Herbie Husker and The Marching Red perform "There Is No Place Like Nebraska" on the streets of lovely downtown Orlando in the Captial One Bowl Citrus Parade.Go Big Red!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Capital One Bowl Cornhusker Fanfare
Herbie Husker and The Marching Red perform "There Is No Place Like Nebraska" on the streets of lovely downtown Orlando in the Captial One Bowl Citrus Parade.Go Big Red!
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Seminole Uprising
It has been a rough year for Florida State football, knocked out of national and ACC title consideration right out of the gate this fall. FSU did respond by winning the State championship for a second straight year, beating both in state rivals Miami and Florida.As the bowl matchups were announced, Florida State got selected to play in the Champs Bowl, here in Orlando, against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Instant sellout. If you are not in the BCS, it does not get much better than this.
In preparation for the matchup, here is some fanfare from last seasons Chick-fil-a Bowl by the world renowned Florida State University Marching Chiefs. Go 'Noles!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Enjoy Santa's ride into Manhattan to Radio City Music Hall for the performance for the world famous Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Crony Corruption Could Collapse America
Several months ago, astonishingly, former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine was thought to be the leading candidate to replace Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary. Both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were very fond of Corzine, a former Goldman Sachs CEO, and his economic knowledge and leadership.
That was before MF Global, the commodities boutique Corzine was CEO of went bankrupt and is missing 1.2 billion of customer funds.
Oh, the company that you keep.
Corzine failed miserably as Governor of New Jersey, blowing a hole the size of the Meadowlands in the Garden State checkbook. Residents there, who gathered their senses and elected Chris Christie to clean things up, are witnessing a telling turn around.
But it is Corzine's latest failure that will ultimately have a ripple effect that will engage each of our tax paying citizens. Ann Barnhardt, CEO of Barnhardt Capital Management, Inc., a small independent introducing brokerage, has been some kind of spot in analysis of this case, and recently shut down her operations due to a lack of trust in the commodities futures market. MF Global has exposed what many had feared; that the rule of law in our capital markets can be absent at any given time, and a lawless entanglement with uncertainty is toxic for any investor.
Few think Corzine is an idiot, so the concept that, as he testified in front of Congress, he has no idea how the money went missing is beyond laughable. This money is not mistakenly misplaced; it was stolen. As as George Bailey astutely pointed out, there should be a bank examiner, if not the FBI, with a warrant for the arrest of the firms officers. But surprisingly, perhaps due to the close relationship Corzine has with Obama, there is not. The thought that this event was orchestrated has crossed many a mind, and swamped with supporters of Cloward and Piven in Washington, it gains validity.
As Ms. Barnhardt points out, customer money is gone and the MF Global "trustee" has begun seizing customer assets who traded in precious metals and housed the investment collateral through contracts brokered by MF Gobal.
A form of retracing through the chain of investors, bankrupt or not, to recover losses can be referred to as part of hypothecation. Zero Hedge has been covering the recent emergence of this action like Deion Sanders covering a hobbled tight end. The term was originally making the rounds with respect to a potential collapse of the Euro, but it plays with any loss of collateral where re-pledging has occurred. Sadly, it creates the opportunity for investors on the outside to suffer huge losses, with little legal recourse.
David Buckner got with Glenn Beck to attempt to provided an example of how this could impact the economic system, and it could make your ears bleed. Take a listen:
Fast and Furious, Solyndra and the Chevy Volt are many of the scandals of the Obama administration, but the The MF Global collapse is a canary in the coal mine, and the scandal is much deeper than you know. The MF Global players are part of the crony capitalism set up by the Obama administration. While JP Morgan Chase and George Soros are snapping up the fallout at handsome profits, it seems more likely every day investors will not get their money back.
It has been stolen, by a cast of crony capitalist thieves, with full backing of the corrupt leaders in Washington. More is sure to follow in this case, and the lack of trust in the capital markets Ms. Barnhardt spoke of is growing. Technocrats, in many cases, are in control, operating against the will of the people and the rule of law.
Should a catastrophic economic collapse hit our shores, will your assets be protected from hypothecation from government owned banks? I have often been cited as a master of stating the obvious, but the time to keep your investments on a short lease is staring you in the face.
That was before MF Global, the commodities boutique Corzine was CEO of went bankrupt and is missing 1.2 billion of customer funds.
Oh, the company that you keep.
Corzine failed miserably as Governor of New Jersey, blowing a hole the size of the Meadowlands in the Garden State checkbook. Residents there, who gathered their senses and elected Chris Christie to clean things up, are witnessing a telling turn around.
But it is Corzine's latest failure that will ultimately have a ripple effect that will engage each of our tax paying citizens. Ann Barnhardt, CEO of Barnhardt Capital Management, Inc., a small independent introducing brokerage, has been some kind of spot in analysis of this case, and recently shut down her operations due to a lack of trust in the commodities futures market. MF Global has exposed what many had feared; that the rule of law in our capital markets can be absent at any given time, and a lawless entanglement with uncertainty is toxic for any investor.
Few think Corzine is an idiot, so the concept that, as he testified in front of Congress, he has no idea how the money went missing is beyond laughable. This money is not mistakenly misplaced; it was stolen. As as George Bailey astutely pointed out, there should be a bank examiner, if not the FBI, with a warrant for the arrest of the firms officers. But surprisingly, perhaps due to the close relationship Corzine has with Obama, there is not. The thought that this event was orchestrated has crossed many a mind, and swamped with supporters of Cloward and Piven in Washington, it gains validity.As Ms. Barnhardt points out, customer money is gone and the MF Global "trustee" has begun seizing customer assets who traded in precious metals and housed the investment collateral through contracts brokered by MF Gobal.
A form of retracing through the chain of investors, bankrupt or not, to recover losses can be referred to as part of hypothecation. Zero Hedge has been covering the recent emergence of this action like Deion Sanders covering a hobbled tight end. The term was originally making the rounds with respect to a potential collapse of the Euro, but it plays with any loss of collateral where re-pledging has occurred. Sadly, it creates the opportunity for investors on the outside to suffer huge losses, with little legal recourse.
David Buckner got with Glenn Beck to attempt to provided an example of how this could impact the economic system, and it could make your ears bleed. Take a listen:
Fast and Furious, Solyndra and the Chevy Volt are many of the scandals of the Obama administration, but the The MF Global collapse is a canary in the coal mine, and the scandal is much deeper than you know. The MF Global players are part of the crony capitalism set up by the Obama administration. While JP Morgan Chase and George Soros are snapping up the fallout at handsome profits, it seems more likely every day investors will not get their money back.
It has been stolen, by a cast of crony capitalist thieves, with full backing of the corrupt leaders in Washington. More is sure to follow in this case, and the lack of trust in the capital markets Ms. Barnhardt spoke of is growing. Technocrats, in many cases, are in control, operating against the will of the people and the rule of law.
Should a catastrophic economic collapse hit our shores, will your assets be protected from hypothecation from government owned banks? I have often been cited as a master of stating the obvious, but the time to keep your investments on a short lease is staring you in the face.
The Howling Winds
There are GOP front runners, and then there is Mitt Romney. GOP challengers to Romney have risen and fallen, but Romney, who looks the presidential part, has remained steady as she goes hanging around 25%.At the end of the day, it appears none of the GOP challengers can overtake Romney. Mitt has a long list of endorsers, including Bob Dole, Dan Quayle, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and most notably, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Newt Gingrich has a few endorsements of his own, including former OU quarterback and Oklahoma Congressman J. C. Watts and Thomas Sowell, of the Hoover Institution, who I admire greatly.
While all these endorsements are wonderful, Romney does not represent the Conservative most Republicans are clamoring for. Romneycare is an albatross, and his belief of man to be participatory in the greatest hoax of all time known as global warming signals big government inclinations all over the place.
Kathleen Parker, a fellow graduate of Florida State University who I rarely agree with, wrote recently in her Washington Post Column that if the GOP does not support Mitt Romney, it is a death wish.
There is a lot to like about Romney, and he likely is the best chance among those currently running to defeat Obama, or so the pundits say. But looking the best among this group is not a life changing experience, and many in the GOP have doubts and are looking over their backs, which is why the winds are howling.
On the heels of a wonderful column by Jeb Bush in the Wall Street Journal today, our friend and WSJ Editorial Board member Steve Moore is out championing a potential entrance of Jeb into the race. While I do not view Jeb as a conservative, he was a very good Governor for eight years here in Florida, and as my friend Van Bo points out, the I-4 corridor will once again be pivotal in deciding Florida, and thus, the nation. With musings about Condi Rice as a VP candidate, a Bush-Rice ticket could do quite well.
Sarah Palin said last night it is not too late to jump in, leaving many to question whether she is reconsidering her status. I am all for it, but not sure she can get enough in the middle to defeat Obama due to the merciless beating she has taken from the biased media. Then again, few thought Reagan could defeat Carter in 1979 at this point in the process.
Is there another candidate rethinking the issue? Paul Ryan? Donald Trump? Mike Huckabee? Who knows.
Should upstart Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who is quite sound on economic issues but as naive as they come on foreign policy, win Iowa, those winds could turn into a hurricane.
There is a long way to go, and not one vote has been cast. Untold events could be on the horizon.
Not withstanding today's strong rally on Wall Street, the Euro crisis is not fixed and could negatively pressure the markets in a lengthy ten minutes. In fact, with the S&P 500 recently breaking its 50 day moving average to the downside, some technical analysts fear the trend is negative. Bank of America's Mary Ann Bartels sees a potential level as low as 935 on the S&P, some 30% below current levels. Throw in a Euro collapse, and free fall comes to mind.
Turmoil in the middle east is another major issue, as is the uncertainty surround the North Korea government in the aftermath of Kim Jug Ill's death.
Certainly, the situation is fluid, and regardless of what the pundits say, Iowa is still wide open. One can only hope a Conservative with firm footing in the first principles finishes strong. If not, those winds will really start howling.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Sunday Night Song
Roger Hodgson, formerly of Supertramp, is certainly among the gifted composers of the rock genre of the last half century. Breakfast in America, Supertramp's Grammy Award winning blockbuster 1979 album, I regard as among the best of all time.
Hodgson last played with Supertramp in 1983. While Supertramp continues to exist without him, Hodgson is on the road solo, performing all the old tunes.
Tonight, for Sunday Night Song, Hodgson performs his favorite Supertramp song, and one I hold in most high regard as well, the ballad "Lord, Is It Mine." Enjoy!
Hodgson last played with Supertramp in 1983. While Supertramp continues to exist without him, Hodgson is on the road solo, performing all the old tunes.
Tonight, for Sunday Night Song, Hodgson performs his favorite Supertramp song, and one I hold in most high regard as well, the ballad "Lord, Is It Mine." Enjoy!
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Information Misrepresentation: Obama
Information presented to the Public by various outlets is being crafted to misrepresent reality in an effort to skew political thinking, gain economic advantage and nudge social justice further down the American psyche. This is the second in a series of blog posts detailing instances in this regard, as it is imperative the Public recognize the significant level of misrepresentation and how vast the manipulation is.
President Obama, who one would suspect is extremely busy in efforts to solve the myriad of significant issues our country is presented with, most notably the highest sustained level of unemployment since the Great Depression, continues to find time to display mind boggling levels of arrogance on a variety of media outlets. Last week, in an interview with 60 Minutes, Obama not only mangled the truth in description of the performance of his administration, but stretched his high altitude narcissism to incredulous levels. See the piece below:
In response to 60 Minutes Correspondent Steve Kroft asking about Obama's accomplishments, the President offered the following:
Well, we're not done yet. I've got five more years of stuff to do. But not only saving this country from a great depression. Not only saving the auto industry. But putting in place a system in which we're gonna start lowering health care costs and you're never gonna go bankrupt because you get sick or somebody in your family gets sick. Making sure that we have reformed the financial system, so we never again have taxpayer-funded bailouts, and the system is more stable and secure. Making sure that we've got millions of kids out here who are able to go to college because we've expanded student loans and made college more affordable. Ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Decimating al Qaeda, including Bin Laden being taken off the field. Restoring America's respect around the world.
