tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post8647676016906961913..comments2024-02-24T05:19:10.949-05:00Comments on Durham-in-Wonderland: Volokh Guest-Bloggingkcjohnson9http://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-56685256454785935782007-09-18T23:01:00.000-04:002007-09-18T23:01:00.000-04:00mac...with all due respect ......the extent to whi...mac...with all due respect ...<BR/><BR/>...the extent to which the US is now using 'contractors' -- the equivalent of mercenaries -- is unprecedented.<BR/><BR/>Further, it is clearly a way of financing "off balance sheet" -- in other words, (potentially) without accountability.<BR/><BR/>I respect your view that this has occured in the past, but I submit...current practice and related financing has no precedent.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-64752113407948801092007-09-18T20:05:00.000-04:002007-09-18T20:05:00.000-04:00I don't like it when KC goes somewhere else.Althou...I don't like it when KC goes somewhere else.<BR/><BR/>Although, I have read some of the posts on Volokh and they're helpful to the people on that blog.<BR/><BR/>I still don't like it.<BR/><BR/>:>)Debrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04567454727276881424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-84800163278922929652007-09-18T11:41:00.000-04:002007-09-18T11:41:00.000-04:00KC - now that you're over on VC, are you going to ...KC - now that you're over on VC, are you going to comment on the Bellisles post?<BR/><BR/>It seems to me to fit in both with your profession (historian) and your investigation of PC-driven academic malpractice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-55241343275897005882007-09-18T10:28:00.000-04:002007-09-18T10:28:00.000-04:00Inman,That's old news. Old, old news. And the te...Inman,<BR/><BR/>That's old news. Old, old news. And the term "mercenary" is unneccessarily negative.<BR/><BR/>The UN has used such forces in Africa,<BR/>illustrating the clear difference between "peacemakers" and "peacekeepers." If you've seen the blue-helmeted UN types, you know just how impotent they are - except when they're raping schoolgirls and stealing from supplies. The UN "peacekeepers" are worse than useless, and more akin to the guys with blanks in the movie "Southern Comfort."<BR/><BR/>The security forces, meanwhile, are much better organized, trained and so forth. It's in their best interests to be professional. Problem is, they have a high attrition rate (compared with our own Servicemen.) <BR/><BR/>Someone asked - you haven't answered yet: haven't we used independant operators over the course of our nation's history?<BR/><BR/>Lots and lots of times. Do the research. You'll see. In some cases, it hasn't always been good - (assuming that these actions, the Tonkin Gulf incident, the explosion on the Maine, were performed by someone at our behest.) <BR/><BR/>We also lent flyers to the Burma theatre prior to Pearl Harbor, and many of our own aviators entered both WWI and WWII prior to our entrance in those wars.<BR/><BR/>So what else is new?machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14248016116043347912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-70671545721755719442007-09-18T09:45:00.000-04:002007-09-18T09:45:00.000-04:00Re: MercenariesThere was a news item on NBC last n...Re: Mercenaries<BR/><BR/>There was a news item on NBC last night that referred to "contractors" in Iraq having "security" responsibilities ... it's in the morning news -- NYTimes etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-77232227461478562612007-09-18T08:34:00.000-04:002007-09-18T08:34:00.000-04:00ANON 6:58"HARVARD WINS BIDDING WAR FOR ACADEMIC SU...ANON 6:58<BR/><BR/>"HARVARD WINS BIDDING WAR FOR ACADEMIC SUPERSTAR" - re Hip Hop.<BR/><BR/>Yup. You know when a fad is dead when the old fogeys join in the fun.<BR/><BR/>Anyone remember "Disco Duck?" A death-knell, it was. Next thing you'll see is Hoppity Hooper, brought back as Hippity Hoppity Hooper.machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14248016116043347912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-78450908056207844162007-09-18T00:45:00.000-04:002007-09-18T00:45:00.000-04:00KC> I'm reading the book and thought I knew everyt...KC> I'm reading the book and thought I knew everything as I have been following the blog since last spring. It's clear more than ever that all suits have to be pursued, 30 million isn't enough and every police officer involved with the case should face jail time. <BR/>I really hope the Duke settlement was huge, though I doubt it. The outrageous advice given by the dean of students> the whole way the school acted, esp. Brodhead is just really disgraceful. Reading all the details together is so powerful.