Former Marine fighter pilot to show Kentucky Republicans that there is a new breed of Democrat in town

Courtesy of Lexington Herald Leader:

In July, after 20 years in the Marine Corps, Lt. Col. Amy McGrath packed up her things and moved back to Kentucky. 

On Tuesday, less than a month after the move, her campaign released a video announcing that she will run for Congress as a Democrat in the Sixth Congressional District, which is represented by Republican Andy Barr of Lexington. 

“This is my new mission,” McGrath, 42, said in the announcement video. “To take on a Congress full of career politicians who treat the people of Kentucky like they’re disposable.”

Oh this is certainly going to give Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell night terrors.

My favorite part is that McGrath makes health care a central theme of her campaign.

I think this is a winner for Democrats, and she is the perfect candidate to deliver that message.

Dakota Meyer seems to think that Heaven is guarded by the Marines. WTF?

Courtesy of the Dakota Meyer's Facebook page:  

Got into a debate today. Someone challenged the notion that Marines guard the gates of heaven. It got spirited of course. The wrap up is... they do, I am certain of it.

Okay this has so many layers of ignorance that it actually makes my brain hurt just to read it.

First off of course is that the concept of heaven is a primitive artifice used to control the behaviors of the simple minded.

Secondly if there WERE a Heaven, access to it is by invitation only from what I understand, so who exactly are the Marines supposed to be guarding it against?

And thirdly, according to legend, the place was created, maintained, and let's assume protected by an omniscient creature of infinite power so who exactly poses a viable threat?

I know that Dakota is not exactly the sharpest pair of gardening shears in the shed, but damn this kind of thinking is something I would expect from a small child, not a grown man.

And this just makes me all the more concerned about this poor child.

Source

Because let's face it if Dakota Meyer IS the father, and of course Bristol's the mother, well let's just say that it is unlikely that there is a Mensa membership in her future.

Newest strategy from Bristol Palin supporters. Dakota Meyer abused her. Update!

Truth

A photo posted by Bristol Palin (@bsmp2) on Nov 18, 2015 at 9:27pm PST

So I am sure that some of you have seen a link to this popping up over and over again here in the comments, along with the accusation that Dakota physically abused Bristol while they were together.

Now first let me say that I actually think that Dakota might have some serious issues, not the least of which might be PTSD and possible alcohol abuse.

However having said that I will also say that from what I have heard Bristol has NOT told anybody up here that she was being abused, and let's face it if she were the Palins would have spread that ALL OVER the tabloids by now.

If Bristol and her mother decide to use that tactic in order to smear Dakota in the future, they might want to think long and hard about it first.

The military is very protective of their Medal of Honor winners and if somebody files false allegations against one of them, that person is going to have a serious fight on their hands.

After all if it is not just Dakota Meyer's reputation at stake, but also the Marine Corps and the entire United States military for awarding such a prestigious award to a man who would do such a thing to a woman.

 Of course as we know false allegations are the Palin family weapon of choices, ie David Letterman purposefully slandered Willow Palin, Joe McGinnis moved next door to peer through Piper's bedroom window, Levi Johnston got Bristol drunk in a tent and raped her, etc. etc. etc.

However in this case they might not want to "go there."

Update: By the way accurate or not that whole Bristol Palin is demanding a paternity test from Dakota Meyer meme is going viral. You can already find examples here, here, and here.

The Marine held captive in Mexico after crossing the border with loaded guns has been freed. Just one less thing for the Right Wing to bitch at Obama about. Update!

Courtesy of the Washington Post:  

A retired U.S. Marine who fought in Afghanistan returned home to Florida on Saturday after spending eight months in a Mexican jail for crossing the border with loaded guns, a case that led U.S. politicians to bring intense pressure on Mexico to release him. 

Family spokesman Jon Franks said the private plane carrying Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, his mother and supporters — including former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson — landed at a South Florida airport about 6 a.m. Tahmooressi was freed Friday night and was reunited with his mother, Jill, and then boarded the flight to Florida in San Diego. 

Tahmooressi, 26, has said he took a wrong turn on a California freeway that funneled him into a Tijuana port of entry with no way to turn back, and that he had no intention of illegally bringing guns into Mexico. His detention brought calls for his freedom from U.S. politicians, veterans groups and social media campaigns. A U.S. congressional committee held a hearing on the case. 

In Mexico, possession of weapons restricted for use by the Army is a federal crime, and the country has been tightening up its border checks to stop the flow of U.S. weapons that have been used by drug cartels. 

In his order Friday, the Mexican judge did not make a determination on the illegal arms charges against Tahmooressi but freed him because of his mental state, according to a Mexican official who had knowledge of the ruling but was not authorized to give his name. Tahmooressi suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment for which Franks said would be the first order of business now that he is back in the U.S.

As I am sure everybody is aware the Right Wing had been making this a cause celebre for months and even Sarah Palin and Brancy had posted about it several times.

Personally I have been more than a little skeptical at this guy's story, especially since on the day of his arrest he had already crossed into Mexico on foot, checked into a hotel, checked out hours later, walked back across the border to his truck, and then tried to drive it across the border into Mexico where the guns were found under a mattress. (Source.)

Look maybe the guy has all kinds of problems and is not responsible for his actions, however I am also noticing that this PTSD diagnosis is starting to crop up a lot in order to explain all kinds of erratic behaviors. ("Track stop cussing.")

However there is also the strong possibility that this guy really did deserve to face a little Mexican justice, and that he was saved solely for political reasons, and so that certain powerful people could save face.

Update: Well you knew it was coming.

From Queen of Attention Seeking's Facebook page:  

What wonderful news that Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi will be free on U.S. soil—finally!—after being imprisoned in Mexico for the past eight months. It's been such a bizarre situation and so disappointing as we hear reports that the White House never did fight for our Marine's freedom. If true, then President Obama once again broke that sacred commitment to never leave an American behind. If I'm wrong on this, I'll be more than happy to acknowledge the President's efforts to see an honored vet set free. Prayers and well wishes go out to Sgt. Tahmooressi and all who have been so dedicated to his plight, especially Andrew's joy-filled mother today. I had the honor of speaking with her a few months ago and have admired her commitment in seeking justice for her son. She’s fought doggedly for Andrew's release; her efforts paid off. Great volunteer organizations worked so hard for this outcome, and FOX News’ Greta Van Susteren kept this important story of seemingly obvious injustice in the news even when few others reported on it. I hope the press will keep pursuing truth in the matter, in the name of justice for all. The best of everything, Andrew! Find peace and fulfillment in this new chapter of life! 

- Sarah Palin

"I'm so glad he's free (Look at me! Look at me!). Too bad the President left him in that Mexican jail to rot. (Look at me! Look at me!) But hey if I'm wrong about that I will totally (Never) apologize. (Well are you looking at me yet or what?)

Sarah Palin inserts herself quite aggressively into the jailed Marine in Mexico kerfuffle.

Former Marine Andrew Paul Tahmooressi

So Palin has decided that she is now the go between for the mother of Sgt. Tahmooressi and the authorities in getting the former Marine out of the pokey.

Here is little Miss Nosy Britches most recent Facebook post:  

As promised, here's the press release on the current situation with Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, the U.S. Marine stuck in a Mexican prison for months now. 

Palin then links to this press release from Serving California, which is a Christian organization that counsels veterans, ex-offenders, and crime victims. (I'm not sure how many of those labels describe Sgt. Tahmooressi.)

The press release essentially chronicles the Marine's mother's attempts to get him a new lawyer, his struggles with PTSD, and of course Palin's "mother to mother" conversations with the mom.

Having read this document Palin's participation actually makes more sense.

It is the newest Right Wing cause celebre, which increases her conservative bonafides.

It concerns a soldier, so Palin gets to pander to the military.

The mother and son are very religious, and receiving support from Christian organizations, so Palin gets to check off that box as well.

And of course Palin gets to use the situation to attack the President again, and isn't that really its own reward?

Of course the facts that keep coming to the surface kind of take a big crap ( I know Sarah likes that word.) all over Palin's pity party parade.

The weapons and ammunition found in Sgt. Tahmooressi's truck.

Here is something posted last month by a blogger called Mexico Trucker: 

Former Marine Andrew Paul Tahmooressi did not enter Mexico by mistake, according to an article published Friday in the Tijuana newspaper ZETATIJUANA. 

Information obtained from a surveillance camera video showing Tahmooressi’s entrance into Mexico and investigations done on both sides of the border have led to this conclusion which is included in the investigative package that has been forwarded to the Procuraduría General de la República (PGR), Mexico’s equivalent to our Attorney Generals office. According to the report, this wasn’t the first time Tahmooressi had been in Tijuana and had “personal interest” in Mexico. The statement doesn’t specify when the previous visits to Mexico occurred, however, there is a heavy Marine presence in the southern part of California with Camp Pendleton less than 100 miles north of the border.

Tahmooressi was arrested on April 1, 2014 when he crossed into Mexico carrying a loaded .45 caliber pistol, AR-15 type assault weapon and a 12 gauge shotgun, as well as extra ammo clips and ammunition for all three weapons.+

He was charged with being in possession of firearms “reserved exclusively for military use” and faces from 6 to 21 years in Federal prison in Mexico if convicted.

