Guns

Guns have only two enemies, rust and politicians.

Bailed Out Banks Execs Get 1.6 Billion And Keep Their Corporate Jets

Bailed out bank execs get bonuses at:
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/bbdp/bailed-out-banks-execs-got-16-billion/283923

Bank execs keep corporate jets at:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081221/ap_on_bi_ge/meltdown_corporate_jets


Soap Box Ravings sees two major points that relate to these stories. The first point would be, were did the three major automakers go wrong since they seem to be straddled with all kinds of restrictions tied to any money they expect to receive and secondly the professional jealousy of the Washington politician as the bankers either hoard or use for executive bonuses the money they received for bailout.

Either way, the American taxpayer finds themselves firmly in the BOHICA position.

While Soap Box Ravings feels the bailouts were improper and will cause many more problems over a longer time, he also feels similar rules should have been applied to banks as were applied to the three major auto makers.

The bailout to me is the same as life support for a brain dead individual. It only holds off the funeral. And while that may be good to allow relatives to gather and to prepare for any possible transplant of organs, Soap Box Ravings does not believe there will be any preparation for the future by our politicians when the patient finally expires. The agony will have just lasted for a longer length of time and the financial costs will be much much greater.

By The Time He Signed It, I Bet He Meant It

Iraqi TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi

Iraqi PM's office says shoe-thrower apologizes

Story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081218/ts_nm/us_iraq_bush_shoes
Th on-line article say that TV reporter Muntazer al-Zaidi who became famous for throwing his shoes at President George W. Bush apologized to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki for embarrassing him before the watching world. The apology was in a written letter of contrition.

Zaidi's family said he suffered injuries in the take-down after throwing his shoes at President Bush. His whereabouts were not known for four days and he is believed to be held in the Green Zone in Baghdad.

Soap Box Ravings would like to see pictures of Zaidi, before the incident, immediately after the incident and after signing the letter of contrition.

Soap Box Ravings can't help but feel the penalties for embarrassing the Iraqi President exceed those of embarrassing the President of the United States. In fact, he doubts there is a crime of "Embarrassing the President" in our country. If there was, many politicians and movie stars would be sitting in a stockade somewhere.

Soap Box Ravings feels that President Bush should meet with Zaidi and issue him a pardon and perhaps bring Zaidi into the fold, so to speak. If nothing else, it might demonstrate beating prisoners for "Embarrassing the President" is not accepted.

Our Friends Pitch In To Cover Their Own Asses

Typical Off Shore Oil Rig

Headline: OPEC Cuts Production 4% to Prop Up Prices
Full story at: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/20/business/worldbusiness/20opec.html

Headline: OPEC cuts record 2.2. million barrels a day
Full story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_bi_ge/af_opec_meeting/print

Soap Box Ravings says stand by. The politicians who voted to increase drilling off shore now that they have cemented their position wish to relook at drilling off-shore.

As you can see by the two bylines above, the Saudis and other oil producing countries are being affected by the economy. Since they are not selling as much oil they need to reduce production to keep their profit margins up after. They have a standard of living to maintain.

We are not buying as much oil because our economy is bad. As the prices stay high, we will be able to buy less fuel for our vehicles or to heat our homes.

This is why we need to be drilling for our own oil, so we do not have to remain under the thumb of those we now purchase our energy from.

At the same time we need to identify other useful and cheap means of generating the power we need to run our economy. We need to build nuclear reactors, some clean coal burning plants, drill for our own oil and build new oil refineries. We do not need corn derived alcohol nor do we need miles and miles of windmills.

Soap Box Ravings believes there are intelligent ways to increase our energy without destroying our lifestyle.

If I Only Had Better People Working For Me

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox

SEC Chairman Christopher Cox says SEC failed to probe Madoff
Full story at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081217/ap_on_bi_ge/madoff_scandal/print

Soap Box Ravings wonders if the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) is capable of examining themselves. While Chairman Cox was not in charge of the SEC ten years ago many other present agency members have been in it's employ during this entire period.

Soap Box Ravings notes that while many think Chairman Cox is an honorable man, he may be in the same position as a naval commanding officer who unknowingly takes over a naval ship with a misguided and motley crew. Three years later when the ship hits a reef while under the skippers command, his career is finished. After three years at the helm, Chairman Cox should have had a better handle on his command.

Soap Box Ravings believes that Chairman Cox should resign so that a new chairman can be appointed to clean out the SEC in a proper fashion. Criminal proceedings may be required regarding those who were derelict in their duties.

The SEC should not be in charge of their own housecleaning.

A Scary Story, The Red State Army

Danielle Allen, holds two doctorates -- one in government and political theory from Harvard University and the other in classics from King's College, University of Cambridge. She is the UPS Foundation Professor of social science at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J.

In her article titled Red-State Army? printed in the Washington Post on Monday, December 15, 2008 Dr. Allen identifies some interesting happenings with our military such as, Why do red states have much higher military membership rates than blue states?

While the population of the United States has grown by about 50 percent since 1970, the number of active-duty armed forces has fallen approximately 50 percent. Now, a smaller percentage of citizens now serve in the military. In 1969 13 percent of Americans were veterans, in 2007 only 8 percent of Americans are.

More importantly, when the draft was in effect military service was distributed pretty evenly across regions. Today, that is no longer true. Residential patterns for current veterans and the patterns of state-level contributions of new recruits to the all-volunteer military have a distinct geographic tilt. And the map of those in military service since 1973 aligns closely with electoral maps distinguishing red from blue states.

Dr. Allen wonders about the effects to our society if the members of our military only come from certain states, red, and not others, blue, over time.

The full story can be found at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/14/AR2008121401815.html

Soap Box Ravings says when the draft was in effect, everyone had a chance to serve, like it or not; good or bad. The problem with an all volunteer military is eventually you end up with a warrior class and move away from the citizen soldier.

We have politicians, like John Kerry, who believe only the uneducated go into the military. He is wrong. With the equipment in use today you have to be fairly well educated as well as motivated to exist in today's military.

