The Weekly Poll
Results
This week's poll:
Unisex Selective Service Registration
Senator Barack Obama has gone on record that females aged 18-25 be required to register with the Selective Service as males in that age group are required by law to do.
He also is in favor of opening up all 'Combat Arms' positions that women are not currently not allowed to participate in...
Candidates differ on female draft
Are you in favor or opposed to these positions?
Hey there, Poll-fans! This week's topic sure raised some hackles and elicited some emotional responses both pro and con (and ambiguous)...
On the Pro side...
Sherpa with 2 words, "Gender equality."
Adam in NoHo stated, "If protecting 'the little ladies' keeps us from invading Iran- I'm all
for it. Selective Service should be mandatory for EVERYONE 18-25, regardless of
sex and political connections." And then asks, "Doesn't The Israeli army mandate actual service for ALL it's citizens?"...
lbradway wrote on the 'Combat' issue... "...I don't see any reason women shouldn't be allowed in "combat" positions, enough women are being killed and maimed anyway in "support" positions. (Or "civilian" positions.) Women are different from men, so I don't think they should be forced into combat positions; it should be treated like submarine service in the Navy. Not suitable for everyone."
And he also said, "The last time I checked the Selective Service bill or bills sitting in congress applied to both men and women."
(I don't think so. Here's a link to pending bills concerning the SSS with one to abolish the whole system sponsored by Ron Paul!)
Selective Service System Legislation - Federal Government
Steve Man was semi-Pro with, "Let them serve anywhere, anytime, they want. Not when or where we want."
Con responses...
Sally... "You query: Unisex Selective Service Registration - what do I think?
In fact, and I am sure you will disagree with me here - it just doesn't matter to me. Why? Because I am 100% antiwar (unless directly attacked here, in the USA)!
As I would not let my own son register, I would not want a daughter to register either. I have spent a lifetime living, and reading about all of the, "Wars" in which the US has become involved - directly, or from behind the scenes. This includes our arming various gorilla groups, despot governments (when we think the militants will better serve our interests) and the out and out greed and violations of ethics which are astounding in wartime!!
Remember, I fought loud and hard against the war in Vietnam - and that soured me forever on anything military. I witnessed 53 THOUSAND of our boys being slaughtered for NOTHING in that war - and please note, Vietnam is still run by a COMMUNIST government - to spite the sacrifice of these men. (Not even to mention the millions of Vietnamese, Cambodian and Laotian people bombed and slaughtered in the crossfire!) And, many of the slain US soldiers were close friends/classmates of mine (May they RIP!) These fallen soldiers will never be forgotten by me, and remain our best reason for keeping our country strong by protecting our own borders and perfecting the art of peaceful negotiation! Down with the demented shows of, "Military Power" Worldwide!!"
Amen.
Kevin K. from West LA said, "No fucking way should Mothers be put in combat roles. I guess, if others want combat experience more power to them. But, no mothers, no matter what they say or think. I saw an Iraq vet/mother without legs crawling around the floor with her baby on a C-SPAN show. It's a sight I wish I'd never seen."
DanD wrote a piece on females in the military (Warning! Contains language and opinions some may find objectionable)
"Now, this is something that McCain does know about at least a bit, though I'm pretty sure that an old pervert like him would just have loved to have young little female sweeties always available to him if he had to occupy a foxhole --
And Barack H. Obama? While he may be (almost) as smart as a Kennedy, he still ain't no Kennedy. Also, he's never served and knows not at all what military service is really like. Myself? I was Air Force. Before I was "professional" A.F., I was in the amateur "Dependent" league. I spent 17 years "in" the Air Force before I ever enlisted. The capstone of my amateur "career" was when I did my Senior year of high school in Germany. During my time in (and around) the Air Force (especially because my father was a Sr. NCOIC in Special Forces, Combat Control), I quite literally hung out with as many Army and Marine troops as I did any Air Force types.
