Casey - I'm glad you brought up the point about Congress. In fact (as I mentioned in another post some time ago) it was Pat Schroeder who championed this idea and managed to get it through Congress. This was at a time when practically everything was "women." Unfortunately, if one looked at her public record one wouldn't see much, if anything, pro-military in her speeches and writings. Which is why I always questioned her motivation in insisting on women in combat positions - and the subsequent lowering of standards for participation.

There were many good articles written by ___*___, beginning with Tailhook, continuing to Kara Hultgreen, and forward that support your position. 

* I’ll continue to search for her name

Just the other day, I was talking with a friend who isn't sure about voting for O - but is absolutely dead set against voting for Romney.  My suggestion?  How 'bout not voting at all.  Seem the reasonable thing to do, and if any other Ricochetians encounter a similar situation, perhaps that same suggestion could be passed along...

Motor Voter was bad enough, but ye gods, compulsory voting.  Do they think that will automatically make people good citizens, ones who will actually take the time to become informed?

Diane
You beat me to it.  Howsomever,  the flying poodle pooch (std) to the right was given to me as a pup, and for ten years he has given me so many laughs and enjoyment.  Too bad the pic isn't larger or you'd be able to see the smile on his face as well.

As for hunting, not only are they water dogs, but were bred in Germany to hunt wild boar.  Now that's a dog!  No sissies they.

Wasn't that the best!!  Haven't been down there in a few years, but the last time I was there, surprise, surprise - it's been remodled and if memory serves, there's not that much space left to eat outside.  Funny, but the food - which was the same - didn't seem to taste the same in that now 'fancy' eatery.

As long as they're not fat-free

Imagine tens of thousands of fathers writing such a letter to their sons...

The money quote from the article is "Many of the contracts are for a particular level of service, as opposed to a particular number of employees."  In a incorporated area in Southern CA that outsourced many of their services, they weren't able to negotiate that into their contracts as the contractors used union labor and forced the city to accept a minimum number of employees (quite large, in fact).  These contracts were negotiated nearly a few decades ago and it would be interesting to see if today those contracts could be changed.  Also, any problems had to be taken up directly with the contractor, not the city, which led to some sticky problems.

Apparently, Weston saw the handwriting on the wall and did it right.  So kudos to them.

Not only does Obama have the press propping him up, but characters (permission to read: attack dogs) such as Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the leadership of the Black community, MSNBC et al, Barbara Walters and gang, etc.

I think in many ways, Obama is actually very insecure and without those who would sacrifice themselves for him, he wouldn’t even be treading water.  His ego says he can count on them and therefore can put on his snobbish airs, his holier-than-thou pose, and face the public feeling quite comfortable.  

Insecure people with huge egos are a frightening lot.

Just as a matter of history, how long into the election process did the press hang on to Carter? 

The way to get the people’s attention – and soften them up for higher taxes – is to frighten them by merely mentioning public safety and education with nary a nod to the size of the overall state bureaucracy and, of course, the impact the unions are having.  As for regulations, two areas not mentioned include energy and water.

Energy: While California lawmakers approved the Governor’s request for 18 additional positions for the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources to eliminate the backlog of oil and gas drilling permits, they also want to step up regulations and have until 2014 to develop guidelines for fracking rules.  

Ah – great talking points for the Guv, but in reality just more permitting delays together with more regulations to appease the environmentalists. And talk of closing San Onofre and Diablo canyon (supplying nearly 4 million people) continues.

 Water: Agriculture is declining in the Central Valley due to decreased water allocation for farming, courtesy of the EPA.

 These need to be addressed in order for the state’s economy to grow.  They tinker at the edges but what goes missing are basic, sensible solutions.

Is it time for Jonah to dust off his "cheese-eating surrender*  monkeys" phrase? 

*[to the Socialists]

Maybe with the British recognizing the decline in tax revenues, many  wealthy  French see a glimmer of hope.  Or perhaps Quebec may be a destination point for some.  (It would be interesting, tho, to see if the two French-speaking groups will be able to understand each other...)

How many of you opened Rob's first link, "Ahem" and then continued to the site??  And how much did you contribute?

Whatever could be the draw toward the democrats of a pro-business, pro-family, pro-traditional values [of which hard work ranks very high] group of people?

It’s when these children eventually enter the workforce that things get really messed up.  Example: Someone makes a remark that is taken personally by another – which the speaker never intended as such.  Next stop on the offendee’s schedule?  HR to report the offender.  Or to the offender’s manager – and then to HR.

Remember the days when these things were handled between offender and offendee?  And a conversation twixt the two usually resulted in a clearing of the air, probably even an apology.  

What the current system has resulted in is far too many people getting involved and most likely a mark on the ‘offender’s’ personal record even if it is shown the offendee misinterpreted the situation.   It has also resulted in more long-lasting hard feelings between people and the erosion of trust among them.  And it has resulted in the application of more workplace regs and rules – many gov’t-imposed – thus more people (overhead) to carry them out. 

What a mess the overseers of our lives have created.  And to think it started in grade school, much due to zero tolerance which no longer allows kids to work many things out on  their own.

Wonderful news indeed.  No doubt at all that you have the gratitude of the Ricochet family - and a multitude of other Americans -  for the work you did while with the Bush Administration.  As with others, I never miss the Law Talk podcast.

A few more Dorothy Parkerisms:

• Katherine Hepburn delivered a striking performance that ran the gamut of emotions, from A to B.
• In 27 languages she couldn't say no.   [No, not KH]
• On a Yale prom: If all the girls attending it were laid end to end, Mrs. Parker said, she wouldn't be at all surprised.

Ambrose Beirce review of a novel by a new author:  "The covers of the book are too far apart."

The car would have been the Volt, I presume.

Spot-on answer.  Than you.

Is there any better reason for people not to sit on their hind ends come Nov???

(That and the SCOTUS)