoVAHockey]

Lord of Cleveland — that’s the king beyond the wall. you can claim it. can you hold it.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

CLEVLAND IS MINE!!

[John]

The sad fact is that Fluke wouldn’t be the worst looking woman in the world if she ever wiped the constant butt hurt look off of her face.

[Night Elf Mohawk]

It sounds like it’s about to be literal rather than metaphorical.

[Bobarian]

If Warty gets her, it will be constant butt hurt causing that look…

[Bobarian]

THe good news is she won’t have to worry about anyone having to pay for her birth control…

[itsnotmeitsyou]

I’m convinced you can get pregnant from buttsex. How do you explain Tony otherwise?

[Bardas Phocas]

The Mall is a fucking warzone of mutants and mercs!
http://images2.wikia.nocookie……e_Mall.jpg

… so no change yet.

[Killazontherun]

Looks more like they let a OWS group to squat for a week or two than a nuclear weapon explosion.

[Drax the Destroyer]

What about the million non-profit slave girls? Who will be stupid enough to marry them and pay off their underwater basket-weaving degree debts in the world of thunderdome?

[Brett L]

If they look anything like the lobbyists for non-profits, I’m sure they have marketable assets.

[KDN]

That basket weaving expertise will come in handy in a world without industry. Bonus points if the source material is the charred hides of former slaves.

[LTC(ret) John]

If any warlords need an Executive Officer – I am willing to serve, for a small share of the loot, women and booze. Thx.

[Virginian]

You want to play Kif to my Zapp Brannigan?

[db]

“…Lower.”

[Just Counterfly]

Probably more of a Commander Krill to your Captain Adams.

[NowWhatian Boghog]

Tell the boy to lay out my formal shorts.

[LTC(ret) John]

Kind of an Associate Khan to your Genghis.

[VG Zaytsev]

The number of dead kids on the streets this morning is shocking.

Save us Obama, your our only hope.

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

I’m reading Blood Meridian to gird myself against the carnage.

[Warty]

*movie trailer voice* In a world….without punctuation…the living…envy the dead.

[mad libertarian guy]

My eeeeeeeeeeeeevul ASSALT RIFUL starting dancing in anticipation of hitting the streets for a day of wanton destruction and mayhem. It’s been waiting for this day ever since he heard Jessie Jackson proclaim that it could blow up trains.

[robc]

I drove a friend to the airport.

IT WAS SNOWING! IN MARCH! I BLAME THE SEQUESTRATION FOR LACK OF WEATHER CONTROL.

[Longtorso]

An interesting question
…In Los Angeles, as the hunt for another registered Democrat on a killing spree continues, police opened fire on two innocent ladies delivering newspapers from the same kind of truck as the suspect. They seem to have done so without any attempt at identification. They didn’t even shout a warning first.

It seems that those drawn to jobs as the state’s armed enforcers are also among those not to be trusted with weapons. I suggest it’s for the same psychological reasons. As the validated agents of what they see as a superior moral force, they feel justified in their appalling actions, but also sure that if they get it wrong the state will defend them. Reckless and panicky they may be, but having injured two innocents they “protect and serve” they are safe. At least as safe, say, as an NHS mandarin who presided over the deaths of thousands.

Nor is it coincidence that unthinking advocates of statist violence are so consistent in seeking to disarm others. Those others, after all, are people who want weapons for defence against either them, or their beloved state, when they get out of control….

[John]

Young hyped up violent men with weapons are a very dangerous thing. That is why discipline has to be so strict. Forget killing the enemy, it is hard enough just to keep them from killing each other.

Take that dynamic and remove all discipline and accountability and add in a huge sense of entitlement and you get the typical police department.

[The Late P Brooks]

If a defense contractor gets laid off, he’ll go on unemployment. This will increase the deficit!

The more you know…

[LTC(ret) John]

But didn’t N. Pelosi tell us unemployment benefits were a stimulant to the economy? Mmultiplier effect!

[John]

http://thehill.com/blogs/globa…..k-on-syria

Those parts of the Constitution about Congress having the power of war and to spend are so quaint. Such an old document no one understands.

[NeonCat]

From the article:
The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.), said the decision to blindside Congress was unsurprising.

“There’s lots of things they don’t brief us on,” he said. “That’s just kind of way things go. I can’t lose any sleep over that; they’re going to do what they’re going to do.”

I have these weird memories of Congresscritters getting mad at past Executive branch behavior and calling for hearings, heads, blood, etc. Is it all a case of “what does it matter now?”

