History

First, a couple o' 'toons from the Usual Source o' these things:

And then there's this, from a daily newsletter I get from the PBS Newshour:

Hardly an historical aberration: So what’s going on here? Is President Obama so toxic that he is unlike past presidents? Not quite. First, like we noted above, there are the fundamentals of this election. Despite being reelected in 2012, he lost the most competitive states where the hottest Senate races are being run by double-digits to Mitt Romney. Plus, there is truth to the so called six-year itch. Seven presidents have been reelected since the Great Depression, and in those second terms, a president’s party has lost an average of 26 House seats and seven Senate seats. The worst second midterm for any president since WWII was Dwight Eisenhower’s. And it’s a reminder that, even then, “small-ball” issues dominated news of the day and drove politics. Eisenhower’s “problems included influence-pedaling charges against his White House chief of staff, national frustration over Soviet gains in space and missile technology and a bitter economic recession,” notes the Senate Historical Office. The 13 seats gained by Democrats was and still is the single-largest gain by one party of Senate seats. That election gave Democrats a 64-36 majority and laid the foundation for the Great Society measures of the 1960s.

Six-Year Itch? Results for a president’s party since the Great Depression in a second midterm
1938 FDR -55 House, -6 Senate
1950 Truman -29 House, -6 Senate
1958 Eisenhower -48 House, -13 Senate
1986 Reagan -5 House, -8 Senate
1998 Clinton +5 House, No change in Senate
2006 Bush -30 House, -6 Senate

AVG: -26 House, -6.5 Senate

Let us hope history repeats itself this time around.

On the Early Bus Again

I suppose an early rise is to be expected when one goes to bed around 2230 hrs.  I find it middling-strange that I only need about six hours o' sleep every night, and eight at the very most.  I don't count the two-hour nap I take every afternoon, though, and that has to figure in there somewhere.

So, all of the overnight mail has yet to hit the in-box but most of it has.  This was a piece-part of it...

I'm thinking Mr. Ramirez is the best of the current crop o' political cartoonists.  He ALWAYS gets it right.  Apropos o' not much... I was never Peter-Principled.  I came close a couple o' times, but never really got there.

Update, 0940 hrs:  On further thought about that Peter Principle thing... I think I've reached my level of incompetence in retirement, in that I don't seem to be doing it too very well.  Some folks, like President George H. W. Bush, jump out of airplanes in retirement, others take off on exotic travel binges, still others go back to school just for the fun that's in it.  Me?  I sit on the verandah and drink beer; an exotic travel binge for me means driving over to The Big(ger) City^TM every other month or so.  Incompetence.

Rats Leaving the Sinking Ship

Leon Panetta's memoir ("Worthy Fights") is out and it's causing something of a firestorm due to his criticism of Obama's "leadership."  Here are a few such items from the firestorm...

The Usual Source of political 'toons has a lot o' stuff like this:

Here's Panetta on last night's PBS Newshour...



Panetta throws a few sops towards Obama but his criticism is still pointed.  I never thought I'd be in agreement with a senior Democrat leader but I certainly am, in this case.  I suppose it's an example of the "stopped clock" phenomenon... you know, "right twice a day." 

Panetta was on Charlie Rose... for the full hour... a couple o' few nights ago.  I watched this show in real time and the interview is interesting, believe it or don't.  I realize prolly no one is gonna sit in front of their computer for nearly an hour to watch some political wonk pontificate, but the vid is here if you want it.

These events... three books from former cabinet members pointedly criticizing a sitting president... are absolutely unprecedented in my lifetime.  The bottom line: Obama might actually be WORSE than we think.  That's pretty hard for me to believe given my already low opinion of the man.

Scary

Halloween is coming...



That would scare the hell outta ME.

This scares the hell outta me, too:

But for entirely different reasons.

Meant To Be Funny...

... but it's not:

I wonder if Ike caught as much flak from various pundits for bein' on the golf course while he was president.  When it comes to rounds played Ike outstrips Obama by a WIDE margin if you can believe the quoted sources.  Even if Our Man plays every day during the last two years of his presidency he won't come close to Ike's totals.  Just sayin'.

"Even a Stopped Clock..."

"... is right twice a day."  Or so said Mom.  Here's evidence of that theory in action:

President Barack Obama plays a game of pool with Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, right, at a pub in Denver  July 8, 2014. (Jewel Samad / AFP/Getty Images)

Well, there ya go: playing pool and drinkin' serious beer (as opposed to that yellow fizzy stuff).  Also, from that link above, this:

Obama got to take in a little Denver flavor. Obama's motorcade drove by a sign reading "Free weed for Obama" in the city's LoDo neighborhood. Marijuana became legal in Colorado in January.

No word if the motorcade stopped.  I'll bet it was hard for the former leader of the Choom Gang to pass that up.