This paragraph presents by itself contains a gold mine of delusional comments. If he has all these things to do, which he apparently was unable to accomplish with both house of Congress in Democratic control, one has to wonder with the country in economic peril why he is not working with a sense of urgency.
Obama did not save the country from a Great Depression. Obama has operated from the playbook of FDR, who sought massive government stimulus and implemented the forceful expansion of federal regulations and confiscatory taxation, his intimidation of "the rich," encouragement of labor strikes, and half-baked policy experiments discouraged employers from hiring workers and provided strong disincentives to new business investment, as Amity Shlaes outlined in her book "The Forgotten Man".
The auto industry is not saved. For Uncle Sam to made whole, GM needs about another $20 per share in stock price, and with the debacle otherwise know as the Chevy Volt, the loss of the iconic and sporty Pontiac brand and lagging new auto sales due to economic fear, prospects for a robust, profitable GM look bleak.
Health Care costs are not declining, and endless other slow creep taxation nuggets found within the Health Care bill increase taxes on the consumer, thus handicapping economic growth. With much of the behemoth legislation to come in 2013, fear of increased costs and taxation are significantly hindering business development and expansion, and of course, we could certainly use those jobs.
The massive financial regulations put forth under Obama, most notably the Dodd-Frank Bill, has been a job killer, and is also a continued failure as evidenced by the goings on of Democrat Jon Corzine, the former Governor and Senator from New Jersey, who as director of now bankrupt MF Global is under federal investigation due to 1.2 million dollars of customer accounts that are missing, or stolen, whichever your prefer.
Higher education is not a right, but a privilege, for those who choose to take that path. It is not for everybody, and is affordable if you find the investment to be a worthy endeavor.
While the Obama administration deserves recognition for continuing the assault on al Qaeda and for killing Osama Bin Laden, our foreign policy is abysmal. To the contrary from Obama's opinion, we are less respected around the world. Pretty please asking Iran for our lost drone back tells the tale, but beyond that we have radical Muslim influence expanding, have alienated our great friend in Israel and have left Iraq open for the Iranians for political expediency.
Obama really enjoys lying by omission to the citizens, and the following comment is a great example:
"And we ended up asking the wealthiest Americans to do a little bit more in terms of taxes. Going back to rates that would still be lower than they were under Ronald Reagan, our deficit problems would be solved. And I could not get Republicans to go ahead and say, "You're right. We're gonna put country ahead of party."
The legislative branch could possibly be welcome to consider tax rates back to where they were under Ronald Reagan if our country were not 15 trillion deeper in debt (5 trillion and counting under Obama's watch) and bordering a depression with our economic engine stagflating at best. In oppostion to Obama's America, Uncle Sam after three years of Reagan was beaming with optimism as we embarked on a 25 year bull market which Reagan let fire on.
Obama is masterful at making straw man arguments, the following is another great example:
"A balanced approach means exactly what it says. It means it's balanced." I would love to see tax reform. And if we can get a commitment from the Republicans that they want to work on a serious tax reform package that makes sure that the wealthiest Americans are paying their fair share, that is simplifying the tax code, that is lowering rates, but by broadening the base, that's something I'm all for. It's part of my plan. But what we haven't seen is any serious movement on the other side."
Not only did the Simpson-Bowles Commission, a bipartisan committed formed by Obama to offer productive recommendations, have their findings ignored by Obama, several Republican offerings, most notably the plan put forth by Rep. Paul Ryan, R:WI, have been put forth for consideration. Obama does not find them "serious", which means he does not favor them, and therefore he acts as if nothing has been offered. Translation: Liar.
"I mean, the interesting thing is the majority of Republicans actually think we should have a balanced approach to deficit reduction, including tax increases for the wealthy."
am sure that may sound good to much of the 60 Minutes viewership, but if is false. Outside of a handful of RHINO's in the Senate, Republicans are strongly against a balanced approach (raising of taxes) to deficit reduction.
Although I could write 10,000 words tearing this interview apart, in closing comes a staggering comment of arrogance and elitism.
"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president -- with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln -- just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history."
Passing health care legislation was monumental, however on the destructive side in my view rather the constructive side as Obama sees it. Given the accomplishment, Obama sat the legislation out, turning over the construction of the framework to Nancy Pelosi and the Tides Foundation. Backhanded deal making and payoffs helped push it over the edge late, even though polls, now up to almost 65%, oppose it.
George W. Bush, when asked, said he would let history 30 years down the road grade his contribution as President. Obama, presiding over unquestionable decline, finds himself perhaps equal FDR, whose New Deal along with LBJ's Great Society are bankrupting the country, is arrogant to be sure, but he may have a point. We may not recover from Obama's destructive socialistic policies.
But for Obama to think he resides in the same thought as Abraham Lincoln, there is no doubt we have a delusional, narcissistic individual who feels welcome to state incorrect opinion as fact leading our country into deep and lasting decline.
President Obama, who one would suspect is extremely busy in efforts to solve the myriad of significant issues our country is presented with, most notably the highest sustained level of unemployment since the Great Depression, continues to find time to display mind boggling levels of arrogance on a variety of media outlets. Last week, in an interview with 60 Minutes, Obama not only mangled the truth in description of the performance of his administration, but stretched his high altitude narcissism to incredulous levels. See the piece below:
In response to 60 Minutes Correspondent Steve Kroft asking about Obama's accomplishments, the President offered the following:
Well, we're not done yet. I've got five more years of stuff to do. But not only saving this country from a great depression. Not only saving the auto industry. But putting in place a system in which we're gonna start lowering health care costs and you're never gonna go bankrupt because you get sick or somebody in your family gets sick. Making sure that we have reformed the financial system, so we never again have taxpayer-funded bailouts, and the system is more stable and secure. Making sure that we've got millions of kids out here who are able to go to college because we've expanded student loans and made college more affordable. Ending Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Decimating al Qaeda, including Bin Laden being taken off the field. Restoring America's respect around the world.
This paragraph presents by itself contains a gold mine of delusional comments. If he has all these things to do, which he apparently was unable to accomplish with both house of Congress in Democratic control, one has to wonder with the country in economic peril why he is not working with a sense of urgency.
Obama did not save the country from a Great Depression. Obama has operated from the playbook of FDR, who sought massive government stimulus and implemented the forceful expansion of federal regulations and confiscatory taxation, his intimidation of "the rich," encouragement of labor strikes, and half-baked policy experiments discouraged employers from hiring workers and provided strong disincentives to new business investment, as Amity Shlaes outlined in her book "The Forgotten Man".
The auto industry is not saved. For Uncle Sam to made whole, GM needs about another $20 per share in stock price, and with the debacle otherwise know as the Chevy Volt, the loss of the iconic and sporty Pontiac brand and lagging new auto sales due to economic fear, prospects for a robust, profitable GM look bleak.
Health Care costs are not declining, and endless other slow creep taxation nuggets found within the Health Care bill increase taxes on the consumer, thus handicapping economic growth. With much of the behemoth legislation to come in 2013, fear of increased costs and taxation are significantly hindering business development and expansion, and of course, we could certainly use those jobs.
The massive financial regulations put forth under Obama, most notably the Dodd-Frank Bill, has been a job killer, and is also a continued failure as evidenced by the goings on of Democrat Jon Corzine, the former Governor and Senator from New Jersey, who as director of now bankrupt MF Global is under federal investigation due to 1.2 million dollars of customer accounts that are missing, or stolen, whichever your prefer.
Higher education is not a right, but a privilege, for those who choose to take that path. It is not for everybody, and is affordable if you find the investment to be a worthy endeavor.
While the Obama administration deserves recognition for continuing the assault on al Qaeda and for killing Osama Bin Laden, our foreign policy is abysmal. To the contrary from Obama's opinion, we are less respected around the world. Pretty please asking Iran for our lost drone back tells the tale, but beyond that we have radical Muslim influence expanding, have alienated our great friend in Israel and have left Iraq open for the Iranians for political expediency.
Obama really enjoys lying by omission to the citizens, and the following comment is a great example:
"And we ended up asking the wealthiest Americans to do a little bit more in terms of taxes. Going back to rates that would still be lower than they were under Ronald Reagan, our deficit problems would be solved. And I could not get Republicans to go ahead and say, "You're right. We're gonna put country ahead of party."
The legislative branch could possibly be welcome to consider tax rates back to where they were under Ronald Reagan if our country were not 15 trillion deeper in debt (5 trillion and counting under Obama's watch) and bordering a depression with our economic engine stagflating at best. In oppostion to Obama's America, Uncle Sam after three years of Reagan was beaming with optimism as we embarked on a 25 year bull market which Reagan let fire on.
Obama is masterful at making straw man arguments, the following is another great example:
"A balanced approach means exactly what it says. It means it's balanced." I would love to see tax reform. And if we can get a commitment from the Republicans that they want to work on a serious tax reform package that makes sure that the wealthiest Americans are paying their fair share, that is simplifying the tax code, that is lowering rates, but by broadening the base, that's something I'm all for. It's part of my plan. But what we haven't seen is any serious movement on the other side."
Not only did the Simpson-Bowles Commission, a bipartisan committed formed by Obama to offer productive recommendations, have their findings ignored by Obama, several Republican offerings, most notably the plan put forth by Rep. Paul Ryan, R:WI, have been put forth for consideration. Obama does not find them "serious", which means he does not favor them, and therefore he acts as if nothing has been offered. Translation: Liar.
"I mean, the interesting thing is the majority of Republicans actually think we should have a balanced approach to deficit reduction, including tax increases for the wealthy."
am sure that may sound good to much of the 60 Minutes viewership, but if is false. Outside of a handful of RHINO's in the Senate, Republicans are strongly against a balanced approach (raising of taxes) to deficit reduction.
Although I could write 10,000 words tearing this interview apart, in closing comes a staggering comment of arrogance and elitism.
"I would put our legislative and foreign policy accomplishments in our first two years against any president -- with the possible exceptions of Johnson, F.D.R., and Lincoln -- just in terms of what we've gotten done in modern history."
Passing health care legislation was monumental, however on the destructive side in my view rather the constructive side as Obama sees it. Given the accomplishment, Obama sat the legislation out, turning over the construction of the framework to Nancy Pelosi and the Tides Foundation. Backhanded deal making and payoffs helped push it over the edge late, even though polls, now up to almost 65%, oppose it.
George W. Bush, when asked, said he would let history 30 years down the road grade his contribution as President. Obama, presiding over unquestionable decline, finds himself perhaps equal FDR, whose New Deal along with LBJ's Great Society are bankrupting the country, is arrogant to be sure, but he may have a point. We may not recover from Obama's destructive socialistic policies.
But for Obama to think he resides in the same thought as Abraham Lincoln, there is no doubt we have a delusional, narcissistic individual who feels welcome to state incorrect opinion as fact leading our country into deep and lasting decline.
Pony Up
ESPN College Football Analyst Craig James has taken a leave of absence from the network as he ponders a run for US Senate in his home state of Texas. James, who starred at SMU and The New England Patriots, is a real estate developer and has been covering college football for some 20 seasons.In preparation for a potential run, James has founded Texas for a Better America, which focuses on the ideals of free markets, entrepreneurial spirit, protecting the Constitution and American Exceptionalism. James seems like a great guy, and with a platform like that he could be the type of representative we are searching for.
