The More They Talk About Change....

....the more they stay the same. The buzzword of this election season is "change" - and from the looks of it, someone is going to be swept into the highest office in the land riding the wings of that elusive bird. Unfortunately for those who are buying into this idea of change I have some bad news: hypocrisy. Barack Obama's plan was to be a man of the people and run his election using federal dollars; but, an endorsement from Oprah and a few hundred million dollars later, he is changing his plans. McCain, the champion of fair election funding, is finding ways to circumvent the FEC - how convenient.

If a candidate can't be trusted to keep their word during a campaign, why should we believe that they will be any different in office? Both options for '08 appear to be opportunists purely interested in advancing their respective political careers. This is especially true for Barack Obama who has done nothing to-date that speaks otherwise. At least McCain put in work at the Senate level and helped author important legislation. Unfortunately, it just so happens that he may undo some of his most important political work with his bid for the presidency. Sadly, I doubt these actions will have any impact whatsoever on the campaign. It seems to me that actions are far less important than sound bytes and web sites.

Bloomberg 2012!

Maybe next time.....

When I tune into NBA broadcasts on ESPN, I never expect to learn anything significant from the studio show. The most insightful information is primarily provided by the dot com crew. Henry Abbott, Chad Forde, John Hollinger and Ric Bucher do the yeoman's work of analyzing the inner workings of front office and team dynamics. So, when something like the NBA Draft comes along I know it promises to be more sizzle than steak. I have no idea why this is the case. ESPN's NFL coverage offers draft gurus such as Todd McShay and the grand poobah of all gurus, Mel Kiper, Jr. Meanwhile, NBA fans are left with the lead color commentators for NBA broadcasts (Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson), who incidentally do fantastic work calling games, but seem slightly unprepared for this particular role. In addition, viewers get to listen to the dulcet tones of Stephen A. Smith interview the draftees in attendance. I'm not entirely convinced that he watches any more NCAA basketball than Angela Merkel (Germany's PM, so not too much if you're scoring at home). What chaps me off more than anything is the complete and utter lack of common sense on display. This was never more evident than the severe tongue lashing that Dick Vitale gave to the Knicks upon their selection of The Big Rooster, Danilo Gallinari, from Italy. The "experts" were quick to get in line to agree with the Bald Wonder. Vitale alleged that the Knicks organization and Knick fans need a player who can produce right away. There is no interest in developing a talent that might take a year or two to blossom. Excuse me while I lustily boo these morons. That line of thinking is precisely why the Knick organization is one of the top 3 worst run franchises in the sport. That is why the Knicks haven't had a first round pick in a few years, why Jared Jeffries makes $6 million a year, why they traded for Eddy Curry, Zach Randolph, Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis. They are an absolute laughing stock. When a team starts making moves to appease its fans it is a sure sign of an organization that has lost its way. The only time you mortgage your future for the sake of the present is if you have a REALISTIC shot at making the finals. I’m still not convinced that Dick Vitale watches more than 10 NBA regular season games a year. He’s become a parody of himself and not worth listening to unless he’s calling college games involving the best teams in the country.

So, to wrap this up, we've got one guy, Dick Vitale, who might not watch any NBA games and another guy, Stephen A. Smith, who might not watch any college games providing the viewer with expert analysis. To quote the Geico Caveman, "Maybe next time do a little research".

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I have one thought on what actually happened in the draft. I think the Celtics missed a golden opportunity to draft a player with untapped potential in DeAndre Jordan. This is a guy with a million dollar body and a ten cent head. Motivation and experience are two factors working against him. The Celtics represent the perfect opportunity to remedy both of those characteristics and the risk at taking him on at pick 30 is minimal. The team already has their top eight rotation guys returning from a 66 win team that went on to win the Championship. Essentially Jordan would serve an apprenticeship position under Kevin Garnett for the next few years. If ever there was a guy in the league who could motivate a young big it is the newly certified Kevin Garnett. This is a guy whose cylinders are always firing on full bore even to the point that some reporters question the results of such an attitude. I think Giddens selection is similar, but the ceiling isn’t as nearly as high

VEEP, VEEP

As the long, arduous primary race has finally concluded on the left it is time to turn our attention to the candidates' first official act as leaders of their respective parties. Oftentimes the selection of a running mate serves as balancing of skills. Young paired with experienced (old just doesn't inspire as much confidence as experienced), domestic with international expertise, geographic considerations also come into play. It's all about making as many people as possible feel confident that a voice similar to their own will have the ear of the person sitting in the oval office.


