BAHL's Blog

Slow Creep of Socialized Medicine

2012-01-28T20:34:00.016-05:00

In the past, way back, like a year ago, both Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich, were supporters of a mandate to force the purchase of individual health care. Pam Bondi, Attorney General of Florida, expresses how Mitt Romney will implement a state run system of mandated health care. Take a listen:
While many claim to be Reaganites, especially Gingrich, back in the early 60's Reagan stood firm against the slow creep of socialism through individual health care mandates. Take a listen:

Romney does not claim any association with Reagan, problematic to be sure. Gingrich did carry buckets of water during Reagan's presidency, but unfortunately, he has been for the health care mandate for over 20 years.

Free market capitalism is in favor of the private sector providing such health care options. Where there is demand, there will be supply, with risk appropriately measured and priced into the yield curve.

AP reports Rick Santorum is tired and back in Pennsylvania for the Florida primary. Too bad, since he has been outspoken against the implementation of socialized medicine.

Florida voters, it is time to send a big message. Join me in doing so!

A Sleeping Lion

2012-01-27T16:49:00.009-05:00

The Florida primary is Tuesday, and once again, I will be choosing from a less than desirable list of candidates.

Among the four left, I find the choice to be clear, selecting a conservative with fiscal discipline and a comprehensive command of the global war on terror, and that choice is Rick Santorum.

Unlike Gingrich or Romney, Santorum is not a supporter of national health care and global warming, the two main vehicles for the transformation of wealth. Implementing policy regarding these two items will further lead our country to socialism.

Santorum is the limited government candidate and has a superior understanding of the grave dangers we face in the middle east to that of the other candidates.

I can think of many preferable candidates to Santorum, but they are not on my ballot. But among those on the ballot, my choice is the Nittany Lion from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum.

Debt, Despair & Dishonesty

2012-01-24T20:30:00.008-05:00

Tonight, President Obama gives what God willing is his final State of the Union address.

Early reports suggests the speech will attack the Republican "obstructionists", even though America voted in a historic mid term election to stop him from causing further destruction.

Somewhat shockingly, FOX & Friends this morning aired the following report card on the real State of the Union:

Numbers can sometimes tell different stories, but the facts are overwhelming that the Obama administration has been a catastrophic failure for those who seek free market capitalism and honor our Constitution. Under his regime, appropriately titled as his team of Czars operate outside of voter accountability, the term has been filled with unemployment, underemployment, crony capitalism, disappointment, debt, despair, and sadly, dishonesty.

Only an insane electorate could potentially re-elect Obama and his Marxist regime, who are hell bent on managing our historical decline, and road to socialism, from the golf course.

Technocratic Foul

2012-01-24T20:13:00.001-05:00

Although an untold number of pundits and the mainstream media have echoed in song the European crisis is behind us, nothing could be further from the truth. Just yesterday, while three big French banks were being downgraded, a deal reached by the Greek Government and its private creditors has been rejected by Eurozone finance ministers. Today, IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde called for a larger bailout fund for the European Central bank to work with to prohibit "disastrous implications for systemic stability.”

As distressing as it is that foreign markets have deteriorated to such levels, more troubling is the idea that all this has been orchestrated. Orchestrated to collapse monetary systems into a global structure, perhaps headed by the IMF.

Sound far fetched?

Romano Prodi, former Goldman Sachs consultant, creator of the Euro and former EU Commission President, offered the following comment in December of 2001.

"I am sure the Euro will oblige us to introduce a new set of economic policy instruments. It is politically impossible to propose that now. But some day there will be a crisis and new instruments will be created.”

Europe is in full financial crisis as we speak, and those in control of the purse strings make demands of member nations, which at best decreases their sovereignty. Nigel Farage has been calling out these folks for a few years now, and he was at it again last November.

Should a new economic system come to fruition and a new structure take over, it will be based on the collective, or Communism. Unfortunately, as the must read blog Zero Hedge reports, this may be beginning in Italy, who is on the verge of collapse. Glenn Beck has more:

Although the media is complicit in the events of the day, you likely do not come across the very strange stories taking place on a daily basis. Technocrats are running the show, but not only in Europe. In the form of Obama's cast of Czars, we have technocrats orchestrating policy here in America as we speak, led by Cass Sunstein.

For some examples, recall the shafting of the auto maker bond holders, and more recently, the investors left holding the bag at MF Global. Central to this is the Federal Reserve, who as First Principles Capital Management CEO Doug Dachille contends, has taken over the casino. In short, wealth is being transferred, without your consent.

Those in favor of globalization, and President Barack Obama has long been associated with these folks, are working hard to destabilize and collapse the economic system of America, Cloward and Piven style. Who with any sanity would manage increasing debt levels of north of 15 trillion? That more than defines unsustainable.

Kevin Freeman, CEO of the Freeman Global Investment Counsel and author of the new bestseller "Secret Weapon," recently spoke with Glenn Beck about his contention of how the 2008 crash came to pass. Please take time to listen to this compelling information:

Each of the players are still quite active, and Freeman points out we are in the midst of the third and final stage. The re-election of President Obama would allow him to escalate the collapse where a European style structure will be waiting to take over. Through his actions and grand thoughts of himself, it is obvious Obama would love to be Dictator in Chief. Even is he is defeated, the job of reversing the direction will be very tough, as players on both sides are participatory in this effort.

Should a major crisis occur, most will be longing for government assistance, assistance the government will be all to willing to give, free market capitalism will pay a heavy price. The price to paid is a monumental loss of individual liberty and freedom, something those preaching the collective, such as shared sacrifice, are aiming to restrict if not eliminate.

The salvation of the state is the watchfulness in its citizen, provided the citizen has the power granted by our Founding Fathers and the US Constitution. Don't let the technocrats take it away. Should it happen, no technocrats will call a technical foul. The game, the grand experiment, our Gift, will be over.

If Only

2012-01-22T11:02:00.009-05:00

Former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, the winningest college football coach of all time, has died. Paterno, entrenched in Happy Valley having spent seven decades coaching the Lions, was recently fired in the aftermath of a horrendous child sex scandal which erupted at Penn State, with longtime Paterno assistant Jerry Sandusky having been arrested on over 40 counts.

Similar to Bear Bryant, who died within a month after retiring in 1983, it seemed obvious that the toll of the scandal, combined with his age and failing health, Paterno would not live much longer. The iconic coach had his reputation damaged significantly, and he was forced to exit the game he loved with his beloved university under extreme duress. One would have to conclude he died broken hearted over how these tragic events have destroyed lives and severely tainted Penn State University.

An immeasurable tragedy which continues to claim victims. If only those who had a chance, including Paterno, would have taken action. If only.

Traders Handcuffed By Regulators

2012-01-19T18:30:00.007-05:00

Governmental regulation, much of it coming from the horrendous Dodd-Frank bill, is an unwelcome participant in the marketplace, making it much harder for investors and traders to make money.

Forecast are increasingly difficult, as random governmental interaction and artificial interference curtails investment opportunities. Risk is central to an efficient market, and regulations to eliminate risk cause inefficiencies and reduce potential profits for those who can accurately measure risk.

Doug Dachille, CEO of First Principles Capital Management, was the guest host on Squawk Box last week and explains the difficulty traders are facing:

SOPA and PIPA Internet Cloaking Device

2012-01-18T17:33:00.010-05:00

Under the premise of protecting America's copyrighted material from being stolen, two bills are now before Congress that would give the government the ability to censor prospective violators. The bills, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, as they are presented, seem innocent enough as everyone wants intellectual property protected.

GOP South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, one of the good guys, is in opposition. “I support intellectual property rights, but I oppose SOPA & PIPA,” DeMint wrote in a tweet. “They’re misguided bills that will cause more harm than good.”

I fear DeMint may not be aware of the ultimate intent of these measures, which will seize a large chunk of our freedom. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett has always said he will not invest in any company where he does not understand their business model. I understand the business model, and it is nefarious, as is most governmental interaction in regulating the citizenry.

One of the many Czars appointed by President of Obama, who operate outside of congressional oversight, is Marc Lloyd. Lloyd, a disciple of Saul Alinsky, is The FCC Diversity in Chief, and he believes that State control over the media is a necessary vehicle for the social change, or transformation of America, that President Obama seeks. In this video, made before Obama was elected, Lloyd discusses his admiration for "the incredible "Democratic" revolution in Venezuela" under Hugo Chavez where media reform helped implement social change. Social change in the form of a dictatorship. Take a listen, and if you are unfamiliar with Lloyd, sit down first:

With countless examples, this administration is operating outside of our system of checks and balances, seemingly in an effort to match Venezuela in the formation of a Dictatorship. It is clear an imperial presidency is being formed:

This administration should not be trusted, and a line in the sand needs to be drawn on all future regulatory actions put forth for your supposed benefit. Obama will not let any crisis go to waste. In the case of an emergency, when those in charge step forward for your benefit, act in opposition.

Regulations are being implemented as seemingly common sense initiatives that are stealing your freedom. A structure is being built, and when you recognize it, America as you know it will a distant memory, and it will be too late to stop the "Democratic Revolution" Lloyd spoke of.

Join us in calling your Representatives and demanding the government cease the proposed invasive regulations on the free speech of the citizenry via the Internet.

Future Financial Mayhem

2012-01-16T18:47:00.015-05:00

You may not recognize it, but you are being lied to.

For an example, which is a full assault on your wallet, look no further than the monetization of the debt, which Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said would not happen. Well, Investors Business Daily reports that the FED is readying for more stimulus. Perplexing for sure, given the failed results of previous quantitative easing, QE1 and QE2. Printing money decreases asset value, which surely will not be of assistance the millions of homeowners underwater.

Media outlets report that the economy is growing and jobs are being created, as evidenced by the unemployment number presented by the federal government. If that is true, it would not be necessary for the FED to engage in QE3.

Speaking of the FED, something has gone terribly wrong over the last few years. The FED is the lender of last resort and is charged with conducting monetary policy. Historically, Presidents have had little power over the FED, with the FED operating outside of executive branch influence, the exception being appointments to the boards and appointing the Charmian, if necessary.

Although the FED is by far the most powerful governmental agency, there is little regulatory oversight over its activities. Somewhere recently, particularly under President Obama, The FED seems to be carrying water for the administration and assisting in the implementation of policy. This is very troubling, particularly when the leader of the executive branch is not a free market capitalist.

Recent actions by the FED, seeming to begin with TARP, have broken tendencies and are raising concerns on both sides of the aisle. The creation of the conditions that allowed MF Global to take place is a recent example of the now problematic status of the FED, and how you are being lied to.

For a brilliant explanation, please see First Principles Capital Management CEO Doug Dachille at the Yale School of Management last December:

The government, using the FED through regulatory influence and intervention, is now choosing winners and losers. Although Fannie and Freddie are still in operation, it is the FED behind the curtain who is crowding banks out of the mortgage origination market and setting unreasonable credit requirements. As Dachille points, out, life insurance companies are being squeezed, and Sallie Mae has been taken over and private lending has been crowded out.

With MF Global, customer accounts were not protected. They were stolen to pay major players. Again, as Dachille discusses, with the suffocating Dodd-Frank bill, you might think customer accounts might be protected. If the regulators are charged with one thing, it would be to protect the integrity of the system, the trust that customer accounts not participating in risk taking activity are not hypothecated and can be made whole in a timely fashion.

This did not happen at MF Global, and due to the lack of trust in the markets sure to emerge because of this, bad things are on the horizon. If this can happen at MF Global, it can happen at any firm housing investments. A customer obviously has no control over hypothecation by these firms and therefore cannot be guaranteed a return of the investment should the firm be severely compromised or fail.

Beginning with the shafting of the bondholders of the automakers, the rule of law and trust of the marketplace, integral for the survival of a free market capitalist system, has been violated. You are being lied when government officials and the media inform you that everything is fine.

