Obama vs. McCain

Thankfully, I forget 99.999% of punditry within 48 hours of reading it. But this one has stuck with me since January, so I bring it back now:

Columbia, South Carolina — I went to Barack Obama’s rally here, on Sunday night, with a Republican friend who had never seen the Illinois senator in action before. Watching the crowd of more than 3,000 fill up the convention center, watching the people send up waves of energy to Obama, and watching him play off that energy in a speech that was one of the best political performances anyone has seen this year, my Republican friend said, simply, “Oh, s—t.” He recalled the scene from Jaws, in which the small seaside town’s sheriff realizes how big the shark he’s tracking truly is, and says, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” What my friend didn’t have to say was that he was deeply worried that Republicans just don’t have a bigger boat.

I must admit, at the time that article was one that started the adjustment in my thinking about the real possibilities of an Obama candidacy. At the time, I thought I was fairly solid for McCain, but I was open to revisiting that position. Minnesota held its caucus on Super Tuesday and we opted to go to the Democratic caucus and vote for Obama because we thought that he would need our help here (which was wrong) and McCain would not need our help here (which was wrong).

So what are the real possibilities of an Obama presidency? First, we get $800 trillion in immediate goodwill from around the world. I would like to hear from everyone who predicted that a black guy with a middle name of "Hussein" might be elected POTUS just 7 years after 9/11 and 4.5 years after pulling Saddam out of a spider-hole. Second, we get a potential for things to get done domestically. Of course, "get done" is nothing without specifics. That is where I start to get nervous (again) about Obama.

So what are the risks of an Obama presidency? I have two inter-related concerns. First, Obama is raw when it comes to national security and, second, if he wins he is likely to have comfortable majorities in both the House and the Senate. I'm not sure that I like the idea of a giving the Democrats complete control to do whatever they want over both national security and domestic policy.

It sucks to live in a democracy and have to sort through this stuff.

Two thousand words

Goodbye.












Hello.

Who said this?

Quote.

Well, why, all of a sudden, if he had all these grave concerns, did he not raise these sooner? This is one-and-a-half years after he left the administration. And now, all of a sudden, he's raising these grave concerns that he claims he had. And I think you have to look at some of the facts. One, he is bringing this up in the heat of a presidential campaign. He has written a book and he certainly wants to go out there and promote that book.

The answer is Scott McClellan, reacting to Richard Clarke's book in 2004.

RIP - Harvey Korman

Harvey Korman has died.

I remember one night when I was still in junior high school when friends and I stayed up all night watching Blazing Saddles over and over again. And I grew up with The Carol Burnett Show. The man was a unique talent.

Hooplehead of the day

Susan Sarandon. Why the media pays any attention to the goofy political views of the likes of her or Sean Penn is beyond me.

Flying penis interrupts speech

This might be the strangest thing that I have ever seen.

Incoherent quote of the day

Sean Penn.

”I hope that [Obama] will understand, if he is the nominee, the degree of disillusionment that will happen if he doesn't become a greater man than he will ever be,” Penn said.

SNL: Hillary's pitch to the superdelegates

Kentucky Derby

I thought about putting up a post on this subject, but once again procrastination has paid off. Somebody else wrote it first (and better that I would have). I join this opinion.

The Onion

For those of you who don't regularly read The Onion, I would be negligent if I didn't direct you to this video.

McCain Declines Secret Service, Dares Assassins To Try Something

A painful truth

Link.

[B]logging tends to be the hobby of people with full-time jobs who do it because it’s more fun than stamp collecting.

Ouch. And for the record, I have never understood stamp collecting.

More Masters pictures

Jason cropped these pictures, some of which I had posted earlier. The guy in the top picture is supposed to be pretty good.

My Bucket List

This list has evolved over the last 20 years, but here is the current status.

1. Run a marathon.
2. Run a second marathon.
3. Walk a marathon with my wife.
4. See a practice round at the Masters and walk and experience Augusta National.
5. Jump out of an airplane.
6. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef or Caribbean.
7. Go to Rome.
8. Run a third marathon.

(No. 4 (Augusta) was completed this week and it was worth the effort. Pictures below.)

Out of date post

Below is a compilation of Adrian Peterson highlights from his rookie year. I post this now only so I can easily locate the video when I want to. But, if you are a pure football fan, you will still find it fun to watch.

The first season of the guy who has a chance to be one of the best ever.

The power of YouTube

I can't believe that this isn't going to become a problem for Hillary in the coming days.


UPDATE 4/9.08: Just FYI, this was fresh when I posted it. Time seems to suggest (as of the date of this update) that this complete and fully exposed lie will be looked back at as the thing that lost her any chance of the nomination. Personally, I think that it was one of the biggest political brain farts ever.

Thought of the day

The blindingly self-centered propensity of some people has always confused me, but what I find more confusing is why "we" often implicitly agree to live by the self-centered person's rules.