[Rich]

The 56-year-old project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said he’d done the math and if he were furloughed as expected for one day a week from April to September, he’d lose 20 percent of his pay.

Waste, fraud, or abuse?

[John]

Converting 1/5 to 20% is serious math.

[Brett L]

He’s an ACoE project manager, I’m surprised he got the answer correct.

[LTC(ret) John]

He got that one correct, but tens of thousands of acres of farmland will be unexpectedly flooding due to other errors of his.

[Brett L]

I expected him to underestimate the cost to the American public by a factor of at least 100.

[Drax the Destroyer]

If he can get paid that much less, and still afford his upper middle class lifestyle, why should give a rancid shit? Don’t the proggies want him scraping by like the rest of us?

[db]

Studies show 40% of sick days are taken on Mondays and Friday.

[John]

And half the counties in America have cancer rates above the national mean.

[mnarayan]

The word you’re looking for is median.

[Brett L]

Heh. I had a friend who’s manager came to him after 2.5 years on the job and said, “You need to take a sick day that isn’t on a Monday or a Friday.” And showed him that in his entire career at the company, he’d never been sick on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

[Ted S.]

Get sick the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. 🙂

[Rich]

Sounds like your friend may be prone to the Scotch flu.

[Enough About Palin]

“if he were furloughed as expected for one day a week from April to September, he’d lose 20 percent of his pay.”

Not if it drops him into a lower tax-bracket.

[db]

Seaquester? Nearly Trekked ‘er.

[RG]

Happy sequester day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9NMt42il4Q

[Slammer]

If the king wants to make up for some of the “spending cuts” from sequestration, he can sell some of the mirrors in the White House.

[Joe M]

But how will he know he’s the fairest one of all without them?

[wareagle]

teh press corps minus Woodward will tell him so.

[Killazontherun]

They offered up his charred remains with head bowed asking His Majesty as proof of their own loyalty.

[CampingInYourPark]

“‘Marijuana cannon’ fires pot across border fence”

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/si…..40996.html

[LTC(ret) John]

“Incoming” that nobody would mind!

[CampingInYourPark]

“Spending cuts due to ground Navy’s Blue Angels flying team”

http://www.reuters.com/article…..HO20130301

Oh noooooooooo!

[Drake]

Joe Biden will have to go back to taking the train home instead of a private jet. Government travel will be cut for everyone.

It really is a horror.

[Virginian]

I heard recently that Leon Panetta flies home to California every weekend in a DoD private jet.

[Certified Public Asskicker]

Old news, but yep.

[Drake]

Why not? It’s free.

[LTC(ret) John]

He did – and it cost an arm and a leg. Now we have a near Joe Biden equivalent in the office, I suppose he’ll figure something wasteful he can do too.

[mad libertarian guy]

There was a story this week that showed some congresscritters bemoaning the sequester because they would have to fly commercial. Such selfless servants should never face such challenges.

[CampingInYourPark]

To be fair, I don’t see anyone from congress in that article bemoaning their loss of free flights. Pelosi talking about congressional pay on the other hand….

“House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is speaking out against a cut in congressional pay because she says it will undermine the dignity of their positions. ‘I think we should respect the work we do,’ Pelosi said. ‘I think it’s necessary for us to have the dignity of the job that we have rewarded.'”

http://now.msn.com/nancy-pelos…..ity-of-job

And WTF does “dignity of the job that we have rewarded” mean?

[mad libertarian guy]

And WTF does “dignity of the job that we have rewarded” mean?

Like most anything that comes from the mouth of The Hag, it means absolutely nothing.

[tarran]

Pelosi’s brain was consumed ages ago by an unusually intelligent and malevolent Ceti Eel. It left enough neurons to keep the host animated and providing it with nourishment. It regularly makes mistakes that result in the host emitting word salad, but since nobody reacts untowardly, it concludes these errors pose no danger to it; thus it doesn’t expend much energy avoiding such mistakes.

[Chinny Chin Chin]

Nice alt-text, Ed.

I suppose I really shouldn’t be surprised that the White House stages such insipid and navel-gazing photos, but that one is just startlingly bad. Am I supposed to be proud and inspired by our introspective and thoughtful Daddy-in-Chief?

[generic Brand]

Alt-alt-text:

“I’m big enough, I’m smart enough, and gosh darn-it, people like me.”

[BakedPenguin]

I’m surprised he didn’t demand a mirror on the opposite wall, so that there would be endless Obamas.

[LTC(ret) John]

Its Obamas all the way down.

