Sunday, July 31, 2011
Plax to the Jets
Giants fans remember that touchdown catch and remember it well. The guy had a reach above his opponents and an ability to get away from defenders to get open. Then, on that fateful night, while clubbing in New York City, (without NFL security) it all blew up.
As a Giants and Jets fan, I was following closely as to where Plaxico Burress will end up this season, in his return engagement to the NFL, after his 20 month sentence on a gun possession charge. The decision has been made and Plaxico Burress is now a Jet.
I'm still very frustrated with Plaxico's actions in blowing up the Giants 2008 season. It was unlikely the Giants were going to re-sign him, as they don't put up with malcontents. Examining this contract, it's a one year stint, so he's still on probation. Plax is on the clock and it's imperative he must avoid the drama, as the Jets are gaining the reputation of becoming an organization who gives malcontents a second chance, but will cut them loose if they don't meet their potential, as occurred with Braylon Edwards. There is the potential he will do well, as he will tandem with former Steelers teammate, Santonio Holmes, who just signed a new contract with the Jets.
The AFC East, to say the least, with the changes and additions three teams have made will be an interesting division to watch this year!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Down in Approval Ratings; Down in Twitter Followers
It hasn't been a good week for the president. First, he gives a speech that's more complaining than leading, and in that speech, he basically promised to use "community organizing" tactics against those who don't agree with him on how to resolve the debt ceiling issue.
Approval ratings were released this week that show his lowest ratings of his presidency; 15 months before the day he stands for re-election. And if that weren't bad enough, he's hemmoraging Twitter followers. While this may not seem like something at first glance, it is one of Twitter's largest follower drops and the majority of Twitter users fall into the young demographic that overwhelmingly supported Obama in 2008.
Apparently, the younger set in this country is waking up to the position this president has put them in, and we shall see if they follow through in November by voting for the Republican or staying home.
Approval ratings were released this week that show his lowest ratings of his presidency; 15 months before the day he stands for re-election. And if that weren't bad enough, he's hemmoraging Twitter followers. While this may not seem like something at first glance, it is one of Twitter's largest follower drops and the majority of Twitter users fall into the young demographic that overwhelmingly supported Obama in 2008.
Apparently, the younger set in this country is waking up to the position this president has put them in, and we shall see if they follow through in November by voting for the Republican or staying home.
Friday, July 29, 2011
The NFL Returns!!!
Cue the music...
Fear not, ladies and gentlemen, there will be a football season, as the players and owners have come to an agreement to end the lockout! This would have ended badly for everyone involved (it took years for Americans to get over the Major League Baseball Strike) and for an industry that averages $9 billion in profit, there was NO WAY they were going to cancel the season! In the early days of player transactions, we've already seen some big moves with the AFC East Teams bulking up against the Jets, as the Patriots have signed Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, while the Miami Dolphins have traded for Reggie Bush.
In the NFC East, the big question among Giants fans is whether or not Plaxico Burress, with his reinstatement, will re-sign with them. Giants fans are divided on this one and I'd like to remind them what happened in the 2008 Season as a result of this behavior.
With so much happening this week, I'll let the late Leslie Nielsen ask the big question:
YES, I AM!!!
Fear not, ladies and gentlemen, there will be a football season, as the players and owners have come to an agreement to end the lockout! This would have ended badly for everyone involved (it took years for Americans to get over the Major League Baseball Strike) and for an industry that averages $9 billion in profit, there was NO WAY they were going to cancel the season! In the early days of player transactions, we've already seen some big moves with the AFC East Teams bulking up against the Jets, as the Patriots have signed Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, while the Miami Dolphins have traded for Reggie Bush.
In the NFC East, the big question among Giants fans is whether or not Plaxico Burress, with his reinstatement, will re-sign with them. Giants fans are divided on this one and I'd like to remind them what happened in the 2008 Season as a result of this behavior.
With so much happening this week, I'll let the late Leslie Nielsen ask the big question:
YES, I AM!!!
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Gollum is Back
After a hard turn to the right to push back JD Hayworth, Senator John "Gollum" McCain has returned with a floor speech, dripping with condescension and ire toward the TEA Party. They weren't his words, but instead he was reading a Wall Street Journal RINO Opinion Column. But the fact he read it and brought it forward was disgusting.
For those of you not familiar with the Lord of the Rings, Smeagol (who was once a Hobbit...one of the good guys) changes his personality and loyalties in his pursuit of the One Ring. McCain has been compared to this character from time to time because of his pursuit of wanting to be liked by the media and Democrats, changing his loyalties, especially within his own party. (On an unrelated note, a psychologist could have a field day on this one!)
