Chairman Kaga wrote:To play devil's advocate without the private contractors the military would reinstate the draft if just to handle boring logistics like laundry service that's now handled privately. Otherwise they would have nowhere near the personnel necessary. One of the modern prices of an all volunteer service. That said I definitely am no fan of the private armies of mercs like Blackwater but they don't comprise the majority of private contractors over there anyway.
To play contrarian I don't think John was all that comfortable looking or impressive though perhaps on the panel he would be better.
Chairman Kaga wrote:To play devil's advocate without the private contractors the military would reinstate the draft if just to handle boring logistics like laundry service that's now handled privately. Otherwise they would have nowhere near the personnel necessary. One of the modern prices of an all volunteer service.
TheBaxter wrote: there wasn't a significant contractor presence in afghanistan til much later
Chairman Kaga wrote:TheBaxter wrote: there wasn't a significant contractor presence in afghanistan til much later
My point was that the military has relied upon private contractors since before the first Gulf War as a means of focusing on using military personnel for actual military functions instead of things like laundry, the mail, housing construction etc. Much of this is the direct result of shrinking the military following the end of the Cold War. Without said contractors the military would need to perform these functions and would thus need more bodies to do so. In that case the draft would be necessary right from the beginning of the campaign in Afghanistan (let alone the first Gulf War) to support the infrastructure of the armed forces. They are already thin as it is what with utilizing the national guard to bolster troop numbers. Without the contractors or the draft anything larger than Grenada wouldn't be feasible.
Fievel wrote:I actually missed last week's episode.
This week's was okay. Cornell West is always interesting. It's just too bad they couldn't have Chris Matthews on as a panelist, but it was still good to see him.
Next week should be good - Garry Shandling, Phil Donahue, and Arianna Huffington.
Maui wrote:Last Maher show I saw had Jason Alexander on it. I think I'm a few episodes behind.
Zarles wrote:Who was on the panel? Did Bill have to throw you out?
Fievel wrote:I actually missed last week's episode.
This week's was okay. Cornell West is always interesting. It's just too bad they couldn't have Chris Matthews on as a panelist, but it was still good to see him.
Next week should be good - Garry Shandling, Phil Donahue, and Arianna Huffington.
Peven wrote:Fievel wrote:I actually missed last week's episode.
This week's was okay. Cornell West is always interesting. It's just too bad they couldn't have Chris Matthews on as a panelist, but it was still good to see him.
Next week should be good - Garry Shandling, Phil Donahue, and Arianna Huffington.
that episode was disappointing. Shandling, who can be a very funny guy, stuttered and rambled through half the show just taking up time and killing any continuity of conversation. dude needs to get some better meds. Arianna got her two cents in, as usual, when she wasn't being interrupted by Shandling, and meanwhile Phil was sitting over to the side barely getting a word in edgewise, and he is the guy who i would want to hear the most from. sure enough, even though he said the least, what he had to say was the best stuff of the panel.
Maui wrote:Well this is movie news, but it's Bill Maher, so not sure where the hell to put this - SO - I'm gonna put it here!
Religulous is a documentary directed by Larry Charles and starring American comedian Bill Maher, host of Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO. According to Maher, the title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous," implying the satirical nature of the documentary that is meant to mock the concept of religion and the problems it brings about.[1]
Fievel, did you know about this documentary? I didn't. I'm there!
Fievel wrote:Maui wrote:Well this is movie news, but it's Bill Maher, so not sure where the hell to put this - SO - I'm gonna put it here!
Religulous is a documentary directed by Larry Charles and starring American comedian Bill Maher, host of Real Time With Bill Maher on HBO. According to Maher, the title of the film is a portmanteau derived from the words "religion" and "ridiculous," implying the satirical nature of the documentary that is meant to mock the concept of religion and the problems it brings about.[1]
Fievel, did you know about this documentary? I didn't. I'm there!
Yeah, I knew about this. It's been in the works for a bit.
The trailer was posted in the trailer thread earlier.
TRAILER
Chris a.k.a StuntMike wrote:Nice, Matt Taibbi is on tonites episode. The guy cracks me up.
Retardo_Montalban wrote: Ferguson made a hilarious quip about Scottish politics being about stabbing and he was pretty much ignored.
Ferguson was also pretty much ignored when he brought up how sexist the panel's views towards women actually are. I was hoping for Maher to be a little fresher after his hiatus.
Ribbons wrote:Hm.
Fievel wrote:Tonight's guests:
Actress Kerry Washington
Fmr. Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R-MD)
Correspondent Dan Savage
Journalist Jeffrey Toobin
Fmr. White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan
Good to see someone from the "other side" on there tonight.
McClellan could be good, but I have a feeling he's just going to be an interview, not a panelist.
Peven wrote:Maher still doesn't seem to have a real feel for what is going on and will cut off discussion at times right when some good points are being made. for a guy who runs a show like that he is a very poor listener, doesn't think quick on his feet to unexpected points brought up, and is much more comfortable when he can stick to the queue cards during a monologue
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest