Wednesday February 15, 2012

timorborder's past comments

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    timorborder

    I would be inclined to say anybody but Kan, Okada or Maehara, all of whom (along with Hatoyama) did nothing when they were leaders of the DPJ in opposition. Now if these three are excluded, then the only real alternative would be everybody's favorite bogeyman, Ichiro Ozawa, who despite some serious ethical issues, no doubt has all the skills required for leadership.

    Firstly, he was once described as the most zealous acolyte of Kakuei Tanaka, the quintessential Japanese politician, a mixture of strong-armed bully-boy and adroit power-monger. Secondly, as a veteran head-kicker, Ozawa has the ability to put some spine into people and scare the crud out of political adversaries. This is something that the DPJ needs at the current time. Instead of allowing certain minor parties to dictate policy agenda, the DPJ needs to take the initiative both in terms of policy and in terms of slapping down its political opponents. I for one would love to see the SDP eviscerated as a political force.

    Posted in: Calls for Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama to resign are mounting among lawmakers in his own Democratic Party of Japan as well as opposition parties. Should he resign and if so, who do you think would do a good job as prime minister?

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    timorborder

    Packed with journalists, it seems that Israel has opened fire on these boats. Talk about a PR disaster.

    Posted in: Israeli commandos storm aid flotilla; 10 killed

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    timorborder

    Big dog lover, having grown up in a household surrounded by dogs (family has breed GR and Labradors for many years). At the same time, however, I cannot understand the fascination in this country in dressing up these spoiled pooches in ridiculous clothes that serve no real function.

    Then again, our two dogs do get a rain coat on rainy days (namely because they are walked everyday, rail, hail, snow, typhoon, without fail).

    My attitude to canine footwear and sunglasses, however, is a bit different. Back in Australia (where summertime temperatures can melt the road), I have seen guide-dogs decked out in booties to protect their feet. I have also seen a police German Shepherd with a cool set of shades to protect his eyes from glare.

    Finally, I do think that some people use their dogs as a way to attract attention. Then again, having come across a huge number of poorly trained dogs and owners in this country, I think such people have their priorities wrong.

    Posted in: Looking good

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    timorborder

    Maradona will certainly liven things up. I particularly like this article and its references to "107 different players" and the "stream of profanities on live TV, telling critics of his coaching where to go." Indeed, there will only ever be 1 Maradona.

    Posted in: Maradona in charge: Argentina braces itself

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    timorborder

    1,000 is just a number. You go to war and this is what happens. I suggest everybody start whinging if this number approaches 50,000.

    Posted in: U.S. toll reaches 1,000 deaths in Afghanistan war

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    timorborder

    Read an interesting article yesterday (cannot remember where). However, it raised the possibility that this whole charade (that has cost the lives of a number of South Korean sailors) was actually staged by North Korea as a means by which to ease the accession of a new leader (Kim's son - not the one who got caught going to Disneyland in Tokyo). Anyway, the argument goes that North Korea engaged in this act of stupidity so the Party in Pyongyang can strengthen its position and pave the way for junior to step up to the plate. Although this whole precept might be a bit loopy, it has to be remembered that Elvis in Pyongyang has suffered a number of health issues in recent years. Moreover, getting the generation on the World stage before Elvis throws off his mortal coil is an important issue for North Korea.

    Posted in: N Korea accuses South of faking warship sinking

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    timorborder

    Best thing that could have happened, you had the majority (the party with the mandate to govern), being dictated to by a small minority (the SDP with a total of 12 members in parliament). Sure, Hatoyama can be criticized until the cows come home over this whole sordid issue, but at the end of the day, as a member of the cabinet (representing a very minor party), Fukushima was bound to either vote with her cabinet colleagues in favor of this motion or fall on her sword to prove a point. She did nothing, so she was sacked.

    Of course, the interesting thing is how matters will develop from here on in. Will Fukushima and her cabal of socialist ideologues sit on the fence or will they do something dumb and start to actively undermine the government. If the latter happens, then the gloves will come off, and the SDP might just find itself with the short end of the stick.

    Posted in: What do you think of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's decision to kick SDP leader Mizuho Fukushima out of the cabinet because she disagreed with his plan to relocate the U.S. Marine base at Futenma within Okinawa?

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    timorborder

    Good, now the US Military can start openly setting up recruitment desks at gay pride demonstrations, because as you know, "a good hard man" is hard to find.