In his spiel, he not only attacked the TEA Party, but singled out Senate candidates Sharron Angle (he campaigned for her) and Christine O'Donnell (who, rightly so, is fighting back). This was a really classless act, considering the fact those candidates won their primaries fair and square, along with the fact the "mainstream" Republicans cut out the rug from under them by talking down their campaigns, basically taking their toys and going home. Furthermore, it's BECAUSE of the TEA Party that the Republicans won the House and made gains in the Senate last November.
Let's remember that John McCain LOST in 2008 BECAUSE of his "love me" ways: he didn't go after Obama's connections because he feared he'd be looked at as a racist, he kept Sarah Palin (who SAVED him from losing by a landslide) hidden from more Conservative media types (e.g. Rush, Sean, Mark Levin, Bill O'Reilly) for too long because he didn't want to associate with them, his people tried to throw Sarah Palin under the bus and he was indebted to TARP and the Federal Government as the problem solver of the 2008 Financial Crisis. His interview with Hannity last night and Greta tonight were quite telling to the fact that McCain is no Conservative, is out of touch with not only the movement of the Republican Party, but culturally, as the Hobbits were the good guys.
While we hope he retires from the Senate gracefully, let's hope the people of Arizona remember this action, along with his past stabs at Republicans and Conservatives, when it comes time for re-election in 2016.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Landslideable?
Today, Rush posed the question of whether Obama is not only beatable, but landslideable. I agree with Rush, and the National Journal article he cited today, yet there's a but to my yes.
My "but" comes in on who the Republicans nominate to challenge Obama in 2012. In making that decision, voters need to realize that they must support a consistent conservative who has no fear to challenge Obama. It is my hope that Republicans examine history and realize that when a candidate runs as a conservative, he not only wins, but does so by a couple of touchdowns. Moderates, on the other hand, lose. The one aspect of history Republican voters must NOT repeat is voting for the guy who came in second the last election (or primary).
Let's assume that GOP voters support (and overcome the jumpers-in within open primary states) the candidate who is a consistent conservative with no fear. We must also assume that the party elders unite behind that candidate and don't take their toys and go home like they did in 2001 against Bret Shundler and like they did in 2010 against Christine O'Donnell, to be specific. Looking at the battleground states, they will likely not support Obama. The National Journal article cites Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Nevada, New Hampshire and Colorado as battleground states where Obama is likely to have problems, but let's build on that.
I believe (and already have a few beer bets going) that Barack Obama will lose Florida. The I-4 Corridor of Florida (Central Florida; including Daytona Beach, the Orlando Metro area and the Tampa Bay area) can swing that state either way and that region has suffered extremely high unemployment numbers that were supposed to fall with the passage of the Stimulus. Furthermore, in 2010, two Congressional Seats have flipped from Democrat to Republican, in response to the Obama agenda. Couple that with a very strong Republican vote in North Central Florida, Northern Florida, the Panhandle and Southwest Florida; Democrat disillusionment in South Florida (which is heavily blue), along with a likely decrease in the Jewish vote supporting Obama, as a result of his position on Israel, there is no way he can win the state.
In Indiana, there is a very popular Republican in Mike Pence running for Governor and the soon to be former Governor, Mitch Daniels, has an excellent record of job creation and a cut in spending. He also has high approval ratings. Furthermore, there are more Republicans representing Indiana in Congress, as a result of the Obama policies. The state is now firmly back in the Republican corner.
In 2008, the Electoral count was 365-173, in favor of Obama. Assuming the mentioned states in the article, as well as Indiana and Florida, go Republican, Obama loses 312-226. Add on a few more battlegrounds on to that, as well any possible surprises, we are entering landslide territory.
After an analysis of the battleground states, a landslide defeat of Obama is very possible, however, the onus is on Republican voters to choose the right candidate.
My "but" comes in on who the Republicans nominate to challenge Obama in 2012. In making that decision, voters need to realize that they must support a consistent conservative who has no fear to challenge Obama. It is my hope that Republicans examine history and realize that when a candidate runs as a conservative, he not only wins, but does so by a couple of touchdowns. Moderates, on the other hand, lose. The one aspect of history Republican voters must NOT repeat is voting for the guy who came in second the last election (or primary).
Let's assume that GOP voters support (and overcome the jumpers-in within open primary states) the candidate who is a consistent conservative with no fear. We must also assume that the party elders unite behind that candidate and don't take their toys and go home like they did in 2001 against Bret Shundler and like they did in 2010 against Christine O'Donnell, to be specific. Looking at the battleground states, they will likely not support Obama. The National Journal article cites Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Nevada, New Hampshire and Colorado as battleground states where Obama is likely to have problems, but let's build on that.
