Thursday, January 31, 2008

Snow day!

JERUSALEM -- "Blankets of snow brought the Holy City of Jerusalem and other cities across the Middle East grinding to a halt on Wednesday as icy weather conditions gripped the mainly desert region."


I think God is messing with the global-warming activists.

Which America are you from, John Edwards?

"WASHINGTON -- He launched his campaign in the hurricane-ravaged quarters of New Orleans and traveled through Appalachia, talking about poverty and railing against corporate greed and financial disparities. But something strange happened as John Edwards built his campaign for president: He drew votes from an economically diverse bloc, mostly white men, who were just as likely to be rich as they were to be poor."

This quote is extremely telling to me. Yesterday as I watched John Edwards bow out of the race for President, I was dumbfounded by his message of anti-poverty, that he is the self-proclaimed face of the anti-poverty crusade.

Granted he began his campaign in the torn streets of New Orleans, pandering only to the "blame-Bush-for-Katrina" campaign - he later called upon poverty as the cornerstone of his campaign during his withdrawal. Well, Senator Edwards, that's mere geography.

How is it that the majority of your supporters are white men, just as likely to be rich than poor? How is it that the race dynamic, leaving each candidate fighting for "the black vote" - clearly plays to Obama's favor. He won South Carolina, winning both black voters and white voters. The discussion about race leaves Edwards out entirely as well, existing mostly between Obama and Hillary's wide-mouthed husband, or should I say the Clinton campaign. People think the GOP base is torn? Why is it that the Democrat candidate that wants to raise handouts to the poor black folks of the south is the least supported by those voters?

Most people have said it already - pointing to the $500 dollar haircuts, the "most valuable home in Orange County with a 6 million estimated tax value," what have you -the trial lawyer cougar with money to spare. Give your $55,000 speaking fee to the poor - that's how you can end poverty.

You want to tout a trip with 700 high school students to New Orleans to clean up after the hurricane blew through? Would you do it without cameras following behind? Don't tout it for political gain - put your money where your mouth is.

I can see that John Edwards is a charismatic man. Though I disagree with his political ideology and even his decision to run for President with his terminally ill wife at his side, I believe he can do good. Cut the bullshit double-speak about Two Americas, and start bringing the second America in line with whatever you think is the first.

Edwards should start a foundation to repair broken communities. He should lead mission trips to clean up poverty stricken areas, in the south- starting in his own precious mill-territory, and reaching out beyond the lines of race and financial status. Think of the good that could be done. We get so caught up in the message and "oh, think of what he could have done" as President, and we don't realize that running for office is an extremely selfish career. He wouldn't have ended poverty as President. Though I can't believe I'm about to quote Ron Paul, the President doesn't control the economy. He sure can help the citizens contributing to the success of the economy with tax cuts and such, but he doesn't control it.

I'd rather a President advocate for personal responsibility- working if you're able, ignoring handouts, not getting pregnant four times in five years, realizing the government isn't there to wipe your ass when you shit- you get the picture. I'd rather John Edwards give back, and then I'll believe him when he says he wants to end poverty. It's beautiful rhetoric. Where's the action?

Blaze your own path, Senator Edwards.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Like flies

They're dropping!
(CNN) -- Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina is dropping out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, two sources inside his campaign said Wednesday.

Edwards has told top advisers about his decision. It is expected he will announce it in a speech at 1 p.m. ET Wednesday in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Edwards has amassed 26 delegates in the race for the Democratic nomination.


McCain-Rudy?
Could it happen?


Rudy Giuliani is preparing to exit the race and throw his support behind John McCain as early as Wednesday in California in a potentially dramatic pre-Super Tuesday moment. We saw tonight the Arizona senator heaping praise upon Rudy, calling him a true leader and speaking of his candidacy in the past tense, as Rudy himself did as well.

While there’s likely to be speculation of a McCain-Rudy bid, it’s difficult to envision.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Nostalgic?

When asked if she would be feeling any nostalgia at the President's final State of the Union address, Nancy Pelosi said she was "happy it was his last address."

What a bitch.

Overstepping her bounds

Caroline Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy have endorsed Barack Obama. And while all that will claim the media spotlight and speculation over Hilary's breakdown will occur, I have only one thing to say.

Caroline Kennedy is not former President John F. Kennedy. She has overstepped her bounds, and I believe that through her name and face, people improperly envision JFK.

She is not the politician of the family.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

I'm a blind follower...

If you haven't watched Fox News' Fighting to the Finish, it's an intimate look at the President, and I'm relieved to see a program, a network still caring to showabout our current leader, instead of one so ready to replace him.

"I think the best way to approach foreign policy is to develop a level of trust."