As it gets harder to exist it seems many more people are waiting for the government to take care of them. The politicians seem to want more and more people relying on the government. At the same time the politicians expect those who do not rely on the government to pay a greater share to support those on the dole.

Eventually, Soap Box Ravings says the warrior class will have enough and they will no longer obey the politicians. The country may end up divided as in a civil war or the military may overthrow the government and run the country themselves.

The advantage of the draft is it brings citizens into the military who at first glance may have never joined. But citizens moving through the military at all levels keeps the military from becoming a warrior class, it helps them remain as just warriors.

Soap Box Ravings feels we should have major concerns if our military is not drawn proportionally across our entire country.

It Is Coming Down To The Wire On This Part Of The Problem

Murky future for auto rescue amid GOP opposition

The full story is available at: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/congress_autos/print

Soap Box Ravings notes that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has come out against the bailout. Republicans are directly challenging their President. The Republicans say support should have specific concessions and they oppose the tougher environmental rules added by the House.

Democrats do not want specifics such as worker pay cuts which would anger the unions who support them in elections.

Soap Box Ravings feels that if the Republicans in office for the last eight years had acted as Republicans the Democrats would not have gained control of the Congress in 2006 and the President-elect today would not be a liberal Democrat.

But since that is the case, Soap Box Ravings feels there will be no compromise on the Democrats part. Soap Box Ravings feels Democrats would rather play politics and have the auto companies and unions fail than compromise. Democrats want what they want and do not compromise and knowing eventually the Republicans will cave in as they historically do. Particularly since the one-sided media will ensure the Republicans are blamed for any failure to pass the bailout bill no matter how poorly or inadequately it is written.

In Soap Box Ravings opinion, these companies along with many other companies need to be in the bankruptcy courts where the courts have and use power to get results that the politicians do not have the balls to go after.. The sooner these companies declare bankruptcy the sooner they get in line to get actually resolve their problems.

Obama Gets 'H' For Hypocrisy

The future Obama family has chosen to send their daughters to an exclusive private school, even though he officially opposes private schools because they do not work.

Should the Obamas be the only family living in public housing who gets to send their kids to private schools?

Clint Bolick's full commentary may be found at: http://www.forbes.com/2008/11/30/education-obama-vouchers-oped-cx_cb_1201bolick_print.html

Soap Box Ravings believes that while the Obamas may have good reasons why their children need a private school. Soap Box Ravings concerns are that Obama does not see that others also may have good reasons why their children should go to a private school.

Soap Box Ravings believes we will see at lot more hypocrisy from the Obamas as time passes.

Oklahoma Trooper Honored

Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Sheldon Robinson

On his day off, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Sheldon Robinson dropped his wife and two children off at Burger King while he went across the street for an oil change for his vehicle. As he pulled into the service area his wife notified him of a man with a gun in Burger King who was threatening to kill everybody.

As Trooper Robinson turned around he saw people including his family running out of the store and taking cover. Upon arrival he noticed a man inside dressed in black armed with a handgun.

Trooper Robinson managed to come up behind the man, who was praying to Allah for help in carrying out his mission. Robinson grabbed the armed man and managed to place him under arrest.

Full story at: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20081205_16_A1_OKLAHO761585

Soap Box Ravings adds his personal commendation to Trooper Robinson for disregarding his personal safety while meeting his duty. Not everyone hears the call of danger and responds towards it. In fact in our society people have been known to not even make the effort to call for assistance by telephone, since they did not want to get involved.

Kudos For Governor Palin

Alaskan Governor, Sarah Palin

Governor Palin Lauds Firearm Decision
by U.S. Secretary of Interior

December 5, 2008, Anchorage, Alaska – Governor Sarah Palin today lauded the decision by the U.S. Department of the Interior that will allow an individual to carry a concealed weapon in national parks and wildlife refuges. The new rule only applies if the individual is authorized to carry a concealed weapon under state law in the state in which the national park or refuge is located.

“The possession and use of firearms is especially critical to Alaskans,” Governor Palin said. “We will continue to protect gun rights. The ability to carry a firearm can define a life or death situation, especially for protection against surprise encounters with wildlife, mainly bears. I appreciate the Interior Department recognizing this is a step in the right direction.”

Within Alaska, most of the national parks and refuge areas are open to various forms of hunting, so possession and use of firearms is already widely allowed under both state and federal law. Currently, firearms are prohibited in Denali National Park, Glacier Bay National Park, Katmai National Park, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park and Sitka National Historical Park. The new rule will take effect in January.

Soap Box Ravings says be alert for any other Governor from any state that goes on record saying this is a good decision by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Soap Box Ravings predicts the list will be very, very short.

A Great F@#$%^& Idea From Senator Dodd

For those who vote but don't have a clue, Senator Dodd is the white haired man on the right.

Senator Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., the Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee has called for the head of General Motors to step down. Senator Dodd says GM should consider new leadership.

The complete article may be found at: http://news.aol.com/article/senator-calls-for-new-car-company-execs/270469

Soap Box Ravings really likes this new concept put forth by Senator Dodd. I have to tell you Soap Box ravings really, really, really loves this new concept of Senator Dodds. basically it is, If you had a leadership position during the downfall, you should resign from your position before any assistance is offered.

Soap Box Ravings can only ask, "Does this also apply to the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress after all runs the country. The President can only agree and sign bills presented or he/she may veto the bills presented. If the President vetoes a bill Congress can either override the veto or live with it and move on.

So the Question is, Should Senator Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee and his associates both in the senate and in the House resign their exalted positions for their participation in the economic debacle our country finds itself in?

If auto executives are to be held responsible for playing by the rules dealt them by our Government, the United Auto Workers Union, the banking industry, etc. why do we not hold Senators and Representatives accountable for results that happened on their watch; especially when they wrote many of the rules everyone else had to play by.

For an added attraction, try this: Google Senator Dodd and Countrywide Bank

He Just Doesn't Get It

Typical Airport Checkpoint X-Ray Unit

Georgia Felon sentenced for 'Forgetting' Stolen Handgun In Carry-On Luggage

Full story at: http://pittsburgh.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/2008/pt111408b.htm

Joseph J. Bobbitt, Jr.has been sentenced 36 months' imprisonment, followed by three years supervised release for violating federal firearms laws.

