Redstate

Posted at 3:25pm on Jun. 30, 2007 My Experience So Far...

By TheMentor

Promoted from diaries. - Moe Lane

I have been disillusioned by this whole experience. It is not at all what I expected. The notion of brotherhood and teamwork is a farce. They talk about teamwork and togetherness, but it's all talk. The real message is push or be pushed, kick that straggler to the side, and don't help that falledn Marine to the right or left of you. None of the talk has been true so far. For an organization that is trying to rid itself of the image of being caged animals, there are a lot of contradictions. I can't chew gum in uniform, walk and eat or drink, or walk and talk on a cell phone, but if a senior enlisted Marine thinks I am being "disrespectful" or not moving fast enough, or not being obedient enough, they can and will put their hands on you. And, as the lower Marine, if I was to tell someon, such as a supervisor, or officer, I wouldn't be believed because the senior enlisted Marines who may have participatedor been a witness would deny everything. All very professional. They still basically condone and encourage hazing. The attitude is to just not get caught. I understand that I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, but I guess I thought most of the stories were just that, stories. I miss home, and I miss my family, but I have no outlet for my grief. I can talk to them, but sometimes it's harder than not having any contact. I choke back tears everytime I think of them or what is at home. I think of the things I've done so far and the things I might have to do in the future and it scares me. Chances are I will have to go to Iraq; I'm not ready for that. Everyone else is saying "ooh-rah" combat, until they get there. I'm honestly scared that if I go, I won't come back. I don't think I'd make it. All of the field and combat training I've endured for the last four months has shown me a few things. For one, if I ever was in comabt and actually had to perform any of the many things I've learned, I would probably die. Second, I do not have the physical strength or speed to survive in a combat situation. Third, and probably most shocking, I am able to point my weapon at another person and pull the trigger, effectively killing them, without hesitation. I scared myself a bit because I thought I would have more trouble with it than I did.

Read on . . .

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Posted at 4:38pm on Jun. 24, 2007 Back from Boot

By TheMentor

Promoted by Jeff. Well done!

Well it's been quite a while since I've posted on Redstate, and there is a good reason for that. I've been at USMC boot camp, Marine Combat Training, and now MOS school for the past four months. I'm officially a US Marine. Some things are exactly what I expected, some things are totally different than what I was expecting. I am proud to say that I am now a member of the world's most elite fighting force.

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Posted at 9:51pm on Sep. 25, 2006 My First Anti-Tom Kean, Jr. Ad

By TheMentor

Today on the radio I heard the first political ad of the season. It was a true fear ad for Bob Menendez. The gist of the ad is that Tom Kean, Jr will say anything to get elected. Being that this is the first ad I've heard on any local radio station regarding the upcoming election in NJ, I was interested. Of course the ad has the intimidating background music, and in the announcer voice, the narrarator says, "Tom Kean Jr. will say anything to get elected. But Kean Jr’s pro-Bush, pro-war record doesn’t lie." The ad states that Kean, Jr. has voted against raising the minimum wage, against stem cell research, for the "anti-choice" nominees of the Supreme Court, and for the Iraq war.

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Posted at 10:31pm on Sep. 20, 2006 Redstater Joins the USMC

By TheMentor

I figured I'd announce this news on Redstate, figuring that I could get some support. On September 9, 2006, I enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. After much thought and consideration, I finally decided to take the plunge. I will be shipping out to Parris Island February 19, 2007 for recruit training, and hopefully I will return a United States Marine. Needless to say, I am basically the only one happy about my choice to enlist. Most of the responses I get range from "Are you crazy?" to "Don't you know there's a war going on?" or my favorite, "Why don't you wait until things calm down a bit around the world." I love that one. I've come to the realization that the world is not going to calm down anytime soon and either is our fight against terrorism. I felt this was a way I can help the cause and help to stamp out terrorist regimes around the world and improve my own life at the same time. Yes, I realize that I face a higher risk of death, because there is a good chance that I could be sent to Iraq.

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Posted at 10:28pm on Nov. 1, 2005 The Real Reason Healthcare Costs So Much

By TheMentor

I've been wanting to write this diary for a while, but haven't been able to scrap together the time to do it. As some might know, I work in the insurance industry with medical insurance as my specialty.  I work in New Jersey which is near the top of the list for highest insurance premiums in the nation, not only in medical insurance but in auto insurance as well.  We are all feeling the strain of high healthcare costs across the nation, but in New Jersey it is particularly bad.  We are a dense state with the bulk of our companies being small employers with less than fifty employees.  Theses companies are not forced to provide benefits for their employees but with the job market being tight as well they might as well be.  Our medical insurance premiums continue to skyrocket every year and I have to answer the same question from each of my clients every year when they renew: "How do they expect us to be able to afford this?"  Of course by "they" my clients mean the evil insurance companies that are only out to get you and make money from you.  Of course I have to agree with them, but only because it's my job to do so.  While medical insurance rates are exorbitant, there is a reason behind it...

Read on...

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Posted at 10:21pm on Oct. 25, 2005 Forrester v. Corzine: What's the difference?

By TheMentor

The political talk in New Jersey has started to heat up a bit since the gubernatorial election is only a few weeks away.  Every other commercial on TV is a Corzine or Forrester ad, same with local radio.  My mailbox has been bombarded with campaign flyers and information.  There were a few debates on television, but unfortunately they were so poorly advertised I doubt they got much viewership.  The New Jersey race reminds me slightly of the 2004 Presidential race, each of the candidates are entirely too eager to agree with each other.  So what is the difference anyway?

Read on...