I believe (and already have a few beer bets going) that Barack Obama will lose Florida. The I-4 Corridor of Florida (Central Florida; including Daytona Beach, the Orlando Metro area and the Tampa Bay area) can swing that state either way and that region has suffered extremely high unemployment numbers that were supposed to fall with the passage of the Stimulus. Furthermore, in 2010, two Congressional Seats have flipped from Democrat to Republican, in response to the Obama agenda. Couple that with a very strong Republican vote in North Central Florida, Northern Florida, the Panhandle and Southwest Florida; Democrat disillusionment in South Florida (which is heavily blue), along with a likely decrease in the Jewish vote supporting Obama, as a result of his position on Israel, there is no way he can win the state.
In Indiana, there is a very popular Republican in Mike Pence running for Governor and the soon to be former Governor, Mitch Daniels, has an excellent record of job creation and a cut in spending. He also has high approval ratings. Furthermore, there are more Republicans representing Indiana in Congress, as a result of the Obama policies. The state is now firmly back in the Republican corner.
In 2008, the Electoral count was 365-173, in favor of Obama. Assuming the mentioned states in the article, as well as Indiana and Florida, go Republican, Obama loses 312-226. Add on a few more battlegrounds on to that, as well any possible surprises, we are entering landslide territory.
After an analysis of the battleground states, a landslide defeat of Obama is very possible, however, the onus is on Republican voters to choose the right candidate.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Five Minutes of Common Sense
President Obama took 15 minutes to speak (short for him), Speaker John Boehner spoke for five minutes.
In those five minutes, he connected with Americans and summed up the main points clearly and articulately: if you don't have the money, don't spend it!
I may have worried about John Boehner's resolve in the past, but he is holding firm and standing strong against President Obama's unrealistic plan in dealing with the debt ceiling issue; and federal spending, in general. The president's excessive spending was appropriately cited as part of the reason the economy and job creation is where it is. Boehner knows his Speakership is at risk if he gets wobbly, and while I think he needs to go further (keep pushing for a repeal of ObamaCare) he did a good job in articulating solutions the president is not giving.
John Boehner has shown America the qualities of a good leader: stand strong against opposition, don't bend to pressure, provide solutions to problems and articulate them in such a way that supporters are gained.
Some should take notes!
In those five minutes, he connected with Americans and summed up the main points clearly and articulately: if you don't have the money, don't spend it!
I may have worried about John Boehner's resolve in the past, but he is holding firm and standing strong against President Obama's unrealistic plan in dealing with the debt ceiling issue; and federal spending, in general. The president's excessive spending was appropriately cited as part of the reason the economy and job creation is where it is. Boehner knows his Speakership is at risk if he gets wobbly, and while I think he needs to go further (keep pushing for a repeal of ObamaCare) he did a good job in articulating solutions the president is not giving.
John Boehner has shown America the qualities of a good leader: stand strong against opposition, don't bend to pressure, provide solutions to problems and articulate them in such a way that supporters are gained.
Some should take notes!
Monday, July 25, 2011
No Solutions, No Leadership
This evening, President Obama addressed the nation tonight on the issue of the debt ceiling in a 15 minute prime time speech. Speech is below
From the first two minutes of the speech, Americans knew where this was going. He blamed Bush in his first breath and then talked down to Americans with his snide "I won't bore you..." Sadly, this president doesn't get it. His ridiculous, unnecessary spending is part of the problem we are in this pickle and in the end, he did not provide solutions or leadership. He dug in his heels like a petulant little child sitting in the carriage who wants mommy to buy the Lucky Charms instead of the Special K. This was nothing more than a campaign speech, where he used fear-mongering and tried to get Americans to call Congress so he can get his way.
While I believe the bully pulpit of the presidency is an effective tool, President Obama has greatly overused it, considering the fact that his poll numbers drop after every "major speech." Apparently, Americans are sick of hearing the President speak; the president who was supposed to be such an eloquent speaker.
November 2012 is not that far away!
From the first two minutes of the speech, Americans knew where this was going. He blamed Bush in his first breath and then talked down to Americans with his snide "I won't bore you..." Sadly, this president doesn't get it. His ridiculous, unnecessary spending is part of the problem we are in this pickle and in the end, he did not provide solutions or leadership. He dug in his heels like a petulant little child sitting in the carriage who wants mommy to buy the Lucky Charms instead of the Special K. This was nothing more than a campaign speech, where he used fear-mongering and tried to get Americans to call Congress so he can get his way.
While I believe the bully pulpit of the presidency is an effective tool, President Obama has greatly overused it, considering the fact that his poll numbers drop after every "major speech." Apparently, Americans are sick of hearing the President speak; the president who was supposed to be such an eloquent speaker.
November 2012 is not that far away!
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