Weapons qualification

It was a beautiful day at the pistol range in the Orchard Training Area south of Boise. The snow-covered Owyhee Mountains seemed within walking distance. (Click to enlarge any picture.)



Beautiful, but windy. The red range flag denoting a live-fire range snapped straight out all morning.



Soldiers waiting for the pop-up targets to pop up, under a vast blue desert sky. The guy holding the white circular paddle is a safety officer.



Here's one of the pop-ups. A new twist. Instead of just a dark green silhouette, the targets looked like this. Female soldier engaging a female, Kalashnikov-wielding opponent.



Here's a fun one.



There were different versions of these targets. One of them was this same kid, holding a soccer ball. He was similarly bullet-riddled.

Update: A brief video of the targets popping up, and getting shot down. I wasn't close enough to capture the sound well, but the snapping sound is the pistol shots. You'll also hear the wind. They pause for 30 seconds, from .18 to .50, waiting for the order to move out downrange.

Fox news talking points, brought to you by Vaughn Ward

Dan "Poisen Pen" Popkey had an article yesterday revealing that anti-government candidate Vaughn Ward's wife works at Fannie Mae, which is now 75% government owned. I guess there is some news value to that, as it does expose a bit of hypocrisy, but it really doesn't tell us much about Ward as a candidate. However, this quote does:

Ward also has said, "A government job isn't a real job. True wealth creation comes from small business."

This is a flat out Fox News talking point, oft repeated by wingers, so let's unpack it a bit.

A government job is not a real job. Well. I guess, then, no one in Ward's family has a real job, preferring to feed at the government trough, while dissing it. Talk about biting the hand that feeds it. Also, given that our military is now all volunteer and the troops work for pay, those are government jobs. Not real ones, though. Please, Vaughn, keep telling our troops that they don't have real jobs. Police? Not a real job? Firefighters? Not real? Coast Guard rescue swimmers who will drop from a helicopter into an icy and stormy sea to rescue a fisherman? Not real? The helicopter pilot who fights to keep the aircraft aloft in a storm to help the rescue? What a bunch of pussies, the lot of them.

Next point, implied when taking the two sentences together: only jobs that create wealth are real. Well, okay Vaughn, garbage collection doesn't create wealth; not real. Doctors and nurses, while they make a nice living, don't create wealth. Not real. Teachers and professors? Not real.

True wealth creation comes from small business. I agree that small business does create wealth, but I disagree with the "true wealth creation" part of it. What Ward is saying is that when it comes to creating wealth, only small business matters. Only small business gets it done. Well, Vaughn, that's just stupid.

Take away all the jobs noted above. And roads. And traffic signals. And air traffic controllers. And courts and judges and prosecutors. And bank regulators. What will we have? A third world country in which it's nearly impossible to create wealth. Think life without government is so special? Move to Somalia.

Vaughn, yes, government workers might be "takers" as Rush likes to say (even though they pay their share of taxes, too), but they set the environment in which citizens can succeed and create wealth. It's an over used analogy but a good one: Try to play a football game without the referees. It would just descend into chaos.

Supporters of Ward, Adam Graham for instance, might be tempted to criticize this post by saying that wingers don't want to do away with all government, they just want to keep it small and efficient. They might acknowledge that policemen and soldiers are okay. But to that concession I say, tell me exactly what part of government you'd do away with. Don't just generically attack government while wrapped in the flag.

Statesman, hoist on its own petard

The Statesman has an editorial today that just makes it look silly and intellectually weak. Under the misleading title "A problem so big, it took two parties to build it," the editors blame our national debt pretty much equally on both Republicans and Democrats. They write

Republican and Democratic presidents and Congresses have done their share to pad the debt.

They say "we've also got to commit to doing it right," and then they call for a "candid, intellectually honest view of how we've gotten into this mess." And then they close with this

After all, it's going to take more than one tea party to fix a crisis created by two political parties.

This is wrong, and it simply feeds the Republican myth that Democrats are to blame for most of our national debt. If the Statesman wants to be "intellectually honest," it will stop promoting this false view of what got us into debt. Look at this graph.



The national debt has gone down under every Democratic President since Truman, and has gone up under the last three Republican presidents. Intellectual honesty would be pointing out that the debt increased from around 30% to around 70% in the Reagan-Bush years.

The "crisis" the editors refer to was clearly not created by both parties; the Republicans own it, lock, stock and barrel. Granted, the debt has gone up a bit under Obama, but primarily to fix the problems he inherited from President Bush.

This is maddening. I expect newspapers to fact check and report the truth. Sure, have an opinion, but like I said about Vaughn Ward, you're entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts. Statesman editors, you screwed this one up royally, and in so doing contributed to the very ill will you were trying to decry in the editorial. By perpetuating that myth that Democrats are responsible for the debt, you fed the idiocy. Nice work.