James would be joining an already crowded field. One of his potential GOP opponents, Ted Cruz, who I am unfamiliar with but who has the endorsements of David Barton, Jim DeMint and Rand Paul, each of whom I respect and support, has a great video hammering Obama. Check out The ghost of Obama's Future:
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Guard Against Gingrich As Gatekeeper
It is a big night on the Iowa-Nebraska border in Sioux City tonight, where the final GOP debate before the Iowa caucus will be held. The lovely Megyn Kelly is warming up.
The fallout from what seems like 40 previous debates has only eliminated two candidates, Herman Cain and Tim Pawlenty. Beginning with Michele Bachmann and most recently with Newt Gingrich, each candidate has enjoyed time at the top of the polls at some point, except of course for Jon Hunstman, who may not be aware of the fact he is a Scoop Jackson Democrat.
Gingrich is an interesting fellow, who generally speaking, I appreciate. Gingrich gets it on many issues Obama has no clue on, including free trade, Occupy Wall Street, the hatred facing Israel and the threat of Islamic terrorists. Descriptions of Newt as an idea factory are seemingly reasonable, and he is top of the class from a historical perspective, with the latter being where he and I will part company.
However, if someone who to ask me who I considered the greatest President of the 20th century, without spending a nano-second of thought, I would proudly announce Ronald Reagan as my easy choice. This is somewhat surprisingly not the case for Newt. Take a listen:
Oh my. But, it gets worse. Gingrich is also a big fan of Woodrow Wilson:
Forget that Gingrich, a self described Teddy Roosevelt disciple, was at odds with the Tea Party in supporting a big government candidate recently in NY23, jumped in opposition against Rep; Paul Ryan and his Roadmap for America, and is on the wrong side of global warming, his admiration of these Progressive Presidents is a real deal breaker.
In fact, global warming is the vehicle for the largest big government expansion in history through regulatory control on pollution, energy usage and development, food consumption and human behavior. It does not get any more big government than that.
Certainly, one would have thought we learned what not to do through economic governance in he aftermath of the Great Depression as appropriately highlighted this week in Investors Business Daily. Refraining from expansive government intervention, taxation and regulation would be central to the lessons learned, so electing a big government "Teddy Roosevelt" Republican Progressive in the form of Newt Gingrich, who speaks in admiration of Woodrow Wilson and FDR, following the abysmal Obama administration, is not a direction I favor to say the very least.
On the other hand, if it comes down to Obama versus Newt, mark me down for Gingrich.
The fallout from what seems like 40 previous debates has only eliminated two candidates, Herman Cain and Tim Pawlenty. Beginning with Michele Bachmann and most recently with Newt Gingrich, each candidate has enjoyed time at the top of the polls at some point, except of course for Jon Hunstman, who may not be aware of the fact he is a Scoop Jackson Democrat.
Gingrich is an interesting fellow, who generally speaking, I appreciate. Gingrich gets it on many issues Obama has no clue on, including free trade, Occupy Wall Street, the hatred facing Israel and the threat of Islamic terrorists. Descriptions of Newt as an idea factory are seemingly reasonable, and he is top of the class from a historical perspective, with the latter being where he and I will part company.
However, if someone who to ask me who I considered the greatest President of the 20th century, without spending a nano-second of thought, I would proudly announce Ronald Reagan as my easy choice. This is somewhat surprisingly not the case for Newt. Take a listen:
Oh my. But, it gets worse. Gingrich is also a big fan of Woodrow Wilson:
Forget that Gingrich, a self described Teddy Roosevelt disciple, was at odds with the Tea Party in supporting a big government candidate recently in NY23, jumped in opposition against Rep; Paul Ryan and his Roadmap for America, and is on the wrong side of global warming, his admiration of these Progressive Presidents is a real deal breaker.
In fact, global warming is the vehicle for the largest big government expansion in history through regulatory control on pollution, energy usage and development, food consumption and human behavior. It does not get any more big government than that.
Certainly, one would have thought we learned what not to do through economic governance in he aftermath of the Great Depression as appropriately highlighted this week in Investors Business Daily. Refraining from expansive government intervention, taxation and regulation would be central to the lessons learned, so electing a big government "Teddy Roosevelt" Republican Progressive in the form of Newt Gingrich, who speaks in admiration of Woodrow Wilson and FDR, following the abysmal Obama administration, is not a direction I favor to say the very least.
On the other hand, if it comes down to Obama versus Newt, mark me down for Gingrich.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Information Misrepresentation: Appraisals
Information presented to the Public by various outlets is being crafted to misrepresent reality in an effort to skew political thinking, gain economic advantage and nudge social justice further down the American psyche. This is the first in a series of blog posts detailing instances in this regard, as it is imperative the Public recognize the significant level of misrepresentation and how vast the manipulation is.
Since distressed properties make up approximately 65% of the market here in Florida, it would be highly inappropriate to fail to consider these as potential comparable sales, provided the gross living area, age, amenities, and, of course, condition, were reasonably similar.
Information Misrepresentation: Appraisals
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported this week one out of every three of its builder members has lost a sale during the last six months because of home values reported by appraisers.
NAHB Chairman Bob Nielson said, "The inappropriate use of distressed and foreclosed sales as comparables in determining new home values is needlessly driving down home prices, killing home sales, causing more workers to lose their jobs and delaying a housing and economic recovery."
The NAHB did not stop there, further hammering appraisers with the following:
* According the Association, appraisers are using "faulty" practices by utilizing distressed homes as potential comparable sales against new homes. Mr Nielson said in a statement that "This is not only unfair and unreasonable, but it perpetuates the cycle of declining home values, drives more home owners underwater, harms local economic activity and acts as an obstacle to the recovery of the housing market."
* Mr Nielson notes that in many cases, new home appraisals are coming in below the cost of construction, because of flawed appraisals for utilizing existing and potentially distressed homes.
* Per the NAHB, These appraisal practices are a major contributing factor to the current acquisition, development and construction (AD&C) lending crisis that has choked off credit for home builders and threatens to prolong the current housing downturn. Falling appraised values for land and subdivisions under development have led some financial institutions to stop lending to developers and builders, to demand additional equity and even to call performing loans.
* The NAHB has been having summits, with leaders throughout the housing industry in an effort to find solutions that will allow appraisers to develop realistic valuations based on sales that are truly comparable.
Mr Nielson and the NAHB concludes that, you guessed it, “Major reforms in appraisal practices and oversight are needed to ensure that appraisals accurately reflect true market values and don’t contribute to price volatility or harm aspiring home owners and move-up buyers.”
One thing I know from the real estate world: It is always the appraisers fault. NOT! What we do have from the NAHB is information misrepresentation.
This must have been some series of summits. A bunch of bureaucrats gathered together to central plan the housing recovery, culminating in the one thing we need less, not more, of; additional regulations.
If additional regulations were the answer, the sweeping regulatory action spearheaded by former HUD Secretary and Architect of Ruin Andrew Cuomo, The Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC), would have done the trick. Instead, it has wrecked the appraisal industry, leaving unregulated Appraisal Management Companies to coordinate, and in many cases dictate, appraisal performance.
Since distressed properties make up approximately 65% of the market here in Florida, it would be highly inappropriate to fail to consider these as potential comparable sales, provided the gross living area, age, amenities, and, of course, condition, were reasonably similar.
By applying political pressure to "develop realistic valuations," made as instructed will become a reality and as a result, valuations will be lacking in adequate support and accurate value.
Appraisal practices, as governed by the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice (USPAP), provide a framework for appraisers nationwide to adhere to in an effort to provide consistent and accurate valuation through the three approaches to value. These voluminous guidelines are a contributing factor to providing the industry with appraisal reports arriving at well supported value indications , not further deteriorating the housing crisis as the NAHB says.
Conspicuously absent from the many factors cited by the NAHB for the continued downward pressure on the housing market are the actions of the Obama administration. It is well documented that the origins of the collapse centered around the governments efforts to provide housing to buyers the marketplace weeded out. These potential buyers were not weeded out due to race, as ACORN would have you believe, but due to the higher risk associated with their ability to repay the loan. Before political correctness ran amok, his used to be referred to as sound business practice.
Among those applying pressure to the banks in the form of threatening race related boycotts was a young attorney for ACORN, Barack Obama.
While George Bush made failed attempts at forcing Congress to rein in the Government Sponsored Entities known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, under House Finance Chairman Barney Frank, the Congress looked the other way.
Meanwhile, instead of letting the market cleanse itself, the administration has invented program after program to reward bad behavior and prop up the values of housing, which has only prolonged the pain and the problem. Government, who cannot be trusted, should leave the housing marketplace and let the free market establish a base for prices. In fact, we now learn the housing numbers have astonishingly been inflated.
Housing is not the only place numbers are inflated. Government spending, regulation and taxation is what is crushing the job market, with unemployment actually around 12% rather than the reported 8.6%, and for buyers to feel comfortable making large purchases in the form of housing, the job market needs to be at worst steady. Under this administration, there is no job creation, debt is expanding exponentially and Americans are in fear for the future.
Until jobs can be created in large numbers and the government diminishes involvement in what should be private sector activity, continued negative pressure on the housing market and America will remain.
As Ronald Reagan accurately said, "Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem."
Saturday, December 10, 2011
2011 All America Team
2011 All America Team
OFFENSE
WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
6'1, 220 JR, Ardmore, OK (Plainview)
OL David DeCastro, Stanford
6'5", 310, JR, Bellevue, WA (Bellevue)
OL David Molk, Michigan
6'1, 220 JR, Ardmore, OK (Plainview)
WR Robert Woods, Southern California
6'1", 180, SO, Carson, CA (Serra)
6'1", 180, SO, Carson, CA (Serra)
WR Kendall Wright, Baylor
5'10", 190, SR, Pittsburg, TX (Pittsburg)
TE Dewayne Allen, Clemson
6'4", 255 JR, Fayetteville, NC (Terry Sanford)
6'4", 255 JR, Fayetteville, NC (Terry Sanford)
OL Barrett Jones, Alabama
6'5, 311 JR, Germantown, TN (Evangelical Christian)
6'5, 311 JR, Germantown, TN (Evangelical Christian)
OL David DeCastro, Stanford
6'5", 310, JR, Bellevue, WA (Bellevue)
OL David Molk, Michigan
6'2", 285, SR Lemont, IL (Lemont Township)
OL Levy Adcock, Oklahoma State
6'6", 322, SR, Claremore, OK (Sequoyah)
OL Matt Kalil, Southern California
6'7", 295 JR, Corona, CA (Servite)
QB Robert Griffith III, Baylor
6'2, 220 JR, Copperas Grove, TX (Copperas Grove)
RB Trent Richardson, Alabama
5'11, 204 SR, Pensacola, FL (Escambia)
RB LaMichael James, Oregon
5'9, 195 JR, Texarkana, TX (Liberty-Eylau)
RB Montee Ball, Wisconsin
5'11, 210 JR, Wentzville, MO (Timberland)
DEFENSE
DE Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
6'2", 265, SR, Eufaula, AL (Eufaula)
DT Devon Still, Penn State
6'5, 310, SR, Wilmington, DE (Howard)
DT Whitney Mercilus, Illinois
6'4", 265, JR, Akron, OH (Garfield)
DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
6'3", 310, JR, Huber Heights, OH (Wayne)
DE Andre Branch, Clemson
6'5", 260, SR, Richmond, VA (Varina)
OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia
6'3", 241, SO, Columbus, GA (Carver)
ILB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
6'3, 237 JR, Cincinnati, OH (Xavier)
ILB Lavonte David, Nebraska
6'1, 225 SR, Miami, FL (Northwestern)
ILB Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
6'4", 260, JR, Lewisburg, TN (Marshall County)
OLB Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
6'2", 276 SR, Hamlet, NC (Richmond County)
DB Tyrann Mathieu, Louisiana State
5'9" 175, SO, New Orleans, LA (St. Augustine)
DB David Amerson, North Carolina State
6'3", 194, SO, Greenboro, NC (Dudley)
DB Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State
6'1", 198, SR, Wichita Falls, TX (Rider)
DB Mark Barron, Alabama
6'2" 218, SR, Mobile, AL (St. Pauls)
DB Morris Claiborne, Louisiana State
6'0" 185, JR, Shreveport, LA (Fair Park)
SPECIAL TEAMS
5'9" 175, SO, New Orleans, LA (St. Augustine)
P Shawn Powell, Florida State
6'4, 235 SR, Rome, GA (Darlington Prep)
PK Brett Maher, Nebraska
6'0" 185 JR, Kearney, NE (Kearney)
NC Sammy Watkins, Clemson
6'1", 200, FR, Fort Meyers, FL (North Fort Meyers)
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Crashing Dreams Nationwide
A few months back, 60 Minutes rolled through greater Orlando highlighting the housing crisis and the high level of homelessness and the devastating impact it is having on families throughout the area. Scott Pelley and the crew made a return visit, which is really a must see. Please take a listen:
If your eyes aren't welling up after watching this report, you may want to have some pre-Whoville cocktails with the Grinch.
