Weird. Democrats STILL don't get it. This is one political disaster they SHOULD have allowed to go to waste.

Every day that goes by, the democrats make the midterms look better for the GOP and worse for themselves. Rahm Emanuel, perhaps best known for his axiom ".... never allow a serious crisis to go to waste" SHOULD have been ignored this time. For over the last decade, democrats have had a huge problem condemning violence perpetrated by their political allies. For example, one of Gov. Tim "No Balz" Walz's biggest achievements was allowing Minneapolis to burn for 3 days before he finally acted during the democrats worship phase of their god, George Floyd. Democrats essentially remained silent during the subsequent riots.

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkin's response to the CHOP insurrection that took over much of Capital Hill in Seattle? To Trump, who only threatened to send in troops (which he clearly SHOULD have done) "Seattle is fine. Don't be so afraid of democracy." Well, again, the democrat's version of what she called "democracy" resulted in two teenagers shot to death and one seriously wounded, all 3 of them black, killed by her political allies in that obvious, textbook definition of an insurrection.

Vehicle in Seattle's "CHOP Zone" where one teen was killed and another seriously wounded.

Most recently, in the face of the criminal acts such as damaging Teslas and fire-bombing their dealerships as some sort of payback against Elon Musk (Never mind that it's primarily their fellow leftists who BUY Teslas) democrats typically sat there like Buddha and said nothing since they support these illegal activities for the most part, while steadfastly refusing to condemn the illegals committing violence and protests in many locations around this country.

Tesla dealership firebombed in Las Vegas

Keep in mind the fact that this "take it to the streets" extortion will change nothing and accomplish nothing except for ONE thing: a huge increase in political liability for their democrat defenders. And now, the out-of-touch left, desperately seeking SOMEONE to lead them, are claiming law enforcement; in this case, the deployment of Guard and Marines; MADE these people loot, burn and riot, while closing down freeways, vandalizing businesses and offices and generally making total asses of themselves.
   Once again, democrat's take it in the chops over LA riots as they continue to staunchly defend illegal aliens, criminal and otherwise. The ongoing thread of democrat reaction? Violence is fine as long as leftists perpetrate the violent acts.

Reduced to lying (Rep Maxine "Prune Face" Waters: 'There was no violence before Trump sent in the troops." It's not just that democrats lie. It's that they do it so badly.) and actually blaming the troops for the scum looting stores, and causing multiple assaults on police, Newsom and other leftists blame Trump for the violence and looting that's taken place.

Which is the political equivalent of blaming the victim for being raped.

Will they ever learn? (Those let in under Biden destroying Waymo (self-driving vehicles costing around $200K each)) and police vehicles (fully outfitted, costing roughly another $200K each) while waving mainly Mexican flags? If they want to stay here so badly, why wave the flags of the invading countries? Just another reminder of Biden/Harris's open border policies).

Waymo vehicles set on fire during LA riots.

And on top of this, Newsom got a knuckle sandwich in court yesterday when his moronic effort to force Trump to withdraw troops was denied.

I guess Newsom never did go to law school. This is one serious crisis the democrats SHOULD have allowed to go to waste.

Trump, Newsom and Bass: all in.

With the deployment of Marines and additional National Guard, the leftists running California and L.A. HAVE to keep the riots going.

They have no choice now.

If Trump succeeds, it will be ANOTHER political disaster for both Newsom AND Bass, who proved their political incompetence in the recent fires that rocked LA.

If Trump's deployment of troops is successful, then he will get the credit and Gov. Incompetence along with Mayor Moron will look like complete idiots that Trump had to come in and bail out in SPITE of them, their opposition notwithstanding.

Trump, for his part, now MUST end these riots by whatever means he can for the same reason.

The ripple effects of this will likely determine the mid-terms and play a major role in '28, either way.

Both sides are all in. Now, we've got to see what The River will deal.

The LA rioting circus.

Watching the leftist riots in LA, the thought occurred to me that leftists generally and elected democrats ALWAYS excuse/justify these riots, never holding those actually engaging in burning, looting and assaulting responsible, always siding with those same rioters and always lending at least tacit approval of those riots by blaming others generally, and Trump, et al, particularly, as if he is responsible for every fire, every police officer injured, every bit of vandalism and all destruction resulting from the actions of the political allies of those in charge.

Why not blame the rioters? Because elected democrats see them as political allies. Burn buildings, block freeways, assault police officers, fail to hold rioters accountable? That's the democrat standard de jour as we observed all too frequently during the THREE MONTHS of unfettered riots in the Oregon capitol of leftistism, Portland. 

