When You've Lost The State Department...

From the Times:

Dozens of U.S. Diplomats, in Memo, Urge Strikes Against Syria’s Assad

By Mark Landler

WASHINGTON — More than 50 State Department diplomats have signed an internal memo sharply critical of the Obama administration’s policy in Syria, urging the United States to carry out military strikes against the government of President Bashar al-Assad to stop its persistent violations of a cease-fire in the country’s five-year-old civil war.

The memo, a draft of which was provided to The New York Times by a State Department official, says American policy has been “overwhelmed” by the unrelenting violence in Syria. It calls for “a judicious use of stand-off and air weapons, which would undergird and drive a more focused and hard-nosed U.S.-led diplomatic process.”

Such a step would represent a radical shift in the administration’s approach to the civil war in Syria, and there is little evidence that President Obama has plans to change course. Mr. Obama has emphasized the military campaign against the Islamic State over efforts to dislodge Mr. Assad. Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, led by Secretary of State John Kerry, have all but collapsed.

Feverish Republicans, cranky careerists at State - fortunately Obama (and Ben!) know better than all of them.

I should add that Hillary called for a no-fly zone in Syria last fall, so she is sympatico with the State dissenters.

Comments

[Comanche Voter]

Obama rhymes with Mama who we all know knows best.

[narciso]

have they lost their minds, seriously, there has finally been some routing of the islamic state,
does libya not ring a bell, rhetorical,

[glasater]

You always dig out these interesting tidbits of what's going on in the 0 admin. Thanks!

0 doesn't have a clue about what is going on in the world. And it seems the MFM have a lockdown on info re what is going on in Libya.

What a mess..

[glasater]

And 'On NOes..', TM likes the HILL!!

[glasater]

One of my fellow photographers believes Biden is going to be the next prez..

[anonamom]

Here's a doctor who voted for Obama who has seen the light. Wonky, but some good graphs showing just how much you are paying for that insurance card that covers next to nothing.

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/06/a_physicians_case_for_trump.html

[henry]

So the mid-level state department coffee fetchers prefer ISIS. Noted.

[daddy]

Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, led by Secretary of State John Kerry, have all but collapsed.

Perhaps Kerry's failure is because he's been stunned by this personal revelation:

Kerry concedes: Terrorism is a bigger threat than climate change

Shocking. Kerry revealed his subtle change of thinking during his trip to Europe, where he twice indicated that when it comes to global threats, terrorism is first, and climate change is a very close second.

"[L]et me just say that one of the greatest challenges of our times besides the fight against extremism is to deal with the enormous battle of climate change," he said in Denmark Thursday.

I highlighted that Denmark bit because it appears Kerry's Global Warming initiative Denmark is failing like he's failing in Syria: Denmark Cancels All Coastal Wind Farms, Delays New Builds Until 2025

Thankfully tho' Kerry's still so concerned about planetary warming that he's taking Air Force 2 to Greenland to call for burning less carbon: "That's why I'm going to Greenland tomorrow, because if we were to lose the ice sheet of Greenland, we would see a sea level rise of some 22 feet over the course of this century."

[daddy]

What will we do with a drunken 'sober' Sailor?
What will we do with a drunken 'sober' Sailor?
What will we do with a drunken 'sober' Sailor?
Early in the morning?

Here's the important news you guys need to know when you wake up:

U.S. Navy eases drinking ban in Japan after Okinawa incidents

TOKYO - The U.S. Navy in Japan has eased a ban on drinking imposed after an American sailor was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Okinawa.

U.S. Naval Forces Japan said in a statement Friday that sailors are now allowed to drink on base as well as at their off-base houses.

I'll drink to that!

[Miss Marple 2]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/06/16/gay-muslim-islam-is-no-religion-of-peace.html?via=mobile&source=twitter

This is the strangest article. Islam is not a religion of peace, but we should probably not vote for Trump because then gay Muslims can't come here to hook up. At least I think that's what this guy is saying.

