What The F**k !!!!!!

One of the stories that I have wanted to blog about and that has festered like a naugahyde boil on your posterior while on patrol has finally made it’s way into my brain enough to put to words.

The Bremerton Sun has run a series (2)of articles in regards to CMC Edward E. Scott, who was granted a OTH(or honorable, depending on where the information is gleaned) discharge following conviction for a sexual predator offense. The Boil part is that because he fulfilled the 20 plus mark in the navy and no one in his upper Chain of command had the intestinal fortitude to COURT MARTIAL this slimy P. O. S.

He walks; without losing any benefit other than not being able to make the 30 yr mark and to continue to surf for child porn on NMCI (Navy Marine Computer idiocy)or (Now My Computer’s Incapable) systems while at work. The fact that he arranged the crime while at work and on an “official” computer should have been enough to nail him and have him keel hauled.

Quoted below are the two articles from the Bremerton Sun, and the Time line of this ass hat’s crime. I just don’t understand why the Skipper didn’t have someone skin this guy and nail his hide in a public place as a warning to all others to dare not to tread.

I usually don’t go on a “Khaki” rant very often, because I have worked from some damn good men who make the Anchor’s count. But this smacks of some CYA and Good Old Boys taking care.

Read the articles, Formulate your own opinion, Post Comments; I want to hear from you.

BREMERTON
The Navy has granted an honorable discharge to a former Naval Base Kitsap command master chief who was convicted last year of attempted child rape.
Edward E. Scott, 44, once the local base's highest enlisted man, was arrested after a sting operation in which an officer posed as the mother of young twins in an online forum. Scott was met by police at a Bremerton motel where he had arranged to have sex with what he believed was the mother and both children.
Convicted and sentenced in June to nine months in jail and three years of intensive sexual deviancy treatment, Scott retired from formal service in the Navy on Jan. 31.
His rank was reduced to senior chief petty officer, but he was allowed to retire with benefits.
Discharge records are covered under the Navy's privacy act. Naval Base Kitsap spokesman Tom Danaher could not comment, but the Kitsap Sun has reviewed a report confirming Scott's status that has circulated through the criminal justice system.
The result is surprising to Kevin McDermott, a former Navy Judge Advocate who's worked in military law since 1978. He now practices in California, and has most recently defended war crimes suspects from the Iraq war.
"I don't know if I've ever heard of a serviceman being convicted of a sex crime, getting an honorable discharge," he said.
Scott, who served 25 years, chatted from his home and work computers with an undercover detective posing as a mother of twin 12-year-olds in early 2007. The detective arranged a meeting with Scott for sex at a Bremerton hotel before work March 16.
Detectives arrested him, and a month later he pleaded guilty to attempted child rape and communicating with a minor for immoral purposes, both felonies. Though he faced a 90-month sentence, a Superior Court judge allowed Scott to opt for a nine-month sentence if he would undergo treatment.
The Navy wouldn't comment on what proceeded internally before his retirement was completed. But McDermott said that according to protocol Scott would have had a hearing before a commanding officer, perhaps a captain or admiral, who would have likely conducted what's known as a "mast" hearing.
Such a hearing would have given his commanding officer the authority to reduce him one rank — which did occur — and to take away a limited amount of pay as well as restrict him to a base or quarters for a limited span of time.
However, his commanding officer could have referred Scott to a court martial, where he could have faced a dishonorable discharge, or a Navy "administrative separation board," which could result in a slightly less harsh bad conduct discharge.
Ultimately, McDermott said, the Navy could have tried him again for the same crimes as were filed in the civilian Kitsap County Superior Court, as the concept of double jeopardy doesn't exist in the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
In actuality, Scott was demoted one rank, honorably discharged, and retired with the benefits of the senior chief rank. He's due to finish the sexual deviancy treatment in March 2010, according to court documents filed in Kitsap County Superior Court.
The Navy's decision sends the wrong message to servicemen and women everywhere, said Glenn Maiers, a retired Naval Base Kitsap senior chief petty officer.
"What does that tell the (lower ranks)? The higher up in pay grade you are, the more you can get away with," he said.
Part of a wider trend, McDermott contends the Navy and the armed forces have not been "coming down as hard" on service members post-September 11th. From the military's point of view, the best theory McDermott has on the rationale is simply: "We need bodies."
In Scott's case, McDermott believes his honorable discharge could be a result of "karma." His long and successful career were simply too vast to overlook.
Scott, who joined the Navy in 1982, served as command master chief of not only Naval Base Kitsap, but also the USS Camden and the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group. His tour of duty has included time in Guam, Hawaii, Whidbey Island and San Diego.
He was the recipient of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and Good Conduct Medal.
"(His command) said, 'Thank you very much for your long and hard work,'" McDermott posited. "We're going to give you one tremendous kiss when you go."
TIMELINE
Feb. 12
Edward Scott enters "fetish12" a Yahoo! chat room, and meets "navydubletruble," a detective posing as a Navy wife. The topic turns to sex, involving the "Navy Wife's" fictitious 12-year-old twin children.
March 13
Scott tells the undercover detective to get a Bremerton motel room "with two beds."
March 16
Before work, the then-Command Master Chief of Naval Base Kitsap goes to a local motel in Bremerton at 5 a.m. He is met by Bremerton Police Detectives, who arrest him and interview him downtown.
March 19 and 20
Scott makes his first appearances in court after being jailed, as prosecutors file charges against him.
April 19
Scott pleads guilty to immoral communication with a minor and attempted rape of a child in Kitsap County Superior Court.
June 18
After delays, Judge Leonard Costello sentences Scott to a nine-month jail stay and a 3-year sex offender treatment program, known as a "special sex offender sentencing alternative."
Jan. 31
After completing his jail time, Scott is allowed to retire from the Navy under an honorable discharge — with one reduction in rank and no loss of benefits.




