From the Deck

[HawkerHurricane]

From the Deck of Hawker Hurricane

Conversions

Visiting Sparks again Saturday. He finally gave me a concrete reason why he hates Dean:
Dean made a appearance in California with Cal. Gov. Gray Davis; Sparks said they go together because they are the same type of politicians. (This connects with a earlier conversation, where I said there are two ways of getting elected: Create a coalition to defeat your opponent or destroy your opponents coalition.) Sparks stated that Davis and Dean are both destroyers, unable to build a winning coalition, they work instead to destroy thier opponents. He pointed out Davis's campaign for govorner last year, where he pumped money against Riordan (the moderate from Los Angeles) in a (successful) effort to get Simon (the extremist) as his opponent. He gave no examples for Dean.

He also pointed out that Dean doesn't compete with his fellow Dems for the nomination, but rather does nothing but 'harp on Bush'.
He likes Kerry; but wishes he would make up his mind: stop being wishy/washy and be the Liberal Hawk instead of being "Mealy mouthed, saying one thing in Massachusetts and another when in Washington". He gave no examples.

In another conversation, this one struck up with a random sailor, he saw that I had a book "Weapons of Mass Deception" (I can't remember the authors, but it's good and about the propaganda campaign that lead to the current war in Iraq). He said he's re-enlisting because the economy back home in Oregon has been destroyed by Bush...I told him that's why I enlisted in 1984; Reagan destroyed the economy in Southern California; and "Welcome to the Poverty Draft: Increase poverty, more people enlist to escape."

Now, for my other friends:
Guns says anybody but Bush, but prefers Clarke, Kerry and Dean (in that order).
Fire says he won't vote for Bush, but likes Lieberman, then Clarke and Kerry.
Wheel doesn't intend to vote in the Primary, but will vote for whoever the Democratic party nominee is.

As for me, 'Anybody but Bush' is still my motto; but I like Kerrey right now. This is not to be considered a endorsement; just my current preference. I will not speak ill of any Democrats running, except maybe Lieberman. It's funny, listening to Sparks sometimes; he hammered on Lieberman during the 2000 campaign as 'In the pocket of insurance companies', now he hammers on him for being 'Another wishy washy liberal, pro war but anti business'...I pointed out his contradiction, and he's annoyed with me...

And I remain

Hawker Hurricane
PO1(SW), USN
Leading Conversionist and Contortionist
Some Ship, San Diego Harbor

[GOPisEvil]

1. Good hearing from you as always...

Minor spelling quibble - John Kerry is from MA and is running for President. Bob Kerrey is from Nebraska and is not running.

I'm glad some of the folks in uniform are seeing things beyond themselves - that bodes well for our team.

[HawkerHurricane]

4. OOPS

I knew it was one or the other, and guessed wrong. Again.

(Don't ask me to pick out check out lines, mine is always the slowest)

[RogueTrooper]

2. As always a pleasure to ot read "on the deck..."

[HawkerHurricane]

5. Cool Picture

But it's not quite right; too few manifold covers, looks undersized too. Could it be a 3/4 scale mock up?

[haymaker]

3. Obviously,

Sparks is a moran.

[HawkerHurricane]

6. Sparks is actually quite smart; BUT

His Mom was a Republican; therefore he's a Republican. If his mom was a horse thief, he'd be a horse thief...

[HawkerHurricane]

7. Blatent self kick for the evening crowd

I feel guilty for doing this, but some of my best DU Friends haven't said anything about this yet, so...

[blm]

9. thanks for bumping.

it did slip by.

[alcuno]

8. Dean does nothing but "harp on Bush"

Ask your friend to listen to a Dean campaign speech and he'll hear more than that. The media asks him about Bush and he responds forcefully. It's time someone held the administration to account. Certainly the media and Congress have sat on their hands throughout this whole thing.

[HawkerHurricane]

10. Good Idea

Anybody have a link to a Dean speech transcript? A standard stump speech would be best, I think.

(Geesh, Dean is campaigning to replace President Bush, and is saying nasty things about him. The nerve!)

[alcuno]

12. Here's his rally in New York from 8/26

It's not a transcript; it's a video.

http://www.c-span.org/

BTW - You have to give people a reason to replace Bush. When confronted with the choice between a coward and a fascist, people will pick the fascist every time. Dean has shown he is no coward and that seems to burn Republicans who believe that they are the only ones with the right to criticize.

[never cry wolf]

11. Great to hear from you Hawker

back in the recruiting office again I see. Keep up the good work!!

[Octafish]

13. Thanks for the report on a most important bloc.

The men and women in the armed forces are a barometer for the country as a whole — particularly "mainstream America." Your messages are getting through loud and clear to your friends and are helping them reach political understanding. Don't worry if Sparks is ticked. It's a sign he's angry at himself for just waking up to what is going on politically, Big Picture-wise.

PS: Please let your friends know We the People truly appreciate what they are doing, and what they and their brothers and sisters in uniform have been called upon to do since 1776. You all have my perpetual thanks, as well. To you all, I owe my freedom and safety and future.

[HawkerHurricane]

14. I'd gladly defend your or anyone else's freedom...

But for some reason, we've invaded Iraq.

[Robb]

17. LOL!

:)

Always good to hear yer voice. I wondered about you during the "speech" the other night; did your ship watch it? Reactions?

...did you already post something about that? :eyes:

[HawkerHurricane]

19. In port, nobody but duty section stays on the ship

We all get to go HOME at night. If people watched it, nobody has said anything.
The majority of sailors are apolitical; only us old farts care. The youngins tend to follow our lead...which is why it is good news that Guns, Wheel, and Fire are all turning Dem, and why it really doesn't matter what Sparks thinks: Sparks has no young sailors under him any more (he's retired) to be influenced by him.

[Octafish]

18. Here's why.

[HawkerHurricane]

21. They finally captured the people who planned 9/11?

<not as much sarcasm as I originally planned>

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

15. I'm reading"Weapons of Mass Deception" too

The authors are Sheldon Rampton and John Stauber. It has a lot of behind the scenes stuff I hadn't heard about. Boy, there is no lie or manipulation that is so sleazy that they won't use it! I did not think it possible that I could think WORSE of the Bush adminstration than I already do, but this book shows how they are the masters of manipulation.

[HawkerHurricane]

20. Finished it last night.

I'm now rereading Callaghan's Lady by Spider Robinson.
After reading something depressing, I always start with something funny.
I managed Lies and the Lying Liars followed by Weapons of Mass Deception only because Al Franken was funny even though the subject is depressing.

[bleedingheart]

16. Glad to hear the news