Propeller Week In Review: April 4, 2008 — Apr 4th 2008

By James Marcus

BREAKING RANKS

Two disturbing stories about the U.S. military caught the attention of the Propeller community this week. "Soldier Suicides: Veterans Are Killing Themselves in Record Numbers" racked up the biggest vote count (205) and a lengthy conversation thread. SwampFox-82nd let loose with both barrels at the current administration: "We need all veterans to make a stand against that son-of-a-Bush. He has never stood next to any Brother in combat! He hid in Texas during 'Nam; that moron he calls a VP got a medical deferment, something about his toes were on backwards." BravoSierra was equally aghast, and predicted worse to come: "More Vietnam veterans committed suicide after the war than died during the war. This war may be worse. We'll see. Since Reagan, mental health programs have been slashed to pieces." But injest quoted a study to the contrary, suggesting that the military suicide rate may be comparable or even lower than the civilian rate. Meanwhile, "Women soldiers being raped more than killed by enemy fire" generated 167 votes and 340 comments. UnusualSuspect said: "As a male, I am ashamed of my brothers overseas who have committed these crimes. I would strongly urge these women to pursue charges against these cowards, to the fullest extent of the law!" DropkickaLib wondered if this was a recent development: "Could you imagine someone like R. Lee Ermey putting up with that kind of indiscipline when he was a Marine Corps drill instructor during the Vietnam War?" Not so, said Petom1: "This has been one of the military's 'dirty little secrets' for years. During the time I served 30 years ago there were far fewer women and rape by fellow soldiers was almost routine and seldom investigated thoroughly."

POLL POSITION

Barack Obama was front and center again this week, with eight separate stories in the Top Twenty. "Obama blames 'ethic of greed' for economy," with 158 votes and 325 comments, included a long exchange about campaign finance reform. "No donations allowed," said Dionys. "Period. Of any sort. That's the only solution because for the most part the majority of senators and representatives (not to mention the P and VeePee) are paid more by corporations than by the American public." DoseASpinoza disagreed: "That would create a government of the rich and for the rich, even more than today. The contest would already be settled as Romney vs. Clinton." But redLineRunner came up with a compromise solution: "There needs to either be one 'general pool' or one pool per party, and every donation goes into that pool. Then, the pool is evenly divided among the candidates when they run." Other Obama stories focused on the candidate's poll rankings. "Polls Show Obama Damaged by Reverend Wright," with 106 votes and 155 comments, elicited this accusation of double standards from Lurch: "[It's] OK for McCain to seek a hateful, racist reverend, but not OK for Obama to distance himself from a hateful, racist reverend." Obama fans, meanwhile, could take solace in this story, which drew precisely the opposite conclusion: "Poll: Pastor Controversy Hasn't Hurt Obama." With 102 votes and 307 comments, this was essentially a replay of the other post, with a rueful aside from cowboygrandpa: "Stupid is what it is.... The Republicans just sit back and wait for their Democratic rivals to start tearing each other down." There were additional stories on Obama cleaning up in Texas, narrowing Clinton's lead in Pennsylvania, facing down prejudice, and going toe-to-toe with John McCain in a projected presidential contest.

PHONING IT IN

Although the issue has been hotly debated for years, the latest verdict on cell phones generated a lively response from the membership. "Cell phones: more dangerous than smoking" rang up 168 votes and 70 comments. Said tanglang: "Well, if cell phones really do cause tumors, I'm screwed. That's all I use. Unfortunately they don't have land lines in the woods/swamps where I work." Added ranchhand: "I have owned one for nearly three years and just recently found out it has a speaker phone on it. Hope it don't make me sterile." But for wtagg, it wasn't the radiation that makes cell phones so lethal, but the constant drain on the owner's attention span: "My wife and I were almost broadsided 2 weeks ago by a women driving, smoking a cigarette, and texting. We actually saw her holding the phone out in front of her and pushing the little buttons. She never even saw us or indicated that she realized what had just transpired." Perhaps we all better heed HOUSEMD, who came up with an immediate prescription: "Shut up, hang up the cell phone, and put that cigarette out. Live long and prosper."

AND DON'T OVERLOOK....

The death of Killing Fields survivor Dith Pran struck a chord for many. "Dith Pran was an heroic human spirit," said 1-2-Oscar. "We were all enriched by his presence." This comment was seconded by Wolfie2007: "I pray his soul is abiding in heaven this day." But it was Hanyman who noted exactly who finally put an end to the massacre in Cambodia: "The country that stopped them was communist Vietnam. They invaded Cambodia because they were tired of the flood of refugees coming across the border from their insane neighbor." Another story, "As Jobs Vanish, Food Stamp Use Nears Record," nabbed 93 votes, 87 comments, and the best (sardonic) resume ever seen on the site, courtesy of walden3: "I was a Navy SEAL. I landed on the moon. I have a PhD in quantum physics. I built purified water plants in Guatemala. It was me that pulled Saddam out of his spider hole." And finally, there was "Late Show: McCain and Letterman Trade Barbs," with 144 votes and 138 comments. AlphaGnosis, who posted the original video clip (watch the entire interview here), was asked whether she was simply looking for converts. "Not looking for anything except a good man with a fat wallet," she replied, with a wink. To which cherev replied: "Rats! I'm a fat man with a good wallet." We'll leave it at that, folks.

Tags: wee, week-in-review, wir

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