Until the rule of law is reestablished, the government becomes a bystander and the FED resumes normal open market operations, the market place is compromised and for you to be participatory in it, Caveat Emptor.

What The Hell Are You Doing?

2012-01-15T11:03:00.020-05:00

Obtaining absorption of the weekly news cycle is nothing short of head scratching these days, with all the absolute non sense taking place across the fruited plain. However, it is particularly distressing when it includes folks have been thought to be operating from a common sense perspective. This week, we had three big eye brow raisers, and in response, we quote America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani; What The Hell Are You Doing?

Hey Newt Gingrich, what the hell are you doing?

Mitt Romney seems to be increasing his foothold on securing the GOP nomination after victories in Iowa and New Hampshire, so in seeming desperate acts, Newt Gingrich unleashed a barrage of attacks on Romney and the action of the firm he helped found, Bain & Company, a venture capitalist firm. While there are several legitimate avenues of attack on Mitt, Gingrich choose to hit Bain and the business practices of venture capitalist firms as evil, job killers and something Americans despise.

Rudy Giuliani, joining Steve Doocy, Alisyn Camerota and Eric Boling on Fox & Friends, is far from amused. Take a listen:

As sad as that is, particularly from "the smartest guy in the room", Texas Governor Rick Perry felt compelled to join in, calling Bain a "vulture" capitalist firm. Come again?

Hey Rick Perry, what the hell are you doing?

Venture capitalist firms like Bain are integral to our capitalist system and free market enterprise. For mid sized firms that are losing their way, venture capitalist firms, typically invited in by shareholders, provide guidance, operational expertise, asset management and capital, generally for a piece of the company in an effort to help the company survive and thrive.

It is a risky venture, with marginal success rates. However, when successful, payoffs can be huge. Not just for the venture capital firm, but for the company, the employees, shareholders and in most cases, the communities which house the business operations. For Bain, companies like Staples, Clear Channel and The Sports Authority are three Bain Capital success stories.

Within 20 miles of my office, these three companies alone employ an estimated 500 people, who need places to live, work and play, which is most beneficial to the economy here in Orlando.

Bain Capital and similar firms should be appreciated for playing a vital role in helping assist in the expansion of commerce, which is vital for a capitalist system to bear fruit. Gingrich and Perry should be well aware of this, and should be called out for taking the approach of the socialist Democrats in railing against capitalism and free markets. I just did.

Hey Mitt Romney, what the hell are you doing?

In the aftermath a big victory in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney gave an outstanding victory speech, hitting all the chords conservatives are longing to hear. If we could trust this is what we would get with a Romney presidency, I think everyone would be on board. We cannot, as the very next day, Romney offered the following:

In the general election I’ll be pointing out that the president took the reins at General Motors and Chrysler – closed factories, closed dealerships laid off thousands and thousands of workers – he did it to try to save the business.

Obama violated countless free market principles in "saving" General Motors and Chrysler, most notably in the shafting the bondholders and closing down of dealerships with ties to the Republican party. The interference in the marketplace by Obama, exhibiting crony capitalism by picking winners and using tax payer funds to benefit friends and campaign supporters, are actions to be strongly condemned, not celebrated. Rush Limbaugh appropriately hammered Romney on his remarks.

Hey Haley Barbour, what the hell are you doing?

I do not know where the "tradition" of pardoning folks after a term in office came from, but I do not find a compelling reason to continue it. Certainly, there would be cases where such an action is warranted, and that is fine. One of the most celebrated cases came with Bill Clinton pardoning Marc Rich, which I find an error.

Unfortunately, this practice is not confined to Democrats. Enter Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour. Barbour has done a very good job as Governor of Mississippi, and was considered a potential GOP presidential candidate. As he concluded his term, he pardons several individuals that need to remain behind bars.

Media outlets have outlined the cases of a handful of these folks, and a Judge has blocked the release of those still incarcerated.

Although Barbour is "very comfortable" in his decision, I am very comfortable in finding him in gross error and condemning his action. Based upon actions such as this, the practice of knee jerk pardoning bus loads of criminals should cease. If these folks cannot do the time, they should not have committed the crime.

Perhaps common sense will re-assert itself this week, but I doubt it.

2012 Final Top 25

2012-01-10T18:23:00.017-05:00

College Football

Top 25

1. Alabama, 12-1, 3
2. Louisiana State, 13-1, 1
3. Oklahoma State, 12-1, 2
4. Arkansas, 11-2, 4
5. Stanford, 11-2, 5
6. Southern Cal, 10-2, 7
7. Oregon, 11-2, 9
8. South Carolina, 11-2, 10
9. Wisconsin, 11-3, 6
10. Michigan State, 11-3, 11
11. Boise State, 12-1, 12
12. Kansas State, 10-3, 8
13. Michigan, 11-2, 13
14. Texas Christian, 11-2, 15
15. Baylor, 10-3, 16
16. Oklahoma, 10-3, 17
17. Houston, 13-1, 24
18. West Virginia, 10-3, NR
19. Georgia, 10-4, 20
20. Virginia Tech, 11-3, 19
21. Florida State, 9-4, 23
22. Nebraska, 9-4, 18
23. Southern Miss, 12-2, 22
24. Clemson, 10-4, 14
25. Notre Dame, 8-5, 21

OUT: Penn State (25)

VOTES: Missouri, Auburn, Virginia, Cincinnati, Texas, Texas A&M, Rutgers, Penn State, Washington, Mississippi State, Florida and BYU.

Mark Barron and the Crimson Tide defense suffocated Jordan Jefferson and the Tiger offense all night en route to a 21-0 National Title victory at the Lousiana Mercedes Benz Superdome.
PHOTO:Dave Martin/AP

I have always been a fan of Les Miles, but outcoached would be putting it nicely for the performance put in by LSU last night in getting dominated by Alabama. The Bengal Tiger defense was stout almost all night, but LSU had no answer for the swarming Tide defensive unit. Jordan Jefferson was horrendous, very primative in running the option as ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit accurately pointed out. He could not hit open receivers, had no command of the pocket and semmingly yelled at teammates after making mistakes. Jarrett Lee anyone? Miles should have played Lee in the first half no matter what, then without question should have given him the ball in the third. Contraty to many, I love these defensive struggles, but it became clear fairly early LSU was dead in the water on offense. In the end, another title for Sweet Home Alabama. RTR!

With all the talent on hand and with Larry Fedora taking over as head coach (a good hire by the way), you would think the players at UNC would show up for the bowl game to show off their talents to the new coach. You would be wrong....As if the annual embarrassment for the ACC is not enough, Clemson went out and gave up 70 to West Virginia, as the Mountaineers broke a slew of records, including Tavon Austin tying JR Superstar's (Johnny Rodgers) record for total individual touchdowns. Clemson DC Kevin Steele is a good man and a good coach, so who knows what happened here, but you simply have no business giving up, did I mention 70, in the Orange Bowl....Several great bowl games, including Baylor beating Washington 67-56 as Heisman winner RGIII showcased, Michigan dumping VT in overtime and Okie State beating Stanford in OT....The Gators found ways to score, and dumped Ohio State in the Urban Decay versus Urban Renewal bowl...Arizona State hired Todd Graham from Pitt, which does not look like a good move. Graham has Mayflower Van Lines on speed dial,but then again, who would not want to run from Steve Pederson, the debacle of an AD who ruined Nebraska and is now trashing Pitt. Pittsburgh area sports writers are not amused, and SMU spanked them......Auburn destroyed Virginia, and although the Tigers lost both coordinators, they may be back on the rise quick. DC Ted Roof went to UCF(?) while Gus Malzahn, who turned down 3 million at Vanderbilt a year ago, is at Arkansas State for $850,000 a year. I am scratching my head, how about you? Could the ramblings of Malzans wife have played a role. Not sure, but she should not speaking publicly......Georgia squandered a 16-0 lead and fell to Michigan State as their kicking game failed them... Oregon and Wisconsin played a great Rose Bowl with the Quack Attack winning.....Penn State hired a no name Coach from outside program, torquing many Lion faithful. They needed to go outside the program I think, but I doubt this guy is the answer as this is no quick fix. Meanwhile, Houston pummeled the Lions puching a ticket in the Ticket City Bowl....Arkansas flexed some muscle, controlling a good K-State team. If only they did not face LSU and Alabama.

Banking Shore Leave

2012-01-08T14:11:00.011-05:00

For those out working every day to stay afloat, a review of the daily news put forth by the drive by media reveals an economy slowly emerging from stability, albeit with anemic growth. The worst is over. Everything is fine, nothing to see here.

But if you look closely at what is really happening, there is major economic trouble lurking about all over the place. Much of the focus has been on Europe, as they struggle to escape a collapse. A European collapse would certainly be a major problem for US financial markets, which are in real trouble.

In particular trouble are the banks. As has been noted repeatedly, banks are borrowing at next to free from The FED and can lend to customers at approximately 5%, which would command high profit levels. But little lending is taking place, as lending for the housing market is extremely difficult to command, credit lines are evaporating and small business loans are rare. In fact, now loans to small business are being called.

The Los Angeles Times details a story of a small business owner having his loan called by Bank of America. He has the option of paying it off or restructuring at a new increased rate. Fox Business Network's Gerri Willis discusses this situation.

What motivation would the banks have to alienate customers in this fashion? Well, there are much bigger issues the banks are facing, and Economist David McAlvany outlines the problems to FOX Business's David Asman. Take a listen:

Under extreme duress, at what level will the banks stop in attempting to call loans and restructure loans not called at substantially higher interest rates? Most people are barely surviving now, so restructuring of this kind will bankrupt many with the banks seizing whatever assets they can. Seems far fetched I know, but did it just happen in the MF Global saga?

Ann Barnhardt thinks so. Barnhardt joins Warren Pollock to discuss this situation and what may be coming.

While portions of the forecasting going on may be worst case scenarios, it is clear that the economic standing of Uncle Sam is not on sound footing. Contract law is being broken, as evidenced by the auto bondholders, and the transformation of wealth (theft) is taking place. Banks are attacking customers, and the raising of credit card interest rates is a small example.

It is going to be an interesting time as we move through the 2012 election, and you should take steps now to secure your financial footing if possible. Should Obama, who has demonstrated his disdain for the rules set forth by our Constitution by his eagerness to bypass Congress to implement his ideas, be re-elected, a top down governmental dictatorship may be our future.

It will be the end of America as you once knew it; no longer a nation of laws, but a nation of men.

Boo Pelini

2012-01-02T20:25:00.030-05:00

The Nebraska Cornhuskers made their first trip to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl since losing to national champion Georgia Tech 45-21 in 1990. Steve Spurrier and South Carolina from the SEC was the opponent.

Nebraska Dave and I were knee deep in pregame fanfare.

Nebraska began the game strong, scoring on the opening possession and held a 13-9 lead in the fist quarter. Although South Carolina was tough, particularly on the defensive front, the game was there for the taking.

Then came the all too familiar implosion. After fumbling at the Gamecock five heading in for a touchdown, South Carolina uncorked a bomb which resulted in a score. Then prior to the half, a Hail Mary catch made by All America receiver Alshon Jeffrey resulted in a touchdown and BOOM, the 'Huskers were down 16-13.

Nebraska moved the ball deep into Gamecock territory on each of their first four second half possessions but came away with 0 points. If you want to learn how to lose a football game, pull out this game film. Penalties, miscues, missed field goals and turnovers.

Meanwhile, with Pelini wearing out yet another poor officiating crew, South Carolina was executing their game plan. Appropriately, the Nebraska papers had some extensive commentary on this subject. So did Nebraska Dave; Boo Pelini.

The Big Red gave South Carolina every opportunity to seize control of the game, and the Gamecocks were all too happy to oblige. While the Internet was quick to throw Taylor Martinez under the bus for this loss, this is not his fault. Nebraska more than matched South Carolina in speed and there were a handful of painful drops of well placed passes, but the Cornhusker offensive line faltered down the stretch against a very strong SC defensive front which limited the offensive options. This has been an area of concern for a few years now.

