See personal message for a laugh

It seemed like the names were mentioned for quite a long time. Isn't it normal for caucus or convention type selections to do their campaigning early and come to some kind of delegate consensus. The Iowa system uses a number of locations perhaps one per county but it looks like in the Demo's case the superdelegate system overwhelmed the caucus results.

For sure I'd like to see the entry fee to run for office include automatic placement on the ballot no matter how long the list - and in the voters pamphlet - everywhere. That, operating the election and tabulating/reporting results should be the sum total of public expenditures. Just for starters. True the parties operate their own primary candidate selection and neither State nor federal can interfere short of a criminal action such as stuffed boxes but the candidates on the ballot should neither be limited nor given preferential placement but randomnly with out duplicatin the location in the ensuing years.

You were worse than the Army must be the captive audience. I've worked ships with people retired from the Navy. It killed them my attitude was "So I was in the military what was your excuse." Many had retired as E6's Killed them I out ranked them in the military game too. Then along would come one of my former USMC buddies ....." We would go out on the bridge wing and light up a cigar. Now mind you I don't smoke so that was a sacrifice. They weren't invited. The former Marine commented once "this is the military veterans section.' that was an MSC ship.

Almost forgot the Vietnam era had some of the senior NCO's running the NCO Club ripoff scandal and it eventually led to the Command Sergeant Major Of The Army. Embarassing yes but it wasn't swept under the rug.

There is a always a group in the military that upon commissioning and pinning on the gold bar of an Ensing or Second Lieutenant immediately forgets their Cadets oath. 'will not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do.' The better Officer, Non-Commissioned schools had one of those as well. The proof was the 100% participation signs in front of each company HQ for donations to various this and that.

Now i't s mostly done by payroll deduction but the method I'm betting is the same. Strong Arming, Blackmailing and a form of Protection Racket. If you don't then it's all the dirty jobs, no promotions, and a very low efficiency rating. As one Sergeant Major candidly put it to me "Spit Rolls Down Hill. You are at the bottom."

Having been given a truthful explanation laid down two envelopes. and shoved over the first one. Back then we gave cash until the deduction system started. That was the $2 and change they said was my fair share. He asked what was in the other one?

That one Sergeant Major was for just being asked politely. It was a $20. I put it in my pocket. He shook my hand and next month I received a promotion. From then on he refused to accept anything over the 'fair share amount.' We were 100% in that unit but collected less than half of the previous amouonts.That's how you roll spit uphill...

In those days at paygrade E-5 with jump pay of $55 a month added I was making a hair over $300 a month. $20 was a large chunk of change

Most of that training is with rubber stamp.

Well put and for one good reason. They would have no need going back to your first sentence. Our unit lived by the dictum we are the fish that swimi in their sea. The failures came when the rear area types made side deals with the dictators. so much simpler to lie up to our motto and the idea behind our countries birth and have it all with less problems less strain more gain. There were times when i truly felt the first part of any plan was doing in our own rear area - first. Stating with DC. Things have changed a lot we are no longer the bastard step children of JFK. No everyone wants to be special but there only 7000 plus Seals, Rangers, etc. There is a lot of world out there anf sll it takes is one Carter, LBJ, Kerry to upgeschaft. Being elected doesn't make one an Alexander or Temujin nor even a Boy Scout leader. .

They must have quit having the classes on that then. The first is the prime statement, the second supports the first but the first is always prime IF a military officer of any variety or the Commander-In-Chief are found to be wanting or in violation of their oath etc. they automatically disqualify themselves short version. Military doesn't get much leeway and rarely any choice at all. The whole thing revolves around the Constitutional Oath. the preferred methods is let them vacate the office and as long as the Constitution is there we rely on the civilians to do the right thing Events of the last few years have signaled a huge change. The comment about 'bigget threat this government faces' was an admission that the DOHS was doing wrong and so was the President. That Secretary was replaced for saying so out loud. Obeyme saying he wanted to incease the power of the DHS into equal or better than the military was and admission and recognition of their oath, which is not to him but the Constitution he's violated so much. the military is now and has for sometime been firing shots across his bows - time to leave. They serve as warnings to the next one.

In my day we discussed and talked it out with good instructors. Mabe 'in the day' they don't have time for 'ethics?'

It did come through. More than pretty much as you described it . Now to wait for the book.I can see why the full edition with essays is collector's item at $118!