President Bush's speech before th UN yesterday knocked my socks off. I had expected a soft, "diplomatic" plea for cooperation combined with a promise that America means no one any harm. Instead, he gave us a truth-laced indictment of anti-democratic extremism in the  middle east and throughout the world, and did not shy from pointing fingers. It was, in my parlance, a home run.

And then I heard Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on the Hugh Hewitt show, just a few hours after W made my day. Weak and waffley on giving the President what he needs to deal with combatants not covered by the Geneva Accords, on getting appointed judges out of committee and to the floor, on securing our borders, on keeping the Senate in session 'till the work is done. Pathetic.

Frist does not belong on the team. Mighty Casey has struck out.

Stinger

I'm a lucky guy. I get to send some of my time as an assistant baseball coach with a local high  school. Four years ago I started helping with he freshman team...the next year I worked with the JVs, and last year I got promoted to the varsity. I mostly work with the outfielders, and I keep the book during games.

This time of year, team members not playing a fall sport can sign up for OSS...out of season sports...and we get them for 6th period. It's mostly drills on fundamentals, and conditioning, which really means running. But it's a great opportunity to teach techniques, and explain why we use those techniques.

By the time the kids get to high school, they've been pretty successful at baseball by using their athletic skills. But very few of them really think about why things are done the way they are. I spend a lot of time just trying to convince them that baseball is a thinking game. This time of year, I harp on the outfielders to think about what they will do with a ball hit their way on every single pitch. What's the count...how many outs...how many runners on...what's the score...what's the inning...how deep is the outfield grass...where's the wind and how strong is it...where's the sun. Factor all those things into the single hit in front of you, the fly ball you can get to, and the ball hit past you in the gap or down the line. Where are you gonna throw? Hit the cutoff guy (95% of the time) or a desperation throw to the plate?

During our scrimmages, I'll just stand next to an outfielder, and ask him questions about his plan, and why. Do that a hundred times, and the kid will start doing it on his own...and maybe even in a game. But the best part is that when you get to talk to high  schooler about the game, you also get to talk to him about life. Life in general, and his life. And that's were the privilege I spoke about above comes in. Even kids with great parents and teachers need someone older and experienced...but not responsible for them...to talk with and trust. I get to be one of those guys. Wow.

Take two, and hit to right...

Stinger

My informal survey the past couple of days has convinced me that most of us left coasters don't personally know anyone who was murdered five years ago. I've just finished posting about my friend, John Yamnicky, who was murdered when American Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon. There was another man on that flight that I knew.

Bud Flagg was another Naval Aviator...retired as a Captain after many years on both active duty and service with the Reserves. In 1975/76, I was flying with a Navy Reserve squadron...VFP-306...out of Andrews Air Force Base, just outside Washington. D.C. Bud was a pilot with American Airlines in Dallas, and had been flying F-8 Crusaders with the Reserves there. He was contemplating moving up to the D.C. area, and wanted to see if he could fly with our squadron. He had as much experience in the F-8 as just about anyone in the entire Navy, and was certainly qualified. He hung around our ready room for a couple of weekends, and may have flown with us...I just don't remember. Shortly thereafter, I left D.C. for San Diego, and I don't know whether or not he ended up in the squadron. So to me, he was, at most, an acquaintance. Big guy...short, light hair...ready smile...very friendly.

As I noted in remembering John Yamnicky, they could not have known that their plane was to be used as a weapon. Between Bud and John, there is no way those thugs could've succeeded...if only they had known what the Flight 93 guys knew. If only....

Two guys out of thousands of people...but I knew them. It's personal, and always will be.

Stinger

In the winter of 1967, I was a Lt. in VA-172, an A-4 squadron flying from the USS F.D. Roosevelt in the Mediterranean Sea. Our Skipper, Bob Harris, was leaving, and our Executive Officer (XO...#2 in the squadron) would be moving up to Commanding Office. That meant we would be receiving a new XO. His name was John Yamnicky...a big bear of a man. I suppose I was a bit of a smart aleck...been in the squadron for almost three years and thought I knew it all. My memory is that the XO didn't think too much of me (justified, I now understand), but I left to return to the states and a new Navy job in March, so no harm was done.

Fast forward to the first weekend in September, 2001. VA-172 was having a reunion in conjunction with the annual meeting of the  Tailhook Association in Reno, NV. My bride and I drove up from Southern California, and had a grand time reliving the good times. On both Friday evening and Saturday evening, we found ourselves sitting with John Yamnicky...long since retired from the Navy as a Captain, and living near Patuxent River, MD, where he had served several tours as a test pilot. Any "issues" (mostly imagined by me) were left behind, and John and I regaled my wife with stories of the good ole days aboard the FDR. She loved the stories, and quickly developed an affection for John.

We went our sperate ways, promising to keep in touch, and committed to another VA-172 reunion in a couple of years.

Even as I type these words, I get a shiver, remembering reading the list of those murdered when American Flight 77 was flown into the Pentagon. John was on that flight. Less than two weeks after we had so enjoyed our reunion.