[daddy]

Islam is not a religion of peace

Morning, Miss Marple,

If we let in just a few more Islams, such outrageous language from gals like you will be a thing of the past: Top imam says beating wives is the only way to control them

Imam Sherani told the BBC that without the beating option, husbands would be powerless to change their wives’ behavior.

“Then you tell me, what is the solution to this issue?,” he asked.

“If a woman doesn’t respond to advice, doesn’t listen to her relatives after all you’ve used all the options what should be done?”

[Miss Marple 2]

http://heatst.com/uk/jo-cox-mp-was-the-best-of-britain-politicising-her-death-is-the-worst/

[Miss Marple 2]

daddy,

How is it that we hear from not one women's rights group about these Imams?

Foolish question, I know.

[The Gipper Lives]

The State Department is more hawkish than Obama. France is more hawkish than Obama. Hell, Barney the Dinosaur is more hawkish than Obama--even Barney knows better than to draw meaningless purple lines in the sand.

[Miss Marple 2]

This is an actual story in the Detroit Free Press. Must be a slow news day up there.

http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2016/06/16/drop-kicks-birthday-cake-kroger-police-batman-superman/86005014/

[henry]

OL, JiB, other sneaky rich JOM people... you might want to locate a good source of clean pee... Gwen Moore wants to drug test the rich before allowing tax deductions.

[Marlene]

Good Morning! I see daddy mentioned Kerry's visit to the Arctic Circle. I read somewhere that he was in Norway watching the glaciers melt. daddy and I have Senators who are the two members of the Arctic Caucus,Angus King and Lisa Murkowski. I guess when the sea lanes open after the glaciers melt,trade will be yuge for Maine and Alaska.

[Buckeye]

henry

Best line in the article about the bill Gwen Moore is pushing is her saying:

“The benefits we give to poor people are so limited compared to what we give to the top 1%,” she said. “It’s a drop in the bucket.”

In other words, if we take 10% or 99%, screw you. It is OUR money and WE will decide what you can have back. You didn't earn that.

[henry]

Uh Oh.... Beijing rules iPhone violates patents. Merits? I have no idea. I can't wait for TPP to make these local rulings instantly valid globally.

[henry]

Buckeye, the key is someone wrote a complete sentence for Gwen... she is incapable otherwise.

[Miss Marple 2]

http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-life-of-violent-threats-paved-way-for-orlando-attack-1466127324

Some new information here, along with some irrelevant stuff.

Madeen's anger and attitudes emerged far earlier than the gay marriage controversy or Donald Trump's campaign.

FBI says that there just wasn't much they could do. I do not believe this at all.

[henry]

Interesting... Gun store owners reported F&F purchases, Mateen, and CBS News for illegal purchases.

No pattern, nothing to see here...

NEED MOAR GUN LAWS!!!

[Beasts of England]

Does she want to drug test all rich people or just sneaky rich people? :)

[Captain Hate]

Rumors keep persisting that some convention foolishness is being considered to deny Trump the nomination. I can't think of a better way to destroy a party.

[Miss Marple 2]

http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/the-walt-disney-world-triathlon/news/27aug2005-press-release---the-walt-disney-world-triathlon-2005.htm

The triathlon starts at Disney's Contemporary Resort at 7:30 a.m. Participants will encounter a unique and challenging point-to-point format course. The swim will begin at North Beach and dive into Seven Seas Lagoon.
------------------
Apparently this had the possibility of being more challenging than the entrants knew.

[James D]

Where DO these people come from, henry?

I especially loved this in the article:

It might use slightly different mechanisms, but the government provides money to Tanf, Snap and unemployment benefit recipients in much the same way that it provides money to people who own homes, contribute to charities or go to college. Most people – including those with high incomes, who qualify for far more deductions and credits than the average person – just don’t “see” tax deductions as a subsidy similar to those given to low-income people in the form of benefits.

Baked right in is the assumption that all your income belongs to the government, and it's up to Congresswoman Gwen Moore to decide how much of it she will allow you to keep, and you should be grateful for whatever amount that is.

There is no reasoning with these people.