<BR/>Thanks again for diligent search for the truth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-65279988299492043872007-09-18T00:15:00.000-04:002007-09-18T00:15:00.000-04:00Anonymous 11:49 said... ...Inman: 7:11...Impressed...Anonymous 11:49 said... <BR/>...Inman: 7:11<BR/>...Impressed by your pedigree and grateful for your patriotism. But wonder what the validity of your source is about the mercernaries. <BR/>...Did we have some mercernaries fighting in our War of Independance, historians?<BR/>::<BR/>Ah. I thought he was talking about our all volunteer US military.<BR/>::<BR/>GPGary Packwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05177986821224068759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-32581619054341625142007-09-17T23:49:00.000-04:002007-09-17T23:49:00.000-04:00Inman: 7:11Impressed by your pedigree and grateful...Inman: 7:11<BR/><BR/>Impressed by your pedigree and grateful for your patriotism. But wonder what the validity of your source is about the mercernaries. <BR/><BR/>Did we have some mercernaries fighting in our War of Independance, historians?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-49721952402062342462007-09-17T22:57:00.000-04:002007-09-17T22:57:00.000-04:00*Innocence Project Site*Here is a bit on why Human...*<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.innocenceproject.org/" REL="nofollow">Innocence Project Site</A><BR/><BR/>*<BR/><BR/>Here is a bit on why Humanities Professors <A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2007/09/moral-realativism-wins.html" REL="nofollow">Don't Get No Respect</A> inspired by commenter anon. from here.<BR/><BR/>*M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-23176478352981082012007-09-17T22:36:00.000-04:002007-09-17T22:36:00.000-04:00KC,This one is for you and Stewart: Will Blog For ...KC,<BR/><BR/>This one is for you and Stewart:<BR/><BR/> <A HREF="http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2007/09/will-blog-for-abuse.html" REL="nofollow">Will Blog For Abuse</A> .M. Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09508934110558197375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-73194831546051667852007-09-17T22:35:00.000-04:002007-09-17T22:35:00.000-04:00Texas Mom 9:19 said......It is no wonder to me wh...Texas Mom 9:19 said...<BR/><BR/>...It is no wonder to me why we are lagging behind other nations in higher education if we are financially supporting idiots like the newly tenured "HIP HOP SCHOLAR" and the likes of Ward Churchill, Cornel West, Wahemeena, etc. <BR/><BR/>...How did we become so intellectually, ethically and morally BANKRUPT? It was NOT overnight!<BR/>::<BR/>It is not unlike any of us feeding a uninvited guest Thanksgiving dinner with the rest of the family.<BR/><BR/>If we feed him or her on Thanksgiving day...you can bet the farm that he or she will be back for much more.<BR/><BR/>Legitimate university faculty have become terrorized of these faux scholars and their political agendas over the last ten years and when they show up for dinner at the academy, even our best professors just serve up the soup; smile and wait for them to go wherever it is that they go...to.<BR/><BR/>We are in desperate need of new performance measures for universities that result in hard questions about paychecks being cut to people who do nothing and have nothing to do.<BR/><BR/>Rather like a return on investment (ROI) report for university alumni and parents of students.<BR/>::<BR/>GPGary Packwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05177986821224068759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-90106510988571620502007-09-17T21:41:00.000-04:002007-09-17T21:41:00.000-04:00How many cold slaps in the face do some Durhamites...How many cold slaps in the face do some Durhamites need to see how seriously flawed they've behaved? Are these civil suits not enough? Take this blog by Dependable erection (a Durham townie) who has previously complained that the Duke 3 bringing civil suits are just being greedy. Now he posts about the endorsement of Victoria Peterson (by some silly group) for City Council and makes no criticism whatsoever?! When are these people going to realize their days of lackadaisical business-as-usual pretend-nothing-happened are over? http://dependableerection.blogspot.com/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-80456907245591131282007-09-17T21:19:00.000-04:002007-09-17T21:19:00.000-04:00Orson Buggeigh said..."There are some pretty decen...Orson Buggeigh said...