Welcome back, but I have been busy not watching the World Series until 2:22 in the morning. I think it is a forgone conclusion the Astro’s are toast. Now let us move onto issues that are more important:
What is he thinking? Is she qualified?
“The President would be both ashamed & afraid to bring forward for the most distinguished or lucrative stations, candidates who had no other merit than that of coming from the same state to which he particularly belonged or of being in someway or other personally allied to him or of possessing the necessary insignificance or pliancy to render them obsequious instruments of his pleasure”
Alexander Hamilton in the Federalist Papers
President Bush in what seems like another move based upon his infinite wisdom on what “he” wants has nominated his personal lawyer, Harriet Miers, to replace Sandra Day O’Connor on the Supreme Court. Now, I was going to attempt to withhold my opinion on this issue, since I am neither a lawyer nor a constitutional scholar. I had assumed, much like Alexander Hamilton did 200 years ago, that the President would take this nomination seriously and not nominate a crony or significantly unqualified candidate. Now, Mr. Bush has done exactly what our founding fathers suggested would not happen. Ms. Miers, record is sketchy at best.
She has served as the commissioner of the Texas lottery, she was a corporate lawyer and worked as the White House Legal Counsel, beyond that not much is known about this candidate. She has never been a judge, she has never been a law professor, she has no written opinions on any legal matters and it is appalling to think the president believes she is qualified to sit on the bench because she is an evangelical Christian. I am not sure what value this actually has, other than to provide a wink to his conservative wing. Even with this wink, they do not seem happy with this nomination either. Robert Bork, a failed nominee himself and leader of the neo conservatives attempting to shift the balance of the court to the far right lambasted her stating that she is not qualified for this position. What else is there to say?
I find it slightly amusing and awfully offensive that she provided incomplete answers to a Senate questionnaire asking her to respond to relevant legal questions and how she would rule. I found it disgusting that the White House refuses to release any papers regarding her roles and responsibility or opinions on how she would rule as a justice. I find it reprehensible that she has stonewalled the press and said that only she knows her opinion on hot button issues. Part of the vetting process is to evaluate the validity of nominee’s credentials to determine the worthiness of giving someone a job for the rest of their lives. Now, we can argue the idea of giving justices a job for life but that is another issue. Personally, I believe it is fine for a justice to serve for life, since they need to be above the politics of worrying about re-election or if their rulings will get them removed from the bench. A judge needs to be impartial, look at the constitution, and rule without worrying about how their can affect their career. That is why a lifetime position is a good idea.
In spite of all the objections from the right and the press on both side of the aisle, the president has refused to withdraw her nomination. Once again, he is going obtusely on his own path, believing he knows what is right and refuses to listen to any dissenting opinions. A good fight is in store and it could be avoided if Bush just stepped up and did the right thing. Harriet Mier is no John Roberts and she will be Borked when this comes to the Senate for confirmation.
It will be interesting to see what happens with his henchman, Karl Rove and VP Dick Cheney with this Valerie Plame issue. All of a sudden, Karl Rove is an invisible man. What happened to the claim to remove anyone suspected of or convicted of wrongdoing? This was supposed to be the president who cleaned up the oval office. I guess he is not getting blowjobs from interns, but his political advisor and staff of the VP, can hang people out to dry for going against their wishes. Very scary!!! I remember seeing a quote from one of Nixon’s aides. He was responding to the question of how could they have allowed Watergate to happen, and he answered that the power corrupted them in 3 short years. One has to wonder if we are looking at a similar situation now 30 years later
Remember the beginning of the year, when George W. Bush talked about his mandate for the next 4 years. He believed he had a mandate based on winning 51% of the popular vote. He the thought he was Ronald Reagan in 1984. Not even, close. He has failed with Social Security reform, he has failed in Afghanistan, he has failed in Iraq, he has failed in his war on terror, and he has failed in controlling his cabinet and staff. It is going to be fun to watch how he handles the remaining time in office. I see a good possibility that Cheney retires and the new VP becomes the front-runner for 2008. Sorry Condi, I doubt it will be you.
It should be a slam-dunk for the Democrats in the mid-term elections next year, but they are so disorganized that they cannot come to consensus on the simplest of issues. They have an excellent opportunity to step in and take on the republicans on the hard issues, such as the war on terror, their own criminal indictments and the growing deficit. Instead, the democrats have been passive and are losing the focus and relevance. It is possible that the Democrats are going to go the way of the Whig party in the 1850’s and just disappear. In order for that to happen, another political party needs to emerge and I believe the time is right now. Where will this new political party come from?