Now, from my "time before (and beyond) the hangar," there's one thing I can tell you, during anything that even resembles combat operations, a crippled-chromosome GRUNT," especially the infantry type, is just one big, blood-infused, walking penis. As an adrenaline-supercharged walking penis, the non-typical grunt will fuck virtually ANYTHING that presents even a marginally acceptable hole (lubricated or not) to him during anything resembling an occupation theater. Also, to a grunt, fresh blood is a perfectly acceptable lubricant. Not only is this how it is now, but this is also how it has always been, because that's the nature of war. When wars are being fought, it's inevitable, females will get fucked by their male counterparts ... both enemy AND compatriot. Go ahead, ask any honest Marine sergeant, and the less politically correct will tell you toot-sweet, ALL female Marine enlistees are nothing more than fucking relief for the hetero-leaning infantry troops. In the business of mass killing, any time you put males and females together in such high-stress survival situations, YOU WILL have a significant number of the male members more than willing to fuck any females within grasp, whether those females want to or not. The pandemic circumstance of rape currently assaulting the vast majority of American military (and indeed, ALL) females (and oh yes, even young pretty males) in Iraq is just a common example of what has happened during ALL human wars since wars started being fought. The ways infantries are trained (especially in the U.S.) unconditionally guarantees that such a disease of sexual violence will continue unabated, regardless of whatever figleaf rules may be applied to dress this pig up. Now, because the Air Force commonly does not perform infantry duties, forced sexual assault is a bit less common on the flight line. And for the Navy? well, all squids are mostly metro-sexual anyway ... even so, when the fleet sails in, you still better have your titanium virgin's basket on, and this applies to the family pets as well. Again, because war IS nothing more than institutionalized mass-MURDER, wherever males and females are in the same vicinity during a killing event, there will be rape, and the uniform being worn by any female is no guarantee (indeed, it's only a "Potemkin" shield) of protection from such fundamental male impulses. So when your darling little girl comes home from her Jr. year at high school effusively talking about what some bag-hole female recruiter has lied to her about how great military life is, you better re-educate your sweet darlin' much more accurately if you don't want her becoming nothing more than some local battalion's whore. Because the troops WILL use her, if for no other reason but to cut down on the troops over-raping the more local daughter corps."
And finally Michael Dare opined, "He's saying it to prove he's for equality of the sexes, after all if men have to register for the selective service, so should women. It's an automatic knee jerk liberal reaction to an issue that's more complicated than it looks. What if there were mandatory prostate exams for all men? Should women have to do it too? In my case, this is one of those weird questions like "Why are unicorns hollow?" What if you don't even think males should be required to register? If you don't believe in any sort of "selective" service at all, how are you supposed to choose who goes into it? The Jewish version of this question is "When the pharaoh sends his minion to kill all the first born sons, should they be required to kill all the first born daughters too?"
I'm all for mandatory public service. Everyone should have to spend some time doing something for the public good. Some people would choose to sweep the streets, some would choose military service. Only those who choose military service should go into the military service, the point being it's not their choice, it's yours, as to how you can best serve the public good. I don't think Obama said that."
As for myself, I do believe that females should be required to register. Equal rights/equal responsibilities. The 'combat arms' position is a bit more problematic simply because of the physical demands that the infantry, artillery and armor branches require. But, I am certain that there are women who could make the grade and if they demonstrate that they can and they want to go in harm's way, then, so be it...
I want to go on record, though, that I do NOT want to see a draft of anyone. Neither do the 'Brass'. A volunteer, professional military is the way to go. That said, I do believe that a ready 'pool' of potential conscripts is needed for a worse case scenario.
So did the man who reinstated SS registration in 1980 after it was abolished by Gerald Ford in 1975. That would be, by the way, Jimmy Carter...
(note to MD: women don't have prostate glands)
BadtotheboneBob
The New Question
Has there been a particular book or movie that you can say truly changed your life?
Send your response to BadtotheBoneBob (BCEpoll (at) aol.com)
Recommended Reading
from Bruce
Josh Marshall: Race to the Bottom (talkingpointsmemo.com)
If you're thinking to yourself that there's little more than two weeks before election day and Obama has a solid lead in the polls, don't be so sure.
Paul Krugman: The Real Plumbers of Ohio (nytimes.com)
John McCain's strategy, in this final stretch, is based on the belief that Republicans can still pursue plutocratic policies while claiming to be the party of regular guys.
Paul Krugman: A Fateful Election (nybooks.com)
A year ago I thought I knew what would happen in this election: it would be a referendum on conservative economic policies, leading to a big Democratic victory and a fundamental change in the country's direction. Then, for a few agonizing months, it appeared that I might have been completely wrong. But at this point, a little over four weeks before voters go to the polls, I'm back to my original prediction.
Roger Ebert: Don't say "yes" until I'm finished talking (4 stars)
Oliver Stone's "W.," a biography of President Bush, is fascinating. No other word for it. I became absorbed in its story of a poor little rich kid's alcoholic youth and torturous adulthood. This is the tragedy of a victim of the Peter Principle. Wounded by his father's disapproval and preference for his brother Jeb, the movie argues, George W. Bush rose and rose until he was finally powerful enough to stain his family's legacy.
Roger Ebert: Oliver Stone: The XYZs of "W."