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Posted at 10:02am on Sep. 7, 2005 A Book Review: The Real America by Glenn Beck

By TheMentor

I just finished this book which I received as a birthday present.  Although I admit I do not listen to the Glenn Beck Program, even though it is broadcast out of my home area (Philadelphia), because it is on when I am at work, and I actually have to work at work.  I have gone to see him twice, once recently, and last Christmas.  Both shows were enjoyable, but the overall mood seemed to take a down turn in the second half, the first show mentioning his adopted child who was a product of the rape of a minor, and the second show mentioning his odd family life and then stating that his mother committed suicide after his parents' divorce.  This book followed the same style as his live shows.  The first half is comical in its dealings with politics and world affairs, and the second half is deeply personal and intimate giving the reader a unique look into Beck's life and past.  It puts a real relatable person to the radio voice.

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Posted at 10:54pm on Aug. 22, 2005 A Book Review: Infiltration by Paul Sperry

By TheMentor

How Muslim Spies and Subversives have Pentrated Washington

I just finished this book which runs about 350 pages including the introduction and preface.  It was actually a fairly quick read considering it is somewhat dense non-fiction.  The title is pretty self-explanatory, and at the height of the War on Terror, it seems a very important topic.  The book is extremely well written, and the hardest part was keeping all of the Arabic names seperate.  I haven't yet had a chance to review www.sperryfiles.com, which is the companion website for the book which details several of the sources used.  And now onto the review...

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Posted at 11:02pm on Aug. 5, 2005 My Thinking Into the War on Terror

By TheMentor

My thinking on the War on Terror has increased as of late due to the recent attacks in London, the death of too many Marines in Iraq, and the shootings in Israel.  It has never left my mind entirely, but thinking of terrorists and what could happen takes a back burner to what's happening in my life right now.  While watching the news, and trying to keep up on the several events every day that occur revolving around the War on Terror, or the Struggle Against Violent Extremism, this came to mind.  

The reason that terrorists continue on, unrelenting, and the reason that certain countries continue to support terrorists and even export them to other countries is due to the common belief that God's laws trump the laws of man.  

More below the fold:

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Posted at 4:38pm on Jul. 31, 2005 Nobility In The Hollywood Left

By TheMentor

I have put a decent amount of thought into this subject before deciding to post a diary regarding it.  I'm hoping the title won't drive readers away, because there is really only one aspect of the Hollywood Left that I believe has the appearance of nobility.  I do not defend them in whole or in part for the causes they may or may not support, the promos or endorsements for which they are known, or the occasional moonbat phrase which might leave their mouths.  What I do support is the appearance of some members of the Hollywood Left to be willing to sacrifice money that they have made in our system for what they genuinely believe to be the greater good.  Let me explain...

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Posted at 12:22am on Jul. 10, 2005 Follow up to Viagra for Sex Offenders...

By TheMentor

A little over a month ago, I wrote two diaries regarding the news of registered sex offenders receiving Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs reimbursed by state Medicaid programs.  At the time, the problem was limited to New York.  Since then, this problem has been discovered by not only New York, but California, Utah, Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Michigan, Florida, Colorado, West Virginia, and a few others.  My own state of New Jersey somehow managed to stay out of this scandal for the last month.  At the height of the scandal at the end of May, the local New Jersey senator for my district, Diane Allen announced that she was outraged, and would immediately work on legislation to prevent New Jersey from becoming the next national embarassment.  Please read on...

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Posted at 9:57pm on Jun. 2, 2005 Seeing the Error of Their Ways

By TheMentor

I have been thinking a lot lately about my political mindset these days and how it is so different from the political mindset of the people who were supposed to mold me in their image, my parents.  I, like many RedStater's, am in my early twenties, and just getting into politics.  Most people I know my age don't care about politics one way or another, and they don't vote.  I think being in my early twenties and actually being politically knowledgeable is an accomplishment in itself.  Not that long ago, I couldn't fit the term Republican to myself, I just couldn't, they were the party of religious extremists to me.  I refused to acknowledge that this label might actually fit me.  After much thought and internal struggle, although I am not rich or religious, I can clearly say that I am a Republican.

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Posted at 11:10am on May 26, 2005 Yet Another Sex Offender Debacle in NY

By TheMentor

It hasn't even been a week since the story broke in New York that sex offenders have been accessing sexual dysfunction drugs and getting government reimbursement from Medicaid, that another story hits the news regarding sex offenders in New York.  This one, I believe, is a bit more disturbing and clearly shows the lack of organization in New York.  

The article found on MSNBC.com here details a case of a convicted sex offender being a foster parent to as many as 50 children before his past was discovered.  

Read on...

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Posted at 2:14pm on May 23, 2005 Medicaid Reimbursed ED Drugs for Sex Offenders

By TheMentor

In light of a recently broken news story on Fox News that happened to come to my attention this morning when I was watching Fox & Friends during my normal morning routine, I felt compelled to write this diary.  While getting ready to go to my job as a health & life insurance agent, I hear a soundbyte from New York, where apparently, sex offenders have received sexual dysfunction drugs (ie Viagra) fully reimbursed by Medicaid.  

Read on for full story:

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Posted at 3:07pm on May 20, 2005 Should I really be surprised?

By TheMentor

As many of you may know, I've taken on the task of covering the 2005 New Jersey Gubernatorial race.  My intent was to write a diary for each candidate based on questions I had come up with for them to answer.  There are seven candidates for the Republican nomination for governor.  The primary is June 14th.  Time is low.  In late April, I emailed each one of the candidates requesting an "interview" for Redstate.org, hoping that they would seize the opportunity for free positive publicity and a broader audience for their reviews.  

Please read on for the results of my requests:

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