BREMERTON
The U.S. Navy has released new information on the discharge of a former command master chief convicted of attempted child rape, indicating that his official discharge status is "other than honorable."
The new information contradicts a document from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service stating that Edward E. Scott, 44, was to receive an honorable discharge.
Both discharge statuses allow Scott to retain his full retirement benefits, which would only have been lost had he received either a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge.
The Kitsap Sun sought comment from the Navy numerous times before reporting Sunday on the information in the NCIS document. The Navy refused to comment or indicate that the NCIS document was not authoritative.
The Navy bypassed its own privacy act Thursday to release details on Scott's discharge status, and Friday allowed the Kitsap Sun to review Scott's "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," or DD 214, which the Pentagon says is the authoritative source on Scott's retirement. Earlier in the week the Pentagon had denied access to the DD214, and would not respond to questions about the information it contained. After consulting the Pentagon's lawyers, Jeff A. Davis, U.S. Navy commander and assistant chief for information at the Pentagon, said the Navy "concluded that the Scott case is of notoriety and interest and that the public's need to know outweighed his privacy interests."
There are other stipulations of his retirement, Davis said. Scott cannot be recalled to active duty for any purpose, and he is barred from most facilities on Navy Region Northwest installations. His retirement entitles him use of medical and dental offices and the commissary, or grocery store. He must also notify a commanding officer when he does go to those places.
But it is the decision to allow Scott to retain retirement benefits that has drawn strong criticism from retired Navy officers and others in online military communities in wake of the initial report.
The initial report of Scott's retirement benefits was cited in a Naval Criminal Investigative Service document obtained through a public records request and does not list the "other than honorable" discharge. Dated Feb. 1, 2008, the "report of investigation" document states that Lt. Ben Pickens, a Navy Judge Advocate General, advised that "Scott applied for his retirement and the military determined he will be given an honorable discharge as an E-8 (or senior chief) with full benefits."
Melanie Reeder, spokeswoman for Navy Region Northwest, said the NCIS documents are "internal reports" and are subject to revision. She reiterated that Scott's DD 214, which does not have a specific date listed on it along with Scott's signature, is the authority on his retirement.
The Navy was faced with an unusual and uncommon decision in Scott's case, said Kevin McDermott, a former Navy Judge Advocate who's worked in military law since 1978. How do they discharge Scott, formerly the highest enlisted man in Naval Base Kitsap and a 25-year service member, despite his sex convictions?
"What they usually do is say 'here is your resignation letter, go home, you're done,'" he said.
Scott could have been court-martialed for the crimes along the way — at his arrest, during his guilty plea, or at his release from jail — but the Navy chose not to go that route, which could have led to a bad conduct or dishonorable discharge without benefits.
That decision would have been made by his command at Navy Region Northwest, Davis said.
But, as McDermott notes, "Somebody made that call."
Scott was arrested following a Naval Criminal Investigative Service sting in which an officer posed as a mother of 12-year-old twins in an Internet chat room in February 2007. Scott requested that the undercover officer get a motel room, and when he arrived there in an early morning rendezvous last March at a Bremerton hotel, he was arrested by authorities.
He pleaded guilty to communication with a minor for immoral purposes and attempted child rape in April, and under a special sentencing alternative, was granted a nine-month jail stay in an agreement to undergo three-year intensive sexual deviancy treatment.