Oliver Stone says he believes first lady Laura Bush, secretary of state Condoleeza Rice and presidential advisor Karen Hughes play like "a trinity of Macbeth witches" in the life of George W. Bush," in the sense that they are totally enablers." But Stone's new film "W." leaves that conclusion to the viewer. "The film foregrounds Bush, and everyone else is shown more or less as we already see them," he told me Wednesday in an e-mail exchange.
Roger Ebert: Fishing with Dave
David Letterman played John McCain like a trout. It was a masterful performance, depending on timing. If you counted words, McCain said a lot more than Letterman, who usually interrupts when a guest goes on and on. It wasn't the words. It was the music.
Michael Jensen: "Stepping out with Lance Bass: Our exclusive interview"
The out singer talks about gay causes, Dancing with the Stars, dating as a public figure and much more.
Ross von Metzke: The Return of Eden Riegel (advocate.com)
From the second Erica Kane's daughter Bianca came out on All My Children, actress Eden Riegel secured herself a gay following for life. She's back, and for fans who've long wanted to see Riegel in a committed relationship, actress Tamara Braun joins the cast as Bianca's ... wife! Riegel sat down with Advocate.com to talk about life on AMC, her dramatic return, and what she calls the role of a lifetime.
SHEELA LAMBERT: " Behind the Scenes of 'Offensive Women' (curvemag.com)
Julie Goldman's bicoastal show, Offensive Women, lets women speak their minds.
SHEELA LAMBERT: "Big Gay Sketch Show's Julie Goldman: Exclusive Interview" (curvemag.com)
She makes us bust our guts as the hilarious star of Logo's Big Gay Sketch Show. Now Julie Goldman gives us the scoop on what goes into making our favorite TV comedy show, her stand-up act,...
Rosanna Greenstreet: Q&A (guardian.co.uk)
Actor Joseph Fiennes on death, his childhood and his lack of a third nipple.
Roger Ebert: TOOTS (3 stars)
Toots Shor. For 20 years, the most famous saloon-keeper in the world. A huge, towering man with a sloppy grin, a bear hug, a big laugh, a big gut, and a lot of friends. His restaurant at "51 West 51" in Manhattan was where you had to be for the action. The regulars included Jackie Gleason, Sinatra. Mickey Mantle, DiMaggio and Monroe, Babe Ruth. Mobsters like Frank Costello. Boxers like Rocky Graziano and Tony Zale. Walter Cronkite, Mike Wallace, Bogart and Bacall, Hemingway, Yogi Berra and John Wayne. He wasn't a regular, but Richard Nixon came when he was in town.
Charlie replied:
Chuck B responded:
And, Joe S wrote:
Reader Comment
Re: UBoot
Marty
Loved the site Unterseebootwaffe. Since WW II, I have always been nterested in submarines. As a kid I spent a summer with an Aunt and Uncle at Portsmith Naval Yard in NY. He was 'Commander of the Yard', I got to attended the christening of several submarines, and a chance to go aboard captured Italian and German subs.
There is another very good U-Boat web site called 'uboat.net'.
I now have a younger friend whose father was a german submariner and served on U-682 during WW II. U-682 was destroyed at 0115hrs on 11 March, 1945 at the Howaldtswerke yard in Hamburg, by US bombs.
Selected Readings
from that Mad Cat, JD
In The Chaos Household
Last Night
Still sunny and quite nice.
Fighters Scrambled
UFOs
Two U.S. fighter planes were scrambled and ordered to shoot down an unidentified flying object (UFO) over the English countryside during the Cold War, according to secret files made public on Monday.
One pilot said he was seconds away from firing 24 rockets at the object, which moved erratically and gave a radar reading like "a flying aircraft carrier."
The pilot, Milton Torres, now 77 and living in Miami, said it spent periods motionless in the sky before reaching estimated speeds of more than 7,600 mph (12,000 kph).
After the alert, a shadowy figure told Torres he must never talk about the incident and he duly kept silent for more than 30 years.
The files are online at: www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ufos
UFOs
Visits Art Display
Yoko Ono
John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono has made a visit to see how her artwork concept involving ladders had grown after contributions from the public.
The Liverpool Skyladders is a collection of ladders positioned in the ruins of St Luke's Church in Liverpool city centre, commissioned for a festival of contemporary art.
Around 25 ladders, including single step and nine foot tall wood and aluminium frames, have been collected from the public since September for the work which is part of the Made Up exhibition of international artwork commissioned for the Liverpool Biennial 2008.
Ono, who is 75 and donated her own set of ladders to the work, said: "Originally it was a piece I dedicated to John a long time ago in the 60s and he loved it. It was very avant-garde at the time.
Yoko Ono
Train Named After
John Peel
The late DJ John Peel is to have a train named after him.