The 'Huskers did not appear to be well coached for this game on either side of the ball. With the O-line getting whipped, rolling out Martinez would have been nice, as would a screen pass or three. The Blackshirts rarely applied significant pressure on an average signal caller, allowing him to hit his fleet footed receivers.

Word on the street was that Pelini was less than corrigible at the team hotel to some of those who made the trip in this horrendous economy. Combine that with performances like we saw in the Capital One Bowl, he may not be long for Lincoln.

The offense should be good in 2012, but the defense, not a bright spot in 2011, suffers heavy losses including Lavonte David, who will be impossible to replace. It is hard to imagine the 2012 Conrhuskers in the Rose Bowl, much less the national title picture.

Maybe the staff should focus on the little things, like solving on the field discipline issues, including mental collapses and penalties.

What's left in our wallet? Nothing.

Irish Tomahawked

2012-01-02T20:25:00.014-05:00

It was a sold out Champs Bowl as the Florida State Seminoles took on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on a beautiful evening in downtown Orlando.

For three quarters, the Seminoles played downright offensive offensive football, picking up right where they left off against Florida. Fumbling immediately out of the gate for a Notre Dame touchdown, the Seminoles had to come from behind.

But the Seminoles hung in defensively, and as the fourth quarter began started generating some offense and won the game 18-14. A few passes to Rahsad Greene led the way.

Florida State needed this game, and this win over a quality opponent in Notre Dame gives the team confidence for the 2012 season. The Seminoles will have a veteran team, and if issues on the offensive line can be corrected, anything short of a top ten finish would be a major disappointment.

Go Big Red

2012-01-01T20:16:00.005-05:00

Live and compete by the code.

There Is No Place Like Nebraska, in Florida.

GO BIG RED!!

Capital One Bowl Cornhusker Fanfare

2011-12-31T20:33:00.005-05:00

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!

Seminole Uprising

2011-12-28T20:57:00.006-05:00

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!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-24T14:41:00.005-05:00

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!

Crony Corruption Could Collapse America

2011-12-20T19:57:00.017-05:00

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.

The Howling Winds

2011-12-20T19:40:00.005-05:00

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 Night Song

2011-12-18T20:54:00.005-05:00

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!

Information Misrepresentation: Obama

2011-12-17T19:20:00.012-05:00

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.

Pony Up

2011-12-17T13:58:00.009-05:00

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:

Guard Against Gingrich As Gatekeeper

2011-12-15T19:38:00.010-05:00

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.

Information Misrepresentation: Appraisals

2011-12-13T19:05:00.016-05:00

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."

2011 All America Team

2011-12-10T19:00:00.009-05:00

2011 All America Team

OFFENSE

WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State
6'1, 220 JR, Ardmore, OK (Plainview)

WR Robert Woods, Southern California
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)

OL Barrett Jones, Alabama
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

KR Tyrann Mathieu, Louisiana State,

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)

Crashing Dreams Nationwide

2011-12-07T19:13:00.009-05:00

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.

Manufacturing Malaise

2011-12-06T18:55:00.013-05:00

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.

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.

Top 25

2011-12-04T13:29:00.009-05:00

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.

Nelson Lost in Space

2011-11-30T18:24:00.006-05:00

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.

The Inconsiderate Man

2011-11-29T23:01:00.006-05:00

We should not have been surprised to learn today that President Obama's approval numbers have now fallen below our national error, Jimmy Carter.

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:

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.

Top 25

2011-11-27T11:16:00.008-05:00

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.

Find Light As Darkness Approaches

2011-11-25T10:53:00.016-05:00

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 o rchestrated 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!

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-23T21:33:00.004-05:00

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!

The Long Knives

2011-11-21T19:30:00.012-05:00

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

2011-11-21T17:09:00.005-05:00

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.

Smoke Stands On It!

2011-11-20T20:51:00.006-05:00

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!

Top 25

2011-11-20T10:59:00.005-05:00

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.

Gene Gene The Dancing Machine

2011-11-18T22:08:00.009-05:00

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!

Jail The Looters

2011-11-16T17:46:00.013-05:00

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.

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.

Top 25

2011-11-13T14:13:00.009-05:00

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!

Cage The Lions in Jail

2011-11-07T17:13:00.009-05:00

Over the weekend, word got out on a developing story regarding the Penn State football program. I wish we were talking about play for pay, booster cash, ineligible players or academic fraud, etc. We are not. Unfortunately, this story, despicable in every aspect, involves a betrayal of moral behavior we hold dear, the innocence and protection of our children.

Former Nittany Lion Defensive Coordinator Jerry Sandusky has been indicted on felony sex abuse charges involving minors, with the indictment covering 40 counts. Sadly, the activities of Sandusky have been going on for quite some time.

Sandusky retired from Penn State in 1999, and now we know this was in the aftermath of an incident involving potential child sex abuse. Sandusky, who wrote an autobiography titled "Touched", kept an office at Penn State to run his "The Second Mile" Children's Charity.

As information comes to light on the events that led up to Sandusky's arrest, it appears administration officials at Penn State at a minimum failed to recognize the severity of the crimes and alert the proper authorities. This sadly includes Joe Paterno.

Athletic Director Tim Curley and Senior Vice President for Finance and Business Gary Schultz were hit with a count of perjury each, and both have reportedly resigned. This is the beginning of what should be a house cleaning of the entire administration, which should also include the University President Graham Spanier. Joe Paterno also must go, for he obviously cannot adequately supervise the football program given the events that have come to light.

Spencer Hall of SB Nation makes the case those involved failing to act with moral responsibility regarding the actions of Sandusky.

It would be great if this were all a bad dream and none of this happened, and while nobody has been convicted of anything at this point, as it is, this story makes everyone reading about it sick. It appears, due to the negligence of Penn State officials, the abuse of additional victims could have been prevented but was not.

You can read much about the story on the above referenced links, but the reputation of Penn State University, enhanced greatly over the years by the football program ran by legendary Coach Joe Paterno, may be tarnished beyond repair.

If these allegations are proven true, Sandusky should be fortunate to see another sunset. Everyone else who knowingly participated in this cover-up should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Sadly, the lives of the victims are forever negatively altered, with more incidents potentially to emerge.

For Penn State University, and its once highly respected football program, the long road to recovery should begin with everyone associated with this story being fired before Nebraska visits Un-Happy Valley this Saturday.

Top 25

2011-11-06T10:55:00.006-05:00

College Football

Top 25

1. Louisiana State, 9-0, 1

2. Oklahoma State, 9-0, 3

3. Stanford, 9-0, 4

4. Alabama, 8-1, 2

5. Oklahoma, 8-1, 6

6. Oregon, 8-1, 8

7. Boise State, 8-0, 5

8. Arkansas, 8-1, 9

9. Clemson, 8-1, 10

10. Virginia Tech, 8-1, 13

11. Kansas State, 7-2, 15

12. Michigan State, 7-2, 14

13. Wisconsin, 7-2, 17

14. South Carolina, 7-2, 11

15. Georgia, 7-2, 18

16. Southern Cal, 7-2, 19

17. Houston, 9-0, 20

18. Penn State, 8-1, 21

19. Florida State, 6-3, 22

20. Texas, 6-2, 23

21. Georgia Tech, 6-2, 25

22. Michigan 7-2, 12

23. Nebraska, 7-2, 7

24. Southern Miss, 8-1, NR

25. Notre Dame 6-3, NR

OUT: Arizona State (16), West Virginia (24)

VOTES: Auburn, Arizona State, Baylor, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Cincinnati, Texas Christian, Washington, West Virginia, Virginia, Texas A&M, Florida and Miami.

Oklahoma record stetting wideout Ryan Broyles added his name to the unfortunate list of All America players lost for the season by tearing his ACL as OU beat the Texas Aggies.....Kansas State gave Okie State everything they wanted but fell short at Stillwater, leaving the Cowboys in BCS title contention....Florida got by Vanderbilt to keep bowl streak alive....The latest installment of The Game of the Century was a defensive gem, but LSU got by the Tide as a glaring weakness in the Crimson Tide kicking game was exposed.....UCLA got a big win for embattled Coach Rick Neuheisel, nipping Arizona State....Ole Miss got spanked by lowly Kentucky, which may shove Houston Nutt out the door....A very disturbing situation is unfolding at Penn State regarding former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and child sex crimes. It appears some of the Lion administrative staff perhaps failed to act properly in response the aftermath of the allegations, and by the time the dust settles, I suspect the whole house will be cleaned out, including Coach Joe Paterno. It is time for Joe Paterno to go, and Penn State will start from scratch in the football administration. George Diaz of The Orlando Sentinel goes further, and sadly, his points are valid and reasonable....Boise State struggled again, which won't get them in the BCS game....Southern Cal bombed Colorado at Boulder, and the Buffaloes have really fallen off the cliff, and you have to wonder how this rapid decline happened....Missouri appears off to the SEC, which I think is a bad move for the Tigers but a sign of the times.

Florida State usually has trouble with Boston College, and the game is normally very close. Not this year, as FSU dominated the Eagles in Chestnut Hill. While Eagle LB Luke Kuechly got his usual 20 stops, the Seminoles were spreading the field in building a huge lead. On defense, FSU seems to benefit from having LB Telvin Smith on the field, as he makes plays, while the ends, Werner and Jenkins, are stout. With EJ Manuel healthy, the Seminoles appear on the verge of hitting their stride, and with Miami coming to town this weekend, a message could be sent.

After a huge win in smothering Michigan State a week ago, Nebraska played very poorly as Northwestern came into Lincoln beating the 'Huskers from start to finish. While 'Husker QB Taylor Martinez played very well, the loss is unacceptable. Offensively, the Big Red play calling was unimaginative, with no effort made to expose any Wildcat defensive vulnerabilities and the execution was very poor. Once a proud strength, the offensive line cannot move the line of scrimmage and yards are real hard to come by. On defense, an area where under the Pelini brothers the 'Huskers are supposed to excel, there were no answers for the Wildcats. A four man rush was no match for quick throws or quarterback scrambles, while many secondary breakdowns, particularly in the middle of the field, were cashed in on by Northwestern. This was evident early on, but Nebraska made no visible adjustments. Late in the game, when Nebraska got close enough to perhaps win the game, Northwestern responded by confidently marching right down the field on the Blackshirts to seal the Big Red fate. In summary, while Northwestern has some good things going, they did lose to Army and there is no excuse for what happened in Lincoln Saturday. To say the Big Red was lethargic, pedestrian and out coached on both sides of the ball would be kind. The whole team had issues, but the blame goes to the defensive coaches. Given how well this unit has played since the Pelini brothers arrived, it is mind boggling to view this unit struggle so mightily. Of particular concern is the inability or unwillingness to adjust, as the unit has the talent to be disruptive to opposing offenses. They just don't all that often, and the result gave us an embarrassing loss on Saturday.

Market Trick

2011-10-31T19:47:00.009-04:00

Halloween was not kind on the corner of Wall and Broad today, and with good reason.

While traders were receiving treats last week from the news of a Euro fix, it really is nothing short of a trick. We have been down this road before, and we will go down it again, and as we pass each exit for a real fix, the pain forthcoming gets deeper.

FOX Business' Judge Andrew Napolitano speaks with Nigel Farage, who has been on this story from the get go. Take a listen:

As traders woke up to learn of the impending blowup of MF Global, headed by former New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, they found the futures in the negative. It should not have come as a surprise that Corzine, who blew an 8 billion dollar hole in New Jersey Chris Christie is now cleaning up, would fail miserably at MF Global. Fail at running the company yes, but apparently not in securing cash for himself, typical for Democrats in these positions. To think as recently as August Corzine was being considered by President Obama as a the new Treasury Secretary should indicate the level of complete incompetence leading this country.