And here is a little more from the same source:

The story changes with the time of day it seems. Some news outlets deem it prudent to stick with the story of how he was driving to San Ysidro to meet friends for dinner. Nothing said of Mexico. When truth be known, Mr. Tahmooressi had spent the day carousing around in Tijuana on foot. 

He left his late model Ford F-150 pickup with his belonging in the back seat in garbage bags and the weapons, an AR-15 assault rifle, a 12 ga. shot gun and a 1911 Model .45 Caliber pistol in the vehicle, parked in a public parking lot on the border while he went partying. Not very responsible of him. These are the weapons he had in his possession when he was arrested and charged.

Fox News and all of their pundits deliberately overlook the fact that Mr. Tahmooressi had 400 rounds of ammunition for these weapons in his possession, further complicating things for him. He also had extra clips for both the assault rifle and the .45 in his possession. Nobody with the least bit of common sense would say that this was for his personal protection. It’s also notable that possession of these weapons and transport of these weapons is a felony in California. 

If the statements made by Mexican Trucker are accurate, and he seems to know what he is talking about, then Sarah Palin's little military angel is really a PTSD suffering, wild child, who may have been transporting weapons into Mexico for the purpose of sale.

Another thing that is completely being ignored is that according to the head of Mexican Customs in Tijuana, Tahmooressi "Never, and I want to say this categorically, never did he say that he had made a mistake."

A mistake, by the way, that seems virtually impossible since THIS is the entrance to Tijuana, Mexico.

Seriously, how could anybody really be expected to notice that?

Another day, another example of Sarah Palin throwing her support behind a liar, criminal, or deviant.

Or, in this case, perhaps all three.

With the whole Benghazi thing blowing up in the conservatives faces, Obamacare doing much better than they predicted, and Hillary Clinton gracefully dodging GOP mudslinging, Sarah Palin decides to focus on breaking a Marine out of a Mexico jail instead.

Courtesy of the White Walker of Wasilla's Facebook page:  

Does it seem like a decorated Marine is the only one Obama doesn't want crossing our border? 

I’ve had the good fortune to be in contact with associates of Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi, the U.S. Marine jailed in Mexico after inadvertently crossing the border with three registered guns in his car. Fox’s Greta Van Susteren has been covering this story diligently, and has traveled the route our Marine traveled when straying across a highway into Mexico, noting it seems quite easy to end up in Mexico without planning on it, because signage is so poor along the roads. 

As reported, his mother has had difficulty finding good legal representation for her son, but they’ve now acquired a good attorney to present his case and get him released as soon as possible. 

This terrible and unnecessary situation will likely be resolved via the court system and there is every indication that Sgt. Tahmooressi has a strong case to win, but it’s a crapshoot. And it’s crappy (Boy I remember when I was ten years old and liked to say some version of the the word "crap.") that more hasn’t been done to help free this detained U.S. Marine who’s suffered months in a Mexican jail for crossing the boarder into their country with registered arms. We must implore our commander-in-chief to help America’s Marine under his command, and help his family with at least having their questions answered. (You know as a civilian I am more than a little insulted at the idea that somebody in the military is more deserving of justice than any other American. It's not like there are not people in uniform who are incapable of breaking the law, or doing terrible things.) Please don’t prove this is par for the course for your administration, Mr. President. Perhaps if Sgt. Tahmooressi had deserted his post, his mother would get the red carpet treatment at the White House instead of being ignored. (Okay that is just an ugly and unnecessary dig at Sgt. Bergdahl.)

Let’s bring our honorable Marine home. An organization helping Sgt. Tahmooressi will have information for all of us soon, so stay tuned for more info – I'll get it to you – and please do what you can to support them in bringing an honorable American son home. 

- Sarah Palin

I know NOTHING about the ease with which one can accidentally cross the border into Mexico, but you would think with everybody so focused on security that it would not be something quite so easily accomplished.

And it appears I'm right.

Here is some information that Palin seems to be willfully overlooking:

According to Vice News, Tahmooressi entered Mexico with a 5.56mm rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .45-caliber pistol, as well as more than 400 rounds of ammunition. The chief Mexican customs officer at the San Ysidro crossing told Vice that the guns, all loaded, were "just wrapped up in his belongings" rather than locked away and unloaded as required by California law. Vice also reported that "the rifle was found behind the driver’s seat, the shotgun on the passenger seat, and the pistol was in the driver-side door pocket, along with several cartridges." 