Here is a short list of some of his offenses:
1. possession of stolen property
2. convicted felon in possession of a firearm
3. possession of firearm in an airport restricted area
4. and not stated but chances are good he was in possession of ammunition in a airport restricted area.


Soap Box Ravings says here is another example of the failure of laws to keep people in line.

While sometimes people forget they are carrying, it would be much harder to do if you have been previously convicted in court of a felony. Particularly when you have been pointedly instructed in the meaning of your conviction by the court and again by correctional officials.

As an retired airport police officer I really have to wonder how anyone in this country could not know about airport security.

Soap Box ravings feels that this person got off relatively light based on the federal charges against him. The good point of the story is the federal prison system does not give away as much time for good behavior as some of the states do.

Go Get'm Gun Mom

Permitted Open Carry Gun Mom

Pistol-packing Pennsylvania Soccer Mom Sues Lebanon County Sheriff

Full story available at: http://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=4352239

A Pennsylvania woman sued Lebanon County Sheriff Michael DeLeo for violating her Second Amendment rights. The sheriff had revoked her concealed-weapons permit, without a hearing, after parents complained of her wearing her holstered pistol to her 5-year-old daughter's soccer game.

In Pennsylvania, persons 18 years of age and older whom are not prohibited by law from owning firearms may openly carry a handgun in plain sight with no license except in vehicles*, cities of the first class** (Philadelphia) and where prohibited specifically by statute. Ref.: Title 18, ch.61, Subchapter A. Uniform Firearms Act & Commonwealth v. Ortiz

As a retired law enforcement officer, Soap Box Ravings does not like to see law enforcement capriciously enforcing the law.

Soap Box Ravings believes if laws are on the books, they need to be enforced. If management (e.g. Governors, Mayors, Sheriffs or Chiefs of Police) feel laws should not be enforced then they should go on record as trying to rescind the laws in question.

Soap Box Ravings also does not believe that enforcers of the law should bend laws to resolve problems some members of the public may see. It would appear in this case, that since Pennsylvania allows open carry, with some restrictions, that this soccer mom broke no laws. When somewhat suffers consequences of the law and the law does not exist it would seem to be to be very similar to false arrest.

Another problem for law enforcement is that many Departments do not formally update their officers on the changes in law that occur every year. By the time the available handbooks are on the market, and they are not cheap, it can be half a year after the law took affect. Soap Box Ravings feels that police administrators are responsible to make sure their deputies and officers know the laws in effect.

Go get'm gun Mom!!!!

Marine Designated Marksman

A USMC Designated Marksman with Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) more formally United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle chambered in 7.62 NATO. A modified and accurized version of the M14 rifle built for and used solely by the United States Marine Corps (USMC).

The storyline says: "Marines Prevailed in a Day of Battle" and the full article can be found at: http://www.military.com/news/article/marines-prevailed-in-a-day-of-battle.html?ESRC=eb.nl

It started out just like any other Afghan patrol. Thirty or so combat experienced Marines of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment pass through the village of Shewan, in Afghanistan's Farah province where they unknowingly ran into an ambush, insurgents team about 250, Marine team 30 or so.

The Marines leader said that he was prepared for contact but wasn't expecting any at that point. Eight hours after the ambush started it ended with 50 dead insurgents and one injured Marine.

Soap Box Ravings says it was the Marines training and team work applied aggressively to the enemy which saved the day. Initially the Marines concentrated on holding off the assault while they rescued one marine trapped in a vehicle. Then they pulled back, reorganized and aggressively took the fight to the enemy who were surprised the Marines returned to the fight.

Soap Box Ravings points out one major force multiplier for the Marines was their Designated Marksman who coolly shot insurgent after insurgent all while exposed to and under heavy enemy fire. This Designated Marksman killed 20 insurgents with 20 rounds.

Soap Box Ravings feels that the Marines developed the Designated Marksman because they understand help is minutes away and often times they can not afford to wait. As you think about this, remember the Marines have always maintained every Marine is a rifleman. However they also understand there are some Marines are better rifleman than others and to arm them with more accurate equipment is a good thing.

In Soap Box Ravings opinion, Army rifle training does not equal Marine rifle training. My son-in-law, a former Marine who is now an Army Apache pilot had a conversation on the Army rifle range regarding the M-16 rifle's ability to hit man-sized targets outside 300 yards. The Army rifle instructors were not trained to engage outside of 300 yards.

More News Regarding Oceania Nautica's Pirate Adventure

Oceania Nautica in Port Sultan Qaboos, Sultanate of Oman

Ship Passengers Recount Pirate Attack

The entire story is available at:
http://news.aol.com/article/ship-passengers-recount-pirate-attack/253628

Soap Box Ravings notes in this article passengers described hearing "the Pop! Pop! Pop! of the pirate's rifles firing at the ship." My experiences at sea and as a firearms instructor tell me the only way the passengers could have heard the rifles firing would be for them to be watching from the weather decks of the Nautica from the same side as the shooters.

If they were watching from the weather decks, the crew was not doing their job protecting the passengers. Since the pirates are known to have rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) as well as rifles, all unnecessary personnel including the crew should have been moved to the inside passageways. This would place cabins between the incoming rounds and those onboard the ship.

In Soap Box Ravings opinion the fun is over when the person next to you takes a round between the eyes.

Soap Box Ravings as has been said is a proponent of individual rights. But with those rights comes individual responsibility. The most important criteria of self protection is your ability to think and plan ahead. Wendy Armitage, Wellington, New Zealand said "We didn't think they would be cheeky enough to attack a cruise ship." And in Soap Box Ravings' opinion that was here first error in judgement. Let's ask the question, Sailing a ship full of "money" through an area of known pirate activity could cause what?"

Soap Box Ravings is sure that Oceania Cruises who operates the ship assured all of the passengers prior to leaving port. The cruise ships I have been on like to assign passengers to certain areas when the passengers are required to wait. However, most of these areas have large windows. Therefore the dining areas, bars, swimming deck and most other areas are not safe when receiving incoming fire.