This evening, Clusterstock reports of "hundreds of millions of dollars missing", which cannot be good for the markets, propped up by false fundamentals and already spooked by a myriad of issues, including on the domestic side a continuous mortgage meltdown.

But further concerns over the supposed Euro fix is what really what spooked the markets. Good money is being put after bad, bailing out entitlement expenditures which cannot, and should not, be sustained. As Farage put it years ago, the fixes won't work and we can only hope the markets derail this before things get really bad, as if they have not already.

Restated; they will soon run out of everyone else's money. Invest accordingly.

Sunday Night Song

2011-10-30T21:29:00.007-04:00

Who are the Occupy Wherever protesters? It is a widening collection of village idiots with global associations.

When you get past the radical left, the peacenicks, CAIR, ACORN, the Socialists and the Communists, you find a youthful contingency lacking in the skill set, complete with hard work ethic, integrity and competitiveness, to achieve the success they desire. This is the same group where everyone got a trophy in little league.

These folks think that rewards come without paying the necessary price, and when these rewards are not forthcoming, they are victims. Hence, they demand wealth transformation. Somehow, they think they are deserving. God forbid they put in the work and still come up short!

I grew up wanting to win The Heisman Trophy. I got over it.

Decisions made have consequences. If you graduated from say, Cornell, with a degree in Liberal Arts specializing music of the Orient and have $50,000 of tuition debt, it would be logical to assume a high paying job does not await your graduation and you may find difficulty is satisfying that debt. Perhaps a more suitable major should have been selected?

Instead of camping out, get a job; any job. Rather than claiming your a victim, chart your own path. In fact, quit bitching. The big bad world doesn't owe you a thing! Get Over It!

From Don Henely and The Eagles, a Sunday Night Song message for the protesters:

Get Over It!

Top 25

2011-10-30T13:55:00.007-04:00

College Football

Top 25

1. Louisiana State, 8-0, 1
2. Alabama, 8-0, 2
3. Oklahoma State, 8-0, 4
4. Stanford, 8-0, 3
5. Boise State, 7-0, 5
6. Oklahoma, 7-1, 9
7. Oregon, 7-1, 6
8. Nebraska, 7-1, 11
9. Arkansas, 7-1, 9
10. Clemson, 8-1, 5
11. South Carolina, 7-1, 13
12. Michigan, 7-1, 18
13. Virginia Tech, 8-1, 15
14. Michigan State, 6-2, 12
15. Kansas State, 7-1, 14
16. Arizona State, 6-2, 19
17. Wisconsin, 6-2, 10
18. Georgia, 6-2, 17
19. Southern Cal, 6-2, 21
20. Houston, 8-0, 20
21. Penn State, 8-1, 23
22. Florida State, 5-3, 24
23. Texas, 5-2, NR
24. West Virginia, 6-2, NR
25. Georgia Tech, 6-2, NR

OUT: Texas Tech (22), Miami (25), Texas A&M (16)

VOTES: Southern Miss, Cincinnati, Auburn, Texas A&M, Texas Christian, Washington, Ohio State, North Carolina, Florida and Missouri.

Several key players have been lost for the season due to injury, most notably South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore. Add Pitt tailback Ray Graham, whose performance has him on his way to All America recognition.....In another installment of The Worlds Largest Cocktail Party, Georgia, in spite of themselves, defeated a woeful Florida likely saving coach Mark Richt's job....Wisconsin, trailing through 58 minutes, rallied to overtake Ohio State only to lose on what could be considered another Hail Mary pass at Columbus.....Texas Tech, who jumped out to a 31-7 lead and hung on to defeat OU last weekend, got pummeled by Iowa State at home.....Speaking of OU, after a close first half at Kansas State, the Sooners flexed the muscle in the second half and hung nearly 60 on K-State....Although Robert Griffith III had a good statistical day, Okie State opened up a can on Baylor, thrashing the Bears in Stillwater....While Penn State escaped at home versus Illinois, Boston College controlled Maryland and West Virigina had to rally to get by Rutgers in three snow games, you could not see the field as Army thrashed Fordham.....Miami, beginning to emerge, got soundly defeated by Virginia at Sun Life Stadium in front of about 25K. I sense a negative slide of about three seasons coming.....Texas A&M lost their third 11+ point lead as Missouri got them in OT at College Station, all but wrecking the high apirations of the season.....Southern Cal played very well but fell to Stanford in 3 OT at the Coliseum. While Andrew Luck is as advertised, Stanford failed to signal they are on the caliber of LSU, Alabama or even Oklahoma State.....Clemson finally stumbled at Georgia Tech, who was coming off two awful losses.....Virginia Tech held of stubborn Duke, who along with Vanderbilt, who was hosting Arkansas, were let down by their kicking game.....Next week, it is LSU at Alabama, the game everyone is waiting for....Congrats to Joe Paterno is now the wins leader at 409, but he really does need to hang it up.

Florida State dominated North Carolina State in every facet of the game in Tallahassee, showing a glimpse of what could have been by tossing a shutout at the Wolfpack. The Seminoles will be favored the rest of the way, but cannot reach the ACC title and will be on the outside looking in. The young running backs and receivers look to be the nucleus for a great future.

Finally, the Blackshirts showed up as Nebraska smothered Michigan State at Lincoln. Sparty cold not get anything going on offense, and melted defensively. Husker QB Taylor Martinez, called out by the ESPN media at the half, came out throwing successfully in the third quarter, connecting with warrior Rex Burkhead to get enough points to let the Blackshirts seal the victory. Huge win for the 'Huskers, who control their destiny in the Legends division.

Grinding Uncle Sam's Gears

2011-10-26T17:59:00.023-04:00

It depends on what side of the fence you sit on but Uncle Sam's gears are being grinded.

If you are a Progressive, big government is the answer in the form of top down government control over the citizenry, you have to be impressed what President Obama has accomplished. The transformation is taking place.

Free market capitalists, who subscribe to Reagan's philosophy that government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem, are sick to the stomach at the destruction of the system of government and economic system our forefathers envisioned under the command of President Obama. Hence, the Tea Party.

Lest there be no doubt, if we are to be a free market based country of hard work ethic, integrity and a desire to compete and succeed, the efforts of President Obama will go down ranking among the worst administrations in our short history. Who could have ever imagined we would be longing for the days of Jimmy Carter?

It would be great if we could just vote Obama out and get our life back. Unfortunately, it is not that simple, as few of our citizens can really grasp their arms around the depth of the issues surrounding our nation.

The problems are so deeply embedded, it will take decades to return this country to a position where economic and social prosperity can expand exponentially and potential can be maximized.

Outside of the the Reagan administration, which is really only a blip on the radar screen, we have been traveling this path for over 100 years. But Reagan's tenure is most significant, offering a glimpse of the enormous potential of not only America, but each and every individual who help make up our citizenry.

As the folks down at Occupy Wall Street think, wealth should be transferred from those who have accomplished to those who, for whatever reason, have not enjoyed such success with the government being the administrator. Under this thought process, those who risked everything for the hope of achieving a return on investment and continuous income stream offering security provided the integrity the gain was based upon continues, are viewed as greedy and obstacles to the socialistic beliefs of the Progressives.

Today, the President Obama offered up a new plan to forgive student loans. The student loan forgiveness plan has been floating around for months, with the basis for action passed into law in of all places, Obamacare. This blog tackled the student loan forgiveness topic a few weeks back, noting the moral decay from the government interfering in private contracts. While many argue the plan does not impact private loans, it indeed does as those participating in those loans do not get the benefit, and are thereby penalized for adhering to an agreed upon contract.

Whether the government interference is in student loans or mortgages, when contract law is dismissed you have no rule of law, no basis for a sound economic system, and thus the collapse of a free market system is imminent.

Although few are aware, the collapse of the system has been the plan all along. From Cloward and Piven to the radical elements of the 1960's rebellion, the objective has been clear and is being demonstrated right before your eyes in the orchestrated protests going on now under the Occupy Wherever banner. Among those orchestrating the events; ACORN.

The radicals of the sixties are now in charge, and us common folk are not the counter culture. As former Obama Green Jobs Czar Van Jones once quipped, we must drop the radical pose for the radical ends. The radicals of the sixties are not against civil unrest or violence. Glenn Beck has been right on target pointing out the objectives of these folks, as you can hear by listening to this clip from his television show.

To understand how to defeat these folks, and they must be defeated, it is vital to understand some history. The following video is an eye opening tale of some of that history, and offers those now seeking answers to why Uncle Sam finds herself in such upheaval some clues. Please watch in entirety:

It is with regret to report that the fight for our country is fully engaged by our opponents within, but a great deal of our citizenry has yet to wrap their arms around what is taking place. It is now, given the economic numbers, economic policy and mind boggling foreign policy being engaged in that many are seeking some answers to bewildering questions. When you learn about the objectives of this movement, although they are shocking to the unsuspecting mind, the visual becomes clear.

We can no longer sit on the sideline. Before we elect a new signal caller for 2012, the team needs each of us to get in the game and stand up now engaging in leadership by example in demonstration of the first principles through legally permissible action inclusive of faith, education, service and discipline.

At some level, our fight is not with the useful idiots at Occupy Wherever, although there is a high level of hatred being displayed. The fight is really with the orchestrator's working in and out the shadows who are long in the tooth of this battle. Open your eyes as many of these folks are presently exposing themselves as they sadly become more embolden by our President, who is one of them.

Payne Squawk's Street

2011-10-24T20:43:00.008-04:00

FOX Business Network's John Stossel recently spent an hour on his weekly program to investigate the claims being made by those at Occupy Wall Street. As part of the discussion, Stossel spent a segment speaking with Charles Payne, FOX News contributor and President of W Street Investors, about the many benefits of Wall Street. Take a listen:

There is little doubt that unscrupulous behavior has taken place by many who participate in the system of trading securities on Wall Street. Unfortunately, most if not all have not been held accountable. I don't know about you, but Franklin Raines, former Fannie Mae Chairman, is atop my list of those who should be at Sing Sing.

But Payne is spot on in his assessment. Government involvement rewarding bad behavior goes against the incentive based process of climbing the ladder, leading to market inefficiency and creating debilitating moral hazards and discarding personal responsibility. Entrepreneurship leads to growth companies, which are often fueled by venture capital on Wall Street. When these companies emerge and become a success, jobs are created providing unlimited opportunities for our citizenry and risk takers are rewarded.

No bailouts should have taken place, for failure is part of the process, often making people and corporations better from the lessons learned in the failed effort. Yes, unlike the media proclamation to the contrary, corporations are people.

For the little guy, Wall Street should be embraced and utilized as part of wealth building. Engaging in the dollar cost averaging process through discount brokerage firms, or through the companies themselves utilizing their dividend re-investment programs (DRIP), of many well known corporations can lead to future prosperity. Over 1000 companies, including Coca Cola, Walt Disney, Proctor & Gamble and Harley Davidson, participate.

Corporations are not evil and are not thwarting the success of those complaining at Occupy Wherever. Due to government interaction in the marketplace, many have been dealt a hard blow in recent years. Every government action to help has actually hindered. Until the taxation and regulation are reduced and free market capitalism can run wild, the job market will remain stagnant and the degree of difficulty in achieving success will be much steeper.

For those protesters, the quickest path to prosperity, if wanted, would be to embrace Wall Street and seek a prompt change at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As Ronald Reagan said, government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem.

Bush Becoming Beloved

2011-10-24T18:50:00.009-04:00

Miss him yet?

Although elected twice, President Bush was treated horribly by many Americans. I voted for him twice and was a strong supporter through the majority of his presidency, including the Iraq War, but we parted ways when he said "I’ve abandoned free-market principles to save the free-market system". Can't go there.

Anyhow, given the destruction of America taking place under President Barack Obama, the American people are gaining a new found appreciation of former President George W Bush.

The crowd cheers the 43rd Presdient as he throws out the first pitch in game four of the World Series to Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. Check it out:

At the end of the day, I join an ever growing list of Americans who have great respect and admiration for George W. Bush.

