The draft is dead, long live the draft!

komo news | Soldier Sues Over Military's Stop-Loss Policy

SEATTLE - Emiliano Santiago will continue to fight for his country -- he's leaving for Afghanistan on Friday -- even though he doesn't want to go.

He also vows to fight against his country on what he calls a backdoor draft.

"I signed my contract for 8 years and the government involuntarily extended me for another 27 years," says Santiago.

Yes you read that right 27 YEARS! It seems that the government, faced with monumental shortfalls in recruiting, has found that Santiago has a "Critical" job... Wait for it... refuling airplanes. No he doesn't fly air tankers or work on an aircraft carrier he is a flight engineer for ground based aircraft. "My job is so simple, just refueling aircraft, connect hoses, pump fuel turn on the pump and fill up the aircraft, I don't see any critical skills," says Santiago.

He has sued the government in an attempt to let him our of the military. His current enlistment extention is up Christmas eve 2031.

Who says the draft is dead.

Licensed to kill

Yahoo! News - Florida eyes allowing residents to open fire whenever they see threat

MIAMI (AFP) - Florida's legislature has approved a bill that would give residents the right to open fire against anyone they perceive as a threat in public, instead of having to try to avoid a conflict as under prevailing law.

Outraged opponents say the law will encourage Floridians to open fire first and ask questions later, fostering a sort of statewide Wild West shootout mentality. Supporters argue that criminals will think twice if they believe they are likely to be promptly shot when they assault someone.

Well, I guess I should have known that this kind of thing would come to the desk of one of the Bush brothers. I was thinking it might be W, however. The "Shoot first and ask questions later" legislation sounds like the biggest cave in to the NRA that ever was.

Make no mistake this is not any kind of anti-crime legislation. This is a straight-up giveaway to the gun lobby. Even if Jeb decides not to sign it it is still the biggest win the NRA has had all year. I actually don't expect it to become law (or really to stay law for long) I mean even the bubbas down at the hunting club must realize that if anyone can shoot you in the street and then make up a story about a midnight mugging, it won't make you safer. I have to believe that Jeb's going to turn it down.

If I'm wrong I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for Florida.

Outrage!

The New York Times > Washington > Political Groups Paid Two Relatives of House Leader

WASHINGTON, April 5 - The wife and daughter of Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, have been paid more than $500,000 since 2001 by Mr. DeLay's political action and campaign committees, according to a detailed review of disclosure statements filed with the Federal Election Commission and separate fund-raising records in Mr. DeLay's home state, Texas.

Most of the payments to his wife, Christine A. DeLay, and his only child, Dani DeLay Ferro, were described in the disclosure forms as "fund-raising fees," "campaign management" or "payroll," with no additional details about how they earned the money.

DeLay seems to be on the slippery slope to destruction these days, but there is still nolimit to the outrage I feel toward these types of antics. He has paid his way to the top in the midst of all of the highest ranking members of this administration. I frevently hope that this whole thing unravels on them.

I love the fact that DeLay is running around screaming about left wing attacks all while he is busu breaking every campaign finance law he can. I guess it's good to be the president's favorite...