Does Shakedown Become Takedown?

According to President Obama, the economy is growing, jobs are being created with the unemployment rate decreasing and everything is just fine.  Thanks to him.

Obviously, this is Orwellian doublespeak, and nothing could be further from the truth.

The economy is growing, but at a historically small rate buoyed by exponential levels of stimulus, and the figures are certainly massaged.  Jobs are being created, but more jobs are being lost.  The unemployment rate is decreasing, because the pool of those counted continues to decline as less people are looking for work, as they recognized few job opportunities exist.  For a real gauge of the health of the American workforce, see the labor participation rate for full time workers, which is at rates not seen since the Carter administration.

Not withstanding the horrendous economic policies of the Obama administration, job killers most, perhaps the real culprit for job loss is Obamacare.  Yes, I know that Obama and his legion of handlers and yes men claim the opposite, but they have no idea what the truth is they lie so much.



Kathleen Sebelius/Washington Post

On Monday, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius was in Orlando speaking to boost enrollment in the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, and presented an enthusiastic proclamation that the job market is gaining health and that Obamacare has not been responsible for any job losses.

There is absolutely no evidence -- and every economist will tell you this -- that there is any job loss related to the Affordable Care Act. Part-time positions are actually down since 2010, not up. The number of full-time workers continues to increase, so I know that that's a popular myth that continues to be repeated, but it just is not accurate.

The administration rarely checks facts on the ground, given they make up their own statistics, but had Sebelius taken the pulse of the Orlando market in recent days, she would have seen an article on the front page of The Orlando Sentinel within the prior week discussing how a major local employer in the mortgage industry was set to layoff approximately 750 staff members, although many may remain on in part time or independent contractor status and the company adopts a hybrid workforce model.

Certainly, real estate industries, from appraisers, who were already staggering from Andrew Cuomo's brainchild of the Home Valuation Code of Conduct regulations to mortgagers, who are reeling as 63% of residential sales in December in Florida were cash sales, are in turmoil in part thanks to governmental interference in the marketplace. Homebuilder sentiment is crashing, housing starts are dreadful and mortgage applications have hit a two decade low due to what Obama and Sebelius cannot see; a horrendous economic market and a bleak job market led by their orchestration.

As a company evaluates making the painful decision to layoff workers, not a signal of a healthy enterprise, each and every factor of where costs can be saved is thoroughly examined.  While a single reason may sometimes result in corporate layoffs, perhaps the loss of a major client, it is most often a collection of issues which make the move necessary.

In this day an age, notwithstanding the idiot thugs running our federal government, Obamacare is without question a major contributing factor to the greater majority of any layoffs taking place. 

However, this may not be stated publicly.

As Chris Stirewait, A FOX News contributor reports, the thought police are in control.  It seems that in the latest unconstitutional delay of Obamacare regulations, firms will be required to certify to the IRS – under penalty of perjury – that ObamaCare was not a motivating factor in their staffing decisions.

A corporate executive who certifies and signs such a document would be committing fraud, particularly if a public company, as a fiduciary responsibility to shareholders to present all facts as known, which would be inclusive of causation for employee layoffs, exists.

So, the IRS is willingly forcing executives to commit fraud, potentially placing themselves and their company in a box without escape, illegally, in an effort to prohibit Obamacare from facing negative publicity and shield the public from he hard truths of not only this horrendous piece of legislation, but the great level of peril our economy is statused in.

Governmental thugs should not dictate to public or private companies what their correspondence to employees, clients, partners or customers should be.  Sadly, many companies who, for whatever reason have found themselves in bed with the government, find that corporate independence quickly eludes management.  GM and the banks are classic, timely examples.

America is facing a coup from within.  As promised, the fundamental transformation of America by the takeover of major industries either through legal legislation and executive orders to legal and potentially illegal intimidation to unchallenged and potentially illegal regulatory and legal action.

