What stands out so strikingly to me about the Second World War is the contribution of so much civilian genius on the Allied side that probably proved decisive in winning the war.  The intellectual freedom and free market of the Ango alliance was unmatched by the Axis.  Everything from Bletchley Park, Upkeep, Alan Turing, and much more. 

And claiming of course that anyone who might have some fair criticism of her style must be a "hater."  Well my criticism of her applies equally to any politician who always speaks about what "We the People" believe rather than what the individual believes.  I'm an anti-populist to the core.  I'm deeply suspicious of people who speak in platitudes and under cover of "the will of the American People!"  

What will it take for mainstream conservatives to realize that there is no reforming Leviathan? And that the rational solution is secession for states uninterested in being harassed by a centralized taxing authority?

I didn't say I was an English major. 

Hands down worst teacher was a European History teacher I had in college. Unreformed communist and self-proclaimed Stalinist. I learned quickly that deviationist papers were graded harshly, and since my full ride depended on a high GPA, I towed the line and wrote papers apologizing for Uncle Joe and saying what a crooked Imperialist Harry Truman was. I had no scruples. This teacher claimed that Stalin was basically a misunderstood good guy, the purges had been necessary and legitimate, and that the Ukranian famine was a hoax. I asked him one day if he had ever read Orwell, and he had not. And he had never heard of Arthur Koestler.

So out of curiosity, what conceivable criticism would you and Larry find legitimate of Sarah Palin and not attributable to left-wing smears, bowing to peer pressure, or establishment character defamation?

And her avid supporters wonder why some on the Republican side got tired of her quickly.  We couldn't possibly be against her becoming president or senator because of real concerns over her communication style.  No, it's because we're part of some cabal of Palin-haters beholden to our masters in the Establishment.  Talk about a Leftist theme song: questioning motives!

Seems like much ado about nothing.  People said the same thing about he proliferation of Playboy magazines.  Now, it's all just digital. 

I don't own an AR. For now, I'm content with my Marlin lever action as a main home defense rifle. It's relatively cheap, a big round, and incredibly easy to operate. And for quick hands, the fact that it isn't semi auto makes little difference.

I decided to wait out the ammo panic and stock up on calipers still relatively abundant during the scare, namely 9mm, 45 Acp and 30-30. I was glad I waited as didn't get an AR, because the prices are absurd for them now and will inevitably fall this year.

Oh please, trying to ingratiate myself and be liked by being in the anti-Palin camp? That's always been my frustration with the Palin fans; any legitimate criticism of her is treated as some media/RINO conspiracy. When in fact, I have no significant policy differences with her, but just don't find her very substantive. I prefer Rand Paul, who is by contrast very specific and substantive, while not appearing cheap and aw-shucks like.

I guess I've never been a big fan.  Call me a hater, but I don't care for anyone who speaks publicly in an overly folksy manner.  Even if it's genuine, it always comes off as sounding cheap and hacky.  I probably agree with her on 80% on policy, but platitudes can be grating. 

The truth of the matter is that I think there is little in terms of policy changes either by lawmakers or by the military that will prevent more cases of rape from occurring.  A lot of well-intentioned people trick themselves into thinking that with just the right policy change, or if we had the just right kind of prevention training, that our problems would go away.  But the truth of the matter is that law and policy enforcement is by its nature a reactive process.  Military members guilty of rape deserve draconian punishments.  But I don't see what else can be done other than that.   

All these fears of Obama turning the military on the population...how?  Where?  The country spans a continent and the active Army is only half a million men.  That seems like a lot, but what goal and end would be achieved exactly by parsing out a bunch of troops over 50 states? 

Is the Army politicized?  Certainly.  But could it ever effectively be used to establish martial law?  Not even close. 

All I know is that as a serviceman, this all inevitably means more days spent in front of a power point hearing someone drone on about how we're all guilty for tolerating a climate of harassment and assault to exist. The Army Chief of Staff came out this week and said the "primary mission" of the Army was preventing sexual assault now.

Thanks for the recommendation Randall. What little I know of Belisarius is from Lars Brownworth's superb "Lost to the West" book about the Eastern Roman Empire.

What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of a dark lord of the sith?  Hundreds of senators are now under the influence of a sith lord!