It's pretty hard to accidentally end up in Mexico. Especially with guns. There are big signs on the U.S. side telling travelers that guns are illegal in Mexico. There’s plenty of warning that the border is approaching. Is it plausible that Tahmooressi crossed by accident in the dark? Maybe. I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, even though he admitted that he lied to Mexican officials about how many times he'd crossed the border.

Okay now if you were a Mexican police officer and you found an American who entered your country with illegal firearms in their vehicle and four hundred rounds of ammunition, and they then lied about how many times they crossed your border, would you trust that their motives innocent?

But hey if Palin is hell bent on grandstanding in a totally useless fashion, she can join these guys:

U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi has been in a Mexican prison for almost three months — and a group of bikers have decided that’s long enough. 

John Harrington, founder of Shield Tactical, grew tired of waiting on President Obama to intervene on the Marine’s behalf, so he is organizing a ride to the Mexican border to demand Tahmooressi’s release. 

“I started last Thursday to organize the ride on the border to demand the release of Sgt. Tahmooressi,” Harrington told the Guerilla Media Network in a roadside interview earlier this week. “Somebody has to stand up for these guys. It’s time we start fighting liars with fires. So that’s what we’re doing.”

How does one "fight liars with fires" by the way?

So these motorcycle morons are going to ride their Harley's to the border, and gun their engines in order to intimidate the Mexican law enforcement into releasing the ex-Marine.

It sounds like somebody has been watching too many episodes of the Sons of Anarchy.

The actual Marines have a more reasoned approach to this matter:

In a letter this week to Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., Marine Corps Manpower and Reserve Affairs Commander Lt. Gen. Robert Milstead said the Corps has limited ability to help Tahmooressi, but was willing to do whatever possible to bring him back. 

“I understand ... this matter rests appropriately within the U.S. Department of State’s capable hands,” Milstead said. “While it is not within the Marine Corps’ purview to unilaterally intervene in matters involving a foreign government, I assure you that we are prepared to assist as necessary to the greatest extent permissible under law.”

You see THAT is the kind of support that is appropriate.  To "assist as necessary to the greatest extent permissible under law." Only attention seeking idiots rant and rage about something that is already being handled by the courts of country with whom we have a friendly relationship.

So here is my question.

What happens if the Mexican authorities turn up some new evidence that Tahmooressi wasn't the innocent border crosser he claims to be? What if it turns out that he was engaged in illegal activities?

Will Palin, Fox News, and the Right Wing rabble rousers then suggest that we invade Mexico to break him out of jail? Or do they actually respect the sovereignty of other nations like they are always saying?

 I can just hear John McCain now, "Bomb, bomb, bomb... bomb, bomb Mexico."

Just can't stop "palling around" with domestic terrorists can you Sarah Palin? Update!

Justin Giles of Wasilla, Ak. Standing guard at the Bundy ranch standoff April 18, 2014.

Hey do you guys remember this picture?

Well I sure didn't.

However a sharp reader did, and they sent me another picture of Justin Giles, which they found while looking through his Facebook page.

Now why does that lady look so familiar?

According to his Facebook page this picture was posted on February 24th, of this year. You know, less than two months before he strapped on his assault rifle and helped a group of sovereign citizens threaten government workers just trying to do their jobs in Nevada.

Hey do you know what else is interesting? It seems that Mr. Giles was formerly Sgt. Giles of the United States Marine Corps.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't taking up arms against federal agents kind of a no no when you are in the Marine Corps, or in the reserves?

And here is another interesting tidbit.

My sources tell me that he is also friends with a certain Maria Rensel, who you may (or may not) remember is behind the "Free Schaeffer Cox" page.

So to be clear Sarah Palin is obviously good friends with a former Marine Sergeant, who took up arms against federal employees in Nevada, and is good friends with a supporter of convicted domestic terrorist Schaeffer Cox. 

I know, I know, probably just a coincidence.

Though there is somebody that we all know who does not believe in coincidences. (Gold star if you can guess who.)

P.S. Here's the part that kind of burns my ass.

@AverageChirps Justin Giles of Wasilla, AK will be easy to find. Sarah will know how to reach him. Plenty of pix. pic.twitter.com/kFhczjlQKI
— Bill Yosemite (@BillYosemite) May 11, 2014

That I was so late putting all of this together.

I really need to hire myself an intern. 

Update: I made some corrections to the post concerning Giles military service.  Originally I was under the impression that he was active duty, but in fact he is currently out of the service.

Really must look into that intern situation.

Things that are simple to predict: Balls thrown up will fall down. Cute babies grow up to be obnoxious teenagers. And if President Obama is under attack by the Right Wing Sarah Palin WILL pile on.