Oops

Jim Cramer, earlier last week, when Bear Stearns was at about $63 a share

On Sunday, J.P. Morgan announced a deal to buy the company for $2 a share.

Hooplehead of the day

Jesse Ventura.

Spitzer

This is a Spitzer commercial that ran in 2006. I'm sure that it was effective at the time, but now it seems comical.

Bad (but timely) joke

Link.

The phone rings. Hillary Rodham Clinton picks it up.

"Yes?"

"Hillary, it's Silda Wall Spitzer. Sorry to call so late. Eliot's still not home. Based on your experience, what should I do?"

Minnesota Senate Race

The race in Minnesota for the Democratic candidate to face incumbent (and former Democrat) Sen. Norm Coleman has abruptly ended. The Democratic candidate will be Al Franken. Does God hate Minnesota? Wasn't Jesse Ventura our practical joke? Can't we laugh at somebody else this time?

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

Hooplehead of the day

Recently, I started watching on DVD the HBO series Deadwood , a fictional series based on real people (including Wild Bill Hickok). Bad guy Al Swearengen is a main character, and he describes anyone who he considers to be an idiot as a "hooplehead." I have become fond of that term, so I introduce a new feature, the Hooplehead of the Day. Today's winner is PGA Tour golfer Tripp Isenhour. Link.

UPDATE: I will only call attention to public figures. Stupid criminals, etc. aren't eligible.

Subprime mess

I currently spend many hours per day working on matters related to the subprime mess. I have sat through countless mind-numbing presentations regarding how and why this mess developed. By far the best explanation I have found is here. It will take you 3 minutes to go through, you will laugh your butt off, and you will be genuinely better informed when you are done. So go; you will not regret it. (Warning: Some rough language.)

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

Late breaking news

Diebold Accidentally Leaks Results Of 2008 Election Early

Romney

Here is another reason why I am so glad this guy is gone from the race.

"If I fight on in my campaign, all the way to the convention, I would forestall the launch of a national campaign and make it more likely that Senator Clinton or Obama would win. And in this time of war, I simply cannot let my campaign, be a part of aiding a surrender to terror."

I'm hawkish, but this is slander. "Surrender" if Obama or Clinton become president? I dislike this man, very much.

Super-delegates

Link.

We've done a bad job of explaing this, but it is now basically mathematically impossible for either Clinton or Obama to win the nomination through the regular voting process (meaning the super-delegates decide this one, baby!).

Here's the math. There are 3,253 pledged delegates, those doled out based on actual voting in primaries and caucuses. And you need 2,025 to win the nomination.

To date, about 55% of those 3,253 delegates have been pledged in the voting process -- with Clinton and Obamb roughly splitting them at about 900 delegates a piece.

That means there are now only about 1,400 delegates left up for grabs in the remaining states and territories voting.

So, do the math. If they both have about 900 pledged delegates so far, they need to win more than 1,100 of the remaining 1,400 delegates to win the nomination through actual voting.

Ain't gonna happen, barring a stunning scandal or some new crazy revelation. So, they'll keep fighting this thing out, each accumulating their chunk of delegates, one of them holding a slight edge and bothing finishing the voting process with 1,600 or so delegates.

And then the super delegates decide this thing.

That's the math.

Sound logic, as far as I can tell. This year is going to so much more interesting than 2004. (Via Political Wire.)

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

Snark

Social issues don't drive my vote. But Mr. Romney's willingness to flip-flop on just about every hot-button social issue tells me all I need to know about the man. Vote McCain, or Vote Obama. Please don't vote for this used car salesman.

The enemy we face

Pure evil.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Two mentally disabled women were strapped with explosives Friday and sent into busy Baghdad markets, where they were blown up by remote control, a top Iraqi government official said.

The bombs killed at least 98 people and wounded more than 200 at two popular pet markets on the holiest day of the week for Muslims, authorities said.

In both bombings, the attackers were mentally disabled women whose explosive belts were remotely detonated, Gen. Qasim Atta, spokesman for Baghdad's security plan, told state television. . .

On second thought, the pure evil aspect might be surpassed by the pure cowardice aspect.

Interesting

My blue eyes are the result of a genetic mutation.

(Belated) MLK Day post

We were traveling back from Florida yesterday, so I'm a day late with this. If you haven't seen his "I Have a Dream" speech in its entirety before, you can here.

Remarkable still, 45 years later.

"It's my turn (again)"!!!!!!

I'm not a Hillary hater. In fact, I could see myself voting for her if the Republicans nominate anyone but McCain. But the sense of entitlement that her husband feels is breathtaking. See here.

Test #2

You know what CEO and CFO stand for. But do you know what CBO stands for?

Answer.

Test

Is it real or is it from The Onion?

Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, who has made predicting the future an annual tradition, predicts a recession and a major stock market upheaval are on their way for the United States. . .