Traditional campaign tactics would have John McCain select a running mate with a consistent conservative background in order to quell the fears of the base and ensure that he would win the votes of the religious right. I've heard on a number of news programs and read articles promoting this line of thinking. I think this is a horrible idea. This election can not be won using the Karl Rove playbook of 2000. Apathy will not reign supreme and invigorating your base will not be sufficient to win the Presidency. Gas is fast approaching $5, unemployment took an enormous leap, confidence in the banking industry is low and the war continues. Needless to say, people are looking for something different. Barack Obama modeled his entire campaign around one word: change. Whether or not he truly represents it is neither here nor there. He has been succesful by beating the drum of change for months. I would encourage John McCain to challenge Obama by actually representing change. I think he should select Sen. Joseph Lieberman from CT as his running mate. Lieberman is suffiently hawkish to fit in with the fundamental ideals of the McCain camp. This old running mate of Al Gore's from the 2000 election would signal an important change in the Republican party and would speak to the voters. The siren call of bipartisanship would speak to the undecideds and independents that may swing this election.

As for Barack Obama, I think that he should pull a page out of the land of Lincoln playbook and select his rival, Hillary Clinton, as his running mate. Most people don't fully appreciate the greatness of Lincoln. Sure he helped end slavery and was a tremendous orator, but what people don't realize is that he held the country and his administration together by including individuals who ran against him. Why? Because they were the best people for the job. His Sec. of Treasury, Salmon Chase, even ran against Lincoln in his election for a second term. This kind of behavior would immediately be met with a pink slip in today's world. Lincoln calmly held his position and refused to accept Chase's resignation as Secretary of the Treasury. That kind of equanimity is the change that this country craves. The fact that Obama and Clinton don't get along is not a concern to the American public. What is a concern is that Barack Obama is ambitious in his goals of alleviating the ills of the nation and surely could use the help. Whilst he is dealing with the poor economy and our poor foreign relations, how exactly does he intend on instituting a national health care plan that doesn't bankrupt the nation and actually works? Perhaps he should look to the person who spent the majority of her professional career working towards that very goal. Someone who already has a working relationship with the Senate (which is where the VP's office is located) and would be fully equipped to push the legislation. By pushing aside their differences they would represent change. I think Americans are looking for a change. They are looking for the end of cronyism. They are looking for qualified people to fill important positions in government. This certainly would count as change on that front.

If anything, this would make for terrific political theater. Just imagine Clinton and Obama standing shoulder to shoulder on stage smiling for the camera. Just imagine after the last eight years and think about a Republican and a Democrat sharing the spot light and the work load, fighting for a common goal. It would certainly make the TV studios happy. And after all, in this day and age, isn't that most important thing?

A New Fad Diet

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7370362.stm

I think it's safe to say that no person in the world weighing 400lbs, for those of you not down with the metric system or the British stone, is a healthy human being. All that weight, regardless of height is putting undue stress on the joints and organs of the individual. To think that this man lost 100lbs from his monstrous frame and had the gall to complain about it is absurd. Losing that weight probably added years to his life. Not that he has much to look forward to from the looks of it. I imagine that the evidence is stacked heavily against him if he has been in prison awaiting trial for a full eight months. Also, I find it patently absurd for him to be complaining about the lack of physical excercise opportunities. Who is he trying to kid?

Perhaps there should be a bullshit clause in civil litigation. I'd like to see people who submit claims of this ilk publicly humiliated. Perhaps the mere specter of being tarred and feathered would clear the courts of time wasting suits.

Its A Mugatu Thing

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills! Has the whole world gone mad? At first, I thought I stumbled unknowingly onto a website with satirical stories like this one. Unfortunately, the link leading you to the children's book "My Pretty Mommy" is all too real. Now, I completely understand that there are difficulties present for youngsters with mothers who alter their physical appearance. I'm sure it can be a jarring experience. And, I would never begrudge anyone the opportunity to make that change. What I don't support is that this book irresponsibly promotes values that aren't appropriate for youngsters. They should not be exposed to what amounts to a marketing campaign extolling the virtues (read superficial values) of plastic surgery. That book cover is all wrong. The "pretty mommy" is standing there with her midriffed bared (Warning: I'm starting to sound like an old codger) surrounded by magical sparkles while her child looks up her in adoration. Its as if Tinker Bell descended from the heavens, waved her magic wand and made mommy pretty. In the immortal words of Jack Black in Anchorman, "What the hell, bra?"

