CBS commentator Andy Rooney called for bringing back the draft in Sunday’s closing of 60 Minutes.

Sadly, I couldn’t agree more.

Rooney detailed his experience in the military, and criticized current military recruitment practices of reduced educational standards and "moral waivers."  Rooney spoke of how the draft changed the military in WWII – changing it for the better.

"Moral waivers" are being granted by the thousands – to men and women that have committed crimes and some that have even been in prison.  8,129 of these "moral waivers" were granted by the Army last year.  Rooney asked: "Are these the people we want representing us?"  

Ironic, isn’t it – I mean moral waivers?  Does that make the Iraqi war a morally waived war?  

This post is crossposted at Left in the West and Montana Netroots

This came from something else I’m working on, and I thought it deserved a post of its own.

Per capita deaths of Montanans in the Iraqi war theatre:  1 per 54,706
Per capita deaths of Montanans in both the Iraqi war theatre and in Afghanistan:  1 per 51,667

Per capita deaths of Pennsylvanians in the Iraqi war theatre:  1 per 83,581
Per capita deaths of Pennsylvanians in both the Iraqi war theatre and in Afghanistan:  1 per 77,312

Per capita deaths of Californians in the Iraqi war theatre:  1 per 109,816
Per capita deaths of Californians in both the Iraqi war theatre and in Afghanistan:  1 per 101,130

Per capita deaths of Texans in the Iraqi war theatre:  1 per 84,229
Per capita deaths of Texans in both the Iraqi war theatre and in Afghanistan:  1 per 77,814

Eleanor McGovern, wife of Senator George McGovern, former Democratic presidential candidate, passed away today in her family home in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Eleanor had suffered from heart problems for the past five years, and had been under hospice care in their Stevensville Montana home according to former senator.

George McGovern was the Democratic presidential candidate in 1972.  McGovern campaigned on an anti-Vietnam platform, and lost to Richard Nixon .  A long-time peace advocate, George McGovern has been critical of the Iraqi war, and has spoken frequently in public against the war.  Most recently he spoke at the National Press Club -  and you can read his speech here.

Prayers to the Senator and his family.  Godspeed Eleanor McGovern, Godpseed.

I've heard many a ghost stories in my time - some give me chills, others don't.  My own conventional wisdom is that when I get the chills, the story is real.

Do you believe is ghosts?

UPDATED BELOW I thought I'd put out a report of what is happening here on the ground in Montana - Missoula to be specific.  Today Missoula residents were greeted by the morning paper with a wrap from the NRA, endorsing Conrad Burns.

That really motivated people.

The Tester office downtown was swamped with volunteers who were lined up outside before the place even opened.  That meant we got ahead of schedule with calls and door hanger distribution.  That was a very good thing.

By late afternoon, the campaign workers were lining up additional volunteers for tomorrow, and getting ahead on organization for tomorrow.  Hell, they might even have time for a beer or two before tomorrow's big day (see hint below, people!)
 

FINAL UPDATE: Folks, I can't hang anymore. Apologies. i've been up since 5:30, and have worked really hard over the last two days. The field reporters are posting in the thread - and some I've not heard from. There are problems - but nothing I believe, at this point, to be alarmed with - with the machines. People are still in line in Gallatin County! and it is 11:37. It will be a long night. I will sleep well, but that's not to say I won't be checking very first thing in the morning. I believe Jon won, I'm sure of it. Use this link to check up to the minute (literally) results. http://sos.mt.gov/ELB/archives/2006/elections/general/ussenate/index.asp

Last week, the Washington Whispers column at USNews.com reported that Jack Abramoff has become so chatty that they've set the guy up with his own desk, and the feds are so pleased with his cooperation that they're hoping to keep him jailed nearby in Washington (no doubt one of those beautifully kept resort-like 'prisons').  

Yesterday, Blogswarm at TPM Cafe posted Justice Delayed, reporting on rumours out of the Justice Department that 3 indictments had been prepared, but were being put on hold until after election day.  

Did Rumsfeld help North Korea purchase the nuclear reactors that provided the cover to the nuclear program that detonated its first nuclear bomb on Sunday night?  Seems so, given that he sat on the board of directors that won the coveted $200 million dollar contract to provide North Korea with the key nuclear reactor components.