I love George W. Bush. He is like a warm hug.

He is so comfortable in his own skin, and I truly believe his faith is what carries him through- his faith radiates from within him.

Condi says it best when she says he understands that personal relationships are key to diplomacy, something few really practice.

To those who criticize, like John Bolton, he merely says "Yeah, John's wrong." He knows so deep within the center of his being that what he is doing is right. The statement is far from something he is trying to convince himself of, far from a cover of an insecure president. Rather, his attitude is strong and sure, not cocky or arrogant, but secure. President Bush seeks the approval of no one.

Is there time for him to seal the deal, to finish his agenda?, Fox News asks.

Maybe not, but there's a lot of time left. I certainly feel good that the man pushing the agenda is the same guy in jeans and cowboy boots, driving his F-250 at the ranch. A history buff, a believer that liberty is transformity, a love of his wife that puts every candidate for '08 (Republican and Democrat) to SHAME, and an inner joy I so wish to emulate...I believe this President will be revered. Perhaps a monument.

"The United States is still going to lead."

And to the people who think he's given up on the hunt for Bin Laden, "they don't know what they're talking about!"

Friday, January 25, 2008

Double the Pitts

Ha!

I guess she's popping out twins.

But I don't actually care.... see below.

Ewww.



"A love fest"?

"AAAAyyyyyyyy!"

Seriously?

$85,000?

Eighty Five Thousand Dollars?
Go feed some hungry people instead.

"Ok, Bob Ryan"

Where I grew up, the weather man's name is Bob Ryan, and he's just the kind of guy you make fun of after the news is over.

Tonight the weather man said "Snizzle." Then proceeded to define it "you know, that snowy rain." Uh, ok Bob Ryan.

Webster would be APPALLED!

Fo-shizzle.

McCain's a mama's boy

Has Roberta McCain even been watching the news?
Steve Scully: This is a political question in terms of how he gets the nomination, but just from what you have seen, how much support do you think he has among the base of the Republican Party?

Roberta McCain: I don’t think he has any. I don’t know what the base of the Repub–maybe I don’t know enough about it, but I’ve not seen any help whatsoever.

Scully: So can he then go on and become the nominee of this party?

McCain: Yes, I think holding their nose they’re going to have to take him.

Scully: Can you explain?

McCain: Well, everything they’ve done and said. … Now I’m really popping off, but he worked like a dog to get Bush re-elected. …He’s backed Bush in everything except Rumsfeld. Have you heard other senators and congressmen backing Bush over eight years? Find me it–give me a name. I’ve not seen any public recognition of the work that he’s done for the Republican party.
What work? I'm already holding my nose, with a clothespin!

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Patty Griffin - Heavenly Day

A friend asked me if it's too early to pick out your wedding-first-dance song if you don't even have a boyfriend. I told her, Not at all.

Three Little Pigs "go wee-wee-wee all the way home"

Apparently the Three Little Pigs tale is offensive to Muslims. Any other religious minority group want to claim injury?

And- it offends builders. Gee, to think that tale has been insulting the builder workforce of the world since the 18th century!? How did they ever manage the self-esteem to keep their professions?

Does Hansel and Gretel offend bakers, Martha Stewart perhaps? Should she file a grievance? Or the boy who cried wolf, Farmers?

GET A GRIP PEOPLE.
I am so sick of this notion that we are "offending Muslims." Too bad. If they would show a little compassion for people who differ from them instead of plotting to murder the entire American civilization, then maybe I'd take the claim seriously.
Until then, forget it.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

The Actor's studio

Politics has certainly become an actor's stage...

Oprah for Obama, Chuck for Huck, the leftist nutwings for whoever is smoking the "global warming" pipe, and now Jon Voight for Rudy Giuliani.

The Giuliani campaign even sent me an email from Jon Voight to prove it.

I couldn't care less about Jon Voight's support for a political candidate than I could about whether or not his daughter is going to pop out another Pitt or adopt the entire orphaned population of Cambodia.

Does that really sway voters?

End of the world as I know it

I awoke today to a migraine and; Fred Thompson is out, Heath Ledger is dead, Kentucky actually won a ball game, and Tom Brady is wearing a cast.

Is it all a ruse? Where's my background REM theme song when I need it?

At least I can count on the Badgers' win.

Monday, January 21, 2008

Uh oh

In a recent AOL online poll:

Who do you want to win the GOP nomination?
John McCain 34% 71,812
Mitt Romney 18% 37,388
Rudy Giuliani 17% 34,695
Mike Huckabee 13% 27,743
Fred Thompson 9% 19,009
Ron Paul 9% 18,107

Total Votes: 208,754

Who do you think will win the GOP nomination?
John McCain 57% 124,504
Mitt Romney 23% 49,368
Rudy Giuliani 9% 19,950
Mike Huckabee 7% 15,064
Ron Paul 3% 5,731
Fred Thompson 1% 3,503

Total Votes: 218,120


Yes, I know very small population sample, but what is it with this guy?