Dudley Debate

Last night the two remaining candidates duked it out debate style to win the hearts and minds of the voters in PA and beyond. I'll tell who wasn't the big winner last night....the viewers. I made it through approximately one hour of the shenanigans on ABC before I wished I was watching Robocop 2 again. That Officer Murphy played by Peter Weller really knows a thing or two about street justice. I would have liked to see him asking the questions of the two candidates rather than the 45 minute inquisition about past mistakes. Good grief. I'm shocked we haven't learned whether or not Sens. Clinton and Obama would like to take back that second snickers bar they ate after lunch in the second grade. Anyway, I thought the most important thing to happen during the debate was that Barack Obama looked and sounded exhausted. Hillary, too, sounded tired, but less so than her opponent. This effect was probably aided by the maniacal smile plastered on her face as questions were lobbed Obama's way regarding Clinton's Bosnia stance in the nineties. Overall, I give this debate four thumbs down. 

Might Want to Rethink That

I haven't written in quite some time. No reason for the hiatus. However, I felt inspired to write a little today.

As I watched the Kansas Jayhawks mount an improbable comeback against the Memphis Tigers in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship I had a lot of thoughts going through my head. The first was that this game was wildly entertaining. I haven't enjoyed a final game like that in quite some time. The second was that even though it was a fun game, it wasn't terribly well played. And, I had this thought way before the missed free throws. Looking at the shot chart at half time it was revealed that KU had scored exactly one basket that wasn't a layup or a dunk. How could that be? How could one of the best teams in the country make one jump shot in an entire half? The trend continued. Before Mario Chalmers of KU hit that memorable 3-pointer to tie the game in the waning seconds, Kansas had hit just a handful of jumpers. It seemed like both teams were comfortable driving blindly to the rim with the hopes of a defensive miscue or a put back. Anyway, I won't harp much more because it truly was a fun game to watch and because I was left with one feeling above all the rest. As Chris Douglas Roberts and Derek Rose were both bricking free throws that could have iced the game, I couldn't help but think of an interview John Calipari gave earlier in the year. He was talking about the new offense that he implemented this year. The image that is indelibly burned into my brain is of Calipari telling his interviewer his recruiting strategy. He mentioned that if you think that you're a nice player who can set picks and rebound that he has no use for you. He wants players that can dribble, shoot and above all, attack. The next question dealt with the free throw shooting woes of his team. A loose rendition of the quote with which he responds is that, "If I'm judging a recruit based on 25 different things, I put free throw shooting at 26." Well, do you think Coach Calipari might want to rethink that strategy?

Criminal Care

This is criminal. There really isn't much more to say here. How the CEO of a non-profit hospital can take home a shade over 16 million dollars in a year that they only spend 20 million on charity care is beyond me. The entire point of the tax breaks is to provide care for those who otherwise could not afford it. Its about giving someone the surgery they need instead of amputating a limb, its about taking preventative measures to ensure that cancer does not metastasize. I can assure you that tax breaks are not for marble floors and flat screen televisions. While I'm no doctor, I think its safe to say that never in recorded history has an ear infection been treated with 2 hours of Desperate Housewives, even if it is in precious HD. As a tax payer, I am shocked. As a human being, I am appalled. This needs to stop.

In the 1940s Sen. Harry S. Truman created the preparedness committee that exposed military waste. He traveled the country, showing up at military bases unannounced and demand to see how tax dollars were being spent. It was not the first example of his sense of fiscal accountability and it would follow him to the White House, where he famously displayed the saying "The Buck Stops Here". It would serve us greatly to find our own Trumanesque character to sniff out waste and fraud of this sort because this negligence costs people their lives.

A Question of Liberty

I came across this article the other day and it peaked my interest. The idea that an individual’s personal liberty might be infringed by not allowing them to represent themselves despite displaying a sound mind is troubling. Similarly, the notion that the potential to turn the court into a carnival thusly delaying delivering justice is worrisome. I tend to lean towards the conservative side when it comes to personal liberty and would normally fully back Scalia’s opinion. However, I don’t see there being any harm whatsoever in requiring an attorney to accompany a person with a similar mental health history during the trial. As far as leading the defensive strategy, the defendant would have every opportunity to present his or her case to the jury in the manner that they see fit. If, however, the defensive strategy descends into something that is detrimental to themselves or to the court, the attorney would be able to seamlessly insert his or herself into the proceedings without missing a beat. I think it is of the utmost importance for this country to continue to allow people the opportunity to defend themselves. That being said, our jails are overpopulated as it is and there is no need to further populate them with individuals suffering from mental deficiencies.