"Whoa" Is Right

So sez Ed Morrissey about this:

Berghdal is getting a lot of pixels on the milblogs and the press ain't good, at all.  I'm not one who wants to see a hanging before the trial but the sticks sure ain't lining up the way they should in this case.

I Didn't Watch It

That might have been my reaction.  That, or getting sick to my stomach.  I just can't take this guy any longer.

Added, somewhat later:  That other Old AF Sarge also posted about the SOTU today.  And I had to comment, of course, coz that's what we DO.  Here's what I said:

I think the SOTU would be a LOT better if it had a Benny Hill soundtrack... sotto voce... running for the entire time the president is in the House. By that I mean it would begin when the Sergeant At Arms announces "Mr. Speaker... the President of the United States!" and continue as he autographs his way out the door after he leaves the podium. Maybe we could get the networks to speed it up like a Benny Hill chase scene, too. A LOT more people would watch.

You don't know what I'm on about?  Well, lemmee fix that for ya.

And Then There's This...

... sent along by Occasional Reader, Constant Correspondent, and Good Friend Lin...

(Receptionist) Hello, Welcome to ObamaFlowers, My name is Trina. How can I help you?

 

(Customer) Hello, I received an email from Professional Flowers stating that my flower order has been canceled and I should go to your exchange to reorder it. I tried your website, but it seems like it is not working. So I am calling the 800 number.

 

(Receptionist) Yes, I am sorry about the website. It should be fixed by the end of  November. But I can help you.

 

(Customer) Thanks, I ordered a "Spring Bouquet" for our anniversary, and wanted it delivered to my wife.

 

(Receptionist Interrupting) Sir, "Spring Bouquets" do not meet our minimum standards, I will be happy to provide you with Red Roses.

 

(Customer) But I have always ordered "Spring Bouquets", done it for years, my wife likes them.

 

(Receptionist) Roses are better, sir, I am sure your wife will love them.

 

(Customer) Well, how much are they?

 

(Receptionist) It depends sir, do you want our Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum package.

 

(Customer) What's the difference?

 

(Receptionist) 6, 12,18 or 24 Red Roses.

 

(Customer) The Silver package may be okay, how much is it?

 

(Receptionist) It depends sir, what is you monthly income?

 

(Customer) What does that have to do with anything?

 

(Receptionist) I need that to determine your government flower subsidy, then I can determine how much your out of pocket cost will be. But if your income is below our minimums for a subsidy, then I can refer you to our FlowerAid department.

 

(Customer) FlowerAid?

 

(Receptionist) Yes, Flowers are a Right, everyone has a right to flowers. So, if you can't afford them, then the government will supply them free of charge.

 

(Customer) Who said they were a Right?

 

(Receptionist) Congress passed it, the President signed it and the Supreme Court found it Constitutional.

 

(Customer) Whoa.....I don't remember seeing anything in the Constitution regarding Flowers as a Right.

 

(Receptionist) It is not really a Right in the Constitution, but ObamaFlowers is Constitutional because the Supreme Court Ruled it a "Tax". Taxes are Constitutional. But we feel it is a Right.

 

(Customer) I don't believe this...

 

(Receptionist) It's the law of the land sir. Now, we anticipated most people would go for the Silver Package, so what is you monthly income sir?

 

(Customer) Forget it, I think I will forgo the flowers this year.

 

(Receptionist) In that case sir, I will still need your monthly income.

 

(Customer) Why?

 

(Receptionist) To determine what your 'non-participation' cost would be.

 

(Customer) WHAT? Your can't charge me for NOT buying flowers!

 

(Receptionist) It's the law of the land, sir, approved by the Supreme Court. It's $9.50 or 1% of your monthly income.....

 

(Customer interrupting) This is ridiculous, I'll pay the $9.50..

 

(Receptionist) Sir, it is the $9.50 or 1% of your monthly income, whichever is greater.

 

(Customer) ARE YOU KIDDING ME? What a ripoff!!

 

(Receptionist) Actually sir, it is a good deal. Next year it will be 2%.

 

(Customer) Look, I'm going to call my Congressman to find out what's going on here. This is ridiculous. I'm not going to pay it.

 

(Receptionist) Sorry to hear that sir, that's why I had the NSA track this call and obtain the make and model of the cell phone your are using.

 

(Customer) Why does the NSA need to know what kind of CELL PHONE I AM USING?

 

(Receptionist) So they get your GPS coordinates sir

 

(Door Bell rings followed immediately by a loud knock on the door)

 

(Receptionist) That would be the IRS sir. Thanks for calling ObamaFlowers, have a nice day...and God Bless America.

Heh.  This is quite possibly the BEST analogy (metaphor?) for Obamacare I've ever seen.

Oh, Noes! Not AGAIN!

Yup.  He really put his foot in it this time...

ARLINGTON, VA — Shortly after returning from the memorial service for former South African President Nelson Mandela where he was photographed taking a picture with other world leaders and sending obscene Snapchat messages, President Obama has become embroiled in another controversy, sources confirmed.