But don't unload your portfolio just yet. Robertson acknowledged Wednesday that his prophecy of a nuclear terror attack in 2007 failed to unfold.

He also cited information from God when he predicted on a year go that major U.S. cities would be hit by "very serious terrorist attacks" causing "possibly millions" of deaths.

No such catastrophe occurred.

"All I can think is that somehow the people of God prayed and God in his mercy spared us," Robertson said on "The 700 Club," a television show he hosts on the Christian Broadcasting Network, based in Virginia Beach.

"So did I miss it? Possibly," he said of his unrealized prediction. "Or, on the other hand, did God avert it? Possibly. But whatever, it didn't happen, so I think we can all rejoice."

On Wednesday, Robertson, 77, implied that God informed him who will be elected president in November.

"He told me some things about the election, but I'm not going to say, because some old man on "60 Minutes" would make fun of me, so I'm not going to tell you who the winner's going to be," Robertson said, in apparent reference to CBS humorist Andy Rooney, who turns 89 on Jan. 14.

Answer here.

Bullshit

Poll: Bullshit Is Most Important Issue For 2008 Voters

Ignorance at the highest levels

Link.

Still looking for that last-minute Christmas gift for White House press secretary Dana Perino? May we recommend a gift certificate for the forthcoming book on the Cuban Missile Crisis by our colleague Michael Dobbs, "One Minute to Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War," due out next summer?

Appearing on National Public Radio's light-hearted quiz show "Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me," which aired over the weekend, Perino got into the spirit of things and told a story about herself that she had previously shared only in private: During a White House briefing, a reporter referred to the Cuban Missile Crisis -- and she didn't know what it was.

"I was panicked a bit because I really don't know about . . . the Cuban Missile Crisis," said Perino, who at 35 was born about a decade after the 1962 U.S.-Soviet nuclear showdown. "It had to do with Cuba and missiles, I'm pretty sure."

So she consulted her best source. "I came home and I asked my husband," she recalled. "I said, 'Wasn't that like the Bay of Pigs thing?' And he said, 'Oh, Dana.' "

"[L]ike the Bay of Pigs thing?" Oh. My. God.

More Adrian Peterson

This blog may turn into an archive of highlights of the most exciting rookie to enter the league since Gale Sayers. Here are the highlights from Week 13 against the Lions, where Peterson wore a 3 pound knee brace for the first time and was taken out of the game early in the second half. All he was able to do was gain 116 yards and score 2 touchdowns.

Adrian Peterson

I saw one of the greatest sport performances ever yesterday by a man who is the best running back that I have ever seen.

Anyway, if you haven't seen him work, you should.

Watch this.

UPDATE: Here is some bonus footage of AP's 200+ yards against the Bears earlier this year.

Tragic day

Yesterday, the unthinkable happened. I expected that someday a major bridge would be hit by terrorists. I never expected a major bridge that I drive across regularly would simply collapse during rush hour.

Good fortune

Here is reason #101 why I am so grateful to have been born in the USA.

VRINDAVAN, India (CNN) -- Ostracized by society, India's widows flock to the holy city of Vrindavan waiting to die. They are found on side streets, hunched over with walking canes, their heads shaved and their pain etched by hundreds of deep wrinkles in their faces.

Hindu widows are shunned from society when their husbands die, not for religious reasons, but because of tradition -- and because they're seen as a financial drain on their families. . .

For the record . . .

. . . I'm not related to this guy (who is a judge himself).

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A judge ruled Monday in favor of a dry cleaner that was sued for $54 million over a missing pair of pants.

The owners of Custom Cleaners did not violate the city's Consumer Protection Act by failing to live up to Roy L. Pearson's expectations of the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign once displayed in the store window, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled.

Bartnoff ordered Pearson to pay the court costs of defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung.

Breaking blogging silence . . .

. . . to bring you this shattering story about how people who live on golf courses are shocked to find golf balls hit their houses from time to time.

Tomorrow, I will venture to bring you a story about people who buy houses by airports, only to find that airplanes make noise.

CompUSA

I have never been a big CompUSA fan. After reading this story, I probably won't ever go back.

Kerry/Edwards

As a political junkie, I find this article fascinating. There is lots of dirt, followed by this conclusion:

Kerry said that he wished he'd never picked Edwards, that he should have gone with his gut.

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

Giuliani

Link.

Rudy Giuliani, whose positions on abortion and homosexuality mark him as the most socially liberal Republican presidential candidate in more than a generation, is so far winning the contest for the support of social conservatives, according to a new analysis of recent polls.

Widespread perceptions that Giuliani is the most electable Republican in this year's field are driving his support among social conservatives, according to the analysis by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life.

If the trend holds, this apparent willingness to support a candidate who fails what were once regarded as litmus-test issues would mark a landmark shift in the political behavior of a constituency that has been a pillar of the modern GOP. Already the shift is spurring sharp debate among prominent Christian conservative leaders, some of whom warn that Giuliani backers are abandoning core principles. . .