Sadly, this story could be told gazillions of times all across the country. This report is from my own community, and as a residential appraiser, I see several views of the damage on a daily basis.
Certainly, everyone had to be impressed with the Metzger children, and we all felt for the family who saw the abyss before reaching a life line. Local news reports suggest things have turned up for both families. Reportedly, Stetson University has offered the Metzger children scholarships and the family is now residing in a newly furnished condo, which now with Dad gaining employment as a Seminole County sanitation worker, they have a chance to make rental payments moving forward. We all wish them the best.
60 Minutes did a wonderful job chronicling the staggering level of homelessness on both these reports, except for one glaring omission. Biased no doubt, 60 Minutes failed to associate the reason for widespread homelessness; Uncle Sam's anemic job creation under our President, who has led a balanced and sustained attack on free markets small business job creators.
The Obama administration has hurled every program they can think of to stem foreclosures and protect families from losing their homes. A black hole of financial costs continue to saddle taxpayers, tying a ball and chain to families across America. Yes, Obama inherited a significant housing problem, but instead of employing free market principles to correct the problem, he did not let a crisis go to waste and expanded government, public sector employment, entitlements and our national debt to unsustainable levels. The byproduct of this is the crashing of our system, leaving government as the solution, which crashes dreams nationwide.
What has not been attempted, and I want to emphasize, by choice, would dramatically improve each of these major issues in a matter of a pair of years. The creation of private sector jobs.
Instead of promoting socialism, and yes we are quickly running out of everyone else's money, and attacking wealthy job creators and venture capitalists, an environment needs to be nurtured by the government that deletes unnecessary regulation, limits burdensome taxation, rewards risk takers and unleashes the entrepreneurial spirit of our nation.
A fully employed citizenry, with efficient markets, will balance out supply and demand and generate a healthy, growing economy that offers those who aspire to succeed the world at their fingertips. In addition, an employed workforce will continue to reach for higher levels of housing options, which will cure the housing market as inventories decline.
Free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity, and we need politicians who subscribe to that in office. Barack Obama is the antithesis of a subscriber of free markets and capitalism, so if you wish for these problems to get corrected, you must vote him, and his supporters, out of office.
If your eyes aren't welling up after watching this report, you may want to have some pre-Whoville cocktails with the Grinch.
Sadly, this story could be told gazillions of times all across the country. This report is from my own community, and as a residential appraiser, I see several views of the damage on a daily basis.
Certainly, everyone had to be impressed with the Metzger children, and we all felt for the family who saw the abyss before reaching a life line. Local news reports suggest things have turned up for both families. Reportedly, Stetson University has offered the Metzger children scholarships and the family is now residing in a newly furnished condo, which now with Dad gaining employment as a Seminole County sanitation worker, they have a chance to make rental payments moving forward. We all wish them the best.
60 Minutes did a wonderful job chronicling the staggering level of homelessness on both these reports, except for one glaring omission. Biased no doubt, 60 Minutes failed to associate the reason for widespread homelessness; Uncle Sam's anemic job creation under our President, who has led a balanced and sustained attack on free markets small business job creators.
The Obama administration has hurled every program they can think of to stem foreclosures and protect families from losing their homes. A black hole of financial costs continue to saddle taxpayers, tying a ball and chain to families across America. Yes, Obama inherited a significant housing problem, but instead of employing free market principles to correct the problem, he did not let a crisis go to waste and expanded government, public sector employment, entitlements and our national debt to unsustainable levels. The byproduct of this is the crashing of our system, leaving government as the solution, which crashes dreams nationwide.
What has not been attempted, and I want to emphasize, by choice, would dramatically improve each of these major issues in a matter of a pair of years. The creation of private sector jobs.
Instead of promoting socialism, and yes we are quickly running out of everyone else's money, and attacking wealthy job creators and venture capitalists, an environment needs to be nurtured by the government that deletes unnecessary regulation, limits burdensome taxation, rewards risk takers and unleashes the entrepreneurial spirit of our nation.
A fully employed citizenry, with efficient markets, will balance out supply and demand and generate a healthy, growing economy that offers those who aspire to succeed the world at their fingertips. In addition, an employed workforce will continue to reach for higher levels of housing options, which will cure the housing market as inventories decline.
Free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity, and we need politicians who subscribe to that in office. Barack Obama is the antithesis of a subscriber of free markets and capitalism, so if you wish for these problems to get corrected, you must vote him, and his supporters, out of office.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Manufacturing Malaise
The Republican National Committee has produced a new ad comparing the horrendous Presidency of Jimmy Carter to that of our current office holder, Barack Obama.
While the comparisons are striking, as the economically idiotic similarities appropriately pointed out, unfortunately, our current status is far more troubling. For those who have yet to recognize it, the coordinated series of actions taken by the Obama administration are part of a process to fundamentally transform the United States of America. Obama as much as said so just days before he was elected.
Evidence of these actions have been well chronicled over time here on the blog, but the centerpiece of plan is the Cloward and Piven strategy, which I strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with.
While the comparisons are striking, as the economically idiotic similarities appropriately pointed out, unfortunately, our current status is far more troubling. For those who have yet to recognize it, the coordinated series of actions taken by the Obama administration are part of a process to fundamentally transform the United States of America. Obama as much as said so just days before he was elected.
Evidence of these actions have been well chronicled over time here on the blog, but the centerpiece of plan is the Cloward and Piven strategy, which I strongly encourage you to familiarize yourself with.
Certainly, decisions made by the Obama administration and the Democratically led bodies of Congress over the past three years have boggled the mind, seemingly absent of any level of common sense. The polices are a massive failure. We are in the midst of economic failure, and in foreign policy, we have abandoned our friends to flirt with our enemies. Fast and Furious, the actions taken against the automakers bond holders, ACORN, Solyndra, Occupy Wall Street and even a recently passed defense bill, with some rather interesting parts, are significant examples.
Now, I know, White House Spokesman Jay Carney wants to skip the question and move on to "something more serious", but that is how this group operates. The transformation is much more than a global transfer of wealth, but an effort to control human behavior through governmental influences. Top Obama Czar Cass Sunstein, author of the book "Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness", is orchestrating the nudge of our citizenry with the full blessing of the Obama. And most of America has no idea they are being played.
Our liberties are eroding at an alarming pace under this regime, and those who are asleep while enjoying guilty pleasures along the lines of "Dancing With The Stars" are being nudged to remain bystanders to a changing history they will regret they did not attempt to intercept.
It will be a history of darkness for those Obamabots who aspire to achieve greatness, for their efforts will not be determined by work ethic in a free market system but a byproduct of what the government decides is worthy of your sacrifice, where some technocrat determines winners and losers.
Once you recognize it is communism, it our sovereignty will be gone and it will be far too late to change course. An evil storm is brewing, and take the word of a Mariner; the storms arrive very quickly unabated on the open sea.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Top 25
College Football
Top 25
1. Louisiana State, 13-0, 1
2. Oklahoma State, 11-1, 3
3. Alabama, 11-1, 2
4. Arkansas, 10-2, 5
5. Stanford, 11-1, 6
6. Wisconsin, 11-2, 7
7. Southern Cal, 10-2, 10
8. Kansas State, 10-2, 9
9. Oregon, 10-2, 11
10. South Carolina, 10-2, 13
11. Michigan State, 10-3, 8
12. Boise State, 11-1, 15
13. Michigan, 10-2, 17
14. Clemson, 10-3, 21
15. Texas Christian, 10-2, 18
16. Baylor, 9-3, 19
17. Oklahoma, 9-3, 12
18. Nebraska, 9-3, 20
19. Virginia Tech, 11-2, 4
20. Georgia, 10-3, 14
21. Notre Dame, 8-4, 21
22. Southern Miss, 11-2, NR
23. Florida State, 8-4, 23
24. Houston, 12-1, 16
25. Penn State, 9-3, NR
OUT: Texas (24) and West Virginia (25)
VOTES: West Virginia, Penn State, Cincinnati, BYU, Virginia, Texas, Auburn, Missouri and Georgia Tech.
Clemson awoke from their late season slumber and after a halftime tie opened one up on favored Virginia Tech, sending the Tigers to the Orange Bowl for the first time since Homer Jordan and the gang in 1981.....I hear that FOX Sports Charles Davis is a wonderful guy, but I think he is nothing short of horrendous as the color guy on NCAA games. While his pleasant demeanor is attractive, he is a master of lengthy sentences to state the obvious, complete with the corresponding pleasantries. When he does get specific, he has no clue what he is talking about.....Although they missed several opportunities, Georgia played a decent half in the SEC Championship game against LSU, but got taken to the woodshed in the second half......Wisconsin and Michigan State could play for years with little to show for it as these teams are very evenly matched. Sparty got robbed on a late out of bounds call.....Southern Miss looked great in dismantling unbeaten Houston.....Texas had not given up a pass play of over 20 yards all year, that is, until RGIII came to town and busted the Horns for a 59 yard touchdown on the second Baylor play from scrimmage. Can you say Heisman?.....Even with a suspect coaching change, many expected Maryland to have a decent season this fall, and with an upset win over Miami to start the season, this prognosis seemed on target. Then, the roof caved in, including getting blasted at home by Temple of all teams. Randy Edsall could never get Maryland going, flopping quarterbacks and utilizing the GPS in search of the defense. Could a 2-10 season get a first year coach fired? Yes indeed, but as The Wiz of Odds reports, not a Maryland....Mike Sherman is out at A&M. He started his tenure losing to Arkansas State in Aggieland but really had A&M going late last year and hopes were high for a great year this season, but several collapses had loses mounting. Now, will A&M look to UHouston for their next coach?.....Mike Leach has landed at Washington State, and that will be interesting....Urban Meyer is now at Ohio State, as we predicted over a year ago. As The Orlando Sentinel pointed out, a Gator Bowl matchup with Florida will be Urban Decay meets Urban Renewal......Penn State DT Devon Still was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. While Still is a great player we will name All America, Nebraska linebacker Lavonte David, who smashed a Nittany Lion ball carrier on a late 4th and 1 deep in Husker territory to seal the victory, should have won this award.....Oklahoma State pummeled a fine Oklahoma football team most thought would win the game, and it was worse than the 44-10 score. Based on this very impressive victory, the body of work of the Cowboys, the circumstances surrounding their double overtime road loss at Iowa State and the fact they are Big XII Conference Champions, Oklahoma State is now our number two team and should meet LSU in the championship. Add in LSU Coach Les Miles left Okie State for LSU, and it gains intrigue.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Nelson Lost in Space
The country is on fire in the aftermath of the current administration embarking on a spending spree to activate social justice, in turn strangling future generations with debt, a fiscal plan that now has Europe in ruins. Unemployment is at post WWII record levels, economic growth is anemic at best and among other meaningful items, there is civil disobedience taking place throughout the US.
