Senator Obama Says Today, IF His Pastor Had Not Retired, He Would Have Left His Church

In an interview scheduled to air on TV today (03/29/08) Senator Obama said," Had the reverend not retired and had he not acknowledged that what he had said had deeply offended people and were inappropriate and mischaracterized what I believe is the greatness of this country, for all its flaws, then I wouldn't have felt comfortable staying there at the church."


Soap Box Ravings believes that Senator Obama's ability to instantly realize his error and modify his behavior makes him the perfect Presidential candidate to answer the phone at 0300.

On 03/25/08 Senator Obama made his famous race speak and now only three days later (not then but three days later) he says had his Pastor NOT retired and had his Pastor NOT acknowledged he offended people, than he, Senator Obama WOULD have left his church. I think this country really deserves Senator Obama.

Talk about double speak and hind sight. At least Senator Clinton (yuk) has the guts to admit she did and still would vote to enter Iraq knowing the information she had at the time.

100 To 1, The Freakin Gun Did Not Discharge In The Holster

Soap Box Ravings understands that a US Airways pilot who "accidentally" discharged his handgun in the cockpit at 8,000 feet as the flight approached Charlotte, NC has been suspended from flight duty.

As an retired military firearms instructor and retired police firearms instructor my first thought is the pistol in question was not stored in the holster at the time of firing. I think the pilot in question, since no emergency was declared prior to the discharge, was playing with the weapon.

I can see it now: Yo pretty flight attendant, does my large pistola impress you?

KAPOW, now everybody is impressed.

And this from the #1 or #2 man flying the plane. If the suspended pilot is in fact the #2 pilot, then the #1 pilot should also be suspended for allowing a member of his/her crew to unholster a weapon in the cockpit.

If these folks are playing in the cockpit, who is actually in charge of the aluminum missile hurtling through the air at 8,000 feet. As I recall, more than one incident has happened during the time the flight crew was not paying attention.

Lest ye think I am to hard on the crew, I learned my attention skills in the US Navy Submarine Force. Submarines also require constant and immediate attention, otherwise they have been known to turn into mud seeking missiles; from which there are no survivors.

Also, most modern weapons, such as the H&K pistol in question only fire when the trigger is pulled. By definition, if you pull the trigger, it is not an accidental discharge. It would either be stupidity or lack of knowledge related to the pistol in question.

I keep reading there was no danger to the passengers, speaking of the weapon only that is probably true. However when the flight crew is distracted at 8000 feet and approaching a landing there is a problem which may eventually be hazardous to passengers.

The bullet hole in the top picture appears to be about in the middle of the picture. The bullet hole in the bottom picture is the white mark in the middle where the red and blue colors come together.

Soap Box Ravings does understand, he worked as an officer and firearms instructor for a Chief of Police who was always drawing his pistol to show somebody his firearm. By the Grace of God, he luckily never fired it but he sure set a very poor example to the rest of the Department.

Pilot Suspended After Gun Fires on Flight: Soap Box Ravings loves this CNN headline, it makes it sound like the gun fired itself. I would have wrote "Pilot Fires Gun On Plane, Suspended" but CNN is normally way more liberal than I am.

My Kind Of Daughter

Little Melissa comes home from first grade and tells her father that they learned about the history of Valentine's Day.

"Since Valentine's Day is for a Christian saint and we're Jewish," she asks, "Will God get mad at me for giving someone a valentine?"

Her father thinks a bit, and says, "No, I don't think God would get mad. Who do you want to give a Valentine to?"

"Osama Bin Laden," Melissa says.

"Why Osama Bin Laden," her father asks in shock.

"Well," she says, "I thought that if a little American Jewish girl could have enough love to give Osama a Valentine, he might start to think that maybe we're not all bad, and maybe start loving people a little bit. And if other kids saw what I did and sent Valentines to Osama, he'd love everyone a lot. And then he'd start going all over the place to tell everyone how much he loved them and how he didn't
hate any one anymore.

"Her father's heart swells and he looks at his daughter with new found pride and he says "Melissa, that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard."

"I know," Melissa says, "and once he is out in the open, the Marines could blow the son-of-a-bitch away."

Admiral Fired For Lying About An 18 Year Old Affair

A photo of Vice Admiral Stufflebeem.

The Navy fired a Vice Admiral John Stufflebeem after a Pentagon investigation concluded he'd lied during questioning about whether he had an inappropriate relationship while working at the White House in 1990.

The Pentagon Inspector General's investigation was based on an anonymous letter accusing Vice Admiral Stufflebeem of an inappropriate relationship while serving as a military aide to President George H.W. Bush in 1990.

A Navy spokesman, stated that the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) has lost confidence in Admiral Stufflebeem’s judgment and his continuing ability to lead in the office of the CNO.

Besides his total amazement at an investigation over an 18 year old affair, Soap Box Ravings wonders if new standards are being set for those in Washington, D.C. or is it still only the United States military who are upholding standards.

