Boomerdog

Looking at your flag, I can tell you might not understand. This is not an insult directed toward you. If you can tell me who Major John Pitcairn is, then perhaps you'll get some insight as to why we have a Second Amendment.

DON'T Include me in that "...YOU guys would argue about anything" I can assure you I showed considerable restraint before posting. When the "straw man" was offered, that's when I weighed in.

"Special" Ed and the rest of the usual suspects in the liberal lotus land of liberal talk radio are not getting the ratings which translate to advertising fees radios can charge. It's a bottom line thing...Special Ed just doesn't understand...nor does he wish to understand.

OK! OK! Enough already! jcalor, I take no amusement or offense from the picture. It's not a picture I would frame much less put up on the net. The two little girls in the front are holding their pistols in a manner I don't think any gun safety training official would ever recommend. I'm not a gun safety training professional but I've been trained and I fire a lot of guns...I would'nt recommend anyone much less children, hold a pistol of any caliber like that. So what's your stake in all of this? Looking out for the public good? Puhhhleaze spare me and the rest of us! If you're offended, BFD, the Constitution of The United States does not, repeat, DOES NOT, provide any remedies against the offenses to your senses or values so just deal with it. If you're all in a twist about it...come to my DZ, first jump is on me...I'll throw in lunch as well. Sadly, people are at times stupid and do foolish things with tragic consequences. It's a price we pay for a republican democracy where civil liberties and freedom (each day it gets less and less) are still supposed to be the norm if not the law (although I have concerns about that too). Ya wanna make the world a better place...become one less busy body worrying about the concerns of others and put your efforts in yourself and the ones that you love and love you. The aforementioned is a nice way of sayin' STHU! But I didn't say STHU yo you, I just asked politely to please stop being a crusader busybody!

Yup...let us hope!

uh no my friend...you must be referring to the co-pilot. The 747 flies with an INS. Thought I'd point that out...but you are on to something!

Merry Christmas to you! A Happy New Year with many fun jumps in 2014!

You might be right!

The First amendment is not applicable her since A&E is a private enterprise and not government. For all the verbal salvos hurled by both sides, at the end of the day, it will come down to numbers and of course what the Robertsons decide to do. Right now, A&E is getting shelled by the fans of the show. A&E needs the Robertsons more than the Robertsons need A&E. Who blinks first? Stay tuned.

See...there you go...spoiling my fantasy! Is nothing sacred? Gabling in Casablanca?!?!? I'm shocked...shocked I say!

Pull this little dweeb's man card immediately! Permanent lifetime ban!

I've worked with Brianne Thompson from Axis Flight School! She's a very talented instructor! She has my vote and recommendation!

One jump for me was too many...and a few thousand will never be enough...I'm up to 86 closing in on my first 100 jumps and ready to taste that coconut cream pie that's gonna get mashed in my face. To this day, I don't know why I jump. It stated out as a one time AFF gift certificate from my wife; Christmas 2011. All I know is that I have to...I HAVE TO! That one day out of the week at the DZ makes the rest of the week bearable. Is it the weekend yet? At the DZ the people I see and jump with every week are more than friends but they're not (blood kin) family either. Fact is, they're somewhere in between and I have to see them...they're the best group of people I've come to know and associate with!

"Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?" I get that question all the time. My answer is this: Airplanes are not perfect for if they were, we'd never have to perform routine maintenance on them!

Well...that's what's being reported in my neck of the woods. They say first reports are always questionable but what I am hearing has been updates...we shall see!

Breaking news over the radio a few minutes ago. This is a suicide, one shooter wounds self inflicted. Very sad.

Argo....