<BR/>"There are some pretty decent commentators among the Volokh folks. James Lindgren is a heavy hitter, and he hit this one out of the park with his welcome post to KC's post today on Volokh Conspiracy. Lindgren notes that there are many academics who still will not give up on the race / class / gender metanarrative. Professor Lindgren should know. Like KC, he has some experience with pointing out the failings of the academy to academic emperors who do not like to have their lack of clothes pointed out to the public. Professor Lindgren was one of the folks who helped document the academic failings of Michael Bellesiles. <BR/><BR/>In case Mr. Burke or SEK are reading: Gentlemen, the point is simply this: There is much evidence that agenda driven research fails frequently because it ignores facts. Many people outside the academy are not buying the metanarrative that has been carefully nurtured by the race / class / gender theorists. The evidence stacked up by people investigating the work of Michael Bllesiles, Ward Churchill, the 88 Duke faculty, and others shows that there are very sound reasons to question the practice of treating advocacy as a legitimate form of scholarship."<BR/><BR/>9/17/07 4:44 PM<BR/><BR/>"Anonymous said...<BR/>NEWS FLASH<BR/><BR/>HARVARD WINS BIDDING WAR FOR ACADEMIC SUPERSTAR<BR/><BR/>the "discipline"?<BR/><BR/>H I P H O P"<BR/><BR/>I am ready to go screaming off into the streets! Thank goodness my "children" are almost out of the clutches of "higher" education. My eldest daughter has a master's degree in music, speaks German, French, Italian and has worked hard to become a musician of intelligence and talent. "HIP HOP" and "SCHOLAR" are mutually exclusive, IMO. <BR/><BR/>Having read an article today by Kathy Kristof, writing for the Los Angeles Times, entitled "A parent gets a hard test in the cost of college," I am tempted to suggest that she read DIW, UPI and buy the F.I.R.E.'s guide to students rights before she sends her daughter to college. It is no wonder to me why we are lagging behind other nations in higher education if we are financially supporting idiots like the newly tenured "HIP HOP SCHOLAR" and the likes of Ward Churchill, Cornel West, Wahemeena, etc. <BR/><BR/>How did we become so intellectually, ethically and morally BANKRUPT? It was NOT overnight!<BR/><BR/>Texas MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-21621352131868304752007-09-17T20:06:00.000-04:002007-09-17T20:06:00.000-04:006:58At first I thought it was a joke. But then I ...6:58<BR/><BR/>At first I thought it was a joke. But then I thought again. Its Unreal.<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=519002" REL="nofollow">Hip Hop Scholar Offered Tenure</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-48981791677855094312007-09-17T19:11:00.000-04:002007-09-17T19:11:00.000-04:00I know this is way off topic ... but I just learne...I know this is way off topic ... but I just learned that, in effect, the United States is using mercenary soldiers in Iraq.<BR/><BR/>I am stunned. I am aghast. <BR/><BR/>I am now going to rethink my support of a policy that would resort to hired guns.<BR/><BR/>I have always considered myself a patriot. My 4th great Inman grandfather served under Washington at Valley Forge. My family tradition vocally supports our nation and its interest.<BR/><BR/>But now I am stunned and aghast. How is it that war to protect and expand freedom and liberty can be reduced to the hiring of mercenaries?<BR/><BR/>Where is the moral authority? Oh my God!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-50970200833939612572007-09-17T19:01:00.000-04:002007-09-17T19:01:00.000-04:00Suggestion.For those of us who Reade helped become...Suggestion.<BR/><BR/>For those of us who Reade helped become interested in the Innocent Project, why don't you and Reade write a piece together and advise us what we could do to support the project until Reade graduates or has time to 'bulk up' their work and move it along.<BR/><BR/>Reade need NOT comment on any aspect of the case.<BR/><BR/>Just a little direction of what we can do besides donating funds, to help the Innocent Project grow and succeed over the rest of this decade though perhaps...2013.<BR/><BR/>Is their an Innocent Project blog?