Thursday I voted.  Early voting has now ended and here are my thoughts on the concept and the actual vote. 

I went around 09:00 to the local early voting spot and found it to be busy but not overly so.  The line while long was moving pretty quickly.  I found the voting officials and volunteers very nice and helpful.  We are now using the touch screen computers.  This was very easy to use.  Before you went to the voting area a very nice lady gave a short class on the touch screen.  Everyone voting that day seemed in a pretty good mood.  I didn’t hear anything intimidating at all. 

The only concerns I heard were by the two ladies in front of me who were a bit concerned over the use of computers and the ability to conduct a recount.  They didn’t seem truly worried just wondering out loud. 

I heard the next day was much busier with the line extending out the door and around the building. 

I like the idea of early voting.  There really is no reason for us who know well in advance who we are voting for to wait till the last minute and a one day rush to cast a vote.  So I’m definitely in favor of the early voting.

All in all it went very well and I’m glad I’m done.  I will say in Colorado we have the TABOR amendment limiting government tax usage.  It seems every election an amendment is put forward to circumvent this law.  Every year so far they have been voted down.  You’d think the “other side” would get the hint.  Oh well.

Osama has apparently showed up again.  He says we can avoid another 9/11 if we stop threatening Muslim security.  So I guess if we just easy up and bring our boys home all will be ok.  But wait, what where we doing to threaten Muslim security before 9/11?  We went into Bosnia to protect Muslims, we were in Afghanistan with Muslim fighters pushing the Soviet Union out and thousands of Muslims live here in the United States in peace.  Do you think Osama or whoever that was would like a little break?  Maybe he wants some time to regroup?  You know like Al-Sadr did in Iraq a couple of times now only to come back again and again. 

I say stay the course and continue the hunt.  Keep them running till they fall over dead. To stop now would be a very bad mistake.  They are on the run, unable to mount a solid attack and if we stop they will come back stronger believing we are weak and don’t have the stomach for a real fight. 

Nope, we must continue this fight and after November 2^nd I hope the real assault begins.

Update:  Froggy eats a little crow?  Well Matt don't worry I'm not convinced yet but unfortunately I like many others simply have know way of knowing.  Your reasoning was...well... reasonable. 

Well,I haven't been around much lately.  Kind of busy with Family stuff.  Father is visiting. But I will return soon.  Oh I'll probably vote tomorrow.  We have Early voting here.  I want to get it out of the way.  All six of you please check back in a few......

JB

Ok, something completely different.  Where in Colorado Springs can I buy a nice glass pick for my Martini olives?  Really I need to know.  I’m tired of just plopping the olives in the glass.

I’ve been reading a little about some of the intimidation going on at the polls.  I’m not surprised but I am getting more excited about voting myself.  You see if someone asks who I’m voting for I will have no trouble telling them.  It doesn’t bother me if anyone knows.  I won’t yell it. I won’t tell others how they should vote (in line that is) but I also will not tolerate any asshole trying to harangue me or others around me about my vote. 

I’ve been in a pretty pissy mood lately anyway and an opportunity to release some of that pent up energy (verbally of course) would be a welcomed event.  Now, should some unfortunate soul decide physical intimidation warrant on me well without sounding too presidential “bring it on”.  Because frankly I’m probably due an ass whooping myself so however it ends would probably be justice anyway.

I just finished Americas Secret War: Inside the hidden worldwide struggle between America and its enemies and I highly recommend it.  While I don’t agree with the entire conclusion put forth here but I do believe the analysis was unbiased and very good. 

The background to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan alone would help many to understand what is really happening today.  It’s is not and has never been about WMD.  It is much more complicated and at the present we are winning. 

The stakes are very high in this war on terror and one much have a broader view to see all the implications of failure.  I think this book can help in that respect.

Police are looking into the use of force after a Boston Red Sox reveler as they are called dies from a projectile the hit her in the eye.  Here is the deal as I see it.  You freaking idiots want to riot, destroy property and raise hell well deal with the consequences.  You are all bums.  You think the freaken world owes you well it doesn’t.  When you cause trouble then get hurt you all want to blame the cops.  Well you think the cops are happy to be out trying to contain your dumb asses?  You think the local establishment likes to watch you destroy their property?  I have very little sympathy…

Yeah I’m and insensitive bastard but you know what?  I respect other peoples space and property.  I’m the guy that says “excuse me” when I bump in to others.  I open doors.  Yeah I’m the insensitive one. 

