Am I the only one who reads the first part of the Second Amendment?

"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State,..."

I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me that the states or the Federal government could condition possession of firearms on one's service in the militia, i.e., the National Guard.

Certainly, no patriotic, gun-owning American would shrink from the honor of serving in our nation's Armed Forces.

All that would be required is for the Army to send a stack of blank enlistment contracts to every gun store, and send one to every registered gun owner. Each person would then have 30 days to report to their nearest induction center.

Maybe this would also solve the Army's recruiting difficulties.

Just my $.02.

So, if (when?) we "win," what exactly do we win?

Here's my idea. Bring our troops home, and send Frist, et al., to Baghdad (on their dime) and have them run the place.

Tired of getting sand kicked in your face?

You the need the JCMC Dynamic Tension Course!

Here is a free trial:

Give the President his money, and a whole bunch of fresh troops,to boot!

How, you ask? Just slip in one of those amendments that no one reads, instituting a draft to commence within 30 days of the President's signature. And here's the good part: the children of each and every Federal office-holder would be compelled to report for induction immediately!

How's that for supporting the troops?

Using Firefox, with the NoScript extension,

1. In your Javascript options, click on "Forbid salon.com".

2. Use "Ctrl +" and "Ctrl -" to adjust the font size.

Note to Salon:

Not everyone has a giant monitor that can display your micro-sized print in a readable size!

If the war in Iraq is such a Good Thing, why don't we see its supporters out recruiting soldiers for this Noble Cause? Why are they not volunteering to fight the Good Fight?

They talk a good game, "Support the Troops!" and then silently pray "I thank you, God, that I am not one of those poor saps who has to join the Army to make a living."

I am a veteran, six and a half years in the Air Force, during the Cold War, thank you very much.

Well, it looks like the javascript that made it difficult to change font sizes has been fixed.

Good job!

and all the other [pejorative noun]s running for President.

Here is the answer to the question "What is your plan for getting out of Iraq?"

"Right after I am sworn in, I will say 'I am sorry to leave all these festivities, I've got to get to work.' Then I will go to the Pentagon and direct our generals to come up with a plan for getting our troops back to the United States before the summer. And nobody leaves the building until they have a plan!"

Now, really, how hard is that?

Our current puppet isn't working out; it's time for a new one.

the Iraqis could deal with Blackwater in the old-fashioned way.

http://www.gregpalast.com/bushs-fake-sheik-whacked-the-surge-and-the-al-qaeda-bunny/

or as Sean Connery's character (The Untouchables) put it, "the Chicago way."

Seriously, a friend mentioned that her husband had been offered a job in Iraq as a security guard, for a good sum of money.

"It's fine," I said, "if you don't mind being a widow."

"Well, he won't be going."

If we are really fighting a war against (what is the term this week?), shouldn't we going all out to defeat the enemy?

Where is the draft? Where is the rationing of gasoline? This is a phony war, promoted and run by a bunch of draft dodgers, for a bunch of sheep whose only sacrifice is putting a "Support the Troops" sticker on their SUV.

economists like Buiter and Sibert. Surely there are economists in India who can mouth that anti-labor claptrap for ten cents on the dollar!

get off your dead asses, pick up your M-16, and get the f*** over there. Otherwise, STFU!

and the other blowhards of his ilk, is, "Since what you really want is for these detainees to be killed, would *you* walk up to each one, put a gun to his head, and pull the trigger?"

I'm not a conspiracy freak, but are the Republicans taking a dive this election?

Like the MTV show, but with the actual celebrities.

What does "victory" in Iraq mean, and how will we know when we have achieved it?

Republicans are all about Law and Order; i.e., when it involves poor, long-haired, or dark-skinned people.

when you become a media whore. (No offense to sex workers.)

Nobody in the media ever seems to ask the question "So where does all this hydrogen come from?" (Maybe they skipped Chemistry and Physics)

Water, you say? Yes, water really is made up of two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen, but it takes more energy to split them apart than you get back running your car. Don't expect Congress to repeal the Second Law of Thermodynamics.

Oh, you can also get hydrogen from oil. Can't imagine who would benefit from that.

Since, apparently, no self-respecting American executive will work for a measly $500,000 a year, why not outsource these jobs to India. I understand that you can hire a highly-educated, English-speaking person for a fraction of an American's salary.

No, on second thought, for half a million, I would take one of those jobs. I don't I could f*** it up any worse than these guys. I'll even wear a suit.

but I am sure he will do his patriotic duty and pass on before he becomes a burden to the economy.

Being the manly man that he is, perhaps he could die a glorious death fighting America's enemies.

Or, maybe, he's just another full-of-shit right-wing blowhard.

perhaps the ID proponents can explain the "design" of the digestive systems of herbivores. (Hey kids, did you know that rabbits eat their own poop?)