Given that Minnesota has been and will continue to be almost completely irrelevant in determining the nominees, I'm not putting too much effort at this point in trying to identify the perfect candidate in each party for my tastes. But this suggests to me that the pendulum is swinging back to the center in general, and that alone makes me more hopeful that, for the first time since 1996, I won't have to hold my nose when I cast my presidential ballot.

Picture of the day

David Halberstam - RIP

He was a remarkable author who tackled a wide range of subject matters, from politics to sports. As arrogant as anyone I have ever heard, but he was one person who might have been entitled to his arrogance. His bio is here. RIP.

The Law

New issues keep developing.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Lawrence Roach agreed to pay alimony to the woman he divorced, not the man she became after a sex change, his lawyers argued Tuesday in an effort to end the payments. But the ex-wife's attorneys said the operation doesn't alter the agreement. . .

"It's illegal for a man to marry a man and it should likewise be illegal for a man to pay alimony to a man," Roach's attorney John McGuire said.

Welcome, Tubby

It feels like one of those corny movies where the most beautiful, popular girl rejects the most beautiful, popular guy, and then asks out the average, unpopular guy. Until now, I thought that stuff like that only happened in movies.

Update: ESPN.

On the shock scale, this was a 16-seed over a 1-seed. In a sport where coaches are always craving bigger paychecks and better jobs and more prestige, this was a clear (and voluntary) swan dive down the ranks by Smith. You just don't see coaches leave one of the flagship programs for a school that hasn't won an NCAA Tournament game in a decade -- and cheated the last time it did win. . .

And Big Ten midget Minnesota, which most folks thought would be rummaging through the bargain bin, lands a coach who is accomplished beyond the Gophers' wildest dreams.

Picture of the day

A sand sculpture.

Red State Update

This is good.

The grind

Some days the work is really interesting. Other days, not so much.

Today I'm working on n response to a 344 paragraph, 140 page rambling complaint from a lunatic pro se plaintiff who happens to also be a lawyer. His claim: He was engaged in a fraudulent scheme, he borrowed money from my client to advance his fraudulent scheme, and my client should have known what he was up to and stopped him. Hence, not only should he not have to pay my client back, but we should pay his fines from the State of Minnesota.

Is this a great country, or what?

Quote of the day

From Political Wire:

Quote of the Day

"El presidente de que?"

-- New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's mother, quoted by the Chicago Tribune, when told by her son he was running for president. (Translation: President of what?)

I need a shower

The Taliban tried to assasinate the second highest ranking person in our government. Once you have digested that fact, aren't these blog comments from the Huffington Post, perhaps the leading liberal blog, nice?

Better luck next time!

By: TDB on February 27, 2007 at 08:18am
Flag: [abusive]

What a different world we would be living in today if they had succeeded.

By: pakiman47 on February 27, 2007 at 08:18am
Flag: [abusive]

Dr Evil escapes again...damn.

By: truthtopower01 on February 27, 2007 at 08:18am
Flag: [abusive]

Sounds like a bullshit attempt. The VP is inside some sort of compound and they blow up a bomb at the front door? Christ, at least lob a few grenades INTO the compound.

By: loudobbs on February 27, 2007 at 08:19am
Flag: [abusive]

They missed?? Dammit. I hope they try again before he leaves.

By: tripdc on February 27, 2007 at 08:20am
Flag: [abusive]

Who'd have thought that Afghanistan would make such a valiant attempt to save the United States of America? By: DumbFireman on February 27, 2007 at 08:21am
Flag: [abusive]

I don't hold a blog proprietor personally responsible for all comments posted but, if your blog is going to be open for comments, there should be some minimal rules for civility. These comments fail by any standard.

P.S.: Commenters on conservative blogs are also guilty of over-the-top rhetoric. But other than Ann Coulter, I don't recall it reaching the level of hoping for the murder of fellow Americans with whom you disagree.

A new era

I'm not sure that I will have the energy to keep up for 18 more months. First, the Clinton-Obama dustup. Now, this.

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack withdrew from the 2008 presidential campaign today, saying it was clear he would not be able to raise enough money to compete.

The first intra-party contest is still almost a year away, and the field is already narrowing. Now I realize that Vilsack was always a dark-horse (at best), but so were Carter and Dukakis at this point in their campaigns. Also, with a Democratic field with only one other governor competing (Richardson), I would have thought that the incentive to stick it out as long as possible would be strong. But maybe that was his point in quitting; it just wasn't possible because of the the money issue.

P.S. Initially, I thought that Sen. Dodd would be the first to go until I learned of his unexpected (to me) fundraising prowess.

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

New Blogger

UPDATE: First major glitch: My profile is linked to or merged with my in-laws' family blog so, until I can figure out how to fix that, either I will be them or they will be me.