[Brett L]

Sheriff Joe not tougher than the ground.

A controversial 80-year-old Arizona lawman, who styles himself as America’s toughest sheriff and is known for targeting illegal immigrants, broke his left shoulder on Thursday after taking a spill in downtown Phoenix, authorities said.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio was being treated for the shoulder fracture at a local hospital and will not require surgery, said sheriff’s spokeswoman Lisa Allen. It was not clear if he will remain overnight.

[LTC(ret) John]

Gravity always wins.

[BakedPenguin]

Yep.

[Ted S.]

Maybe he can pick up an iatrogenic infection.

[Palin's Buttplug]

“In revealing pictures the newly anointed Oscar-winning actress is seen clasping a fat roll up in her fingers and a bottle of wine. And in other pictures that have emerged the 22-year-old can clearly be seen taking a draw on the roll up,” the British tab writes.

http://news.softpedia.com/news…..3457.shtml

[generic Brand]

The photos already went viral, according to the article, and yet they are not showing any of them in the article. What the heck?

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

I saw at least one where she was holding it in the same hand as the wine glass.

[generic Brand]

The positioning of her hand suggests it’s probably weed, but it’s a shitty enough quality photo that it could just be a hand-rolled cigarette.

More power to her if she is smoking weed though. Hopefully this doesn’t make soccer moms the country over move to force her to apologize for her influence over their kids because of her Hunger Games role.

On another note, Nikki, I think you’ve said before you really like living in Chicago. I might be moving there in the fall; I’m torn because I’m so unsure about the cost of living. Could you shed any light on how expensive or inexpensive it would be to live in or withing a 30 min commute of downtown?

[mad libertarian guy]

Fucking expensive.

[generic Brand]

Haha it’s funny you should say that, because the other school I’m really considering is UK, so I’d be right in your neck of the woods I think.

I posted some questions before and appreciate the input you gave. Thanks again!

[mad libertarian guy]

Haha it’s funny you should say that, because the other school I’m really considering is UK[.]

Not nearly as expensive. And a whole lot more liberty friendly. We still have some stupid shit like dry counties, but we also sent Rand Paul and Massie to DC, so that’s a plus.

We’ve a long way to go, but it seems to me that KY is a breeding ground for those who are interested in liberty.

If you make it here, let me know.

[robc]

Plus, unlike Illinois, guns arent a problem. The state con guarantees the right to open carry.

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

We might have only concealed, not open, but this WILL be the reality in IL very soon now.

[Bobarian]

And is a “shall issue” state for CCW.

[Shine on, Nikki Diamond]

Well, depends what you think is expensive and what size place you’re getting and all sorts of things like that, of course. 30 min commute (train/bus) of downtown opens up a huge number of possibilities. You could do a 1br starting around $500/month, I’d say (that’s the low end, obv). I know people sharing 2br for around $700/month (total, again, low end). In my neighborhood, which is about that far from downtown but close to the lake (not fancy, but nicer and more expensive) that would be more like $700 and $1200, respectively. Feel free to email with details about what size and what type of neighborhood you are into and I can give you quite a bit of direction.

[AuH2O]

So, when will we all grow up and remember that smoking marijuana is actually one of the least shocking actions for an adult in their 20s?

[itsnotmeitsyou]

That can’t be right. I watched Reefer Madness and it said that it will make me into a violent sociopath. My teachers wouldn’t lie to me, now would they?

[Killazontherun]

Its how she keeps those cheeks so darn cute.

[John]

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/n…..residency/

The nasty brutish and sadly not short imperial presidency.

[Brett L]

I’m would have guessed that the Cheseapeake PD chaplain was a Catholic instead of a Methodist.

Conrad was arrested and charged with Computer Solicitation of a Child Under the age of 15. He is being held in the Chesapeake City jail. The investigation is ongoing, police say.

[John]

Who is so stupid they don’t assume that anyone who admits to being under 15 on the internet is a cop? The last thing kids want to be is kids. No kid who wants to talk to adults would ever admit to being a kid on the internet.

[Brett L]

Well, not me. But my buddy married a girl who played the part on the internet and telephone. She was a civilian employee of FDLE. To fully protect my buddy, I should mention that she looked like a mature adult in person and he did not meet her through her work.

[AuH2O]

Eh, I think that the smart pedophiles are attracted to positions where they get to interact with kids a bunch, and pastor, no matter your denomination, tends to be one of those.

Heck, any smart pedophile today would stay well away from the Catholic church and find someone woman to be his beard as a Protestant minister (or Orthodox or something)

[Brett L]

Its the Tremors, FL edition. Save us Kevin Bacon, you’re our only hope.