Controlled lawlessness with a complicit electorate and mainstream media drunk on power.

It is far time for this encroachment to be thwarted by any and all legal means necessary.  In a seemingly obvious statement, it will take more than a handful of republicans; it will require you.

Help freedom loving America stop the shakedown before it is officially scored a takedown.

Girl Power

With good reason, Richard Petty is affectionately known as The King, both for his second to none performance on the track during his career, inclusive of seven Daytona 500 wins, but due to his decades of ambassadorship for the sport of NASCAR off the track. 


Richard Petty

Off the track, Petty made sure he never missed signing an autograph for an adoring fan, and has been a help to anyone who asked for it around the garage area.

As a kid, I considered Petty, racing in his famed Petty Blue 43 STP Pontiac, a hero, and with that in mind, placed him in the inaugural Hall of BAHL class.  I have had a handful of personal experiences with King Richard, and he has always been as advertised; friendly and approachable.

As we prepare for Speedweeks 2014 at Daytona, Petty sort of stepped in this past week in negative comments he made about Danica Patrick, the only female driver on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Danica Patrick

While Danica Patrick took the high road in response to Petty's comments, many media outlets have called Petty out, even hitting him with the term sexist. 

Petty commented when asked if Patrick could win on the circuit said "only if everyone else stayed home" and that her popularity was a "female deal". Certainly, while we know Petty to be a good natured good ole boy who would not seek out an opportunity to launch personal attacks, he is off target with these comments and should be called to task on them.

In two separate stories, writers at The Orlando Sentinel sure did, with lead sports columnist Mike Bianchi calling Petty a hypocrite.

Bianchi, for once, has a point.  While Patrick is taking all the advantages that come from being the only female driver, coupled with outstanding looks, this is nothing other drivers would not do if given the chance.  As Bianchi points our, the Petty name carried a lot of weight for Kyle as his career emerged.  Others have benefited from having the "name", from Dale Earnhardt Jr to Chase Elliott.

Some drivers have their own sponsors, which get them rides they may have secured on their own driving abilities.  Paul Menard comes to mind.

None of the above mentioned drivers are poor racers.  To the contrary, but they take advantage of the cards they are dealt.  I call that capitalism, something my fellow republican Petty should well recognize.

Is Danica Patrick the second coming of Buddy Baker? Heavens no.

But is she a skilled driver who continues to practice her craft seeking to incrementally improve as she adds seat time.  While she has had issues, she did win the pole for the 2013 Daytona 500, finishing eighth in her #10 Go Daddy Chevrolet.  She gets collected in wrecks more than the average racer, but few seem to be her fault.  There are some tracks she could potentially win on, but there are 10-15 drivers in the field every race that, save restrictor plate racing, have virtually no shot to win.

2014
The Great American Race
Daytona 500

The King would have been much better off to keep these thoughts, which he is welcome to, to himself.  Petty rarely makes the wrong call around the race track, but this time, I think he did.

Maybe Petty was being a sport for NASCAR to stir up some controversy, as ticket sales continue to slump.  It would be grand if Danica pulled the Go Daddy Chevrolet for Stewart Hass Racing into victory lane on after The Great American Race on Sunday.

I will be there watching.

Harsh Hope & Change

The level of arrogance in the oval office is reaching levels where comparisons in a probing of the memory banks find no rival.

 

Each day, as the envelope gets pushed farther and farther, more are beginning to recognize we have and imperial presidency, where our citizenry finds itself coming closer everyday to becoming full fledged members of the outer party, made famous in the 1949 George Orwell book 1984.

 

This level of arrogance presents a gold mine for late night hosts, who are not Obamabots, and those with sane mind, such as Micheal Ramirez, award winning editorial cartoonist for Investors Business Daily, who recognizes the great peril our country is in, with freedom and liberty escaping our grasp on seemingly a daily basis.

