Sorry for the silence on the net. Spent the day basking in the sere joys of 21st century air travel, courtesy of US Air. (Hint to the supervisor of the lady checking bags at Lindberg Airport in Sandy Eggo: We all come into the terminal with trepidation on one shoulder and half-cracked can of resentment on the other. On account of the terrorists, and after. If your first experience with an Actual Human Being wearing the livery of your company is one of clinical disdain despite the random customer’s best display of Virginia grace and Irish charm – manifesting an evident disposition not merely to displeasure, but to be displeasing, in other words – you have fatally tarnished the brand. Sure, people have bad days. It happens. On personal time.)
Also, what the hell is up with TSA funneling pre-boarding security checks into either the first class or coach queue? What possible fig does the federal give how much money you paid for your ticket?
So here I sit on the east coast, waiting for the latest presidential debate. Wondering to myself whether anybody can actually play this game.
Obligatory disclaimer: I love Sarah Palin. Immoderately. I love the way she took on the old boys and won. I love the way she actually lives the things she says she believes – none of your paeans to public schools while the younkers do their learnin’ work at Sidwell Friends. She rides motorcycles, carries a rifle that she evidently knows how to use and winks atop the heads of the fourth estate at the rest of the country. I love that.
What I love just that little bit less is the way that she focused so closely on her own talking points during her debate with Joe Biden that she missed his forays through the Elysian fields of MSU.
You know: Making Stuff Up.
Like his bold claim to have supported a NATO insertion into southern Lebanon after Hezbollah got kicked out. Neither of which things actually happened. Or were even conceivable.
I don’t entirely blame her, of course. Biden is a foreign policy “expert.” Everybody knows it. Thirty-plus years in the senate, and that. It’s on his résumé. Palin has been fighting alligators closer to the canoe. Entrenched GOP party bosses and Big Oil lobbyists. If she was a Democrat, you’d have to throw speedy-dry on the streets of Manhattan for all the people that would be sudsing up like Maytags just for seeing her walk by.
If only she was fonder of “termimating” unborn babies.
But of course, if you’re actually in a position of executive authority at age 44, and start shifting your scan out to places like the Levant where some one or another group of wild-eyed fanatics is perpetually discovering that a loving and merciful God wants them to kill their political enemies, well: You could get lost in it all. And there would still be a state to run.
But damn, what if she could have said,
“Wait a minute, Joe. I think it’s important that people engaging in a debate ought to acknowledge a common set of objective facts, and then debate their interpretations of those facts. In order to do so, we have to avoid the tempation to make up congenial realities. No one ever kicked Hezbollah out of Southern Lebanon. They’ve been there more or less continuously since 1982. They were still there last summer when Israel launched a punitive assault against southern Lebanon. You may have read about it.
And even if Hezbollah had mysteriously taken a powder, I don’t recall you or anyone else recommending that NATO insert themselves into that particular cesspool. And if you did, that’d have been a laughably poor recommendation, because the Europeans, at least, have no illusions about inserting their soldiers into a whirling, multi-ethnic maelström that makes Iraq look like a 19th century Minnesota.”
If only it ended there, the fabrications. Imagine if Sarah Palin had said the kinds of things that Biden said, and got off scot free. Jonah Goldberg asks the same questions:
Biden has no excuse. He’s been in the majors for nearly 40 years, and yet he sounds like a bizarro-world Chauncey Gardner. The famous simpleton from Jerzy Kosinski’s “Being There” (played by Peter Sellers in the film) offered terse aphorisms that were utterly devoid of specific content but nonetheless seemed to describe reality accurately. Biden is the reverse: He offers a logorrheic farrago of “specifics” that have no connection to our corner of the space-time continuum.
In short, he just makes stuff up. But he does it with passionate, self-important intensity. He’s like a politician in a movie with a perfect grasp of a world that doesn’t exist. He’s not an expert, he just plays one on TV.
No one seems to care. He convinced the focus groups he’s an expert. The media, with a few exceptions, let it all slide.