A man was missing early Friday after a large sinkhole opened under the bedroom of a house near Tampa and his brother says the man screamed for help before he disappeared.

[Pro Libertate]

Ye gods. Hope the guy is alive down there, somewhere.

Could be pythons, I suppose. The burrowing kind.

[Just Counterfly]

Probably some kind of fire ant/python hybrid.

Billions of them.

[Fluffy]

Thanks for the week of nightmares

[mad libertarian guy]

The very ground is giving way due to the sequester.

[Enough About Palin]

That’s what he gets for not paying his fair share to the collective.

/Acts

[PS]

Broke into the wrong God damn rec room, didn’t ya you bastard!

[$park?]

Sinkholes: the third plague to be visited upon Florida.

[Pro Libertate]

That’s incorrect, as we’ve been plagued by sinkholes for a very long time. There’s a massive and very old one outside of Gainesville.

[LTC(ret) John]

The others are pythons and Quebeckers?

[itsnotmeitsyou]

Pythons and old Ohioans. In this state, when you reach a certain age, they either put you in a home or ship you to Florida.

And yes, I just referred to my fellow Ohioans as a plague… Have you ever been to Ohio?

[John]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/…..comes.html

Incomes drop most in 20 years. Hope, change!!

[Drax the Destroyer]

Let’s not forget the price of my beer has doubled.

[Enough About Palin]

Coffee too. Used to be $10/lb two years ago. Now it’s $16.

[Emmerson Biggins]

There is no inflation! you must be some kind of christfag.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

I paid $7.99/lb. at Sprouts last week.

[sloopyinca]

PoliceOne commentariat laments that federal LEO’s not exempt from sequester cuts.

But it exposes a huge problem when it comes to federal budgets, and likely state and local budgets as well (emphasis mine): Posted by BORDERMAN on Thursday, February 28, 2013 05:37 PM Pacific Report Abuse
We were told that furloughs would be effective April 6th if things stay the same. We would be required to take one day off without pay every two weeks and we will be decertified Administrative Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) and sent home after an 8 hour tour of duty. This amounts to losing about one paycheck a month.

What could possibly go wrong when you give federal employees a blank check that tells then they can work any amount of overtime they want without oversight or budgetary concerns? These guys are getting an extra paycheck a month just based on two furlough days and the amount of overtime they are accumulating? Why am I not surprised?

[Night Elf Mohawk]

…after an 8 hour tour of duty.

Fuck you. Just fuck you.

[mad libertarian guy]

^^THIS^^

[Enough About Palin]

This is why I have said before that if Pigs are the professionals they claim to be, then they should all be salary exempt and not be eligible to earn overtime for any hours they work beyond 40/wk.

[Trespassers W]

after an 8 hour tour of duty

THIS IS WHAT POLICEMEN REALLY BELIEVE.

[Spoonman.]

John and Epi might be on to something about the media suddenly turning on Obama. Jon Stewart shat all over the guy on whatever day’s episode I watched last night (think it was Monday).

[Trespassers W]

This is an example of a new concept that I like to call “the tipping point”. I’m putting together a TED talk right now.

[BigT]

I think we will see them slowly back away from unthinking worship of Obama to mild criticism to more severe criticism, a few reporters at a time. The dyed in the wool faithful (Chrissie Matthews, Rachel Madcow) will go down with the shit, … er ship.

[The Late P Brooks]

I guess I’ll the the mufflers off my Yamaha “cafe racer” and build a scabbard for the trench gun.

[sloopyinca]

Masshole cop takes his child rape on the road.

FTA: Few details were released about the investigation.

Funny that they can release every single detail about the Zimmerman/Martin case (even some made-up ones) but when it comes to giving the details of a rapist cop, they clam up. But we’re let to believe there is no double standard.

[Brett L]

Where the fuck is Haines City?

[sloopyinca]

30 minutes south of Orlando. IOW, a place only a pederast would vacation.

[NeonCat]

Trying to get Sen. Menendez to visit?

[SugarFree]

Just north of Taintsville.

[LTC(ret) John]

*begins polite applause*

[Brett L]

Isn’t Taintsville really Pascagoula, MS?

[Isaac Bartram]

No, Taintsville is in Seminole County northeast of Orlando.

That would put Haines City southwest of Taintsville.

[The Late P Brooks]

you give federal employees a blank check that tells then they can work any amount of overtime they want without oversight or budgetary concerns? These guys are getting an extra paycheck a month just based on two furlough days and the amount of overtime they are accumulating?