Michael Ramirez/Investors Business Daily
 

“That’s the good thing as a president, I can do whatever I want.” quipped President Barack Obama on February  10, 2014 while walking with French President Hollande prior to a meeting.  On a side note, can you imagine the French president having a political positioning to the right of our president.  Me neither.

 

Many are taking notice and wondering if the executive order actions taken by President Obama are indicative of the executive office acting without benefit of congressional backing or the will of the people.  You think?

 

Juan Williams of FOX News defends the President, noting that Obama has issued less of these than previous presidents.  However, in reality, even though Obama has a pen and phone, he rarely uses executive order on big things he cannot get congressional approval for.  He simply fails to adhere to laws, changes laws, or initiates governance through arms of the government, with an example being climate change legislation through the EPA.

 

This actions are simply lawlessness and in many ways a violation of our Constitution, and if placed on the other foot, those Obamabots would be literally setting the place on fire.  However, Few on the right seem fazed.

 

Dangerous precedent is being set,  but what is puzzling is that so many of the congressional members, from both parties, find this acceptable practice.  The congress enables itself to irrelevancy in effort to promote their progressive ideals.  This goes against the founders, who thought the separate powers would always work in their own best interest, a vehicle of protection of the separation of powers.

 

George Orwell

Victor Davis Hanson penned a recent column noting America has become an Orwellian nation of Obamathink.  In fact, it is a brave new world, where the pages of not only 1984 are coming to pass, but even Orwell's Animal Farm.   It really seems surreal to think such things, but sadly, evidence suggests our governance is leading us in this direction, the intellectual elite feeling it necessary to make our decisions for us
                                                                                          
The Democrats sent their folks in office to reverse the perceived evils they saw in George W. Bush only to have them magnified exponentially. This group consists of those who are Obamabots and opponents of our capitalist system or are drunk on irrelevance and fail to recognize it. 

 

Surveillance, the national debt and federal deficit, executive orders and transparency are only a few of the items where the Dems likely cannot tell the men from the animals.  I cannot either, but I can tell the intellectual elite progressives over the principled representatives of the citizenry and their liberty and freedom.

 

Nothing is real, and we are not strolling around Strawberry Fields. President Obama runs around "campaigning" against the results of action he himself has orchestrated.  It is in fact the Limbaugh Theorem.

 

This is quite simply unsustainable.  The lies will ultimately be exposed, the truths will emerge and reality of what has taken place in the last decade will be a bitter pill for most to swallow.  The damage to America, already taking shape, will be significant. 

 

For the average American, the most likely form of this damage will be a reduction in the standard of living, far beyond what has already occurred under Obama, from a serious financial event.  Many are presently predicting such an event, coming sooner than later.

 

1984 was not supposed to be an instructional manual.  America had better wake up soon, or we may soon be living a life similar to the one Winston Smith did, which was one without freedom and hope for the future. 

That would be some harsh hope and change, wouldn't it.

Hardwood Hopes

On BAHL Revere, we rarely write about college basketball, but it was an interesting weekend on the way to the Final Four for the three teams I follow.

Florida State, who after a strong start to the season, has seen it hopes for a berth in the NCAA tourney disintegrating quickly, needing nothing short of a victory on Saturday night at Wake Forest.  Understanding the magnitude of the evening, the Seminoles got off to their usual horrendous start, falling behind 24-8.  However, FSU adopted the football team mantra of one team one heartbeat and stormed back to win 67-60.  The Seminoles still have an uphill climb to make the tourney, and it does not get any easier as North Carolina comes to Tallahassee on Monday.  But, given the big win over Wake, the Noles are still alive and can control their own destiny.