[Marlene]

Uh Oh! A helicopter just flew over the cabin, I think they found us! Ha. Actually not funny,someone is probably injured or lost in the woods.

[pagar a bacon, country ham and sausage supporter]

http://www.weaselzippers.us/277947-obama-regime-has-cut-off-proper-law-enforcement-training-on-islam-and-jihad/

This is insanity!

[henry]

James D, Milwaukee Public Schools product, now CBC. "Reason" is a form of white privilege to these people.

[Captain Hate]

Why isn't Noor Salman under arrest?

[Beasts of England]

They're certainly laying the groundwork for such insanity, Captain. I thought the discussions, meetings, and scheming would die down a few weeks after he passed 1,237, but it never subsided.

If they try - not succeed, just try - I'll be in the car and headed in your direction. I'd look silly towing a wood chipper behind my car, so I better investigate renting a pick up.

[Old Lurker]

I will be happy to pee on all of them.

[JMHanes]

An adventure story folks might have missed via Drudge:

A rare, risky mission is underway to rescue sick scientists from the South Pole.

{E]vacuation efforts such as this are exceedingly uncommon — only two have been undertaken in the 60 years since the South Pole research station opened. The brutal cold and total darkness that blankets Antarctica during the austral winter make flights in and out of the station all but impossible….

Between February and October, only one type of craft can fly to, land at and take off again from the South Pole: the tiny Twin Otter…. The planes are certified to fly at temperatures as low as minus-75 degrees Celsius (minus-103 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Falkner. Their systems are a good deal simpler than the C-130's, and they require less fuel — essential when every ounce of fuel has to be warmed for flight. At the pole's low temperatures, gasoline freezes into an unusable jelly. So does the grease in a plane's hinges and gears. Winter storms can flare up in a heartbeat. And if anything goes awry, pilots may need to land on unknown terrain in total darkness.

They get two planes ready, one to fly the mission and the other on standby for a search and rescue if the first one goes down. As someone in the article observes, the Amundsen-Scott station is "harder to get to than the International Space Station."

Yike.

[Beasts of England]

Gwen Moore is innumerate and illiterate. Other then that...

[pagar a bacon, country ham and sausage supporter]

At last the truth comes out!

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-06-16/orlando-victims-died-because-they-were-unarmed-not-because-they-were-gay

[Miss Marple 2]

Captain Hate, Beasts,

The only thing I can think of to stop such foolishness is to call Governor Pence's office and Congressman Todd Young's office. (He is running to replace retiring Senator Coats.)

I am going to inform them that should elements of the GOP try this (could be either Cruz-NRO faction OR Ryan-Romney faction) I will vote democrat on all down ticket races.

[Captain Hate]

I'm not giving my email addy to Bezos, at least not for that company, so what is the illnesses those scientists are dealing with? This is a terrible time of the year to travel there and it may just maximize the death toll to attempt it. I know it sounds callous to not attempt the rescue but unless they're as dumb as the warmists they understand the situation.

[Captain Hate]

What ARE the illnesses or what is the illness.

[Buckeye]

From one of my Canadian buddies this morning:

President Barack Obama was in the Oval Office when his telephone rang.

"Hallo, President Obama " a heavily accented voice said. "This is Archie, up ere at the Harp Seal Pub in Badger's Cove , Newfoundland , Canada , eh? I am callin' to tells ya dat we are officially declaring war on ya!"

"Well Archie," Barack replied, "This is indeed important news ! How big is your army ?"

"Right now," said Archie, after a moments calculation "there is myself, me cousin Harold , me next-door-neighbor Mick, and the whole dart team from the pub. That makes eight!"

Barack paused. "I must tell you Archie that I have one million men in my army waiting to move on my command."

"Wow," said Archie. "I'll have ta call ya back!"
Sure enough, the next day, Archie called again. " Mr. Obama, the war is still on! We have managed to acquire some infantry equipment!"

"And what equipment would that be Archie?" Barack asked.

"Well sir, we have two combines, a bulldozer, and Harry 's farm tractor."