Fucking budgets- how do they work?

[Just Counterfly]

Just think of how terrible a shape the country would be in if those public servants hadn’t sacrificed all their time to do more work!

[mad libertarian guy]

But the feds don’t have a budget. They haven’t had one in 4 fucking years.

[sloopyinca]

Police officer brandishes weapon and later seeks out individual to intimidate him, but will not face charges after internal investigation results in termination.

FTA: At the time, Mayor A C Wharton promised the situation would be dealt with “severely” and “promptly” if the accusations proved true. Wharton’s comments were issued near the end of a year in which more than 20 police officers were arrested for various offenses.

Sorry, but if a “civilian” had done the same to a police officer would he not have been charged? And while 20 cops arrested in a year may be high, my guess is it’s only because those 20 were sloppy.

[Fluffy]

The thing about Girls Gone Wild is that it normalized drunk girls taking off their tops in bars and on the street, and also normalized drunk girls making out with each other to entertain onlookers.

I’m not saying it didn’t exist before, but GGW definitely took it from a “this happened once on Spring Break holy cow what a great story” to “yeah that happens ten times every weekend at every bar in America”.

So I really think we owe these guys a debt of gratitude and a plaque somewhere. And I say that as someone who is too old to reap the benefits. So I’m not being selfish here; I honor and celebrate what GGW did for guys younger than me.

[John]

How was the founder dumb enough to libel the Wynn Corporation? How do you go from being a millionaire making videos of drunk girls taking off their tops to libeling a casino?

[lap83]

How is being one type of sleazebag so diametrically opposed to being another type?

[wareagle]

how exactly is owning a casino that people voluntarily patronize, that employs a hell of a lot of people, and that pays no small tax bill indicative of sleazebag?

[lap83]

I wasn’t calling Wynn a sleazebag.

[lap83]

I guess the way I phrased it was confusing. I meant that if you’re sleazy in one area of your life you’re likely to be sleazy in another.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Reading comprehension fail. Lap83 meant how is being a pornographer so different from being a liar. Both sleazebag traits. One person.

[Bobarian]

What’s wrong with being a pornographer?

And being a liar doesn’t seem to hurt any of the sequeter stars.

[EDG reppin' LBC]

I was just clarifying lap83’s point. I got no moral objection to pornography/pornographers. Liars are rotten, but it is their problem, not mine.

[generic Brand]

But they also failed to stay relevant once the internet developed to faster than 56k modems. Why spend money on a DVD of women taking their tops off when you can download an entire homage to amateur porn?

But I do agree that they were awesome up until the point internet got as fast as it is now.

[John]

Even if it only lasted a few years, that clown managed to make himself the greatest job ever; going around to bars, drinking and getting young women to take off their tops.

[Fluffy]

And the job got better as time went on, because I bet at first it actually required some work but after a while all he had to do was show up with the camera crew and the fish jumped into the boat.

[BigT]

It’s probably still a great gig. After all, how many girls will know that GGW is bankrupt? Just go in some bar with a camera and a GGW logo shirt looking all official and you might be amazed at what happens.

[The Late P Brooks]

if a “civilian” had done the same to a police officer would he not have been charged?

File charges against a corpse? Why not?

[Bobarian]

Sure, because then you can hold the family fiscally liable.

[sloopyinca]

Are people suspected of stealing $13,000 typically allowed to surrender at their leisure? They are when they’re a Philly-area cop accused of stealing the money from a Little League.

[Just Counterfly]

The real question is how the hell a Little League gets $13,000 in the first place. That’s a lot of sno-cones.

[Virginian]

Eh, if you steal 300 dollars from a liquor store, they’ll break down your door and arrest you.

If you steal 30,000 from your companies retirement accounts, you get to meet with the police behind a phalanx of lawyers.

[Juice]

Fif

[sloopyinca]

Houston Police Officer comes up with creative way to get laid.

Sorry, but is “official oppression” the right charge here? One would think extortion, official misconduct, firearm enhancers and myriad other charges would be appropriate. Meh, he’ll plea down to reckless driving, take his union-contract mandated PTSD Awareness Class and be back on the job in time for Memorial Day.

[Matrix]

DePaul punishes student for naming vandals

[generic Brand]

Damn, DePaul was one of the schools I was seriously considering for this fall.

[Matrix]

Man living in the woods is being bullied by local government for having a house not up to code

[Warty]

Of all the petty outrages I’ve read about this morning, this is the most outrageous. This is what people used to get tarred and feathered over.