Nebraska has not any basketball success to speak of in a pair of decades, but with the beautiful new Pinnacle Bank Arena and a new coach in Tim Miles who seems to have quite a handle on things, the future looks quite bright for the young Cornhuskers.  But on Sunday, the Big Red went to East Lansing to take on ninth ranked Michigan State at Breslin Arena, a very difficult place to win for the who's who of college basketball.  Although the Spartans have been bitten by the injury bug, Nebraska led the whole way and came away with the biggest win for the Huskers in decades, a win which may provide an avenue to the NCAA tourney.  Coach Miles was an excellent hire for NU, and the light shining from that bright future may arrive earlier than previously expected.

Up in Omaha, Creighton, behind NCAA player of the year Doug McDermott, easily disposed of sixth ranked Villanova.  The Blue Jays and McDermott, the coaches son, are a wonderful story.  Behind Dougie McBuckets, the Blue Jays can score with anyone and could be a real tough out in the NCAA tournament, which they are certain to make.  It has been a real pleasure to follow the career of McDermott, who seems destined for NBA success.

High Stakes on the High Banks

Speedweeks 2014 over at The World Center of Racing has begun.

A week from today, the week culminates with the 58th running of The Great American Race, the Daytona 500.

Come getcha some!

Ship of Fools Taking Water

Seemingly on a daily basis, I find that common sense has found itself aboard a sinking ship of fools who are drowning in a sea of irrelevance.

Bombarded by nonsense from the our government and their criminally complicit partners in the media, those relegated to the outer party are left so dizzy from tales of misrepresentation they don't know if they are inside outside or upside down.

Just this week, the mind boggling propaganda embarked upon in an effort to mask truly horrible employment numbers were worthy of rave reviews, if you are a numskull.  Anybody with ten minutes of economic theory recognizes the dismal place our economy, by orchestration, is in.

Then comes the absurd.  Except, this is real.

ABC reporter Jonathan Karl, who among this horrendous group of propagandists has a fair reputation, reports today that General David Petraeus, thought to be a moderate republican, has all but endorsed Hillary Clinton for president.

Given that it was Hillary Clinton and her MoveOn.org arm who labeled Gen. Petraeus "General Betray US" back during the Iraq war, this cannot be possible in the real world.  I know politics make strange bedfellows, but that attack was, beyond completely false, a real personal low blow, even for the Clintons.

Yes, I almost have to suspend belief on this one.



Gen. Petraeus and Hillary Clinton

However, as Karl reports; Petraeus has always shied away from politics, but in a new book he is quoted lavishing so much praise on Hillary Clinton, he seems to be endorsing her as a candidate for President.

“She’d make a tremendous president,” Petraeus says in the new book “HRC” by Jonathan Allen and Aimee Parnes.

And for Petraeus, Exhibit A in why she would be a tremendous president is the very thing for which Republicans most aggressively attack Clinton: her performance as Secretary of State when the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked.

“Like a lot of great leaders, her most impressive qualities were most visible during tough times,” Petraeus tells Allen and Parnes. “In the wake of the Benghazi attacks, for example, she was extraordinarily resolute, determined, and controlled.”

Gadzooks!  Did I read that last paragraph correctly?  We may want to revisit the ABC story just to be sure, in the event we were still feeling some residual from our last visit to the local watering hole.

Oh boy. Has he lost his mind?  Perhaps Petraeus has taken up residence in The Crackerbox Palace.

We know Petraeus was doing the horizontal bop with a sporting young chick which forced him to resign his position, but what on earth do these people have on him?  Somebody go find find Sandy Berger and look through his pants for those papers he stole from the national achieves for a clue.

Few have received such high praise for doing much of nothing than Hillary Clinton.  Obama immediately comes to mind; however, sadly, he was elected president.  Twice.

Although we could speak all afternoon about the scant leadership of Ms. Clinton, nothing comes close to not only the failure of leadership which resulted in the deaths of four American patriots in Benghazi, but her cold and callous reaction to the event, complete with lying to the families of the victims and the American people, which should eliminate her from holding higher office moving forward. 