One would think it reasonable for our elected representatives to be hard at work in an effort to get Uncle Sam back to strength, helping to get unemployed Americans back to work.
Unfortunately, so little is being done on the Democratic side you might conclude that they are satisfied with the current state of affairs. Not only are our Democratic leaders failing miserably to generate ideas to grow the economy, they are active in efforts to continue the destruction of the capitalist system, by using anything and everything to remain in power. Intentional? You are familiar with the Cloward and Piven strategy are you not?
Here in Florida, US Senator Bill Nelson, (D:FL), has put in long hours to convince Senator Dick Durbin (D:IL) to open an investigative panel on new voting laws passed by Florida. Nelson and Durbin are in agreement that the new laws "will disenfranchise a wide swath of Florida's young, minority, senior, disabled, rural and lo-income voters". Translation; Democrat voters.
Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, thinks he should interject his wisdom on how us Floridians go about voting and plans to hold hearings to take a "closer" look at the new voting laws. Even the ACLU is ready to jump in.
Durbin should mind his own business; however, if he were to get involved in voter issues, he may want to call Attorney General Eric Holder and ask him about the thugs in Philadelphia.
Both Durbin and Nelson should be spending their time getting this country back to work, not trying to advance the Obama agenda by protecting fellow Democrats and their politically correct minority districts.
Floridians voted these Amendments into law at the ballot box, which were designed to place strict limits on how legislative and congressional districts can be drawn. Across the nation, and particularly here in Florida, the outlines for districts are gerrymandered and are a mess.
Congresswoman Corrine Brown, (D:FL), was on a mission to stop passage of these Amendments: “I want to make sure that minorities have an opportunity to elect someone of their choice,” she said. “Based on the way the initiative is written, you cannot do that.” Brown's district is first on the list of those that need to be re-drawn, as her district is mostly minority numbered reaching from Jacksonville to Orlando. As I see it, Brown should worried about all Floridians having proper access to casting a ballot, not just minorities. This would presume there is a problem, and there is not.
Here in Orlando, minority clout is at issue in redrawing the Orange County map, which may spur lawsuits. "If they don't have a Latino-majority district, we will absolutely look to go to court,"said Diana Sen, a senior attorney with Latino Justice, a legal advocacy group. "And it doesn't look good."
Not to worry. In a Congressional redistricting proposal, The Orlando Sentinel reports the Florida Senate released a new map which is believed to increase the number of Hispanic lawmakers. Demands for stronger minority representation seems to be favored over natural borders in adherence to political correctness.
These districts need to be redrawn using common sense barriers such as major roads, county lines and section, township and ranges. There should be no consideration given to providing minority groups special boundaries to enhance their voting clout. They are Americans, and Floridians, just like I am, and non of us should be discriminated against.
I have no problem finding my voting precinct or carving out time to get down there and vote. It is not difficult for anyone with the desire. Providing proper identification and a shortened time frame may derail efforts to commit voter fraud, but here in Central Florida local government goes to great lengths to ease the process.
Our country is in great peril, with a level of steady unemployment not seen since the Great Depression. Closer to home here in Central Florida, Obama has destroyed the space program, and on that issue alone, Sen. Nelson, who once flew on the Shuttle, should have parted company with Obama. No such luck. Nelson is obviously worried about other non relevant items, among them standing behind our teleprompter in chief as he transforms our exceptional nation from being the beacon of freedom around the world.
With Sen. Nelson so vitally concerned about the opportunities of us Floridians to get to the ballot box unimpeded, he should know many of us take great pleasure in voting. Certainly, I view it as a responsibility and will be the first person at my precinct on November 2012 when the front door opens at 7AM. After voting against Obama, my next vote is for Connie Mack against Nelson, whose tenure as a representative of Florida should go down with the sunset over Paynes Prairie.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
The Inconsiderate Man
We should not have been surprised to learn today that President Obama's approval numbers have now fallen below our national error, Jimmy Carter.
Obama is well on his way to transforming this nation to his hearts desire, a European utopia of socialism.
While America is waking up, perhaps the catalyst of the demise of Obama will not be zero job creation as I have previously indicated but ruining the annual spectacle of the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center, something enjoyed by millions as Christmas in New York kicks off.
Obama is indeed an Inconsiderate Man, and of course it is all about him. With any luck, maybe one of the camels from The Christmas Spectacular will sit on his limousine.
Just today, two prominent individuals let him have it.
On the political front, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie accurately pointed out the horrendous leadership of Obama on the economic front:
It seems we are paying Obama to train wreck everything, including our traditions, something Michelle Obama said he would change. Enter the lighting of the Christmas Tree in New York. Donald Trump let Obama have it:
It seems we are paying Obama to train wreck everything, including our traditions, something Michelle Obama said he would change. Enter the lighting of the Christmas Tree in New York. Donald Trump let Obama have it:
Obama is well on his way to transforming this nation to his hearts desire, a European utopia of socialism.
While America is waking up, perhaps the catalyst of the demise of Obama will not be zero job creation as I have previously indicated but ruining the annual spectacle of the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center, something enjoyed by millions as Christmas in New York kicks off.
Obama is indeed an Inconsiderate Man, and of course it is all about him. With any luck, maybe one of the camels from The Christmas Spectacular will sit on his limousine.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Top 25
College Football
Top 25
1. Louisiana State, 12-0, 1
2. Alabama, 11-1, 2
3. Oklahoma State, 10-1, 4
4. Virginia Tech, 11-1, 5
5. Arkansas, 10-2, 3
6. Stanford, 11-1, 6
7. Wisconsin, 10-2, 9
8. Michigan State, 10-2, 7
9. Kansas State, 9-2, 8
10. Southern Cal, 10-2, 12
11. Oregon, 10-2, 10
12. Oklahoma, 10-2, 11
13. South Carolina, 10-2, 13
14. Georgia, 10-2, 14
15. Boise State, 11-1, 15
16. Houston, 12-0, 16
17. Michigan, 10-2, 17
18. Texas Christian, 9-2, 18
19. Baylor, 8-3, 20
20. Nebraska, 9-3, 21
21. Clemson, 9-3, 19
22. Notre Dame, 8-4, 24
23. Florida State, 8-4, NR
24. Texas, 7-4, NR
25. West Virginia, 8-3, NR
OUT: Penn State (22), Virginia (23), Georgia Tech (25)
VOTES: Virginia, Penn State, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Auburn, Missouri, Washington, BYU, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Wyoming and Southern Miss.
For the fist time since 1984, Kentucky defeated Tennessee, who has really fallen off. Coach Dooley is a great guy, but he better get to work quick, for seasons like this will not be tolerated in ole Rocky Top....Georgia is really hitting stride while winning the SEC East, but they don't appear to have what it takes to stop mighty LSU....Mississippi State clobbered Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, and the Rebels completely imploded in 2011 going 2-10....Not ready to throw in the towel on UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel, but time is running out and a big time signal caller would be highly recommended.....Dennis Erickson appears out at Arizona State, and Ron Zook at Illinois is reportedly out....George O'Leary at UCF should consider himself fortunate to remain after dismal 2011....Bob Davie, of ESPN and formerly head coach at Notre Dame, has been hired at New Mexico. Davie is good coach, and I think he will do well for the Lobos and wish him the all best....Speaking of hires, Rich Rod has landed at Arizona, which if he can get his offense going out there could be real interesting....Urban Meyer, who left Florida in the wake of a health issue to spend more time with his family and promptly traveled the country with his ESPN family covering games, is rumored to having accepted the Ohio State job. Although Meyer denies it, he did skip his scheduled assignment covering Ohio State at Michigan on Saturday, cementing his hiring. Meyer seems like a good guy, just one who skirts the truth frequently. And have you seen the talent he left at Florida, a place SI writer Dan Jenkins called the easiest recruiting sale in America. Meanwhile, current OSU interim Coach Luke Fickell did a fine job this season if you ask me.....Oh, and did we mention it looks like the Gators and the Buckeyes in the Gator Bowl?.....Virginia Tech steamrolled Virginia, and will punish Clemson next week in the ACC title game. Shame on FSU for failing to get to this game......RGIII lit up Texas Tech until being knocked out by concussion....Alabama punished Auburn, while LSU rolled it up on a good Arkansas team...The USC Trojans seem the top of the PAC 12 class, blasting UCLA 50-0 last night, but are on probation. The Matt Barkley to Robert Woods combo will by dynamite in 2012 if both return.....Vanderbilt bombed Wake Forest, while Clemson dove further in the tank by being dismantled by South Carolina....Miami, while extending Al Golden for four years, took it on the chin in a home loss to a pedestrian Boston College.
On Friday, Nebraska did everything right they did wrong a week ago in an embarrassing loss at Michigan by smothering Iowa 20-7 at Lincoln on Friday. The Blackshirts were strong, and a heavy dose of Rex Burkhead was too much for the visiting Hawkeyes. Nebraska can play well, but far too often in 2011 there were significant lapses in offensive, defensive and special team performances which led to historically uncharacteristic losses through the season. For NU to move back into the elite, this will need to be corrected. Even so, Coach Pelini has now won a minimum of 9 games in each of his first four seasons, a far improvement from the Callahan era. Tom Shatel at The Omaha World Herald has more on the state of Pelini and the 'Huskers.
At Gainesville, the Florida State offense was nothing short of offensive, however, a stellar defensive effort gave FSU all they needed in physically pounding Florida 21-7. The Seminoles knocked eight Gators players out of the game, intercepted four passes, one of which a pic six, and sent the Gators for a 14 yards loss on a 4th and inches to secure the defensive dominance. The Gators defense was stout also, and the unimaginative Seminole offensive play calling did nothing to attempt to counter the Gator strength. As evidence, approximately 42 dive plays for 21 yards was idiotic. FSU, a once proud offensive football team, is lethargic at best. There is much work to do on this side of the ball, but the defense and special teams were outstanding last night, leading FSU to a dominant victory in the swamp. For the second straight season, FSU is State Champs.
Top 25
1. Louisiana State, 12-0, 1
2. Alabama, 11-1, 2
3. Oklahoma State, 10-1, 4
4. Virginia Tech, 11-1, 5
5. Arkansas, 10-2, 3
6. Stanford, 11-1, 6
7. Wisconsin, 10-2, 9
8. Michigan State, 10-2, 7
9. Kansas State, 9-2, 8
10. Southern Cal, 10-2, 12
11. Oregon, 10-2, 10
12. Oklahoma, 10-2, 11
13. South Carolina, 10-2, 13
14. Georgia, 10-2, 14
15. Boise State, 11-1, 15
16. Houston, 12-0, 16
17. Michigan, 10-2, 17
18. Texas Christian, 9-2, 18
19. Baylor, 8-3, 20
20. Nebraska, 9-3, 21
21. Clemson, 9-3, 19
22. Notre Dame, 8-4, 24
23. Florida State, 8-4, NR
24. Texas, 7-4, NR
25. West Virginia, 8-3, NR
OUT: Penn State (22), Virginia (23), Georgia Tech (25)
VOTES: Virginia, Penn State, Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati, Auburn, Missouri, Washington, BYU, Iowa State, Vanderbilt, Wyoming and Southern Miss.