Kiefer is free!

Thank goodness.

Perhaps he was as disappointed with last season as the rest of us.

Will 24's writers be back with gusto?!

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord. When
the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, You said that once I decided to follow you, You'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The Lord replied, "My son, My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you.

"During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then

that I Carried You."

Sunday, January 20, 2008

I believe

He will be back.

Should we fear McCain?

Last night, McCain won South Carolina.

All of you 'conservatives' supporting John McCain - you can have your balding eagle in disguise. After his win in South Carolina last night, I am starting to become concerned.

John McCain may be a hawk when it comes to war issues. He would make a wonderful Secretary of Defense. However, I had a few thoughts about his stances on social issues:
1. Flip-flopper from on gay marriage -was for it and is now against it -on the road to "moderation" baby!
2. Inconsistent on his abortion stance - seems to change when he's running for office, hmmmm.
3. Worried about those crazy right-wing evangelical "agents of intolerance"- wouldn't the Religious Right still harbor an insulted spirit from his words in 2000?
4. For crying out loud, John Kerry asked him to be his running mate in 2004!

Is anyone as frightened as I am?

But perhaps it is not only the social standards we should hold John McCain to - after all, I can almost stomach Rudy or Thompson as our candidate, Romney too in all their pro-choice flip-flopping glory.

It's Three other words: McCain-Feingold & Shamnesty. Anyone who thinks the McCain-Feingold Campaign Reform Act was not one of the more leftist acts of our modern United States Congress needs to stop sniffing the glue. To completely change campaign finance and in doing so, essentially shut out the conservative voices as 527groups for the Dems grew like dandelion weeds, is clearly not an act of conservative politics. Sure it passed with overwhelming Democrat support- so do we blame Republicans for not stopping it? We certainly don't praise John McCain.

And Shamnesty. He's more left on illegal immigration than most liberals! He could care less about improving interior enforcement against the illegals already inside. He has consistently voted for amnesty for them.

And while most candidates don't have the innocent personal lives of George W. Bush, the rumor- though I believe it true- of McCain's open marriage hasn't made the press and it really bothers me. I want to respect my First Lady, and the President for their personal lives, and their public fronts.
"If McCain wins Florida he will be unstoppable and he may just, given the support he obtained from retirees in South Carolina and military personnel."
Last night certainly wasn't a pretty day for Republicans in South Carolina.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Deanna Favre - Don't Bet Against Me!

Many people raced out to get Deanna Favre's book when it came out. Me, I would timidly walk past the bright pink cover with her model-like photo in the bookstore or Shopko - everywhere I was, it was - nothing less to be expected of Green Bay, WI. But I never picked it up.


I didn't think I would buy it. Or read it even. Brett Favre has always been my hero, and having followed his and his family's whole life story (what Cheesehead hasn't?), I didn't think it would be anything new. But receiving it for Christmas might have been a quiet gift from God's angels in my life. I just opened it on Thursday, and finished it yesterday. Little did I ever think I would learn so much in a hundred and some pages- about a woman, a family, a faith that is so powerful, you can not resist being lifted up by this story.

I never thought how much I would connect to this woman- not having cancer, not being married to every woman's dream man (sorry boys), two kids, from Mississippi, you get the picture - I am NOT Deanna Favre in any way, shape, or form. I lack her class, her grace, her inner strength, her humility... But what I see in her, this shy woman who's been thrust into practically every chapter of life- single motherhood at 19, wife of an NFL star and MVPer, best friend and lover of a drug addict, wife of an alcoholic, sister who's survived her younger brother, and mother of two with breast cancer - is a powerful humility and faith that should stand as a lesson for all women.

I would encourage women to read this book, and men. People of faith, you will be humbled with every turn of the page.

Deanna Favre has done what few Evangelical Christians dare to ever do. She has written a book, exposing for all her past, her fears, her triumphs, her lows, and above all lifted God to his role within it all -as master Creator, Caretaker, and Provider. The openness with which she has written about her hope and faith has awed me and I have eaten it all up.

While we all have stories to tell and lessons we've learned -one cannot be humbled by Deanna Favre's perseverance and the wisdom she has gained. We are blessed to have the chance to share in it and learn from it. I will keep this book and handle it often, of that, I am sure.

