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INWOOD W.V.— West Virginia Republican candidate John Raese on Tuesday outlined his focus on national defense by calling for an extensive laser-based missile defense system.
A very extensive one.
"If there is a rogue missile aimed at our country, we have 33 minutes to figure out what we’re going to do," Raese said at an event sponsored by the League of American Voters. "We are sitting with the only technology in the world that works and it’s laser technology. We need 1000 laser systems put in the sky and we need it right now. That is [of] paramount importance."
Raese said the system would cost $20 billion.
Laser-based technology has been long discussed as a promising method for deterring missiles, but experts say that components of a system like the one Raese described are in the infant stages of research and development and would require the negotiation of staggeringly complex international treaties.
Riki Ellison, the chairman of the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance, said that Raese appeared to be referring to DPALs (diode pumped alkali lasers), which have shown great promise in the field of missile defense but - at least at current funding levels for the development of such programs - could take two decades to develop. He said that the development of DPAL technology would be accelerated by Raese's proposed budget infusion (the Obama administration recently reduced funding for the Missile Defense Agency). But, he added, deploying that technology in space would require the negotiation of a treaty among world powers.
"That's a significant policy challenge," Ellison said.
Raese's wide-ranging conversation Monday was sponsored by the League of American Voters in association with local Tea Party group Blue Ridge Patriots. In addition to national defense, Raese touched on term limits, the war in Afghanistan, getting rid of the minimum wage and abolishing the IRS and the Department of Energy. About 100 people attended.
If elected, Raese said that on his first day as a senator, he will introduce a “termination and repeal of Obamacare.” He also said he supports making the Bush tax cuts permanent and ensuring that the “cap and trade” bill in the Senate does not become law.
A Blue Ridge Patriot representative said the town hall was advertised on local radio as well as to a list of at least 100 journalists statewide. Most of the crowd seemed to be Raese supporters.
The Patriots invited Raese's Democratic opponent, Gov. Joe Manchin, but they said he respectfully declined the invitation.
Here's the video:
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How about spending the $20 billion on college loans and grants, instead? How about fixing some of our bridges or the natural gas pipelines? Maybe a tax break? I understand modern-day Republicans LOVE tax breaks we can't afford.
A thousand lasers in the sky - a thousand points of light? Why the urgency - is the Marcab Confederacy on its way to release Xenu, or what?
That last line is a good one E.D. It does make you wonder.
Just a guess, I'd say because the current administration is bowing down to the dictators from N Korea and Iran...even thier own people point out that Iran could have nukes in a year. We might need it. Besides isn't Obama a big one on using technolgy...greener to use a laser than shoot off our own missle...Libs should support this :)
Anymore modern politics resembles an episode of the X-Files to me, Jody.
I'd have stipulated "a poorly made episode," but that goes without saying.
Does kind of make a fellow wonder why a fellow from coal country is suddenly touting lasers unless their carbon based there don't it E.D. Unless he is betting on increasing sales to the Power Plants for the huge power demands. Course a lot of West Virginians up my way are taking up using Laser Sights on their Deer rifles so maybe there's some aspect of this deal where they've developed some special expertise and we all just haven't made the connection yet
Maybe the real solution here is to rocket deer hunters with laser sights into low-Earth orbit and let them take pot-shots at incoming nukes and/or Marcabian assault craft.
Hell. Who knows - maybe the Scrin are out there, too!
just goes to show, repugs arent for smaller govt or fiscal responsibility.
it just highlights what the two groups care about - we care about the american people, they care about war.
you'd think with all these "peaceful religions" in the world, there wouldnt be a need for mentally handicapped leaders riding the paranoia train all the way into the ground and taking us with them all.
Sometimes I think the right thing to do is to make a treaty with the worlds people that ANY NATION that has a leader that wants to "FIGHT" other nations, is taken out by the worlds people. I want peace, but sometimes the only way you can get through to crazy people is to reduce yourself down to their level. I dont want to detroy the entire nation of people, just take out the crazies like our blood thirsty republican leaders, and north korea's leader, and iran's leader...and so on. Send a message to the govts of the world, we dont want to live in a state of fear and be completely unproductive and put all our of money towards DEFENSE (or as we do, OFFENSE)
Shucks E.D. if we sent them Deer hunters up there somebody would have to get up with Real-Tree to come up with a whole new line of Space Camo. Wonder what that would look like on a Ford pick-em- up special edition. And I wonder what they'd hook the tree stands up to.