Ah, well. I’m watching the instant debate. You probably are too.
Twenty-eight days.
I always get the 3rd degree by the TSA except at Oakland International which is the only airport I regularly travel through that fails to note the enormous amount of metal in me. Other airports sometimes miss it and I wonder if their scanner is working properly.
I usually travel in shorts and it amazes me that the secondary screeners who react to the alarm seem totally unconcerned when their wand scans fail to turn up anything and just pass me along. um, something set off the alarm and you don’t care?
Learned my lesson last time I traveled with my 5 year old. They told me she could get lost in the crowds or join me in the penalty box so I had her join me which meant they needed to scan her too. She cried. Not doing that again.
I now mitigate the whole damned thing by waving my HLS credential that will never expire. Thank you USCG.
Yeah, Yeah but there are checks in balances in our system, there are people devoted to checking these facts and then reporting the truths on, you know TV. Like ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, CNN or that other place, what was it again? Oh yeah, MSNBC!! They are all working feverishly to lay out the Truth about the made-up-stuff from Joe Amtrak or his Boss, BO the Second Coming Man. Just wait, you’ll see.
I’m holding my Breath.
Like yesterday, McCain gave one of the best speeches of this campaign. He was brilliant in his facts about the economic failure we are seeing in the Banking and Credit sectors, how the Democrats blocked any attempt to reform and prevent, how BO the Second Coming took millions from Freddie and Fanny, how he has ex-principles from both agencies (one that left with 90 million bucks, so he knows how to turn a “profit”) , he spoke about how BO sued Citi-bank to kick this all off back in 1994. Yet, Yet, not one word of this great speech made to any of the Major networks. Its a conspiracy of convenience by the Media to put BO in the White House.
And You and Me are mere spectators till Election Day. I only hope there are more of us then “Them”.
BT: Jimmy T Sends.
On target Lex.
I watched just long enough to be totally sick of both of them. I’m afraid BO will be in the WH, no matter what any of us say, do, or think. I’m about fed up.
Watched the debate, most of it, between readings of “Little Red Riding Hood” and “Chicken Little” with my little one. Seems like the sky really is falling these days. And I’m starting to lose hope that anyone is going to figure out that Grandma is really the big bad wolf.
McCain is not going to beat Obama in the ring, that’s clear.
Dunno, Flatlander. Anybody who hasn’t made up their minds by now are probably watching a reality show, Entertainment Tonight, Springer, or whatever else it is that might be on. McCaine and Obama are all after that swing voter, the undecided (possibly idiot) who doesn’t pay attention or gets their opinions from those they think their betters, the punditry class.
Not saying McCain did well, just thinking he’s trying to be one thing to appeal and thus loses the base, which he can afford to lose because they won’t switch sides anyway. Obama has a better ground game, and a better speech for those who don’t figure the office of POTUS is worth paying attention to. He can afford to not toe the left-wing line that got him nominated and if it sounds plausable to those who don’t toe the right-wing he didn’t lose anything anyway.
Above all, look good and confident. That’s where we’re at. The POTUS is the figurehead, the public image. That’s what people vote for. The haircut, the clothes, the mannerisms, all that doesn’t matter a hill of beans when Congress writes the checks and the Senate has to confirm every policy decision north of an unplanned bowel movement the POTUS does, but image is what the rest of the world looks at, it’s what the undecided voter looks at.
Pity, but there it is.
I can’t watch. I have a TV, but the only feed these days is to the DVD and VCR. About a year ago I realized I was spending, you know, money for television and that I kept looking for a menu that would turn up the intelligence. There’s a setting labeled brightness, but it doesn’t work.
Maybe that’s because it was the start of the primaries.