A photo of Hillary Clinton under sniper fire.

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during a speech last Monday on Iraq, said of her Bosnia trip: "I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base."

A photo of Senator Obama and Pastor Wright, the Senator's long term Pastor.

Presidential candidate Barack Obama claimed to have never heard any of his Pastor's rants in church, even though he has been a member of that church for over 20years. Senator Obama knew his Pastor and he knew his Pastor's teaching; which is why the night before he announced his candidacy he called his Pastor and uninvited the Pastor from giving an invocation. Senator Obama knew then of Pastor Wright’s teachings, which his own handlers, among others, believed were overly Afrocentric to the point of excluding whites.

According to the Pastor Wright, Mr. Obama told him, “You can get kind of rough in the sermons, so what we’ve decided is that it’s best for you not to be out there in public.”


Neither candidate was under oath but if you lie when you are selling yourself what does that mean. Once a person has lied to me, I know they are a liar. How about President Clinton and his statement about relations with that woman, Monica Lewinsky, another lie and another liar.

As a retired Master Chief Petty Officer, USN, Soap Box Ravings believes as does the CNO, if they lie, their judgment and continuing ability to lead are questionable and they need to be fired. Think about this for a moment, a candidate for President is basically doing a series of employment interviews. Employment interviews are normally terminated immediately if the future employee determines you are lying.

If that sounds harsh, in the military it is mandatory that you believe in and trust those you work with. Your life and many others are in their hands.

Oh golly, I guess you could say that about the President of the United States of America.

It's The Old Camels Nose Under The Tent, Again

IN December 2007, less than two (2) months after the California Legislature banned the use of center fire rifle and pistol ammunition containing lead when hunting big game or coyotes in the habitat of the California Condor, the California Fish and Game Commission expanded the ban by regulation.

Soap Box Ravings says "Once a legislative body passes any law, the controlling organization whether it be IRS, BATF or the California Fish and Game Commission then uses their authority to expand on the power legislators have granted them. Power granted to a government agency is power taken from the public."

Unlike the State law, the REGULATORY ban will now include 22 rim fire ammunition, muzzle loader projectiles, and shotgun shells that contain one (1) percent or more lead.

Additionally, the increased regulatory ban also prohibits the mere possession ammunition containing lead while not just hunting big game or coyotes but also ground squirrels and other non-game species as well; an addition added by the regulators not the legislators.

The Department of Fish and Game says enforcement is effective and could include seizure (by the government) of projectiles (private property) in the field for testing.

The complete article is available for reading, pg 72, American Rifleman magazine, April 2008 edition under the ILA report.

Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguements In DC v. Heller

Soap Box Ravings believes America's Founding Fathers provided in the First Amendment the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.

They also provided the Second Amendment to secure "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" to guarantee to themselves and their posterity the blessings of "a free State."

By entrusting the nation's sovereignty to the people, the Second Amendment breaks the government's military monopoly by guaranteeing to the people such firearms as would be necessary to defend against the sort of government abuse of their inalienable rights the British had committed prior to the revolution of 1776.

The amendment's "well regulated Militia" encompasses all citizens who have the right to form their own government, not just those who would enlist in the National Guard.

No government deprives its citizens of rights without asserting that its actions are "reasonable" and "necessary." However, A right that can be regulated is not a right at all, it is only a temporary privilege which is dependent upon the good will of the very government officials that such right is designed to constrain.


Herbert W. Titus and William J. Olson, are Gun Owners of America attorneys, who filed a brief representing GOA in the Second Amendment case the Supreme Court presently sitting on.

Their full article "2nd Amendment bars regulation of people’s ability to bear arms" can be found at: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/03/opposing-view-3.html#more

DILLIGAF

Soap Box Ravings learned two totally useless facts today from his local radio station.

1. 12 black robed protesters (you got it, that's twelve protesters) protested the Iraq War today in Washington, DC. ( I saw more protesters than that here in my hometown and ZipSkinny.com says our total population is 4669) and

2. On the day that President William Jefferson Clinton stained Monica Lewinsky's dress in the White House, his wife, Hillary Clinton was present in the White House all day long.

With all of the problems related to the economy, energy, the war in Iraq and a Congress that couldn't pour pi** out of a boot the media wastes their time and mine with the above facts. God help this country.

Obama "Says Now" He Condemns His Pastor's Remarks

Soap Box Ravings has attended a number of churches in the sixty plus years of his life. However, in order to attend a church for any length of time Soap Box Ravings must believe in the basic tenets being put forth by his Pastor.

A fire and brimstone speech by a Pastor trying to spread the gospel is expected and much different than a preacher saying "God Damn the United States" from his or her pulpit while preaching.

Soap Box Ravings notes the Senator Obama has attended the church with the same Pastor for a number of years. Based upon my thought patterns, since the Senator has donated large sums of money to the church, this indicates to me that the Senator believes in what his Pastor is saying and what that Pastor's church is doing.