...I don't know about you, IR, but I'd kill to have an ion drive installed on my F-150. Starfields are in vogue for the coming deer season!
And last but not least who's going to do the redesign on those space suits so that they have a pocket for those Hunters Dip. Fellow can't do no shooting with out a good supply of snuff don't you know
Will a six pack of Miller Lite survive escape velocity?
Shucks somebody needs to call Field and Stream here I do believe that E. D. and I have simultaneously figured out the next Star Wars defense system and how to put a bunch of West Virginians back to work and out of their wives hair for the duration
Wait, wait, wait, IR - the best part is if we can discover how to propel these flying deer hunters to fast-enough sub-luminal speeds whilst in orbit and effect time dilation, they'll be able to serve as our angels in the night sky for centuries without needing replacement!
You can't argue with the financial savings that'll bring about - let alone the peace of mind those wives will enjoy! :D
Now there you go getting all complicated on me there E.D. but the major question still remains. Can we get enough cans of Miller Light to survive the acceleration that it takes to reach sub-luminal speed. If those fellows can't depend on a steady supply for the next century or two we're going to run out of volunteers real quick.
Exodite, We already spent the money on infrastructure. It was provided to the states who instead put it into their general fund and spent it on social programs. That's why our infrastructure is crumbling.
And just for your edification, Tax cuts don't cost us anything. That is unless you believe that all money belongs to the government in the first place. Is that your position?
IR and ED you two are way to funny. I am sitting here laughing at the thought of Camo Ford trucks passing by my house at night with empty beer cans being thrown down. Will we be able to hear the yelling also?
@jtriggs: My position is that you're being a humorless dick. :)
@sonokursh2: Not just the yelling, but also the lonely (albeit muffled) caterwauling of male bonding manifesting as a chorus of Johnny Cash lyrics flying through the cosmic infinity~
@Independent Redneck Va.: Breweries in space, man. Breweries in space. It'll give the Irish a chance to contribute to the International Space Station.
I think that E.D. and I would agree that some things that are presented here for our political edification are just so far out there that you just have to laugh little to keep from going completely insane. If they get any of those beer cans in your front yard we'll mkae sure that the perpetrators are demoted and kicked out of the Angel Corp.
Conservative rants are so obvious anymore. Take LibsareHypocrits (as if conservative are not!!!) above; he/she is afraid of everything and wants to have more "Star Wars" technology to protect his/her sorry butt. Then, they accuse everyone of "bowing down" to other nations; apparently, it is okay to PO every other nation, who will, in turn, just start another weapons race while viewing us as the antagonists.
Then, there is jtriggs, who thinks that tax cuts actually cost nothing to do. I wonder if jt went into his/her boss's office and demanded a 10% pay cut so that they could, in turn, make more money. It's really amazing how some minds work! If they looked back at the JFK, Reagan, and Bush tax cuts, they would see how all three increased the national debt by 24% (JFK), 115% (Reagan), and 77% (Bush). This isn't counting the debt resulting from the crash either. Not costing us anything, JT? Nice try....
There you go E.D. we can strike a blow for multiculturalism and Country Music all in one fell swope. Although it may be hard to get an W.V. Redneck to convert to Killians Irish Red. I like it
Sounds to me, IR, like not enough WV rednecks get as far north as Wheeling as often as they should. That or they're just after the Yuengling...
Good work E.D. and I.R., even Scottie would be proud! Kirk out...
Let's see now. $20 Billion over 20 years is about $1 Billion/yr.
If we can spend $862 Billion on a worthless 'stimulus' bill, perhaps $1 Billion per year to protect us from a nuclear disaster is not such a bad idea.
Must not be aware of Reagan's Star Wars missile defense shield, a huge expensive to taxpayers; probably accounts for some of that 189% Reagan added to the debt. Our enemies will just build a better missile or a LASER to defeat the LASER. One more down the rabbit hole.
