The Colonel's Forum

An Instagram Account Chillingly Documents The Sites Of U.S. Drone Strikes http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671238/an-instagram-account-chillingly-documents-the-sites-of-us-drone-strikes

Not sure why Mitt lost? Can't believe that a majority of Americans are stupid enough to vote for a deficit spending, big government, socialist ultra-liberal agenda? Well in that case you've been brainwashed by the CEC - the conservative entertainment complex. Remember, the primary interest of people like Fox News and Rush Wind-bag is to promote themselves and make money, not inform the electorate about reality. The truth is much less titillating than "Obama is a socialist from Kenya who wants to ruin America!" but you bought it hook line and sinker. He's a mediocre Senator from Illinois who saved us from a depression, hasn't started WWIII and is generally more palatable than Willard Mitt Moneybags III who thinks 47% of the country are a bunch of leeches. There are some real reasons that explain Romney's loss though, if you're interested. Deep down, Karl Rove knows these to be true, though he'd never admit it. The electorate is changing, considera...

Glad to see the GOP is still avoiding compromise. Wouldn't want them to be reasonable at the negotiating table just because Obama has a clear mandate and they lost a few Senate seats... Boehner Exclusive: Raising Tax Rates 'Unacceptable' but New Revenue on Table - ABC News

I had a fascinating addition to my list of life experiences this week: watching a US election from a foreign country. I was in Belgium this week for work, launching a new cloud computing project with our Europe, Middle East, and Africa account leaders. There were 30 people in total, from all over Europe plus Lebanon, Dubai, South Africa, Egypt, and Qatar. Quite a mixed crowd. We all went out for dinner on election night, and once the Belgian beers started flowing, the attendees quickly began asking us four Americans leading the meetings what we thought about the election, who we were voting for and who we thought would win. Does it matter what people from other countries think about our election process? Our President? Our nation as a whole? Chances are good that if you voted Romney, your answer is "no" and if you voted Obama your answer is "yes." If I won the lottery, I would load a plane up with some of the biggest isolationists and anti-interventionists in the ...

It's election day, and clearly I have not kept up with my 60 days 60 stats project. It was an ambitious project though, so I'm ok with making it to 50. Today's election is likely to be close, and also likely to see record turnout. I see both of these as good things. It has forced both parties to listen to the electorate. Anytime we increase the voter participation rate, our democracy strengthens. Here's what I can tell you about the next four years for the President, regardless of who wins: He will inherit an economy on the rebound We are in one fewer war than we were four years ago He will see 12 million jobs created, and he cannot take credit for any of them He will not end the ridiculous partisanship in Washington He will not balance the budget He will not end the fact that special interests have too much influence He will not fix entitlements Clearly, I am hoping that Obama wins. Mitt's pro-millionaire anti-middle class approach, combined with his pr...

3 = Number of Republican Presidents who would support Obama's decision to lower defense spending as part of a deficit reduction program. Why? Because that's exactly what they did: " Obama, in cutting defense spending, will be following in the footsteps of such Republican presidents as Eisenhower, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush, who significantly reduced military spending to deal with federal deficits that exploded during their presidencies. " http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/report/2010/09/23/8355/strong-and-sustainable/

50% = percentage of our current financial mess attributable to the Bush Tax cuts. Both Obama & Romney want to continue these cuts. Obama wants to limit it to those making $250,000 a year or less, Romney wants his fellow millionaires to get them too.

20 = the number of Grammys won by Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, who have endorsed President Obama for a 2nd time.  I got to attend my first Springsteen concert last night, and I was blown away. He is a hero of the middle class, and Mitt Romney openly admits he couldn't care less about anyone other than the "job creators" who need bigger tax breaks.

If you ever find yourself in a position where airlines are buying you things, chances are good that something has gone wrong. Today, Delta bought me breakfast and free on board drinks (they were out of Woodford). Last month they bought me a new suitcase. No shit.

3% = average tax hike you can expect from Romney tax plan. NYT: Comparing the Tax Bite Under O

2003 = the most recent year that Mitt Romney supported a cap and trade system to reduce carbon emissions, and recognized that we need to tackle climate change. Romney On Cap And Trade In 2003: 'I Am Making Good On My Pledge' To Clean Up Carbon Pollution 'Harming Our Climate' | ThinkProgress

7.9% = current us unemployment rate. Not pretty but better than when Obama took office. Only 2.9% above NAIRU.