It was '93. Or '98. I don't remember. I've blocked it all out.

But it's as if it all happened yesterday.

We were coming in low over Bosnia. Or Serbia. I forget. Corkscrew approach. This is an extremely rare, dangerous and harrowing approach that all pilots do routinely in battle zones on an hourly basis. All of a sudden the skies burst into flames. We were taking everything from flak to cruise missiles to RPGs -- that's "Radio Powered Guns" for those of you who haven't been "in the show" -- to catapulted boulders by a wooden structure with pulleys and levers.

This was a C-130, mind you. Not exactly first class. Lazy-Boys, pepper jack cheese and wine spritzers? It was like being in prison, I'd imagine.

And then, it happened. The left wing blew off (Right wing?). Probably an IED. "Internal Emitting Diode" for those of you who haven't "gone in-country". I don't even remember it because it all happened so fast. But before you could say, "I'm against this war I voted for ," Gunny was on the 50 millimeter and his copilot was curled up in the fetal position babbling about mouthwash. There was only one thing I could do.

I strapped in, grabbed the stick, put on my wireless headphone radio thingie and barrel-rolled the heavy-assed bitch into a tailspin. Problem solved.

"Mayday, mayday. Air Force 4 is going down. I repeat: Air Force 4 is going down. The pilot is AWAL, Number 2 is catatonic, we're listing badly, and I've got no forward thrust. Also, I spilled some chianti on my sans-a-belt slacks. Please advise."
"Uhh... I just got off the radio with Captain Jennifer Harris. She says everything's a-okay. Still, do you have some seltzer?"
"Thanks, Dutch. Via con Deus. We're coming in hot."
"It's Captain Martin, ma'am. Er... Hmm..."

I 720'd that sky beast on the 3rd-world runway, popped the hatch, and before you could say, "That's not what I meant," snipers in the bush lit the place up like dollar slots at The Mirage.

Reminded me of Dr. Strangelove.

Well, boys, I reckon this is it - nuclear combat toe to toe with the Roosskies. Now look, boys, I ain't much of a hand at makin' speeches, but I got a pretty fair idea that something doggone important is goin' on back there. And I got a fair idea the kinda personal emotions that some of you fellas may be thinkin'. Heck, I reckon you wouldn't even be human bein's if you didn't have some pretty strong personal feelin's about nuclear combat. I want you to remember one thing, the folks back home is a-countin' on you and by golly, we ain't about to let 'em down. I tell you something else, if this thing turns out to be half as important as I figure it just might be, I'd say that you're all in line for some important promotions and personal citations when this thing's over with. That goes for ever' last one of you regardless of your race, color or your creed. Now let's get this thing on the hump - we got some flyin' to do.

Like McCain, Senator Clinton can be also gifted with the most auspicious of visions..."A senior moment" ...a moment in which everything is as clear as glass and right as rain.

Better than some of your other recent pot-shots at her, though. (Coming from me, that's a compliment). Serious question: have you thought about trying another format, perhaps? And yes, she was foolish to lie or "misstate" herself about such a trackable, factual event.

tomorrow, the Clique will have shown up in support. Ending with ratings of # 13 to 15 to -2 or 3. Just a thought. We really ought to start putting money on these things, TomswittersRobbins.

Hill's ducking bullets on the tarmac with Sinbad and Sheryl Crowe. Apparently, the Serbian military had some pretty damned lame snipers, what with so many high-value targets in their sights. No wonder we won.

I sense a comeback tour. A reunion special. A TV movie, on Lifetime natch.

(PS, Ashley Alexandra Dupre ignored my advice to her detriment. Blew a million-dollar contract by holding out too long. They never listen.)

Hanging out here when you should be up there helping your Smarmy pal defend the world from the Leftist/Marxist/Islamofascists and the Emerging Church so we can all get to the End Times like we're supposed to.

You were doing so well.

You really should have included a link to the rest of it.

I think Vice President Clinton showed great political courage in claiming she was "sleep deprived" when recalling sniper fire rather than flowers and hugs from children.

Man, I've had some long weekends in my life, including losing my car, but I think I'd remember sniper fire.

That IS SLEEP DEPRIVED girlfriend!!!

Kind of makes me worry about her reaction to a 3AM phone call.

(Great post. I've sent a flashmail alert to the entire clique who will be following shortly with words of great, great, praise. and more damned thumbs up than you can imagine.)

Patience. Thoroughness. Fairness. Tenacity. (Spelling?)

[Brem(m)er]

I'm a self-proclaimed NPR faggot, to be sure. But for godssakes, why are the fucking Canadians sounding more "American" than Americans? Don't answer.

This doc makes me feel bad for George. And for how hard I've been on him. I think he's just a stupid kid. A stupid frat kid that I hazed.

(Full disclosure: I was not in a fraternity.)

PBfuckingS.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to finish my poem I've been working on that will end this madness.

I'm a self-proclaimed NPR faggot, to be sure. But for godssakes, why are the fucking Canadians sounding more "American" than Americans? Don't answer.

Just don't tell me they produce Frontline.

mmm wondering when the Obama camp will come out with the hidden meaning behind this that Hillary said. Personally I think it will be the winning lottery numbers promised in another slate article. But you know folks, she was there. How many of you want to go visit Iraq? And this is a bit different than Obama's fanatical friends, and yes another pro nazi was just outed, an advisor? who can keep up with it all. I just hope to mother theresa we don't see a shadow of Hitler lurking behind his shadow one day when we are watching him campaigning, that would just be freaky.

I am chuckling actually, but I really wish Schmutzie would do a line by line and the hidden interpretation by Obama's wacked out campaign trail committee.

Now that's funny. A definite improvement. Thank you.

Disclaimer;

this should not be construed as support for any candidate living or dead as I don't care for any of them I just support good writing even if it's only coming out of hibernation.

Flashes of promise here.

WOW, I get chills just THINKING about all the danger Poor Hillary was in! Fortunately for her, she did take Chelsea along for protection. HMMM Chelsea probably has enough experience by now to be president one day herself!

thumbs-UPS for switters' Top Post here and "two to three" thumbs-DOWNS.

And here we are with 14 thumbs-UPS and 4 thumbs-downs.

Of course, of those 14, three are all the same poster (CatNapping, katydont and Speaker (SPACE) Nancy, so his plus rating is really only 12.)

Geez, it's a slow day at work today.