For the fist time since 1984, Kentucky defeated Tennessee, who has really fallen off. Coach Dooley is a great guy, but he better get to work quick, for seasons like this will not be tolerated in ole Rocky Top....Georgia is really hitting stride while winning the SEC East, but they don't appear to have what it takes to stop mighty LSU....Mississippi State clobbered Ole Miss in the Egg Bowl, and the Rebels completely imploded in 2011 going 2-10....Not ready to throw in the towel on UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel, but time is running out and a big time signal caller would be highly recommended.....Dennis Erickson appears out at Arizona State, and Ron Zook at Illinois is reportedly out....George O'Leary at UCF should consider himself fortunate to remain after dismal 2011....Bob Davie, of ESPN and formerly head coach at Notre Dame, has been hired at New Mexico. Davie is good coach, and I think he will do well for the Lobos and wish him the all best....Speaking of hires, Rich Rod has landed at Arizona, which if he can get his offense going out there could be real interesting....Urban Meyer, who left Florida in the wake of a health issue to spend more time with his family and promptly traveled the country with his ESPN family covering games, is rumored to having accepted the Ohio State job. Although Meyer denies it, he did skip his scheduled assignment covering Ohio State at Michigan on Saturday, cementing his hiring. Meyer seems like a good guy, just one who skirts the truth frequently. And have you seen the talent he left at Florida, a place SI writer Dan Jenkins called the easiest recruiting sale in America. Meanwhile, current OSU interim Coach Luke Fickell did a fine job this season if you ask me.....Oh, and did we mention it looks like the Gators and the Buckeyes in the Gator Bowl?.....Virginia Tech steamrolled Virginia, and will punish Clemson next week in the ACC title game. Shame on FSU for failing to get to this game......RGIII lit up Texas Tech until being knocked out by concussion....Alabama punished Auburn, while LSU rolled it up on a good Arkansas team...The USC Trojans seem the top of the PAC 12 class, blasting UCLA 50-0 last night, but are on probation. The Matt Barkley to Robert Woods combo will by dynamite in 2012 if both return.....Vanderbilt bombed Wake Forest, while Clemson dove further in the tank by being dismantled by South Carolina....Miami, while extending Al Golden for four years, took it on the chin in a home loss to a pedestrian Boston College.
On Friday, Nebraska did everything right they did wrong a week ago in an embarrassing loss at Michigan by smothering Iowa 20-7 at Lincoln on Friday. The Blackshirts were strong, and a heavy dose of Rex Burkhead was too much for the visiting Hawkeyes. Nebraska can play well, but far too often in 2011 there were significant lapses in offensive, defensive and special team performances which led to historically uncharacteristic losses through the season. For NU to move back into the elite, this will need to be corrected. Even so, Coach Pelini has now won a minimum of 9 games in each of his first four seasons, a far improvement from the Callahan era. Tom Shatel at The Omaha World Herald has more on the state of Pelini and the 'Huskers.
At Gainesville, the Florida State offense was nothing short of offensive, however, a stellar defensive effort gave FSU all they needed in physically pounding Florida 21-7. The Seminoles knocked eight Gators players out of the game, intercepted four passes, one of which a pic six, and sent the Gators for a 14 yards loss on a 4th and inches to secure the defensive dominance. The Gators defense was stout also, and the unimaginative Seminole offensive play calling did nothing to attempt to counter the Gator strength. As evidence, approximately 42 dive plays for 21 yards was idiotic. FSU, a once proud offensive football team, is lethargic at best. There is much work to do on this side of the ball, but the defense and special teams were outstanding last night, leading FSU to a dominant victory in the swamp. For the second straight season, FSU is State Champs.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Find Light As Darkness Approaches
An honest broker. Our country has a great example of this in George Washington, the Indispensable Man. Honesty is vitally important as a virtue, but it is equally important in commerce, by individuals, corporations and market makers adhering to contract law.
When contracts are broken, it throws mistrust and uncertainty into the marketplace, creating chaos. Regrettably, the Obama administration, in their efforts to transform this divinely inspired nation, altered the rules of contract law right out of the gate upon taking office in the form of shortchanging the automaker bond holders during the auto bailout. And don't get me started on the sun-setting of the famed Pontiac brand of General Motors!!
While Congress has become seemingly irrelevant and scandals are mounting while the media cheers on the socialist agenda, the stock market, although having ups and downs, is higher than it was in the aftermath of the 2008 crash. With a 9%+ unemployment rate, small business getting clobbered, taxes and regulations increasing, restricted credit and market uncertainty, one has to wonder how the market remains so high.
During the Great Depression, folks with jobs made out fair to midland, but it was those on the outside looking in who suffered the most. Unlike that period, the FED has injected massive levels of cash into the system, and when coupled with governmental stimulus, corporations and unions on the inside have been able to maintain profitable revenue levels. But it is not real, for when the cash influx is removed, the true levels of markets will be identified, and those levels are far lower than present closing ranges.
Not only are the current market levels manufactured, but economic measures of employment, inflation and debt are fabricated. In addition, in part due to the crony capitalism, investors are uncertain of false market indicators, significantly increasing the risk associated with capital investment.
And then, there is the rule of law. The collapse of trading firm MF Global, whose CEO was former New Jersey Democrat Governor Jon Corzine, has lead federal investigators to uncover that the company seems to be missing about 1.2 billion on customer accounts. A Congressional Panel is seeking to question Corzine, who if the allegations prove true, should take up long term residency in the gray bar hotel. Although while Governor Corzine blew a huge hole in the wallet of New Jersey, few think he is dumb enough to get himself in this situation, which leads some to think this is an orchestrated hit.
When contracts are broken, it throws mistrust and uncertainty into the marketplace, creating chaos. Regrettably, the Obama administration, in their efforts to transform this divinely inspired nation, altered the rules of contract law right out of the gate upon taking office in the form of shortchanging the automaker bond holders during the auto bailout. And don't get me started on the sun-setting of the famed Pontiac brand of General Motors!!
While Congress has become seemingly irrelevant and scandals are mounting while the media cheers on the socialist agenda, the stock market, although having ups and downs, is higher than it was in the aftermath of the 2008 crash. With a 9%+ unemployment rate, small business getting clobbered, taxes and regulations increasing, restricted credit and market uncertainty, one has to wonder how the market remains so high.
During the Great Depression, folks with jobs made out fair to midland, but it was those on the outside looking in who suffered the most. Unlike that period, the FED has injected massive levels of cash into the system, and when coupled with governmental stimulus, corporations and unions on the inside have been able to maintain profitable revenue levels. But it is not real, for when the cash influx is removed, the true levels of markets will be identified, and those levels are far lower than present closing ranges.
Not only are the current market levels manufactured, but economic measures of employment, inflation and debt are fabricated. In addition, in part due to the crony capitalism, investors are uncertain of false market indicators, significantly increasing the risk associated with capital investment.
And then, there is the rule of law. The collapse of trading firm MF Global, whose CEO was former New Jersey Democrat Governor Jon Corzine, has lead federal investigators to uncover that the company seems to be missing about 1.2 billion on customer accounts. A Congressional Panel is seeking to question Corzine, who if the allegations prove true, should take up long term residency in the gray bar hotel. Although while Governor Corzine blew a huge hole in the wallet of New Jersey, few think he is dumb enough to get himself in this situation, which leads some to think this is an orchestrated hit.One could think another Wall Street firm blowing up has little impact on the average American, but this well may. Much of the investor money is currently stuck as investigators sort through the wreckage, but investors may only get back about 40% of their potions and they are far from happy. While this is most unfortunate, far more significant issues concerning the lack of trust in the commodities market, where MF Global provided the market to hedge futures contracts, and the contagion to follow, could severely impact our capital markets.
Investors have signaled the lack of trust in the market, perhaps highlighted in a letter by Ann Barnhardt, a cattle commodities broker, who due to the lack of trust in the market place and an "abject lawlessness and contempt for humanity of the Marxist Obama regime and its cronies", ceased operations of her firm, Barnhardt Capital Management. Please read the letter that she wrote, as Barnhardt speaks a truth you are unaware of and need to be up to speed on.
Investors Business Daily does not care much for Corzine, and neither do I, but there is a much more serious problem brewing here. Trust in the capital markets is essential for investors, and without that you have inefficient markets at best. With the DOW artificially pumped, many thought the commodities markets were where realistic evaluations could be identified.
Not anymore. Perhaps this leads to a market crash, or maybe it is just another in a long line of birth pangs we have been having. If the allegations of malfeasance are true and investors are not made reasonably whole due to the theft by this firm and it's principals, most notably Obama crony Corzine, these folks need to become instant jailbirds.
If they don't, and the rule of law remains absent, the birth pangs will quickly turn into a contraction and the official birth of utter chaos in the US financial markets, something many contend is orchestrated from within the White House, will emerge. Serious as that is and factoring in the EURO fix that won't work, the FED is war gaming worst case scenarios with new stress test of our major banks forecasting potential unemployment levels of 13% and a DOW at 5600.
Reality is a mirage under this administration, and your investment dollars must be protected. As Ms. Barnhardt accurately pontificated, investment is most vulnerable under the socialist and evil regime running our country at present, and hopefully November 2012 will intercept us from the generations of darkness Ronald Reagan warned us about.
Pray we make it that far!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Happy Thanksgiving
Even as our country is spiraling to great peril, we are a divinely inspired nation that will right itself. It starts with faith, and travels to personal accountability and trust in action, recognizing our role in guarding the gift we have been given.
May we all give thanks, and should any Occupy Wall Street idiots disrupt the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, off with their heads!
Happy Thanksgiving!
And for the OFFICIAL beginning of the Christmas Season, the famed Radio City Rockettes!
May we all give thanks, and should any Occupy Wall Street idiots disrupt the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, off with their heads!
Happy Thanksgiving!
And for the OFFICIAL beginning of the Christmas Season, the famed Radio City Rockettes!
Monday, November 21, 2011
The Long Knives
Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann roared out of the gate in the GOP presidential sweepstakes by winning the Iowa straw poll, which proved a knockout punch for fellow Minnesota candidate Tim Pawlenty.
Out came the long knives.
Don't blame it all on those intellectually challenged Democrats. Sharpened knives from the Progressives is what is at foot here, and regrettably this includes the Republican establishment, often referred to as RHINO's or Rockefeller Republicans. They have no interest in a Conservative woman who is a favorite of the Tea Party. After all, these folks are Progressives.
Bachmann got firebombed, complete with a hit piece cover story by Newsweek magazine. Add in a few gaffes on the campaign trail, and being labeled "crazy" by the lame stream media and down went the numbers.
Texas Governor Rick Perry jumped in the race, a Conservative with a great track record on job creation. In actual fact, Perry did not need the media to derail his campaign, thanks to some very poor debate efforts. Even so, he got hit on several fronts.
After all this carnage, former Godfathers Pizza Chairman Herman Cain got tremendous traction. Cain is very charismatic, and he unleashed a bold plan to reconstruct our inefficient tax system to rave reviews. Although Cain has been employed in several high profile capacities, his time at the National Restaurant Association supsiciously brought out of the woodwork four women accusing him of sexual harassment. Cain has suffered in the polls, as doubt has been created. Doubt can be most destructive, as brilliantly described in the 2005 award winning Broadway play by John Patrick Shanley.