“This is supposed to be the land of the free. Government is supposed to help people, protect their individual liberties and freedom — that’s not what’s happening here,” said Conway.

Awwww. Now I’m sad.

[Virginian]

http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle199…..26-09.html

[sarcasmic]

That’s depressing.

[Matrix]

Spontaneous human combustion in Oklahoma

[PS]

http://theness.com/neurologica…..tion-case/

It’s actually not difficult to rule out spontaneous human combustion (SHC) ? you can rule it out because SHC does not exist. The notion of SHC is that some process occurs in the body that causes it to heat to the point of spontaneous ignition, without an external ignition source. There simply is no known process by which this could occur.

This is not a trivial objection. While it is, of course, impossible to completely rule out the unknown, the laws of physics can make something so improbable that we can comfortably treat it as if it were impossible. At the very least the burden of proof should be extremely high ? not so high that if the phenomenon were genuine we could not demonstrate it, but high enough to rule out other, even unlikely, causes.

[Bardas Phocas]

Authorities say the man had a history of heavy drinking and smoking.

Unique death – not spontaneous combustion. Deeply uncounsious from drink, or even dead and a smoldering combutions from a cig. It slowly burns the fat, like a candle, and burns the body up.

[tarran]

Deeply uncounsious from drink, or even dead and a smoldering combutions from a cig. It slowly burns the fat, like a candle, and burns the body up.

This has happened in the past. I have a book at home written by a forensic pathologist, and he had some pretty gruesome pictures of two cases, one of them taken by fire fighters called to the scene of the burning body.

The slow fire is remarkably thorough and gives the impression that there must have been a fast, energetic combustion. But it’s the slow smolder that does the job.

[Joe M]

Good, the slow flame penetrates. But, look down. We’d have joined each other in death.

[Rabban]

All DUNE on H&R. But why does it beat out Star Wars or Star Trek for the number of references here? I chalk it up to being more of an outsider cult film.

[BakedPenguin]

“It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes.”

[itsnotmeitsyou]

[sloopyinca]

Looks like the Irwindale Police Department might have a problem controlling their officers.

But the kicker is this (FTA): “We took this matter very seriously,” Smith said. “As soon as the allegation was brought to our attention, the employee of concern was placed on administrative leave and we immediately launched an administrative investigation.

“We’ve concluded that investigation. The person is no longer with this agency,” he said. But Smith and other officials declined to reveal the findings of the internal probe or say whether the sergeant was terminated, again citing privacy laws.

Now, they also disclose that two other officers have been accused of criminal misconduct and are under investigation, but they cannot release any information about those cases, citing privacy concerns. Meanwhile, they will release every possible damning detail of a case against a civilian in hopes of ginning up public sentiment.

Sorry, but all government employees under investigation should fall under FOIA, and all details should have to be released on demand.

[sloopyinca]

I wonder if the judge that accused two Dallas Police Officers of perjury will be around long enough to testify at their trial administrative (closed-door) hearing?

I wonder if the victim of their setup will be compensated by the officers themselves or the innocent taxpayers?

[lap83]

http://www.businessinsider.com…..upt-2013-2

60% of NBA players and 78% of NFL players file for bankruptcy within 5 years of retirement.

[Matrix]

that’s pretty much the case for most professional sports, I believe.

They think the money is going to keep coming, so they take on massive debt.

Also, they need pursue endorsements and wise investments.

Still most players don’t have multimillion dollar contracts.

[Just Counterfly]

Wow, I would have thought those percentages would be reversed. I guess the extra couple of years of ‘college’ that the NFL enforces don’t really do anything.

Still the numbers in the article are suspect. I mean really they should include only rostered athletes. There’s just no way that 4 out of every 5 regular NFL players go bankrupt like that. Now when you throw in practice squad guys and stringers, who make absolute peanuts relative even to the league minimum rostered guys, that’s what skews it.

I mean when you’re making $30K, and gambling on becoming a starter, and still probably living a ‘pro-athlete lifestyle’, then yeah, you’re gonna be skint.

[Drake]

In the NFL, players know that can be cut (and not paid another dime) at any time.

[Drake]

NBA players seem to make their investment decisions based on episodes of “Cribs”.

[mad libertarian guy]

Still most players don’t have multimillion dollar contracts.

That’s very true.

But in the NFL, the league minimum is nearly a half million per. Practice squad guys get right around $90k per year if they can hang on to a roster spot for a season.

One should be able to do well enough on that.

[Fluffy]

I wish they had included MLB and the NHL.