Heading for the “HURT” locker

While my quest for a new job and running all of the hurdles to transition from the Navy have taken up a significant amount of my intellectual capacity and my time; I have gotten an uneasy, No, Down Right QUEASY feeling about the U. S. Economic health in general. While I have had the head to the grindstone doing the Navy thing for the past few (20) years I have paid very little attention to the News in general because it seemed to consist mainly of either (1) sensational fodder,( 2) feel-good fodder or (3) sensational- feel- good fodder. Job research has forced me to pay a bit more attention to the internet and the channels on TV to try and figure out the overall picture of things when I am cut loose. While I am no economist or even claim to have more than a layman’s understanding of complex economics, it seems with the complete loss of “primary coolant” so to speak on the real estate market and the subsequent melt down of real estate and all the financial markets that are tied in like a bad ponzi scheme, our economy has started to flounder.
Now, we are looking at energy prices further impacting our standard of living.
Gasoline prices, which for months lagged behind the big run-up in the price of oil, are suddenly rising quickly, with some experts saying they could approach $4 a gallon by spring. Diesel is hitting new records daily, and oil closed at a record high of $100.88 a barrel on Tuesday increases that could not come at a worse time for the economy. With growth slowing, energy increases that were once easily absorbed by consumers are now more likely to act as a drag on household budgets, leaving people with less money to spend elsewhere. These costs could worsen the nation’s economic woes, piling a fresh energy shock on top of the turmoil in credit and housing.
YIKES, $$$ 4 dollars a Gallon $$$ While the day was to eventually arrive when gasoline was going to become more expensive than milk or bottled water. You just don’t fill a 20 gallon tank with milk or bottled water. That’s 80 Bucks for a fill. Then I run across this little nugget :

The Fed chairman acknowledged that the central bank faced increasingly contradictory pressures of slowing growth and rising consumer prices. But his bottom line was that, for now, the top priority would be fighting a recession rather than fighting inflation.
Mr. Bernanke’s view of the state of the economy, part of his semiannual appearance before Congress, came as the dollar sank to a historic low against other major currencies, introducing a possible third dimension to the economic problems the Fed chairman must tackle all at once.
Having already cut short-term interest rates by almost half since September, Mr. Bernanke painted a grim picture of consumers reluctant to spend, businesses reluctant to invest and banks reluctant to lend. On top of it all, housing prices keep falling.
“The economic situation has become distinctly less favorable” since last summer, he told the House Financial Services Committee. In words that investors immediately recognized as a hint of lower rates, he vowed to “act in a timely manner” and “provide adequate insurance against downside risks.”
The Fed’s decision to err on the side of faster growth poses risks. Ever since the wrenching experience with stagflation in the late 1970s, the rule of thumb in monetary policy has been that revving up a slow economy is far easier than slowing inflation once it becomes entrenched.
The hope is that lower interest rates will encourage consumers and businesses to spend more, while the risk is that the spending will aggravate inflation.
But the success or failure of the Fed’s strategy could depend on something outside Mr. Bernanke’s immediate control: foreign confidence in the American dollar and foreign willingness to keep financing the United States’ huge external debt.
The dollar has plunged 24 percent against a basket of six major currencies in the last four years, and on Wednesday it slipped to its lowest level yet since the United States let the dollar float freely in 1973.
A weak dollar can be both good and bad for the United States economy. It tends to bolster American exports by making them cheaper in foreign markets, but it also pushes up inflation by raising the cost of foreign imports. And while the United States pays for foreign oil in dollars, many analysts contend that part of the recent run-up in oil prices was tied to the steadily declining value of the dollar.
Over the long haul, the bigger worry for Mr. Bernanke may not be import prices as much as interest rates and the dollar’s value. Huge inflows of cheap foreign capital helped keep interest rates for mortgages and businesses low even as the Fed raised its benchmark overnight rates from 2004 to 2006.
If foreign investors become more wary, in part because of the dollar’s declining value, some economists worry they will not invest in the United States unless they get higher long-term interest rates — even as the Fed lowers its overnight rate.
“I don’t think there is any great danger of hitting a trigger point where people cut and run from the dollar,” said Kenneth Rogoff, a professor of economics at Harvard and a former director of research at the International Monetary Fund. “But there are hidden costs. The dollar’s pre-eminence in the international financial system provides a huge bonanza to the United States. We pay lower interest rates than we would otherwise. We can probably borrow money on short notice more easily than we could otherwise.”
Mr. Bernanke did not mention the dollar’s falling value on Wednesday, but he has said on previous occasions that he saw no sign that the dollar was in danger of losing its status as the world’s leading reserve currency.
On Wednesday, Mr. Bernanke carefully acknowledged that inflation had accelerated in recent months and would make the Fed’s job much more difficult if it became ingrained in public expectations.
“Any tendency of inflation expectations to become unmoored or for the Federal Reserve’s inflation-fighting credibility to be eroded would greatly complicate the task of sustaining price stability and could reduce the flexibility of the F.O.M.C,” Mr. Bernanke warned, referring to the Federal Open Market Committee, which sets interest rates.
“Accordingly, in the months ahead, the Federal Reserve will continue to closely monitor inflation and inflation expectations,” Mr. Bernanke said.
But Mr. Bernanke made it clear that Fed officials are more worried about a sharp slowdown and rising unemployment than they are concerned about inflation.

