They continue

The members of our Armed Forces continue to deploy, even though it seems this fact doesn't get into the mainstream media much any more.

And they continue to return home. 

This morning, while eating breakfast at a diner aboard a Marine Corps installation, just a few feet away were several ladies and children.  The young ladies wore identical t-shirts, imprinted with the name and symbol of a military unit.  The kids raised in age from newborns, whose fathers were overseas when they were born, to elementary school age.  The older kids also wore the unit t-shirts.

From another source, I knew the unit named on the t-shirts was returning from another overseas deployment.

Looking at those military wives, I saw a mixture of excitement, fatigue, and relief.  Excitement at the imminent return of their Marines.  Fatigue from running the household solo during the length of the deployment.  Relief that their husbands were returning safe.

Sitting there, it occurred to me the 99.5% of America that does not serve in the Armed Forces probably isn't aware (or care) that our men and women continue to go in harm's way, continue to deploy overseas, and continue to leave young wives and families for months on end.

They continue to serve proudly.   

Quite amazing

It is really quite amazing that intelligent citizens come to defend Ms. Clinton in the latter of her patently deliberate plan for managing e-mail communications.  

There can be no doubt that the private, stand separate from the government server and supported accounts were established exclusively and intentionally to prevent inspection of the communications by the government or public.  Outside of the Freedom of Information Act purview, a fact well know and relied upon by Clinton, the private server and supported email were put in to place to keep private what is required by law to be public.  And the assertion by Clinton that all relevant email have been provided to the State Department insults the intelligence of the voting citizens.  (Receiving less than anticipated comment is that the email were provided in print, not electronic form.  Another calculated moved to prevent or make far more difficult any review of the contents.)  It is insulting to tell the American people she/her staff/her lawyers honestly and objectively sifted thousands of electronic communications to determine which should/should not be maintained.  Finally, adding another insult, we learned on Friday that the server had been "wiped" clean, thus eliminating any hope for transparency.

This incident alone disqualifies Ms. Clinton from any further elective office.  Failure to comply with law and regulations is serious enough.  Deliberately and knowingly putting into place a system and protocols to break the law and ignore regulations is far more serious.  On this and this alone, her actions have disqualified her from elective office.  

When added to her long history, including zero accomplishments as an elected official or cabinet member, it is really quite amazing intelligent people conclude she is worthy of their support should she run for President.

We can only hope in earnest that between now and November 2016, the nation awakens and sees Ms. Clinton to be unambiguously unworthy of support in an election.

Separately, we can only hope that the machinery of justice finds itself capable of and willing to bring charges against her.

Leave no one behind

In the wake of the Army decision to charge Sergeant Bergdahl with desertion, the electronic spectrum is filled with comments from the left, right, and center.  For some months, the nation awaited the decision.  With that decision now in hand, the military justice process will proceed.  And voices will be raised on both sides of the matter, as we already see occurring.

In the beginning, Susan Rice (once more) put her foot in her mouth by declaring Bergdahl had "service with honor and distinction."  Just as her earlier comments about the attack in Benghazi were debunked, so have her declarations about Begdahl.  In compensation, the political narrative is that we don't leave anyone behind.

Candidly, I agree wholeheartedly with this policy.  We have too many people unaccounted for from Vietnam, including three Marines left behind on Koh Tang Island in May 1975, the recognized final battle of the Vietnam War.  We owe it to our men and women in uniform to bring them home.  However, at what cost?

In the Bergdahl case, the decision to trade five Taliban leaders for one soldier was obviously a political one.  As such, the wrong one.  No amount of fluffy wording from the White House and State Department spokespersons can ever change the fact that the soldier deserted in a combat zone.  And releasing even one member of the Taliban for him would be the wrong decision.  We are still at war and for POTUS to deliberately release five enemy combatants was wrong, straight and simple.

Yes, we must have a policy of leaving no one behind.  But that policy must be guided and tempered by common sense and judgment, which was not the case.

To those who are now complaining that Bergdahl shouldn't be tried because he was possibly mistreated and held captive, I offer a resounding TOUGH CRAP.  He decided to leave his unit while in a combat zone.  He decided to seek out the Taliban.  That he allegedly subsequently suffered is a consequence of his actions.  Just as Marine Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun was found guilty of desertion, so will be Sergeant Bergdahl. 

Surely...

Surely, somewhere in our vast nation, there are two individuals worthy of ethically competing for the office of President of the United States.

• Individuals without political pedigrees.
• Individuals with the ability to unify, rather than divide the nation.  
• Individuals with ethics and integrity (perhaps this rules out politicians).  
• Individuals with honor.
• Individuals with executive management and leadership experience.
• Individuals willing to make the right choice, not the politically expedient one.
• Individuals who follow the law and believe in the strict interpretation of the Constitution.
• Individuals who believe in smaller, more effective government.
• Individuals who believe in federalism.
• Individuals who have been raised as and are proud to be Americans.
• Individuals who have overcome adversity to excel.
• Individuals who have honorably served in the Armed Forces.

The full picture

Below is the full picture taken at the re-enactment of the civil rights march into Selma.  

Unfortunately, the below is the image that dominated the news.

Mission to Miramar National Cemetery

The published schedule indicated staging was at 12:00 PM.  As usual, however, they began arriving at 11:15 AM.  Older, graying gents coming together for a solemn purpose.  For some, it would be the first time.  For others, it was another in a countless series of similar events, which they call missions.