Soap Box Ravings says the article points out International warships have created and patrol a security corridor through the area. As has been pointed out by myself and others regardless of where you are, "The police are only minutes away."

Let us remember that this ship has upward of 1000 people on board counting passengers and crew. It needs to be operated to make money but I question if it needs to be operated without the ability to protect itself in a known pirate operating area. This time it outrun the pirates but I have ridden many a ship with a main engine out of commission during transit. The loss of a main propulsion plant always reduces your speed.

Thank God, No More Fearmongering

Panel Finds WMD Attack Likely by 2013. The entire AP story is available at: http://www.military.com/news/article/panel-finds-wmd-attack-likely-by-2013.html?ESRC=eb.nl

Possible anthrax bio terrorism attack in Washington, DC. This has already happened in Washington, DC and Ft Lauderdale, FL for real plus multiple scares in other locations.

Dirty bombs come in all sizes. They can use small amounts of radioactive material which can be easily carried into choke points and detonated in cities, tunnels, airports, etc. In this picture smoke from the fire could be spreading radioactivity plus what the blast spread. First responders throughout this country are normally not equipped to identify dirty bombs.

Dirty bombs can also be larger and use greater amounts of explosives contaminated with larger amounts of radioactive materials. The only real difference is they need a somewhat larger delivery system. Perhaps a truck or a bus. The above photo is the Federal building in Oklahoma City destroyed by homegrown terrorist Timothy McVeigh. It was not a dirty bomb, but it could easily have been one. Besides the actual difference in destruction which is visible, the radioactive dust cloud would also be much larger contaminating many more people and a greater area.

Soap Box Ravings notes that the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism says the United States can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear or more likely biological weapons before 2013.

Up to now, this countries liberals have called statements regarding possible terrorist attacks as "George Bush fearmongering." Thank God we will have no more fearmongering; perhaps we will develop a new term for use with the new government which is starting to resemble the government they mean to replace.

An Exercise Of The First Amendment

Garrison Keillor

See the Roar Of Hollow Patriotism by Garrisson Keillor at: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/28/opinion/edkeillor.php

Soap Box Ravings would like to bring to your attention an article, The Roar of Hollow Patriotism, written by Garrison Keillor and published on May 28, 2008. In this article, the sometimes funny buffoon is not so funny. Keillor, a BUMF if there ever was one, spends his efforts in deriding a Memorial Day Tribute simply it seems because the "fat men with pony-tails" on Harleys irritated him.

Three-hundred thousand bikers roaring around Washington in a Memorial Day tribute to America's war dead, and he was irritated. Like a Lord from an earlier era when bothered by peasants.

Lord Keillor says a patriotic bike rally is sort of like a patriotic toilet-papering or patriotic graffiti; the patriotism somehow gets lost in the sheer irritation of the thing. He says people associate Memorial Day with long moments of silence when you summon up mental images of men huddled together on LSTs and pilots revving up B-24s and infantrymen crouched behind piles of rubble steeling themselves for the next push, not motorcycles. He says he does not see the connection between Memorial Day and "fat men with ponytails" on Harleys.

A review of Lord Keillor's career would indicate that he has no idea how any military veteran would react because he never participated. Yet he lets the parade of those who did and their friends bother him because he is inconvenienced and therefore irritated.

By the tone of his article, Lord Keillor cares nothing for the inconvenience military service may have caused those who did serve. Many lost their lives, body parts, their education, or have endured lifelong problems. Yet, Lord Keillor is miffed because he must wait to cross the street.

In 2007 Keillor wrote an article regarding "stereo-typical" gay parents; in responding to criticism Keillor wrote in part "I live in a small world...." Soap Box Ravings says yes, Lord Keillor does live in a small world, one that was made much safer for him by those now "fat men with pony tails" on Harleys.

Lord Keillor also callously said, "If anyone cared about the war dead, they could go read David Halberstam's "The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War" or Stephen Ambrose's "Citizen Soldiers: The U.S. Army from the Normandy Beaches to the Bulge to the Surrender of Germany, June 7, 1944 to May 7, 1945" or any of a hundred other books, and they would get a vision of what it was like to face death for your country.' If any one cared? these "fat men with pony tails" on Harleys knew many of those war dead as they served together before the battles.

During my naval career and since Soap Box Ravings has always supported the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. This includes Lord Keillor's right to write and distribute such drivel, but I don't have to like it.

A pox on you Garrison Keillor.

Pirates, Ya Gotta Give Them Credit For Trying

www.cruiseserver.net/.../ships/oc_nautica.asp

The story is, off the coast of Yemen, in an area patrolled by international anti-piracy task forces a small luxury cruise ship, the Oceania Nautica outran pirates.

Full story available at: http://news.aol.com/article/lxury-cruise-ship-outruns-pirates/264468?icid=200100397x1214358139x1200942764

www.eaglespeak.us/2008_06_01_archive.html

Soap Box Ravings says that even though the article points out the event took place off the coast of Yemen, the coast of Somalia is roughly 300 kilometers off the coast of Yemen. The ship was enroute from Rome to Singapore so it obviously used the Suez canal and the Red Sea to enter the pirate infested waters.

The pirates appeared in two small boats but the cruise ship was able to outrun them. Rifles were fired at the cruise ship but no one was injured. The pirates were able to close within 300 yards which is the length of three football fields. At 300 yards, the ship was within range of the rocket propelled grenades (RPGs) known to be used by the pirates. If the pirates had used heavy machine guns they would have caused a lot of damage to the cruise ship.

Soap Box Ravings is reminded of the old west where travelers were often attacked. Many of those who relied on the cavalry to save them did not do as well as though who were prepared to defend themselves.

Soap Box Ravings believes that each person is primarily responsible for their own protection. Therefore, you want to be extremely careful when you put the responsibility for your personal safety in another person's hands.