As we battle internally an embolden socialistic movement and the terrorists around the world, a quote from President Bush is the forefront of my mind.

"We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail".

Corso's Color and Pageantry

2011-10-23T12:31:00.003-04:00

This past weekend, with the ESPN Gameday crew at East Lansing for the Wisconsin at Michigan State game to be played later in the evening, Lee Corso made his 200th heaadgear pick of the day. This has become tradition for us college football faithful, and part of the color and pageantry that makes this game so special. ESPN's Tom Renaldi takes a look back:

Corso, a former star at Florida State and head coach at Indiana and Louisville and our local Orlando Renegades of the World Football League among others, is a fixture on ESPN Gameday and gameday. Corso, who has battled back from a very serious stroke a few years back, is well loved from conference to ever changing conference.

Congratulations to Lee Corso for his 200th pick, his great success and for being such a well respected and beloved ambassador for the color and pageantry of college football and gameday in stadiums, sports bars and households across the fruited plain.

Top 25

2011-10-23T10:53:00.009-04:00

Top 25

1. Louisiana State, 8-0, 3

2. Alabama, 8-0, 2

3. Stanford, 7-0, 4

4. Oklahoma State, 7-0, 5

5. Clemson, 8-0, 8

6. Boise State, 7-0, 7

7. Oregon, 6-1, 9

8. Oklahoma, 6-1, 1

9. Arkansas, 6-1, 10

10. Wisconsin, 6-1, 6

11. Nebraska, 6-1, 11

12. Michigan State, 6-1, 19

13. South Carolina, 6-1, 12

14. Kansas State, 7-0, 17

15. Virginia Tech, 7-1, 16

16. Texas A&M, 5-2, 13

17. Georgia, 5-2, 18

18. Michigan, 6-1, 20

19. Arizona State, 5-2, 21

20. Houston, 7-0, 20

21. Southern Cal, 6-1, 25

22. Texas Tech, 5-2, NR

23. Penn State, 7-1, NR

24. Florida State. 4-3, NR

25. Miami, 3-3, NR

OUT: West Virginia (15), Washington (25), Notre Dame (24), Auburn (14)

VOTES: West Virginia, Florida, Texas, Auburn, Washington, Baylor, Wake Forest, Southern Miss, Cincinnati, Syracuse, Ohio State and TCU.

Notre Dame welcomed in, as my friend Pete says, The University of Spoiled Children (USC) to South Bend for the annual intersectional rivalry, which I think of as a fight song game as both teams have top notch fight songs. Unfortunately, with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath's Crazy Train playing between plays, it seemed like we were at concert. The Irish played like they were. This playing of rock songs, more often than not drowning out the marching bands, spreading like Kudzu across the country, is out of hand and needs to stop. Several teams have adopted the same songs as their in-game cheer. For example, Wake Forest and UCF both use Zombie Nation, among many others. Apparently, most fans like it but I do not and really would like to see it die a quick death. Meanwhile, Notre Dame got whipped on both lines of scrimmage and got pounded by Southern Cal.....Weather delays for lighting in neighboring counties is another example of political correctness running amok in college football, and it is unnecessary. I have been following the game for 40 years and the only lightning strike I recall hit Lee Corso's rental car in the parking lot at Blacksburg, Va in the 90's.....After an approximately 2 hour rain delay last evening, while OU was snoozing, Texas Tech was posting touchdowns in Norman. While the Sooners, down 31-7 at one point, mounted a comeback, it was much to little to late. OU seems to annually lose focus causing them to stumble along the way, and they are now likely out of national title conversations as anyone down at home 31-7 should be...Congratulations to one of the good guys, Case Keenum, of Houston, who is now the total yardage leader all time for NCAA college football.... Michigan State used a Hail Mary to steal a game from Wisconsin, who got out to a great start and had to rally to tie it before Sparty got it done.....Clemson is firing on all pistons offensively and is primed to run the table...Stanford blasted Washington in dominant fashion. The Huskies are stout on offense but have issues and youth on defense....UCLA got blasted at Arizona on Thursday, and just before the half a streaker wearing an officials uniform seemed to spark a bench clearing brawl. Not impressive behavior all around....Alabama was tied at home at the half on The Third Saturday in October with Tennessee while LSU was pounding Auburn, handing the Tigers the worst loss for a defending National Champion since Nebraska spanked Penn State in 1983, which is why LSU is now #1.....Syracuse looked great in dumping West Virginia....UCF, expected to get Big East invite, looked hapless losing at winless UAB....Ga Tech is disappointing again....Illinois is unmasked at Purdue.

Florida State looked pretty good in controlling Maryland, and while the Seminoles got plenty of work to do, they appear to be making progress and should be favored the rest of the way.

Nebraska dismantled Minnesota, but had some issues in doing so. Michigan State comes Lincoln next week, so we will find out if the 'Huksers are worthy of conference title conversations.

Celebrate Success

2011-10-19T21:38:00.007-04:00

Occupy Wall Street. Supported by our President.

A collection of useful idiots attacking those that have had the good fortune, most through principles found in athletics combined with a little luck, of achieving high levels of success.

I stand in opposition of those folks, for I celebrate the success of those who play the game of life with integrity and a competitive desire to succeed.

Chrysler Corporation recently celebrated the success of someone whose rise to the top I have appreciated, following him closely along the way: Ndamuknong Suh

Indeed, show where your going without forgetting where your from.

Suh, whose first name means "House of Spears", came to The University of Nebraska from Portland, Oregon Grant High School in 2004. By maximizing his God given talent through hard work, discipline and perseverance, Suh left Nebraska, a football program rich in tradition and player honors, as perhaps the most decorated player to ever call himself a 'Husker.

After graduating from Nebraska, Suh was drafted as the second overall pick by the Detroit Lions and is now regarded as among the best players in the National Football League. Beyond football, Suh continues to lead by example, and has charted a path of charitable activity. First among his efforts was a most significant gift to The University of Nebraska, which helped him become a nominee for Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. Only 24 years old, Suh has already achieved monetary success most could only dream of, but his level of maturity in life far exceeds his age.

Unlike those who protest down on Wall Street, who want something for nothing, I celebrate the success of those who work hard, play within the rules and achieve greatness. Ndamukong Suh is such an individual, and I hope he can show many where they can go while not forgetting where they have been. It is the lessons of life. While we are facing stiff headwinds, mostly created by our own government, it is up to us to persevere and carpe diem.

Lead, follow or get out of the way. And Go Big Red!

An Organized Collection Of Useful Idiots

2011-10-18T18:49:00.018-04:00

A culmination of unfortunate events, some decades old, have led to many of those in their 20's being very torqued. Propelled and partially financed by radical extremists and embolden by the thuggery of the Obama Administration, many of the disgruntled young people have joined leftist groups coming together to protest everything American across the nation in what has become known as Occupy Wall Street.

Regrettably, what we actually have is leftist organizations, many backed by billionaire George Soros, supporting a group of young people who are sadly nothing more than useful idiots as many have no idea about what they are protesting, or basic economic theory for that matter.

Try to grasp you brain around the comments of these protesters in Occupy Oakland:

With the focus of the protests in Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan, the King of all Media, New York's Howard Stern, sent staff members down to get an assessment of what is happening. While FOX News host Geraldo Rivera was deeply moved, Stern and sidekick Robin Quivers were far from impressed.

FOX Business reporter and Wall Street veteran Charles Gasparino found nothing but Marxists.

It should be noted that the owners of Zuccotti Park, Brookfield Office Properties (BPO:NYSE), have ulterior motives for allowing the lawlessness taking place in the park as they have green energy interests that have received stimulus money from the Obama administration, as reported by the Business Insider.

Beyond the incredible lack of knowledge regarding common economic theory and business practices abound, another serious problem is very visible among the protesters. Not only rapidly growing globally, again fueled by Obama, anti-Israel sentiment is rampant. Get a load of this piece of garbage, whose parents must be beaming:

President Obama has stopped just short of vocalizing full support of these anti-American free loaders, but many of his friends and cohorts, Van Jones among them, are in full support. Chaos is an ally of this group, as they never let a crisis go to waste. In what is an excellent but unfortunate true dig at the always present straw man argument of President Obama, some aim to "re-create 68", complete with violence. God help us all!

If the young people, with sound education, massive debt, no jobs and a true fear for the future were not political lemmings, they would easily recognize that any protests belong not at Wall Street, but at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue due the horrendous economic policies engaged by the Obama administration.

Certainly, many big corporations have acted with malice leading up to and during this recession, as has government. Fannie Mae (FNMA:OTC), Freddie Mac (FMCC:OTC) and Bank of America (BAC:NYSE) come to mind. For me, I am working hard to distance myself from JP Morgan Chase (JPM:NYSE), Bank of America and General Electric (GE:NYSE). In addition, as a proud lifetime user of General Motors (GM:NYSE) vehicles, purchasing another new GM product is now on hold due their interaction with Obama.

While those who have broken the law on the corner of Wall and Broad must be punished, the young people protesting should embrace Wall Street and utilize it to build wealth for their future. Wall Street capital is the lifeblood for many growth companies, and investment opportunities are plentiful. Sure, you can get burned (have I told you the story of my investment in Level 3 Communications? (LVLT:NASDAQ), but you can also build quite a nest egg and you may even hit one like Google (GOOG:NASDAQ).

Of course, understanding basic economics is a must. Those protesting must recognize that for everything they get for free, someone somewhere paid for it. There is no free lunch. In a society with no incentives, innovations will be rare, which will lead ultimately to a dying society. Is America already committing suicide? Patrick J. Buchanan dives into the issue in his new book "Suicide of a Superpower".

Incentive and innovation produce many of the products these dopes are running around using, from cell phones to I-Pads. Many are seeking use of the restroom at a nearby McDonalds, one of the greatest growth stories of all time.

I encourage the protesters to join the party by buying in on Wall and Broad! Snare 100 shares of McDonalds (MCD:NYSE) and see what happens over the next decade or so. Become a shareholder, with skin in the game. Then, provided we adequately squelch the socialist uprising and re-establish once and for all the The Kudlow Creed that free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity, America will return to all her glory.

Wicked Wreck at Vegas Claims Dan Wheldon

2011-10-16T18:59:00.010-04:00

Dan Whledon, a two time winner of the Indianapolis 500, including in 2011, has lost his life in a horrific 15 car crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this afternoon. ABC had the race coverage:

Ironically, Wheldon was a part time racer this year, and was essentially unemployed after winning the 2011 Indy 500. Wheldon spoke with CNBC's Darren Rovell days after the 500.

Wheldon was set to take over for Danica Patrick, who is heading over to NASCAR full time next season. This racing is very dangerous, and even though the safety measures advanced in the recent years, particularly in the aftermath of the death of the legendary Dale Earnhardt at Daytona International Speedway in 2001, it remains so. Five time NASCAR champ Jimmie Johnson took a very hard hit last night at Charlotte, a hit made easier to absorb by the safer barriers and HANS device innovations.

Thoughts and prayers will be with Wheldons family; may he rest in peace.

Top 25

2011-10-16T13:03:00.003-04:00

1. Oklahoma, 6-0, 1
2. Alabama, 7-0, 2
3. Louisiana State, 7-0, 3
4. Stanford, 6-0, 4
5. Oklahoma State, 6-0, 5
6. Wisconsin, 6-0, 6
7. Boise State, 6-0, 7
8. Clemson, 7-0, 8
9. Oregon, 5-1, 9
10. Arkansas, 5-1, 10
11. Nebraska, 5-1, 14
12. South Carolina, 6-1, 11
13. Texas A&M, 4-2, 15
14. Auburn, 4-2, 16
15. West Virginia, 5-1, 17
16. Virginia Tech, 6-1, 20
17. Kansas State, 6-0, 23
18. Georgia, 5-2, 18
19. Michigan State, 5-1, 22
20. Michigan, 6-1, 11
21. Houston, 6-0, 25
22. Arizona State, 5-2, 21
23. Washington, 5-1, NR
24. Notre Dame, 4-2, NR
25. Southern Cal, 5-1, NR

OUT: Illinois (19), Georgia Tech (13), Baylor (24)

VOTES: Illinois, Georgia Tech, Southern Methodist, Florida State, Miami, Baylor, Texas, Florida, Ohio State and Wake Forest.