Several tours flying over North Vietnam...the most thoroughly defended real estate in the history of air warfare. Flying on the edge as a test pilot...hundreds of night carrier landings. A huge, powerful man...infused with courage...never a man to back down from a challenge.

The heroes of Flight 93 knew that their plane was a missile intended to kill innocents on the  ground. The passengers on Flight 77 didn't have that information. I KNOW that if they had, John Yamnicky and others on that flight would have taken action, just as the folks did on Flight 93. But they never had a chance.

God Bless you, John. As long as I breathe, I'll do all I can to help avenge your murder.

Stinger

A little in 2000, more in 2002, and a whole lot in 2004, I spent time with my mystified liberal pals trying to explain that "You just don't GET it." The folks who voted Republican aren't drooling neanderthals...they don't want to force you to recite the Lord's Prayer at work...they are willing to listen to other's views. But the blind lefties just didn't GET it. It was most especially true while visiting a collage classmate in Europe...he and his lovely wife are thoroughly Europeanized secular humanists, and they were truly puzzled at George W. Bush's re-election, and that folks as apparently intelligent as my wife and I would support him.

So, I'm familiar with the "not getting it" business. And I'm getting the feeling that now it's our side that is just not getting it. I've written before about the failure of the Administration to make it's case...to explain clearly and simply and often about the war we are in. Islamic fascists is a start, but the phrase was just left out there, for the liberal media to bash. Come on, W...come on, Dick...come on, Condi (oops, she's kinda busy right now), come on, Rummy...come on, Tony. Lay it out there.

I've always been unimpresses with folks who pay too much attention to polls. But after awhile, the accumulation of bad poll news has to make an impact. It seems that now it's US that don't get it. We're not getting it that what Bill O'Reilly calls "the folks" are restive. They are not reassured. They see no progress. They want answers.

We've got the answers, but the right people aren't offering them. The good guys and gals on talk radio...the bloggers...the smart TV guys...all lay out the case. But that case needs to be made by our leaders. They've gotta LEAD. But I'm afraid that they just don't get it.

Stinger

Going into Iraq??...no. The growth of the post-victory insurgency and the move toward civil war in Iraq??...no. The large deficit??...no. The failure to lead Congress??...no. What President Bush has  failed to do is to stand up and communicate as a strong leader. And it's once again evident in the current mess in Lebanon.

We KNOW the truth about Hezbollah. The President's supporters speak amongst themselves about the rightness of Israel's self-defence, and the obscenity of their enemies' use of civilians to mask their launch pads. We all know of the failure of the UN, and it's members, to enforce Resolution 1559. And we all share the maddening sense of Wonderland when we read or hear the left's cries for immediate cease fire.

Europe has displayed a willingness...nay, a delighted rush...to return to the days of the Rhineland and Munich. Make nice-nice with the nuts...don't push too hard...we must understand their pain. The Arab street goes bananas, and the left falls down in sympathetic agony.

What sanity, truth and the victory of good over evil needs right now is our President and his most signifiant aides standing tall and speaking clearly. Yesterday, the cable news stations were full of breathless announcements of the US/French negotiated Resolution for the UN Security Council. Followed immediatly by the obvious prognostications that nothing would change. Israeel won't stop. Hezbollah won't stop. All the sweet words of Condi Rice and John Bolton mean nothing, and seem to me to play into the appeaser's hands. Speak up and out with the truth.

The President's failure to communicate is demoralizing his supporters. No, I won't walk away from the 2006 race, but my shoulders are slumped and my head is hanging. The President is a great war leader when it comes to making the right decisions, but war leaders need to speak to their troops...and their enemies. Think Churchill...think FDR...think JFK...think Reagan. Speak out, W...be resolute...inspire us.

Stinger

When my son...referencetone.com...started a blog about a year-or-so ago, I checked it out daily, and would harrass him when he didn't post. Sorry, JJ...it's a lot harder than I thought to be faithful to a laptop.

I'm back from a wonderful, albeit hot, 19 day trip to the east coast. Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey and Maryland. Coudn't post on the road, because I couldn't locate the URL for my posting place...or whatever I'm supposed to call it. Too bad, because I had a whole bunch of wonderful experiences that would've worked well, but are too lengthy to lay down now. Lobster in Maine...spending the  night in a really OLD house in horse country of NJ...and crabbing on the Rhode River, off the Chesapeake Bay, south of Annapolis. But here are the best two...

1. Being guided around the National Air & Space Museum in DC by my three-and a-half year old grandson.  What energy...bouncing around in the crowds like a pinball gone mad...and he actually KNEW what he wanted to see, and where it was...especially the Museum store. Next time we're back there, I need to take him to the Museum's auxillary location out near Dulles Airport. It's huge, filled with large aircraft...a  B-17, Concorde, space shuttle...dozens more.