Sheila Ravenscroft, John's widow, will help launch the "John Peel" train and travel on its first journey into Liverpool.
The train will leave Merseytravel's Liverpool South Parkway interchange at around 3pm on Thursday after a short dedication ceremony.
Ian Prowse, from Liverpool band Amsterdam, will perform the song Does This Train Stop on Merseyside? at the event in front of guests.
John Peel
Charity Auction
Bob Hope
An autographed photo of Lucille Ball, complete with blacked out teeth, fetched more than $6,500, an inscribed photo of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor went for $27,500, cufflinks from President Nixon brought $10,000.
The items were among the nearly 800 mementoes belonging to Bob Hope that the late comedian's family auctioned off over the weekend as a charity fundraiser.
The auction reaped more than $601,000, with some items fetching 10 to 20 times more than expected, said Darren Julien, president of Julien's Auctions.
Fellow comedian and fellow duffer George Lopez was one of the bidders. He snatched up some of Hope's beloved golfing gear, including hats he wore on the links.
Bob Hope
Joins The Mothership
Judith Miller
Former New York Times reporter stenographer Judith Miller, who spent 85 days in jail for contempt of court during the Valerie Plame affair, has joined the Fox News Channel as a contributor, the network said Monday.
Miller will be an analyst at Fox News on security and international affairs and write for FoxNews.com.
Before joining Fox News Channel, Miller was a New York Times reporter for 25 years. She was jailed in 2005 when she declined to reveal the name of a confidential source to a federal grand jury investigating Plame's unmasking as a CIA operative.
Judith Miller
Arkansas TV Anchorwoman Attacked
Anne Pressly
A popular local TV anchorwoman who had a small part in the Bush biopic "W" was in critical condition Monday after being stabbed and beaten in her home, and police said they are investigating possible motives.
KATV anchor Anne Pressly, 26, was found about 4:30 a.m. Monday by her mother, who went to the house when her daughter didn't answer a wake-up call, Little Rock police spokesman Cassandra Davis said.
Pressly appeared briefly in Oliver Stone's new movie about resident Bush that opened over the weekend.
She portrays a conservative commentator Ann Coulter who speaks favorably of resident Bush's "Mission Accomplished" event on an aircraft carrier shortly after the start of the Iraq war. She won the role after being noticed by the casting director when she went to Shreveport, La., where the movie was filmed, to work on a story about it and the city's film industry.
Anne Pressly
More Enlightenment
CBN Interview
Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says she supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, a break with John McCain who has said he believes states should be left to define what marriage is. In an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network, the Alaska governor said she had voted in 1998 for a state amendment banning same sex marriage and hoped to see a federal ban on such unions.
McCain, an Arizona senator, is supporting a ballot initiative in his state this year that would ban gay marriage. But he has consistently and forcefully opposed a federal marriage amendment, saying it would usurp states' authority on such matters.
Palin also claimed religion and God had been "mocked" during the campaign, although she offered no evidence to support that.
"Faith in God in general has been mocked through this campaign, and that breaks my heart and that is unfair for others who share a faith in God and choose to worship our Lord in whatever private manner that they deem fit," she said.
CBN Interview
Russians Say 'Nyet'
McPalin Fundraising
The Russians have turned down John McCain's request for campaign money - and had a bit of a laugh at his expense.
Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Vitaly Churkin, received a fundraising appeal from the Republican presidential nominee Thursday, spokesman Ruslan Bakhtin said.
"Dear Friend," begins the 6-page letter to Churkin, asking for up to $5,000 to defeat Sen. Barack Obama and help McCain "promote freedom and democracy throughout the world," according to a copy of the letter provided to The Associated Press by the Russian mission.
McCain has proposed expelling Russia from the Group of Eight world's major industrial nations and says Russia deserves international condemnation for its August war with Georgia,
McPalin Fundraising
Utah Geologists Discover
'Dinosaur Dance Floor'
Utah geologists say they have discovered prehistoric animal tracks so densely packed on a 3/4-acre rock site, they're calling it a "dinosaur dance floor." The site along the Arizona-Utah border is offering a rich new set of clues about the lives of dinosaurs 190 million years ago.
Back then, large stretches of the West were a Sahara-like desert. More than 1,000 tracks were found in what would have been a watery oasis nestled among towering, wind-whipped sand dunes.
The discovery adds yet another site to the region's long list of dinosaur hot spots. The difference, though, is sheer numbers. Scientists estimate there are more than 1,000 - and perhaps thousands - of tracks at the site, which is in a protected area of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.
'Dinosaur Dance Floor'
| CURRENT MOON lunar phases |