Today the Billings Gazette publishes an editorial blasting Conrad Burns for his lack of support for public access.  This news wasn't new to me, though, as I had read about it back in July

Everyone's Anyone-who-has-some-cash-to-spare-for-a-Senator best friend, Conrad Burns, has latched a clause into an appropriation bill that exempts a private property owner, Rancher Mac White of Two Dot, Montana, from providing public access through his property as part of gaining access to his own private lands through USFS lands.  See, Mr. White's property doesn't have access and he needs to ask permission of the landowner - in this case the United States Forest Service - to gain access.  

Howard's on now...lets chat.

For a preview, Left in the West gives us this:  

Probably at least one of us will have something to say, but here's my prediction: Tester circles Burns and cuts off his legs without much trouble; Burns tries to use his auctioneer's voice to quick talk his way out of corruption and responsibility for national failures; Burns then goes on the offensive with some droll "values" talk and throws the Eric Coobs crowd a few one-liners about how Tester is just like Chuck Schumer; by merely standing there and being the kind of farmer that he is, Tester dispells these obviously stupid and not effective snipes. Should be fun to watch.

 

I headed over to  Project Vote Smart this morning to get some information on Senator Byrd (D-WV).  I have used Project Vote Smart to determine who is my representative (especially useful when I moved a couple of years ago) and to get non-biased information on both candidates and elected officials.  While the information is generally, well, general, I find it good to figure out which Senator or Congressperson supports whatever issue I'm looking into.  For example, wanna know what The Conservative Index - The John Birch Society thinks of Max Baucus?  Go to Project Vote Smart and click on the Interest Group Ratings link on his bio  and find out (he votes for their interests 60% of the time!) (no wonder I've got no love for Max.  Note to Max:  Beware of 2008...)....and came upon its National Politial Awareness Test (NPAT).   I read through Senator Byrd's responses Senator Byrd's responses - not many surprises there - but then became confused....after all, wasn't Project Vote Smart supposed to be unbiased?

CNN is reporting that an investigation into the deaths of more than 2 dozen Iraqi civilians concludes that Marines committed unprovoked murder.

Lawmakers were briefed Thursday on what the investigation findings will be.

From CNN:

The official, who discussed the matter on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the yet-to-be-completed investigation, said the evidence strongly indicates the killings last November were unjustified.

According to a congressional aide, lawmakers were told in a briefing Thursday that it appears as many as two dozen civilians were killed. And they were told that the investigation will find that "it will be clear that this was not the result of an accident or a normal combat situation."

UPDATE: grokgov has a diary up - and has put up a website with the goal of givin' our friend Harry 1,000,000 THANK YOU's I encourage you to stop by both links if you haven't done so already. And Thank You everyone for participating it what turned out to be a really happy diary. It wasn't much compared to the great work lots of others do around here, but it got me my first 'recommended!' diary. "yeee haw!"

Marching with Code Pink today at the U.N. building, Cindy Sheehan was arrested.

Cindy and the group of about 50 women were attempting to deliver a peace petition to Ambassador John Bolton at his temporary office in a private building.  

Can't seem to find much on it, but Reuters just posted a few minutes to go.

Village Voice had this up 5 hours ago.

***UPDATE***Local news has posted a story. as promised: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2006/01/18/breaker/doc43ce61c853c0a079886331.txt Local news is reporting this morning that Sen. Burns' 'donation' of Abramhoff's dirty money to the Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council has been rejected.

On Saturday, Kos brought us the news that Burns was donating his ill-gotten gains to the Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council.

Some have wondered where Montana's tribes stood when it came to support of soon-not-to-be Senator Burns.  Guess we've got our answer.

This from today's Jackson Hole News and Guide tells us that survivors are being put on planes, lied to about where they are going and sent off to places unknown.

I have to post the whole story, as JH News & Guide does not archive its daily stories, and the link above will not work tomorrow for the story that is relative.

Full story and a little more, below the fold...

....... bullying Republicans and filibusters.  And its giving the Republicans the willies.

I had to take time to check the out-of-town papers today, because the last few days `round here have me thinking that we've got ourselves a bona fide hippie settling in up in Helena.  So I did, and was relieved to find that while Gov. Brian is getting national press, the spin they're putting on him locally isn't how he's coming off to the rest of the world.  

But it looks like the local papers are having fun with him.  One day he hiring Indians and burning sweetgrass in cleansing ceremonies  , and the next day he's bullying freshman Republicans .  And if that's not enough, a couple of days later he fillibusters the poor Republican's when they request a meeting to talk.