Circular, circle. Feel it. Go with the Flow. Do the Bull Dance.

I haven’t written anything in awhile and I want to blame it on the craziness that is the NHL trade deadline. Instead, I’ll tell you the truth and let it be known that I feel inadequate in every way. Having visited an Apple store for the first time last week with my girlfriend, I find myself thinking about whether or not there is a place in this world for me. You see, everyone who works there is a GENIUS. All employees walk around with name tags that say “Hi, I’m a Genius. Art Scranafran” I used a false name because I wouldn’t want you to bombard these intellectual giants with your mundane questions. Once you enter the store and gather the courage to consult one of these geniuses you are given the opportunity to wait a few more minutes before you can sit down with a genius with an even bigger brain….wait for it…..at the Genius Bar. Here you can fully explore your Mac/iPod/iPhone problems or think about how you’ve failed to live up to your potential because you’ve missed out on the genius moniker. I was beginning to feel light headed (due to the rarefied air) and quietly prayed that this herd of geniuses could fix the computer sooner rather than later. I was in luck. These were, after all, geniuses. The problem was resolved and a return to normal oxygen levels got me thinking (had my brush with greatness influenced me?). I began to think about the audacity of a company to offer help from geniuses in their retail outlets. Wouldn’t normal computing folks shrink in awe from these divine beings? A brief w-w-w search later netted me an answer.

http://www.macobserver.com/article/2008/01/21.9.shtml

Apparently Mac users don’t lack confidence about their own mental capacity and might even be called conceited. I wonder if they feel this way because they have geniuses working for them or if Apple employs geniuses to deal with these haughty consumers. This “which comes first” is analogous to the age old chicken or the egg question and is best summed up by Luna Lovegood. They are both like a circle and know no beginning or end.

Pure Unadulterated Joy

Last night the Phoenix Suns played the Golden State Warriors in what can only be described as a thrilling basketball game. The pace was frenetic and the skill was obvious. People often wonder why I like the NBA more than college ball and games like this make me feel good about my preference. These were two whirling dervishes fighting to the last second. Open jumpers were drained, drives were finished and there was no shortage of spectacular plays. I hoped and prayed for overtime only to denied by a few surprisingly missed shots at the end.

I think the best part was listening to Jeff Van Gundy call the game. He single handedly set the game back to the stone age when he was coaching and would have been apopleptic had he actually been involved in the game. The defense was cursory at best and the rebounding left a lot to be desired. But, the offense was divine and he was loving it. You could hear the glee in his voice as he talked about each team's mantra of "there are no bad shots". And tonight, there really weren't.

This game was like white truffles to a gourmet, a bourdeaux to a oenophile, a fine cuban cigar to an afficionado, surredering to the French. It was the most natural and beautiful expression of basketball I have seen (since their last meeting) and I can only hope that we are treated to a seven course meal this May in the playoffs.

Lessons Learned

In my first real post I talked about how bored I was of the steroids talk. I talked about how the report won't have much impact on the game itself and that MLB would be better served to spend those funds in other ways.

Well, today I'm fascinated by the 'Clemens' hearings on the Hill. Do I think they are a monumental waste of time? Yes. Do I think they are a glorified witch hunt out to bag a big name in Roger Clemens? Yes. So, why am I writing about this? Because, it seems people still haven't figured out the court of public opinion.

Baseball is a game that almost celebrates cheating. Whether it be the grounds crew shaving a mound down a few inches, watering the basepaths, growing jungle like infields or players stealing signs, cheating has been a part of baseball since the game's inception. Gaylord Perry, a well known and well liked pitcher, threw a spit ball for much of his career and. He seems incorrigible, not dirty. So, being linked to steroids, if they are as pervasive in the sport as thought to be, would not totally destroy a reputation.

The American public seems to operate this way; if you screw up in any fashion, don't lie about it. And, that is especially true when giving testimony to the grand jury (see: barry bonds) or to Congress because the spectre of jail time looms over them for perjury. Accept responsibility, show remorse and the public will come back to you. The cover up is always worse than the crime. Ask Nixon.

Thinking about this reminds me of my favorite cheating story in baseball history. A few years ago Jose Guillen, now playing for the Royals, was on assignment in the minor leagues after an injury. He was just going to be down there for a few games to get his timing and legs back. In one of those games he broke his bat and cork was discovered. These games and statistics didn't matter at all in the grand scheme of things and Jose Guillen was still out there looking for an edge. I guess the phrase "If you're not cheating, you're not trying." applies here. In spades.