According to eyewitnesses, the President was spotted taking pictures of himself on his camera phone at a fallen soldier’s funeral Thursday morning at Arlington National Cemetery.

Heh.  This is really good.  RTWT, as we citizen journos say.

BAU

"Truer words," and all that.  Most of this "shutdown" has the look and feel of a particularly inept PR campaign gone very wrong.

SN2 Will Be Pleased

The post title is an inside joke... the fam'bly knows that Sam has caused Cadbury-Schweppes to build a new Dr Pepper bottling plant whenever he was reassigned somewhere.  That and the fact the Commander had his own PALLET of Dr Pepper delivered to his ships by air once a week when he was at sea.  We've been unable to verify the rumor that the Navy designated Dr Pepper as a mission-essential commodity aboard USS MASON and USS MONTEREY in the past, but we don't doubt it.

So, good news.  For Sam.  As for the rest of us?  Our mileage MIGHT vary.

Old Stuff From the Duffel Blog

This is... as they say... some good shit (from yesterday's Duffel Blog):

WASHINGTON, D.C. – First Lady Michelle Obama has challenged Asma al-Assad, wife of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad, to a sanctioned one night Pay-Per-View match for control of Syria’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD).

“Asma al-Assad. Whatchagonnado when the Let’s Move! Coalition goes wild on YOU?” said the First Lady to television cameras broadcast worldwide. “I’ve been training for this day by eating healthy, being active and signing up for email newsletters about community events. And what have you been doing? Hiding in a bunker and not getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day. WOOOH!”

Michelle Obama’s manager, Barack “The Bomba” Obama, stood by her side making exaggerated head nods and shouting “uh, Oooooh Yesssss!” as the First Lady spoke.

“That is why I am calling you out – next Saturday, in Geneva, Switzerland LIVE on Pay-Per-View – to enter the ring for control of your husband’s WMDs. No, cruise missiles, no chemical weapons, just you and me, sister, and the thousands of Let’s Move! Maniacs at home cheering me on, WOOOH!”

"Barack 'The Bomba' Obama"  Heh.  RTWT.

This Rang a Bell...

...since I watch a bit o' late-nite teevee from time to time.

Yup.  "See your congress-critter to find out if Obamacare is right for YOU!"  Not.

Back in a bit with more plane pr0n.

He's NOT!?!

h/t to My Buddy Ed In Florida.

Jes a Couple o' Thangs, i.e., Small Stuff

I thought this to be a rather clever play on words...

Heh.  The REST of us ain't bein' served too well, either.

In other news... How do you spell "relief?"

That's about a 40-degree drop in temperature from last week, which works for ME.

Do As I SAY, Don't Do As I Do

Spare me the Climate Change rhetoric, Barry, including yer smart-ass comments about the Flat Earth Society.  It turns out they're on the same page as you, anyway. 

But about that Africa trip... it's gonna be expensive:

In the days before his departure on Wednesday, much of the attention in Washington has focused instead on the high cost of the trip, estimated to be somewhere between $60 million and $100 million.

Ya know what they say... "A 100 million here, a 100 million there and pretty soon you're talkin' REAL money."  Not to mention all that CO₂ you're gonna spew into the atmosphere.

Clever

Sums it all up nicely, doesn't it?

Yup

And to think I remember Watergate.

Around the Horn

Just a few items...  There's this, for starters:

Lawmakers Seek to Change New Medal's Precedence: H.R. 833, a bill introduced in the House that would prohibit the Department of Defense from rating the new Distinguished Warfare Medal as equal to, or higher than, the Purple Heart, had more than 40 co-sponsors as of March 7, according to the Library of Congress' bill-tracking website. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), a former marine, introduced the bill on Feb. 26, along with Rep. Tom Rooney (R-Fla.), an Army veteran, and Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), a Navy Reservist. "Combat valor awards have a deep and significant meaning to those who serve in America's military," said Hunter in a release that same day. He said while there's nothing wrong with a medal "that recognizes commendable actions" off the battlefield—as the DWM is meant to do—"it's absolutely necessary to ensure that combat valor awards are not diminished in any way." The Pentagon introduced the DWM last month, saying it would rank in precedence above the Bronze Star Medal and sit directly below the Distinguished Flying Cross. This drew criticism from some veterans' groups. "If the Pentagon will not reconsider the decision to rank this medal above the Purple Heart, the House will take action," said Murphy. (See also Rooney release.)

It's not often one can say "way t'go!" or similar about our congresscritters.  But this time?  Yes.

Here's lookin' at you, Kid...

Air Frame: A pilot sits in the cockpit of his F-16 Fighting Falcon prior to takeoff at Nellis AFB, Nev., during the Red Flag 13-3 air combat training exercise, Feb. 25, 2013. (Air Force photo by SSgt. Kenny Holston)

An interesting perspective, non?

And finally, in keeping with our aviation/military theme:

Heh.