President* Trump

[O Really]

Minimum standards don't cut it in the military; it's not a job to provide life's basic necessities, but yes, it is a form discrimination if someone who is fit for the rigorous lifestyle the military demands to be rejected based on their lifestyle.

As I said earlier, I posted the Trey Gaudy article as an interesting read, not as an endorsement of the POTUS's position, although the relaxing of military standards for it's members would not be in the best interest of our nation's security.

Leo, if you were ever in the military, you know very well that a lot of jobs (probably most) don't have much of a "rigorous lifestyle." About 20% =/- of military jobs are combat. (can't totally verify that, but I found it in several cursory sources) What's wrong with making sure the real warriors have the best training, the best resources, and the best support and still use a IT tech guy in a wheel chair to sit in front of a computer screen 8 hours a day?

[O Really]

I am not sure either; I think it may have been about the Bradley Manning situation when he leaked classified info relative to Iraq and then somehow Ellsberg got brought up. If I remember correctly, you seemed to be very adamant against releasing classified info by anyone for any reason but the thing was quite some time ago so I can't recall any specifics of it. Or it may have been the Snowden case; not sure.

Well, with me, context and circumstances mean a lot. One size fits none.

Yeah, I also think it better to operate on a case by case basis as you stated earlier.

I did find Snowden's case particularly egregious. In addition to charging him with all sorts of evil-doing, I would have sacked those responsible for hiring him, and sacked those who were ummmm, "supervising" him. And then I would sack whoever was responsible for using contractors for positions such as that held by Snowden.

[neoplacebo]

I am not sure either; I think it may have been about the Bradley Manning situation when he leaked classified info relative to Iraq and then somehow Ellsberg got brought up. If I remember correctly, you seemed to be very adamant against releasing classified info by anyone for any reason but the thing was quite some time ago so I can't recall any specifics of it. Or it may have been the Snowden case; not sure.

Well, with me, context and circumstances mean a lot. One size fits none.

Yeah, I also think it better to operate on a case by case basis as you stated earlier.

I did find Snowden's case particularly egregious. In addition to charging him with all sorts of evil-doing, I would have sacked those responsible for hiring him, and sacked those who were ummmm, "supervising" him. And then I would sack whoever was responsible for using contractors for positions such as that held by Snowden.

Yeah, I always was puzzled by the fact that he didn't actually work for NSA but rather was a private contractor. I had no idea that an outfit such as NSA would ever think of engaging this type of labor. Makes me wonder if they're still using contractors.

[Vrede too]

Thank Reagan for initiating the privatization of what should be government functions. Plus, some people just won't do high skill work for government pay. That said, Manning was not a contractor.

:?: :?: :?:
"Minimum standards" are exactly what the military has and has always had. Fail to achieve them and you're out. Don't confuse "Minimum" with 'low', they can be as demanding as the military chooses.

Leo, if you were ever in the military, you know very well that a lot of jobs (probably most) don't have much of a "rigorous lifestyle." About 20% =/- of military jobs are combat. (can't totally verify that, but I found it in several cursory sources) What's wrong with making sure the real warriors have the best training, the best resources, and the best support and still use a IT tech guy in a wheel chair to sit in front of a computer screen 8 hours a day?

Maybe they want to be able to threaten everyone with infantry if their IT work doesn't measure up?

[O Really]

Way many people to share blame of Snowden. F'rinstance, it's not up to some loose cannon contractor to determine what national security programs are good or harmful to the society/world, and he had no right - legal or ethical - to wreck those programs. However, if he did present some valid concerns, somebody should have handled those in a way that wouldn't have incited him to more havoc. One way would be to investigate what he was reporting; another would be to sack him before he was able to steal so much stuff. Either would have been better than what they did, which was to ignore an obvious malcontent. Here's how hard it would probably have been to handle that (oversimplified, but still): "Booze-Allen, this is NSA. We'd like to change out one of your guys for somebody else..."