Love

love is patient and kind

love is not boastful

or proud or rude

love is not jealous, it is not easily angered

and love keeps no record of wrongs

love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth

it always protects
always trusts
always hopes
always perseveres

love never fails

1 Cor: 13

Thursday, January 17, 2008

No comfort to the enemy

Seinfeld will not run Saturday night, to Eli Manning's chagrin.

But there are some pretty good alternates. ;-) Way to go, GB Fox 11.

Disclaimer: This is not a Packer Blog, but it may resemble one this week.

From my friend, a Giant's fan:

"Ok I must also admit, if the Giants weren't in the playoffs the Packers would be my favorite team this winter. It's hard to root against Favre, and I think most would agree. Even as the lovable scrappy underdogs, I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone outside the NYC area hoping to see Eli Manning in the Superbowl. It's ok, as a Yankees fan I'm used to being the hated one. I think we should form a pact though that whoever wins this game needs to go on and beat the Pats. Or Philip Rivers, either one."
And the kicker:
"Eli, who never has a bad thing to say about anybody, gets ripped constantly and mostly by his own fans. NYC is a notoriously "what have you done for me lately" city when it comes to sports. And then they wonder why the team does better on the road than they do at home."
Bring on the NY Giants fans and their bad attitudes! We here in Wisconsin love our Pack and all they have done for us this season!

Girl Scout cookie madness!

I was a Girl Scout. In fact, I was a Daisy, a Brownie, and a Girl Scout. I stopped shy of a Cadet and the gold award my sister received, forever carving the 2nd place role I would play as the younger, less-achieving daughter... even if only in my head.

None the less, this story does nothing for Girl Scouts. Aside from the love affair they have with Planned Parenthood that has about guaranteed that no daughter of mine will be a Girl Scout, the cookie thing may be pushing these girls to go outside of their comfort zone.

And we certainly can't have incidents like this happening:
Nicole Grant went out with a friend to sell cookies and was stopped by a twelve-year-old girl. The other girl filled out an order form for cookies, then grabbed Nicole's money bag and took off on her bicycle.
Haha.

This cracks me up. Make it into a safety story, when really, I'm glad the little brat got mugged. Don't hang your money out there for other people to see and snatch. Don't go off selling cookies alone. Duh. Dumb Girl Scouts.

And when are you going to get rid of that horrible Do-Si-Do cookie?

Extreme Fandom

"Father jailed for taping jersey on son." Honestly, what kind of fan would do this to his 7 year old child who refused to wear a football jersey?

A Packer Fan.
PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) -- Upset that his 7-year-old son wouldn't wear a Green Bay Packers jersey during the team's playoff victory Saturday, a man restrained the boy for an hour with tape and taped the jersey onto him.

Mathew Kowald was cited for disorderly conduct in connection with the incident with his son at their home in Pardeeville, Lt. Wayne Smith of the Columbia County Sheriff's Department said. Pardeeville is about 30 miles north of Madison.

The 36-year-old Kowald was arrested Monday after his wife told authorities about the incident. Kowald was taken to the county jail and held until Wednesday, when he pleaded no contest, paid a fine of $186 and was released.

Kowald's wife filed a restraining order Wednesday, so Kowald will not be able to have contact with his family, Smith said. Smith said other domestic issues have surfaced, though he wouldn't elaborate.

The boy refused to wear the jersey Saturday, when the Packers beat the Seattle Seahawks in a playoff game, Smith said. Smith said the incident sounded strange when reported at first, but the mother took pictures with her cell phone and that type of evidence is difficult to dispute.

Kowald, contacted later Wednesday by the Portage Daily Register, said the incident started as a joke. His son challenged him by saying he wouldn't root for the Packers. When he tied the boy up, the youngster was laughing while his wife took pictures, he said.

"Then he couldn't get out and he got upset and that's it. It lasted a minute," he said. "I didn't mean no harm, and he knows that, but I haven't been able to tell him that."

District Attorney Jane Kohlwey said there wasn't enough evidence to support felony charges.

"I wouldn't agree with what he did, but legally a parent can restrain a child," she said. "I have no proof of emotional damage. ... I have to follow the law.
This account seems pretty innocent, like a family that likes to joke around. But come on, Kid, no one should have to force you to wear a Packer Jersey. You should have it on as a second skin.

I'm wearing Packer gear all week!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Nice speech

Aw, would you look at Obama, rising above once again.
At a news conference Monday in Reno, Nevada, Obama said that he is "concerned about the tenor the campaign has taken in the last couple days."

"I think that I may disagree with Sen. Clinton or Sen. Edwards on how to get things done, but we share the same goals. We're all Democrats, we all believe in civil rights, we all believe in equal rights," said the senator from Illinois.