Please recall, while addressing the families and the nation as the bodies our of slain patriots returned to Andrews AFB, both President Obama and then Secretary of State Clinton lied to all by falsely blaming the Benghazi events on some stupid video nobody saw.  Truly despicable behavior.

Petraeus certainly knows this, so there is little doubt the squeeze has been put on him.  The fact that these people command this type of power, placing limits of freedom of speech through intimidation, is a threat to our republic.

Liars and bullies who represent our country in elected office who have such limited respect for those they were elected to govern should be removed from office, and certainly should not be considered as a candidate for our highest office.

Obviously, Obama and Clinton and the power brokers who represent them apparently own General Petraeus.  The groundwork is being laid for the 2016 election, which may be the last opportunity to thwart the progressive movement.

Stand in the truth, and make sure you are not for sale, for those who are short in adherence to our founding principles are not only not worthy of your allegiance, but should be considered opponents.

Bright Are The Stars That Shine

On this Sunday, fifty years ago, America changed forever.



On February 9, 1964, Ed Sullivan welcomed The Beatles to make their US television debut by performing live in the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City on The Ed Sullivan Show before what turned out to be a television audience of an unprecedented 77 million people.  The first song The Beatles played was "All My Loving".

Such a success it was, The Beatles remained at The Warwick Hotel and performed again the following Sunday, promoting their new single, "I Wanna Hold Your Hand".

The Beatles are part of the fabric of America, four talented individuals from Liverpool, perhaps divinely inspired to meet, who transformed music and inspired a collection of musical artists, many of whom comprise what has been referred to as part of the British Invasion during the mid to late sixties.

It is worth noting the innovation exhibited by this group is second to none, emerging with what many consider these days as pop music, to releasing the first real hard rock album in "The Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" and continuing to release stellar efforts individually after the breakup of the band.  Each had great success, with both John Lennon and Paul McCartney each individually releasing singles considered among the best of all time.

While many these days do not speak of The Beatles as one of their favorite bands, only musical nincompoops fail to adequately recognize their place as one of, if not the greatest, band of all time.  The greater majority of music composed by The Beatles are a brilliant, timeless collection of art, which will never be matched, particularly considering the small window of time, 1962-70, the band was together.

Without a portfolio of tunes second to none, would anyone be crazy enough to attempt to list the best Beatles songs in order?  Many have, and the variances are welcomed and no doubt personal preference.   As such. few can mount a legitimate argument against any such list.

Below is my list, a Top 25, which is mostly comprised of The Beatles early material. 

1.      In My Life
2.      While My Guitar Gently Weeps
3.      Abbey Road Medley
4.      Revolution
5.      And I Love Her



6.      I Wanna Hold Your Hand
7.      If I Fell



8.      Here There and Everywhere
9.      Tax Man
10.    Let It Be
11.    Ticket To Ride
12.    She Loves You
13.    Please Mister Postman



14.    Help
15.    Do You Wanna Know A Secret
16.    Something
17.    Nowhere Man
18.    You Can't Do That



19.    Eight Days A Week
20.    Should Have Known Better
21.    Eleanor Rigby
22.    Tell Me Why



23.    The Long And Winding Road
24.    Yesterday
25.    Things We Said Today

I love many songs left off the list, such as Twist and Shout, Drive My Car, Day Tripper, Helter Skelter, I Feel Fine, Paperback Writer, A Day in the Life, Strawberry Fields Forever, Don't Let Me Down, Penny Lane, Oh Darling and Please Please Me. 

In an unspeakable tragedy, John Lennon was murdered in New York City on December 8, 1980, shortly after emerging with a very strong comeback album, Double Fantasy.  Most of America found out the horrible news from ABC's Howard Cosell, broadcasting an NFL Monday Night Football game with the New England Patriots visiting the Miami Dolphins. Lennon's talent was immense.  George Harrison sadly died in 2001 of lung cancer at only 58 years of age.  Ringo Starr, who had the first individual hit to reach #1, is doing very well and traveling around performing with his  All Star Band.  Always great to see Ringo and that infectious smile of his.  Peace and Love!  Paul McCartney is still performing, selling our venues all over the world.  The individual efforts of McCartney, beginning with his early work with Wings, continues to cast in stone his place as simply the greatest singer songwriter of all time.