President Obama sighed. "I must tell you Archie, that I have 16,000 tanks and 14,000 armored personnel carriers. Also I've increased my army to one and a half million since we last spoke."

"Lord above", said Archie, "I'll be getting back to ya."

Sure enough, Archie rang again the next day.. " President Obama , the war is still on! We have managed to git ourselves airborne! We up an' modified Harrigan's ultra-light wit a couple of shotguns in the cockpit, and four boys from the Legion have joined us as well!"

Barack was silent for a minute then cleared his throat. "I must tell you Archie that I have 10,000 bombers and 20,000 fighter planes. My military complex is surrounded by laser-guided, surface-to-air missile sites. And since we last spoke, I've increased my army to TWO MILLION!"

"Jumpins," said Archie, "l'll have ta call youse back."

Sure enough, Archie called again the next day. " President Obama ! I am sorry to have to tell you dat we have had to call off dis 'ere war."

"I'm sorry to hear that" said Barack . "Why the sudden change of heart?"

Well, sir," said Archie, "we've all sat ourselves down and had a long chat over a bunch of pints, and come to realize dat dere's no way we can feed two million prisoners.."

CANADIAN CONFIDENCE CANNOT BE SHAKEN

[Beasts of England]

It can't hurt, Miss Marple. I take some consolation in that Trump has ~300 delegates to spare. If he were only thirty or forty over the manic number, it would be fait accompli.

[Threadkiller]

what is the illnesses those scientists are dealing with?

Blue balls.

[Beasts of England]

*magic* number - although either works.

[JMHanes]

henry:

This factoid rather surprised me:

[T]he seven states who implemented drug testing for Tanf recipients spent $1m on testing from the (recent) inception of their programs through 2014. But the average rate of drug use among Tanf recipients has been far below the national average – around 1% overall, compared with 9.4% in the general population – meaning there’s been little cost savings from the program. Why? “Probably because they can’t afford it,” notes Moore.

Does anyone know, offhand, if this assertion is actually true: "We spend $81bn on everything – everything – that you could consider a poverty program?"

[JMHanes]

Captain Hate:

You don't have to give the WaPo your email address to read the story.

[Threadkiller]

WSJ article at FreeRepulic(lots of good stuff there this morning):

Special agents at the IRS equipped with AR-15 military-style rifles? Health and Human Services “Special Office of Inspector General Agents” being trained by the Army’s Special Forces contractors? The Department of Veterans Affairs arming 3,700 employees?

The number of non-Defense Department federal officers authorized to make arrests and carry firearms (200,000) now exceeds the number of U.S. Marines (182,000). In its escalating arms and ammo stockpiling, this federal arms race is unlike anything in history. Over the last 20 years, the number of these federal officers with arrest-and-firearm authority has nearly tripled to over 200,000 today, from 74,500 in 1996.

What exactly is the Obama administration up to?

On Friday, June 17, our organization, American Transparency, is releasing its OpenTheBooks.com oversight report on the militarization of America. The report catalogs federal purchases of guns, ammunition and military-style equipment by seemingly bureaucratic federal agencies. During a nine-year period through 2014, we found, 67 agencies unaffiliated with the Department of Defense spent $1.48 billion on guns and ammo. Of that total, $335.1 million was spent by agencies traditionally viewed as regulatory or administrative, such as the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Mint.

[snip]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3441105/posts

A Hillary Clinton SCOTUS is a great idea.

#ThanksTrump

[jimmyk]

JMH, they do make you cough up your e-mail address--I think after you've viewed a certain number of articles from that IP address. I was blocked on this computer but could read the story on another device.

If I skimmed accurately, the sick guy is the only doctor there, and has pancreatitis, which can be deadly. Still, he didn't ask for the rescue, but whoever is running the program insisted.

[Threadkiller]

Some of the media people I have spoken to respond that this is a 20-year-old story. With so much in the news, why bother with an old one?

The answer to this is simple but oddly self-defeating: The presidential couple that orchestrated the cover-up in 1996 is attempting to claw its way back into the White House.

http://www.wnd.com/2016/06/who-in-media-will-cover-planes-shoot-down/

But Trump took an old bags house so he could park his limo!