"I think they're good people, they are patriots and they are running because they think they can lead this country to a better place, and I don't want the campaign in this stage to degenerate into so much tit for tat back and forth that we lose sight of why all of us are doing this."
It's all rhetoric. He's a damn good speech giver. But has anyone actually looked at his policies?

Put the monkey in a cage

This monkey business in the Strait of Hormuz, well, it better NOT have been a joke.

For some reason, some "mythical guy out there shouting threats" doesn't exactly qualify as an excuse for provoking Naval officers - nor is it comforting to take the blame of confrontation away from the Iranians - when missiles and bombs and war could ensue.

"It’s actually pretty funny in a sophomoric way" ??? Not laughing.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Dirt

Owen was having a down day Sunday and I think we can all pray for him this week.

And while my pittly little life pales in comparison to Owen's troubles, have you ever woken up to the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day and not considered that you will actually make it through that day? It's like the time drags on and any misstep or hold up feels like your world is not as you built it to be, but someone or something else has control over it and can change your mood by the tug of a string.

Today's one of those for me. I'm in a hole and someone is just shovelling pile of dirt after pile of dirt onto me. Little things, but they add up. I can still breathe... and the dirt isn't even covering my body... but it's heavy.

Waste of time

Conference calls are a waste of time. They never accomplish anything- except putting more organizational items on your plate just to return to the next conference call with.

I am anti-conference call. Particularly on Mondays.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

NFC CHAMPIONSHP GAME BABY!

Tony Romo is going a HOME-O!! The Giants will bring the NFC Championship game to, that's right, HISTORIC LAMBEAU - THE FRONZEN TUNDRA - HOME OF THE PACKERS -FIELD!!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Take it Donald!!

Tested. Ready. Now what?

I have a problem with Rudy Giuliani's campaign slogan, which I then attribute to his entire message and the basis of his reason for running.

To watch the latest ad, Giuliani, I feel is exploiting in some ways the war on terror and his role in cleaning up 9/11 and the twin tower mess. Though I hate to use the phrase "exploiting 9/11," the ad is a sheer scare tactic. Islamic radicals with their guns, bombs and flashy images of terror attacks cut abruptly to the "Rudy Giuliani: Tested. Ready. Now." screen, and really turn my stomach.

One could argue that Rudy would be our best candidate for diplomacy, supporting the war, and not backing down from the terrorists - attributes most of the conservative base still wants in their candidate. Though none of the current panel has the experience of President Bush, how can we hold that against them when Bush didn't have any foreign policy experience upon his entering office in 2001? Well, all candidates but McCain.

If the War on Terror is your number one issue, as it is mine, why then would McCain not be your candidate- or mine? He has had a consistent stance, a constant discussion, and a history of votes on the war on terror. He is a former POW, a former Navy commander, a Hero. None of that can be denied. But I can't vote for McCain - blame it on his open marriage or McCain-Feingold and his support for Sham-nesty. Well then, Little Miss, how can the War on Terror be your number one issue?

This is how I explain it. Other than the fact that 9/11 changed my own life, helped form my political beliefs and placed me in line behind conservative leaders and President Bush, I believe our country is at a crossroads now. We're changing leadership in the midst of a war that many have great disdain for. This war will decide whether we live or whether we die at the hands of a blind hatred we did nothing to deserve. How will our new leader respond Now?

In my early 20s, I am a young American at my own crossroads of emerging into the world of adult responsibilities and beginning to think about what it would mean to start my own family. I want to be safe. I want to continue to fall asleep at night without the sounds of bombs around me, or the terror of awaking to another American city under seige, and without the fear of the possibility of nuclear or biological attack without warning. How can I possibly do that when my Commander in Chief, the representative of my wants and desires for the American dream, can not sit at the diplomatic table across from Middle East leaders and say "you are with us or you are against us." I want a president who can approach this war with a level head, with a clear stance that evil is still around us and after us- and that we can not back down to evil, but must stand for good. That makes the war on terror my number one issue. Doesn't Giuliani do just that, you ask?

What it does not do, is discount those candidates for President who want to talk about economic issues, about the approaching recession we will face in a short time; about social conservative issues and appointing judges who will act beholden to the law, about healthcare and the burden my generation will face, and so forth. I do not want a candidate who makes fighting terrorism the only issue- for what would be worth fighting for, if not continuing the strength of the American dream on the homefront.