I reluctantly have migrated from Old Blogger to New Blogger. I expect some glitches so please be patient if you have any problems viewing this site.

Pet peeve

I have long been baffled by the media's obsession with the age of every actor in any story. Anyway, this story is from MSNBC.

[Tiki] Barber, 31, retired after this season, playing his final game at the Pro Bowl on Sunday. . .

The 31-year-old Barber announced in October that 2006 would be his final season after 10 years with the Giants.

I'm surprised that MSNBC didn't also tell us (twice) that Tiki's twin brother, Ronde, is also 31 (31).

Anna Nicole Smith

If you have watched any cable news in the last 24 hours, you should find dead-on these lines from Jack Cafferty, which were uttered after several hours of non-stop coverage:

JACK CAFFERTY, CNN ANCHOR: Is Anna Nicole Smith still dead, Wolf?

BLITZER: Yes, we're going to -- updating our viewers coming up shortly on...

CAFFERTY: I can't wait for that.

BLITZER: ... the mysterious circumstances surrounding that, Jack. Thank you.

Dumbest Drudge story ever

Streisand looks forward to '08 elections...

Who the hell cares? How this woman continues to command attention as a political commentator is beyond me.

But it makes me wonder, is Chuck Norris looking forward to the 08 elections? Someone should get on that story.

Staking my claim

I want the TV movie rights to this story. It is, I think, the most bizarre behavior by a public figure since O.J. An extended (but within "fair use") quote is warranted. Don't miss the part about the diapers.

ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak was ordered released Tuesday on an additional $10,000 bond on an attempted murder charge in Orlando, where she allegedly tried to subdue a purported romantic rival with pepper spray and kidnap her from an airport parking lot.

Nowak also was ordered to wear a global positioning satellite, or GPS, device.

Nowak, 43, appeared in court Tuesday afternoon to face the attempted first-degree murder charge.

Nowak is accused of accosting Air Force Capt. Colleen Shipman, 30, in the Orlando airport parking lot early Monday, telling police she only wanted to talk with Shipman. . .

Nowak, a Navy captain, and Shipman, an Air Force captain, were both "in a relationship" with Navy Cmdr. Bill Oefelein, another astronaut, according to a police report of the incident. (Watch how police say a NASA love triangle went awry ) . . .

According to the police report, Nowak drove from Houston, Texas, to the Orlando airport to meet Shipman, who was flying the same route, according to the report.

Police said Nowak pepper-sprayed Shipman through her car window at the airport. Evidence found in Nowak's bag prompted police to file the attempted kidnapping charges, according to the report. . .

Shipman told police she arrived at the airport about 1 a.m. Monday but had to wait two hours for her luggage to arrive. Once she retrieved her bags, she said, she took a bus to the lot where her car was parked. She noticed a woman wearing a trench coat who appeared to be following her.

Fearing for her safety, Shipman quickly entered her car, the police report said, adding that she reported hearing "running footsteps" behind her. Shipman closed and locked her car door as Nowak slapped the window of the car and tried to open the car door, the police report said.

Nowak told Shipman her ride had not arrived and asked for help, but Shipman refused, saying she would send help instead, the reporte said. When Nowak complained she couldn't hear Shipman and started to cry, Shipman opened her car window about 2 inches -- and Nowak sprayed pepper spray into the car, police said.

Shipman, her eyes burning, drove away and found police, who returned to the bus stop and found Nowak, who was wearing a different coat. As he approached to bus stop, an officer observed Nowak put some items into a trash can. Those items were found to be a wig and a plastic bag containing a carbon dioxide-powered BB pistol, the report said.

Inside a bag Nowak was carrying, the officer found a tan trench coat, a new steel mallet, a new folding knife with a 4-inch blade, 3 to 4 feet of rubber tubing, several large plastic garbage bags and about $600 in cash, the report said.

Nowak admitted the details of Shipman's allegations, according to the police report, and permitted a search of her car.

Inside the car, police found an a half dozen latex gloves, MapQuest directions from Houston to Orlando International Airport, e-mails from Shipman to Oefelein, diapers that Nowak said she wore to reduce stops along the highway, a letter indicating how much she loved Oefelein and directions to Shipman's home address in Florida.

Stop the puns

I'm not exactly sure when it happened, but the sports pages now seem to consider puns as required in the headline on any big event. For some reason, it can't be "Colts Defeat Bears." No, it has to be something like "Sodden Impact" (StarTribune) or "Horsepower!" (USA Today).

Stop. Please.

Picture of the day

Link.

Picture of the day

Picture of the day

Franken

Jeebus.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Comedian Al Franken has decided to run for U.S. Senate in Minnesota in challenging incumbent Republican Norm Coleman, a senior Democratic official told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Another opportunity for us Minnesotans to embarrass ourselves.