By ones and twos they arrive at the designated location.  After parking, they shake hands all around, greeting familiar faces and learning new names.  The most common conversations revolved around shared experiences and locations.  You know, the old “have you been” to some place or another.  There was some low key chats, even though they gathered for an exceptionally serious purpose.  Listening, the quiet discussions weren’t any different that others overheard at similar missions.  But then something changed.

The reason for their mission was the death of an active duty soldier, one who had gone to war.  Like many, all too many missions, a member of our Armed Forces had died and this bunch of gray beards assembled to help honor the fallen.  In this case, the cause of death was suicide.  A senseless loss of life.  A warrior dying not from enemy action, but by his own hand.  Heads were shaking all around. 

Then it was time for the first portion of the mission: standing a flag line, which is comprised of the gray beards standing at Attention and holding American flags at Present Arms as the casket was transferred to the hearse.  Standing there, each could see the visible, painful anguish of the family.  The cries and tears hammering each of the volunteer gray beards.  After the dignified transfer of the casket to the hearse, these older gents then mounted their motorcycles and escorted the soldier, his family, and friends to the Miramar National Cemetery.

At the Cemetery, because of another funeral, there was some down time awaiting the services.  Gathered in small groups, these older, graying gents vocalized their anger.  “Why isn’t someone helping these young men?”  “Why are there so many suicides among the young generation, active duty and veteran?”  “Too damned many suicides!”  Some even stated that for the grace of God, maybe they would have ended up that way.  The overwhelming sentiment, however, is anger.  

Anger at a nation that sends its young off to war and then doesn’t adequately take care of them after they come home.  One muses, “If there are battle buddies in combat, why don’t they have battle buddies back at home?” 

Gearing up again, they move down to the specified site for the final elements of the ceremony.  Once more, the family anguish hits everyone.  Somber and solemn become inadequate to describe the scene.  A few words from the Army Chaplain, rifle volleys, the playing of Taps, and old warriors from another generation holding American flags at the Present Arms.  Painful wailing. 

All due to a young warrior’s suicide.

When will our country step up and adequately assist this generation, active duty and veterans?      

Perhaps

When the nation elected as president an inexperienced first term senator, one who had never managed anything of substance and often merely voted "present" rather than take a stand, perhaps it was understandable as a reaction to the promised "hope and change."  After all, poll after poll clearly indicated that the electorate was fed up with the federal government.  A charismatic young man, though untested and inexperienced, conveyed to many the best opportunity to improve our government.  Perhaps this stranger could really do something positive, despite the lack of credential and proven track record.  Perhaps.

Now, six years later and hopefully much wiser, the electorate is reportedly willing to elect  someone who is well known nationally, has a track record that can be judged, was responsible for managing one of the largest portions of the federal government, has been tested (and failed), had opportunities to gain experience, and is politically savvy.  

It seems the two individuals are almost polar opposites in the context of what is known about them at the time they seek election to the highest office in the land.

The first used oratorical skills to communicate a vision, since there was no professional or historical substance upon which to run a campaign.  The second will attempt to communicate experience and achievement as qualifications for the office.  

A willingness to forgive or ignore the lack of qualifying achievement and accomplishment by the first individual, in pursuit of improvement, of "hope and change," can perhaps be understood.

A willingness to forgive or ignore the disqualifying history of lying, arrogance, entitlement, manic level control, lack of integrity, questionable ethics, probable unlawful behavior, accepting funds from foreign sources, scandalous actions, and failing to accept responsibility by the second individual, in pursuit of electing the first female president, can not be understood.

Perhaps, as the next year or so plays out, just perhaps the electorate will come to understand qualification from disqualification as it considers the second individual. 

Perhaps.    

Two wheel life style

A major advantage of living in the San Diego region is being able to enjoy the two wheeled life style year 'round.  A bicycle and motorcycle provide the primary means of moving around the area, both for exercise and transportation.

In addition to rather obvious weather pattern, the area is essentially bike friendly.  For example, the majority of the roads on which I cycle in the mornings have nice, wide, and marked "bike only" lanes.  With plenty of hills and long stretches of relatively light traffic, it is convenient to get in challenging work outs almost every single day.  For the most part, my fellow travelers courteously share the roads and yield when appropriate to we cyclists.  (Of course, there are the occasional few who encroach on the bike only lanes or fail to yield.  A couple of close calls, but nothing serious yet.  In all fairness, I have observed the occasional cyclist blow through stop lights and otherwise disobey the law.)  Accordingly, it is a pleasure to rack up thousands of miles in the saddle each year.

Riding a motorcycle in the region is similarly enjoyable.  Plenty of good freeways, highways, and backroads from which to choose during the aforementioned good weather.  Again, for the most part drivers appear to be more aware of motorcyclists, probably because of the sizable number of us on the roads each day.  The one issue I see stems from overly aggressive bikers, particularly those who choose to (legally) lane split on the freeways at speed.

The down sides apart, this is a superb region in which to live the two wheeled life style.  Maintaining fitness, enjoying the fresh air, and living the freedom of being on the road are direct benefits.

A new bike brings out a big smile

The winner of a 2015 Harley Davidson Street Bob is all smiles.  Nothing like a new bike to bring out a smile.