Enter Newt Gingrich, the smartest man in the room. Newt readily admits he carries pounds of baggage, some deserved and some not. At any rate, with Gingrich out front, where will the knife come from?
Freddie Mac.
Gingrich consulted Freddie Mac, for a fee if you can imagine that, and this has the media in a tailspin. Given the problems to our economy caused by the back holes known as Fannie and Freddie, the media has concluded that folks who consulted these GSE's are eliminated from consideration of our highest office. Only if you are a Republican that is.
Never mind, nothing to see here, that several key figures in the Obama administration have very suspect backgrounds running, not consulting, Fannie and Freddie. See the following:
The New York Times David Brooks, who is a Republican impostor, describes James Johnson's relationship with Fannie Mae. Bloomberg Busninessweek outlines Franklin Raines story. Former Obama COS Rahm Emanuel was Director of Freddie Mac during scandal, reports ABC News. Peter Schwiezer's new book "Throw Them All Out" alleges insider trading. Jamie Gorelick, rumored to under consideration by Obama for Attorney General, is appropriately labeled the Mistress of Disaster, in part due to her role as Vice Chairman of Fannie Mae.
Michele Bachmann has said that the media is choosing the Republican candidate for 2012. Thus far, Congresswoman Bachmann is nothing short of correct.
The progressives, both Republican and Democrat, are carving up the playing field so each side fields a candidate that allows the game to continue to be played. Playing games is exactly what the electorate in this country is tired of, but it is important to note the establishment of both of these parties is not interested in what the electorate thinks, just expanding control over them.
Seeking a candidate who is an ejection from the system is the most attractive in my view, and that type of candidate is who they will stop at just about nothing to prohibit from winning. Think outside the box, and do not let the media poison your mind while these candidates, each far superior to Obama, stand in the line of fire.
Walker Your Bulldog
Larry Munson, longtime radio voice of the Georgia Bulldogs, has passed away at 89.Munson was one of the very best of the broadcasters of the color and pageantry of College Football. Munsons often brunt description of the goings on between the hedges and when the Silver Britches hit the road, were of legend.
The quotes are endless, but Linsay Scott's long touchdown catch to beat the Florida Gators in the 1980 version of The Worlds Largest Cocktail Party is the one I most recall. Lindsay Scott, Lindsay Scott, Lindsay Scott!!
Certainly, Munson will forever be remembered as among the very best gridiron storytellers in college football history. I join those in Sliver Britches in mourning his loss this afternoon.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Smoke Stands On It!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
In what has to be one of the best races ever, Tony Stewart held off Carl Edwards to win the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase.
Congratulations to Tony Stewart, who drove the absolute wheels off his Office Depot Chevrolet Impala. Carl Edwards, classy in defeat in his AFLAC Ford, did everything he could but Smoke was not to be denied keeping the floorboard mashed all day.
PHOTO/GETTY IMAGES
It was a great race put on by Edwards and Stewart; one for the ages!
Lead, follow or get out the way! Can't wait for the Daytona 500 on February 26, 2012!
In what has to be one of the best races ever, Tony Stewart held off Carl Edwards to win the 2011 Sprint Cup Chase.
Congratulations to Tony Stewart, who drove the absolute wheels off his Office Depot Chevrolet Impala. Carl Edwards, classy in defeat in his AFLAC Ford, did everything he could but Smoke was not to be denied keeping the floorboard mashed all day.
PHOTO/GETTY IMAGESIt was a great race put on by Edwards and Stewart; one for the ages!
Lead, follow or get out the way! Can't wait for the Daytona 500 on February 26, 2012!
Top 25
College Football
Top 25
1. Louisiana State, 11-0, 1
2. Alabama, 10-1, 3
3. Arkansas, 10-1, 6
4. Oklahoma State, 10-1, 2
5. Virginia Tech, 10-1, 8
6. Stanford, 10-1, 9
7. Michigan State, 9-2, 10
8. Kansas State, 9-2, 11
9. Wisconsin, 9-2, 12
10. Oregon, 9-2, 4
11. Oklahoma, 8-2, 5
12. Southern Cal, 9-2, 16
13. South Carolina, 9-2, 13
14. Georgia, 9-2, 14
15. Boise State, 10-1, 15
16. Houston, 11-0, 16
17. Michigan, 9-2, 19
18. Texas Christian, 9-2, 21
19. Clemson, 9-2, 7
20. Baylor, 7-3, 25
21. Nebraska, 8-3, 19
22. Penn State, 9-2, 23
23. Virginia, 8-3, NR
24. Notre Dame, 8-3, 24
25. Georgia Tech, 8-3, NR
OUT: Florida State (18), Southern Miss (22)
VOTES: Rutgers, Florida State, Auburn, Texas A&M, Texas, Utah, Iowa State, Wake Forest, Missouri, West Virginia, Wyoming, Iowa and BYU.
With LSU, Alabama and Arkansas from the SEC ranked in the top three spots in the AP and USA Today polls, it becomes only the second time in history team from one conference owned these spots. In the final poll of 1971, National Champion Nebraska was followed by Oklahoma and Colorado of the Big Eight Conference.
As an old Big Eight guy, I recognize it is tough to roll into Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, but with the tragic plane crash which took the life of OSU women's basketball coach, and an assistant, it was a expontnetially tasking for the Pokes. But Iowa State is improving, and the Clones were playing for bowl life, and upended the Aggies. Tough day for the OSU famliy, and our hearts got out to T Boone and Pokes people....Although I had been giving Stanford QB Andrew Luck a good look, I am back to my preseason thoughts on The Heisman Trophy, and if I had a votes, it goes to Robert Griffith III of Baylor, who almost single handily took out OU Saturday night, accounting for over 500 yards of offense and leading a last minute drive to win the game. RGIII for Heisman!!!!!... Clemson got bombed at NCSU, collapsing later in the year than we all thought....Southern Cal is playing very good football right now, but is not bowl eligible...Penn State got away from State College and got a football win, but perhaps mortal issues associated with the horrific scandal will not go away soon, if ever. The NCAA is now investigating institutional control, and the lack of control over the goings on is without question....Obviously, yet again, the ACC is full of mediocrity, while The Big East is just poor.
A trip to The Big House turned ugly early for Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers were embarrassed. Right out of the gate, the officials, who failed to spot a Michigan receiver push off a 'Husker defender, allowed Michigan to set up their first score. Nebraska could not let the officials upstage them during the day, so they went on to fumble two kickoffs, drop several passes and grab untold penalties. Even T-Magic had to fumble one away. The Big Red had no chance with all this ineptitude on display, and this comes back to coaching. Yes, the once proud offensive line is poor, but this can be coached around. It was not, and the result Saturday was an embarrassment for all those in Red. The expectations at Nebraska are to win, but if a victory cannot be achieved, the Big Red faithful expect the 'Huskers to execute with a high level of competitiveness and pride, which was not visible Saturday. The coaches need to get this cleaned up, for these kind of losses going forward are not going to, and should not be, tolerated. Meanwhile, new BIG rival Iowa is in town Friday, and the performance had better be improved.
It is obvious to anyone associated with the program that Florida State is going to not only have to defeat opponents on the field, but overcome what can only be concluded as negatively biased officiating. With ESPN's analyst Ed Cunningham calling an early holding call "mythical", last night's homecoming game with a rapidly improving Virginia would be no different. Apparently, the FSU coaching staff had no clue. Coach Jimbo Fisher was verbally hammering the zebras right out of the gate, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, the coaching staff did not call plays designed to take the officials out of it. The FSU play calling, particularly in the red zone, was pitiful. The Seminoles seemed to have no problem kicking field goals, rather than expanding the playbook to overcome a weak offensive line and scoring touchdowns. Everyone viewing the game could see, and feel, that the longer FSU could not get two scores ahead of UVA, and there were several opportunities, the longer the game was in jeopardy. UVA, who had been close to success all evening, put together a great late drive, putting FSU in a must score position leaving no room for error. FSU was taking making errors to a new level all night, with horrendous play calling, failed execution and numerous penalties, most self inflicted on this night. The coaches should have ran plays to put this game out of reach before it came down to having to have a flawless last minute drive to win it. EJ Manuel is not Robert Griffin III, in case anyone has noticed. At any rate, the last minute drive was filled with poor time management decisions and execution, leaving usually accurate kicker Dustin Hopkins to botch a 43 yard kick to win it. Credit UVA for hanging around and scoring late, but the Seminoles have not given one away like this in many a moon, and it all comes down to poor, and I mean very poor, coaching. Last I looked, there were no 5 star recruits in the Cavalier two deep, but the players are well coached and executed when it counted. With 5 star recruits everywhere, FSU could not execute at all when it counted. We expect Coach Fisher to correct these glaring issues promptly, for losses like the one last night will not be tolerated. This loss leaves a very bad taste in the mouths of the Seminole faithful, but a victory next week at arch rival Florida could take some of the sting away. But as bad as the Gators are, playing at the Swamp coupled with our inability to execute standing for the coin toss, much less scoring touchdowns, the odds feel bleak.
Top 25
1. Louisiana State, 11-0, 1
2. Alabama, 10-1, 3
3. Arkansas, 10-1, 6
4. Oklahoma State, 10-1, 2
5. Virginia Tech, 10-1, 8
6. Stanford, 10-1, 9
7. Michigan State, 9-2, 10
8. Kansas State, 9-2, 11
9. Wisconsin, 9-2, 12
10. Oregon, 9-2, 4
11. Oklahoma, 8-2, 5
12. Southern Cal, 9-2, 16
13. South Carolina, 9-2, 13
14. Georgia, 9-2, 14
15. Boise State, 10-1, 15
16. Houston, 11-0, 16
17. Michigan, 9-2, 19
18. Texas Christian, 9-2, 21
19. Clemson, 9-2, 7
20. Baylor, 7-3, 25
21. Nebraska, 8-3, 19
22. Penn State, 9-2, 23
23. Virginia, 8-3, NR
24. Notre Dame, 8-3, 24
25. Georgia Tech, 8-3, NR
OUT: Florida State (18), Southern Miss (22)
VOTES: Rutgers, Florida State, Auburn, Texas A&M, Texas, Utah, Iowa State, Wake Forest, Missouri, West Virginia, Wyoming, Iowa and BYU.
With LSU, Alabama and Arkansas from the SEC ranked in the top three spots in the AP and USA Today polls, it becomes only the second time in history team from one conference owned these spots. In the final poll of 1971, National Champion Nebraska was followed by Oklahoma and Colorado of the Big Eight Conference.
As an old Big Eight guy, I recognize it is tough to roll into Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, but with the tragic plane crash which took the life of OSU women's basketball coach, and an assistant, it was a expontnetially tasking for the Pokes. But Iowa State is improving, and the Clones were playing for bowl life, and upended the Aggies. Tough day for the OSU famliy, and our hearts got out to T Boone and Pokes people....Although I had been giving Stanford QB Andrew Luck a good look, I am back to my preseason thoughts on The Heisman Trophy, and if I had a votes, it goes to Robert Griffith III of Baylor, who almost single handily took out OU Saturday night, accounting for over 500 yards of offense and leading a last minute drive to win the game. RGIII for Heisman!!!!!... Clemson got bombed at NCSU, collapsing later in the year than we all thought....Southern Cal is playing very good football right now, but is not bowl eligible...Penn State got away from State College and got a football win, but perhaps mortal issues associated with the horrific scandal will not go away soon, if ever. The NCAA is now investigating institutional control, and the lack of control over the goings on is without question....Obviously, yet again, the ACC is full of mediocrity, while The Big East is just poor.
