I Beg Your Pardon...

...I never promised you a rose garden...



I wonder how many "White" House jokes we're going to hear over the next 4 years, or who will be the first to refer to it as "The Crib".

On the Chopping Block

The F-22 Raptor may get canned.

On Wednesday, John Young, undersecretary of defense for acquisition, signed off on $50 million as "bridge" funds to build four additional F-22s.

That will be enough to purchase key parts to keep the production line operating until the new administration under Barack Obama can review the defense budget and decide whether to include F-22 funding in the 2010 budget.

For the record, the Air Force has said it needs 381 of these awesome war birds.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Deputy Secretary Gordon England remain unconvinced, saying the Pentagon should ramp up procurement for the F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter rather than buying more F-22s.

That kind of either/or scenario could best be described as penny-wise but pound-foolish. The United States needs both.

Given that the DoD of the current administration is less than enthusiastic about the Raptor, I doubt that the coming Obamastration(tm) will change this course.

Here's more on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

JSF is a joint, multinational acquisition program for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, and eight cooperative international partners. Expected to be the largest military aircraft procurement ever, the stealth, supersonic F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) will replace a wide range of aging fighter and strike aircraft for the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and allied defense forces worldwide. The program’s hallmark is affordability achieved through a high degree of aircraft commonality among three variants: conventional takeoff/landing (CTOL), carrier variant (CV) and short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft. Innovative concepts and advanced technologies will significantly reduce weapon system life-cycle costs while meeting the strike weapon system requirements of military customers. Procurement is planned to continue through 2026 and possibly beyond. JSF aircraft may well stay in service until 2060 or longer.

Yeah, like the first article stated, it shouldn't have to be an "either/or" choice, and it wouldn't have to be - if we hadn't pissed away so much money on other...endeavors.

Hat-tip: Don

This Is What I Really Meant...

...when I wrote about the end of racism in America. Tom Adkins has elaborated a bit more than I did. Here's a sample:

Congressional Black Caucus? Irrelevant. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D., Calif.)? Shut up. ACORN? Outlawed. Black Panthers? Go home and pet your kitty. Black separatists? Find another nation that offers better dreams. To those Eurosnots who forged careers hating America? I'm still waiting for the first black French president.

No more quotas. No more handouts. No more complaining that "the man" is keeping you down. "The man" is now black.

Read the entire article.

Thoughts for the Day

The roundest knight at King Arthur's round table was Sir Cumference. He acquired his size from too much pi.

I thought I saw an eye doctor on an Alaskan island, but it turned out to be an optical Aleutian.

Hat-tip: Don

Global Warming - Topless Beach Edition

Auto Erotica: Must See Video!

...if you're a gearhead/petrolhead, that is.

If this guy isn't moonlighting as a Hollywood stunt driver, he should be!

Hat-tip: Don

Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign

Global Warming

Veterans' Day

To all the vets out there, this former Marine thanks you for your service.

Semper Fi.

These are pictures of Lt. General Harold G. "Hal" Moore (Ret.). He was portrayed by Mel Gibson in the film "We Were Soldiers." The first two show him in the rank of colonel during his Air Cav days in the Vietnam War. Hal Moore was a real "lead from the front" commander.


That's a battle-hardened face. Doesn't look like the kind of guy to take any shit.







PS - Real life took precedence yesterday, and I could not get around to wishing a Happy Birthday to the United States Marine Corps. May Chesty Puller have mercy on my soul.

I did, however, call my dad, also a former Marine, whose birthday is also Nov. 10. He turned 65 and is doing well, having had a quadruple by-pass and a gallbladder removal in the last two years.

Caveat Emptor

I heard about a guy who bought a blow-up doll on Ebay.

This is what he got.

Marketing Issues?

Global Warming

The End of Racism in America

Today marks the dawn of a new era. America has never been perfect, but it has always sought to make itself better and try to correct its mistakes in the process. We have reached yet another milestone with the election of the first true African-American - Barack Obama - to the highest office in the land, President of the United States of America. Against great doubt and odds, President Obama has achieved what few seek to achieve and fewer still ever achieve.

With this accomplishment President Barack Obama has proven that race is no longer relevant in America. Indeed, he has an obligation to make that point very clear in the next four years.

I think President Obama should release a statement, something like this:

Race should not, cannot, be used ever again as an excuse for underachievement, entitlement, affirmative action or a reason for any other form of special treatment or endowment of special rights. I have made it, and you can, too - if you're willing to work hard to get there.

Turning lemons into lemonade. A silver lining in every cloud.

It's Over

photo: Anne Ryan, USA TODAY


Yep, President Obama - get used to hearing that.

I really hope that everybody who voted for him gets what they have coming to them.

The next four years are going to be...hmmm.....interesting.