Hillary on SNL

This is good.

MLK Day

Here is a link to the text of "the speech" and a YouTube video of "the speech." A true American hero, he was.

A glimmer of hope

The University of Minnesota needs a new football coach. Given that a new, on-campus football stadium has been approved (artist's rendition here), the job is suddenly much more attractive. But who could they get?

Well, Tony Dungy (a former U of M quarterback) came here last year and lobbied for the stadium. I admit that such a high-profile hire is unlikely, and "Dungy on Tuesday denied a report out of Minneapolis saying he was near the top of the Golden Gophers' wish list and that there was mutual interest." But you never know. I offer the following evidence.

• Nick Saban on December 21, 2006: "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach."
• Today's headline: "Saban joins ranks of great sports liars."

I have some faint hope that Dungy is a liar too.

Pat Robertson is a putz

Link.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - In what has become an annual tradition of prognostications, religious broadcaster Pat Robertson predicted Tuesday that a terrorist attack on the United States would result in "mass killing" late in 2007.

"I'm not necessarily saying it's going to be nuclear," he said during his news-and-talk television show "The 700 Club" on the Christian Broadcasting Network. "The Lord didn't say nuclear. But I do believe it will be something like that."

Robertson said God told him during a recent prayer retreat that major cities and possibly millions of people will be affected by the attack, which should take place sometime after September.

Consider this: Robertson gets better ratings than CNN. That is scarier to me than his delusional rantings.

Gerald Ford, RIP

For comments posted at Centerfield, click here.

Randy Moss

Why not?

There's talk the Raiders are willing to trade Randy Moss back to the Vikings, who are desperate for wide receivers and probably could get him for just a third-round pick.
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press

A third-round pick? Low-risk compared to the deal we got in this trade.

The Year in Review

From MSNBC.

THE TOP 10 MOST PECULIAR STORIES OF 2006

The envelope, please:

1: And the winner, with a 58 percent vote, is:

Missing woman found dead behind bookcase

2: Coming in second, with a 55 percent score:

Pickled corpse tumbles out of rum barrel

3: Death is always a favorite, and then there is sex (in this case, at 53 percent):

Pair in hot water after fake penis microwaved

4: At 51 percent, there is this cautionary tale:

Briton hurt after lighting firecracker in buttocks

5: And at a round 50 percent, another cautionary saga.

Police arrest naked man with concealed weapon

6: At 39 percent, proof that we are a litigious society…

Man sues himself for vehicle damage

7: And at 39 percent, it’s back to, er, romance

Man bites dog? No, woman weds dolphin

8: At 38 percent, this story has “ouch” written all over it

Man separates from wife - and his ring finger

9: We’re not quite sure who’s, um, challenged here (at 37 percent)

Blind students required to pass driver's ed

10: And finally, at 33 percent, this gem from Oregon

Woman allegedly calls 911 for 'cutie' deputy

"Hi honey"

I think that this marriage is in trouble.

Cartoon of the day

Link.

Picture of the day

"Not my job." (Courtesy of both Mark and Steph.)

My favorite Far Side ever

Light posting lately, so I figured that I would put my favorite Far Side cartoon of all time at the top for now.

Confessions

Shorter Limbaugh and Hewitt: "We admit it. We are partisan hacks."

"Revenge of the center"

Dionne.

This election was the revenge of the center no less than it was the revenge of the left. The decisive votes cast on Tuesday came from moderates and independents whom the exit polls showed favoring Democratic House candidates by margins of about 3-to-2. . .

[M]any of the party's successful candidates ran as moderates, and Democrats hold power on the basis of a loan of votes from middle-of-the-road Americans who simply could not stomach Bush Republicanism anymore. The loan can be recalled at any moment. . .

This election creates an exceptional opportunity to move away from blind ideology to problem solving and from stupid divisiveness to a politics of remedy and reconciliation. The Democrats had better make it work.

As Bush starts thinking about his legacy, maybe there is some hope that those in positions of power will start thinking a little bit more about what is good for the country and its citizens, and a little bit less about what is good for the party and the individual politician. But I'm not going to bet on it.

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

Ed Bradley - RIP

Over the years, my respect for Ed Bradley continued to grow. His contribution was huge, and he will be missed.

Picture of the day

(Via This Modern World).

CNN Breaking News

I just received the following ridiculous "breaking news" email alert from CNN:

-- Britney Spears files for divorce from her husband Kevin Federline, citing irreconcilable differences.

Somebody needs to be fired.

Cartoon of the day

Link.

Headline of the day

Inmate uses laxatives to flee jail

Headline of the day

Inmate uses laxatives to flee jail

Believe it or not

Story.

ATTLEBORO, Mass. - Tag, you're out!

Officials at an elementary school south of Boston have banned kids from playing tag, touch football and any other unsupervised chase game during recess for fear they'll get hurt and hold the school liable.