[James D]

jimmyk, the doctor with pancreatitis was the subject of the one previous successful evacuation back in 2001.

They don't say what the illness is this time.

[daddy]

JOM Legal question. In the case of the Orlando Disney kid eaten by the Croc---can it only be the family that brings the Lawsuit against Disney, or could some other entity bring a LawSuit against Disney as a result of this incident?

If some other entity, and not the immediate family, who, and how would that work?

[henry]

The never ending fight against RINOs that want to raise taxes. Note that the gas tax is already in the top 10 in the US -- this after 6 years of freeze under Walker.

[squaredance]

I think that these number of articles" algorithms rely on cookies and not IP.

If that is the case, just clear your cookies (you can do this for an individual site). Google for how to do this with your preferred browser).

I do not know if this is the case to the WP for I am nonbinding it these days.

[JMHanes]

I delete unwanted cookies regularly, and have never had to worry about article limits at the WaPo, NYTimes, etc. Eventually they'll figure out some more effective way to handle that. I don't know any work-around for sites that require you to disable your ad blocker or whitelist them, in order to access their content, something that's becoming more common.

[RattlerGator]

Daddy, what would be the basis of the lawsuit? My understanding is Disney had the area clearly marked. They shouldn't have been in the water -- the negligence seems to be on the part of the parents.

[Captain Hate]

Still, he didn't ask for the rescue, but whoever is running the program insisted.

Then maybe he should go do it. Maybe some sciencey guys like DrJ can answer this: why are stations like that still manned at times of the year like this? Hasn't digital data gathering (which I assume this is mostly about) progressed to the point that having a human presence is a pre Galiean conceit? Or are they doing something else?

[Jack is Back!]

RT,

The problem with the "clearly marked - NO SWIMMING" is that when guests asked why? Disney said it was because of "bacteria" not 'Gators. There is a list of people who have stayed there and will testify to that.

henry,

Thank you for adding to the Forbes 400. Looking forward to receiving my AMEX Black Card and NetJets subscription. BTW, I may use that NetJets to visit you and GUS. Just got an email from, it seems, my sister's grand-daughter who is a school teacher in Neenah. Don't know her but she is asking for info about my sister who passed back in 1974 in a car accident. More seredipity than I can stand.

[Jack is Back!]

...adding me....

[JMHanes]

From the Military Times, via HotAir: The Taliban now holds more of Afghanistan than at any time since 2001.

The Commander-in-Chief’s approach remains utterly incomprehensible: “The 9,800 remaining U.S. troops in Afghanistan are scheduled to drop to 5,500 by the end of this year,” but in the meantime, “President Obama decided to expand America's involvement with more airstrikes against insurgents, giving the U.S. military wider latitude to support Afghan forces, both in the air and on the ground.” So little, so late, such an 8 year travesty, paid for in American lives.

[henry]

Small world Jack.

The NetJets guys give subscriptions to anyone... and appear to have unlimited email privileges somewhere. :)

[henry]

From our lurking friend:

Actually, JiB should be looking into a JetSmarter membership. $5K initiation, but finds you seats on dead heading Corporate jets anywhere in the world for as little as £100.

And it's an app.

[Captain Hate]

The Commander-in-Chief’s approach remains utterly incomprehensible

At some point we have to surrender the notion that he wants us to prevail. Surely he's been advised by military experts (real ones who know what they're doing, unlike Ass Carter and Mullah Brennan) on how foolish and dangerous his strategies are.

[Theo]

RG --

You do not need a basis to bring a lawsuit in this country. Just the filing fee.

In a case like this, someone will bring the case on a contingency fee basis and the facts and common sense be damned. Disney has a lot of money and the poor little toddler is dead and the family needs to be consoled with lots of expensive therapy. THAT is the "basis."

Daddy --

Anyone who suffered an injury can bring suit, but it would be difficult for anyone other than the family (or someone acting on behalf of the dead child) to be able to establish an injury recognized in the law. Someone who was horrified by the news coverage would not have such an injury.

