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Tuesday, January 1. 2008
Tough Luck and Good Luck
What can we say about the end of one year and the beginning of another? “Tough Luck” (past) and “Good Luck” (future)? That’s kind of the glass half empty philosophy, but I’ve been cynical nearly my entire life — except for the day I graduated from Marine Corps boot camp. For whatever reason I can’t recall now, the world seemed to have potential. Maybe it was the satisfaction of surviving months of sheer torture and terror (if you’ve never met a Vietnam-era drill instructor, you couldn’t possibly understand) and envisioning the possibilities of being in the Fleet Marine Force.
In 1933 the U.S. Marine Corps — along with the Navy — became America’s 911 responders when the FMF was created by the Secretary of Defense, Claude Swanson. Having done it myself, I know the Marines can deploy anywhere in the world within 24 hours notice. We drilled for it all the time.
At one point during my tour as a Marine I was the embarkation NCO, which meant I had to make sure all of our unit’s equipment, right down to the clean and dirty rags, was properly packed into its assigned boxes and cargo vans for deployment. It’s a fuckin art!
As engineers, we generally deployed ahead of the combat troops and had their base set up and operating hours before they arrived. If we were really good, they could watch us lounging about drinking beers as they arrived.
So, back to the topic at hand. This isn’t the 1970’s anymore and the FMF has far more on its hands than when I served. They only places the Marines are capable of deploying to are Afghanistan and Iraq. And with the pace of the deployments and the discharges, that may not last much longer. Our military is breaking and the fucks in Washington, most Democrats and Republicans alike, don’t seem to give a damn or have a clue. Kudos to John Murtha and Dennis Kucinich, Russ Feingold and … can’t think of anyone else in Congress who wants the troops out of Iraq NOW! I’m sure there are a few others, but they just haven’t been very vocal.
I would have mentioned Ron Paul, but he’s no longer in Congress. But kudos to Paul for stepping up to the plate and calling Bush’s War what it is: illegal.
So, my first wish for 2008 is that we elect Dennis Kucinich to the presidency and have an end to this war, not just a draw down of the “surge” troops, as proposed by the current administration. Bush’s Big Brother fantasy isn’t working; we cannot sustain an endless war on two fronts, especially when we short shrift the one (Afghanistan) for the continuation of the other (Iraq). And with various provisions of the Patriot Acts getting shot down in the courts, his vision of a controlled populace is falling apart as well.
Ever since I lost my really good job at the cable company nearly three years ago, the Bushies have been great at telling us just how great the economy is going. And it is, actually — for the people in the top 10 percent of the income brackets. That’s because their wealth isn’t tied to having a job in the United States as much as having investments in companies that are exporting their jobs offshore.
The Bushies are really fond of telling us three million jobs have been added to the economy, but those jobs are largely in the service sector where workers generally make minimum wage or slightly higher; in other words, they work at or below the poverty level.
Not to mention, in the first few years of his administration roughly six million jobs were lost! We have more people living in poverty than ever before and more seem to be falling into that category every day. On-in-four veterans are homeless, many with families and/or disabled. How’s that for standing by the troops! If you’re a veteran just returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, then stand in line and wait to get it up the ass!
Cannot get out of my head being told by three health care professionals at the V.A. hospital I am not a priority. Never once in my years of getting health care at the V.A. have I been told I’m not worthy of receiving care. Not until the Bush Administration took over. Great years for vets under Reagan and Clinton, not so much under the Bush Dynasty.
Well, that’s two wishes in one rant there: As a veteran, I get the care and compensation I am qualified to receive — and every other veteran gets the same, regardless of when and where they served.
The other wish: That I secure employment or career that is not only appealing, but pays me a living wage. And I wish the same for all my neighbors in this area — and every other working family living at or below the poverty line in America. And that the 40 million without health care finally get some!
Another reason to vote for Dennis Kucinich: he advocates a single payer health care system that covers everybody — EVERYBODY — in the United States.
Watch SICKO. Nuff said.
That’s really it. Personally, I’ve been feeling sort of like a grownup lately. Not overly so … please don’t get worried! But most especially in the idea of having a life partner, a mate … do I really want to write this? — A wife. Having someone to share life with everyday. I most often ride the Trek and snorkel by myself; been to movies mostly by myself in the past ten years, just little stuff like that.
Mostly though, at night, when I used to sit around the old cabin with my brother Carl and watch baseball, football or re-runs of Law & Order, I sit here missing the company of another; not just a roommate, but someone who holds a special place in my heart. And maybe now the “benefits” of having a spouse — or at least a live-in life partner — have become apparent.
Marriages can be a pain in the ass. Ask anyone who is married. But for the past 30+ years that’s all I’ve noticed about being married, the pain in the ass part. Lately the love and devotion has made an impact on me and now I know I’m missing something. Eh … I’m probably too old. But what the hell, one more wish for 2008: find someone to call my own.