*This is all based on the assumption of Clemens's guilt. Which, judging from the testimony of Pettite and Clemens himself, seems likely. I still can't believe he threw his wife under the bus in saying that she used HGH. Good grief. I doubt very much that she learned about HGH and its effects at her book club.

Super Thoughts Following Super Days

The Republicans have essentially established their candidate. The Democrats remain locked in what looks like will be a long, drawn out battle. This has been the MOs of both parties in the past few elections and I can’t help but wonder if it will have an impact come November. The Republicans seem to be pragmatic about sending their nominee up to the plate. They decide early and give that person a lot of time to motivate the base. I think this has a lot to do with the nature of Republican politics. Usually you can describe an R using eight words that cover 4 themes: Strong defense, Low taxes, Small Government, Family Values. By the time November rolls around, the candidate has the full support of its party and only has to convince a few Dems/Inds to join the crusade. Meanwhile, the Dem candidates will fight it out to the bitter end, which potentially could be divisive. Because the decision to nominate someone comes so late in the game, I wonder if the supporters of his or her opponent are so disillusioned and bitter that they either fail to show up, vote for a third party candidate or a dreaded Republican. Time will tell if the Democrats are unified. They certainly were in the midterm elections, but the scale was so much smaller.

It looks like Shaq will be traded from the sinking ship that is the Miami Heat to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and the awful contract of Marcus Banks. At first glance I thought that this was crazy. Why would the Suns, who are chugging along with the best record in the Western Conference, shake up their team? I can’t say for certain that the chemistry issues in the Suns locker room are bad because I have no access. I have read many accounts, however, that speak to that. It seems like chemistry in the NBA is paramount to success. With the addition of Shaq, the Suns also become a more versatile team. I feel as though they can continue to play their uptempo brand of ball when Shaq is on the bench by employing a lineup of Nash, Bell, Hill, Diaw and Amare. Between Hill and Diaw they can match up with the 2s, 3s, and 4s of most teams in the similar fashion to the currently constructed team. They can also go big, which they could not do before, and send out a lineup of Nash, Hill, Diaw, Amare and Shaq. You can throw Barbosa or Bell in there for any of the first three and hardly miss a beat. It seems crazy that Shaq, arguably one of the best players I’ve seen in my lifetime, could be traded twice. For the Heat, the incentive to make the move is obvious. They are going nowhere fast and to get a player of Marion’s caliber would be a coup. They can either retain him or welcome his cap space at the end of the year. Either way, they will be considerably better in the long run without the aging Shaq and his massive contract.

The Super Bowl was fantastic. Usually, if I don’t have a horse in the race I’m not as enthusiastic about the event as most. I see the Super Bowl for what it is: a tourist event. We have two weeks of hype and endless media coverage followed by a gathering of ‘sports fans’ in a room that can’t possibly seat everyone and has people talking during important game action. Not my idea of a good time. This year I couldn’t have cared less about the seating situation. I could have watched this game locked in an airplane lavatory. The action in the game was phenomenal and the two fourth quarter drives were divine. That was an absolute A+ of an event, which is saying something considering I despise the Giants and don’t think much of the Patriots.

Who needs the UN?

It seems like I cannot go a day without surfing the w-w-w (as my mom likes to say) without running into a story depicting some tragedy in Africa. Be they deplorable health issues or corrupt governments abusing their position in elections, the problems really run the gamut. South Africa, supposedly the height of efficient government in the continent, employs a health minister that believes garlic and potatoes are honest remedies in fighting their AIDS epidemic. For serious. Just google South African health minister AIDS problems and you’ll be presented with a litany of websites and articles that show you just how bad it is. The continent is rife with civil strife regarding elections in Kenya, Sudan, Somalia etc. The list is really long. Now, a lot of these problems are directly attributed to how new they are as free countries. Take a look at the problems facing America 75 years into its existence. But, they are still major problems and cannot be discounted. Back to the reason for this post.

A few years ago I sat for the State Department exam. I wanted to be a diplomat that traveled to foreign lands and worked in politics. I knew during the exam that this wasn’t going to happen for me. Why? I passed on an essay question that asked me about my feelings towards the United Nations and instead tackled a question regarding corporate responsibility. I knew then that it probably wasn’t going to work out for me because I didn’t have anything nice to say about the UN. The UN’s claim is that its inclusiveness lends legitimacy to what they support while possibly causing some delay in action. Ha! The UN is bloated, inefficient and corrupt. Just because they are inclusive does not make them right. Since when did popularity become a moral high ground?