[buccaneer morgan]

I think we have to consider it's all vizzini,

http://opinion.injo.com/2016/06/256993-im-former-nypd-heres-why-i-suspect-there-was-more-than-one-shooter-in-orlando/

[Jack is Back!]

If you like Sinatra, watch this Long Island pizza guy blow away the competition on America's got talent. And Old Blue eyes has nothing on this guy's "charisma" and "charm".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XD0eoqV8nA

[Beasts of England]

That's a lot cheaper than when Iooked into is about six years ago. It was $150k up front and that covered about ten hours in the air, if I remember correctly.

[buccaneer morgan]

you know the war of 1812 was not that long ago,

http://www.thelocal.fr/20160617/french-minister-says-britain-has-taken-eu-hostage

[daddy]

RG, Thanks for the legal input.

On a different topic, quick help appreciated. Can someone google the female Thai first name "Saruda," and see if it has a meaning of some sort? Help appreciated. Here in China my avenues of access are censored.

[Thomas Collins]

Here is an article suggesting that Disney will settle this quickly.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/06/16/gator-tragedy-leaves-disney-facing-legal-nightmare-say-experts.html

I suspect Florida courts and statutes are very friendly to Disney. I am not familiar with Florida tort law. However, I hope then parents get a good settlement. Disney creates a supposedly safe fantasy environment, and then lets alligators roam around? As far as the swimming goes, my understanding is that the child was playing at the water's edge, not swimming. Besides, there should have been alligator warnings. Why would a family from Nebraska visiting Disney necessarily think that their child, splashing in the water, was at risk to being dragged to death by an alligator?

I hope the family has a kickass plaintiff's lawyer to negotiate a nice settlement. Disney's apologists are spewing BS in this case.

[buccaneer morgan]

seems to be a popular name, but no particular significance I can see,

[Captain Hate]

I'm really torn on this between hating what Disney has become versus irresponsible parents.

[Beester]

JIB 10:35 THAT was great. Just like my husband's Sicilian family (minus the New York accents). Lots of food, love and music. Sweet voice. Hope he goes far. Good start to the morning.

[Thomas Collins]

"Disney has a lot of money and the poor little toddler is dead and the family needs to be consoled with lots of expensive therapy. THAT is the "basis.""

No, Theo, the basis for the suit is that Disney, with actual knowledge of a reasonably forseeable threat to the lives of its customers, chose not to inform the customers of the threat.

I'm surprised that anyone would think this is an example of our tort system being overly friendly to plaintiff's. If ever there was a case in which a company deserved to get it up the butt from our tort system, this is it. As I noted above, however, I'm not a Florida attorney, so perhaps there is a "Disney protection statute" (that is, a statute that makes it very difficuly to recover in these situations; Maine has one for its ski slope owners).

[Buckeye]

I'm really torn on this between hating what Disney has become versus irresponsible parents.

It is easy CH, just hate them both:)

[RattlerGator]

Thomas Collins, are you kidding? "Lets" the Gators roam around. Lets them? I mean, wow. Water in Florida likely means Gators around. Who doesn't know that? I don't know what the heck is wrong with people and this insistence to be protected from all risk.

No swimming sign, in Florida, at night -- right? Seems to me that should have been sufficient to not let your toddler roam.

[lyle]

Disney owns ABC which owns ESPN. 'Nuff said. The latter went full prog years ago.

And what's with this minus 75F below temp in Antarctica? Zippy tells me all the icecaps are melting. I'm no scientist but I still think temps must be a tad higher than that to induce any kind of thaw.

[Rocco]

If you see something, say something! The Countering Violent Extremism report was submitted less than a week before the terror plot in Orlando.

Love the joke Buckeye!

[Buckeye]

And what's with this minus 75F below temp in Antarctica? Zippy tells me all the icecaps are melting. I'm no scientist but I still think temps must be a tad higher than that to induce any kind of thaw.

Don't bring science into the discussion lyle.

Haven't you heard that the "science" is settled?