A trip to The Big House turned ugly early for Nebraska, as the Cornhuskers were embarrassed. Right out of the gate, the officials, who failed to spot a Michigan receiver push off a 'Husker defender, allowed Michigan to set up their first score. Nebraska could not let the officials upstage them during the day, so they went on to fumble two kickoffs, drop several passes and grab untold penalties. Even T-Magic had to fumble one away. The Big Red had no chance with all this ineptitude on display, and this comes back to coaching. Yes, the once proud offensive line is poor, but this can be coached around. It was not, and the result Saturday was an embarrassment for all those in Red. The expectations at Nebraska are to win, but if a victory cannot be achieved, the Big Red faithful expect the 'Huskers to execute with a high level of competitiveness and pride, which was not visible Saturday. The coaches need to get this cleaned up, for these kind of losses going forward are not going to, and should not be, tolerated. Meanwhile, new BIG rival Iowa is in town Friday, and the performance had better be improved.
It is obvious to anyone associated with the program that Florida State is going to not only have to defeat opponents on the field, but overcome what can only be concluded as negatively biased officiating. With ESPN's analyst Ed Cunningham calling an early holding call "mythical", last night's homecoming game with a rapidly improving Virginia would be no different. Apparently, the FSU coaching staff had no clue. Coach Jimbo Fisher was verbally hammering the zebras right out of the gate, and rightfully so. Unfortunately, the coaching staff did not call plays designed to take the officials out of it. The FSU play calling, particularly in the red zone, was pitiful. The Seminoles seemed to have no problem kicking field goals, rather than expanding the playbook to overcome a weak offensive line and scoring touchdowns. Everyone viewing the game could see, and feel, that the longer FSU could not get two scores ahead of UVA, and there were several opportunities, the longer the game was in jeopardy. UVA, who had been close to success all evening, put together a great late drive, putting FSU in a must score position leaving no room for error. FSU was taking making errors to a new level all night, with horrendous play calling, failed execution and numerous penalties, most self inflicted on this night. The coaches should have ran plays to put this game out of reach before it came down to having to have a flawless last minute drive to win it. EJ Manuel is not Robert Griffin III, in case anyone has noticed. At any rate, the last minute drive was filled with poor time management decisions and execution, leaving usually accurate kicker Dustin Hopkins to botch a 43 yard kick to win it. Credit UVA for hanging around and scoring late, but the Seminoles have not given one away like this in many a moon, and it all comes down to poor, and I mean very poor, coaching. Last I looked, there were no 5 star recruits in the Cavalier two deep, but the players are well coached and executed when it counted. With 5 star recruits everywhere, FSU could not execute at all when it counted. We expect Coach Fisher to correct these glaring issues promptly, for losses like the one last night will not be tolerated. This loss leaves a very bad taste in the mouths of the Seminole faithful, but a victory next week at arch rival Florida could take some of the sting away. But as bad as the Gators are, playing at the Swamp coupled with our inability to execute standing for the coin toss, much less scoring touchdowns, the odds feel bleak.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Gene Gene The Dancing Machine
On Saturday, when the Florida State Seminoles kick the ball off against Virginia at Doak Campbell Stadium, longtime FSU radio voice Gene Deckerhoff will broadcast his 400th game.
Gene is great, and a staple for FSU fans across the fruited plain. Deckerhoff enjoys speaking to booster groups, and has been a frequent guest to the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando.
We have had great times with Gene over the years, and a video piece highlighting the relationship is presented documenting the value our Florida State family places on ole Gene:
I would like to personally thank Gene for all the memories, back with Vic Prinzi, Peter Tom Willis and "Bar None", ole William Floyd.
Touchdown FSU!! Thank ya Gene!
Gene is great, and a staple for FSU fans across the fruited plain. Deckerhoff enjoys speaking to booster groups, and has been a frequent guest to the Seminole Club of Greater Orlando.
We have had great times with Gene over the years, and a video piece highlighting the relationship is presented documenting the value our Florida State family places on ole Gene:
I would like to personally thank Gene for all the memories, back with Vic Prinzi, Peter Tom Willis and "Bar None", ole William Floyd.
Touchdown FSU!! Thank ya Gene!
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Jail The Looters
In the aftermath of the greatest financial crisis in a half century, progressives who seek additional governmental control jumped at the chance to increase financial regulatory instruments. Never let a crisis go to waste, you will recall.
Charged with crafting such policy were two Congressional members, both of whom should be investigated for their role in the collapse, Senator Barney Frank, D:MA and Congressman Chris Dodd, D:CT. Exactly what our corrupt government needed, inmates running the asylum.
With the Democrats holding super majorities in both Houses, the Dodd-Frank Bill became law. The basic purpose of the law is to prohibit fraud and chicanery in the financial system.
The situation over at MF Global is very troubling and funds cannot be properly accounted for. Many investors appear out a lot of money, including Trends Research founder Gerald Celente, whose gold has seemingly turned to dust. The company cannot make investors whole, and Chilton says it is "suspicious as heck".
It should noted that existing regulatory agencies and the new far reaching Dodd-Frank bill, a job killing beast smothering business, failed miserably to prohibit Corzine and this group from crashing to bankruptcy, allegedly for the misappropriation of funds.
Charged with crafting such policy were two Congressional members, both of whom should be investigated for their role in the collapse, Senator Barney Frank, D:MA and Congressman Chris Dodd, D:CT. Exactly what our corrupt government needed, inmates running the asylum.
With the Democrats holding super majorities in both Houses, the Dodd-Frank Bill became law. The basic purpose of the law is to prohibit fraud and chicanery in the financial system.
Someone forgot to tell former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, who was recently under consideration by the Obama administration as a potential successor to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. After losing the governors race, Corzine, a Democrat, became Chairman of MF Global, and under his leadership, the company has filed for bankruptcy and is the subject of an FBI investigation. In short, the money is missing.
Bart Chilton, CFTC Commissioner who is on the circuit promoting his new book Ponzimonium, chats with The Squawk Box Crew; Becky Quick, Andrew Ross Sorkin and Joe Kernen, and guest host Mario Gabelli, on the recent increase of Ponzi Schemes and the goings on at MF Global. Take a listen:
The situation over at MF Global is very troubling and funds cannot be properly accounted for. Many investors appear out a lot of money, including Trends Research founder Gerald Celente, whose gold has seemingly turned to dust. The company cannot make investors whole, and Chilton says it is "suspicious as heck".
It should noted that existing regulatory agencies and the new far reaching Dodd-Frank bill, a job killing beast smothering business, failed miserably to prohibit Corzine and this group from crashing to bankruptcy, allegedly for the misappropriation of funds.
Remember in "Its A Wonderful Life" when the money went missing. George Bailey, upset with Uncle Billy, angrily quipped 'someone is going to jail, and it ain't gonna me me". Well, back in the day, folks did go to Sing Sing when money went missing.
It will be interesting to see, provided the allegations result in malfeasance and charges, if Democrat darling Corzine is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. You know how George Bailey would feel about it, but good guys are not winning these days.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Top 25
College Football
Top 25
1. Louisiana State, 10-0, 1
2. Oklahoma State, 10-0, 2
3. Alabama, 9-1, 4
4. Oregon, 9-1, 6
5. Oklahoma, 8-1, 5
6. Arkansas, 9-1, 8
7. Clemson, 9-1, 9
8. Virginia Tech, 9-1, 10
9. Stanford, 9-1, 3
10. Michigan State, 8-2, 12
11. Kansas State, 8-2, 11
12. Wisconsin, 8-2, 13
13. South Carolina, 8-2, 14
14. Georgia, 8-2, 15
15. Boise State, 8-1, 7
16. Southern Cal, 8-2, 16
17. Houston, 10-0, 17
18. Florida State, 7-3, 19
19. Michigan, 8-2, 22
20. Nebraska, 8-2, 23
21. Texas Christian, 8-2, NR
22. Southern Miss, 9-1, 24
23. Penn State, 8-2, 18
24. Notre Dame, 7-3, 25
25. Baylor, 7-3, NR
OUT: Georgia Tech (21) and Texas (20)
VOTES: Texas, Missouri, Iowa, Wake Forest, Georgia Tech, Florida, Auburn, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Virginia, Utah, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, Washington and BYU.
Yet another honors candidate players is lost for the season as RB Henry Josey of Missouri tore up his knee versus Texas on Saturday...Houston, held scoreless in the opening quarter, still put 73 on Tulane....Colorado got a big win, blasting Arizona...Arizona State's hopes for a big season hit the floor as they were dumped at Wazzu...Toledo lost 63-60 to Northern Illinois last week, but got the win this week 66-63 over Western Michigan wearing out the scoreboard operator....UCF fired their AD under allegations of violations, just as a Big East invite is looming...Oregon laid a smack down on Stanford, and seemingly damaged Andrew Luck's walk away Heisman win...Florida is woeful on offense and will be dogs at home versus FSU for potential sixth loss...Michigan State got a big road win at Iowa....Georgia spanked Auburn is surprising fashion and the Dawgs seem to be peaking after 0-2 start....Ole Miss got punted by LA Tech, and Houston Nutt is gone at seasons end....It does not appear anyone is interested in winning the Big East....Ohio State, just getting their footing in 2011, fell at Purdue for the fourth time in six seasons.....Kentucky is really having a poor season, as is Tennessee....Okie State smashed Texas Tech at Lubbock....The Texas Aggies lost another close one....Early promise of a good season has crashed at Mississippi State and Maryland.
It was perhaps the worst week for the game of college football with the horrific events that have occurred at Penn State coming to light. Former Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky set this all in motion with the alleged heinous acts he committed, and the cover up has led to the arrest of school administrators and the firing of the school President and legendary football coach Joe Paterno. Chris Fowler of ESPN nailed it by saying the situation is simply incomprehensible.
With deep sadness across the land, a game was to be played on Saturday at State College, and it was the Nebraska Cornhuskers, a program know for its great fan base, as the opponent. Nebraska receivers coach Ron Brown, a former executive with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, led the two teams in prayer before the game in a very touching gesture.
It was difficult to predict how this game would go, with all the mind boggling levels of emotion engulfing both squads. Against Penn State's strong defensive unit, the 'Huskers navigated their way through, and threw out some strong defense as well, to lead the whole way winning a close game 17-14. The 'Huskers needed the victory, and are happy to have escaped this ordeal with the win, saved in part by LB Lavonte David stuffing a Lion tailback on 4th and 1 and the NU 37 late in the ball game.
The horrendous Penn State story will continue to unfold, and it is likely to get much worse before it gets any better. This is an unprecedented story, which will permanently damage Penn State University on every front. Perhaps the game Saturday could begin the healing process for all involved.
Florida State held of the Miami Hurricanes, not withstanding a frontal assault by a horrendous officiating crew, 23-19 in Tallahassee. While the weather was top notch, the officiating was not. The Seminoles had three touchdowns taken off the board and numerous bogus personal foul penalties late kept Miami in the game. Defeating the Hurricanes is tough enough, but having to beat the officials on top of it is a real challenge.
Leading Seminole tackler Nigel Bradham was ejected for the following classic, and quite legal, hit, with ABC's Matt Millen once again with solid analysis.
Miami brought their A game, and I would expect nothing less. Florida State quite obviously remains a work in progress, as they did not play anywhere near their best football. But, a win against the Hurricanes, given the heartbreaking defeats over the years, is sweet no matter the score. A great evening in Tallahassee indeed!
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