This Sunday evening, 50 years to the day, CBS will broadcast a special event, The Night That Changed America, a Grammy Salute to The Beatles.  It should be mandatory viewing.



Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr

Bright are the stars that shine.



And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the love, you make!

God Bless The Gipper

On this day, February 6, 2014, Ronald Reagan would have been 103 if still living.

An inspirational figure, few exhibited examples of leadership, faith, courage and compassion quite like Ronald Reagan, our beloved 40th president.

A speech, or thoughtful address, A Time for Choosing, made by Ronald Reagan made in October of 1964 in support of the presidential candidacy of Barry Goldwater, R:AZ, is among my all time favorites, containing examples of principles which are timely today.

Please see the following excerpt from the A Time for Choosing speech.



Peace through strength was not only applicable in military terms. Strength through adhering to founding principles helps dictate the destiny of man. It is our Rendezvous with Destiny.

Happy Birthday President Reagan!  We sure do miss you.

Executive Lawlessness

Executive Lawlessness is where we are as a republic in 2014, with our elected president operating outside the parameters of the funding principles of our nation; our rule of law.

We are a nation of laws, not of men, and unless this corrected quickly, the future of our once great nation is in great peril.

With our current president, the first indication of his imperial behavior began with the awarding of stimulus finding to the car companies, shafting the bond holders for the benefit of unions breaking long standing contract law, and authority he does not have.  Sadly, none of those with the power to restrain this illegal action took action to thwart it.

There are numerous instances of the executive branch targeting political opponents. Among those that quickly come to mind are the following:

*The administration going went hard after Gibson Guitar over a small issue involving wood importation that was never before found troublesome.  Gibson continues to fight back, and is actually scoring some points.

*Federal investigators raided Lumber Liquidators, LL:NYSE,  with the search said to involve special agents from the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of Justice. It was suggested the investigation involved its importation of wood products.

*Under the EPA, the administration has embarked on major land grabs without congressional approval.  In addition, extensive action under the false premise of Global Climate Change has been enacted on the citizenry, again, without congressional approval

*The utilization of the IRS by the administration to target conservative organizations through illegal mechanisms hoping to ridicule, hassle and bankrupt, or significantly harm financially, through regulatory action, both legal and illegal.

*Reports have come to light  that Friends of Abe, a conservative group in Hollywood, has been under investigation by the IRS for over two years, underscoring how the bad the environment is for those who dare to challenge the administration.

With the election in full swing, Obama chief advisor Valerie Jarrett publicly claimed she would go after opponents of the administration.  Without fear of being held accountable for such illegal action, the administration has kept its word.

Recently, an indictment was handed down on filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza for campaign fraud.  D'Souza produced an acclaimed movie,  2016; Obama's America, which was not looked upon favorably by the administration, so this is not viewed as coincidence, rather politcal payback. Because of that, D'Souza had to be stopped; hence the felony indictment, which accuses D'Souza of making improper campaign donations.  While I find the work D'Souza has performed as extremely credible, character issues not unlike those of many Americans regarding D'Souza have surfaced, which likely were partially to blame for his recent resignation as president of Kings College in New York. Given the work D'Souza was engaged in, he should have been recognized the need to keep his life clean and more cognizant of the moving targets of campaign finance laws.

If they want to get, they can find a legal avenue to get it done, particularly under the IRS regulations and laws.  Even it your are ultimately found innocent, the financial cost to defend can be staggering, not to mention unmeasurable potentially punitive damage to your or your organizations reputation.