Ross Perot stumbled onto a good idea with the independent party in 1992, but he was the wrong messenger. Ross Perot was a first class nut job, but he had many good ideas which electors were attracted to by the fact that he got 18% of the popular vote in 1992 and 8% in 1996.. Unfortunately, the Independent Party was hood winked and swindled into irrelevancy by the likes of Jesse “the Body” Ventura and Pat Buchanan. Therefore, unless a well-known, well-respected person rises the independent part is not going to be the solution. Maybe John McCain if he does not get the republican nomination in 2008.
A friend of mine has suggested the New Democratic Majority Party as an alternative. Straight off the bat, they have a terrible name and any new party will need to completely disassociate itself from the existing Democratic Party and must appeal to those in the middle of the political spectrum, not just the disgruntled members of the left. The libertarian’s have a perception problem, since they tend to be associated with the Michigan Militia types. All the other parties (right-to-life, green, conservative, liberal, etc) are too fringe or stuck to a single issue and would never appeal to the mainstream.
Maybe it is time to start a Federalist party. Anyone interested in joining?
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Baseball 2005 is over...from my perspective
From my perspective the baseball season is over, so I can get back to doing this wacky blogging thing (for those of you who even bother to read this, thank you!!!).
I think I was almost 100% completely wrong on all my predictions in the AL. I had the Indians in as the wild card, and Boston winning the East. Oh well. I can take solace as a Yankee fan, knowing the Red Sox are not going to repeat and remain 20 world championships behind the Bronx Bombers. At least I can admit my failings, unlike some folks.
Well, here are my thoughts for what is left of the baseball playoffs. I think the Astros blew their wad with that 18 inning win over the Braves on Sunday. As amazing as that game was, and it will go down as great in Divisional Playoff History, the Houston club has to be exhausted after using 23 players from their 25 man roster. Only Andy Pettite and Roy Oswalt did not play. That in itself is amazing. The other amazing thing is the Braves and their 400 straight divisional championships, since 1655. However, during this incredible run they have won exactly one championship, and that is sad. It seems they are built for the regular season, and playing in a weak division must help. They are obviously not built for the playoffs. I feel bad for John Smoltz, who said after the game on Sunday that he is tired of being involved in great games (1991 World Series, Game 7) and on the losing end. I wonder if someone is going to look to flee Atlanta before next season. He deserves it, though Glavine was certainly not the same after he left. It must be Leo Mazzone is a miracle maker, but I digress.
The Astros will be very tired and the well rested Cardinals, who swept away the just above mediocre Padres, should win the NLCS in 5 or 6 games. I think this is the premier playoff match up, and whoever wins should be the favorite going into the World Series. If the Cardinals do not win it all, then Tony LaRusso will have sealed his fate as the 2nd worst all time playoff managers, behind Bobby Cox. I am not even sure that Atlanta’s annual demise is Cox’s fault, but rather a flaw with the general manager and the team in general. The Cardinals have everything that is needed (good pitching, solid hitting, good defense, etc.) to win it all. Now with the Red Sox and the Yankees out of the way, the RedBirds should have an easier path to their first title since Whitey Herzog was their manager in 1982. LaRusso lost 2 of 3 with the A’s from 1988-1990. He is always called a genius, but I am not sold.
In the AL, Fox and MLB has made it extremely difficult on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Southern California of the West Coast of the United States of the North American Continent of the Western Hemisphere. By having a rain out in New York on Saturday, they made the Angels and Yankees play a night game on Sunday, fly to LA to play a 5:05 local time game on Monday, then back to Chicago for Game 1 of the ALCS tonight at 8 pm. Meanwhile the Astros and Cardinals get another day off since they start their series on Wednesday. What is the problem with flip-flopping these games to give the Angels a break? Playing 3 games in 3 cities in 3 time zones is going to be difficult and might make it possible for Chicago to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1959. I think the White Sox are a good team, as proved by their sweep of the defending championships, and with home field advantage in their corner, they should win this series in 5 or 6 games as well. Let’s check back on October 22, and see if I am wrong again.
The hockey season is back in full swing after taking a season off to get their labor situation straightened out. I must say, I was shocked to see the Rangers win 5-3 on opening night against the Flyers. I was thinking, maybe this year won’t be a complete waste, maybe these team will come together and play decently with a slew of young kids and gain the necessary experience to be a contender. Then they played the Devils in a home and home and the Capitals for a Columbus Day matinee, and brought me back down to reality. They lost and tied twice in those three games.
