Horror on the High Banks

Ten years ago this past February, NASCAR and millions of fans lost legendary seven time NASCAR Champion Dale Earnhardt in a crash on turn four of the high banks during the running of The Great American Race, The Daytona 500.

A group of us found out the devastating news in a limo heading back to Orlando from the race, which was won by winless Michael Waltrip, who was driving a Chevrolet owned by Earnhardt's team, Dale Earnhardt Incorporated. Earnhardt's crash did not look all that bad to our naked eye up in the grandstands, however a wild crash on the Superstretch involving Tony Stewart looked like a crash with the potential to create a serious injury.

Like many NASCAR fans, the loss of Dale Earnhardt was a crushing blow to many inside the sport, including Kenny Schrader, Sterling Marlin of course Dale Earnhardt, Jr , and even the NASCAR corporate family. A staggering loss indeed.

But, perhaps the crash had the most negative effect on Michael Waltrip, who Dale was blocking for at the time of the crash, which was coming out of turn four on the final lap. Waltrip, whose older brother Darrell is a NASCAR Champion and FOX Commentator, seemed fine, having won a second 500 and a Pepsi 400 in the following years, as I witnessed pictured below,

and form his own racing team, which after a slow start, is most competitive with drivers Martin Truex, Jr and David Reutimann, and has won a few races.

But Waltrip was still hurting, and it appears the writing of this book has helped him come full circle in dealing with the incredible highs and lows of that tragic day for all of us in Daytona that day.

Glenn Beck, who is not a sports guy, attended the Daytona 500 this past year, which was the 10th anniversary of Earnhardts death. Beck and his family had a blast, but Beck did not get a chance to meet Micheal Waltrip. Beck was aware of the his story, and was pulling for him in the race until a crash took out the #15.

Today, on Beck's national syndicated radio program, he had a chance to visit with Michael and discuss the book. The range of emotions Waltrip suffered through that day is something most of us will not have to bear, but hearing how he worked his way through it is most compelling. Take a listen:


I hope you will join me in wishing Michael Waltrip the best, and cheering for him when he races again on the Superspeedway in Talladega in late April.

Inches of Divine Intervention

In mid afternoon 30 years ago, ABC News broke into "One Life To Live" with the breaking news that there was an assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Thank God, the attempt was unsuccessful.

Reagan spoke about the attempt with Larry King on CNN:



John Hinkley, Jr, the convicted would be assassin, has remained in custody since the shooting, but if you think he is paying a heavy price for his actions, you would be mistaken. Where is Sheriff Arpaio when you need him?

Bottom Fishing

Last week, new home sales shockingly fell to a historic low as new and existing home prices continued to fall. While pundits across the fruited plain, including the "academics" at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, were shocked, it was unfortunately what we expected.

Efforts to fix the problem have been temporary band-aids which have had little or no effect on shifting the curve. CNBC's Larry Kudlow, joined by outstanding colleague Diana Olick, engage Brian Wesbury, economist at First Trust Advisors and A. Gary Shilling, who was spot on predicting the downfall years ago. Take listen:



Certainly, there are two schools of thought represented in this discussion, and I know who is correct. A. Gary Shilling. Wesbury thinks housing is bad, but not central to the grand economy, representing only 2% of GDP. While true, there is more to the story, commonly referred to in economics as the ripple effect. Our economy is consumer driven, and those hurt in housing have suffered impaired credit, restricting the ability to purchase big ticket items. In addition, disposable income has taken a crushing blow, leading to downturns in household expenditures, including retail and small luxury items.

Just like two years ago, rising gasoline prices, which is essentially a tax, will add to the problem. Should the price of oil remain high, any potential recovery, both in housing and in the overall economy, will be dashed.

The absorption rate for housing is abysmal and new home construction barely has a heartbeat. Inventories are sky high, and many evicted from their homes are shacking up with family and friends, creating a negative impact on the rental market.

Quantity demand is handcuffed due to the aforementioned problems. Homeowners in negative equity, or those owing more on their home than it is worth, is understated. Add in governmental regulatory intervention, which is prohibiting the market from cleansing itself, and there is no port in the storm. Statistical measurements indicate we are just over 25% through the foreclosure process.

Unfortunately, the problem extends far outside real estate. The unemployment rate is significantly higher than reported in the media, due to those no longer actively seeking employment. Until we see the job market turn around, consumer confidence, purchasing power and credit worthiness will remain a stiff headwind into both housing and and the overall economic recovery, which is slight at best at the moment.

Forget the arguement about a double dip recession, it is already in progress. Retail dining numbers have recently turned negative, as has the home price index as seen in the chart below.

CHART: BLYTIC.COM

In the housing market, government needs to get out of the way, allow the market to wring out the bad players and find a bottom to build a base off of. Of course, the answer is free market capitalism and not government intervention and influence in the marketplace.

Inside The Gate

What in the world is going on these days? Was there a malfunction on the transporter Mr. Scott?

Every decision made by our current administration, and President Obama in particular, lacks even a hint of common sense. You can feel it, and see it.

If you are a follower of the blog, you recognize I am a fan of Glenn Beck. Beck has been hitting the nail on the head for quite some time, but it jumped the shark on Thursday in my opinion.