It seems the top three teams are on a higher level than the rest of the crowd, but there is quite a bit of pigskin tossing left to witness, so hold tight.....Clemson is winning the games they usually stumble on, but tough to be considered for the National Title when you give up 45 to Maryland....OU seems sleepy against KU, but you cannot get up for everyone....South Carolina is sloppy, but got a necessary win at Miss. State, but lost All America tailback Marcus Lattimore for the season with a knee injury....Washington is playing well and may yet be heard from in the PAC 12....The wheels have fallen off in Boulder, and Colorado is looking like a starting from scratch project for a team contending for national titles just 20 years ago....Boise State is spanking folks, but will remain on the outside looking in....GT is another team that cannot seem to handle the pressure of being highly ranked....and you can add Illinois to that.....Florida is woeful on offense, but they can stop the run and that gives them a punchers chance in any game....Could the Pony Express be about to enter the Top 25???....Obviously, Bill Snyder can coach, as he has K-State undefeated and sniffing around the top 10.

Florida State got a critical win at Duke, who believe me, is well coached. However, even in dominating Duke, the Seminoles still have much work to do. Not helping the situation is the loss of another defensive starter, Jacobbi McDaniel, for the year with a broken ankle. Maryland, fresh of putting 45 on Clemson in a losing effort, comes to town Saturday.

BAHL Behind Bocephus

2011-10-11T17:11:00.018-04:00

The media in general is so out of control it would be comical if so much was not at stake. So in the tank for Obama and his destructive policies, for those intellectually on the sidelines the blur into real life is hard to distinguish, even over at ESPN. For sure, ESPN joins most if not all of the major media outlets in complete hypocrisy.

Hank Williams, Jr, a frequent guest on FOX News Fox & Friends, was on again last week and had some fiery commentary. Take a listen:

Bocephus, always one to speak his mind, due to an ill conceived analogy, has been booted from ESPN's Monday Night Football introduction (filmed here locally), where he has excelled for 20 seasons. Recently, ESPN golf analyst and former champion Paul Azinger was recently scolded by ESPN brass for accurately commenting on Obama's work ethic. ESPN does not tolerate harsh commentary toward political figures; unless they are named Palin.

So much for freedom of speech. Certainly, corporations have every right to employ whomever they want, but it is appropriate to point out the astounding hypocrisy where applicable.

I watch FOX & Friends most days. Gretchen Carlson is great, and Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doocy are adequate when they are serious. Both are closet comedians, and neither is remotely good.

Over on ESPN, without question, I have recently appreciated some fine work on some of the 30 for 30 documentaries and love the college football coverage, even taking in ESPN College Gameday, sponsored by The Home Depot, live just a few weeks ago. However, I gave up on most of ESPN moons ago, as I was turned off by many things inclusive of former anchor Robin Roberts "get on with your bad self", although a mutual friend says she is a very nice person. Michelle Obama is even getting favorable publicity Laura Bush never dreamed of, both on Disney Channel and ESPN.

Hank is royal pissed at them all, with good reason I think. Sugar coating the thugocracy otherwise known as the Obama administration is no longer possible, for Uncle Sam is on the brink, as we note frequently here on the blog. It is time to pick sides, and stand in the line of fire with those who stand with freedom and the free market principles this country was founded on. Freedom is not free, as Bocephus is finding out.

Bocephus has released a new tune in response to the ordeal, and he and his rowdy friends blast all involved.

Don't tread on us! As Hank says, us Country Folks Can Survive!

NOTE: I AM A LONGTIME SHAREHOLDER OF WALT DISNEY CORP, (DIS:NYSE) OWNERS OF ESPN.

Top 25

2011-10-09T12:16:00.005-04:00

College Football

Top 25

1. Oklahoma, 5-0, 1

2. Alabama, 6-0, 2

3. Louisiana State, 6-0, 3

4. Stanford, 5-0, 4

5. Oklahoma State, 6-0, 5

6. Wisconsin, 5-0, 5

7. Boise State, 4-0,6

8. Clemson, 6-0, 7

9. Oregon, 4-1, 8

10. Arkansas, 5-1, 10

11. Michigan, 6-0, 11

12. South Carolina, 5-1, 15

13. Georgia Tech, 6-0, 17

14. Nebraska, 5-1, 18

15. Texas A&M, 3-2, 14

16. Auburn, 4-2, 13

17. West Virginia, 5-1, 19

18. Georgia, 4-2, 21

19. Illinois, 6-0, 23

20. Virginia, Tech, 5-1, 20

21. Arizona State, 5-1, 24

22. Michigan State, 4-1, 25

23. Kansas State, 5-0, NR

24. Baylor, 4-1, NR

25. Houston, 6-0, NR

OUT: Florida State (12), Texas (16), Florida (22)

VOTES: Penn State, Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Florida, Texas, Florida State, North Carolina, Rutgers, Southern Methodist, Southern Miss, Miami and Texas Tech.

Oklahoma destroyed Texas in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl at the Texas State Fair in Dallas....Florida is hurting at quarterback and has Auburn and improving Georgia Bulldogs upcoming.....Okie State had 56 at the half against Kansas, and they are a title contender for sure....Arkansas got throttled by BAMA but is whipping everyone else....Pitt got hammered by Rutgers, which is not good....K State dumped Mizzou, and is undefeated....Baylor and RGIII rebounded by thrashing Iowa State...Stanford hammered Colorado, where the wheels have come off...Georgia controlled Tennessee...Michigan outlasted Northwestern in Evanston....UCF flooded Marshall, as we had 6 inches of rain in greater Orlando yesterday....Virginia Tech outlasted Miami in Blacksburg in a great game, with my Cane friends Danny and Pat in attendance....Penn State beat Iowa, usually a problem game for the Lions...Illinois is the surprise of the Big Ten, out to a 6-0 record, the best for them in 60 years...Texas A&M, off to the SEC, won at Texas Tech in Lubbock on Saturday in a hard fought 45-40 game, but when they got back to the team buses, things took a turn for the worse as Red Raider sportsmanship, or lack thereof, lost containment.

While excuses could be made for the first two losses of the season for Florida State, the loss yesterday at Wake forest was quite simply inexcusable. This one is on the coaching staff. Yes, the offensive line, pedestrian at best without injury, is injury ravaged and a major liability. It is upon the coaches to game plan around it. Certainly, Clint Trickett performed well at Clemson, but with a week off he should have been better prepared for Wake if he was gong to start. Early on, he made several mistakes and looked lost, expected for a young player. If Manual could play, he should have been playing. Either way, this is a coaching issue. The defense, expected to be a strength, is unable to get off the field, either by mental lapses or penalties. Again, coaching. As my friend RP5 correctly noted, Florida State is woefully lackadaisical in getting plays off, even when you should have a sense of urgency. This is regrettably typical for FSU, and again lies on the coaches. I fear we could see the individuals on this team emerge, and the season could be lost. The coaches may not recognize the sense of urgency on the field, but they had better see it in the locker room. Fisher and his staff had better get a grip on this situation fast, for a season of promise, and one to set the stepping stone to what could be a great year in 2012, could be lost.

With Ohio State mauling Nebraska much of the night, ABC analyst Matt Millen was strong. When you think of what analyst you would want calling the game for your team, Matt Millen may not be the first name you think of, but he does have decent points most days. Millen, no doubt with a heavy heart after learning of the passing of the passing of the king of the Raider family, Al Davis, Millen was spot on in calling Ohio State at Nebraska. Millen correctly pointed out the OSU was whipping the Big Red at the line of scrimmage, using a cut back rushing plan to counter the Blackshirt speed and the confidence freshman Buckeye QB Braxton Miller was playing with. For Nebraska, who broke a school record coming from down 21 points to win, Millen nailed several key points. Jared Crick is not himself, and his play shows it. Don't know what the deal is. Lavonte David is phenomenal, and should win the Butkus Award. Taylor Martinez played very well, even while the 'Huskers were getting killed. The Husker offensive line, who played well late, were terrible for three quarters and this is a major issue. Rex Burkhead is a wonderful player, one who can be counted on to produce. Big win for Pelini and the Cornhuskers, for the season was in danger of collapse. In honor of Al Davis, just win, baby!

PHOTO: RIVALS.COM

Heartless on America

2011-10-06T18:31:00.005-04:00

President Obama spoke with the local NBC affiliate, NBC-WESH-2, and proceeded to call America soft. Sadly, in many ways, he is correct. But not for the reasons you, or he, might think.

The cradle to grave government progressive socialist policies are what has lead many Americans to shriek personal responsibility, work ethic and discipline leading them to operate in bewilderment void of leadership.

President Obama reeks of this, lacking in leadership and ducking responsibility claiming it is everyone else fault, which leads many of our young people seeking answers down the wrong path. Have you seen the useful idiots protesting down on Wall Street?

But while America is focusing on Obama's soft comment, I saw something else in the video that confirms my previous thought process on Obama and his fondness for America. Please see the video:

America is a great country, and that should be firm in the hearts of our citizens. But, oh my goodness, did Obama have difficulty getting that out. Why? This should roll right off the lips from our President, coming straight from the heart. It doesn't.

Imagine a father speaking of his son in this fashion? What if you were commenting on your spouse with this level of love and sparkle in your eye? Good Grief.

It is indeed most concerning, but it is clear from his actions, which extend far, far beyond the stuttering video, that Obama does not love America the way you and I do. Recall Michelle Obama announced she had just become proud of her country during the '08 campaign while Obama set forth 5 days before being elected to transform this nation. I conclude the Obama's are not representative of those who love this country deep in the heart.

Look around. It is time to call a spade a spade, and find with whom you stand. I am strongly against the transformation of our great land and stand strong in the fire behind our founding principles and those who will help restore this nation based on first principles.

What say you?

Palin Voice Pounding Policy

2011-10-06T17:19:00.008-04:00

Sarah Palin announced on Wednesday the she will not be seeking the GOP nomination in 2012.

After much prayer and serious consideration, I have decided that I will not be seeking the 2012 GOP nomination for President of the United States. As always, my family comes first and obviously Todd and I put great consideration into family life before making this decision. When we serve, we devote ourselves to God, family and country. My decision maintains this order.

I will continue driving the discussion for freedom and free markets, including in the race for President where our candidates must embrace immediate action toward energy independence through domestic resource developments of conventional energy sources, along with renewables. We must reduce tax burdens and onerous regulations that kill American industry, and our candidates must always push to minimize government to strengthen the economy and allow the private sector to create jobs.

Although I am disappointed with this decision, I think it is the right call. Unfortunately, the media has tainted her image so deeply many fail to recognize her talent and commitment to the free market, faith based principles that our country was based upon. Very bad things are taking place in our country right now, and Palin is one of few who get that. Although I respect her decision, I think Palin would make a great President, and she would have had my full support.

With that in mind, Palin is and will continue to be a powerful conservative voice helping to promote the principles and help find those that share the beliefs of the founding fathers in an effort to restore America to her greatness.

Keep up the good work Sarah. We will stand in the fire with you!

Jobs I-Touched America

2011-10-05T19:43:00.009-04:00

Apple's Steve Jobs, one of the top entrepreneurs of the last century who has touched countless lives through his innovations, has passed away from a lengthy battle with cancer. Without question, Jobs will be greatly missed.

Through Apple (AAPL:NASDAQ), which he started with a partner in his garage, Jobs entrepreneurial spirit and brilliance showed the way in technological product innovation and development, which has brought such joy to the droves of I-users all across the globe.