Newsom, for his part is not making demands of the rioters. In fact, Newsom's latest debacle is to placate his rioting political allies by wasting additional taxpayer dollars to sue Trump for deploying federalized troops in his formerly great state. Since he supports them, he's shifting all the blame to Trump, as if that abrogates his responsibilities as governor.

It doesn't.

Those in charge all took an oath to enforce the laws of their respective cities and their state. Yet, they're doing essentially nothing to enforce that oath or those very laws.

Instead they whine and snivel and blame Trump for doing what HE is REQUIRED to do.... and they then blame those brought there to enforce the law instead of blaming any of those responsible for breaking it.

Count on the left to continue to be supportive of the scum rioting. Count on them to staunchly defend the 20 in the 80/20 equation on issues the American people do not support.

As usual, ala their Tesla debacle, leftist politicians either remain silent or come out directly in support of those who would damage, burn, loot and assault, using the arrest and round up/deportation of those who have no legal right to be here and who, in many instances, have shown a proclivity to use our laws as toilet paper generally and then, once here, engage in every conceivable crime from murders on downwards, specifically.

Those in leadership on the left have proven their disregard of their constituency by fighting harder to return an illegal alien criminal to the United States than they fight for the safety and the rights of those same criminal's victims.

And how does the left respond?

Well, the Governor of California is far more concerned about the presence of federalized National Guard troops in his state than he is over the actions of those that were the cause of their deployment in the first place. His latest political kabuki theater? Suing Trump for the obviously needed deployment of Guard troops.

The democrat’s political priorities have ben screwed up for years. Doubling down on those priorities to the determent of the people they're in office to protect (which does not include illegal aliens, BTW) will not improve their standing at the polls, where it matters most.

Supporting the abhorrent, hate-based criminal activities of their supporters will not avail them the success they so desperately seek based on the blood and destruction they so obviously foment and crave to achieve their political agenda.

Yet, that is precisely what democrats are doing here... never allowing a serious crisis to go to waste. Meanwhile, they continue to provide support and assistance to their illegal alien voter base in violation of federal law as they directly aid and abet illegals violating the laws of the United States.

This is them, doing that.

Major Egan, Why'd you do it? (Originally published here on 24 Dec 08)

(NOTE: I've been posting this for 13 years now... even though it doesn't seem to be that long.

It was a part of why I decided when I retired to stop just talking about veteran issues and to start doing something about it.

Last year (2018-since retired for medical reasons), I became a veteran service officer for the Washington State Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.  And for that organization, I also became Chair of Veteran Benefits Programs for this state.

If you need help, please contact a Veteran Service Officer through the Clark County Veterans Assistance Office at 1305 Columbia Street, Vancouver, WA 98660 or make an appointment by calling 360.693.7030.

All charitable organizations need actual hands-on help more than they need money.  Giving donations to these groups is important. Actually becoming involved is even more important.

I urge you to find some group that you can help... and get out there and help them.  The pay is practically nothing if you go to work for them.

But the rewards are incalculable.)

I originally posted this 13 years ago today (24 Dec). And it bears repeating.

This story was in the paper... although, unfortunately, not on the Columbian web.

It is the story of a retired Army Major, one Thomas Egan; a veteran of 2 years on the Korean DMZ, a Master's graduate of the University of Oregon; a retired Oregon Army National Guard officer.

He was found dead, apparently frozen to death, next to a bottle of booze, in Eugene, Oregon within the past few days.

Unfortunately, the story speaks for itself. Sometimes, the desire to destroy one's self can overwhelm all other instincts.

I never knew you, Major, but we served together at the same time. I have no idea what happened to you, but I wish I did... and I wish it could have been fixed.

Tomorrow is Christmas. If you know someone who needs help, take the time and the effort to try and get that help to them. Major Egan had help available, but made bad choices when it came to using it.

As I look outside at the foot of snow, I ask myself: "how many Major Egans are there?"

Is there more that could have been done?

Probably not.

But I wish there had been.

Good bye, Major. From all accounts, you served us honorably and well. I never met you, but I won't forget you.

I could have been you.

Soldier’s death resonates 

Homeless veteran froze to death though services were available

By JACK MO
(Eugene) Register-Guard 

EUGENE, Ore — Thomas Egan was a scholar and a decorated soldier. He was also a homeless alcoholic whose life ended last week when he froze to death in Eugene during an unusually long and harsh cold snap. 

His body was found covered in snow near the corner of West First Avenue and Blair Boulevard, a bottle of liquor by his side. 

News of the demise of the longtime Eugene resident troubled many local veterans — especially those who knew that with some effort and some help, the man they called Major Egan could have had a roof over his head. 