As my friend Budah quipped over the weekend, while we love our country, we are not very fond of our government these days. And with good reason! Unfortunately, it is worse than you could imagine.

Beck lays the case out, and you must hear the case, for it is most compelling. The sovereignty of our nation is at stake, on several fronts. Energize!



The enemies inside the gate are counting on you sitting it out.

Glenn advises us of a famous quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

Free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity. If the enemies inside the gate succeed in their actions, we will as Ronald Reagan said, slide into generations of darkness.

In the spirit of Reagan and our Founding Fathers, won't you join me in the fight for freedom!

Sunday Night Song

Over the years, I have really appreciated the work of John Waite. Beginning with his work as the front man of The Babys, through his stint with Modern English to his solo work, Waite has delivered some excellent material.

From his solo efforts, this tune, best know from the soundtrack of Vision Quest, is one of my favorites; Change. Enjoy!



Waite continues to play across the country, and would be well worth your time should you get the chance.

1600 Anti Colonialism

A real head scratcher.

Trying to wrap your mind around the rash of horrendous decisions being made by the Obama administration rivals sloths multi tasking.

Among the disturbing actions of President Obama is the apparent disdain for the Colonial powers, particularly France and England. In addition, Obama has been very cold, is not adverse, to Israel.

Certainly, the majority of Americans, if they were not so immersed with who is being booted from American Idiot and recognized this contention, would not favor this position.

What is the mindset going on here with the President? An intellectual assessment of this position would not offer sane answers, that is unless, you were aware of some history. Specifically, the history of President Barack Obama.

Dinesh D'Souza, author of the book The Roots of Obama's Rage, joins Glenn Beck for some frank discussion of Obama's upbringing. I find this information presented compelling, and quite disturbing. Take a listen for yourself.

Obama publicly stands in support with Great Britain and Israel, but the actions, and they are plentiful and continuing, speak in volumes to the contrary. America stands with Great Britain and Israel, so if we have a anti colonialist Commander in Chief so adverse to our friends, he must be removed from office at the earliest legal opportunity.

Sarah Palin was quite correct. For a multitude of reasons, 2012 cannot come soon enough.

Sixteen is Sweet

Congratulations to Leonard Hamilton and the Florida State Seminoles basketball team in reaching the NCAA Tournament's Sweet Sixteen in convincing fashion by smothering Big East Champion Notre Dame.

Florida State is the nation's best on defense, and when they can put some offense together, as they did last night, they can defeat anyone in the tournament. Behind Bernard James (pictured left/AP Images), a proud member of the USAF, who is young in roundball years and reminds me of a poor man's James Worthy and senior Derwin Kitchen, the 'Noles may just tomahawk chop themselves to a championship!

The Company He Keeps

It has been a busy week. Did you get your brackets filled out? Get all the accommodations made made on the next of your monthly vacations? Me neither.

While the world is seemingly on fire, what with our great friends in Japan suffering unparalleled disaster and the middle east in significant turmoil, Obama got all this done. He is all Rock Talk Jayhawk to cut the nets down.

Our response to the crisis in Japan is most troubling, as is most of the significant moves made by Obama. Beyond that, however, is a much more serious matter, and that has to deal with the action undertaken in Libya. I know what you are thinking, and you are right. But there is more.

We were all scratching our heads on the apparent dithering going on as President Obama watched as Colonel Muammar Gaddafi blasted rebels in country, threatening to cleanse them. While we are not the policemen of the world, but we do expect a level of leadership from our Commander in Chief.

We were not getting that leadership in this case. Why? It is not hard to come to a conclusion. Obama may claim he is not tight with Rev. Jeremiah Wright or Louis Farrakhan, but he is, and these guys are friends with Gaddafi. So while Obama will claim publicly Gaddafi "has to go", he will sit out the affair.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was reportedly incensed by the failure of Obama to make a decision in this matter, but she knows the real story. Already this week, we have heard in the media that Hillary would have been better as President in this arena, even from Rudy Giuliani. As I have written before, tread most carefully on that score.

France, leaders in absolutely nothing but surrender over the years, took the lead under President Nikolas Sarkozy to form a coalition to enter into military action against Libya. After getting the United Nations on board, Obama had no choice but to reluctantly go along.

Now, Obama has got a whole slew of issues that extend far beyond the lack of any orchestrated plan of action in Libya. First, by not consulting the Congress, did Obama act outside his constitutional authority in attacking Libya? J. B. Williams over at American Thinker makes that case.

In fact, Obama has been very effective at operating outside of Congress, from the appointing of the Czars early in his administration to enforcing cap and trade measures through the office of the EPA.

With the military action, Obama's base of support, including Wright and Farrakhan, have issued stern rhetoric his way. Weasel Zippers has more on Farrakhan. Certainly, all the left wing moon bats and George Soros led organizations will be up in arms over such action, or is that just when George W. Bush is in office? Will they turn on him?