The continent that sends the most delegates to the UN is Africa. These are people who have grown up in countries in which the governments rarely work well and that the major goal of elected people is to remain in power. It shouldn’t come as a shock to us when the UN drags their collective feet coming to the aid of countries in need or levying punishment on nations that break the rules. Its hard to blame the delegates because corruption and ineffective governments are all they know. Expecting them to move swiftly and fairly would be like hoping a tiger goes vegan. Its just not in the cards, baby.

The Real Reason the Good Guys Won WWII

Stephen Colbert often brings out his list of threats. Threats to America and threats to himself. Bears are always on the list. I think he should reconsider and so does Poland.

Bears.

Poland is great nation in which, until very recenlty, twin brothers occupied the top two positions in the government. Also, one of their neighborhood friends ascended the political ladder to assumer a lofty position. I'm guessing they didn't play a lot of kickball on that street.

Two Thumbs Up and FOUR THUMBS DOWN

Last night I was watching basketball (I do this frequently) and was pleasantly surprised at what I found. And, it had absolutely nothing to do with the referees, the announcing, the coaching or the players. I was impressed by the fans. We exist in an era of constant court storming. I was once at a game where a 17th ranked Georgetown team beat a 12th ranked Syracuse team and watched in horror as the student “fans” flocked to the court like the salmon of capastrano. G-Ross. The Hoyas are a storied team and anything less than three point launch off of Mike Sweetney’s left knee for the win should have kept the moronic fans in their seats. You can celebrate in your seats. Well, last night in a game in which a team mired in mediocrity (this season) defeated one that is wildly successful (this season) I half expected those rambunctious students to storm the court. It didn’t seem to matter in my mind that the mediocre team (Kentucky) is one of the most storied programs in all of college basketball. But, as the final horn sounded and the jubilant players jumped around with each other I witnessed something that made me smile. The fans cheered. They stood and clapped because they were happy their team won and they didn’t act like they haven’t seen them win before. I’m all for celebrating fantastic events, but I prefer to see people “act like they’ve been there before” as my grandfather and prematurely-mature roommate likes to say. Especially, when these fantastic and unexpected events are regular season wins by teams from power conferences. As I applaud the fans from the bluegrass state I will also heartily boo those enormous babies from UNC. Their reaction to a single loss was pathetic.

Best Pub-licity Ever

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7194654.stm

Read the story. Look at the photo of the guy. Who wouldn't become a regular at this pub? Besides nihilists, of course. They're far too exhausted.

Forget Bruce Dickinson, This is Better Than Gold Plated Diapers

As I watched Michigan send a message to the Republican party on Tuesday evening, I got around to thinking about America’s natural resources. By the way, that message was that all you have to do to be elected is tell the public what they want to hear. Seriously, Michiganers, I have some lovely beach front property in Arizona that I’ll sell you for a song. If you don’t follow, let me explain. The number one factor in the minds of voters in Michigan is “the economy, stupid”. The battle was essentially between native son, Romney, and McCain. Romney pledged that he’d do everything in his power to get back those jobs that Michigan lost in recent years. At this point I think Romney would commit to drinking the blood of the innocent if it polled well. Seriously. McCain took the approach that those jobs are gone forever and that he would help the good people of Michigan move forward by re-educating them through various community college or outreach programs. Obviously, Romney won with ease. His pledge comforts the citizens, but it isn’t realistic. Those jobs are gone – forever. You don’t see the steel mills in Pittsburgh operating at full capacity like they were in the mid 1930s. You don’t see manufacturing plants in the rust belt going full bore anymore. The economic ability of maintaining a major product from start to finish for eternity in one country just doesn’t happen anymore. Companies have to adapt or get left behind and when those companies fall behind, so do their communities.

To get back to my initial idea, I have say that, while this country is rich in land and mineral deposits, America’s greatest natural resource is its people and their continuing ability to deliver new ideas to the market place. Without our ingenuity we certainly wouldn’t exist as a country. The Revolutionary War was also a revolution in terms of how war can be waged. Gone were the days of lines of soldiers firing at each other. A new type of strategery was introduced. The War of 1812 also saw American know-how deliver crushing blows to the Brits to help win the war. With our advanced cannon production leading the way, the battle of New Orleans was a decisive victory for a young country. It also led to the first instance of nationalism. A country of loosely affiliated states transformed almost over night into unified nation. WWII saw America leap frog a stronger Japanese Navy with the advent of air power. We were able to sink many of their ships and deliver considerable damage to the until-then impregnable Tokyo. These are just three military examples of how innovation helped shape our country. The economic examples are even more plentiful and I won’t list them for fear of carpal tunnel syndrome.