Recess is "a time when accidents can happen," said Willett Elementary School Principal Gaylene Heppe, who approved the ban.

In other news, parents will be required place their children in hermetically sealed bubbles each morning, where they will be picked up by an armored truck and driven to school accompanied by a police escort.

Somebody has to do it

Over the past two weeks, my job has required me to travel to Philadelphia to play golf here with clients, and to go to Red Lodge, Montana to visit bars on this street, sit by this creek, suffer through these mountain views, and to play golf here. Next week, I have to go to Manhattan for two hours of work, and the following week I need to go to Orange County, California for 30 minutes of work.

Let the world's smallest violin begin playing for me.

I'm confused

Story.

PARIS - France said outright for the first time Wednesday that North Korea’s proclaimed nuclear test produced such a small blast that it must have failed, and analysts warned such challenging talk could lead Pyongyang to try again. . .

Such speculation about a dud test could be read as a challenge by Kim Jong Il, the North’s reclusive leader, to consider carrying out a second test to prove naysayers wrong, analysts said.

“The reaction could be exactly to carry out another explosion, to make sure it succeeds,” said Georges Le Guelte, a nuclear expert at France’s Institute for International and Strategic Research.

I don't understand the point of the "analysts." Are they suggesting that Western governments should not tell the truth (i.e., engage in "challenging talk") and instead should lie to their citizens and pretend that the test was successful simply because Kim Jung-Il is a lunatic?

Oops

Story.

GRAND HAVEN, Mich. - Ottawa County will pay about $40,000 to correct an embarrassing typo on its Nov. 7 election ballot: The "L" was left out of "public."

The disappointing finish

With the Twins winning the AL Central on the last day of the season after the Tigers were swept by the lowly Royals, it seemed pre-ordained that the Twins would beat the A's and the Yankees would beat up on the Tigers. Somebody forgot to tell the A's and the Tigers what the storyline was supposed to be. I take my hat off to both teams, as they thoroughly whipped their opponents.

In Minnesota, the glass is 1/2 full. We are optimistic about the future because we have a boatload of young talent that, hopefully, will remain together for years to come. In contrast, in New York, the glass is 1/2 empty, as they are talking about firing the manager who has led them to the playoffs for 11 years in a row, and to the World Series 6 times, winning it 4 times.

Thanks for a great season, Twins. How long until spring training?

The Daily Show

I (1) love The Daily Show and (2) rarely watch the evening news anymore, but I still find this a bit difficult to believe.

The Daily Show is much funnier than traditional newscasts, but a new study from Indiana University says it has the same amount of meat on its bones when it comes to coverage of the news. The brand of news coverage Jon Stewart and the rest of The Daily Show's staff brings to the airwaves is just as substantive as traditional news programs like World News Tonight and the CBS Evening News, according to the study conducted by IU assistant professor of telecommunications Julia R. Fox and a couple of graduate students.

Speaker Hastert is done

He probably won't resign as Speaker but, even if the Republicans retain control of the House after November, he won't return as Speaker. Why am I so sure? Because at this point, even some of his best friends are turning against him. In Washington, that is usually fatal.

Example.

Yesterday, the lead editorial of The Washington Times called for House Speaker Denny Hastert to resign his speakership immediately. I am the editor of the editorial page. Several loyal Republicans and conservatives around the country strongly disagreed with that judgment and thought we were caving to Democratic Party and liberal media pressure and dirty tricks.

I couldn't disagree with my fellow conservatives and Republicans more. I have been an active and loyal Republican for more than 40 years (starting as a youth coordinator for Barry Goldwater in 1964, campaigning for Ronald Reagan for governor and president, serving in the Reagan White House for six years and as Newt Gingrich's press secretary from 1990 to 1997, among other Republican campaigns and jobs).

I believe in and have regularly fought the partisan fight to the bitter end — except when the position is ethically indefensible.

In this case, defending Denny Hastert's decisions is ethically wrong, would undermine our party's commitment to the defense of traditional moral values and is politically stupid in the bargain.

I have known Denny for almost two decades. He is an exceedingly decent man and a hard worker for conservative Republican values and politics. But we cannot deny the fact that he had a sustained lapse of good judgment. The fact that he reportedly has been quite ill for some time may be an explanation — but not an excuse.

Forget the later hideous text messages. When the speaker was told that Mark Foley had sent that first e-mail — the "overly friendly" one that we all saw last Friday — he had to be either obtuse or on notice of the problem. Any father of a young man who saw such an e-mail sent to his son would rightly be disposed to immediately punch out Mr. Foley and warn him to keep away from his son, and then he would call the police. It was common knowledge that Mr. Foley was gay. If he had been straight and asked for a 16-year-old girl's photo, any sensible person would have concluded the same thing.