So as you know President Obama recently freed an Army Sergent who has been held captive by the Taliban for five years.

And as you also know this has been widely viewed as a good thing by those who don't already hate everything the President does.

Cue the angry Facebook post: 

Barak Obama just released Islamic terrorists from GITMO, exchanging the murderers for a soldier who ended up in enemy hands five years ago amidst unexplained circumstances. Obama glowingly suggests now that he succeeded in negotiating with terrorists to seal the deal, violating America's agreement with our allies that we would not be so reckless, short-sighted and stupid as to negotiate with terrorists – and now these Islamists who hate us are free to go about their business of killing us. Meanwhile, we have a U.S. Marine detained in Mexico who is ignored by Obama – it's like someone said: "our Marine is the ONLY one Obama won't let cross the border." Obama needs to hop on Air Force One and visit our neighbors to the south to seal THAT deal because surely the Commander-in-Chief lives up to his word and 230 years of U.S. Military ethos promising we "leave no one behind." 

You may remember that the Marine Palin is referring to did NOT get captured by the Taliban while in Afghanistan, but instead was arrested by the Mexican authorities after crossing their border with a car full of guns.

So much the same don't you think?

Interesting how Palin is always going on about protecting the sovereignty of red states from the Federal government, but has no problem with the President hopping on Air Force One and telling Mexico that their laws don't matter because the guy they arrested has become a cause celebre among American conservatives.

Palin goes on to extensively quote from an article over at Breitbart, the contents of which I will spare you, but suffice it to say that President Obama simply cannot do ANYTHING right.

You know if this had happened while President Bush was still in office, the Right Wing would be praising the crap out of him and suggesting that we do away with term limits and elect him for yet another tour of duty in the White House. (After which the country would be nothing more than a smoldering hole in the ground.)

But because the black guy did it, he must be attacked relentlessly and accused of damaging America's reputation here and abroad.

And by the way check out who was for releasing Sgt. Bergdahl before she was against it.

MUST SEE: Sarah Palin then and now on #SgtBergdahl! @SarahPalinUSA #BoweBergdahl #boweisback #boweiscominghome pic.twitter.com/tOC1ubrqEw
— clydetheslyde (@clydetheslyde) June 2, 2014

What? Hypocrisy! Say it ain't so!

Speaking of Palin, and hypocrisy, our old friend Goeffrey Dunn has posted a HuffPo piece taking those who have recently tried to resurrect her image to task.

Sarah Palin continues her middle school attacks against Michelle Obama. Update!

So the photo above was on Palin's Facebook page this morning.

Along with this message: 

White House and concerned celebrities - how about this, too? Thank you. 

- Sarah Palin

This of course is part of Palin's, and the rest of the Right Wing's, ongoing attack against the First lady for daring to show compassion.

The Marine she is referring to is,  Andrew Tahmooressi, who supposedly accidentally crossed into Mexico with multiple guns in his possession.

From what I heard at least one of these weapons is not legal in Mexico, so even though they were legally purchased in America he is being held.

This of course is the new cause celebre among the Right Wing, which means that Snowdrift Snooki of course must chime in as well.

But why pick on Michelle Obama over this issue?

Or is it just that Palin has some psychological problem with strong black women?

Update: Oooh, I like this response.

@SarahPalinUSA, are you getting enough negative attention yet? Why is the date on Trig's birth certificate a secret? pic.twitter.com/nYkg5sm8hj

— punchumgum (@punchumgum) May 24, 2014

Retired Army general, and Fox News contributor, offers to lead disenfranchised Marines in surrounding White House. In a non-treasonous way of course.

Courtesy of Raw Story:  

A retired Army general and Fox News analyst told a Tea Party group that he would lead a military coup against the U.S. government, if only reluctantly. 

Paul Vallely, a retired major general and senior military analyst for the conservative news channel, told the Surprise, Arizona, Tea Party Patriots during a Dec. 3 speech that other retired military personnel and veterans groups had contacted him about the possibility. 

“I had a call this afternoon from Idaho, the gentleman said, ‘If I give you 250,000 Marines to go to Washington, will you lead them?’” Vallely said as the group laughed and gasped. “I said, ‘Yes, I will, I’ll surround the White House and I’ll surround the Capitol building, but it’s going to take physical presence to do things.” 

Yes because there are 250,000 Marines ready to commit treason by marching against this President, and surrounding his residence in a threatening manner. 

Seems totally reasonable.

He said such a protest would be a continuation of Tea Party activism. 