For non Apple users, Jobs forced the competitors to be at the top of their game, or they would be left in the ash heap of history, which ultimately was of enormous benefit to all consumers of the technology.

Jobs is someone folks with a burning entrepreneurial spirit should learn from and emulate. Jobs story, complete with failures learned from leading to rousing success, is the American story of free market capitalism.

Upon hearing the news of his death, which we all unfortunately knew was coming, I thought of Jobs commencement speech at Stanford University in 2005. His words on this day are words that all Americans should hear, particularly during these trying times.

Please take a listen:

Godspeed and God Bless to Steve Jobs, a true pioneer and Great American!

Lifetime Lessons Learned on Gridiron

2011-10-03T17:48:00.014-04:00

Fairness. During the 2008 Presidential campaign, then candidate Barack Obama talked about fairness, and how he would work tirelessly to make things more fair. I assume, in all his scholarly aptitude, he would be the decision maker as to what is fair.

The Dictator in Chief would determine how much money you could make, what you will be allowed to eat, what type of cars you can drive, when, where and with whom you can seek health care and God forbid, how many touchdowns your team can score.

Now them are some fighting words here in the deep south! Think I am kidding? Meet Demias Jimerson.

Jefferson, obviously quite a young man on and off the field, is being tackled by government intervention. After scoring three touchdowns in a game and if his team leads by two touchdowns, Jimerson is sidelined by "The Madre Hill Rule". Hill, a superstar player from the area who back in the day before turning heads at the University of Arkansas, torched defenses around the area, prompting the thinkers in governance, in the name of fairness, to limit his effectiveness.

Certainly, we cannot have him dominate and leave his opponents having to deal with failure.

In the piece, Principal Bryant says other players are just left out, with it being all Demias. Ms. Bryant is quite ill informed, and would be typical of those who will be happy to make decisions for you, as they know better.

First of all, many of the lessons we should learn in life are found on the gridiron. These lesson include but are not limited to discipline, responsibility, desire, leadership, work ethic, aggressiveness, execution, defeat, preparation, compassion, commitment, performance, class and teamwork. After all, there is no "I" in team, and unbeknownst to Principal Bryant, football is a team sport. Not forgotten is sportsmanship, and as former Florida State football Coach Bobby Bowden said, “Sportsmanship to me is going out and playing as hard as you can within the rules.”. That's exactly right.

What Ms. Bryant, and countless other champions of socialism fail to understand, that lessons learned in defeat and failure are invaluable to developing the mentality and intestinal fortitude to succeed. Success comes with a price, and that price is commonly paid through lessons learned.

Unfortunately, the slow creep of socialism is gaining speed in all facets of our lives. Free market capitalism is the best path to prosperity, and as former Georgia Bulldog and Minnesota Viking and NFL Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton points out in a tremendous article in The Wall Street Journal, as a comparison between the Teachers Union and the NFL drastically points out.

When Demias Jimerson signs a scholarship to attend a major college program, I hope he joins the long list of other phenom backs, from Eric Dickerson to Marcus Dupree, from Herschel Walker to Bo Jackson and from Barry Sanders to Earl Campbell in tremendous success. I would love to have him on one of my teams, but if he plays for an opponent of one of my teams, I hope my guys can rise to the challenge of stopping him. Most would be lucky to stop him, but luck is where preparation meets opportunity in the color and pageantry of college football, and life.

Sunday Night Song

2011-10-02T20:10:00.008-04:00

Could we have been saved by zero?

According to the Labor Department, zero jobs were created this past August. This is the first time since World War II that the US economy has created zero jobs. Please see the below chart from HoweStreet.com measuring the recent recession in job creation.

Few things solidify a complete failure on the economic front than going around boasting of saving us from the brink and placing Uncle Sam on the road to recovery than the economy producing zero jobs.

As Obama's job approval ratings continue to tank, and rightfully so, I got to thinking we may have been saved from a second Obama term by zero, as in zero jobs. Zero is a hard number to forget, particularly when attached to such a devastating and personal tragedy the state of the economy is in.

Saved by Zero indeed! As it turns out, this is a very cool tune by one of my favorite bands, The FIXX. For tonight' Sunday Night Song, enjoy Saved By Zero by Cy Curnin and The Fixx recorded live in Orlando as I watched live!

Top 25

2011-10-02T12:14:00.004-04:00

College Football

Top 25

1. Oklahoma, 4-0, 1

2. Alabama, 5-0, 2

3. LSU, 5-0, 3

4. Stanford, 4-0, 4

5. Oklahoma State, 4-0, 5

6. Wisconsin, 5-0, 7

7. Boise State, 4-0, 6

8. Clemson, 5-0, 14

9. Oregon, 3-1, 11

10. Arkansas, 4-1, 15

11. Michigan 5-0, 18

12. Florida State, 2-2, 19

13. Auburn, 4-1, NR

14. Texas A&M, 2-2, 8

15. South Carolina, 4-1, 10

16. Texas, 4-0, 20

17. Georgia Tech, 5-0, 21

18. Nebraska, 4-1, 9

19. West Virginia, 4-1, 23

20. Virginia Tech, 4-1, 12

21. Georgia, 3-2, NR

22. Florida, 4-1, 13

23. Illinois, 5-0, 24

24. Arizona State, 4-1, 25

25. Michigan State, 4-1, NR

OUT: South Florida (16), Baylor (17) and TCU (22)

VOTES: USC, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Kansas State, Baylor, Washington and Missouri.

Brigham Young defeated Utah State in a thriller Friday night with their backup quarterback, a UTST Aggie transfer, leading a 96 yards drive in under two minutes to win the ball game. Utah State has lost some heartbreakers already in '11, but they should not hang their heads as they are a decent football team....South Florida got pummeled by Pitt on national television Thursday night, and Pitt running back Ray Graham looked fantastic...Auburn found a way to turn the tables on South Carolina, who amazingly have quarterback issues under the direction of the old ball coach....The Gators came out firing against Alabama, but once the Tide settled in a shut down the run, it got ugly, including Gator QB Brantley suffering a potentially serious knee injury....NCST could not stop Ga. Tech, although Orlando Boone tailback James Washington had a big day for the Pack....Ohio State is really struggling offensively, and Michigan State, who won at the Horseshoe Saturday, is not much better.....Clemson smothered Virginia Tech, and will now be favored the rest of the way. History says the Tigers stumble, but if not, they could be in the national title game....Robert Griffith Jr. played a brilliant game once again, but threw his first interception of the season at a critical time, giving K-State the ball in the rend zone. The Cats scored and with one last shot, RGII could not generate a first down allowing the Cats to steal the victory at home from Baylor.....Texas A&M, a very good football team, followed up blowing a 17 point lead last week to blowing an 18 point lead this week, as Arkansas came back to dump the Aggies 45-42. A&M is very good, but these losses are tough to overcome...Illinois remains undefeated, but barely got by Northwestern at home....Washington pounded Utah at Utah, and the Huskies are steadily improving....With South Carolina losing and Florida uncertain, Georgia is now, as surprising as it is, in the SEC East drivers seat....Mark Mississippi State down as the best three loss team so far in 2011....SMU got a very big victory, defeating TCU at Fort Worth......Texas avenged last years loss to Iowa State, and gets OU Saturday in The Red River War.

Nebraska was welcomed into the Big Ten by getting hammered by Wisconsin. Certainly, having followed Russell Wilson in his days in the ACC, his skills as a signal caller, particularly extending plays, are well advertised. While Nebraska was their own worst enemy much of the game, Wisconsin beat the 'Huskers in each facet of the game. Surprisingly, the 'Husker Blackshirt defense, a staple under the Pelini brothers, got pushed around and had no answer for Wilson. As Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini correctly noted in the post game, it was an embarrassing performance. Nebraska has some fine young running backs and receivers, but the offensive line has been pedestrian for some time and it seems as though quarterback Taylor Martinez is regressing, which is most concerning. The Blackshirt defensive line is stout, however, outside of the tackling machine known as Lavonte David, the linebackers played very average. The secondary, supposedly a strength behind Alfonso Dennard, a cornerback NFL scouts are drooling over, looked lost most of the night. I conclude this game performance lies squarely on the back of the coaches, from Bo Pelini on down. Next week, Ohio State comes to Lincoln and presents another opportunity for the Big Red. Should the 'Huskers play poorly once again, Bo Pelini and the coaching staff will have some answering to do.

Blackshirts Begin Big Ten

2011-09-29T21:09:00.005-04:00

100 Years of history officially ends when the 'Huskers hit the field in Madison Saturday night versus Wisconsin and begins Big Ten Conference play.

The Big Red's Power of Red will come in droves wearing black in support of The Blackshirts. Go Big Red!

First On Race Day

2011-09-27T18:17:00.009-04:00

I have been a happy GM customer all my automobile driving life. Chevy Trucks and Pontiac cars, with the Wide Track Grand Prix my favorite. Currently, each of one of those sits in the garage.

Then Obama and his biblical wisdom came along, forming a team to bailout the car companies, violate the rule of law screwing the auto bondholders, funnel money to union supporters and end the long running historical Pontiac brand. On top of that, now that the Government controls GM, out comes production of "green initiative" vehicles, such as the Chevy Volt. The Volt, which was on the way to be a sporty success before Obama's team stepped in, is now a cost prohibitive joke.

Ford Motor Company rejected government assistance. Although I am sure they needed help, it seems CEO Allan Mulally knew the costs of teaming up with the government. Taking risk seeking reward without using the taxpayer as a crutch is what America commerce is all about. America knows it, and so does Ford.

Have you driven a Ford lately? I see it in my future.

Now that the government owns GM, also known as Government Motors, they don't take kindly to Ford slamming them and the government in a recent advertisement.

With his poll numbers on a ski slope, the Obama administration, thugs that they are, take action to silence critics, as evidenced by reports the administration has strong armed Ford to pull the ad. The Blaze has the full report, which originally came from The Detroit News.

Although Ford denies they removed the ad due to White House pressure, just like your transmission going south, when there is smoke there is fire. Make no mistake, Ford does not want to be in the cross hairs of the White House, for they punish opponents.

With the government involved in free enterprise, free markets become negatively impacted due to the artificial influence and fail to function at full efficiency.

Needless to say, I am sprinting to the voting booth in November 2012, but in the meantime, I will refrain from supporting companies associated with Obama, which includes GM. And while we are on the subject, my rental properties will be GE appliance free going forward.

Have you driven a Ford lately? First on Race Day!

Citizens Are Concerned

2011-09-26T22:50:00.004-04:00

Spotted in Athens, Alabama, this classic billboard indicates there are some concerned citizens in Sweet Home Alabama.

Concerned Citizens of America is right on target, for you would have to be a complete idiot, or a communist, to cast a ballot for Obama. Foghorn Leghorn is among the several million who would be far superior.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Top 25

2011-09-26T18:23:00.007-04:00

College Football

Top 25

1. Oklahoma, 3-0, 1
2. Alabama, 4-0, 2
3. LSU, 4-0, 3
4. Stanford, 3-0, 4

5. Oklahoma State, 4-0, 7
6. Boise State, 3-0, 6
7. Wisconsin, 4-0, 9
8. Texas A&M 2-1, 5
9. Nebraska, 4-0, 10
10. South Carolina, 4-0, 11
11. Oregon, 3-1, 13
12. Virginia Tech 4-0, 14
13. Florida 4-0, 15
14. Clemson, 4-0, 21
15. Arkansas, 3-1, 8
16. South Florida, 4-0, 17
17. Baylor, 4-0, 18
18. Michigan 4-0, 19
19. Florida State, 2-2, 11
20. Texas 4-0, 20
21. Georgia Tech, 4-0 NR
22. Texas Christian, 3-1, 22
23. West Virginia, 3-1, 16
24. Illinois, 4-0, NR
25. Arizona State, 3-1, NR

OUT: Southern Cal (23), North Carolina (24) and Vanderbilt (25)

VOTES: Michigan State, Houston, Washington, Iowa State, Notre Dame, Utah, Georgia, Kansas State, Auburn, Ohio State, Southern Cal, North Carolina and Missouri.