– Max
So at the beginning of my shift tonight serving and protecting I found myself discussing the race with the locals hanging around the 7-11 and was suprised to find that the convenience store loiterers crowd was solidly behind JM and I wondered to myself exactly WHO is supporting BO if not these folks. Even the token democrat in the family is not a fan of the Annointed One. Happens so that an hour later I am taking photos of an upstanding community leader who decided to beat his wife for selling a pit bull puppy of his at what he considered below market value (no word yet on if he’ll apply for a bailout from the fed on his loss) and subsequently decided that he didn’t want to go to jail in a police car with it’s windows intact (it is a bit stuffy in the back). While taking some happy snaps of the once intact window now splayed out on the mean streets of southern Florida, our reluctant guest professes that we constabulary will get ours when his attorney and President Obama hears about his incarceration. Thus explains the polls…the wifebeater vote is securely in BO’s camp. I’d love to YouTube the dashcam video of his performance and subsequent campaigning oratory (interspersed with death threats and claims of former SEAL status) but methinks I’d end up with a carpet dance.
Funny how many of my clients were special forces…in their own minds. Shame his felony conviction won’t come through in time to terminate his suffrage before November.
Max, Love the allusion to the brightness control.
I watched the whole thing and except for McCain hitting back at Obama on Fannie & Freddie, it was the SOSDD. They were so aggressive towards each other that I think the only winner last night was Tom Brokaw – for keeping his cool and trying to get both candidates to abide by the rules they agreed to.
The questions were beyond boring – the only truly interesting question was the last one and it brought a typically pontificating answer from Obama (he annoys me so very much). At least McCain came up with something new – at the last minute.
Which has characterized his entire campaign – last minute. Even letting the Sara-cuda off the leash may have come too late.
Cry havoc, and let slip the pit bulls of war…
btw: “logorrheic farrago”, that’s a keeper. right up there with “nattering nabobs of negativism” (which phrase suddenly springs (unbidden) to mind),
Lex,
As usual-Exactly. It’s the Bizzaro World”.
Chunk,
Thanks for the being the point man in the internal war against the barbarians at the gate…Amazing how many there are.
I greatly appreciate your service. Entertaining in a crazy sorta way, ain’t it though?
b2
It’s a love-hate relationship with this job. Mostly love, I have to admit. I’m in the fed hiring process now for a gig that would combine my AW experience, my flying experience, and my copness. Crossing my fingers…
I do hate the unbelievable politics that go hand in hand with smaller agencies (265 sworn). It shed light on how smart it is of the Navy, purposely or no, to move everyone every coupla years.
Chunk
Chunk: I used to think that moving people every couple of years was stupid, until I grew up and realized the purpose: to minimize (prevent) empire building. Plus (add the usual HR mumble about exposure to new environments/ideas/people/etc/etc/etc) YMMV.
Lex: [RANT] You still fly commercial? I capitulated, figured the terrorist won, and quit flying (last flight 1/2004). When my own government sees fit to terrorize ME for just being a tax paying citizen trying to go from A to B. I figure when out of PCness that they search all us fat, bald, fifty+ year old, frequent flying (AA Platinum at the time) passengers in some misguided thinking THAT will prevent the next attack. (Yeah, I’ve heard all the excuses (reasons passed off as) why they do it, spare me, this is MY rant). I didn’t say “How awful” when the towers fell, what I said was “You are seeing the biggest excuse that THEY will have to take away your constitutional rights.” And that chip-chip-chip sound you hear is that statement becoming true. Don’t believe it? Fly commercial and watch! [/RANT]
It looks like the moving society is ending, at least in the Army. I heard a couple of months ago that soldiers now remain pretty much at one post for the duration. The old monolithic army culture is beginning to resemble the USN with its two navies/east and west. The same but not quite the same.
No one here yet has commented on what I believe to be one of the most perplexing sights (if you were watching the focus group meter/graph on CNN) I’ve ever seen which causes me to think that the average American is either a congenital idiot or has already made up his mind and was ready to “cheer”(via the meter) simply at the sound of Obama’s voice–or both. Let me explain:
If one goes back and reads the actual transcripts of the Nixon Kennedy 1960 debates one will find JFK to be far the most bellicose and rigidly anti-Communist of the two, while Nixon counciled diplomacy, caution, and nuance–yet the public perception coming out of the debates was just the
opposite. Last night, Obama was far and away more bellicose and confrontational in regards his proposals for dealing with Pakistan than was McCain who proffered diplomacy and nuanced understanding of the culture of the region–yet paradoxically the approval graph moved up while Obama was speaking (especially the women!) while it flat-lined during McCain’s comments on the subject. Any psychologists out there–or do I have to head on over to Dr. Sanity’s blog?
