248 Comments

The judges give half credit. Yes, they were American planes. No, they weren't on the ground, but on the deck of a carrier, where there are more ways to die a horrific death in PEACETIME than your spouse and Insurance Agent can dream of. Basically, John-Boy was sitting in an A-4 loaded for Bear when another plane's engine exploded. Jet engines are basically contained explosions, this one was kinda free like a bird. Bits of hot flaming crap went flying every which way, and Johnnie is strapped to a bomb with wings. So, in his panicky attempts to put some distance between himself and flaming death, he:

1. Armed his Master Arm Switch on the "dogbone" panel2. Fired a 5-inch Zuni that went, as designed, straight into another fully fueled, fully loaded bomber. Not designed as Air-to-Air, but got the job done proper, exploding said aircraft in a way that made the previous fire a mere appetizer.

Weapons systems are idiot-resistant, NOT IDIOT PROOF!

Basically, the damn ship almost sank, Beaucoup friendly KIA, WIA, MIA, Air Wing down by about 1/4, everybody hurtin' for certain. Then, the capper to the crapper is John-boy being whisked away by Chopper to a Hotel in Saigon to avoid playing 20 questions starting with "what the fuck did you do that for?"

It's one thing to save yourself from a bad situationIt's another to not stick around and:

A. HELPB. Help understand what went wrong (everything)C. Own up to your fuck-up

Leadership-NOPE

Still a damn sight better than Trump, though

Expand full comment

That photo of Sheriff Joe is going to be in my nightmares for life.

Thanks, Doc.

Expand full comment

I always wondered as a kid why Jesus was portrayed as poor. One kid in the family, step-dad was a carpenter (or mason by some readings)--a good trade.

Expand full comment

Two Bs in Abboud

Expand full comment

What? They were American? They were on the ground?

His grandpappy was my Dad's commanding admiral in the South Pacific during WWII. He comes from Navy royalty. If he hadn't, he'd never have been flying over North Vietnam, because he was incompetent and had terrible judgment.

Expand full comment

Hey!He was a Navy fighter pilot with 14 aircraft confirmed destroyed in a single mission! He would have made Ace except for one minor technicality.

Expand full comment

The Apostles were kinda wealthy (at least comfort-class) yuppies. (tax collectoors, fishermen, accountants) so the left behinds could easilly have been cared for. Jesus himself, according to some folks, was a bit weathy (The natal gifts of gold, frankinceense and myrrh - a fortune)) and his (their all) connections to the bigshots like Joseph of Amamathea and Mary/Martha's family Not counting Mary (mom)'s family connections and dad, Joe was a carpenter (nice upper middle class skill back then). The Jesus gang was not really destitute- they had lots of handlers and contributers. (source: Josephus).

Expand full comment

Super excellent digging and reporting here, Zippy.Poor, greedy Arizonia!

Expand full comment

IDK - there was some lady in the NT who was on her third husband, and the guy she was with wasn't married to her, so Jesu yelled at her. He wasn't very concerned with economic practicalities. He didn't need to be, what with loaves, fishes, and wine being conjured out of thin air.

Expand full comment

I think Skippy means negative references. Jesu always struck me as pansexual.

Expand full comment

How many of the "purity ponies" are Russian trolls? A good chunk l'd say. Just look at the #Walk-away bullshit.

Expand full comment

Absolutely.. There's money out there, but WE have the votes - assuming we use them. If we do what we always seem to do, get excited, get motivated and vote - in ONE election then this is gonna rubberband back to this shit in two years. We need this to be an ongoing disciplined movement just like the opposition.

Expand full comment

I circulated petitions to get rid of that guy! It was one of my first political acts. Used to have my certificate framed on the wall.

Expand full comment

Dirtbag. You're being too kind. https://uploads.disquscdn.c...

Expand full comment

Tell us how you really feel about mccain. Don't hold back.

Expand full comment

Voting against "the other" is the backbone of amerikan democracy. As soon as a politician says; I want to serve, they should be shot on the spot.

Expand full comment