Okay, seriously, what's with the rabbit hole analogy lately? Did the Kool Aid/tea party bit become old meme?
No, they probably drink the Kool Aid at the Alice's Tea Party down in the rabbit hole. It is just an expression relating to Alice in Wonderland that seems pretty appropriate to the weird things we hear and see these days.
I don't pay enough attention to the punditry to know these things. I only catch on reading others' comments about what the lingo of the moment is.
This is what WV needs, a senator that wants expensive weapons systems designed for the cold war, of which, nobody in WV would work on.
http://www.amazon.com/Disintegration-Splintering-America-Eugene-Robinson/dp/0385526547
To those of you who enjoy listening to Eugene Robinson on MSNBC, he has written a book that looks to be one of those reads where you learn a thing or two about our nation and where we are today. I know I can't help but be drawn to books such as these. Whether you are a Democrat or Republican, this book takes a look at the history of African Americans in our nation and how they have splintered into four groups -
From Amazon:
In this clear-eyed and compassionate study, Robinson (Coal to Cream), Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist for the Washington Post, marshals persuasive evidence that the African-American population has splintered into four distinct and increasingly disconnected entities: a small elite with enormous influence, a mainstream middle-class majority, a newly emergent group of recent immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean, and an abandoned minority "with less hope of escaping poverty than at any time since Reconstruction's end." Drawing on census records, polling data, sociological studies, and his own experiences growing up in a segregated South Carolina college town during the 1950s, Robinson explores 140 years of black history in America, focusing on how the civil rights movement, desegregation, and affirmative action contributed to the fragmentation. Of particular interest is the discussion of how immigrants from Africa, the "best-educated group coming to live in the United States," are changing what being black means. Robinson notes that despite the enormous strides African-Americans have made in the past 40 years, the problems of poor blacks remain more intractable than ever, though his solution--"a domestic Marshall Plan aimed at black America"--seems implausible in this era of cash-strapped state and local governments.
_______
Just thought I'd mention it since Mr. Robinson is one of those journalists who you can't help but respect and love. Not simply because of his intelligence, but because of his quicky easy smile and laugh. He has lived his life through all those turbulent times and I would imagine he has many insights into our nation, in terms of looking back and moving forward. First hand experience. The best experience. And something I look for in every author.
What does he have to say about the idea of 'collective white guilt for slavery' and the presumed need for repentance and reparations? Who does he think is harmed more by this myth of a white genetic predisposition to evil? (this gene, or gene combination, has not yet been identified).
Isn't white anger at this idea a major sub-theme driving this election? This is a counterpoint to President Obama's election to the highest position in the country.
So this guy thinks the contractors will build, launch into orbit, maintain this system for $20MM per platform. It would cost over $5MM just to launch each platform. And do you really think with contractors charging the gov't Cost Plus on a contract that $20Billion is even close. $20Billion may get us to an actual working solution. Then it would be more like 5-10 times that to get a space-based system online, if you look at the history of cost overruns on major initiatives like this. Gotta love these politicians who just throw numbers out without having any clue of what they are talking about
In other words, all of them?
So what is more important: an exhorbitantly expensive and questionably effective defense system to counter a remotely possible missile strike that may or may not ever happen? Or a population that has jobs and can afford to feed and educate it's children? There are much better things to spend our money on.
What a contrast between NJ's gov who scrapped the rail project there because of "expected overruns".
Apparently when it comes to the military, we need not question. When it comes to things that actually help the people, we need not do it.
we spend $22,200 per second on our military.
Has it ever been proven that it works?
Am I the only one who thinks we're caught up in the mythos of the ray gun and 1950's-era sci-fi?
That or Raese has watched one too many episodes of Cowboy Bebop.
Nope. Most tests have been abject failures. The systems have trouble hitting a missle when they know when it's coming and where it's coming from. This is nothing more than a cold war pipe dream.
Another $20B we don't have. And it will take something like $200B to will a system of that complexity into existence. And it would roll back any progress we've made with arms control for the past twenty years. Why are Republicans constantly beating the war drum?
Because Orkz is da biggest an' da strongest!!! WAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUGHHHH!!!
I want sharks with freakin laser beams attached to their heads!
Dr. Evil and John Raese develop defense strategy.