“The great things the Tea Party did, I mean, they were out there in the community, standing up, being seen,” Vallely said. “They did things, so we’ve got to go based on what the Tea Party has done and elevate it into something and get more younger people involved. So I don’t know how else to do it.” 

The retired general has suggested that a new George Washington could be drawn from the ranks of retired military personnel to lead an insurrection because his aims could not be achieved even through this year’s congressional midterm elections. 

“I don’t want to be criticized for starting a revolution, but I’d certainly head it if we had to,” Vallely said as the crowd applauded. “We all love a good fight if it’s worth it, right?”

Totally worth it. If you mean by "worth it" that it will result in arrest, embarrassment, and imprisonment.

I swear these Fox News/Tabagger types seem to exist in some kind of alternative universe where if they were to march toward Washington with a contingent of ex-military types that the ranks would grow until they had an army on their side large enough to challenge the might of the US Armed Forces.

Instead what is more likely to happen is that the few elderly veterans in the group would run out of air in their oxygen tanks, or the battery would go dead in their mobility scooters, and they would be forced to drop out before ever reaching their goal, and the handful that did make it would be too out of breath to chant or hold their protest signs aloft.

What a bunch of morons.

Syrian Army hacks US Marines website to leave a message.

Courtesy of TPM:

The homepage of www.marines.com, the official Marines recruitment site, was changed to a page signed "delivered by the SEA," according to a screen shot posted by the Independent. The message on the page called for support from the Marines for their “brothers, the Syrian army soldiers." The message read: 

This is a message written by your brothers in the Syrian Army, who have been fighting Al Qaeda for the last 3 years. We understand your patriotism and love for your country so please understand our love for ours. 

Obama is a traitor who wants to put your lives in danger to rescue Al Qaeda insurgents. 

Marines, please take a look at what your comrades think about Obama's alliance with Al Qaeda against Syria. 

Your officer in charge probably has no qualms about sending you to die against soldiers just like you, fighting a vile common enemy. The Syrian army should be your ally not your enemy. 

Refuse your orders and concentrate on the real reason every soldier joins their military, to defend their homeland. 

You're more than welcome to fight alongside our army rather than against it. 

Your brothers, the Syrian army soldiers. A message delivered by the SEA

Whatever side you are on in this debate, you have to admit that this is a pretty inventive way to get your message across.

It will definitely speak to the misgivings that many people have about going into yet another war. 

But did you notice that there was NO declaration of innocence?  They did not say that the Sarin gas was not their doing, they simply asked that the Marines not do anything in response. Kind of an admission of guilt, don't you think?

But ultimately our Marines will do what our Marines do, and that is follow orders.

Hopefully our President is coming up with a plan to minimize the number of casualties while keeping our people safe.However I am not sure the Syrian Army deserves such consideration.

Lack of "spiritual faith" comparable to "lack of courage, and "history of psychiatric hospitalizations" in Marine training publications. Please tell me again that Atheists are not persecuted.

Courtesy of HuffPo:  

In 2011 the Army faced public scrutiny after the exposition of once mandatory "Spiritual Fitness" testing which assessed the resiliency of soldiers on such qualitative measures as frequency of prayer or attendance of religious services. When a soldier failed this religious test they were denigrated with the following: 

"Spiritual fitness may be an area of difficulty... You may lack a sense of meaning and purpose in your life. At times, it is hard for you to make sense of what is happening to you and to others around you. You may not feel connected to something larger than yourself. You may question your beliefs, principles and values... Improving your spiritual fitness should be an important goal."

Of course, no military organization is content with a tongue lashing as a response to failing a mandatory test. For the test to have been worth anything, Army leadership determined remedial training in the form of training modules and even the requirement to visit with chaplains for religious counseling was appropriate. 

Fortunately, after extensive efforts by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF), and concerned soldiers, the Army decided in February of 2011 that religious testing would cease to be formally mandatory and remedial training for failing such tests would be optional. 

Sadly, this was not the end of religious tests being included in formal policy throughout our military. Several days ago it was brought to our attention at MRFF that the United States Marine Corps (USMC) maintains in its doctrine that a "Lack or loss of spiritual faith" is just cause to increase scrutiny of any given Marine. This clause is present in at least two USMC publications, including Marine Corps Base Quantico's Headquarters and Service Battalion Order 5100.29 and Training and Education Command Order 5100.1. 

