Alleged US spy crucified in Yemen

[tw]

Originally Posted by Griff

...and it continues to be the law of the land because disavowing accumulated power is not within our President's capacity.

You remain the few who complain. Your gripe is admirable. But appreciate how many are so brainwashed as to wait for Limbaugh, et al to tell them how to think. Extremists do not want our privacy rights restored. I believe Scalia even doubted the constitution grants any right of privacy. Few to none in the Cellar or America complain about the Patriot Act.

Why would Obama start another fight (over privacy rights) when we know exactly what the Republican agenda is. A meeting was organized by Luntz the night of Obama's first inauguration. Attended by every major Republican power broker of that time including Ryan, Cantor, DeMint, Kyl, Coburn, and McCarthy. Their decision four years ago was to obstruct everything. Even a large minority of Obama's appointments were held up by secret holds. Even forcing Nobel laurets to withdraw their names. During the Healthcare debate, they even got the public to openly express racial slurs. Because these Republicans are very good at rallying into tirades many adults who are still children.

Why should Obama rescind the Patriot Act? It would only become another excuse to provoke a beehive of tea party wackos? Obama must pick his battles with a House that was elected on principles defined by Limbaugh. "We want America to fail so that Obama will fail". You can read that brainwashing even in some Cellar contributors.

No reason to rescind the Patriot Act when so few to almost none are as concerned. Why would Obama pick another fight with a tea party (anti-American) dominated Congress? That makes no sense. He has more pressing issues.

You are right to be concerned with the Patriot Act. Your complaint results in so little encouragement even in the Cellar.

Try, for example, to get Adak to campaign hard for the elimination of the Patriot Act. A true conservative should want that. Convince him and you have some reason to believe Obama should risk political capital. Currently, many other more pressing issues need attention. Conservatives who should most be concerned with privacy do not want the Patriot Act rescinded. It is their proud creation.

Be it Mission Accomplished, tax cut to the wealthy to create recessions, protecting major communications companies (Comcast, Verizon) at the expense of America’s internet and public interest, destruction of science, basic research and innovation, and even attacking American allies as socialist liberals. Let's be quite clear about this. These wackos all but subverted American efforts to get bin Laden. Because keeping the bogeyman alive was good for their politics.

Obama can only do so much. Too many others problems need more attention. Too few in the public care about the Patriot Act. How many besided you have expressed that quite obvious concern?

[classicman]

There are plenty of us.

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by tw

... Why should Obama rescind the Patriot Act? It would only become another excuse to provoke a beehive of tea party wackos? Obama must pick his battles...

... No reason to rescind the Patriot Act when so few to almost none are as concerned. Why would Obama pick another fight with a tea party (anti-American) dominated Congress? That makes no sense. He has more pressing issues. ...

... Obama can only do so much. Too many others problems need more attention. Too few in the public care about the Patriot Act. ...

[IMHO] Barack Obama, like other Presidents before him, is enough of a politician that he wouldn't diminish the power of the Presidency by relinquishing authority the position has already acquired. Advancing other rationales, no matter how many times you repeat them, is playing second fiddle. [/IMHO]

[Big Sarge]

Originally Posted by regular.joe

Over half of my career in the Army, I've been at the leading edge of our most recent wars. I've been to Iraq 3 times, Pakistan, Jordan, and am on my way to Afghanistan around August.

Speaking just for myself, I am in line right behind Griff, I hope they wait till I retire in 1 year and 347 days. I'm getting way to old for this shit.

How many years do you have in? I'll hit 26 years in Sep with 10 of it on Active. It's a struggle for me to hang in with these young kids. Now that the conflicts are downsizing, they are pushing more & more of us out the door

[sexobon]

RIF - I would have stayed longer; but, peace broke out.

[regular.joe]

Bout 22 years all active duty. Looks right now like I'll have bout 24-25 in when I retire.

[Big Sarge]

E8 or E9 with 25 years for retirement? Damn. You are going to really be banking some serious money. Then you can become a military contractor....

[regular.joe]

Nope, I'm done and moving on to something completely different. I don't think I can be an implementer of our nations foreign policy in any way, shape, or form anymore. I'll do a good job between now and then, follow the orders of those appointed over me, uphold the traditions of the Army. They got me for as long as I promised to stay, then they can go fuck themselves. Contractor? It would take an act of God.

[sexobon]

I made that decision at 12 years TIS. It would have been a couple years sooner if I could have terminated my final 4 year reenlistment contract early. I made SFC at 7 years (TIS) and it wasn't until I was an E-7 over 5 (TIG) that I was first eligible for promotion to E-8 in the primary zone. The wait was just too long for this overachiever who was already filling an E-8 slot and there were too many years left to go until retirement. I decided not to extend to see if I'd get picked up and opted to ETS. Considering what has transpired with the use of our military since then, I haven't regretted it.

I hope you complete your current obligation and retire before unit consolidations, disbandment's and deactivations become widespread. They're no fun. With only 2-3 years left to go; however, the time line is looking good for you. Is there anything you need for your next deployment that they're not providing for you?

[Big Sarge]

sexobon - you were a 12 series, correct?
I'm a 35F under the revamped codes
joe - are you civil affairs?

[regular.joe]

Naw, I think Sexobon was a Long Tabber, he may have started out as an Engineer though. My memory is sketchy though. TBI is a bitch. AND I'm sure he can speak for himself. Yep, I'm a Civil Affairs Bubba. Most of my Army life I was a 12B. Been in CA since 2008. I don't think we are going to be hit by the downsizing. We are one of the very few jobs that are growing. Just activated a new Brigade, granted we are only 29-32 mugs in a Company. Still 55 were looked at on the last E-8 board and 30 were selected. We still have a few years of growth left in the Branch. Some one is going to have to get on the ground in the wild west parts of the world where the security is too sketchy for the State Dept. guys to go. Bridge that gap so to speak.

Intel Analyst is a good job, you should be able to translate that to the civilian sector in a lot of ways. I know you are also in LE, but heck you ain't no spring chicken and must be near being able to retire their as well yea?

[sexobon]

Originally Posted by Big Sarge

sexobon - you were a 12 series, correct? ...

18D (med) cross-trained as 18F (O&I). ASIs: H (instructor), W8 (military free fall a.k.a. HALO), and L (French). Other nice to have had courses: static line Jumpmaster, installation NBC Officer/NCO, and Desert Survival.

[Big Sarge]

I can say F--- It and go home anytime I want since I received my 20 year letter. I can't draw retirement till age 57 (age 60 minus days in combat zone). I struggle to stay in because this is the only thing I have left. I love the comradery and the kidding about me what I did in the Spanish - American War. Our promotion system is under STPA that is filled against a specific vacant slot in your state. If I can pick up a Centcom or Africom tour, I'll have my E8. Our retirement system is based upon your highest pay grade and the total number of points accumulated. You get a point for each day Title 10 or per MUTA on Title 32.

If I can get my E8, I could stay on till age 65 with waivers because I will move to Joint Force HDQS

[BigV]

Originally Posted by regular.joe

Over half of my career in the Army, I've been at the leading edge of our most recent wars. I've been to Iraq 3 times, Pakistan, Jordan, and am on my way to Afghanistan around August.

Speaking just for myself, I am in line right behind Griff, I hope they wait till I retire in 1 year and 347 days. I'm getting way to old for this shit.

noted.