I find sea bass to be an economical alternative in these trying times of uncertainty and financial recession.
Silence!
Only if they are ill-tempered.
Republicans:
"fear will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no fear".
(apologies to Gilbert Shelton)
Calm down, this isn't the time to loose one's head. You need to be more headstrong. Keep this up and you'll never be the head of a major corporation.
That's enough.
Kinda funny how the Liberals say Republicans are the Party of no ideas...then when they come out with ideas...the best the Libs can do is spout of with cute slogans/deflect to Teabaggers,Alice in Wonderland/rabbit hole references.
I like his idea of getting rid of the Dept of Energy...stated goal for 50 years...reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Seen any improvement in 50 years? Seems to me like the Dept isn't needed if it isn't doing the job. Bet that would save us a LOT off the deficit.
I like self-imposed term limits. The candidates should say "I agree not to run for more than 2 terms", and voters should hold them to it.
Go to a flat tax , reduce Government spending and if not abolish the IRS...definitely reduce the size of it.
Get rid of the Federal min wage. That should be left up to individual States (one size fits all...usually doesn't)
No offense, but proposing $20 billion on a laser defense network reminiscient of Reagan's "Star Wars" initiative is hardly qualifies as the kind of idea we need in the present moment.
If we have $20 billion to spare, why not use it to get to work on repairing our aging infrastructure? Why not fund a revived CCC or WPA for a decade, instead? I don't know about you but I'd much rather all those unemployment checks become paychecks for people contracted to peform some kind of work or service for federal reconstruction projects.
OK, Republicans are the Party of Dumb Ideas. It's actually more accurate.
Anyhoo, as long as we continue to live in a plutocracy Big Oil is here to stay, at least until the Earth runs out.
I have a One Point Plan to fix it: A constitutional amendment requiring public funding for all federal elections, and no outside advertising advocating for candidates. Let's make our congressmen spend 100% of their time working for America instead of shilling for campaign cash.
It appears when the Republicans DO come up with an idea it is obsolete or something that won't work. It is good that they are, at least,coming up with something despite the fact that the idea is totally stupid.
Why would we be afraid of any country with nukes? If they use them on us we use them on them and that would mean mutual destruction. It is what kept the cold war cold. Amanajinidad and the Iatollas of Iran aren't stupid. Saber rattling is one thing but actually considering attacking the world's superpower, a power that can wipe them off the face of the planet isn't going to happen.
Deep Time, go to www.faircampaignreform.us and join the Popular Amendment movement to do just that. The election/campaign finance reform amendment (11 sections) would accomplish both of your wishes plus a lot more restrictions. It doesn't make financing strictly public, but puts severe restrictions on financing, forbids all corporation/union/non-profit/PAC/et al funding of individual campaigns as well as "third party" ad campaigns, outlaws lobbyists from any contact with Congress, and requires all candidates to sign a binding "Contract with the Voters" that spells out their position on every possible issue that might come before them in their elected office and would be required before they can even petition to be on the ballot. It also creates ONE National Primary Day, eight weeks prior to the General Election and eliminates Party Conventions for selecting the Presidential candidates. ALL candidates selected at the ballot box on Primary Day. NO campaigning prior to 60 days before the NPD. That means the incumbents have to stay at work clear up to 120 days prior to the General Election.
$20 billion is a fantasy. Remember how the occupation of Iraq was going to be paid for by Iraq? Yeah right. Republicans are willing to blindly throw money at problems if they involve military dominance, yet the cry poverty when it comes to investing in domestic tranquility.
To deploy this laser system will cost easilty 10 times the amount this nut case claims it will.
Anyway, after he abolishes the IRS, how's he gonna pay for it? These tea party nuts have no connection to reality, it's all empty rhetoric and wild theories.
Flying Monkeys would be cheaper and more effective. Christine O'Donnell can supply them, after all she hasn't had a job in years and needs one.
Just Nuke the crap out of anyone that looks like they are going to launch at us. What did we spend all the money developing H-bombs if we don't use them? That's what a good old boy Republican like George W. would do. The Liberals are too scared they would hurt the enviroment. Go WV, and dig more clean coal.
So initiating a nuclear holocaust is a good foreign policy decision in your eyes?