Soap Box Ravings wonders what the 600 plus passengers were told prior to departing on their cruise. Particularly how the unarmed cruise ship was going to protect them from pirates. A few RPGs landing on the decks and hull of that cruise ship would provide those cruisers with a lot of excitement.

Soap Box Ravings particular loved the statement from Oceania spokesman Tim Rubacky who emphasized the ship was off of Yemen, not Somalia. What an idiot he would seem to be, even a landlubber can see by the above chart that Somalia is also off the coast of Yemen. The same spokesman also said the company was not planning on using another route. IMHO, any other route would be cost prohibitive therefore the company would seem to be trading passenger safety for profit.

At 12 knots, which was transit speed for a WWII diesel submarine you can cover 300 kilometers which is (plus or minus) 162 nautical miles in 13 1/2 hours. If pirates tie their small boats to a diesel fishing boat, they can stay at sea for extended lengths of time and cover a huge area.

Stimulate The Economy With A Tax Holiday For Taxpayers

U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX)

U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert (R-TX) has put forth an idea to prevent more outrageous spending sprees by Washington with even more taxpayer dollars going to executive cronies.

Representative Gohmert's idea is to put that $350 Billion dollars towards a tax holiday from both personal income tax and FICA tax for Americans during January and February of 2009. He thinks we can save more home mortgages, increase employment, and boost economic growth for a lower price tag with this plan than with any centralized bureaucratic program. His idea would give power back to the taxpayers who could spend the money , or not, in any manner they desired.

The full story may be found on Representative Gohmert's website at: http://gohmert.house.gov/

Soap Box Ravings says this would mean for two months, there would be no federal deductions from any ones income, not even unemployment checks. This action would then allow money to be fed into the economy from all over the country and at all income levels. Unlike now where the money is going into the mega banks selected where they seem to be retaining it and not doing the job they were provided the money to do. There has been to many stories on their failure to use the money as desired by the government.

This seems to be such a great idea, Soap Box Ravings suggests everyone contact their Representatives and Senators regarding this manner. I assure you that it is not an idea that will be received by the majority of Representatives or Senators. I believe this idea will have to be forced on them by millions of calls, e-mails and faxes. But it can be done.

Pirates, We Don't Need No Stinkin Pirates

Sirus Star

The Sirius Star is only one of the latest ships to be captured and held for ransom by Somalian pirates. These pirates have seized or tried to seize any ship they can get within range of including cruise ships, fishing vessels, freighters and now an oil tanker.

In March of 1794, the United States Navy was born in response to Muslim pirates operating out of Algeria. In the early 1800s, the pirates actions led to the first and second Barbary Wars.

USS Anacapa AG-49

During the World Wars, many countries used armed ships disguised as merchant ships to seize, sink or terrorize merchant ships on the high seas. The picture above is a WWII Q-ship the USS Anacapa AG-49.

I remember reading of German surface raiders used in WWII in the same manner as the Allied Q-ships. Freighters or other surface ships were provided with armament and methods of changing the ship's profile to minimize recognition. Such things as dummy funnels, repainting shipping line insignias and changing the ships paint scheme along with fake cargo that could be rearranged into various combinations. The ships also flew the flags of other countries dependent upon their mission.

Underneath all of the fakery the ship had the ability to drop panels and become a warship once the had closed within striking range of their target. Below are pictures of three German surface raiders.

HSK1 Orion

HSK2 Atlantis

HSK6 Stier

A short online check reveals there are small ships for sale around the world. I am also sure that our country has some ships in mothballs that could be brought into service and armed for patrol in areas where pirates are wreaking havoc. It would cost to either purchase a ship or rehab one in mothballs however, the pirates in Somalia are collecting millions of dollars a year in ransom. The cost of routing ships around the pirates would drive up shipping costs because of spending more days at sea.

http://www.omccthailand.com/webboard/show.php?Category=shp02&No=3272

http://www.gobizkorea.com/offer/offer_main.jsp?biz_type=&lev=2&unspsc=25110000

www.orley.de/roro.htm

I realize that these ships are not armored but the pirates weapons are basically rocket propelled grenades, and well they can cause harm, they are not accurate rapid fire weapons.

Years ago the US Navy had a mine sweeper that was propelled by huge outboard propeller drives. The ship was driven over the mines to detonate them. The ship's hull was filled with Styrofoam to provide floatation capability should the hull be breached. Something along those lines could done to a small merchant ship after it is provided enough ballast to look correct.

With the modern weapons available to governments today it would not be cost prohibitive to put out armed decoys for the pirates. Once pirates realize the easy pickings are over and that attacking ships can be painful; they will seek other occupations.

Plus these ships could also be used in other areas around the world where pirates roam. It seems pirates exist in other areas besides just Somalia.

A Troika Of Barack, Hillary and Bill

Barack, Hillary and Bill: What do you think they are thinking?

Clinton Cuts Deal for Wife to Get State Job

See the AOL story at: http://news.aol.com/main/obama-presidency/article/clinton-cuts-deal-for-wife-to-get-state/262862

Basically the story says Barack Obama will anoint Senator Hilary Clinton as his Secretary of State after making a deal with Bill Clinton over his post-White House work.

To make it easier for Obama to anoint Senator Clinton the following pre-anointing conditions designed to bring transparency to Bill Clinton's activities were listed as:


Bill Clinton will disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation since its inception in 1997 and all contributors henceforth
.
Bill Clinton will refuse donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Global Initiative, his annual charitable conference.

Bill Clinton will cease holding CGI meetings overseas.

Bill Clinton will volunteer to step away from day-to-day management of the foundation while his wife is the Secretary of State.

Bill Clinton will submit his speaking schedule to review by the State Department and White House counsel.

And Bill Clinton will submit any new sources of income to a similar ethical review.

Soap Box Ravings has always thought if Hilary Clinton was elected President of the United States with Barack Obama the Vice President, that Hilary would be able to control Barack.

Soap Box ravings does not in any way believe that Barack Obama will be able to control Hilary Clinton. Obama may feel that Hilary will join his team and work 100% towards his goals. I do not believe that.

Furthermore for anyone to think that Bill Clinton has suddenly become honorable and will honor any future commitments more honorably than his past commitments is ludicrous.