They’re on the chart, but there are no bankruptcy numbers.

[Josua]

Bradley Manning leaked secrets because he is an immature, narcissistic brat who did not take his job seriously. There’s a lot of that going around today.

[bmp1701]

Hey!

[Fluffy]

My real life identity is pretty spotlessly clean and has all the right paperwork.

I’ve been tempted for a while to learn Arabic or Farsi and find a way to bluff my way into Langely, slowly accumulate as much clearance as possible, and then one day leak everything I can, competely without regard for the consequences.

Sources, methods, guys in the field – fuck it.

If it wasn’t for the fact that my internet trail no doubt makes this impossible in the modern era, I’d consider it. It’s really, really easy for me to appear to be a completely conventional Republican IRL. But the veil of internet anonymity is too easy to pierce these days so I’d never make it through their screening.

[Drake]

If you want to go to Federal prison for a long time, there are much easier ways to get it done.

[Fluffy]

I’m looking for fun not easy.

[Drake]

Learning a couple languages and working for a decade in a government bureaucracy is your idea of fun?

[John]

They would let you in. And once you got there you would realize the truth is a bit more complex than you think it is and you would also decide that federal prison really isn’t such a great idea and you would never leak a single thing. Hell, you would probably end up being a good employee.

[Killazontherun]

Never ascribe to malice what can be explained by good intentions, that’s my motto.

[Juice]

If you like that the US military presence in Iraq is almost completely diminished and permanent bases are no longer an option, then you’ve got Bradley Manning partially to thank for that. The Iraq files that were leaked included the attempted coverup of war crimes by US special forces. This information caused a huge popular backlash in Iraq that sparked the decision by the Iraqi govt to not allow criminal immunity for US forces, precipitating the withdrawal.

[sloopyinca]

The link I posted yesterday from PoliceOne about the open-carrier being confronted by a cop has gone to nearly 300 comments.

Ex 1: Posted by MRV9225 on Thursday, February 28, 2013 07:58 AM Pacific Report Abuse
That’s just great. I take it that he’s a defense attorney, most likely. There usually arrogant and stupid when it comes to common sense. It’s that defiant attitude he had that takes us from condition yellow to red alert. He lucky he didn’t get shot. Most people with common sense are compliant. Just remember quite a few of these active shooters are carrying these guns in the open. I would’ve order him to the ground and disarmed him!

Classy! And: Posted by esu5 on Thursday, February 28, 2013 07:47 AM Pacific Report Abuse
Warrior, if you want to compare a person carrying a gun to a person driving a car go ahead. Personally I think there is a world of difference. Obviously I have my concerns, from the big city standpoint, with OC, and I would look to use whatever tool possible to break some smartasses balls.

It’s not about the constitution or safety. It’s about compliance and obeying orders for these assholes.

[mad libertarian guy]

It’s not about the constitution or safety. It’s about compliance and obeying orders for these assholes.

Much like Jubal Early, it’s why these guys take the job.

[sloopyinca]

The link I posted yesterday from PoliceOne about the open-carrier being confronted by a cop has gone to nearly 300 comments.

Ex 1: Posted by MRV9225 on Thursday, February 28, 2013 07:58 AM Pacific Report Abuse
That’s just great. I take it that he’s a defense attorney, most likely. There usually arrogant and stupid when it comes to common sense. It’s that defiant attitude he had that takes us from condition yellow to red alert. He lucky he didn’t get shot. Most people with common sense are compliant. Just remember quite a few of these active shooters are carrying these guns in the open. I would’ve order him to the ground and disarmed him!

Classy! And: Posted by esu5 on Thursday, February 28, 2013 07:47 AM Pacific Report Abuse
Warrior, if you want to compare a person carrying a gun to a person driving a car go ahead. Personally I think there is a world of difference. Obviously I have my concerns, from the big city standpoint, with OC, and I would look to use whatever tool possible to break some smartasses balls.

It’s not about the constitution or safety. It’s about compliance and obeying orders for these assholes.

[sloopyinca]

Posted by juice7858 on Thursday, February 28, 2013 07:58 AM Pacific Report Abuse
The actions of the person in the case would dictate what the officer can or cannot do. Simply walking down the street is one thing but cues observed by an officer are another. FYI, we did not see the entire video either?..I wonder what all the armchair QB’s on PoliceOne would think if they saw someone like this walking down the street, did not see any reason to contact that person, and then the person walked into a store/business, etc.. a short time later and opened fire. If you think that cannot happen get a clue, this world is changing. We need to be prepared for the worst as bad stuff can happen faster than we can react. I can just imagine the lawsuit in that city by people that saw the officer did nothing. These types of people (making these videos) are real tools and when the hands of law enforcement are tied by laws aimed to protect people’s rights, public order can become highly influenced because of these individual rights. I am all for good citizens owning weapons but people should not do stuff just to invoke or cause police contact, which is exactly what this a$$clown was trying to do. Action is faster than reaction. Stay safe out there guys.