However, we are four games into the season and the NY Post is already reporting the Jamie Lundmark, the #1 pick (9th overall) a few years ago, is in Coach Tom Renney’s doghouse and could be traded very soon. Now, how does that show patience in younger players, and allow a team to gel. So either the team is going to allow young players to mature and grow or they are going to begin to discard players who don’t perform, which is it? Time will tell. As I said, and everyone else has said, the Rangers are not going to contend this year or maybe even next year. Let them play, make mistakes and learn. If after 40 or 50 games, they decide that he needs to be traded, then that is a reasonable period of evaluation. Unless of course Glen the Savior Sather, can trade Lundmark for Sidney Crosby, but Craig Patrick is much too smart to ever let that happen.
The Jets pulled off an amazing upset on Sunday, knocking off the previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a 42 year old QB, who was retired up until about 2 weeks ago. In all reality, it was more like a parity upset rather than an amazing upset. It was the type of game that you see from time to time in the NFL, when an under-achieving team (Jets) beats a team that is playing above their level (Bucs), leading each team to read result than necessary. Tampa Bay might have been undefeated, but I don’t consider them an elite team. The Jets are still a bad team, who happened to be able to use the adrenaline of Vinny Testerverde’s return to spark a victory.
I still believe the Jets are a very bad, almost borderline terrible team. It would be better for them to tank the season to get Matt Leinart in the draft next year, rather than make a farce of the season and think they can make the playoffs. The AFC East is a weak division this year, and it is not inconceivable to see the Patriots winning the division with a 9-7 record, though they keep chugging along. After getting crushed by San Diego, they bounced back nicely this weekend by beating the Vickless Falcons with a last second field goal, by mister reliable Adam Vinatieri.
On the other side of the Meadowlands, the Giants are off to a strong start behind Eli Manning. I have one word for this “mirage”. The Giants are 3-1. They looked great beating St. Louis, but that is not difficult since Seattle just did the same thing this weekend. The other wins were against the Cardinals and the Saints, none of these 3 opponents will be in the playoffs come January. The Cowboys have looked good 2 of the past 3 weeks and the Redskins could be for real, though I am not convinced about them either, yet. The Eagles are in disarray, but have too much raw talent to rule them out this early. The cushy part of the Giants schedule is over, and we will see what they are made of with Dallas, Denver and Washington over the next 3 weeks. I see them losing all 3 and falling below .500.
With the Yankee season over, the Rangers outlook bleak, and not having high hopes for the Jets or Giants I am not sure but I a might need to start to follow basketball, and the whirling diversh that is the NY Knicks with megalomaniacs Isaiah Thomas and Larry Brown both trying to run that franchise. It should be fun to watch from the sidelines.
I think I was almost 100% completely wrong on all my predictions in the AL. I had the Indians in as the wild card, and Boston winning the East. Oh well. I can take solace as a Yankee fan, knowing the Red Sox are not going to repeat and remain 20 world championships behind the Bronx Bombers. At least I can admit my failings, unlike some folks.
Well, here are my thoughts for what is left of the baseball playoffs. I think the Astros blew their wad with that 18 inning win over the Braves on Sunday. As amazing as that game was, and it will go down as great in Divisional Playoff History, the Houston club has to be exhausted after using 23 players from their 25 man roster. Only Andy Pettite and Roy Oswalt did not play. That in itself is amazing. The other amazing thing is the Braves and their 400 straight divisional championships, since 1655. However, during this incredible run they have won exactly one championship, and that is sad. It seems they are built for the regular season, and playing in a weak division must help. They are obviously not built for the playoffs. I feel bad for John Smoltz, who said after the game on Sunday that he is tired of being involved in great games (1991 World Series, Game 7) and on the losing end. I wonder if someone is going to look to flee Atlanta before next season. He deserves it, though Glavine was certainly not the same after he left. It must be Leo Mazzone is a miracle maker, but I digress.