What do I wish to accomplish by this zig-zagged diatribe of mine? Simply to find the group of voters who may agree with me. I see myself as a some-what informed voter. I've tuned in to the recent contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, paid attention to the recent candidate debates and Sunday morning panelists, and read my share of blogs and news articles to stay informed on the most important news regarding the contest. I'm not glued to it daily though, I can't quote Obama's latest slip-up or Thompson's attack on Huckabee. I only know what I have time for- while I work every day and try to ignore living paycheck to paycheck, believing I am making it and on my way up - living the American dream.

I am still relevant though. Don't discount me and my vote. I am like everyone else. I am an equal to the voters in my age group- if not above them in terms of being informed. I am an equal to the Iowa voters who demanded the candidates come to their living room, to the New Hampshire voters who didn't take Iowa for the be-all-end-all but looked a little deeper. My voice should also be heard.

So while Rudy makes terrorism his #1 issue, he can spend his money on Florida, but I won't be convinced when he comes to Wisconsin. He can make a speech about one-page taxes, but it's shallow when he takes the conversation back to being tested on terrorism. His executive experience is quality, but he can't argue that he's been tested against evil radical Islamic extremists. His illegal immigration stance looks more like granting amnesty to billions of people who've broken our laws. Ready for it? That's not the same as being ready to take on radical Muslim warriors. Was Bush ready? No. Is McCain? Maybe. Is Romney? Huckabee? Fred? Certainly not. Could they grow into it? To discount them without giving them the chance would be un-American.

But are they basing their candidacy on the war alone? No. That is why I don't buy Giuliani. He was a great leader in New York and he wrote a great book on Leadership. He was strong and steadfast in 2001 when the towers fell. He led a great clean-up effort. Mayoral, definitely. Presidential? I'm not convinced. It does not qualify him to define his candidacy on a response to terrorism and 9/11. 9/11 is not the War on Terror- it was one battle.

So Rudy still has work to do to win this war-on-terror Voter. I may not be paying complete attention, but how many people really are? I'm going to go with my gut on this one. Tested and ready... But what now?

Friday, January 11, 2008

No pay, no gain

Rudy is looking more desperate every day:
Top advisers to former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani have voluntarily agreed to forgo their salaries or consultant fees, an indication that Giuliani's strategy of sitting out the early primaries is causing fundraising problems for the campaign.

An aide confirmed that campaign manager Mike DuHaime and several other top advisers and consultant who make large salaries stopped being paid as of Jan. 1.

"We want to ensure that all of our resources are pointed to Florida," said campaign spokeswoman Maria Comella. "We're being cautious. We're going to spend a lot of time in Florida."

Comella declined to comment on fundraising efforts, but said the campaign has $11.5 million cash on hand, with about $7 million that can be used for the primary. She said the campaign continues to raise money for Giuliani's presidential bid.
Cautious = not paying your staff?
But the decision to suspend salaries suggests that the mayor's strategy of waiting for the campaign to arrive in Florida is taking its toll.

By refusing to compete vigorously in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan or South Carolina, Giuliani has been relegated to watching on the sidelines. The crush of news coverage of the candidates in Iowa and then New Hampshire barely mentioned Giuliani.

The other leading candidates -- former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Arizona Sen. John McCain -- have been constantly in the news for a month as they fight with each other for wins in those states.
I think he's hurtin'.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Hillary's overflow...of tears?

Fox News caught my ear tonight reporting that Hillary's engine, while losing steam, lost perspective today at a small rally. Well, smaller than they planned. I had to check this out, and sure enough...

First, Bad plan of attack:
JUST 24 hours after Barack Obama had the crowds spilling out of the North Nashua High School in the northeastern state of New Hampshire, US presidential rival Hillary Clinton arrived at the same location to fire up her supporters.

An elementary rule in politics is never book the same venue to follow a surging rival.
Duh. But this baffles me:
And as they did eventually make their way in, the work of what they call the "Clinton machine" was clearly discernible.

Clinton's campaign staff had shrunk the room. It made the crowd look bigger.

Using barricades, the public area in front of Clinton was considerably smaller than at the Obama event the previous day. Instead, they expanded the area reserved for the media.

Even so, the public standing space could have crammed plenty more people in.

But the Clinton staff stopped people moving into the area and instead opened the overflow room. In there just 250 or so were forced to sit when they could have easily been in the main hall to see Clinton herself.
Why would anyone leave open space in their rally? Key to making a "packed room" is shrinking the room before the crowd piles in - check. Second rule? If it's not full, and the people keep comin' -pack 'em in! Do NOT section them off in some separate room to try to fool the press. If you've got room, that will only piss people off.

I guess Clinton wanted the press to report their overflow- thing is, the media forgot not to mention the empty space in the auditorium.

What's a girl to do? I guess cry about it.

Favre in Charge

And now, they play against God.

A stretch, perhaps. But only if you haven't been to Green Bay.