I don’t see how that they think that the economy is going to boost it’s self off its keister. Most “Consumer’s” are folks who mortgaged their home and property to the hilt to have the toys and goodies. The housing market goes in the toilet, and all that free cash with it. Now comes a second sucker punch with the rise energy prices both due to the falling value of the dollar and also the increased competition for the crude and refined oil that is out there.
Enough rambling for the night..
Well, any one want to put their thoughts out there and comment??? I would like to see what you think.

Working on the MR. Qualification-Card

Well, I see that I have been delinquent in my Blog posting. Bothnook, again missed me on the roles for active Bubblehead bloggers. Right now, I am in the mayhem of getting ready to step over the 20yr line for Naval Service ( Yeah “Retire”); Find the next income source that will support me, Better half and the kid, and get through the any-day in the Navy I have to endure until they cut me loose. Tall order, but being a salty old Submariner, I am up to the task.

Not that I am all together dreading the thought of getting my title of MR. Back. It is just radically different than what I have been used to the past twenty years of my life.

The past twenty years, I have been in a “Here is (Fill in the blank with near impossible technical or operational tasking on a super short timeline.”) what I need done. My answer is “No Problem”, WORK LIKE A CRAZED MONKEY AND, WITH SOME LUCK PULL IT OUT OF THE FIRE.
Report back to immediate supervisor with results of efforts and on to the next problem. Do this endlessly for a couple of years and then; every three to five years, Call to personally unknown Khaki wearing member of rate on phone, and have the following discussion,

“What ya got Chief,?”
“Well, We need hot-fills in (Blank Geographical Location) are you interested??”
“HMM,, Hawaii(Or other remote place or boat) sounds pretty good, what’s the job??”
“ Well, they need a” Blankety-blank” “to do”” yada-yada”
“No-sweat, Can Do. Pencil me in for that one”
“No problem, You should see orders in XX days”

And as the bottle in the shower says: Rinse, Wash, REPEAT.

Now, there is a whole new world for me.
Resumes, Interviews, and Networking. These are a whole myriad of skills that they really DON’T teach in-depth at the Transitional Training that the Navy sends you through at the end of your career. You have exactly 16-21 hrs of class time to learn about these skills in a one size- fits all forum. Equate that to 20 yrs of perfecting a technical skill and trade. Not that I am meaning to be negative to the help and training that they provide. Just, When you start the process of crossing the threshold; there is “a cold bucket of salt water in the face, eye opening” reality to it.

Added to the fact that I would like to stay in the greater North West area so that My Little one can continue to attend the great school where she is enrolled. The area is pretty saturated with skilled workers. Not as bad as some areas, But I haven’t exactly had someone knocking down my door with a job offer either.
So there are the facts. I am still here trying to remain slightly amused and keep my sanity about life.

There have been a huge number of subjects I have wanted to dive into and rant about. Just haven’t found the time.

Feel Free to Post a comment if you visit. I’d love to see who stops by.

Good Bye Sonny

There are few things in this world that make my crusty old submariner heart actually want to weep. But last night I got a call from home from my dad about the death of a man who I have know for a lifetime, Sonny Gomez. The world is poorer for his passing.
He was a great American, a Great New Mexican, and a dear and much missed friend.
I will miss not going home and downing a cold margarita that he made. I will miss his wild stories of the Pecos valley in the 40's and beyond.