I hope the Marcabians vaporize your thetan before you make it to a polling station.
Are you outa your frack'n mind? GW was a too much of a kitty cat [analogy insert here] to nuke anyone! The only presidents who either actually nuked an enemy or had his finger on the button were democrats! Truman and Kennedy! And, if you want more coal to dig, then keep all the acid rain out of NY please?
How refreshing to see the ol' FEAR card in use once again.
Somedays, I actually wish the Visitors were real and they are heading for this earth to fool us into thinking they are our friends when in reality they just want to harvest us for food and rape our resources...or what'll be left.
What a tool. 1000's of them in the sky, BAAAHAHAAHAH! Good one Republican!
Yes, I know that Raese has no idea what he's talking about. It's pretty sad that he's not even elected (and won't be) yet and he's already spending the taxpayers money!
But if I recall Manchin is now ahead of Raese. Thank Goodness!!!
I will for sure be voting for Manchin......like I've said Raese has no idea what the people of West Virginia wants.
As usual, no money to help people, but plenty of money for corporate welfare - that's the Repug way. Who votes for these driveling idiots?
'Full funding' for missile defense is a major point in the recent Republican contract. At least it is stimulus spending.
Missile defense is reported by some to be a catch all for an anti satellite system. By close approaching a satellite it is possible to burn out that satellite electronics to make it useless. This way there is no junk in orbit. Space warriors on the march. Perhaps there is a need for a modest, tactical, low orbit system of this type?
Starship Troopers...here we come!
It's an ugly planet; a bug planet?
I think this should make the fiscally conservative Tea Party folks mad at him. He is adding $20 billion more to the deficit, without proposing any SS, medicare cuts. Not good for him.
Protecting against incoming missiles is something a citizen can't do for them self. I can buy my own insurance, I can be responsible for reading an owners manual and operating something I buy correctly. I can save some of the money I make and keep it for when I need it. I can decide for myself what fuel mileage I want in a vehicle.
Government is supposed to do what the people can't do. But right now it seems like the government wants to do everything for us and get us dependent on the government instead of learning to rely on ourselves.
Grease the Rasese with a Ronnie RayGun.
This proposal has merit, if the Lasers are powered by West Virginia Coal Fields.
Of course it should taken as a States’ Rights Issue, and West Virginia needs to take up the challenge.
That is only fair that West Virginians pay for this entire program, with a coal separation fee, just like the Alaskan Permanent Fund, it is really not socialism.
West Virginians have every right to defend themselves against outside aggression from people competing to lower the minimum wage.
The State can earn future revenue from the other 49 States, by selling them Laser Defense Protection; charge by the Laser, 20 is Average, small states less larger more.
This will guarantee 100% protection from Iran after unification with the Oil Producing Countries and the Islamic hordes.
While this is a ways off and there will be a continuous need to test the 1000 Lasers on regular basis, they can be used to zap people who want healthcare, and those that live long enough after mining Coal to retire and anyone else that complains about how the Republicans run the special interest businesses.
Don't think that Corporate and Special Interests run the Republican Party, there just the same old mess you are going to vote for, you have been so ordered.
Laser defense? Waste of time. If all the enemy wants to do is hit "soft" targets (meaning, ordinary civilians going about their business) no defense system can stop them. None. This "expert" thinks missiles are the only weapons delivery system. Wrong. I wager Lockheed or Northrop (or my local boys, General Atomics - they make the Reaper) could design and build a stealth UAV that would be virtually radar invisible and fly so low and fast nothing would detect it - until it was too late - in less than two years. What's to stop the bad guys from doing this (perhaps not so well)? Even if we knocked down 95% it would be lights out for lots of unfortunate Americans. This golden dream of making ourselves invulnerable died with the Nazi invention of "wonder" weapons - ballistic missiles, jet aircraft and UAVs - that still haunt us (and our enemies) today. Sigh...
What was that '80's vid game called? Missle Command? yea Atari game.
Ok, hmm all our treaties with reasonably sane people mean nothing when faced with extremists hell bent on armegeddon.
I thought the Republicans wanted to cut government spending and this guy is trying to sell the American taxpayers another no bid contract. At least we know who his corporate donors are and how he will vote..