The idea that the federal government can help bring back the auto industry is laughable. I know its easy for me to say this as I haven’t been adversely affected by the fall of the American car, but the sooner they commit to moving in a new direction the better off they’ll be. At this point I’d like to quote one of my favorite philosophers, Bruce Lee. He said, in describing Jeet Kune Do, “Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. If you put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put water into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow and it can crash. Be water my friend.” He used this to dispel the notion that one form of kung fu or karate was the best. He encouraged people to take bits and pieces from all forms and use them interchangeably. Success would come through this flexible/unpredictable nature. I think the quote works here because of the fluid nature of the market. Needs don’t often change, but wants certainly do and the wants crave the new and exciting and cheap. I feel confidant that the country will continue to fill those wants most ably.

I just have to say one more thing. I love this format. I think that I’ll have made disparaging remarks about every candidate by the middle of February. At which point I’ll be looking for a Lincolnesque run from a candidate waiting in the wings, someone who has been touring the country giving speeches. Oh my gosh, do I detect the dulcet tones of Newt Gingrich? Good God, NO!

Sham Alert: NCAA

I read an article (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3196762&sportCat=ncb) today that got my blood boiling a little bit. It wasn’t even a major part of the article. It was actually a miniscule factoid that is part of an enormous problem. The NCAA is a sham. They are hypocrites of the highest order. There are 59 new coaches in college basketball. 59! That is nearly 1/6th of all schools in D-I basketball. That's absurd. Most state run universities with big time college football teams pay their coaches significantly more than any other state employee. Bobby Ross, the former coach of the Army football team, was once the highest paid federal employee. These same football and basketball programs are now competing for coaches with the pro ranks. Nick Saban of Alabama and Bobby Petrino of Arkansas both left lucrative multi-year contracts in the pros to come back to college. They were able to come back to college because they weren’t taking a significant pay cut. Since when can an amateur league compete financially with the biggest, baddest sport in America? I’ll tell you. It happened when the NCAA went all Bill Clinton on us with, “it depends on what your definition of amateur is.” Amateur in the sense that the actual participants aren't receiving any income while the institution is raking it in on the player's blood, sweat and tears.

A little over a year ago, the House Ways and Means Committee delivered a letter to Myles Brand, president of the NCAA, asking him about the professed intrinsic academic value of college football and basketball in an effort to understand why they are able to maintain a tax-exempt status. This is big money. CBS pays the NCAA approximately $545 million a year just to show March Madness. BCS Bowl games pay teams upwards of $17 million for their final game. Brand argued that these are student athletes first and that they are very much a fabric of the collegiate life, like the theatre or the choir. Give me a break. I will believe Brand whole heartedly when Fox creates a reality show based around competing college improve groups, shells out millions per year, and the kids are as well known as Kevin Durant or Greg Oden. How can these kids be called amateurs when their lives are so scrutinized by the press and public alike? You can rest safe knowing that if your starting quarterback gets arrested for underage drinking or marijuana possession the whole country will know about it. The only way the water polo captain is making national news is if he does something heroic or truly demonic.

My problem with the system is that the players, and these are reason why the CBS’s and Fedex’s of the world are shelling out big time dollars (You’d have to be a sadist to pay money to watch Jim Boeheim or Bobby Bowden coach), have almost no rights. This is very much a feudal system. Players choose to attend certain colleges because of the coach, the league, the facilities, television exposure, etc. Somewhere way down the list is whether or not the school’s finance department has Hank Paulson on staff. Essentially, these kids are choosing schools for reasons connected to their sport, the top of which is usually the coach. These coaches and institutions, who have gained the trust of these young men, are more often than not more concerned with their own bottom line than the kids that sweat for them. A coach wins 25 games at a mid-major and maybe squeaks into the second round of the tournament. Sorry VCU, its time to go. Bigger dollars and more acclaim await at another school. Whats that? I still have 7 years on a contract extension you gave me last year. Sorry, not going to honor it. If coaches can simply up and leave at the drop of a hat, surely the players should be able to follow if they don’t like the new coach. Wrong. The draconian laws in place at the NCAA require a player to sit out a full year before they can participate again. Coaches and schools sign seven figure endorsement deals for dressing the PLAYERS in certain apparel. Players can’t receive endorsements from other sports they compete in professionally (See: Jeremy Bloom). Why are the coaches and schools allowed to operate like this a big business whilst the players get nothing but an education (stifling laughter)? Because. This. Is. Big. Business. And, the NCAA should stop mocking our intelligence and treat it as such by giving greater freedom to the players, I mean student-athletes.