Rest In Peace Sonny,
I know that there is a plate of hot green enchilada's, a cold beer and your Red Thunderbird waiting for you. Say Hi to Momma Gomez for us.

I hope that I can find the happiness you had with your life.

Fermin "Sonny" Gomez
Fermin (Sonny) Gomez passed away at his home in Hagerman, N.M., on Monday, Feb. 4, 2008.

He was born June 20, 1929, in Loving, N.M., to Fermin Gomez Sr. and Estella Padilla Gomez, who preceded him in death.

Dad was a kind, loving and thoughtful person. He respected everyone and would help anyone in need.

He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed entertaining people. This was demonstrated by his willingness to dress in costumes for various holidays. Often times, he would dress in costume for days following holidays as well to bring laughter to as many customers as possible.

His motto was, "don't worry, be happy."

He so loved and believed in the Lord that he made an annual pilgrimage to Santuario de Chimayo in northern New Mexico. His father started this tradition, and upon his passing, Dad took it upon himself to continue the tradition.

His mother and father were most influential on his life.

His death will affect all who knew him.

In younger years he enjoyed farming in the Buffalo Valley east of Hagerman and was known to be one of the few who could farm successfully in that hard caliche soil.

In later years he was a business owner who truly enjoyed his profession as a nightclub owner. His career began in 1947 at El Gomez Club that was built by his mother and father. He treated all his customers as family and was always truly glad to see them. His family were his friends and his customers were his family.

His hobby was his business and his business was people with whom he loved spending time with.

He was raised in the Pecos Valley and had an incredible knowledge of the history of the land and people. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge with everyone.

In 1987, Bartender Magazine, a national publication, inducted him into the Bartender Hall of Fame, which became one of his proudest accomplishments.

He so loved his 1960 red Ford Thunderbird, which he purchased brand new off the showroom floor, that he could never bring himself to sell it.

He often said he was proudest of his two daughters who were not afraid of hard work.

He was a member of the United States Army and was a longtime member of the Artesia Moose Lodge.

He was an inspiration to his children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, friends and customers. As quoted by his grandchildren, "He was the best grandpa in the world." He was the "favorite uncle in the world" and "The greatest" by everyone else who knew him.

He made a good living but more importantly, he made a great life.

Surviving him are his wife, Elia Gomez; daughters Luana Harrell and husband Gary Harrell of Roswell, N.M., and Sonia Gomez of Hagerman, N.M.; one granddaughter Melana Boyd and husband Jason Boyd of Midland, Texas; grandsons Justin Gray and Staci Ennis of Roswell, N.M., Nathaniel Gray and Megan Anderson of Roswell, N.M., and USMC Sgt. Valerian Gomez and Audrey Olivas of Hagerman, N.M.; great-grandchildren Natalie and Eileen Gomez of Hagerman, N.M., Aidan Boyd of Midland, Texas, and Sydney Gray of Roswell, N.M.; one sister Olivia Reid of Dexter, N.M.; brothers Gilbert Gomez and wife Elsie of Hagerman, N.M., Bobby Gomez and wife Arcie of Sun City, Calif., Clancy Gomez and wife Karyn of Menefee, Calif., Edward Gomez and wife Minnie of Artesia, N.M., David Gomez and wife Phyllis of Carlsbad, N.M., Daniel Gomez and wife Sharon of Roswell, N.M., Joe Gomez and wife Beatrice of Chihuahua, Mexico, Billy Gomez and wife Jeannie of La Mesa, N.M.; a sister-in-law Mony Gomez of Albuquerque, N.M.; one uncle Bennie Padilla and wife Lorraine of Roswell, N.M.; three aunts Betty Cordova of Santa Rosa, N.M., Victoria Dutchover of Midway, N.M., and Maggie Lee Langenegger of Hagerman, N.M.; his beloved madrina, Flavia Cota, of Rio Rancho, N.M.; 30 nieces and nephews; hundreds of friends and several generations of customers.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Justin and Nathan Gray and Valerian Gomez, nephews Mark and Mario Reid and Joe Gomez Jr.

A rosary will be recited on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, located at 1111 N. Roselawn Ave., Artesia, NM, with funeral services to be held Friday at 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Artesia, with burial to follow at Twin Oaks Memorial Park, 59 Lake Arthur Hwy., Artesia, NM.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.