Once More, With Feeling

 

Thank you

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

Thank you

 

Thank you

Thank you.

God bless you, Mr. President.

Stoutcat

Righting a Wrong (Kind of, Sort of) As Bush Leaves

It has been announced today that President Bush, in his final act of clemency, has decided to commute the sentences of former US Border Guards Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean. You will recall they are the two border guards who shot a Mexican drug dealer as he tried to smuggle drugs into the United States.

Charged with assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, violation of civil rights and obstruction of justice, their convictions led to bitter rancor between conservatives who felt this sent the wrong signal to everyone involved (border guards, the Mexican drug cartel, and even foreign nationals who see our loose borders as an easy way to infiltrate this country).  All their convictions, except obstruction of justice, were upheld on appeal.

So where does the “kind of, sort of” come into the picture?  You will note that  Bush didn’t pardon the guards. He commuted their sentences. That means the convictions stick, but he’s letting them be released from prison, convictions intact. Good luck to the two as they try to find work in this economy with felony convictions. Actually, they have both become so well-known that they may actually do well on the outside. Can you say, “Bio-Pic?”

The problem I have is with the inconsistency of President Bush in dealing out his mercy. Several months ago, he pardoned a rapper/producer named John Forte who was caught and convicted of smuggling liquid heroin with a street value of up to $14 million. His cause was championed by singer Carly Simon. What was her connection? Forte was the former roommate of her son Ben when they attended Phillips Exeter Academy together.  That’s right… a full pardon for someone who intended to flood the streets of New York with cocaine for his own personal profit.  Compare that with merely commuting the sentences for Ramos and Compean, who will live the rest of their lives with felony convictions, and who were doing their jobs of trying to keep our  borders safe.  Also, keep in mind that the Obstruction of Justice conviction (for allegedly attempting to cover up evidence in the shooting) for Compean and Ramos was overturned. The assault with a dangerous weapon charges stuck… a farce in the mind of millions when you remember the guards were shooting at a convicted drug dealer with a history of smuggling drugs into this country.

If there is a moral to the story, I guess it’s that one should always try to suck up to celebrities whenever possible. You never know when they will be able to keep your worthless butt out of prison.

To Ramos and Compean, congratulations on regaining your freedom. One would only hope you will be able to secure meaningful employment upon your release… and that you haven’t completely lost faith in how democracy is meted out in this country.

This being President Bush’s final act of clemency as he leaves will only reinforce those of us who voted for him and are  left shaking our heads in wonder…

Gerry Ashley

I’m Tired of Him Already and He’s Not Even President Yet

Yes, I get it that this is an historic occasion: the first African American male to be the head of state of a first-world nation. I get that. (Although I would prefer it if more folks thought of him primarily as “American” instead of tossing in the obligatory “African” prefix. But that’s just me.)

I get it: convergence of the planets, MLK Day, Inauguration, peace ‘n harmony, I’d like to buy the world a Coke, etc. I get it!

But this whole thing is going so far overboard that I think we all need a time out. So could we please just display a little grace and dignity, get through this (most expensive ever!) inauguration, all the parties and balls and soirees, let the man have his first day in the White House as President of the United States, and just get back to business as usual? Please?

Thanks.

Stoutcat

Apostasy — Yet Another Reason to Worry for Obama

Let’s see… What kinds of threats does the soon-to-be President face?

• Generic barking moonbat: By all accounts, the attendance at the inauguration is going to number into the millions. Somewhere in that heaving morass of bipeds is someone who will no doubt be more comfortable wearing his aluminum-foil hat and talking to “Bo” and “Peep” as they vacation behind Hale-Bopp.
• Political barking moonbat: Yeah… There are kooks out there who might fashion themselves as the next Gavrilo Princip. Not good.
• Racial barking moonbat: Does the name Manson ring a bell?
• Apostatical barking moonbat: These are the ones many are probably overlooking. And as vile and violent as the other nut jobs are, these idiots present a special threat.  Barack Hussein Obama (now Christian) may be viewed by some radical Islamists as apostatical and deserving of death.

Two final thoughts… First, about the worst job on earth right now is being a secret service agent. And secondly, as an American citizen, I will feel a lot better when President Obama and his family are safely secured in 1600. There are just too many barking snarling moonbats out there.

Allahpundit at HotAir had a different take on the situation; I think he’s giving the terrorists too much credit.

Alan Speakman

What a Bad “Water Landing” Looks Like

This what a bad “water landing”, looks like. Sort of puts yesterday’s Hudson River landing in perspective doesn’t it?