The Paradox of Democracy

I'm struggling with post lengths. If this is too long let me know and I'll shorthen them in the future.

As a lover of freedom and America (in that order), a few things concern me about the impending election. We have to remember that voting is not a right, it is a privilege that can be taken away (see: felony offenders in 46 states and the Potomac Drainage Basin), and should be taken seriously. This is not a contest in which the winner gets his or her own recording contract. This time, the winner gets access to that cool red phone we see in the movies.

I love the idea that the more people that vote the better represented we will be. I like the idea. What I don’t like is the outcome. Most people will decide on the candidate they want to back for shallow reasons. He looks the part. She speaks so well. He is such a good family man. Sure, these things are important. But, they are also so easy to fake. Candidates can BS their way through faux interviews with fawning media members and appear any which way.

Obama is taking advantage of this in a huge way. He’s tall and handsome. His story is fantastic and he delivers his message so convincingly. He is getting people to the polls. The sheer number of voters in Iowa was incredibly impressive and he should be commended for inspiring them to participate. My only hope is that people will do a little research before coming to any conclusion about the viability of a candidate.

The problem, as I see it, is that he’s selling us all a bill of goods. The notion of “change” is so alluring to those who have no concept of the politics, policy or procedure in Washington. I’d just like to know what “change” he stands for. He votes with his party 97% of the time (If people really want someone who represents change, they should look at McCain who, along with Feingold, authored a bi-partisan campaign finance reform bill and regularly votes against his party. I’m not telling you to vote for him, I’m just saying that he represents a break with the establishment far more than Obama.). I suppose the “change” could mean change in jobs. He seems to always be looking at the next job. I guess being a Senator is something that can be done remotely. Shoot, I forgot about those pesky votes. I can’t really blame him for this because it is symptomatic of the current election cycle. It starts much too early.

I’m not going to call Obama a fraud because there is really only room for one on that train and it is currently being filled by Mitt Romney (his campaign strategists should be banished to political outposts in South Dakota for the remainder of their careers). What I am going to say is that Obama is running a campaign of sweeping generalizations. War – bad, universal health care – good, aid for middle class – good. That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? It sure does. However, these are complicated issues that require more than just a rah-rah approach. It will be interesting to see if his strategy works because it would be really easy win elections if you never have to commit to anything or devise a plan to accomplish this nebulous notion of change. His campaign slogan should read “Elect me now and then I’ll come up with a plan later.”

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for change. I think the idea of change gives people hope. I just think it is incredibly naïve to think that the opposite of Verbal Kint (he’s the man with the plan) will bring it about.

Asylum?

I titled this post asylum instead of amnesty because of one of my favorite bars in Washington, DC: Asylum. Only at a sweet biker bar can you get 25 cent pints of Shiner Bock on Saturday afternoons. Simply stunning.

This story is a little old, but a resolution to the situation is going to come to a head next week. Weeks ago a player, Al Bangura, on Watford in the English Premier League (EPL) was told that his work permit was going to be revoked and he would subsequently be deported from England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4880822.stm

There are all kinds of reasons for him to stay and really, this is exactly what amnesty is all about. This poor kid was brought to England at the age of 15. It wasn't through any doing of his own that he ended up in England It was the work of a creepy, anonymous Frenchman better suited for an episode of Dateline: How to Catch a Predator than as the guardian of a teenager. If anything, England owes this kid an apology for allowing the kind of atmosphere in which teenage boys are manipulated into a sex trade by its own citizens. Not only that, they would be sending him away to a country rent apart by civil strife, not to mention a tribe that commonly practices some forms of cannibalism. Yikes.

The problem does not lie with Al Bangura. The problem lies with the state of English football, or should I say the sorry state of English football. Fresh off the heels of failing to QUALIFY for Euro 2008 there have been calls from fans and officials alike to Anglocize the EPL. The successes of teams like Arsenal and Chelsea, both of which are filled to guts with foreign born players, have people nervous that the lack of opportunity for native sons essentially hurts the pride of Egland, its national team. It is this fear that has people, Sir Alex Ferguson of Manchester United among them, clamoring for a limit on foreign born players allowed to compete on each team. What a joke. Competition is so important in elevating the level of just about any product. The failure here lies in the development of its players at all levels.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7137071.stm

Back to my point, there is no reason this kid should be punished for a small amount of xenophobia that is currently prevalant among some of the citizens. Eliminating the foreign player from the game isn't going to solve the problems of English football.