<BR/>::<BR/>GPGary Packwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05177986821224068759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-83815716999665400742007-09-17T19:00:00.000-04:002007-09-17T19:00:00.000-04:00Prof. KC,Glad you're finding something useful to d...Prof. KC,<BR/><BR/>Glad you're finding something useful to do with all of your free time.<BR/><BR/>-RDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-56478377124224073052007-09-17T18:58:00.000-04:002007-09-17T18:58:00.000-04:00NEWS FLASHHARVARD WINS BIDDING WAR FOR ACADEMIC SU...NEWS FLASH<BR/><BR/>HARVARD WINS BIDDING WAR FOR ACADEMIC SUPERSTAR<BR/><BR/>the "discipline"?<BR/><BR/>H I P H O P<BR/><BR/>KC--Mr. Harvard--how does that--uh huh--grab you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-66757167784226473032007-09-17T18:42:00.000-04:002007-09-17T18:42:00.000-04:00I don't have enough time for another blog. KC, com...I don't have enough time for another blog. KC, come home to DIW. I'm jealous.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-1651105183088205642007-09-17T18:06:00.000-04:002007-09-17T18:06:00.000-04:00Off-topic, but there's a nice plug for UPI and for...Off-topic, but there's a nice plug for <I>UPI</I> and for <A HRED="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/books/review/Rosen-t.html?_r=2&ref=books&oref=slogin&oref=slogin">Jeffrey Rosen's review</A> in the NY Times Book Review, along with another well-deserved backhand to the NY Times, in yesterday's <A HREF="http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2007/09/018480.php" REL="nofollow">Powerline blog</A>.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-20700313295792150482007-09-17T17:21:00.000-04:002007-09-17T17:21:00.000-04:00Orson, thanks for the insight. I can't imagine tha...Orson, thanks for the insight. I can't imagine that decent prof's everywhere won't ferret out the weak, biased local members of their respective schools. This event has to have gotten alot of people thinking. <BR/>KC, you have shaken the trees! Something good may yet come of all of this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-90140314561671714022007-09-17T16:52:00.000-04:002007-09-17T16:52:00.000-04:00KC said......Stuart Taylor and I are guest-bloggin...KC said...<BR/><BR/>...Stuart Taylor and I are guest-blogging this week at the Volokh Conspiracy.<BR/>::<BR/>Hooboy. <BR/><BR/>You've not had enough with the blogging, already!<BR/><BR/>Sheesh.<BR/>::<BR/>GPGary Packwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05177986821224068759noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-86570134566812384382007-09-17T16:44:00.000-04:002007-09-17T16:44:00.000-04:00There are some pretty decent commentators among th...There are some pretty decent commentators among the Volokh folks. James Lindgren is a heavy hitter, and he hit this one out of the park with his welcome post to KC's post today on Volokh Conspiracy. Lindgren notes that there are many academics who still will not give up on the race / class / gender metanarrative. Professor Lindgren should know. Like KC, he has some experience with pointing out the failings of the academy to academic emperors who do not like to have their lack of clothes pointed out to the public. Professor Lindgren was one of the folks who helped document the academic failings of Michael Bellesiles. <BR/><BR/>In case Mr. Burke or SEK are reading: Gentlemen, the point is simply this: There is much evidence that agenda driven research fails frequently because it ignores facts. Many people outside the academy are not buying the metanarrative that has been carefully nurtured by the race / class / gender theorists. The evidence stacked up by people investigating the work of Michael Bllesiles, Ward Churchill, the 88 Duke faculty, and others shows that there are very sound reasons to question the practice of treating advocacy as a legitimate form of scholarship.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-9736962349382408082007-09-17T15:48:00.000-04:002007-09-17T15:48:00.000-04:00Nice that KC is lending his expertise to Volokh th...Nice that KC is lending his expertise to <I>Volokh</I> this week.<BR/><BR/>They can use a boost from someone who is <A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM1ujosaDTE" REL="nofollow">simply the best!</A><BR/><BR/>But we can't allow him to stay over there too long.<BR/><BR/>LIS!Debrahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04567454727276881424noreply@blogger.com