Bill Clinton has never identified donors except when forced to, he will never submit sources of income for ethical review and if he did they would never be ethically reviewed because IMHO neither he nor the reviewers comprehend ethics.

Hilary is also noted for taking the most self serving route. She may or may not make a good secretary of State but after hearing many of my military peers discussing her behavior in the White House, I am certainly glad I am not in her employ.

Both Bill and Hillary can lie with a straight face. Well actually, Bill will work up a little tear and make a sad face when caught.

Time will tell if I am wrong but we will have to wait for the history to be written.

As a cop, I always told my boss, I can let people slide because I know that if I give them enough rope and they deserve my attention they will hang themselves.

As I was finishing this post, I realized the article title was "Clinton Cuts Deal for Wife to Get State Job" the title did not say "Obama Works Deal for Clinton to Get State Job." And I think that only helps make my point.

Shocked, Oh My God

Admiral Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the senior officer in the United States military and he says he is shocked by the pirate attack on the Saudi Arabian super tanker Sirius Star.

In Soap Box Ravings mind, that is the equivalent of the senior admirals in Washington, DC being shocked when they heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor. They had intelligence the war was coming, not exactly when or where.

With knowledge of the pirates in Somalia and their past history I do not understand how the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could say he is shocked by the attack.

The people who do NOT know what is going on in the world could say they are shocked by the attack.

People who make their living defending this country, particularly at his level, should not be SHOCKED by any attack anywhere in the world in the world's present climate. In fact, the job of Admiral Mullen and his peers is to be ready to defend anywhere, anytime. He is "The Man" in charge of forward planning and being ready.

I knew it was coming but not exactly when or where would have been a more appropriate comment from the Admiral.

If the Admiral really did not know it was coming, then he and or his staff needs to retire and soon.

Those Who Do Not Know History Are Continually Surprised

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened."

– Norman Thomas, American socialist, quoted from an interview during the presidential campaign in 1948.
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Soap Box Ravings says as of today this country has spent perhaps slightly more than $800 TRILLION dollars and Obama has not even been sworn in yet. But let us remember at this point he and the Democrat run Congress are in agreement with President Bush.

And we wondered how the government was going to save Social Security. My 6 month old grandaughter will not live long enough to pay off this debt. Also, according to the new Presidents stated goals, this is only the beginning.

Look At That Money Go

George Mason University economics professor Walter E. Williams writes:

"Evil acts can be given an aura of moral legitimacy by noble-sounding socialistic expressions such as spreading the wealth, income redistribution or caring for the less fortunate. Let's think about socialism. Imagine there's an elderly widow down the street from you. She has neither the strength to mow her lawn nor enough money to hire someone to do it. Here's my question to you that I'm almost afraid for the answer: Would you support a government mandate that forces one of your neighbors to mow the lady's lawn each week? If he failed to follow the government orders, would you approve of some kind of punishment ranging from house arrest and fines to imprisonment? I'm hoping that the average American would condemn such a government mandate because it would be a form of slavery, the forcible use of one person to serve the purposes of another. Would there be the same condemnation if instead of the government forcing your neighbor to physically mow the widow's lawn, the government forced him to give the lady $40 of his weekly earnings? That way the widow could hire someone to mow her lawn. I'd say that there is little difference between the mandates. While the mandate's mechanism differs, it is nonetheless the forcible use of one person to serve the purposes of another. Probably most Americans would have a clearer conscience if all the neighbors were forced to put money in a government pot and a government agency would send the widow a weekly sum of $40 to hire someone to mow her lawn. This mechanism makes the particular victim invisible but it still boils down to one person being forcibly used to serve the purposes of another. Putting the money into a government pot makes palatable acts that would otherwise be deemed morally offensive. This is why socialism is evil. It employs evil means, coercion or taking the property of one person, to accomplish good ends, helping one's fellow man."

Soap Box Ravings says at this time, our government is sending "bail out" money to save banks and other financial institutions. But it does not seem that the money is being used by the recipients for "bail out." The banks or financial institutions are free to spend their "bail out" as they wish.

In Walter Williams article above what is unsaid is when the old woman gets money from the government to mow her lawn she can spend that money when and where she wants. And therein lies the problem with money freely given to people for what other people believe the recipient needs.

It is a known fact that many people use their welfare money and/or food stamps to purchase items the money was not provided for. It makes no difference whether it is illegal drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or to go to Disneyland. The money was not used for it's intended purpose and I believe it will always be that way as long as the money is "given."

I believe most people need to earn their money. Once money is earned it is up to the earner to decide how to spend their own earned money. If they spend it recklessly, then they need to suffer the consequences of their actions.

I also believe that banks, financial institutions and anyone else looking for "bail out" money need to suffer the consequences of their previous actions, at least to the point of being forced to drop "deadwood" and other useless practices that led to wasted monies. For example, auto companies who can't sell their vehicles, it is not just the auto companies problem. The problem is a combination auto company-union problem and it needs to resolved in bankruptcy court. IMHO, handing out huge sums of money without realistic requirements is ridiculous.

Soap Box Ravings feels that anger is building amongst his fellow Americans; those fools who have been living their lives, all of their lives, by the rules. You know the type I mean, those Americans who essentially buy what they can pay for, who go to work daily and make their payments on time, and who pay the F*&^%^ taxes. The politicians who run this country don't realize what true anger looks like. Particularly when those politicians refuse to react to popular demand to find sources of oil and develop other energy programs just so prices will rise to a level where we the citizens will agree the the politicians goals.

It Seems College Students Are the Same Around The World

The story says, "Panda bites student who wanted hug."

It seems that some Chinese college student went over the fence and into the Panda pen to hug the Panda. The student seemed surprised the Panda attacked him, since he only wanted to cuddle the Panda.

China must have their own version of liberal college professors who teach huggy-feely stuff. However, as Soap Box Ravings remembers, zoos are places were people put wild animals so they can look at them. They are not there to hug, unless the sign says "Petting Zoo" and I have seen animals in "Petting Zoos" knock little kids on their a**. When a docile cow swings it's head, perhaps to see what is happening elsewhere, a 2-3 year old can get hurt very easily.