With full acknowledgement that it is comedy (sometimes) and not news, Jon Stewart had a piece yesterday about the current polls and the undecideds. Pretty good.
The undecided will decide. Pretty scary stuff.
So long as it doesn’t end in an electoral college tie, and it goes to Congress.
Experts say that 80%+ of presentation effectiveness is nonverbal. What is said is secondary to how it is said. Gestures, voice quality, intonation, eye contact, etc. We accept or reject the message almost independent of the content.
Scary, isn’t it?
JoeC:
I’ve been flying in airplanes from back when their propellors were on the outside. Remember when flying was an adventure? And fun? Night takeoffs with blue flames coming out of the stacks, , , and ripples on my Martini?
My last flight was in ‘99 when going to my mother’s funeral. The Bull Skat and Chicken Skat back then were already above my threshold of “sensitivity”. Since then I take the bike, or trailer the bike if I’m short on time, when traveling anywhere.
Lex:
Sarah would be better at “Presidenting” than either of the three. And, like a fine wine, will only get better. I’d really like to see four years with her as VP. Press conferences would be fun to watch. Oh well, enough of the fantasy. Back in the barrel.
Lex,
You don’t need a 1C ticket. Being an elite flyer (usually 25+K miles in a calendar year) will also get you in the speed line. The TSA doesn’t segregate the lines, the airlines do.
Being elite also (at least on united) gives you free checked baggage and slightly less surly employees at the check-in line. If you plan on doing much traveling in the new job you need to pick an airline that flies where you’re going and try to maximize your miles on them.
I’m a United 1k member and I want the seperate lines. It totally sucks to have to stand in line for 30 minutes just to get through security-especially in San Dog which has a narrow funnel to get through.
What the airports should do-is have you do security at the gate like they do in Singapore. You would spend less time in line-but-once you are in the gate area you are stuck there.
I think the secret is to make the bureaucrats who make the rules go through the diabiocle torture procedures that they dream up. Once they realize how bizzar they are, they would come back to reality.
United just sucks no matter what your status is. Flying from Chicago I have been stuck with them too often, but American is getting more international routes and more of my business. Not that American is great, but everyone looks good compared to United.
The best service is on the Singapore, Japanese and Korean airlines, second best European airlines. Even Alitalia beats United hands down.
It’s not just that the service is so lacking, it’s the surly chip-on-the-shoulder attitude that that is so commonplace on United.
We had a great trip to Narita and back on United a year ago. The service in “cattle car” was great. Of course, it could have had something to do with the fact that most of the stews/stewards were Japanese.
xairboss,
I’d like to make directors and above of airlines fly their own product (incognito) on a translant/pac at least once a month.
In coach.
Not only to experience first hand how badly their seats suck, but also the apathy demonstrated by the flight crews.
The *only* reason I fly united is the economy plus seats that give me an extra 4-6″ of knee room.
Skippy, good luck keeping your 1K status now that you live in shopping-mall USA. 1K is tough to get without transpacs.
Also, what the hell is up with TSA funneling pre-boarding security checks into either the first class or coach queue?
This only happens at certain airports…
Money Talks.
I’d like to make directors and above of airlines fly their own product (incognito) on a translant/pac at least once a month.
Trust me on this.
There is a whole lotta unabashed “Painting The Side The Admiral Sees” in the airline biz.
But Captain Lex, shouldah flown with my shop. Your experience would likely have been a few shades better…
Cap’n, I know you’ve written here that the Naval Dress Sword is not exactly a real weildy weapon, and now that you’re retired you’d have to be really ingenious to think of a reason to wear sword and choker in public, but, surely, the Naval Dress Sword is capable of slicing and diceing some TSA liver?