The real story here is Obama is not against Gaddafi as you and I are. Obama is on the side of Wright and Farrakahn, who share the same beliefs as Gaddafi. The actions of France, France mind you, put Obama in a reluctant position of acting. Otherwise, one would expect, even given our media, reasonable questions regarding his beliefs in the role of America in the world would be put forth.

The real answer to those questions is not the same answers you and I would give. Any sound thought on the subject would draw this conclusion. You can learn volumes about someone by the company they keep. With Obama, it is not E. F. Hutton, Great Britain and Japan; it is Venezuela and the likes of Gaddafi, Farrakahn and his nation of Islam, and the Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Sunday Night Song

On Saturday night at Hard Rock Orlando, Michael McDonald, formerly of The Doobie Brothers, was on hand for what surely was an outstanding show.

I was unable to attend, but I have seen him perform in the past and he does put on a good show.

For Sunday Night Song, I present one of McDonald's best, I Keep Forgettin. Enjoy!

Fight For Freedoms Future Expanding

Freedom Works has put out an excellent video describing the fight ahead of us to protect freedom for our children.



Socialists and Marxists on the left are gearing up for the fight of the ages, using deplorable tactics along the way, however sound free market principles will ultimately win the day.

The major altercation will be ugly, but freedom is not free. Neither is money, which is central to the problem.

Sunday Night Song

Another episode of Donald Trump's Celebrity Apprentice is in the books, and this week the celebrity that was fired was David Cassidy.

Cassidy was a child star as front man of The Partridge Family, who actually had a few really decent tunes. One of them is "I Think I Love You", which in December of 1970 reached number one on Billboards charts.

The song was written into an episode of The Partridge Family television show which dealt with the power of women, with Cassidy, otherwise known as Keith Partridge, on lead vocals.

Obviously, Cassidy and the family Partridge are not the confused with the great musical acts of our time, (only Cassidy and Partridge Mom Shirley Jones actually performed musically) but they do have some good tunes, and "I Think I Love You" is likely the best. Enjoy!

The Truth Hurts

Milton Friedman, economic scholar of the ages, schools Phil Donahue. This is priceless, and quite true. Have a listen:



Wabip!

Ethanol Eating Away Propserity

Does Obama want $8 gasoline?

It certainly seems that is the case. During the 2008 campaign, video surfaced of Obama commenting that under his plan, energy prices would "necessarily skyrocket". Immediately upon taking office, Obama suspended oil and gas leases previously granted by the Bush administration. The handling of the Gulf Oil spill was juvenile, and just last week the first permit was granted to begin drilling again in the area.

The administration took initiative under the financial crisis to take over car companies and dictate to them to build cars that move away from high consumption of oil and gasoline. It has not been successful, as the love affair with the automobile is another piece of American exceptionalism Obama does not recognize.

No worries though. Corn based Ethanol is here and is a significant player in reducing our energy independence of foreign countries, which will culminate in lower gas prices.

Even the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, NASCAR, is on board.



Even though NASCAR is all thrilled with themselves for being a corporate leader in going green, there are issues, and they go far beyond the high banks.

At the Daytona 500, Glenn Beck had a chance to speak with NASCAR President Mike Helton and spent time with the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. 88 Chevrolet Mountain Dew team, pole sitter for The Great American Race.

While visiting with Steve Latarte and the crew of the Dale Earnhardt, Jr. and his 88 Chevrolet team, Beck found out that the team is experiencing a 12% decrease in gas mileage in testing thus far in 2011. This does not sound good.

The government has admitted that cars built before 2007 may have issues with the gas. Maybe the only way Obama thinks he can pry us from our muscle cars is to destroy the engines with ethanol?

Furthermore, there is compelling evidence that the ethanol based gas is creating a real problem for small engines, like lawn mower and weed eaters. Although I can attest to this personally, The Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV-Channel 9, recently had a very troubling report on the impact of ethanol on these small engines.

Rather than using our own supply of oil as we turn the private sector loose on the challenge of discovering cost effective fossil fuel substitutes, we have taken to using our own food supply to fuel our thirst for oil by using corn based ethanol. Do you suspect food prices might rise in response to this development?

Indeed. While this is a welcomed development for all my Cornhusker farmer friends in Nebraska, unfortunately, rising food prices across the globe is having a rather nasty residual. One of the reasons we have seen an uprising in the middle east is due to a sharp rise in food prices in nations who already had significant economic difficulty.

Even though government is involved, could it be possible the use of ethanol has lowered oil and gas prices? Click on the chart below for a closer look to the answer you already know.

Even Van Jones, a smart left wing Communist who I rarely if ever agree with, has issues with corn based ethanol.



Certainly, taking a hard look at possible counterparts to oil is applauded, but forcing corn based ethanol down the throats of American citizens is not sound economic or moral thinking. With our economy barely standing, we cannot be so stupid as to burn up our own food supply, destroying carburetor engines and raising the costs of the food along the way, in order to quench our thirst for oil when all we have to do is Drill Baby Drill.

Or can we?

Sunday Night Song

It was yet another stellar performance Friday night at Hard Rock Live in Orlando of Classic Albums Live featuring Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. Truly among the most outstanding albums ever put together, in honor of the show tonights Sunday Night Song is cut off that album called "Go Your Own Way".