Wild animals are wild whether they are in the wild or in the zoo. Soap Box Ravings and his Blushing Bride visited Icy Strait, Alaska a couple years ago on a cruise. In Icy Strait we signed up to go inland and see the bears. A native Inuit was our guide on the bus, he regaled us with stories until we arrived at our destination.

The actual tour was a walk from point A to point B. While our bus driving guide led our walk through the woods and fields looking for bears another Inuit moved the bus to our pickup point.

As we formed up and started to follow our guide, a third Inuit fell in at the back of the tourist group. While we were looking for bears, he was with us in case we actually saw a bear or bears. He was carrying a .338 Winchester Magnum Ruger Model 77 rifle slung over his shoulder. Everybody in Icy Strait, Alaska knows what happens when you met an Alaskan bear in the woods.

And yes, we had two bears pass us at a distance of about 40 yards. We saw them cross the stream about 100 yards to our left, go down the opposite bank of the stream to within about 40 yards and then they continued another 200 yards before crossing back onto our side of the stream.


The female bear was moving and the male bear was only interested in her. The rifle remained slung. None of the Inuits with us had any interest in killing a bear unless it was absolutely necessary to protect a human.

What Is Missing From This Election?

Soap Box Ravings has been wondering what is missing from the election held on 4 November, 2008. After racking his brain for almost three weeks he has realized why.

There is no after election whining from the Democrats.


Lets see, after the 2000 election the news media called the election for the wrong man before the Florida polls closed. Then we had the hanging chads in Florida which resulted in a December 12 7-2 United States Supreme Court decision stating that the Florida Supreme Court's plan for recounting ballots was unconstitutional, as well as a 5-4 United States Supreme Court decision that ended the Florida recounts and allowed Florida to certify its vote.

On January 6, 2001, a joint session of Congress met to certify the electoral vote. Twenty members of the House of Representatives, mostly Democratic members of the Congressional Black Caucus, rose one-by-one to file objections to the electoral votes of Florida. However, according to an 1877 law, any such objection had to be sponsored by both a representative and a senator. No senator would co-sponsor these objections, deferring to the Supreme Court's ruling. Therefore, Senator Al Gore, who was presiding in his capacity as President of the Senate, ruled each of these objections out of order.

Bush subsequently became the President-elect after the electoral votes from all 50 states and the District of Columbia were certified by the joint session of Congress. Bush took the oath of office on January 20, 2001.



Then we had the 2004 election between President Bush and Senator John Kerry. As in the 2000 presidential election, voting controversies and concerns of irregularities emerged during and after the vote.

Meanwhile, Senator John Kerry, who earlier in his career had publicly thrown away his Vietnam medals and associated with Jane Fonda, was accused by the Swift Vets and POWs for Truth, who averred that "phony war crimes charges, his exaggerated claims about his own service in Vietnam, and his deliberate misrepresentation of the nature and effectiveness of Swift boat operations compels us to step forward." The group challenged the legitimacy of each of the combat medals awarded to Kerry by the U.S. Navy, and the disposition of his discharge. And so, the term "swift boating" was added to the mantra of Democrat whines.

Since the Democrats won this time, they finally beat George Bush, even though he was not in the race.

There are some comments being made about the election, but the Republican comments seem to be mainly against Republicans. The only area of dispute seems to be in the Senate race in Minnesota in which discovered votes for the Democrat runner continue to be found. They will probably continue to be found in the true Democrat tradition until Al Franken is declared the winner.

Yet at this point, almost three weeks after the election, Republican whine compared to Democrat whine in the past is almost non-existent. Who would have thought.

Another Ominous Omen Perhaps

Before the election:



After the election:

If you want a job in the Obama administration and you own a gun, you may be out of luck. Here is Question #59 on the application:

"Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage."

Full Story at:http://www.gunreports.com/news/handguns/Obama-Second-Amendment-Gun-Rights-Ownership_967-1.html?ET=gunreports:e281:102023a:&st=email

Well, Golly Gee, That's Not Nice

Now here is something to excite the American liberal press. On Wednesday, 19 November 2008. Al-Qaeda's No. 2 leader, Ayman al-Zawahri, referred to President-elect Obama as a "house negro."

Soap Box Ravings says it's one thing to torture and kill people, desecrate their bodies and in general cause terror in many parts of the world, all of which is played down by the American liberal press as our fault. But to insult the "messiah" of the American liberal, why that is just unthinkable.

Do you think there may be a message there?

Prior to the election, some liberals wanted to try President Bush as a war criminal for his actions fighting terrorism. Soap Box Ravings can't help but wonder if President Obama continues these actions, is he also a war criminal?

Big Three Auto Makers Need Bankruptcy Court

Mitt Romney, former Governor of Massachusetts opposes a bailout of the big three automobile makers. He believes bankruptcy may be the only path to solvency for the Big Three automakers.
http//www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Romney_detroit_bankrupt/2008/11/19/152984.html?s=al&promo_code=719A-1

On the radio today, I heard Neal Boortz say that yesterday the top executives of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler flew to Washington, DC to testify in front of Congress. Neal pointed out that each of those executives flew to Washington in a private airplane, none of them flew commercial.

My liberal daughter told me those executives need the bailout to maintain their standard of living. She said those executives are not the type to fly commercial, especially in the rear of a wide body aircraft.