“The whole National Guard community is taking this very hard,” said Bud Dickey, a vocational rehabilitation coordinator with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ community reintegration service center in Eugene. 

“It’s very disturbing for all of us, because Major Egan was retired and could have been drawing his (veterans’) benefits,” Dickey said. “He had options that he did not access.” 

Egan collected monthly Social Security checks, but the amount was a pittance compared with the payments he was entitled to as a retired military veteran. When he turned 60 in July, Egan became eligible to receive $909 each month in National Guard retirement income, Dickey said. 

Egan also could have applied for a separate pension check based on unemployability. “That would have gotten him an apartment if he wanted one,” said Jay Rea, a Springfield resident who served under Egan in the National Guard in the late 1980s. “I shed a tear when I heard he died,” Rea said. “It breaks my heart because he was the friendliest guy, and so smart.” A New York native, Egan joined the Army in 1971 after graduating from Quinnipiac College in Hamden, Conn., with a bachelor’s degree in history. 

He was stationed at the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea for two years, and was reassigned to the Oregon Army National Guard in 1977. 

Earned master’s degree 

Egan earned his master’s degree from the University of Oregon in 1983, and ultimately attained the rank of major with the National Guard. 

He retired honorably in 1991, following a 20-year military career during which he was awarded several service medals and ribbons. 

Dickey said Egan’s desire to drink made him ineligible for VA housing programs that require sober living. 

Egan had declined to enroll in substance abuse treatment programs offered through the veterans agency, Dickey said. 

According to those who knew him, Egan worked sporadically. He did some landscaping, and most years helped deliver telephone books. 

Sometimes, he found an apartment to stay in for a while. At other times, he lived on the streets. In August, Egan spent two weeks at the Eugene Mission — which is less than one block from the spot where a passer-by discovered his body last week. 

Mission officials said Egan never caused any trouble there, and could have stayed any time. Dickey said Egan has no relatives in Oregon, and tracking down members of his extended family on the East Coast has been challenging. 

Dickey, who served five years with Egan in the National Guard, is helping to direct an effort to have Egan interred at the Roseburg National Cemetery. 

“He will be buried as a veteran in a veterans’ cemetery,” Dickey said. “He was a good soldier, and we’re going to get him the burial he’s due.”

Political correctness run amok: Female Medical Corps Colonel with zero experience in Afghanistan or Iraq to command combat troops. Why? Don't ask.

.
... Don't tell.

Mr Wolf of the legendary BLACKFIVE with the down low.

Get Ready to Remove The BAN

Posted By Mr Wolf

The Colorado National Guard this past weekend held a Change of Command ceremony with a historic twist- it appointed COL Dana Capozella as its first female commander of Army troops; she will soon be promoted to Brigadier General. What is far more interesting is possibly WHY the Guard appointed her as the commander of its troops.

First off, I must say that I have no problem whatsoever with the appointment of a female in this position. There have been, and are, many excellent female leaders in the Army. The problems I see with this particular appointment are twofold:

One- she has ZERO experience in either Afghanistan or Iraq, or any other combat deployment, despite being a medical officer where there is a known shortage of help in either theater. She has had deployments to Panama, Honduras and Nicaragua, but most people of a particular slant don't have problems going there helping on these MedReps. Appointing someone who will oversee deployments of combat troops and combat support troops without any experience leaves that leader devoid of a huge amount of knowledge. Going on 10 years of activity, NOT having a deployment tells me that this person likely worked harder at AVOIDING it than in joining it.

Second- she wrote this paper as part of her War College education- ''The Time Is Now To Remove The Ban'' In this paper, she advocates the complete removal of DADT and a swift and direct command repercussion to those who violate any changes in DADT by employing top-down disciplinary action ''swiftly and directly''. She does not advocate 'acceptance' but education and tolerance. She does mention that most Judeo-Christian teachings put that acceptance in conflict with their core beliefs. She does not address just how the Chaplains, who have enough to do with helping morale, will adjust core doctrine within their faiths.

The Colonel writes-

''The Long War is costly in terms of both the need for retaining qualified service members and the overall cost of sustaining this mission"

yet does not mention that she herself has not joined in helping reduce these costs by going. Why not? Does she not believe this is a 'just war'??

It appears, from the outside, that the Colonel was appointed because of her stance on DADT, and the upcoming removal of this policy by DoD on direction of the President.

Much, much more, if you can stomach it.

#########################################

Back in the day, folks used to be able to buy their commands... and their titles. Some times that worked out. Others? Well... not so much.

My fear is that if we begin to promote combat commanders based on ideological purity, as it appears to be the case here, then the empty suit will spill lakes of American blood in pursuit of his socialist utopia.