"Lack or loss of spiritual faith" is included as a "Guidance/moral compass issue" in both of these documents under a list of risk indicators for use by "leaders at all levels" to "identify and address risky behavior or events that may lead to risky behavior, as soon as possible." This apparent character flaw is juxtaposed with such things as "lack of courage," "history of psychiatric hospitalizations," "past or current substance abuse history," and being "anti-social." In the simplest terms, it is the current official position of the United States Marine Corps that those who do not profess a religious belief or choose to leave their religion are to be considered a potential hazard to themselves and the Corps and be placed under greater scrutiny than their peers. 

The documents go on to include directives on how to convene a "Force Preservation Council" with the mission to evaluate and assist Marines that are identified as high risk through the checklist of undesirable traits (such as lack of religion).

I find it interesting that the military has little trouble opening their minds to the idea of openly gay soldiers within their ranks, and yet this prejudice remains so  firmly entrenched that it must be dealt with as if it is a dangerous psychological malady.

I will provide this caveat however. It may well be that the military much prefers those who tend to take things on faith alone, and rarely question the information they are provided. As habitual church goers and Fundamentalists are conditioned to do.

After all if critical thinkers were in positions of importance during the Nazi regime, who would have sent all of those Jews to the gas chambers? (And yes Hitler was closely associated with the Catholic Church and took his inspiration for the genocide from church teachings.)

Maybe it is just me, but I like the idea of those making life and death decisions while representing America to be intellectual inquisitive individuals who carefully think through any command they are given before executing it.

But hey what do I know? After all according to the Marines I might just as well be suffering from psychiatric problems.

US Marines official Twitter account quotes Sarah Palin, thinks better of it, and takes it down. Uh oh. are those tinfoil hats coming over the horizon?

Here is the quote, captured by the totally not overreacting SooperMexican:

Personally I don't see a problem with quoting this. After all Palin said something nice about the Marines, she is a national figure, and they felt grateful.

No harm, no foul.

And this Sooper Mexican guy agreed, but he also made a prediction:

It’s a perfectly innocuous quote, but Sarah Palin seems to bring the most evil, disgusting and obscene side out of the liberal left. I just hope they don’t wuss out and delete their tweet like the various US Embassy twitter accounts have recently.

Well as you can imagine it WAS deleted, apparently after some mocking on Twitter from other military personnel and civilians.

So you know what THAT means, LEFTIST SOCIALISTS ARE MAKING THE US MARINES DELETE TWEETS!

Or, and this is just me thinking outside of the big box of crazy, the person who posted that on behalf of the Marines was told by his commander, very likely NOT a Leftist, that quoting Sarah Palin made the Marines look like idiots and asked that it be taken down.

But hey, what do I know? After all I am just a Leftist.

I think the conservative's attempt to drum up outrage over "Umbrellagate" has a few photographic obstacles in its path. Don't you?

Gee, what IS the difference here?

Hang on, don't tell me. I'll figure it out.

Well I think we can ALL agree that having others hold an umbrella for us is uppity and reserved ONLY for those in positions of power, and NOT for those who count themselves as REAL Americans.

Right?

Don't you hate it when a perfectly good attack against the President bounces off of him like a light rain hitting a...hitting a...you know hitting a thing that blocks rain.

Update: Added by popular demand.

Oh look! Todd Palin made a new friend on his reality show.

Courtesy of Fox News:  

And while audiences might be blown away by the skills and danger exerted on the highly-anticipated program, McLaren was personally blown away by Todd and Sarah Palin, and admitted that he thinks of them very differently now than before they met. 

“I like hanging out with Todd and Sarah a lot. They walked into my trailer, and obviously we disagree on some issues. I am a libertarian guy – socially liberal and an avid supporter of gay marriage, but I am pro-gun rights and pro-life, and we made off like regular people. I was teaching Todd how to shoot grenades, we were hanging from helicopters together 60 feet above the ground and we were swimming together with full gear on,” he enthused. “The thing that impressed me most is that Todd is a commercial fisherman in Alaska, he is pretty hardcore. He even won a challenge with a broken arm! He really earned my respect.” 

McLaren also noted that even though his friends are shocked that he has become such good friends with the high-profile Republican couple, the portrayal of the Palins in the media is often vastly distorted. 

“Todd and Sarah Palin are the nicest people I have ever met,” he said. “I love America and they love America. They may not agree with me on my stance on gay marriage, but that is their personal view and I respect that. That’s what is so great about being American.” 

I am not at all surprised by this, time and time again you hear about people discussing how nice Sarah is and how she really engages with people on a personal level,  especially if you have something she wants.

However I can guarantee that if this McLaren guy ever did anything that they deemed was not supportive of them, or ended up working with the Obama campaign, he would see an ENTIRELY different side of the Palins.