    On a more serious note, having served with US Forces (many years ago) and been privy to rumors about the closet sexuality of people who worked for me, I must say that I consider the removal of this ban a positive development. Indeed, somebody's sexuality should not bar them from the right to serve in uniform. At the same time, however, I don't know how this ban is going to impact units that are already in the field. For some people, finding out that their friends are gay is going to come as a bit of a shock. Moreover, I would expect some instances of backlash against this change in policy.

    Posted in: U.S. House approves repeal of gay ban in military

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    timorborder

    So the "spaceman" and his wife are going to play for Japan? Wonders will never cease.

    Posted in: Join the team

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    timorborder

    I'm curious; all the N. Korean generals have their uniforms covered in medals, but they never fought a war. The N. Korean army would probably fold like a cheap suit in about 24 hours of combat. The enlisted men will probably turn on the officers within days...

    Most of the senior guys (with all the bling) are about 90 and a day. As such, I would say that they either rose to the top based on Korean War experience, or as a result of being faithful party apparatchiks.

    Moreover, the general impression I get of the North Korean Military (based just on what is shown on TV) is of a force in the old Soviet mold, namely lots of armor and artillery. The question is, however, would such a force be an effective weapon against the modern militaries of the West. The Gulf War would seem to indicate that this is not the case.

    At the same time, however, you have to consider the issue of North Korean artillery, which is supposedly dug-in on masse just over the DMZ. The big question, however, is how quickly could it be neutralized. The South Koreans might not be so keen for war if it meant massive civilian casualties in urban areas (which has always been a North Korean threat).

    With regard to the North Korean military, periodically there are articles in the press that highlight such issues as malnutrition and equipment shortages. At the same time, however, it is generally accepted that the level of brainwashing in North Korean makes the old Soviet Union seem as an attractive alternative. Also, you have to realize that the officer corps in North Korea will have no future if the regime in Pyongyang falls. As such, they might come out swinging.

    Posted in: N Korea cuts ties with South; raises war rhetoric

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    timorborder

    This is a non-issue, with Irabu being able to claim cultural tradition as a defense.

    Posted in: Former Yankees pitcher Irabu arrested in LA for alleged drunken driving

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    timorborder

    Grandfather saw action in World War 2 (North Africa and the Pacific), seeing first-hand atrocities committed by the Axis Powers. At the same time, however, his most horrific experiences were in Korea, defending both against human wave attacks and also seeing what both the North and the South did to civilians. Anyway, if things deteriorate further on the Peninsula and war breaks out, it is not going to be pretty, with both the North and the South potentially showing little respect vis-a-vis the so-called "rules of war." To put this in another way, civilian casualties have the potential to be massive, even before the US and its other allies get involved.

    Posted in: N Korea cuts ties with South; raises war rhetoric

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    timorborder

    In a previous life (before an accident), I was a career officer in the Australian Army. Among other things, my service included 2.5 years on exchange to the US Army (this period being extended due to the Gulf War). Anyway, based on a my experience, I tend to agree with a number of the arguments being put forward here.

    Firstly, I have no trouble with the idea of gay people serving in any military organizations, the US or otherwise. When I was in the US, there were rumors about a certain Warrant Officer who worked for me, however, I never experienced anything with this person that led me to believe that he was any less of a soldier (a very good soldier) because of his sexual orientation.

    Secondly, however, is this really an issue that needs to be resolved at the current time. With all of the issues associated with long and repeated overseas deployments at the current time (which can have a serious impact on morale), would it really be in the best short-term interests of the military to change the rules in a manner that could cause some morale issues (even in the short-term). To put this in another way, finding out that a comrade is gay can be a bit of a shock, and it requires time for an individual to adjust to such developments. Anyway, I would argue that on a priority scale, there are a lot more pressing issues for the military at the current time.
    at the current point in time with the US military in a serious position vis-a-vis repeated deployments of personnel to places such as Afghanistan and Iraq which have lead to some serious recruitment and personal issues (fatigue, etc.), is it really necessary that this issue be resolved immediately?

    Posted in: White House eyes compromise on gays in military

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    timorborder

    Based on track record alone, North Korea has to be firmly in the frame for this one.

    Furthermore, with regard to the high US vote, I would suggest that everyone just take it for what it is, a large number of sheeple who like to take the pxss out of people.

    Posted in: Who do you think was behind the sinking of a South Korean warship on March 26?

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    timorborder

    No, because the institution of the law by its very nature is reactive rather than proactive. As such, even if certain substances were covered by new laws, there is always the possibility that other substances (beyond the scope of such legislation - illegal) could be developed. If a demand for such substances existed, organized crime would get involved.