[GUS]

One comment vis a vis Gwen Less, and Henry link to sneaky rich folks being drug tested.

Who the FOCK does Moore think is paying for the dead beats benefits????

[Thomas Collins]

Roam, RG? What do you mean? My understanding is that the toddler was playing at water's edge? Why are you trying to excuse horrible conduct by Disney?

What in my posts, RG, suggests that I am arguing that people should be protected from all risk? That's certainly not me. I have permanent nerve damage in a finger from an accident when in my early twenties I was opening up a glass jar of fruit salad and it shattered in my hand. I didn't even inquire about a lawsuit. I suffered a traumatic brain injury and was almost killed after being hit by a car. My only claim was for the car. Please be a little more careful about making assumptions that people who think Disney should pay up are overly risk averse people.

[daddy]

Thanks for the quick good input guys.

She is a Thai gal bartending in the Marriott in China and says "Saruda" has no particular meaning which is odd in my experience of dealing with Asians. There is almost always some sort of meaning, but "Oh well,' the stuff I learn...

My 2 best friends growing up as a 3 to 6 year old in Thailand, in the last gasps of the Colonial era, were the twin sons of our main cook, Rottena, and her 2 kids were named Oot and Ott. My 4 year older brother and Oot and Ott and I were thick as thieves. That's prompted my interest, plus she's cute as humanly possible:)

Chinese censorship has clobbered me in learning stuff about 'Saruda' so thanks for your expeditious help.

[pagar a bacon, country ham and sausage supporter]

"The Department of Veterans Affairs arming 3,700 employees?"

Meanwhile the military recruiters were sitting ducks.

What are these 3700 armed VA employees doing?

[buccaneer morgan]

so prevent a revolt by the patients, clearly,

[lyle]

Insty has a link to a new feature on Monster Hunter Nation: "Ask Kuntzman." Pretty hilarious.

[James D]

At some point we have to surrender the notion that he wants us to prevail. Surely he's been advised by military experts (real ones who know what they're doing, unlike Ass Carter and Mullah Brennan) on how foolish and dangerous his strategies are.

We knew this in 2009. There was the half-assed Afghan surge, designed solely to make Obama look tough, and Presidential, and to give lip service to his talk about Afghanistan being the "smart war" as opposed to the dumb Iraq war.

It was reported at the time that he overruled his generals and advisors and committed far less troops than were necessary to accomplish any actual objective that had any value to our national security or interests (or Afghanistan's for that matter). Of course it was spun as him being "brave" enough to stand up to the warmongers at the Pentagon, and his supporters lapped that nonsense up, and the GOP mostly stayed mute.

And then, of course, it played out exactly as anyone with a brain and a shred of intellectual honesty knew it would: the lives of a whole lot of soldiers were thrown away to no purpose except for a short-term boost to Obama's opinion polls, and by every actual, real-world measure, we were worse off than before the "surge" began.

And actually we didn't even need to wait for him to occupy the Oval Office to know that he didn't want us to prevail - look at his comments about the Iraq surge.

It's been there all along. He is an enemy of this country and its interests and its values and its people and definitely its soldiers, and he has been his whole adult life. It's not complicated. It's not hidden. It's clear for anyone who has eyes to see.

[jimmyk on iPhone]

Can I sue Disney for having a transgender stingray in its Finding Nemo sequel?

[James D]

"The Department of Veterans Affairs arming 3,700 employees?"

To euthanize the veterans who survive the waiting lists to make it into a facility?

I wouldn't put anything past these people anymore.

[GUS]

Family from Nebraska at MAN MADE LAGOON at Disney.

2 year old child wading in less than one foot of of water.

Alligator at man made lagoon beach at Disney.
No warning signs.

Family from Nebraska.

NO alligators in Nebraska.

Slam effing dunk.

[Thomas Collins]

THE FAMILY SHOULD HIRE GUS!!!!

[GUS]

Why would VA employees need to be armed??? What would the threat be?

[JMHanes]

RattlerGator:

"Water in Florida likely means Gators around. Who doesn't know that?"