Under Article 2 Section 2 of the US Constitution, the President may appoint (commission) officers to act in his behalf with the advise and consent of the Senate. All appointed officers both civilian and military serve at the pleasure of the President which means the President may appoint and remove as seen fit. Obviously within the flag officer ranks (generals and admirals), the political factors can be a factor for selection and promotion. So we should not be under any prevention that Obama is doing anything out of the ordinary from past presidents. To the extent that newly promoted flag officers share Obama's view, I don't know. In the worst case, however is that if they are, this could be disturbing. A military officer's oath is to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic. The transitive nature of that oath, however, recognizes the authority of the President as Commander-in-Chief of the military forces. But here again there are limits as all orders that emanate from the President through the military chain of command must be legal and within the scope of both Constitutional authority and all treaties negotiated and ratified by the Senate…the Laws of War established by the Geneva Conventions come to mind. The defense of "I was just following orders" is NOT a legal defense as many defendants at the Nuremberg trails after WWII were found guilty of war crimes with many hanged for "just following orders." The military mirrors civilian life in that the political opinions of military members are as wide and diverse as that of the civilian population they serve but they are required to keep that opinion politely to themselves. Military officers must understand their first loyalty and allegiance. If this LtCol published this paper, I find his position somewhat dubious and on shaky ground. Many of my peers in the retired officer corps I can assure you do not share the viewpoint of this officer.

Well...turning ANY dream into a reality takes effort and when it means that much to someone, they find a way. A goal of this magnitude is a mountain moved ONE ROCK AT A TIME and before you know it, you've moved the mountain. Many have earned their way by learning how to pack parachutes at a DZ. In reading your post, it also sounds like this dream you've had and chased is now looking for you! Either it stays a dream or it becomes real...that choice is yours!

"In this case I am not deliberately being a dick. I really want to know what the proposed alternatives are." I don't think you're being a dick. Your question is asked in good faith but before you can get solutions from the Republicans…you have to remember the political calculus involved here with the added understanding that timing is a critical factor in politics. What I'm about to posit may seem cynical but it's part of how the game is played under our system of government. Why would the Republicans want to tip their hand now? The "Republican Brand" is still in the dumper despite the initial adverse effects the ACA is producing i.e. people either losing their policies or the prices are going through the roof. The thing the Republicans should do right now is NOTHING…let the ACA take full effect and if the projections play out i.e. 50 to 100 million Americans either lose their healthcare OR the price increases, that's when the $#!t and the kitchen sink will hit the fan and no Republican wants to be in the track of what is about to hit the Democrats. If the Republicans propose anything now, it takes the focus off of the debacle that is the ACA and gives the Democrats something to hang around the Republicans neck. With one law and opposing proposal in play, a debate results when the real strategy should be to let the Democrats hang and twist in the wind. Or to use another analogy…when your adversary is digging themselves into a hole, don't give them a shovel to let them get out. In fact, DO NOTHING…just let em' keep digging. Even if the Senate flips to Republican control and the House stays in Republican control, it now becomes a numbers game…the number to override a presidential veto. The Constitution requires 2/3 of the Senate and House voting separately on the vetoed bill for the bill to become law. Obama has said that as long as he's President, the ACA will stay as the law. For the ACA to be repealed therefore, you need a House and Senate that are both in opposition and veto proof. By my count, that means in the 2014 elections, the Republicans will have to increase their seats in the House and Senate to 292 Representatives and 67 Senators. Possible yes but quite a reach. if it were to happen, it would be a major political earthquake. But for the best chance of it to happen, the full pain and resulting electorate fury of the ACA just might to take effect. If Boehner and McConnell are smart, they say little and propose nothing. Maybe after the pain of the ACA is inflicted to a degree that the electorate has had enough of Obamacare, then and only then will the Republican counterproposals get a listening audience.

Went to the Thanksgiving Boogie. Triangle is not my home DZ. The wonderful ladies in Manifest had all the paperwork ready and our gear was checked in minimal time. The DZO greeted us and it was a pleasure to make his acquaintance. During the Boogie, student and tandem jumpers got their jumps in along with the fun jumpers. Videographers and photographers were always available to take videos/pictures. Ops tempo was great as jumpers had sufficient time to pack and manifest for the next load. Jump organizers were engaged organizing formation jumps. The Thanksgiving Dinner was a real treat and of all the Thanksgivings I've enjoyed, a Thanksgiving Boogie is its own chapter. This is an outstanding DZ! I hope to be back very soon!

Do the same if that little voice inside your head intuits, "things just don't look right here!"

So by your own admission. You voted for a scumbag? Waste your vote?

***Was Cuccinelli a mmoderate? No! Was McAuliffe a moderate?

Don't answer a question with a question.