Former 49er follows his calling -- missile defense system advocate

[Rose Siding]

Washington -- Riki Ellison, a bruising linebacker on three San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl-winning teams, is competing in an even tougher game these days.

Ellison is campaigning for the government to create a full-fledged missile defense system. It's a controversial proposition that he contends with evangelical zeal is the best way to protect the United States in an era when more countries can get their hands on missiles and nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Terrorist groups also dream of getting such weapons.
....
Proponents such as Ellison and President Bush say ground-, sea- and air- based systems that can detect and knock down incoming enemy missiles are vital to the nation's defense. Critics say the multibillion-dollar missile defense program, dogged by repeated test failures, is never going to work well enough to be fully deployed and takes money away from more effective techniques for stopping attacks, such as better intelligence on potential enemies and enforcing nonproliferation agreements.

Ellison is tireless in promoting his cause, traveling to 20 states during last year's presidential campaign, not to support a candidate but to talk up missile defense among Republicans, who are the program's natural supporters, and with Democrats, who he realizes are more skeptical. He is determined to convince liberals in the Bay Area and elsewhere that they should side with him.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/03/29/MNGSNC03LM1.DTL

[Fenris]

1. Speechless.

[Spazito]

2. Wow, who knew an over-paid jock is an expert

on defense! Will wonders never cease!

[Brooklyn Michael]

31. Of course he is....

Who else would be STUPID enough to think this thing would work?

[Blue_Tires]

3. i wonder how he's profiting from this

[leveymg]

4. Fine, Let the NFL Pay For It.

These guys are so over-paid, they can almost afford it. Billions is an underestimate.

:bounce:

[skotrussell]

5. Seems simple enough to me...

I'd just recruit a liberal Center and Offensive Guard to double-team his ass.

[Rose Siding]

8. Where we gonna find a liberal center, coach?

Welcome to DU, skotrussell :hi:

[skotrussell]

22. Thanks!

Glad to be here.

[lyonn]

14. Hi and welcome

Get a center young enough and he might be liberal.

[Inland]

6. Hey, if Hedy Lamarr can invent radar, this guy can do star wars!

After all, what's to know--it's a faith based defense.

On edit--it wasn't radar, but something to do with communication technology.
http://www.hedylamarr.com/about/biography.htm

[KamaAina]

18. That's Hedley!

</blazing-saddles> :-)

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

26. This is 1874...you can sue HER!

.

[Boo Boo]

7. His conversion to Missile Defense zealot

came after a locker room soap-dropping incident. It was then than he realized the need for robust missile defense. "It's an idea that kinda sneaks up on ya," says Ellison, "but once you get it, it's like 'Man, I gotta get me one of those shields man'. No shit!"

[TahitiNut]

9. Riki thinks it's like pass defense ... just hold your arms up.

Football as a metaphor ... but Riki just doesn't understand what a metaphor is.

[bobthedrummer]

10. The RNC sent out a questionaire to Republicans last year

the emphasis of the questions was on expanding and supporting President Reagan's SDI Star Wars programs.

Maybe he's a RNC loyalist or operative.

A real "exotic weapons" kinda guy too, I'd bet.

Wonder Weapons (from 1997 US News)
http://www.angelfire.com/or/mctrl/usnews.html

[daleo]

11. He has as much chance of interception as BMD does.

Ex-NFL defensive halfbacks could be hired to stand around and jump in the air, attempting to bat down incoming missiles. It would work as well as what they are building and would be considerably cheaper.

To be fair, ex-NBA players and ex-MLB outfielders are also good jumpers and could help out. Ex-NHL hockey goalies could be hired to stop any incoming cruise missiles.

[Demeter]

12. Too Many Concussions, I Think

I'd hate to find out that someone that stupid ever attended a university (other than as a legacy student at Yale, for example).

[lyonn]

13. How about we concentrate on straigntening out Iraq

Not bigger and better bombs, bigger and better high tech info system when they can't manage the simple weapons they now have properly. Communication seems to be a Big problem in Iraq. Duh - Linebackers, now we need more of their input in politics. Has he been tested for concussions?

[VegasWolf]

15. This should clear out the last three 49'er season ticket holders. n/t

[VegasWolf]

16. I'm only going to be a believer when Joe Namath says it's true. n/t

[OETKB]

17. Meanwhile on the other coast...

The Globe ran this propaganda piece today:

<http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2005/03/29/build_missile_defense_before_its_too_late?mode=PF>

A quick google search shows this author to be a neocon and his organization has a connection to the Heritage Foundation(they are a contributing member to townhall.com, a sponsored site of the Heritage Foundation). Oh the evil web(sites) they weave to spew disinformation into our "respected" media.

[KamaAina]

19. Missile defense had better not be anything like the Niners' "defense"

or we're all as good as :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[NashVegas]

20. If Bono Can Discuss 3rd World Debt ...

I guess this is okay.

Shouldn't be that difficult to rip his arguments.

[OneBlueSky]

21. even more bizarre . . . guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is a strategic . . .

defense expert who is often called upon by the defense establishment for consultation . . . really . . .

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

27. And what's this about Hillary Duff

being asked to head a Task Force on structural adjustment of Third World debt. That's just plain crazy!

[tinanator]

33. that drives me nuts

I believe his work in guitar synthesizer technology with Roland may have led to some breakthrough or notions of relevance to SDI hucksters that sorry bastard took to the defense department. Very disappointing to find out someone of personal interest can be such a filthy hawk. Hope you choke on your next doobie, brother.

[DS1]

23. Everyone knows the NE Patriots have the best missile defense in the league

Hell, Teddy Brusci could handle the Alaskan division all by himself!

INTERCEPTION!!

Putin: SHIT!

[Guaranteed]

24. Dammit. You're shaming me, Ellison. nt

[LastDemocratInSC]

25. The Russians have already leapfrogged our anti-missle technology

The Russians have developed a maneuverable craft to carry their warheads. It is launched on a conventional rocket and when released can nimbly maneuver around any of our defensive missles. It is similar to the scramjet that NASA has flown twice except theirs is working and ours is still in early development.

Here's a link to a story about it:

http://www.sptimes.ru/archive/times/691/top/t_4204.htm

[regularguy]

28. So's Jeff "Skunk" Baxter

FROM guitar.about.com:
===========================================================
Guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter certainly has had a diverse professional career. The guitarist made his first mainstream appearance on record as a member of the psychadelic pop band Ultimate Spinach. He has played extensively with two of the most popular bands of the 70's - The Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. Skunk produced albums by Nazareth and others. Jeff has had 17 gold records, eight platinum records, and has been awarded two Grammies. Most recently, Baxter has garnered a position as a defense analyst and a consultant to US Congressmen on Military defense.
Yes... you read that correctly. Although Baxter remains an active working musician, the guitarist has found work as "a defense analyst and a consultant to US Congressmen on Military defense and national security issues, mostly in the area of missile defense."

When asked whether President Bush has the right to explore the hotly debated missile defense system, the decidedly Republican Baxter believes that "it's a changing world, and a lot of people haven't caught up to it yet. Somebody has to take the initiative."
============================================================

[LiberallyInclined]

29. beat me too it-

i was checking the thread to see if anyone had mentioned jeff...

[Kickin_Donkey]

30. Riki's had his bell rung once too many times ...

If he thinks he's going to convert the liberal Bay Area, he will be sorely disappointed.

What do you expect from a USC man?

[LiberallyInclined]

32. regarding missile defense-

why do they have to hit the incoming missiles...? can't they just use small nuk-u-lar warheads to knock them out- that way they just have to come reasonably close.