We might as well stop conducting polls.  They have become so ridicules that they are irrelevant.  The latest CNN/USAToday/Gallup Poll has Bush with an 8 point lead.  Just 6 day’s ago they had Kerry with a 1 point lead.  So in the last few days the people changed 9 points?  I don’t think so.  Now I would say Bush has a lead but by how much is anybody’s guess.  You simply can’t tell by the polls.  They have been so erratic that to get any kind of an accurate picture from them is impossible.

Why is this?

1.    & nbsp; The people running most of these polls may have a stake in the race.  I don’t think it’s necessarily biased but the stake to keep everyone guessing.  A landslide doesn’t keep the news going.

2.    & nbsp; Or maybe undecided voters are such lame asses that they change their minds on a whim.

3.    & nbsp; Or, polls that sample less than .00033% of the total population really aren’t accurate anyway.

But if you insist on seeing them here are the latest as reported at

RealClearPolitics.com

Poll    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp; Date         Bush    & nbsp; Kerry    & nbsp;    Nader     Spread

RCP    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         & nbsp; 10/13-10/16     49.0%    44.2%    & nbsp;  1.5%    & nbsp; Bush + 3.8

Cnn/USAT/Gallup    & nbsp;   &n bsp;  10/14-10/16    52%    & nbsp;  44%    & nbsp;   &n bsp; 1%         Bush +8

Zogby    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         10/14-10/16     46%    & nbsp;  44%    & nbsp;   &n bsp; 1%    & nbsp;    Bush +2

TIPP    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         & nbsp; 10/13-10/16     48%    & nbsp;  45%    & nbsp;   &n bsp; 2%    & nbsp;    Bush +3

Time    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;  10/14-10/15     48%    & nbsp;  47%    & nbsp;   &n bsp; 3%    & nbsp;    Bush +1

Newsweek    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ; 10/14-10/15     50%    & nbsp;  44%    & nbsp;   &n bsp; 1%    & nbsp;    Bush +6

ABC/WashingtonPost    & nbsp; 10/13-10/15     50%    & nbsp;  47%    & nbsp;   &n bsp; 1%    & nbsp;    Bush +3

Check out their page to see the past polls

Froggy says yes. 

Well we haven’t seen him in a while and he's not the shy type so it's certainly possible. 

I thought this many months ago and still maintain that Osama is probably dead and has been for a while.  Matt, make a pretty convincing case.  I’ll go with that for now.

Sunday Halloween disturbs Bible belt. 

Some towns around the country are decreeing that Halloween be celebrated on Saturday to avoid complaints from those who might be offended by the sight of demons and witches ringing their doorbell on the Sabbath. Others insist the holiday should be celebrated on Oct. 31 no matter what.

What century are they living in?

Damn people, get a life.  Halloween happens to be my favorite holiday.  What other day can you dress up and scare the bejeezas out of people.  That’s just straight up fun.  Plus you get a free pass on candy.  I used to watch Dracula every Halloween then go out.  Of course now I’m watching the kids go out but it’s still fun.  I normally dress up and greet kids at the door.  One year I was the Frankenstein monster.  Watching the little kids eyes bug out when I opened the door was hilarious. 

I do wish Halloween was always a Friday or Saturday though, but not because of Religion but so we could all stay up later watching scary movies.  Oh well just another thought this day.

A Report in the Clarion Ledger has surfaced that the 343rd Quartermaster Company a Reserve Unit from Rock Hill South Carolina in Iraq refused to go on a mission to re-supply a camp with fuel.  The company was ordered on Wednesday to deliver fuel to the town of Taji about 30 Kiliometers north of Baghdad. According to the wife of SGT. Larry O. McCook, the unit refused to leave their camp due to deadlined or unsafe equipment.  The results so far look like the members of the unit have been read their rights and have been detained.

If troops were ordered to take fuel that was vital to that camp and then refused while they had vehicles running I think they are in trouble.  This is war and sometimes we don’t have everything we would like.  You don’t get to take a time out at the expense of others because you don’t have all you want or it’s not in the best shape.  We drove Russian UAZ’s (jeeps) in Afghanistan for a while.  They were pieces of shit that were not trustworthy at all.  Yet we never refused a mission nor would we.  The thought never crossed our minds.  We fixed them up the best we could and drove on.  There can be many reasons a unit can’t get parts or better equipment and that’s not an excuse not to do your job.  Not in the military. 

I guess this unit never heard the phase “Charlie Mike” which means “Continue the Mission”. 