In that spirit, I’ll post some photos of my favorite fantasy candidates for Tim’s mate. Yeah, they’re all models, Playboy models for the most part, but unless someone else enters my life, they are it!
I’ll even stop staying “cleaning is women’s work.”
Naahh … cleaning is women’s work!
Happy New Year!
In 1933 the U.S. Marine Corps — along with the Navy — became America’s 911 responders when the FMF was created by the Secretary of Defense, Claude Swanson. Having done it myself, I know the Marines can deploy anywhere in the world within 24 hours notice. We drilled for it all the time. At one point during my tour as a Marine I was the embarkation NCO, which meant I had to make sure all of our unit’s equipment, right down to the clean and dirty rags, was properly packed into its assigned boxes and cargo vans for deployment. It’s a fuckin art!
As engineers, we generally deployed ahead of the combat troops and had their base set up and operating hours before they arrived. If we were really good, they could watch us lounging about drinking beers as they arrived.
So, back to the topic at hand. This isn’t the 1970’s anymore and the FMF has far more on its hands than when I served. They only places the Marines are capable of deploying to are Afghanistan and Iraq. And with the pace of the deployments and the discharges, that may not last much longer. Our military is breaking and the fucks in Washington, most Democrats and Republicans alike, don’t seem to give a damn or have a clue. Kudos to John Murtha and Dennis Kucinich, Russ Feingold and … can’t think of anyone else in Congress who wants the troops out of Iraq NOW! I’m sure there are a few others, but they just haven’t been very vocal.
I would have mentioned Ron Paul, but he’s no longer in Congress. But kudos to Paul for stepping up to the plate and calling Bush’s War what it is: illegal.
So, my first wish for 2008 is that we elect Dennis Kucinich to the presidency and have an end to this war, not just a draw down of the “surge” troops, as proposed by the current administration. Bush’s Big Brother fantasy isn’t working; we cannot sustain an endless war on two fronts, especially when we short shrift the one (Afghanistan) for the continuation of the other (Iraq). And with various provisions of the Patriot Acts getting shot down in the courts, his vision of a controlled populace is falling apart as well.
Ever since I lost my really good job at the cable company nearly three years ago, the Bushies have been great at telling us just how great the economy is going. And it is, actually — for the people in the top 10 percent of the income brackets. That’s because their wealth isn’t tied to having a job in the United States as much as having investments in companies that are exporting their jobs offshore.
The Bushies are really fond of telling us three million jobs have been added to the economy, but those jobs are largely in the service sector where workers generally make minimum wage or slightly higher; in other words, they work at or below the poverty level.
Not to mention, in the first few years of his administration roughly six million jobs were lost! We have more people living in poverty than ever before and more seem to be falling into that category every day. On-in-four veterans are homeless, many with families and/or disabled. How’s that for standing by the troops! If you’re a veteran just returning from Iraq or Afghanistan, then stand in line and wait to get it up the ass!
Cannot get out of my head being told by three health care professionals at the V.A. hospital I am not a priority. Never once in my years of getting health care at the V.A. have I been told I’m not worthy of receiving care. Not until the Bush Administration took over. Great years for vets under Reagan and Clinton, not so much under the Bush Dynasty.
Well, that’s two wishes in one rant there: As a veteran, I get the care and compensation I am qualified to receive — and every other veteran gets the same, regardless of when and where they served.
The other wish: That I secure employment or career that is not only appealing, but pays me a living wage. And I wish the same for all my neighbors in this area — and every other working family living at or below the poverty line in America. And that the 40 million without health care finally get some!
Another reason to vote for Dennis Kucinich: he advocates a single payer health care system that covers everybody — EVERYBODY — in the United States.
Watch SICKO. Nuff said.
That’s really it. Personally, I’ve been feeling sort of like a grownup lately. Not overly so … please don’t get worried! But most especially in the idea of having a life partner, a mate … do I really want to write this? — A wife. Having someone to share life with everyday. I most often ride the Trek and snorkel by myself; been to movies mostly by myself in the past ten years, just little stuff like that.
Mostly though, at night, when I used to sit around the old cabin with my brother Carl and watch baseball, football or re-runs of Law & Order, I sit here missing the company of another; not just a roommate, but someone who holds a special place in my heart. And maybe now the “benefits” of having a spouse — or at least a live-in life partner — have become apparent.
Marriages can be a pain in the ass. Ask anyone who is married. But for the past 30+ years that’s all I’ve noticed about being married, the pain in the ass part. Lately the love and devotion has made an impact on me and now I know I’m missing something. Eh … I’m probably too old. But what the hell, one more wish for 2008: find someone to call my own.
In that spirit, I’ll post some photos of my favorite fantasy candidates for Tim’s mate. Yeah, they’re all models, Playboy models for the most part, but unless someone else enters my life, they are it!
I’ll even stop staying “cleaning is women’s work.”
Naahh … cleaning is women’s work!
Happy New Year!
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