Oh, and btw, America's deficit wasn't years in the making, that's a function of the budget annually. The debt was years in the making. Try harder, will ya. So much for "we've got to commit to doing it right."

Sanity from Vaughn Ward? Guess not.

Dan Popkey reports that Candidate Vaughn Ward fears for the very existence of our republic.

Congressional candidate Vaughn Ward fears every fighter in American history will have died in vain if Republicans don't retake Congress in November.

Ward says:

And I wonder right now, today, with the direction our country is going, is it in vain?" Ward said. "(Have) 239 years been in vain? The hundreds of thousands of people that have sacrificed their life for this nation - will that be in vain? Folks, we can't let it be. Now, this year, is the time that we reclaim Congress and reclaim a hope, a hope in the American Dream.

To which I respond, good grief, man, get a grip. Do you really think that we are headed in such a wrong direction that military sacrifices will all have been in vain?

If you do, you, sir, are a blithering idiot. Recall that just 18 months ago we had an election and the very people you think are destroying the country were swept into power. And, they campaigned on a platform that they are now working on enacting. Health care reform. Obama and the Democrats explicitly said they want to do this, and they did (in fact enacting a plan that looks a lot like plans offered by Republicans over the years.)

We had an election. These folks were elected. That's how it works in America. But, maybe you do know that this is a load of hooey designed to play to the wingnutters that will vote in the primary. In which case, you're just dishonest and stirring up passions and emotion for your personal benefit. Typical politician, in other words.

Deluded or dishonest. Which is worse? Well, I guess I'd have to settle for dishonest. That way, I'd have the hope that if you get elected, you might be able to understand the reality of national politics and act accordingly. Otherwise, I guess you'd just be engulfed in some miasma, thrashing about, not understanding what's happening around you, ferociously barking at whatever vision takes focus for a minute because that's all you can perceive.

I guess I can't expect sanity from you. But, jeezus, man, you're going to end up making Walt Minnick look like a reasonable alternative.

Vaughn Ward; can we please have some sanity?

Dan Popkey has a piece in the Statesman today about Raul Labrador firing his campaign manager, apparently over poor fund raising. Popkey also goes to Labrador's primary opponent Vaughn Ward for some "reaction."

Along the way, Popkey talks about Ward's new TV ad featuring a pickup Ward borrowed from a supporter, Ward apparently not owning one himself, but also apparently wanting to use Scott Brown's (well- worn, tried and true) pitch of being a man of the people. Nothing says man ofthe people like a pickup truck, I guess.

Anyway, this quote from the ad jumped out at me.

Ward says, "Washington liberals are bankrupting our country. We need to send someone to Washington who will stand up to Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi. We need to return to our core values of strong families, strong national defense and lower taxes. And that's what I will do."

Okay Vaughn, I get that you have to play to the base to win the primary, and that statements is a tea-bagger thing of beauty. But if you win the primary, please grace us with some sanity. You won't need to come across as a wingnut to win every far-right in Idaho; you'll get those because of the "R" on your campaign ads.

You'll pick up more votes, I believe, if you can appeal to some of the moderates that Walt is trying to woo. And if you want to attract moderates, then 1) stop with the teabaggery already, and 2) act like you come from a reality based world.

You see, Obama has pretty much continued Bush's national defense policies, and in the case of a attacks on insurgent leaders, he's upped the ante with lots of drone air-strikes.

And as far as taxes go, there's this:

Meanwhile, taxes are at their lowest levels in 60 years, according to William Gale, co-director of the Tax Policy Center and director of the Retirement Security Project at the Brookings Institution.

And

The American people need to be reminded that 98 percent of Americans got a tax cut last year," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday.

Ward could earn my respect if he will eschew the absurd Republican spin and talking points and rally talk about issues facing the country. Propose some solutions; offer some ideas. If you do, that will be refreshing. Unfortunately, his first ad puts him squarely in the party of No. No ideas, not solutions, no progress. Just ridiculous opposition to any effort to try and improve things for America.

Best health care in the world

This has been a Republican talking point since Democrats started trying to extend health care to all Americans. America has the best health care in the world; don't mess with the system. As Betsy Russell reported:

Otter said, “On balance it’s a takeover by the federal government of a health care system that I think has offered the best health care in the world.”

Jim Risch also parroted this talking point. But, as they say, you may be entitled to your own opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts.

The Statesman had a front page box today saying "Women giving birth in the United States die at more than four times the rate of those in Italy and double that of Britain." (No link available) And in the US, "the maternal mortality ratio increased 42 percent between 1990 and 2008."

Here's a job you don't want

You don't want to be the driver of the HMMWV shown. The one with the mine roller attachment.