Mandatory Disclaimer:  Since this is pretty new the chances are high that there are errors in the report and the full story certainly hasn’t been told yet.  It will and I reserve the right to adjust my thoughts accordingly.  How’s that for a preemptive flip flop post. 

Hat tip Drudge Report

Americas Secret War: Inside the hidden worldwide struggle between America and its enemies.  By the founder of STRATFOR.com George Friedman.

I'm up to chapter 4, The Anotomy of Intelligence Failures.

so far this has been an very good read.  It's unbiased and gives a pretty clear and detailed account of how we got into the situation we are currently in and what we are doing about it.

This pic is just cool. 

Afghanistan has now had an election.  While some might criticize and point only to the problems of this election it’s important to keep this in perspective.  I was in Afghanistan late 2002 and 2003.  The idea of an election seemed extremely daunting.   Kabul was a war ravaged mess.  Not from the US but the years and years of internal fighting.  The progress made from the time of my deployment till now is amazing.  I would not have thought it possible that fast.

This isn’t reported much.  Just like Iraq the press is only looking for disasters and failures.  Of course there will be failures.  Guess what?  You don’t get successes without trying; with trying you will get some failures.  That’s the way things work.

This was the first election in a country that has no history of such a thing.  That in itself is a pretty major feat.  To deny this event is to invalidate everything the Afghanis have done.  That is a mistake.  Whether you agree with any of our military decisions it’s important to support this election.  This can be the beginnings of serious change in a region that must change. 

It’s not perfect but it’s a good start.

Update: International Observers approve Afghanistans first national elections.

I’ve always liked Michael J Fox.  His portrayal of Alex Keaton (sp) on Family Ties was great.  Now he has come out in a political commercial for John Kerry.  If Michael wishes to support John Kerry, that’s ok.  It’s his choice. The sad part is he seems to be supporting Kerry solely on the stem cell research issue.  I wonder how much thought Michael has put into the whole Kerry platform.  Or has he like so many others taken one issue and made that the sole litmus test? 

I wish Michael the best in health but sometimes one must vote for the good of the whole nation and not one item that may help you personally.  It’s important to note that it is a big “may”.  Embryonic stem cell research as of yet has not produced much in the way of results. 

I’m personally not against stem cell research but I’m also not looking at just that issue.  There is a whole range of issues to consider and will the individual actually do what he says.  I think Kerry has little to show in the way of a record that would lead any rational person to conclude he will do anything he promises.

This Presidential debate was much easier to judge than the last one.  Bush was the clear winner.  Of course I’m biased.  But it’s not about presentation.  I simply believe him and not Kerry.  Kerry’s plan is the Bush plan but better.  Kind of like the “new and improved” label we see everywhere.  It has no meaning.  Kerry wants us to believe that 20 years of voting “wrong” doesn’t count now.  He has a plan.  Well I don’t buy it and he didn’t sell it tonight.

The forum was much better also.  The questions were mostly good.  Yeah, the question asked of President Bush, what were his three biggest mistakes, was just dumb.  That kind of question is like a Nader vote, pretty much a waste of time.  But all in all this debate gave both candidates a chance to exchange a little and with an audience.

I don’t know how many real undecided voters there really are out there, but I hope I don’t meet them.  They must be a mushy brain group of people.

Blackfive has a post everyone should read.  It's written by Dave Grossman.  Some may remember he wrote some pretty interesting stuff on the psychology of killing and training to kill.

“On Sheep, Sheepdogs and Wolves”

This is something liberals really should read more than me.  I know this already. 

First off there were no “acting” Gaffs in this debate as with the Presidential debate.  Cheney however did a good job of backing up his responses with facts while Edwards seems pretty week most of the time.

This round goes to Cheney. 

Will this debate make a difference?  Well I don’t think VP debates generally change much but I’m not so sure with this one.  Look, both were able to present their point of view in a pretty clear way.  There is a difference in the two campaigns.  This debate helped clarify those differences.

I watched some of the commentators after the debate and find it interesting how they describe these events.  To them it’s not about someone making a winning case but someone performing to the media’s standards. 

Now the spin  machines will take over till the next debate.  That's the part that hurts the most.

....the horror....the horror.......

You know I hate to let this blog go too long without posting since I'll lose my three viewers without entertaining them.  But damn I'm busy right now.  Losing a person in the unit and I'm doing the work of three for a while.  That sucks by the way. 

But I will have something by the end of the week I promise.  Really I won't....Well never mind.