[Leo Lyons]

Minimum standards don't cut it in the military; it's not a job to provide life's basic necessities, but yes, it is a form discrimination if someone who is fit for the rigorous lifestyle the military demands to be rejected based on their lifestyle.

Leo, if you were ever in the military, you know very well that a lot of jobs (probably most) don't have much of a "rigorous lifestyle." About 20% =/- of military jobs are combat. (can't totally verify that, but I found it in several cursory sources) What's wrong with making sure the real warriors have the best training, the best resources, and the best support and still use a IT tech guy in a wheel chair to sit in front of a computer screen 8 hours a day?

You've misconscrewed what I said. There's absolutely nothing wrong with giving a handicapped man or woman a desk job; in our minds, that is. I don't know how the military recruits for desk jobs today or if the same rigorous training is STILL required for all military personnel, as it used to be.
The necessities for military service is namely discipline; some people can't handle taking orders; some people are assholes when giving orders; but in either case, personal discipline is required to deal with either.

[GoCubsGo]

A theory:

Caught the news on BBCA and they mentioned that tRump was in to Duetchebank for about $850 mil. No wonder he doesn't want anyone to see his taxes. I'm kinda thinking he doesn't have the cash flow to service this and other debts....kinda makes sense. D-bank won't foreclose on a US President (plus the old axiom of you own the bank and the bank owns you).

The returns could show what a crapass businessman he is, possibly going broke. If it was 1929 he'd jump from tRump Tower.
I wanna see the tax returns.

Found this article from 2016, estimated debt at 1.1 bil. Things have probably not gone north for his holdings recent and I'm not buying all about he author's conclusions.

http://fortune.com/2016/08/24/5-things- ... umps-debt/

Or, he could just be a dirty money launderer and tax cheat.

[neoplacebo]

I will select dirty money launderer and tax cheat for 600

[neoplacebo]

A few days ago started reading "Like War - The Weaponization of Social Media" by P.W. Singer and Emerson Brooking. One part of the book examines Russia's Internet Research Agency, which utilized 75 research and educational institutions coordinated by the Russian FSS for the purposes of manipulating social media info and driving a narrative. It goes on to explain that if you are successful in driving a narrative, you will be able to dictate who the villians and heroes are, what's right and what's wrong, and what's real and what isn't. The strategy for achieving this is referred to as the "4D's" which are dismiss the critic, distort the facts, distract from the main issue, and dismay the audience. I submit that trump has studied this very well and has been using it on a daily basis.

So today I was still reading the book above and it started talking about Pepe the Frog, which, as you may know from a few days ago I did not know of him but now have the whole story. The book says trump actually dressed up as him at one point. It also described the time when Richard Spencer was explaining about him until some passerby punched him in the face.

[Leo Lyons]

Well, for me it was bisexual because I was sexual and they were both near bi. We all broke the law and sinned repeatedly; it was truly a scene of debauchery and decadence that i will always wonder if I did the right thing or if I did the right thing enough. And that guy in Oakland must have been pretty talented. They should have made him head of gymnastics at the nearest facility and put up lighted billboards in his honor.

Well I'll be damned! Max Headroom! Ain't seen or heard hide-ner-hair of him in years! Welcome home!

Speaking of head of gymnastics; here's a real scene of debauchery!

https://www.facebook.com/wwsarII/videos/291402367976908

[neoplacebo]

Well, for me it was bisexual because I was sexual and they were both near bi. We all broke the law and sinned repeatedly; it was truly a scene of debauchery and decadence that i will always wonder if I did the right thing or if I did the right thing enough. And that guy in Oakland must have been pretty talented. They should have made him head of gymnastics at the nearest facility and put up lighted billboards in his honor.

Well I'll be damned! Max Headroom! Ain't seen or heard hide-ner-hair of him in years! Welcome home!