Alan Speakman

“Miracle On The Hudson” Was No Miracle

 

I blame Rupert Murdoch for one aspect in the decline of legitimate journalism in today’s world (not just in America). For it was Murdoch who, as he built his publishing and media empire,  News Corporation, that fully exploited the use of sensational headlines for increasing circulation of once-legitimate publications.

And so it was Murdoch who came to mind as I saw today’s headline, “Miracle On The Hudson” describing yesterday’s crash-landing of the US Airways Airbus 320 in the Hudson River.

To refer to the incident as a “miracle” diminishes the reality of what happened.

It diminishes the fact that Chesley B. Sullenberger, a trained fighter-pilot who also runs a safety consulting firm was the Captain flying the plane when a double strike by a large flock of birds took out both engines. In the amount of time it takes for most of us to decide whether to have a second cup of coffee, Captain Sullenberger had to decide how to safely bring down a crippled aircraft with over 150 people onboard. To make matters more interesting, he would have to do so with no engines and failing hydraulics.

Ready? Go.  Still thinking about that second cup of coffee? Well, in that same amount of time, Sullenberger looked out of the windshield, noticed an airport below in Teterboro, NJ. He confirmed it on the radio with air traffic control and received permission to land there – if he could make it.

How’s that decision coming on your coffee?

With permission to land, Sully (as he’s known to his friends) had to ask himself, “Do we have enough momentum to make it there?” In his mind, he had to think of the consequences of falling short of the runway. It would be an inferno in a densely populated area, as they had just taken off and the fuel supply was ample enough to get them to the scheduled destination of Charlotte, NC. “Is there an option available with less risk?” he had to ask himself. Looking below, he saw the icy Hudson River. “There’s the option!” must have been his instant decision. At least if he has a bad landing on the water, he might only sacrifice the cockpit crew, including himself, but the passengers will have a chance.

“OK, you’ll have that second cup? Will that be with cream or do you want it black?”

Now he had to inform the passengers what was going on and what was about to happen in such a way as to minimize their panic. At the same time, he had to change the trajectory of the Airbus 320 (which weighs 93,000 lbs, plus the weight of crew, passengers, cargo, and fuel) so as to begin his literal do-or-die approach to the Hudson River. In order to do so, he would also have to come perilously close to the George Washington Bridge. Sullenberger announced to the passengers, “Prepare for impact.”

“Did you want Sugar with that or, perhaps some Equal?”

Imagine what was going through the minds of the passengers. According to a report on foxnews.com (yes, the one founded by Rupert Murdoch),  passenger Fred Beretta, when he heard the pilot’s announcement, commented, “I looked out the window and thought, there is a good chance we are going to die. I thought about my family and started praying.” Multiply that by about 150. Sullenberger didn’t have time to. His time was spent adjusting the descent as best he could and aiming for the water in a way that would miss any vessels in the water (including numerous ferries) and trying for a water impact that wouldn’t rip the plane apart , all in an attempt to minimize loss of life.  As an experienced fighter pilot, he had the training required to act under extreme pressure.

“Will there be anything else or are you ready for your bill? “

Imagine what was going through the minds of those on land who once again saw a plane coming in low over the Hudson River, as one did seven and a half years go. For a split second, how many were instantly thrown back to September 11, 2001?

Sullenberger did his job flawlessly as did the rest of the crew under his direction. The flight attendants had done their job before takeoff, explaining how under each seat was a safety jacket that can be inflated. The seat bottom could also be used as a floatation device. We’ve all heard the drill. How many people pay attention to it? How many people who are flying today will pay attention?

When the plane hit the water, everything went according to training, because the flight crew did their jobs as well as Sullenberger did his.

Emergency exits were opened, slides inflated. Some people slid into the water while some managed to step out onto the wings. Ferries, which were perilously close during the landing, now were objects of rescue, throwing down life preserves and lowering boats to retreive those in the water.

A miracle? Not really. Maybe it was a miracle that Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger was the pilot yesterday. But it was hard work by the flight crew, combining their professional training, years of experience, and the ability to remain calm under duress.  It was excellent engineering in the design of the plane so it could withstand the harsh water landing. And, just as importantly, it was informed passengers following instructions from a professional crew of flight attendents which minimized any panic. All of this combined to effect the spectacular ending to what surely could have been a tragic and sizable loss of life.

Miracle? That’s debatable. But there’s no debate on this: Give Captain Sullenberger, his crew ,and the flight attendants their due. They performed magnificently. Hmmm… some might say THEY performed a miracle.