"Detroit is in nose dive, no doubt about that. So is a $50 billion government bailout the answer? President-elect Barack Obama thinks so, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi points in the same direction with her call for extending 'emergency and limited financial assistance' under the $700 billion bailout plan enacted last month. Democrats clearly want something big and something soon for the Big Three. We agree that the automakers can't go on much longer burning cash and piling up an Everest of debt. They're close to the breaking point. But there's a system in place for dealing with crises such as this, even at the scale of massive corporations. It's called bankruptcy, and it should not be written off as unthinkable. Filing for Chapter 11 protection under bankruptcy law is the normal way a company stays in business when facing an unmanageable financial situation. It keeps creditors at bay while the company reorganizes under court supervision and settles its debts. In recent years it has served as a refuge for major airlines (Delta and United) which, you may notice, continued to fly while in Chapter 11 and, post-bankruptcy, fly today. Bankruptcy protection also frees companies from union contracts. Could this be why it seems to have been taken off the table as an option, at least among Democrats? We can only surmise, but it's clear that a bankruptcy process would be rough going for the United Auto Workers (UAW)." --Investor's Business Daily

Soap Box Ravings would like to point out that the entire automobile industry in this country does not require bankruptcy. However, the old guard of Ford, General Motors and Chrysler do. I agree with Gov. Romney and Investor's Business Daily, these companies need to go through bankruptcy court and re-establish themselves. I also agree with my liberal daughter that the executives involved and the UAW workers need the bailout money to maintain their standard of living, but some money is better than no money.

Soap Box Ravings believes neither the executives nor the UAW want to make changes, they just want money.

Part of the problem are the company business plans and part of the problem are the United Auto Workers. I don't intend to establish blame, it is fact. If you are not making money enough to cover your expenses bankruptcy is the solution.

Soap Box Ravings believes if the our country helps enough countries, states, banks and businesses.......the country itself will go bankrupt sooner or later.

Shouldn't The Punishment Fit The Crime

2006 Day Fire, CA which burned 163000 acres.


A California homeless man, suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism, was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Court Judge Valerie Baker Fairbank to 45 months in prison. He was also ordered to pay more than $101 million in restitution for starting two fires; the 2006 Day Fire and the 2002 Ellis Fire.

The Day Fire raged for more than a month and cost more than $78 million to suppress while injuring 18 people, and destroying 11 structures.

The Ellis Fire burned 70 acres.

The Judge said "The fact that in 2006 he engaged in virtually the same conduct as in 2002 shows extreme recklessness."

Soap Box Ravings is glad the man, identified as Steven Emory Butcher, was in fact a homeless man suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism. He could have been a US Senator and took the country for mega-millions.

However, when Soap Box Ravings worked with the substance abuse counselors in the US Navy he learned that you could not trust, for example, an alcoholic on a binge to make a rational decision. You had to take control of them, dry them out and then see if they could make intelligent rational decisions. Some still could not.

Soap Box Ravings can not help but wonder how a gifted federal judge could determine reckless behavior from a person suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, depression and alcoholism. It kinda sorta looks like the wrong ruler was used to measure the miscreant's behavior.

Soap Box Ravings can't help but wonder if this Judge was focused on the U.S. Senator's who fed off of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac what she would have sentenced them to repay.

You Have To Love The Associated Press (AP) Regardless Of Their Country

The AP headline on AOL read: Passenger Jet Lands Without Wheels

The identified by name Philadelphia Inquirer reporter's headlines read: Emergency landing at Philadelphia International

The actual story is: A US Airways Express airliner slid down a runway Sunday during an emergency landing without its nose landing gear.

Soap Box Ravings has noticed over the years that news reported by the Associated Press suffers. There is a major difference in landing a passenger jet with no wheels and landing the same aircraft with an inoperative nose wheel.

This is just another complaint I register along with the medias bias on the news. Yet those in the business wonder why no one reads their newspapers or watches their news shows.

Added on 17 November 2008, a couple of examples from the French equivalent of the Associated Press......the Agence France-Presse (APF).

APF claims to be the world's oldest established news agency.

An elderly Iraqi woman shows two bullets which she says hit her house following an early coalition forces raid in the predominantly Shiite Baghdad suburb of Sadr City. At least 175 people were slaughtered on Tuesday and more

A Baghdad area puppy shows a hand grenade, recently tossed through the window of this Sadr City animal shelter, killing dozens of adorable puppies and kittens and demolishing the building when it detonated.

Soap Box Ravings says only a complete dolt would believe that either picture was anything but staged. The bullets the woman is holding are unfired cartridges and the grenade with the puppy has not been detonated.

Soap Box Ravings also has a hard time believing there are animal shelters in Sadr City filled with dozens of puppies and kittens.

Again, I rest my case.

More news from 27 November 2008:

Hundreds Killed, Wounded in Mumbai Slaughter, Associated Press

MUMBAI, India - A trickle of bodies and hostages emerged from a luxury hotel Thursday as Indian commandoes tried to free people trapped by suspected Muslim militants who attacked at least 10 targets in India's financial capital of Mumbai, killing 101 people.

When Soap Box Ravings was being instructed in English, it took more than 101 to make hundreds. Soap Box Ravings was taught hundreds meant mutiples of one hundred. I believe you has one hundred, a couple of hundred, a few hundred and then hundreds.

We Shall See

United States veterans and active duty personnel not in uniform can now render the military-style hand salute during the playing of the national anthem, thanks to changes in federal law that took effect in October when President Bush signed the Defense Authorization Act of 2009.

"The military salute is a unique gesture of respect that marks those who have served in our nation's armed forces," said Dr. James B. Peake, secretary of Veterans Affairs. "This provision allows the application of that honor in all events involving our nation's flag."

Changes in federal law last year, contained in the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008, authorized active duty personnel not in uniform and veterans to render the military-style hand salute during the raising, lowering or passing of the flag, but did not address salutes during the national anthem.

Traditionally, members of the nation's veterans service organizations have rendered the hand-salute during the national anthem and at events involving the national flag while wearing their organization's official head-gear.

Soap Box Ravings says that soon Ex-Senator Obama will be the President of the United States of America, the Commander and Chief of the Armed Forces of the United states of America. Will he salute the flag then and with respect or will he be disrespectful as he has been in the past. Time will tell and we will see.

The information on the law states that active duty personnel and veterans "can" now hand salute in civilian clothes it does not say "must." But President Obama will be in his official capacity as President from the day he is sworn in until he is relieved. In his case, the "can" is a must.

I am reminded of an old saying about a leopards ability to change it's spots. Can the new President change his spots. Soap Box Ravings does not think it is very likely, but he will see along with the rest of you.