Big-time pro athletes don't come more admired than Brett Favre.

Pro sports franchises don't come more endearing than the Green Bay Packers. Fercripesakes, the team is community-owned.

After a splendid 13-3 regular season, the Packers are recipients of the national hug as they commence Saturday their march to the desert and the inevitable fight for the soul of civilization against the remorseless New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Wondering what the striking TV/movie scriptwriters were doing with their free time? Now you know.

The Seahawks couldn't be more unwelcome if they were Mr. Potter plotting against George Bailey in "It's a Wonderful Life."

The hiss has started in TV network headquarters. By the time it sweeps across a fruited plain desperate for feel-good sports stories (not you, Roger Clemens), the Seahawks will think they are in a hurricane.

All the Seahawks did was win a playoff football game. Soon they will be seen as dastardlies who tie widows to railroad tracks.

The feel is similar to the Super Bowl two years ago, when they went up against the national darling Steelers and Jerome Did-You-Know-He's-From-Detroit? Bettis. Even last week, the Seahawks were eight-hanky underdogs to the Washington Redskins, who were on an overwrought crusade for a slain teammate.

But in terms of sloppy sentiment -- which is, as you know, much more important to a game's outcome than countering a zone blitz -- this may be the worst, because even cranky sportswriters can't work up literary snarkiness to flick at Favre and the Pack.

Please don't think the Seahawks will do it for any of us.

The team's two most important figures, coach Mike Holmgren and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, came to Seattle from Green Bay and will go long with hosannahs about team and town.

Calling Lambeau Field "the greatest venue in all of sports," Hasselbeck, after the 35-14 win over Washington, needed only to add light background music and sepia-toned photos to complete his impromptu Ken Burns mini-documentary.

"I remember the first time I went back there, it was a huge deal to me," he said. "Green Bay, Wisconsin, is a special place to me. If it wasn't for that organization, I would have never gotten a chance. I would be wearing a suit to work every day. They helped me to fulfill my dream of playing in the NFL.

"The people there are the same way. From Brett to (coach) Mike McCarthy, who was there when I was there, to the people in the front office, to the people who work in the pro shops, everybody.

"It's just a special thing, when you get to play your friends."

Stop, Matt, just for a moment. I'm getting all verklempt.

There. I'm better now. Soft-focus lenses do that to me every time.

Holmgren was no less effusive. Cue the eye moisture.

"I'll probably have to say it a number of times this week -- Green Bay is a special place for people that like football," he said. " It is very unique. When my family was there, we had a wonderful time. We have fond memories.

"Now we have to go back and play them. We're very excited about the opportunity."

If the Oakland Raiders were alive today, they would retch.
Read the rest.

Sunday, January 6, 2008

GOP Debates- NH style

1. Romney is a little scared I think. He looks tired, he's fumbling.

2. Huckabee is a little cock-abee tonight on FNS, and this morning. I don't like it.

3. and Brit Hume got it right on Fox News Sunday when he said the Saturday night John McCain was not the steadfast, soft-spoken, respectful representative we admire, or that New Hampshire voters have come to respect and put in the lead for Tuesday's polls. He is acting petty and making low blows and Governor Romney kept his composure against those attacks. Romney won that debate, the question is how many people watched him, and not playoff football.

Friday, January 4, 2008

Sweat Challenge

Gusty.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 4) - With a button-popping spread of cornbread, sausage and gravy, chicken fried steak and pecan pie designated as Oklahoma's official state meal, it's no surprise that Oklahoma City's mayor wants to put the city on a diet.

Mick Cornett has challenged the city to shed 1 million pounds as its New Year's resolution.

As part of the initiative, residents can sign up and track their weight loss on a new Web site, http://www.thiscityisgoingonadiet.com. More than 2,600 people had registered by Thursday. They've lost more than 300 pounds.

Oklahoma City ranked 15th in a 2007 survey of America's fattest cities conducted by Men's Fitness magazine. The survey examined lifestyle factors in each city, including fast-food restaurants per capita and availability of city parks, gyms and bike paths.
More mayors should try something like this.

So Long!

Good riddance.
ALAMEDA, Calif. (Jan. 3) - Warren Sapp announced his retirement on Thursday, ending the career of one of the best defensive tackles to play in the NFL.

Sapp posted a two word message on his Web site announcing his intention: "I'M DONE!" He had told teammates and coaches his plans after the season finale Sunday against San Diego. Sapp told the Contra Costa Times earlier Thursday that he had called Raiders owner Al Davis to give him the official news.
Classy way to announce.

I've never come around after his late and near-deadly hit on Chad Clifton.