The Astros will be very tired and the well rested Cardinals, who swept away the just above mediocre Padres, should win the NLCS in 5 or 6 games. I think this is the premier playoff match up, and whoever wins should be the favorite going into the World Series. If the Cardinals do not win it all, then Tony LaRusso will have sealed his fate as the 2nd worst all time playoff managers, behind Bobby Cox. I am not even sure that Atlanta’s annual demise is Cox’s fault, but rather a flaw with the general manager and the team in general. The Cardinals have everything that is needed (good pitching, solid hitting, good defense, etc.) to win it all. Now with the Red Sox and the Yankees out of the way, the RedBirds should have an easier path to their first title since Whitey Herzog was their manager in 1982. LaRusso lost 2 of 3 with the A’s from 1988-1990. He is always called a genius, but I am not sold.
In the AL, Fox and MLB has made it extremely difficult on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Southern California of the West Coast of the United States of the North American Continent of the Western Hemisphere. By having a rain out in New York on Saturday, they made the Angels and Yankees play a night game on Sunday, fly to LA to play a 5:05 local time game on Monday, then back to Chicago for Game 1 of the ALCS tonight at 8 pm. Meanwhile the Astros and Cardinals get another day off since they start their series on Wednesday. What is the problem with flip-flopping these games to give the Angels a break? Playing 3 games in 3 cities in 3 time zones is going to be difficult and might make it possible for Chicago to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1959. I think the White Sox are a good team, as proved by their sweep of the defending championships, and with home field advantage in their corner, they should win this series in 5 or 6 games as well. Let’s check back on October 22, and see if I am wrong again.
The hockey season is back in full swing after taking a season off to get their labor situation straightened out. I must say, I was shocked to see the Rangers win 5-3 on opening night against the Flyers. I was thinking, maybe this year won’t be a complete waste, maybe these team will come together and play decently with a slew of young kids and gain the necessary experience to be a contender. Then they played the Devils in a home and home and the Capitals for a Columbus Day matinee, and brought me back down to reality. They lost and tied twice in those three games.
However, we are four games into the season and the NY Post is already reporting the Jamie Lundmark, the #1 pick (9th overall) a few years ago, is in Coach Tom Renney’s doghouse and could be traded very soon. Now, how does that show patience in younger players, and allow a team to gel. So either the team is going to allow young players to mature and grow or they are going to begin to discard players who don’t perform, which is it? Time will tell. As I said, and everyone else has said, the Rangers are not going to contend this year or maybe even next year. Let them play, make mistakes and learn. If after 40 or 50 games, they decide that he needs to be traded, then that is a reasonable period of evaluation. Unless of course Glen the Savior Sather, can trade Lundmark for Sidney Crosby, but Craig Patrick is much too smart to ever let that happen.
The Jets pulled off an amazing upset on Sunday, knocking off the previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with a 42 year old QB, who was retired up until about 2 weeks ago. In all reality, it was more like a parity upset rather than an amazing upset. It was the type of game that you see from time to time in the NFL, when an under-achieving team (Jets) beats a team that is playing above their level (Bucs), leading each team to read result than necessary. Tampa Bay might have been undefeated, but I don’t consider them an elite team. The Jets are still a bad team, who happened to be able to use the adrenaline of Vinny Testerverde’s return to spark a victory.
I still believe the Jets are a very bad, almost borderline terrible team. It would be better for them to tank the season to get Matt Leinart in the draft next year, rather than make a farce of the season and think they can make the playoffs. The AFC East is a weak division this year, and it is not inconceivable to see the Patriots winning the division with a 9-7 record, though they keep chugging along. After getting crushed by San Diego, they bounced back nicely this weekend by beating the Vickless Falcons with a last second field goal, by mister reliable Adam Vinatieri.
On the other side of the Meadowlands, the Giants are off to a strong start behind Eli Manning. I have one word for this “mirage”. The Giants are 3-1. They looked great beating St. Louis, but that is not difficult since Seattle just did the same thing this weekend. The other wins were against the Cardinals and the Saints, none of these 3 opponents will be in the playoffs come January. The Cowboys have looked good 2 of the past 3 weeks and the Redskins could be for real, though I am not convinced about them either, yet. The Eagles are in disarray, but have too much raw talent to rule them out this early. The cushy part of the Giants schedule is over, and we will see what they are made of with Dallas, Denver and Washington over the next 3 weeks. I see them losing all 3 and falling below .500.
With the Yankee season over, the Rangers outlook bleak, and not having high hopes for the Jets or Giants I am not sure but I a might need to start to follow basketball, and the whirling diversh that is the NY Knicks with megalomaniacs Isaiah Thomas and Larry Brown both trying to run that franchise. It should be fun to watch from the sidelines.
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