2. Attanding services at the  Naval Academy Chapel with my bride and a good friend who had never seen the place. The Chaple is an impressive place, oozing history and the presence of thousands of USNA grads. The stained glass behind the alter shows Jesus walking on the water...appropriate for a naval place...and reflects that the glass is the gift of the Class of '69. That would be 1869. Another stained glass window shows a newly minted Ensign, in full dress...choker...whites, receiving  his Commission. But in this case, it's the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18.

Although the choir was made up of the brand new class of Plebes (Class of 2010), and hadn't had  much  time to rehearse, their voices were strong and powerful. At every service in the Chapel, the Navy Hymn (Eternal Father) is sung. But as my friend pointed out, in that place and in these times, it  has more meaning. Hard to sing without a tear forming in the corner of my eye.

But to me, and I think now my pal, the most dramatic part of the service is the beginning and the end. At the start, the colors are presented by a Color Guard, and at the end, the colors are retreated. During the  academic year, when the  enire Brigade is present, the Color guard presents five flags...the US flag, the Christian flag,the Navy flag, the  Marine Corps flag, and the Naval Academy flag. For the summer, with plebes-under-training doing the work, only the American flag and the Christian flag are presented. But what's impressive is that as the flags approach the alter, and stop, all flags, including the Stars and Stripes, are dipped. I like that.

I suppose that it's bad form to start a new job and then go on vacation two days later. Doable if you're your own boss, but still bad form. Nonetheless, I'm off to about 18 days on the hot and humid east coast, and suspect that my posting frequency will be pretty light. I'm heading to CT for a meeting of the Lawyer Pilot's Bar Association to get together with some great friends from the days when I was practicing law, then up to Maine to visit with a former partner (a Marine fighter pilot from the '50s...my kind of guy) and his wife. The my bride and I will motor south to spend about a week at my families' summer cottage on the Rhode River in Edgewater, MD...about 10 miles south of Annapolis. Lots of cousins and other kin, but best will be visiting with our daughter, son-in-law and two grandkids. When back there, we always worship at the Naval Academy Chapel...a truly inspiring and joyful place. This time of year it will feature the incoming Class of 2010...still wide-eyed and awestruck, and exhausted. All part of the creation of future Navy and Marine Corps leaders to keep us safe and free.

We also plan to go in to DC so our grandson can show us around the Air & Space Museum...I'll show  him the A-4 and F-8 I used to fly. Better yet is a guided tour of the White House. It's nice to know your Congressman.

Before I pack up my laptop, a couple of really brief thoughts. First, the Presbyterian Church (USA) is navigating down a path that could well lead to schism...as a member of that denomination,I pray not, but the the possibility is real. If it happens...well...we were talking with some friends who are members of a Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) church, and a possible solution came to light. The major difference between PCA and PC(USA) is that the PCA does not ordain women or allow them to teach men, while PC(USA) does. Our friends are not fond of that distinction, but are happy with the other aspects of their fellowship. So how about  this...if the PC(USA) refuses to follow it's Constitution (Book of Order), and a significant number of congregations want to split, maybe the PCA should drop it's restrictions on women and welcome the PC(USA)ers who leave. A marriage made in...? Well, it's a thought.

Next...out pal, the Exaulted Leader of Korea, North...Kim Il Jung. I've heard several talking heads say that he is just seeking attention. Heck, when my kids were small and wailed away seeking attention, we ignored them. Worked, most of the time. Let the locals deal with the spoiled brat. I know, I know...he's a spoiled brat with a big gun. But he's not able to fire it yet, and won't be for a long time. Let him wail...

Finally, a word about my favorite (not) country. I have a dear friend who is French...one of those wonderful French accents...stylish, European dress...charming...a devout Catholic....his one savng grace is that he is also a naturalized American citizen. But he is mortified by the bahavior of Zidane, the captain of the French World Cup team in the final game. It is not Zidane's head-bang that will once again drive me to Freedom Fries, however. It is the total lack of condemnation by the French, from Chirac on down. Their hero becomes a slug, and yet they defend and embace him. Surprised? I'm not...

Pax et veritas,

Stinger

OK, Hewitt...here I am. You have planted, watered and nurtured dozens...nay, hundreds...of bloggers, and truth be told, you were after me years ago. But honestly, I'm no techno guy, and I was afraid I'd mess it up. But this new deal with Townhall makes it easy enough for even me. So to you I dedicate my first post. Since I'm just starting, it's hard to know what I'll be posting on most. Today...I've just finished the "creat your own blog" tutorial Townhall has created...I'm just trying it on to see how it feels.

I chose my blog title from my old Navy flying days. "Rolling in" was the call made when a pilot is commited to an attack on a target,, and "hot" refers to positioning all switches in the cockpit so that when  the trigger is pulled or the button pushed, the bomb will drop or the guns or rockets will fire. "Rollin In Hot" means this  is no drill, and I mean business.

The first time I got up on water skis, it was an uncomparable thrill, but after a few minutes, my knees started to shake, and I had to quit before I fell. I think it's that time today. But I'll be back after I refuel and rearm. Pax et veritas...