Oprah Obama

Canada thinks Oprah was a candidate in this year's Iowa Caucuses. (See Headline: "Iowa: Obama, Oprah, Huckabee, born-agains win".) Oprah Power, and the resonance among voters of Obama's message of change plus hope, has put Obama way in front and represents a historic precedent: He is the first African-American to ever win ANY primary in the history of the United States and probably the most intelligent. But is there truth to the matter?



Oprah is broadcast during the late afternoon to a majority-female audience, mainly comprised of elderly women, stay-at-home moms, etc. It's those soccer-mom voters that are so hard to reach, tend to stray independent, and worry mostly about safety, pocketbooks, and their childrens' future.

Does such a voter enter the polling booth saying "Because Oprah's voting for him, I will too," No, I don't think so. Do they sit at home, watch her daily, read People and O Magazine and internalize their connection to her- be it from her struggles with weight, her favorite things, or here her Presidential candidate preference - YES, I believe they do. So while we may not recognize the independent thinkers these voters are and end up giving Oprah too much credit with ridiculous headlines like those above, she has clout. She is admired and respected. Her "book club" choices sell for $15 dollars more than the paper-back copy before she slaps her golden sticker to the hard-back cover, and those ladies spend it.

What's to stop them from spending their vote in the same fashion?

Comin' Round the Mountaineers

How Rude.

Bill Stewart, Special Teams coach and all, led the West Virginia Mountaineers to a Fiesta Bowl win, after being abandoned by their own head coach. He's won over the top players, and the emotional WV Board, but certainly not the donors.

Before it seems he's allowed to baske in the glory of his new promotion to head coach, the critics come crashing down:
West Virginia booster Ken Kendrick, who was outspoken in his support of former coach Rich Rodriguez following his departure, called it a "sad morning."

"He is so overmatched it's not even funny," said Kendrick, managing partner of Major League Baseball's Arizona Diamondbacks. "He's a nice guy and a father figure. But they had a wonderful architect, and they hired the painter to build the next house."
Let's give him a chance. If he sucks, you can fire him, but you don't know what he can do until you let him try.

I appreciate his humility.
"I never had a Gatorade bath," Stew said. "Never. And it is special. Never had it. So for all the assistant coaches out there that never had it, this is for them. This is for them because there is a lot of fine coaches out there, a whole lot better than me."
I hope he kicks some ass.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Tip

Add one ice cube (JUST one) to a glass of milk fresh from the fridge.



It will change your life.

Up in Arms over Caucus

Because the caucuses, held in the early evening, do not allow absentee voting, they tend to leave out nearly entire categories of voters: the infirm, soldiers on active duty, restaurant employees on the dinner shift, medical personnel who cannot leave their patients, parents who do not have babysitting and many others who work in retail, at gasoline stations and in other jobs that require evening duty.

As in years past, voters must present themselves in person, at a specific hour, and stay for as long as two. And if this caucus is anything like prior ones, only a tiny percentage of Iowans will participate. In 2000, the last year in which both parties held caucuses, 59,000 Democrats and 87,000 Republicans voted, in a state with 2.9 million people. In 2004, 124,000 people turned out for the Democratic caucuses.

The rules are so demanding that even Ray Hoffman, the chairman of the Iowa State Republican Party and a resident of Sioux City, cannot caucus Thursday night, because he has to be in Des Moines on party business.

Iowans begin the presidential nomination process, making choices among the candidates that can heavily influence the way the race unfolds. Now some people are starting to ask why the first, crucial step in the presidential nominating process is also one that discourages so many people from participating.
Not campaigning in Iowa or having any prior experience there, perhaps I should not comment on the above situation. However, isn't the idea that the Republican Party Chairman in Iowa won't caucus because of business that takes him away from his home county, oh say, just a tad disturbing? How long has he, of all people, had to schedule and plan and worry about this?

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Outback Bust

ESPN:
"It was over when... Antonio Wardlow intercepted a Tyler Donovan pass, ending a Wisconsin drive that could have given the Badgers the lead in the final seconds of the game."
Hardly. It was over four minutes before that when Bielema decided to go for it on 4th down with 5 minutes to go at the end of the 4th quarter, and Donovan completely botched the play with a throw-away toss. What could have been a 1-point deficit winnable by a field goal- which the Badgers were easily in place for with one minute to go- was a four point embarassing loss.

I'm disappointed in the defense and the offensive play calling for our Badgers today.

New Years Resolutions

Resolutions are dumb. They never seem to last. But there are some small reminders we can give ourselves each morning that might make our shortcomings feel a little less daunting and change our attitudes a little bit for the better for the rest of each day. What's yours today?

The wrong vote


"I miss Bill" is no way to vote.