When ignorant dumbasses are given a monopoly on violence, this is the reaction you get from those dumbasses when a “civilian” makes a statement by invoking his rights.

[sloopyinca]

Posted by turnbowkp on Thursday, February 28, 2013 08:29 AM Pacific Report Abuse
In God we Trust, all others we verify. Obviously this guy never heard of reasonable suspicion. The Officer handled this jerk-off pretty well. And you all know very well this guy was looking for a confrontation.
and
Posted by elchorizo on Thursday, February 28, 2013 09:14 AM Pacific Report Abuse
After reading this article and the subsequent comments, I’m glad for two things. That I don’t work in a state that allows open carry, and that I don’t have to work with guys like JColter.

You want to hear something really wild? If I do a traffic stop on a guy who has a CCW, I secure his weapon until the end of the stop. I guess I should start practicing my goosestep now.

Yeah, you should.

[Marshall Gill]

Start practicing?

[Warty]

Audi paintball dueling

[The Late P Brooks]

It’s about compliance and obeying orders for these assholes.

Dominance.

Submission.

Baboons with guns.

[db]

Dominance and Submission

[The Late P Brooks]

I wonder what all the armchair QB’s on PoliceOne would think if they saw someone like this walking down the street, did not see any reason to contact that person, and then the person walked into a store/business, etc.. a short time later and opened fire. If you think that cannot happen get a clue, this world is changing.

Getting trapped in your locker in grade school powerfully shapes your view of the world, I suppose.

[Brett L]

Soo. I was at a bar last night with the gf when a woman I know ran up to us and said she was doing an impromptu bar poll on whether people knew what the 4th Amendment was. It appears that myself and a paramedic were the only non-lawyers who could. Then she started ranting about the importance of the 4A. So I asked her if she was a reasonoid. Nope. Thinks libertarians are weird. Also, since my gf was giving me the “get-me-away-from-the-crazy-lady” look, I had to leave before I had a chance to rant back.

[itsnotmeitsyou]

We are weird. I know I’m new here, but we certainly are not the “norm”, unfortunately.

[mad libertarian guy]

I was at a bar last night with the gf when a woman I know ran up to us and said she was doing an impromptu bar poll on whether people knew what the 4th Amendment was. It appears that myself and a paramedic were the only non-lawyers who could. Then she started ranting about the importance of the 4A [. . .] Thinks libertarians are weird.

So weird that we’re the only ones in a bar full of patrons who know what the 4A is. How daft of us.

[Brett L]

Yes. It vexes my liberal friends to no end that I’m in favor of all the Amendments equally. Well, I feel most strongly about enforcing the 3rd, but the other 26 come right behind it. They can’t quite tell me which of my policies they disagree with, but it makes them very uncomfortable that I don’t want the government to be all powerful, because I don’t trust them not to crush me like a bug when they become all powerful.

[mad libertarian guy]

It vexes all liberals to point out that the BoR is not a buffet.

[NeonCat]

To be fair, could you read the usual/typical (non-troll) comments on Morning/Afternoon links and NOT think libertarians are weird?

[The Late P Brooks]

she started ranting about the importance of the 4A.

Was she naked and disheveled, as if she had just traveled backward in time from some horrifically dystopian future, like 2015?

[Brett L]

No, but I suspect she was male at one time in her past. Seriously.

[NeonCat]

Transsexuals for Freedom would make a great outreach group and/or a good band name.

[Brett L]

Given how few transsexuals there really are, I don’t think they’re going to be the demographic that sweeps libertarians to power.

[NeonCat]

“No drop of rain takes responsibility for the flood.”

Or something like that.

Plus, if you have ever seen a Pride parade, there already aren’t a lot of libertarians but there sure are a lot of Democrats. T for F couldn’t hurt.

[Archduke Pantsfan]

Massive whisky spill at Chivas distillery sends spirits pouring into Scottish sewer

[Josua]

Bradley Manning leaked secrets because he did not take his job seriously and was not mentally fit to handle responsibility. He is essentially well-represented by the hunchback character in the 300.