These are just examples of an imperial president who finds Congress a bother, and as an arrogant leader of the political ruling class, governs through executive order against the will of the people, the latter evidenced by the overwhelming unpopularity of the much maligned Obamacare.

While political opponents of Obama are under attack, violators of the the law, seemingly no matter how significant, are not held accountable, not only to the administration, but to our laws. Lois Lerner got promoted after the IRS debacle, but in a travesty of justice, former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, who commingled funds and lost customer in foreign currency arbitrage, walks double fisted in the Hamptons after perjuring himself in kabuki theater hearings in Washington.

Charles Krauthammer has had enough, and eloquently hammered Obama in a FOX News essay.  Please take a listen:



While Krauthhammer is completely correct, the problem is regrettably far deeper than the discussion with Dr. Krauthammer and Judge Andrew Napolitano waded.

What is most concerning are the amount of elected officials who appear to knowingly sanction the executive branch rendering the other branches of government essentially either intimidated pawns or or toothless adversaries.  With the balances of power under attack, there is little doubt the Founding Fathers would be appalled at this spectacle of executive arrogance and congressional complicity and or ineptitude.

Senator Ted Cruz, R:TX, who historically has fought for the Constitution against any and all who seek to execute outside its parameters, joined Glenn Beck this morning for an extremely relevant and timely discussion on the absence of rule of law under the Obama administration.  Please take a listen:
The issues surrounding Obama and his imperial presidency, the abuse of power and executive lawlessness are staggering, and are an imminent threat to the survival of our country.  Abuse of power in this regard should be swiftly dealt with by the people, no matter which party it happens under, evidenced by Sen. Cruz defeating President George W. Bush in court.

Although President Obama was reelected, if the public were able to decipher all the lies misrepresentation he put forth, coupled with extensive abuses of power, there is little doubt he would currently be president.

The principles given us in our founding documents are those we are governed by, not by the whims of an arrogant leader who aims to implement the dreams of his father against the will of our citizenry.

The rule of law is on life support, if not already dea. Sadly, few seem to care, and the executive lawlessness continues.

Prognostication Peek

I have a love for the game of college football, and annually, I have produced Top 25 polls from the preseason to the post season.

These polls, in recent years, have been presented on the BAHL Revere blog.  At some point in the future, they will be presented on a different platform, which will be made clear for those following here on BAHL Revere.

In the past, contests have been won and articles have been written about the success of these polls.  Sadly, I have not parlayed that into any monetary game, and embarrassment for the capitalist I am.

This year, we tested how our poll, presented as  The Color & Pageantry, fared against others who offered a glimpse into gridiron futures. 

Polls were scored with each losing points due to how far a team finished away from where the pollster predicted they would finish.  Positive points were to be assessed for anyone who correctly predicted the nation champion, which no one did.  Low score wins.

The following are the results:

1     The Color & Pageantry, -263
2.    Sports Illustrated, -269
3.    Lindy's, -276
4.    College Football News, -282
       Associated Press, -282
6.    USA Today, -284
7.    The Sporting News, -285
8.    ESPN, -289
9.    Athlons, -289
10.  About.com, -297
11.  Phil Steele, -299

Phil Steele had national champion Florida State rated the highest, third, with The Color & Pageantry next having the Seminoles seventh, even though this is my Alma mater.  Steele's last place finish is somewhat misleading, with high rankings for USC, Oklahoma State and Virgina Tech digging too deep a hole for him to overcome.

None of the polls had Auburn ranked, nor Missouri or Central Florida.  Schools that hurt most pollsters were Nebraska, Southern Cal, Michigan and Texas.  Boise State and Texas Christian were ranked in the top 15 by a handful, which really hurt.

So there you have it.  With zero fanfare, The Color & Pageantry gave you the closest preseason poll for 2013.  I enjoy the work of each of these competitors, and the analysis was done with respect.

The color and pageantry, passion and competitive spirit of college football make it America's best game, and we eagerly await its return as Labor Day approaches.