There's a third set of wheels that cover the center of the mine roller attachment. So, it's some poor guy's job to just drive along until the wheels set off a mine and scare the bejeezus out of him (or her).

Those black things behind the wheels, that look like they ought to provide blast protection? They're just rubber mud flaps.

Once a clown ...

I saw the pictures of some congressmen holding signs during the health care debate that said "Kill the bill." I can't find a copy of the picture, but I seem to recall Rep. Mike Simpson was holding the paper with the word "Kill" on it. They were grinning and apparently just clowning around.

Well, I guess some things never change. From his senior year at Blackfoot High, behold:



Update: Thanks to Ericn, the pic is below.

A rigged judicial election?

Take a minute and look at the candidates on the District 7 District Judge list. As you know, Idaho judges have to run for election. If they get appointed to fill a vacancy, they later have to run for re-election. 4 of the 5 below are running for re-election, unopposed, as is the case with virtually every judge race. But look at who has filed to succeed Judge Greg Anderson.



Yes, that's Bonneville prosecutor Dane Watkins. I'm told that Watkins used to clerk for Anderson. I'm also told that Anderson has decided to retire; you'll notice he's not running to replace himself. I'm also told that he didn't announce his intent to retire until after the filing deadline. But apparently someone told his former clerk about that intent, and now Watkins is running unopposed for the judgeship.

Oh, and this is the same Prosecutor Dane Watkins who has apparently shown no interest in prosecuting Darin Palmer, Idaho's Bernie Madoff to the tune of around $60 million dollars.

Pro Life, er, Pro-Life, er ProLife

If you have a few minutes for some online fun, check out Pro Life's website. It's got all kinds of winger goodness. Here are some tidbits:

Legislators are big chickens, they covet office so they refuse to deal with divisive issues.

Under the tab "Wife of ProLife" we read

I, Pro-Life, asked my wife to run for office. She was very reluctant. We do not believe that women should be involved in things outside the home, unless there is a serious health, life, or liberty situation.

Mr. Life seems to be a bit confused about how to spell his name. Sometimes it is one word, sometimes it is hyphenated.

Under the tab "Pro-Life for Idaho," he lists his 27 action items for when he becomes governor, such as:

1- Governor Otter says, “we have 3 ‘equal’ branches of government.” This is wrong. The legislative branch is superior to the other branches according to the Idaho Constitution.

3- I will promote gold and silver coin as the only legal currency. Federal Reserve Notes are counterfeit according to the US Constitution and are a ponzi scheme.

6- I will never pay for alcohol from my personal or state funds.

13- I will support a “trigger law” for Idaho, in the event, the federal government suspends any of The Bill of Rights or Constitutional rights.

16- I will give to the needy almost all of my salary. Government charity never solves problems, it only increases them. Look at our Indian reservations to see the result of long term gov’t aid.

19- I believe that states can nullify unconstitutional federal laws. I also believe that a state can secede from the Union.

This next one really comes from left field (Har!)

20- I am against the government licensing of professions and occupations.

I was waiting for this one:

21- I am promoting the impeachment of President Obama for implementing treaty agreements with Russia without a vote of the Senate ... I believe Obama is not a US citizen. I believe Obama has things in his background which allow him to be blackmailed.

24- I will do everything I can to have illegal aliens deported from Idaho.

Sounds like a pretty mainstream Idaho Republican, except for giving up his salary.

Hold on to your wallet

For a few weeks now, the, well, I won't use its name, but anyway a motivational seminar has been advertising in the Statesman. Full page ads, 2-3 times a week.

They're advertising an all day seminar featuring Rudy Giuliani, Terry Bradshaw, coach Chris Petersen, and others. All speakers live and in person. With free bonus gifts, such as motivational books. And door prizes. And, attendance is only $4.95.

So you know there's a catch. I've looked the ads over pretty closely, and the only small print that could be a "catch" says that there will also be "a special 10-minute optional bonus session on the Biblical secrets of success." Isn't the whole thing optional?

Anyway, if you go, I say leave your wallet home. For that price you know they're selling something.

Conservatives should be happy

Over the last two years, the legislature has cut the state's budget by around 20%. One fifth. That's a real reduction in government, especially since the state's population has continued to grow. Conservatives must be ecstatic.

And no new general taxes. Of course, there are taxes on boats, and user fees for parks, and what not, but if you don't avail yourself of amenities such as the outdoors, then you've probably escaped any new tax.

And that's all great. Revenue is way down, and the budget must be balanced. It's just too bad that Republicans in the Idaho Legislature don't have what it takes - whether it's courage or intellect or whatever - to enact a sane and fair tax structure that fits a 21st Century economy. Stop favoring narrow special interests and impose the sales tax on all sales, including services, and lower the overall rate. Exempting food and drugs is probably a good idea, but other than that, let all sectors of the economy contribute equally.