Another interesting point is that this church is described as a "Mega-Church" so it would appear there are many others who feel the same way the Pastor feels. Even if the Pastor is just beating the drums to expand his flock and make money, the fact is people are joining and paying. One of those is Senator Barack Obama.

Additionally there is the statement by Senator Obama's wife that she was never proud of her country until her husband ran for the Presidential nomination. By the way, she also attends the same church.

Soap Box Ravings really doesn't care what that Pastor preaches or who believes him unless of course they are a politician running for President of the United States.

Soap Box Ravings almost forgot a couple of his MOST TELLING observations of Senator Obama's speech.



Look at the presentation, the Senator seems to have gone overboard on the number of flags used in his speech. But I guess if you can't really act like a patriot, surrounded by enough flags maybe some folks will at least think you look the part.



However, the second picture, the close-up is most telling. The Senator damn sure is not bothered with any of those US Flag lapel pins. And that folks is what happens when you pander to the crowd or try to play a role that really isn't you. It's not his fault, his aides let him come on stage again without a US Flag lapel pin so he could remind us of how poorly we have done, how his foul-mouthed Pastor is family, and how he, Senator Obama is going to save us.

God help this country!

The full article (Obama Condems Pastor's Remarks) is available at: http://news.aol.com/elections/story/_a/obama-condemns-pastors-remarks/20080318065409990001

Another Zealot Self-Destructs

NY Gov. Eliot Spitzer blew it but says his failure is a "personal" matter

Soap Box Ravings thinks perhaps Governor Spitzer's paid friend may have done that for him. I would almost bet that one of his "idols" is named "Slick Willy.

One Of Obama's Stories

This information below is taken from Obama's Curious Tale
By Jack Kelly published on February 23, 2008. The complete article may be found at Real Clear Politics: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/02/obamas_curious_tale.html.
The author, Jack Kelly is a former Marine who later went into the Army and became a Green Beret. After his military service, he was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force in the Reagan Administration. Mr. Kelly has the military background and experience to make this call.

Basically, this is the story:

During a debate with Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama referred to "an Army captain who was head of a rifle platoon which is supposed to have 39 men in a rifle platoon, Who "ended up being sent to Afghanistan with 24 soldiers because 15 of his soldiers had been sent to Iraq. And as a consequence, they didn't have enough ammunition, they didn't have enough humvees. They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier for them to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief."

Soap Box Ravings says Obama appears to have the total story confused. Even if the unit was missing 15 soldiers how would that cause a lack of ammo, Humvees or weapons.

The author points out that Rifle Platoons are not commanded by a captain. They are normally commanded by a lieutenant, usually a second lieutenant.

The heart of Sen. Obama's charge is that the captain's platoon was cannibalized in order to send soldiers to Iraq. The Army does have a program called "cross leveling" where soldiers from units which are not deploying are sent to units which are to bring them up to full strength. But the Army emphatically denies taking soldiers from units which are scheduled to deploy to a combat zone to give them to other units. This would be insane.

Senator Obama also said, "As a consequence, they didn't have enough ammunition, they didn't have enough humvees..."

Soldiers on a mission carry a basic load of ammunition, typically seven magazines (210 rounds). It's possible to for undisciplined soldiers to burn through this quite rapidly in a firefight. Soldiers can run low on ammo until they are resupplied, but this has nothing to do with the adequacy of ammunition stocks in theater. There has never been a shortage of ammunition in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Senator further said, "They were actually capturing Taliban weapons, because it was easier to get Taliban weapons than it was for them to get properly equipped by our current commander in chief."

Soap Box Ravings feels the above statement by Senator Obama makes absolutely no sense from any angle. A soldier in an emergency will defend themselves with any weapon they can get their hands on. However, their supply system is not set up to provide ammunition or repair parts for enemy weapons. It would be crazy to try to use the enemies weapons for any extended period of time.

Units don't deploy to Afghanistan with their stateside vehicles. Afghanistan is 8,000miles from the U.S., in a mountainous region far from seaports. It's hard to ship stuff there. So unnecessary stuff isn't shipped. Units arriving in theater receive the equipment that was being used by the units they are replacing.

Even though he's a member of Congress, Sen. Obama seems to be unaware that it is him and his peers who fund the military. If Sen. Obama thinks the military is inadequately supplied, he should take it up with his Democratic colleagues, who routinely cut the president's defense budget requests.

Soap Box Ravings also feels that Senator Obama has really not thought out his position. He sounds like a lot of our population who want to point out problems that relate to others, while denying any personal responsibility or ownership of the problem that he has just identified. The truly scay part of this is the fact that Senator Obama is seeking the Democratic nomination for the Office of The President.

When ABC's Jake Tapper tracked down Sen. Obama's captain, he found out the Captain 's ammunition complaint was in regards to a shortage of ammo for his heavy machine guns and grenade launchers while training at Fort Drum before deployment, not in Afghanistan. This is a rather different story from the one Sen. Obama