A nice couple from Nebraska? I'm not sure an "everybody knows" defense is likely to get very far. What parent takes a toddler to a beautiful beach, at a beach resort, and says don't touch the water? There's a load of difference between splashing at water's edge and actual swimming.

[Buckeye]

Who the FOCK does Moore think is paying for the dead beats benefits????

GUS, didn't you get the memo???

ALL the money is the gummints, and if you are a good boy, and don't stir up any crap, they might just give you some.

[Beasts of England]

They don't have alligators in Nebraska?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

I'm from CA and I wouldn't let my toddler splash around in FL waters any more than I would let him go dog paddling in the Zambezi.
Surely Americans can be expected to have as much sense as a parent in a dugout canoe in Mozambique.

[buccaneer morgan]

more war with math, which is a substance they miss along with history, economics, grammar,

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2016/06/uncovering_the_biases_in_statelevel_polling_data.html

[GUS]

JMHANES, not only is this not a beach, it's INSIDE OF DISNEY. It's a beach that is accessible to families. Disney was DESIGNED for CHILDREN. What's next Disney not responsible for RATTLESNAKES in toilets??? This was not a beach this was an AMUSEMENT PARK.

Are you AMUSED.

Meanwhile BREXIT. The EU was an AMUSEMENT PARK set up for BUREAUCRATIC POWER.

[Dave (in MA)]

Family from Nebraska at MAN MADE LAGOON at Disney.

2 year old child wading in less than one foot of of water.

Alligator at man made lagoon beach at Disney.
No warning signs.

Family from Nebraska.

NO alligators in Nebraska.

Slam effing dunk.

The other side will probably raise the issue that it was 9:30 at night and there were no swimming signs, yet the parents let their 2 year old in the lake.

[Dave (in MA)]

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Photo/2010/09/10/gator1__1284132839_2080-1.jpg An alligator along the Charles River just outside Boston.

[JMHanes]

Gus:

"Why would VA employees need to be armed??? What would the threat be?"

That would be your right wing extremist Veteran, Gus. DHS has warned us that those guys could be super dangerous.

[Captain Hate]

Anybody thinking people from Nebraska aren't familiar with warm weather places has obviously never watched a bowl game. I think the entire state is vacated.

[GUS]

The child wasn't swimming. I believe the parents bears "SOME" responsiblility. Disney bears far more. DANGER ALLIGATOR vs NO SWIMMING. If there is a no swimming sign at a city waterfountain, is soaking your feet in the pool the same as SWIMMING. If you are allowed and ABLE to be in the place where alligators roam freely within a AMUSEMENT PARK/HOTEL COMPLEX, should not there be more SAFETY PROCEDURES in place other than a NO SWIMMING SIGN IN THE DARK OF NIGHT. Do alligators walk on land????

Slam effing dunk my friends. I welcome you to refute.

[RattlerGator]

Thank you, Iggy. This is precisely why trial lawyers are so successfully contributing to the ruination of our country.

I'm not making an assumption, Thomas, and I won't apologize for having an opinion on a possible negligence claim where it appears to this Florida Boy the parents were *quite* negligent.

And I stick by the roaming question. Gators roam where they want to roam, and where there is water they find it. If you've visited this great state, you know that Gators are EVERYWHERE. That's one of the reasons why our flagship university is nicknamed the Gators, you know?

You put forward a position "that Disney, with actual knowledge of a reasonably forseeable threat to the lives of its customers, chose not to inform the customers of the threat."

My personal opinion is that this is representative of trial lawyer nonsense. Reports also indicate "this was the first alligator attack at Disney World in its nearly a half century of operations."

Maybe it isn't accurate to say first attack; perhaps the first death. Either way, yeah, it seems reasonable to me that "No Swimming" informed the customer. Your mileage may vary.

But reports indicate the child: "apparently had waded inches into the water when the alligator attacked. There were no other people in the water at the time, according to authorities." Meaning the parents of this 2-year-old weren't with the child in the water. A TWO-YEAR-OLD !!! That's clear negligence to me, Thomas.