By the way can you imagine how insignificant the Toad felt standing next to THIS guy? I'll bet he was VERY nice, because he was undoubtedly too afraid to NOT be nice.

Oooh, manly!

After their acts of aggression toward the protestors the other day the Oakland police might have a serious problem. A problem with members of the United States Marine Corps!

Courtesy of Business Insider:

Marines around the world are outraged by the injuries inflicted by police on Scott Olsen at Tuesday's Occupy Oakland protests. 

The following picture is taken from the Reddit thread "How I feel, as a United States Marine, about what occurred in Oakland." 

This man is not alone. In the five hours since the thread went up there have been over 600 comments. 

The overreaction by the Oakland police may turn out to be a turning point in the OWS movement. The outpouring of anger directed at the police has come from all quarters, and it has been matched by reinvigorated support for the protestors.

Rachel Maddow helps to put these protests in a historical perspective.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The revolution has begun.

Lawrence O'Donnell on the police brutality directed at OWS protestors this weekend in New York City and one lone Marine's refusal to be intimidated.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I have to say that watching this young man stand up for those that were being brutalized put a sizable lump in my throat. I guess after you have seen what he has seen in Iraq, it takes more than a couple dozen police officers to scare you into standing silent while your fellow Americans are being treated with such disrespect.

On this same topic I thought I would share some photographs taken at various offshoots of the Occupy Wall Street protests that have cropped up around the country.

Occupy DC

Occupy LA

Occupy Boston

Occupy Portland

You can view many more of these wonderful pictures, and see the courage of American speaking truth to power, by clicking here.

Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps has message for Marines about DADT: "Get over it!"

From the Wall Street Journal:

“Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution is pretty simple,” he told a group of Marines at a base in South Korea. “It says, ‘Raise an army.’ It says absolutely nothing about race, color, creed, sexual orientation.

“You all joined for a reason: to serve,” he continued. “To protect our nation, right?”

“Yes, sergeant major,” Marines replied.

“How dare we, then, exclude a group of people who want to do the same thing you do right now, something that is honorable and noble?” Sgt. Maj. Barrett continued, raising his voice just a notch. “Right?”

Sgt. Maj. Barrett then described conversations with U.K. troops, who saw a similar ban lifted a decade ago, with little disruption. And to drive the point home, he produced a pocket copy of the Constitution.

“Get over it,” he said. “We’re magnificent, we’re going to continue to be. … Let’s just move on, treat everybody with firmness, fairness, dignity, compassion and respect. Let’s be Marines.”

Well I think that about sums up the attitude the military needs to embrace in order to successfully do away with DADT, don't you?

I have to say that reading that caused me to get a little lump in my throat.

I almost hate to do this to you, but here is a picture of Sarah Palin's face tattooed on a Marine's ass.

This is the tattoo as it appears on Marine Gunnery Sgt. Benjamin Lepping's hindquarters.

Lepping, an ordnance disposal expert out of Camp Pendleton, was assigned to Alaska before he went to Afghanistan.

He said he had such a good time, he wanted something to remind him of his time there.

“I decided, ‘What could be better than getting a tattoo of the hottest cougar in the Republican Party?’”

I don't know, maybe it is just me, but I don't think she has ever looked better.  Nor have I seen her in a more appropriate setting.

Active duty Marine has some words of advice for those Teabaggers calling for a revolution. Updated!

Please read this article and then send it to any of your friends or family who are Teabaggers or talking about overthrowing the "Obama-nation" or starting a revolution.

For those of you calling for a civil war, I implore you to stop and think about what you're saying. Look around your neighborhood and your city. Now imagine using that terrain to survive. Imagine dodging semi-automatic rifle fire as you scramble from cover to cover, dragging your wounded child behind you. Imagine the deafening report of a mortar as it strikes the ground a 150 feet in front of you, the overpressure enough to shatter your teeth and perforate an ear drum. Try and envision a Stryker rolling through neighbor's front lawn or a F/A-18 making lazy loops over your head in Close Air Support for the troops in the distance.

Now I 'd like to disperse a myth here - many of you think that US military would not fight civilians. I can't speak for all, but in my case - the moment you declare civil war, you're no longer civilians. The moment you attack the constitution, you're now enemies of that constitution. And I swore to defend and support and if necessary give my life for that Constitution and utilize every tool, technique, and weapon at my disposal to do so. And trust me, I'm not alone.

Update:  For some reason the marine's letter was taken down.  You can still read it here. I am interested as to why the origianl post was removed.

Update 2:  Here is the Marine's rewritteen post after he and his family were theatened. Now somebody please tell me again that the Teabaggers are simply partiotic Americans expressing their opinions peacefully.