    Posted in: Would legalizing drugs drive the crime out of the business?

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    timorborder

    Cases such as this represent the worst form of child abuse, with the victim having no where to turn if all the surrounding adults are in on the deal.

    Posted in: Mother, 2 other family members held for abusing 5-yr-old daughter

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    timorborder

    Let the circus begin. Although I am not an American, I do find the US political system rather intriguing, both for its complexity and the old style pork barreling that seems to occur on such a massive scale.

    With regard to these different Senate races, the one that interests me most is up in Connecticut. Reading through the NY Times yesterday, I thought that the article on the Democratic Party contender and his playing loose with the truth vis-a-vis his service record was a fine bit of journalism. The journalists who wrote it seemed to line up all their ducks rather well and then shoot them down accordingly. Indeed, reading such finely-crafted articles makes me lament the passing of old-style solid news reporting.

    At the same time, however, the GOP candidate for the same senate seat is one Linda McMahon, the wife of Vincent McMahon, as in World Wrestling Entertainment. Call me cynical, but am I the only one who sees the irony in Mrs. McMahon (who in the past has been an on-screen character for the WWE) positioning herself as a family values candidate? Admittedly, WWE programming has become more family-friendly in recent years, straying away somewhat from issues such as necrophilia, incest, racial stereotyping, etc., however, what is portrayed on TV is still somewhat difficult to swallow. Moreover, the whole pro-wrestling business still has not addressed the steroids issue sufficiently (with certain promoters having previously been involved in court cases regarding such matters). Moreover, apparently Mrs. McMahon supports offshore oil wells, well at least she did last month based on a post-out that she sent to voters. Considering the events in the Gulf of Mexico, perhaps she is now back-peddling on this issue.

    So to sum it all up, the good people of Connecticut could be faced with a serious quandary. Should they vote for a candidate who has played it very loose with his military record, or should the vote for a candidate who made their wealth in the pro-wrestling business?

    Posted in: Specter loses in Pennsylvania, Paul wins in Ky primaries

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    timorborder

    Excuse the pun, but the response to child pornography, etc., should be hardcore. A first step would be to stop the publication of questionable material, making it an offense for any business/individual related to such matters. This would mean an end to the legal sale of sexually graphic magazines, etc. whose themes are very much orientated to the depiction of underage persons. A second step would be to modify the law so that the possession of child pornography (as well as the distribution of it) was illegal. A third step would be a beefing up of the penalties. Instead of just leveling fines against the people who possess/peddle this filth, being found guilty of child pornography related offenses (including the exploitation of children) should result in some real jail time. What about 15 years for starters. Also, there should be sex offender register established that follows people around like a stench. If they move addresses, their past should move with them, with their new neighbors being informed of their past. Such a register could also include the electronic monitoring of such sex offenders (simply possessing child pornography or being related to it in any way should result in automatic registration to such a register). Finally, the shame factor should be leveraged. If found guilty of such offenses, people should have their pictures and full personal details printed in every major newspaper in Japan. Moreover, based on the traditional Japanese practice of group responsibility, in addition to the state being able to seize all of the possessions of those found guilty, the details of the next of kin of any such offenders should also be widely publicized. Also, aggravated cases of child exploitation should warrant a mandatory death penalty, such sentences being carried out in the presence of any inmates who are serving time for lesser child pornography offenses.

    Anyway, if such an approach failed to achieve results, the government should just turn offenders over to the law of the mob.

    Posted in: What is the most effective way to eradicate the sale and possession of child porn?

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    timorborder

    Simply unbelievable. What else can you say?

    Then again, if the media go into hyper drive on this story the worrying thing is that other loonies will surface and try to top this shocking incident.

    Just a note to all those with children. Don't let them out of your sight.

    Posted in: 8-year-old girl in critical condition after being stabbed on Osaka street

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    timorborder

    I believe that NHK actually described this as two kids having a bit of a dare, namely, getting across the tracks before the express came through. Well it appears that at least one of these rocket scientists has done us all a benefit from removing themselves from the gene pool.

    On another note, everybody is reporting that no people on the train were injured. That's right folks, it back to work as usual. Then again, I wonder how well the driver of this train slept last night. Indeed, if he has any future stress issues, perhaps he might sue the parents of the deceased.

    Posted in: 15-year-old girl killed by train while running across tracks in Osaka

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