I’ll have to think about that over a cup of coffee.

Gerry Ashley

Friday Round-up: 01-16-09

 
Good News to Brighten Your Day: The Bleat has gone bloggy. Yes, everyone’s first (or second) read of the morning, James Lileks’ Bleat, has migrated to blog format. This is so good, as it means multiple posts per day, plus COMMENTS! I hope it also means he’ll have more time for the Screedblog (hint, hint), but I’ll take whatever I can get.

Edit: Forgot to add, things like this are why Lileks is my second read of the day, and should be your first:

Driving my daughter back from Karate… I expressed the desire to LEAVE FOR SOMEPLACE LESS LETHAL, and of course Natalie doesn’t want to go anywhere else. I regretted bringing it up, since I don’t want her to think her life could be uprooted, and I said I was just talking. “It’ll be over, Dad,” she said. “It will be warm again. As warm as Arizona.”

To which I thought: and then it will be cold after that. Repeat until dead, and the interment is delayed because the backhoe snapped a chisel trying to dig your grave in the frozen earth. But she’s right; it will be warm. Ruining the onset of spring because you know winter follows is like weeping when you open a bottle of fine, fine Scotch because it will be empty some day. I’ve learned my lesson from the wisdom of a child. This year I will buy two springs and store one in the back of the cabinet. 

How do you top that? You don’t. Unless you’re James Lileks.

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Farewell to two stalwarts: both Ricardo Montalban and Patrick McGoohan died this week. I remember Patrick McGoohan from The Prisoner series, which, as a kid I could never quite fathom, but I loved the Introduction — so dramatic!

I never knew that Ricardo Montalban was a dancer–I remember him from Star Trek, Fantasy Island, and various automobile commercials. However, anyone who can keep up with Cyd Charisse qualifies as a dancer in my book!

Rest in peace, gentlemen.

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Tortured Logic: Regarding the report that we declined to prosecute the 20th hijacker in the 9/11 attacks because he was tortured while imprisoned at Gitmo, well, I am just speechless. I am not generally one to let loose with flights of creative swearing and f-bombs, but this really tempts me. Fortunately for us all, Rachel Lucas has already vented, and has done a far better job than I ever could.

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Downsized: Sadly, the nebulous job that Michelle Obama was being paid $300,000 annually to do (or not do, as she’s been off the job for almost a year now) has hit the chopping block. Given that the University of Chicago Hospital says the job will be absorbed by another executive, the Chicago Daily Observer wonders why it was an actual job in the first place. I think most folks know it was just another example of Pay-for-Play. After all, that’s the Chicago Way.

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Do Over! It seems likely that the only way Minnesotans will get a fair count out of their Senate contest is to start from scratch. Given the bizarre decisions handed down by the state court and various state and local officials; given the fact that in at least 25 MN precints there were more votes counted than there were voter signatures; given the agreement to allow the campaigns themselves to determine which previously-rejected absentee ballots to count and which to discard–it’s enough to make me ask if we’re really talking about Minnesota, and not, say Illinois or Louisiana.

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Seasonal Dis-affection: I’ll leave you with a link to the Anchoress, who is looking forward to Spring (as am I!) and poring over the gardening catalogs, which start blooming in mailboxes right about now.

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Have a wonderful weekend!

Stoutcat

FoxNews Reporting U.S. Airways Jet Down In Hudson River

3:45 EST, 1/15/09

According to Shep Smith, there is a U.S. Airways jet down in the NY Hudson River. Half a dozen boats/ferrys are swarming on scene.

Update to follow.

UPDATE: 4:42 EST: Fox is reporting no fatalities.

Alan Speakman

Major Earthquake Near Russia, Tsunami Watch

1/15/09, 1:20 PM EST

Breaking from FoxNews…

There has been a major earthquake (magnitude 7.5) near Russia. Tsunami watch in place. Details to follow.

UPDATE 1/15/09, 1:28 PM EST: See this USGS site for more details.

Alan Speakman

Delicious, Delicious Irony

 

From the “Let’s Give Them Their Own State!” Department comes this: The International Criminal Court opined yesterday that the ICC has no jurisdiction to prosecute war crimes which may or may not have been committed in the Gaza Strip.

Why? According to the office of the prosecutor:

“…the court’s jurisdiction is limited to war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crime of genocide committed on the territory of, or by a national of, a state party. ” [emphasis mine]

For once, Israel wins.

H/T: Meryl Yourish

Stoutcat