Seashells and Balloons

[tower912]

Lenny, it is a balloon that everyone can see and track.  How much useful information can it glean when everyone knows where it is and what it is?   That isn't already being pulled from satellites?   If it was flying over my house I would flip it off or moon it.

It is the size of 3 buses.  Shooting it down spreads 3 buses of unknown debris over a large area.  Would you want that over the Florida coast?   Try and attach a tether hook and pull it?   Same problem.

Right now, the biggest hazard is it crashing over a populated area.   Unless it is the most unorthodox first strike weapon ever.

So, I stand by my statement.   This is an embarrassment for China.

[4everwarriors]

What would you consider to be a serious embarrassment for the U.S.? Axin' fore myself, hey?

[tower912]

Trump.  MAGA.

[4everwarriors]

You'd prefer the Buffoon be re-elected, hey?

[tower912]

The buffoon was defeated.   Should he run, I will vote for the current president.   

[4everwarriors]

Might have to choose someone else. Doubt he'll be on the ballot. Besides, both he and Trump are just too kolekin' old. This country can and should do better, hey?

[tower912]

Yes, it is time to move on to the next generation.    However, if it is a 2020 rematch, I will vote the same way I voted then. 

[MuggsyB]

I think it's very possible they shoot that thing down today. 

[rocket surgeon]

Lenny, it is a balloon that everyone can see and track.  How much useful information can it glean when everyone knows where it is and what it is?   That isn't already being pulled from satellites?   If it was flying over my house I would flip it off or moon it.

It is the size of 3 buses.  Shooting it down spreads 3 buses of unknown debris over a large area.  Would you want that over the Florida coast?   Try and attach a tether hook and pull it?   Same problem.

Right now, the biggest hazard is it crashing over a populated area.   Unless it is the most unorthodox first strike weapon ever.

So, I stand by my statement.   This is an embarrassment for China.

   ummm, memba the trojan horsies?? 

if we blow it outta the sky, we have the technology to do that over bumblefudge USA or just vaporize the mofo

  under maga man, this thing wouldn't have made it to the shores of the aleutian isles

  transparency means...oh damn, you saw that??  then minimize it? 

  probably loaded with more $$-ya know 10% for the BG !! ca-ching

[lawdog77]

Maybe it's the new Uber and its full of Chinese food, or as the Chinese call it, food.

[Pakuni]

I don't have the information to say what I would do...

Exactly, Lenny.
It's obvious from  your earlier posts that you really didn't understand the size and makeup of this balloon, its capabilities or the implications of shooting it down.
Of course, that hasn't stopped you from second-guessing the decisions of those who do have that information and assuming that you, with all your vast knowledge and experience in these matters, know better.

Obviously the military and the decisions of its leadership are light years from infallible, but shouldn't one at least educate him/herself before second-guessing?

[Uncle Rico]

   ummm, memba the trojan horsies?? 

if we blow it outta the sky, we have the technology to do that over bumblefudge USA or just vaporize the mofo

  under maga man, this thing wouldn't have made it to the shores of the aleutian isles

  transparency means...oh damn, you saw that??  then minimize it? 

  probably loaded with more $$-ya know 10% for the BG !! ca-ching

8 out of 10

[rocky_warrior]

Gents - if you want to argue about playing a man vs zone defense against a Chinese balloon, have at it.  If you want to piss and moan about politics, I'll ban you.  Have at it.

[Jockey]

Despite proclamations from George Santos saying he's operating the balloon, it appears that's not the case

They need to bring back the old Jon Lovitz character from SNL to play George Santos.

Yeaaah, that's the ticket.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

8 out of 10

28.19

Reeko is slightly hungover after drinking full bottle of Mellow Corn last night, but still has a good reaction time.

[Jockey]

Too bad the balloon's flight path won't take it over the Marquette campus. Stray gunfire would take it down.

The Dentist Militia could take care of this. All those weekends paintin' their faces and playin' army in the woods could pay off.

[MU82]

They need to bring back the old Jon Lovitz character from SNL to play George Santos.

Yeaaah, that's the ticket.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpKLHWg2Ffg

[Hards Alumni]

Anyone got a stick pin? We're bein' spied upon and no one gives a chit, hey?

The military has probably known about the balloons since they were launched in the ocean or china or wherever.

Not surprisingly, they don't tell the general public about every little thing they spot.  This only came to light because civilians spotted it.

You can cry about Biden or whatever, but that's just be more hot air.

[Uncle Rico]

28.19

Reeko is slightly hungover after drinking full bottle of Mellow Corn last night, but still has a good reaction time.

I love Mellow Corn!

[Hards Alumni]

There are/were several possibilities. It could have been shot down before it was over water jbut in our air space. It could have been shot down over some area where there was little or no chance of impacting the population. Perhaps there's a way of bringing it down without essentially blowing it up - a tear in the balloon, something of that sort. Or we could do nothing and learn nothing about what was in the balloon, harrumph a bit and cancel our Secretary of State's trip to China.

I don't have the information to say what I would do, but I definitely wouldn't laugh it off as no big deal like Tower, Bias and others have done. And unless there's something they're not telling us I wouldn't have chosen the do nothing option.

Good lord you think small.  Nations do this to each other all the time to test responses.

I do think it's pretty funny that you see this balloon as a threat when you know nothing about it other than it is Chinese.  Meanwhile, the military and its full complement sensors don't see it as any sort of a threat.  You know, the experts on such things.

Yet, you're like, "THIS THING IS DANGEROUS TUCKER SAID SO".  I may have adlibbed that last part for you, but I know your outrage stems from the media you're consuming.

[Hards Alumni]

28.19

Reeko is slightly hungover after drinking full bottle of Mellow Corn last night, but still has a good reaction time.

"I'm here to defend your honor again, my friend"

[Lennys Tap]

Exactly, Lenny.
It's obvious from  your earlier posts that you really didn't understand the size and makeup of this balloon, its capabilities or the implications of shooting it down.
Of course, that hasn't stopped you from second-guessing the decisions of those who do have that information and assuming that you, with all your vast knowledge and experience in these matters, know better.

Obviously the military and the decisions of its leadership are light years from infallible, but shouldn't one at least educate him/herself before second-guessing?

Of course I understood the size, etc. - that's why I said that if taken down the best time to do it was either while over water or somewhere that is virtually uninhabited.

And of course I don't know it's "capabilities". Neither do you, bias, Tower, etc. - that doesn't stop you all from dismissing it as something unimportant that can't give China any information it already isn't getting. How does anyone who doesn't know its capabilities know that, and (if true) why did China launch it?

As to our military, I think it's likely they've been debating what to do about this for a few days. And their advice is sometimes overruled by politicians anyway. Who knows, a'ina?

[Goose]

Lenny

The Chinese told the scoopers it was a weather balloon that went off track. The guys on here take that for being accurate and do not see an issue. It will be funny to read responses after it is shot down in a couple of hours.

[Uncle Rico]

Lenny

The Chinese told the scoopers it was a weather balloon that went off track. The guys on here take that for being accurate and do not see an issue. It will be funny to read responses after it is shot down in a couple of hours.

Who thinks it's just a weather balloon?

[wadesworld]

Who thinks it's just a weather balloon?

Right. Literally said they have satellites that do the same thing. Could be weather satellites. But not what I meant.