Just imagining, wouldn’t dream of encouraging anybody to do anything like that.
Umm, “wieldy.” Sorry.
Sid,
Agree on “your shop”, even though I don’t know what your shop is. US Airways is the bottom of the barrel, the “Kia” of the airline industry IMO although American and United ain’t that far behind..
No excuse for Lex either. He’s not getting his travel agenda from the DTS system anymore! He has achoice, or should as a contactor! Lessons learned.
b2
I miss the old days when I could fly on Cathay Pacific. They even treated you decent in economy.
The problem with American is their system for upgrades. Back in the day booking travel through DTS, the government would not purchase tickets till 3 days prior. You can’t put in for an upgrade with out a paid ticket. It was a catch 22 because AA would want to charge you a fee for processing the upgrade. United never did that-and getting upgraded was easier. ( At least out of Narita).
When I was a kid, flying was for special occasions only. I recall flying to the funerals of relations aboard Delta DC6-Bs.
Those were one-class airplanes by that time, so we sat up front, just behind the flight deck, in the “smoker” area. The door to the flight deck was always open, and as a little kid, I got invited thither to watch the dials and blinkinlights.
This was at a time when the Post Office REQUIRED pilot and co-pilot to pack a revolver.
I am so grumpy.
P.s. I remember peeing in the head of the DC6-B, and staring at the propeller there, in whose plane of rotation I was standind, and hoping that no blades would be thrown while I was, uh, occupied
Skippy,
From what I see every day and hear. DTS is even worse than you can remeber it being!
B2
Skippy,
From what I see every day and hear, DTS is even worse than you can remember it being!
B2
From what I see every day and hear, DTS is even worse than you can remember it being!
A few weeks ago at the USO we had a guy come in after having been away from family for two months for a school. He needed a place to stay because Sato Travel had given him an itinerary but failed to actually book the tickets. They were oh so sorry, but they couldn’t help him until tomorrow, and considering it was only one flight per day…
Or then there were (about the same time) the half-dozen guys who, after a few months at a school, arrived with tickets they were handed on the way out the door… for three days hence.
DTS is not a user friendly system-plus it still requires a lot of hoops of adjudication to go through if your command is not the one actually spending the TAD money. I used the system at two commands. The first was a staff that owned its own money and I was the bottom line on all TAD. It worked pretty well as far as the reservation process-but not so well if you had to make changes. We were fortunate though in that the Japanese ladies who were our accountants new the JFTR backwards and forwards and would help you “fly what you want, log what you need”. At the other command we had to grovel for every penny.
Nonetheless you had to be smarter than the machine-or at some point you would make a mistake.
Skippy,
All I know is my government cohorts always seem to get National, not BWI and the system is skewed to never select non-stop even on short legs, IE-DC to JAX or DC to STL, etc. Rental cars they get are always the lowest price and considerations for on airport reantal cars is not built in- IE they often get Advantage offsite (bus ride to/from). International travel- worse x 100%. Emergent short-fused travel? They’re screwed!
Of course as a bandit, I make my own arrangements and can honestly say I save the government $$. I often stay in the lodges or even the BOQ (the I-bar, etc. is close by- no driving!). Plus I love going to the local exchanges/commissaries/golf clubhouses on base, especially on operational bases and seeing the troops I’m supporting just for the sentimental feeling it gives me. Even on rental cars I save the government significant $$.
b2
There are two DTS operating methods. The preferred method is to sit down in front of it and make your own selections. You can pick anything you want if your command is funding travel with its own TADTAR account.
The other method has some clerk who seeks out the lowest expense and maximum inconvenience. My last set of travel orders came this method and had me go from San Diego to LAX for a 6 hour layover and then to Oakland. I was not putting up with that but it surprised me that it took 6 phone calls and going to the OIC at PSD to get it changed to a cheaper direct SWA flight.