Does The First Amendment Wear A Uniform?

http://news.yahoo.com/marines-facebook-page-tests-military-rules-234113159.html
There are reasonable arguments for both sides of this case, though I have to side with the military in this case.  This case does beg the argument whether the First Amendment wears a uniform? It then is not too much of a stretch to ask if your First Amendment rights end at the school house doors?  The Supreme Court has sent a resounding Yes through recent history for both questions.  Speech is limited in schools in cases of sexual innuendo, and illegal drugs, and in the military by Parker v. Levy that state the militart is s society of it's own and therefore can place restrictions.  Finally speech by government employees can be limited if is a matter of public concern. 

The Marine's speech, at least in my opinion, is a matter of public concern therefor can be limited.  I give this question as an example.  If the Sargent is true to his word, he would not disarm Americans.  What if it were the case that the Americans he was ordered to disarm were in open insurection of the government, and the Constitution he was swarn to protect?  It would seem then that his comments raise a worthy amount of concern for public safety and call into question the true intent of theMarine in question.

A second issue arises when you consider that the Sargent had been warned before about comments made on his Facebook and ordered to stop.  It is reasonable that he was venting frustration at the current state of affairs but to continue to do so after being ordered to stop is a direct violation of the miltary chain of command.  Such offense could warrant a court marshal and dishonorable discharge. 

Finally one could argue that if the Sargent held so dear his First Amendment rights, why did he knowning join the armed services?  It is a well known fact that service to our country requires a certain number of sacrifices that are not bestowed on those who do not.  If the Marine fells compared to speak out, then perhaps he should resign his enlistment and speak out as a civilian.  Would that not make a better, more pointed statement to take such actions than to simply fight the system from within?

Don't Be A Hermit

Normally I try to keep things my 8th graders say and do off the internet but this is a keeper.  I will not use a name so it will be legal.  This is a response to the following prompt.

"You do not have to participate in politics, but one day politics will participate in you"
James Madison

Response:
If you don't participate in politics, like listening to the news, then you won't know what's going on.
If you don't know what's going on then you won't know what your parents are talking about at dinner.
If you don't know what your parents are talking about at dinner you start asking questions
If you start asking questions your parents will think you are crazy
If your parents think you are crazy they will start homeschooling you
If they start homeschooling you you'll have no friends
If you have no friends you'll never get married.
If you never get married you will become a hermit
Don't become a hermit, stay informed about politics. 

Personally I thought this was hilarious because it paid homage to the Direct TV commercials running on TV and it took the long way around to reach the conclusion.  It's just a good way to show how good my kids can really be, and how they really get what we are talking about. 

Tennessee Reads The Leaves But It's Not My Cup Of Tea

I had written that Tennessee is a good judge of Republican horse flesh, and I must say that yesterday's Super Tuesday showing is a good proof.  Rick Santorum is  the most Republican of the Republican running.  I am not simply saying that because I feel like I need to defend myself, I am simply stating fact.  Santorum was/is/will never be my man, but most Tennesseans thought him a good pick.

So what do I think Super Tuesday means for the Republican field? I think like most pundits that sadly Ron Paul may well drop out after a sad showing in Virginia where he was one of two on the ballot, and near no-shows other in other states.  I think Newt Gingrich is out as well even with his home state in his back pocket, but there may well be something in the making for a lock on VP nods.  I think Santorum may well swing voters by trying to lock in a VP, as might Mitt Romney. 

There really is nothing else I can say that has not been said by the talking heads, but I did want to eat crow with my predictions.  I still support my assumption that Tennessee is due some credit as a reader of the leaves when it comes to Republicans.

1,000th Hit

We did it! 1,000 views...1,011 to be exact..not bad! Thanks a ton! This has been fun!

So Goes Tennessee So Goes The Country??

http://www.270towin.com/


Being that I am Tennessean by birth, stripe and color, I try when I can to defind my native soil especially in national politics.  Tennessee is not known as a particularly hot den of politics and is often overshadowed by it's big brothers to the Northwest (Virginia with 13 electoral votes), West (North Carolina with 14) and South (George with 23) when it comes to national election.  Despite it's eleven electoral votes, is is a particularly good bell weather when compared to states that are known as political game changers such as Ohio or New Hampshire with a well publicized primary. Two examples of this are the recent discussion of the 2012 Tennessee primary, and Tennessee's little known bell weather status.
Tennessee's primary never gets the press that New Hampshire's warrants, but this year in particular it is going to be a deciding factor for Mitt and the boys.  Romney has not done well in the south, Paul needs as many delegates as he can muster, and Santorum just needs to stay sain and try not to sound too much like a loon. 

Tennessee's primary is the one of only two competitive southern states, and the only southern state not home to a candidate.  This is nit-picking to some, but frankly it is important if you look at it.  Home states are typically give-mes (unless your Mitt Romney or Al Gore) and outsiders tend to only garner the votes of those unhappy with the homeboy for personal reasons. You might be asking about Virginia, but it will not be competitive as there are only two names on the ballot in the Commonwealth.  So that leaves my Volunteer State.

Tennessee primary is important this year for other reasons than it's one-of status.  Tennessee is typically a good judge of political horse flesh, particularly Republican.  The state has a Republican Governor (Bill Haslam), Senators (Alexander and Corker), and a.Republican controlled state house. That is pretty red by any one's standards.  George W. Bush won Tennessee's Republican primary, as did John McCain.  All of these stack up to pretty stout Republican credentials.

Bill Frist- R, Bob Corker-R, Howard Baker- R, Lamar Alexander-R

Regardless of Tennessee's red leanings, the state is not afraid to go blue. While the top coat might be red, the heart is blue. All three of Tennessee's presidents were Democrats. William Jennings Bryan did well in the state.  Tennessee went to FDR all four times as well as Harry Truman.  LBJ racked up a Big Orange victory as well as Jimmy Carter.  President Obama did well in Knoxville, and Memphis, and surprisingly well in Northeast Tennessee.  Democrats do well in Tennessee, with the lone exception of Al Gore, who leads me to my next point.

William Jennings Bryan Won Tennessee

Tennessee is actually a fair bell weather.  It has a better track record than both of it's bigger brothers.  It has only two more loses to it's record that Ohio since 1960, and we are not afraid to go against one of our own.  Harken back with to me to 2000 when Al Gore (native son) would have won  the election if he had only carried his home state.  Following what had to have been one of the more foolish assumptions on the part of his campaign manager, Gore campaigned little in the state and almost wholly on the western quarter.  Bush on the other hand hit East (mind you East Tennessee has almost split away from Tennessee twice...look it up) Middle and West.  He polled well in the Nashville business hub, and did fair in Memphis.  All of this to show you that if Tennesseans will not vote for their own son for not campaigning, they may well not vote for you if you ignore them.

Gore Only Kept One Eye On Tennessee And It Hurt Him

Romney and the gang had better pay attention to us, or they may find themselves hurting in November.  We're an independant lot, and have been for along time.  We may not get the glamour that everone else gets, but much the blue-tick hounds that put us on the map, we'll be right there in the end.