Speaking of head of gymnastics; here's a real scene of debauchery!

https://www.facebook.com/wwsarII/videos/291402367976908

Thanks. I used to watch Max back when he first came out. He's generally gleefully disrespectful and one of a kind.

[Vrede too]

Thanks. I used to watch Max back when he first came out. He's generally gleefully disrespectful and one of a kind.

Is 'max head room' a description of your Admiral of the Fleet's toilet?

[neoplacebo]

Thanks. I used to watch Max back when he first came out. He's generally gleefully disrespectful and one of a kind.

Is 'max head room' a description of your Admiral of the Fleet's toilet?

Nah, supposedly the last thing he saw before going into a coma was an overhead sign that said "Max Headroom 2.3m" As for an Admiral's toilet, it has a seat that's about five feet high and this is so that when taking an Admiral shit, no water will be able to splash up onto your Admiral ass; it has a little Admiral springboard in front of it with four stars on it. It works pretty good but getting off is when I call my steward for an assist.

[Leo Lyons]

Thanks. I used to watch Max back when he first came out. He's generally gleefully disrespectful and one of a kind.

Is 'max head room' a description of your Admiral of the Fleet's toilet?

At least the biggest head room on the ship.

[neoplacebo]

Thanks. I used to watch Max back when he first came out. He's generally gleefully disrespectful and one of a kind.

Is 'max head room' a description of your Admiral of the Fleet's toilet?

At least the biggest head room on the ship.

The biggest head on the ship is sometimes referred to as the "bulk head."

[Leo Lyons]

Thanks. I used to watch Max back when he first came out. He's generally gleefully disrespectful and one of a kind.

Is 'max head room' a description of your Admiral of the Fleet's toilet?

At least the biggest head room on the ship.

The biggest head on the ship is sometimes referred to as the "bulk head."

Tell me there's a wall in that story somewhere!

[Vrede too]

Our private school principal got upset when we started calling the janitor 'headmaster'.

[neoplacebo]

Thanks. I used to watch Max back when he first came out. He's generally gleefully disrespectful and one of a kind.

Is 'max head room' a description of your Admiral of the Fleet's toilet?

At least the biggest head room on the ship.

The biggest head on the ship is sometimes referred to as the "bulk head."

Tell me there's a wall in that story somewhere!

In the Navy I was in, walls are called bulkheads, floors are called decks, ceilings are overheads, toilets are heads, ropes are called lines, the flag at the front of the boat is called an ensign, a sailor with outstanding performance marks is a 4.0 squid, a Marine is a jarhead.....it's like a different world.

[Leo Lyons]

In the Navy I was in, walls are called bulkheads, floors are called decks, ceilings are overheads, toilets are heads, ropes are called lines, the flag at the front of the boat is called an ensign, a sailor with outstanding performance marks is a 4.0 squid, a Marine is a jarhead.....it's like a different world.

And you dare not leave your rack unmade.
I remember someone telling me once of a newbie j.g. being assigned to submarine duty. The captain asked him to show him where the switch for the sub's headlights were....use your imagination.

[neoplacebo]

In the Navy I was in, walls are called bulkheads, floors are called decks, ceilings are overheads, toilets are heads, ropes are called lines, the flag at the front of the boat is called an ensign, a sailor with outstanding performance marks is a 4.0 squid, a Marine is a jarhead.....it's like a different world.

And you dare not leave your rack unmade.
I remember someone telling me once of a newbie j.g. being assigned to submarine duty. The captain asked him to show him where the switch for the sub's headlights were....use your imagination.

Well, I hate to tell you this, but whoever told you that story was bullshitting you; submarine duty is voluntary and you have to undergo about six months of extra training to even be considered qualified to serve on one. I can assure you they don't cover the subject of headlights in any way. And unmade racks are only an issue in boot camp. All the ships I was on had three levels of them; one just a few inches off the deck, the next one about 40 inches above it, and the third the same distance above the second. The lower racks had to be tilted up when not in use to facilitate keeping the area clean under the lower rack.