But the fact that, according to my best sources in the House Republicans, Mr. Hastert never informed any Democrats of the matter (even on the page oversight board), unambiguously suggests that he knew what was up. Thus began the cover-up. Of course he knew what the Democrats would do with the information. But not only is this not a Democratic Party dirty trick (the facts are real, not made up), but Mr. Hastert had a moral duty to do all in his power to make sure there would not be more victims of Mr. Foley's alleged sexual predation — or clear potential for such.

Hastert appears to be guilty of negligence, not malfeasance. But negligence is enough reason to lose your position as third in the presidential succession line.

Unbelievable

Story.

The Metrodome always has been a multipurpose building, but Sunday its role in Minnesota sports lore expanded, as the stale old marshmallow became the multimedia hub for one of the greatest celebrations in Twins history.

On the season's final day, Joe Mauer won a historic batting title, the Twins defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-1, and then the players settled in with about 35,000 of their fans for a little TV.

Together, they watched on the stadium's two JumboTrons as Kansas City finished a 10-8, 12-inning victory over Detroit that knocked the Tigers behind the Twins for the first time all season.

The conventional wisdom was that the Twins would need to sweep the White Sox to have any chance at the division title because (1) the Tigers were playing the Royals, a team that had lost 100 games and going into the final weekend of the season had the worst record in baseball, and (2) the Tigers would win the tiebreaker if the teams finished with identical records. Instead, the Twins won just one of three games against the White Sox, but the Tigers managed to get swept at home by the Royals and even blew a 6-0 lead yesterday.

Biggest choke ever? If not, it is damn close.

Twins clinch playoff spot

Story.

The fluids were flying and the emotions bounced all over the Metrodome on Monday as the Twins proved they could escape from the abyss, beating Kansas City 8-1 to clinch a spot in the American League playoffs for the ninth time in club history. . .

They've used the greatest stretch of high-level play in club history to storm back from a 25-33 record and 11½ games out of first place on June 7 to earn a playoff berth in what's considered baseball's toughest division.

The Twins won 11 consecutive games once and eight in a row twice.

Let's hope that the momentum continues for another month.

No more apologies

Anne Applebaum.

Western politicians, writers, thinkers and speakers should stop apologizing -- and start uniting. . .

[N]othing the pope has ever said comes even close to matching the vitriol, extremism and hatred that pour out of the mouths of radical imams and fanatical clerics every day, all across Europe and the Muslim world, almost none of which ever provokes any Western response at all. And maybe it's time that it should: When Saudi Arabia publishes textbooks commanding good Wahhabi Muslims to "hate" Christians, Jews and non-Wahhabi Muslims, for example, why shouldn't the Vatican, the Southern Baptists, Britain's chief rabbi and the Council on American-Islamic Relations all condemn them -- simultaneously? . . .

[I]f stray comments by Western leaders -- not to mention Western films, books, cartoons, traditions and values -- are going to inspire regular violence, I don't feel that it's asking too much for the West to quit saying sorry and unite, occasionally, in its own defense. The fanatics attacking the pope already limit the right to free speech among their own followers. I don't see why we should allow them to limit our right to free speech, too.

Amen.

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

Believe it or not

Just shoot me.

An arbitration panel today reinstated Cedarburg High School science teacher Robert Zellner, who was fired by the school district after it discovered he had viewed pornographic material on his school computer.

School Board President John Pendergast said the arbitrator determined that the firing was improper because the school district had only reprimanded another teacher who had viewed stock quotes from a school computer.

Via Opinion Journal.

In case you don't read the sports section . . .

. . . the Vikings are 2-0 (and playing the 2-0 Bears next week), while the Twins are pulling away in the wild card race and at the same time breathing down the Tigers' neck for the divisional title. As a sports fan, it has been quite the enjoyable September so far.

Small victory

Chafee beats back conservative challenger

This may not be a "Crashing the Gate" development for centrists, but it doesn't suck.

(For cross-post at Centerfield and comments posted there, click here.)

Re-living 9/11: 3 parts

You know it is slim pickings when . . .

. . .this is the headline on Drudge:



GAS PRICES FALL TO $2.05 A GALLON IN IOWA

Sleazy politics

Here is example number 100,001 of why most people are disgusted with politics and politicians.

PROVIDENCE -- Less than a week before the Republican primary, Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee has become the target of a push poll attacking him for supporting abortion rights.

A push poll is a telephone survey in which questions are designed to weaken support for one candidate or build up support for another. The negative campaign tactic is illegal in some states, but not Rhode Island.

Chafee, who is running for a second full term, faces Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey in Tuesday's Republican primary.

Several voters said yesterday that they received automated telephone calls asking whether they would vote in the primary and which candidate they would choose. Those who chose Chafee heard graphic descriptions of an abortion procedure opponents call "partial-birth abortion," which the poll said Chafee supports.

Shut up

That is what I have to say to people who criticize hostages for things they say or do while a gun is pointed at their heads. (See here.)