LSU is looking dominant, flexing particular strength in the trenches......If I vote today for the Heisman, it goes to Robert Griffith III of Baylor.....Arizona State got a big win versus USC, if only they had dumped Illinois....I thought, behind what I felt was a very good signal caller in Danny O'Brien, that Maryland would be a good football team, even predicting them to defeat Miami, as they did, but getting blasted at home versus Temple, even after a disappointing loss to West Virginia, is inexcusable....Alabama controlled Arkansas for an easy victory over a good football team....Oklahoma State, down 20-3 at the half at College Station, rallied back to defeat Texas A&M, positioning itself as the primary challenger to OU in the Big XII....Minnesota seems to be reeling....New Mexico is horrible, and appropriately fired their coach, who has had issues...South Carolina is happy to have standout receivers and running backs, because as surprisingly as it is under Spurrier, they have quarterback issues.

Florida State limped into Clemson, with four of the top five receivers, All America cornerback/punt returner Greg Reid and quarterback EJ Manuel unavailable due to injury. Clint Trickett stepped in at signal caller and did very well, as I suspected he would having seen him play. Although I knew the offensive line is suspect, I never dreamed Clemson would push around the Seminole defense, which they did en route to a 35-30 victory. FSU now needs help just to get to the ACC Championship game, which is disheartening.

The Blackshirt Nebraska defense is also having issues, very surprising with the players returning under Bo Pelini. The offense has been shaky as well, but with a trip to Camp Randle and Wisconsin this Saturday night, things better come together quick, or the 'Huskers are looking at a loss. Maybe they have been sandbagging?

With Wisconsin having similar red uniforms, Nebraska is encouraging fans to wear black to distinguish the fans in attendance. That is cool, I have a nice Adidas black Nebraska polo shirt. However, rumors are swirling the team may also adopt some black for this game, and evidence has started to pop up. While the helmet looks decent, I am against this as I am a traditionalist. Nebraska is the Big Red, not Wisconsin. Go Big Red!

Forgive You Not!

2011-09-20T20:57:00.012-04:00

A friend of mine recently bragged on Facebook that he signed a petition floating around the social media world.

What he gleefully signed was The Forgive Student Loan Debt petition at SignOn.org, which is being presented as a immediate stimulus to the economy, allowing those forgiven to increase consumer spending to jolt the economy. They also insist this will lift all boats and is a much better alternative to tax cuts for corporations, millionaires and billionaires.

Yep, class warfare at its finest, sweeping up useful idiots across the fruited plain.

As an attorney and a fellow graduate of my alma mater, The Florida State University, I certainly expected more from my friend intellectually. But then again, he is a proud progressive, the political element that aims to usher in socialism, and this line of thinking falls right under the umbrella. It also lines up against the Founding Fathers, free market capitalism, commerce and the rule of law.

Unfortunately, efforts in this regard will actually have a negative long term effect on the economy, and the evidence can be traced to contract law, which if broken, causes catastrophic damage to economic confidence. The Obama administration, in one of their first moves, broke the rule of law by altering the contractual obligations of the bond holders of the car companies in favor of union thugocracy. In redirecting this order, the Obama administration broke the rule of law and immediately destroyed investor confidence. By design.

For my attorney friend, lets review some things. A company (the University or college) produces a product (the education) at an expense (instructor salary, building costs, utility cost, property costs, etc.) in an effort to attract (seller) consumption by a buyer (student) at a mutually agreed upon price (compensation), which is an implied contractual agreement. Keep in mind the buyer was not forced to purchase this product; they made the choice to do so.

So, now all those former students, who consumed the product, now seek to not pay for it, thinking everything just resets and all will be well, seemingly unaware of the damage to the market impacting their consumer choices moving forward.

Well, there is no free lunch.

When buyers don't pay sellers, the seller eats the costs. Many make effort to attempt to recapture the cost through avenues such as raising prices or limiting or increasing the costs of credit for future consumers. With respect to student loans, state university systems attempt to pass the costs along to the taxpayers, which one might conclude includes the original purchaser. If they are unable to do so, this could cause a restriction on the availability of classes or the existence of courses available. And God forbid at FSU we can't pay Jimbo Fisher's contract!

Individually for the purchaser, or student, personal accountability seems absent, as they are choosing to not live up to their personally pledged obligations, damaging their own credit and making their word meaningless.

Might they consider those of us who have satisfied our student loan obligations? Kept our word?

It is now time for deadbeats and freeloaders to step to the plate and satisfy their obligations, not throw it back on the seller or the taxpayer. Bad things happen to good people, and if it gets to a point of no recovery, bankruptcy is a legal option these folks should pursue.

Unfortunately, the Obama administration is encouraging default for individual Americans. But why would the administration make default the path of least resistance? Cloward and Piven. Under extreme economic duress, folks seeking help find the easiest answer to be the government. This crashes the system and enables the government, never letting a good crisis go to waste, to increase their power over the people, which decreases our liberty and freedom.

I recognize how difficult the economy is, but I urge all Americans to make every effort to meet their responsibilities and obligations, keep a commitment to the rule of law our economic system is based on and be wary of those bearing to good to be true answers and gifts from the same people who are central in creating the increasingly challenging economic landscape.

There is no free lunch. Freedom is not free.

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same. --Ronald Reagan

Top 25

2011-09-18T16:55:00.003-04:00

College Football

Top 25

1. Oklahoma, 2-0, 1

2. Alabama, 3-0, 2

3. LSU 3-0, 3

4. Stanford 3-0, 5

5. Texas A&M 3-0, 6

6. Boise State 2-0, 7

7. Oklahoma State 3-0, 8

8. Arkansas 3-0, 9

9. Wisconsin 3-0, 11

10. Nebraska 3-0, 10

11. Florida State 2-1, 4

12. South Carolina 3-0, 12

13. Oregon 2-1, 13

14. Virginia Tech 3-0, 14

15. Florida 3-0, 16

16. West Virginia 3-0, 19

17. South Florida 3-0, 21

18. Baylor 3-0, 23

19. Michigan 3-0, 24

20. Texas 3-0, NR

21. Clemson 3-0, NR

22. Texas Christian 2-1, NR

23. USC 3-0, NR

24. North Carolina 3-0, NR

25. Vanderbilt 3-0, NR

OUT: Arizona State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Central Florida, Auburn and Mississippi State.

VOTES: Houston, Illinois, Michigan State, Auburn, Maryland, Miami, Notre Dame, Iowa State, Washington, Arizona State, Missouri, Utah, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Washington.

It was a big weekend in Tallahassee with ESPN Gameday in town as Florida State hosted top ranked Oklahoma. In front of the largest crowd at Doak in a decade, the Seminoles could not hold off the Sooners, who finally got a big road win. Florida State was able to slow the Sooners high octane offense for the most part, but FSU could not manufacture nearly enough offense to get the win.

While OU is off and running towards a chance for a national title, Florida State must now concentrate on winning the ACC and letting the stage set itself. For FSU, this begins with a big road game at Clemson this weekend, who ended Auburn's winning streak at 17. Clemson fell behind by a pair of touchdowns and looked about to be run out of the building, but they kept their composure and gained control of the game, winning going away......Perhaps Notre Dame had built up anger over their 0-2 start, but they let Michigan State have it......Penn State very nearly lost at Temple, behind almost the whole game......Iowa rallied back to defeat Pitt... Vanderbilt stomped Ole Miss, and Houston we have a problem.....As we thought, Miami dumped Ohio State, and the Buckeyes have several more losses coming....UCF, off to a great start and gaining national recognition, lost to FIU, who very quietly now has wins over Louisville and UCF....Iowa State is 3-0, beating UCONN Friday night.....Illinois took out Arizona State, who was hoping for a big year...LSU looks very good, as does Wisconsin.....Not sure what has happened to the Blackshirts at Nebraska, but with 9 defensive starters back from a year ago, they can't stop anybody, which is most concerning......Florida looks better than most thought, drowning Tennessee, who is not back just yet......West Virginia held on to beat Maryland.....South Carolina escaped the Naval Academy 24-21... Next week brings some good games, including Alabama and Arkansas, Florida State at Clemson, LSU at West Virginia and Oklahoma State at Texas A&M.

Regulations Eroding Economic Lifeline: Credit

2011-09-15T18:45:00.015-04:00

While many of our citizens remain unaware, a slow creep of regulatory instruments are eroding the lifeline of our economy; credit. If you are working hard to make ends meet and catch bits and pieces of newscasts from national and local news outlets in the mainstream media, you likely have no knowledge of how serious this issue is.

Rahm Emanuel, former Chief of Staff of President Obama said the administration should never let a crisis go to waste. They took advantage of the fear in the aftermath of the banking crisis to power grab much of your liberty when it comes to your finances, likely without your understanding of the "small print."

It has been three years since Lehman Brothers collapsed, and although many of the experts say Uncle Sams balance sheet is improved and the worst is behind us, I don't buy it. Neither does Home Depot founder Bernie Marcus, who joins Mary Thompson, David Faber and Joe Kernen for a frank discussion on CNBC's Sqauwk Box this morning. Take a listen:

The experts are almost always wrong. Discredited economist Paul Krugman and social economic pontificator Jared Bernstein coupled with comments such as "The housing crisis is contained" and "Pass the stimulus and unemployment will not exceed 8%" come to mind.

Bernie Marcus is not wrong, and listening to him will get you more saving, more doing.

With a new wave of foreclosures coming, property owners will be seeking opportunities for refinancing among banks, but the big banks are not able to extend the necessary credit due to strict regulations. These banks can borrow from the FED at zero and lend to the public at 5%, and a banker can have a fine career in banking doing that. But this lending is not taking place, and the alternative option of small banks is being crushed by Dodd-Frank, which quite simply is killing small banks. Regulations have wrecked the residential appraisal industry, spearheaded by The Architect of Ruin, Andrew Cuomo. These regualtions allow the government to pick winners and losers as well, which raises costs and handicaps the entrepreneur.

The markets have been up this week, and given all the horrendous economic news this week, such as an unexpected rise in jobless claims, inflation and sobering news on poverty, you may wonder why. Euro Tarp! You got it, the FED is essentially bailing out Europe, which can be equated to QE3, a new installment of quantitative easing on a global scale. A socialist European dream! Of Course, I am quite sure this will fix the problem with the PIGS? Well, it won't work!

The economy is in crisis, and we are far from out of the woods. Uncle Sam is a major event way from taking a substantial leg down, and the FED is short on tools to fight the problem due the poor crony capitalism decisions made under Obama and Bernanke. Could the crisis in Europe be such an event? If so, will global governance, all for our benefit no doubt, claim more of our liberty in creating a global banking system, which could lead to a dollar collapse?

The big banks continue to get bailed out while the small banks are being killed off by excessive regulation, crippling the credit line for consumers, who are on life support. Collusion between the administration and the FED is extremely alarming, contributing to the unnecessary extension of the economic crisis we are in.

All these goings on are the antithesis of what should be taking place, and strongly appear to be orchestrated. These are critically troubling times, and our country as we know it could hang in the balance. As I pray we make it to November 2012, we must hold our freedoms dear, protect our sovereignty and remember that free market capitalism is indeed the best path to prosperity.

The Time Has Come

2011-09-15T17:26:00.005-04:00

The time has come. A clash of titans at Doak S. Campbell Stadium on Seminole Saturday Night!

The time has come. This ain't their time, THIS IS OUR TIME! GO SEMINOLES!

Scheming The Citizenry

2011-09-13T20:21:00.007-04:00

Charles Ponzi must be spinning in his grave while Bernie Madoff is presumably bewildered in his jail cell.

During the CNN GOP debate last night in Tampa, GOP front runners Mitt Romney and Rick Perry battled it out once again over whether Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. Take a listen:

This debate is very healthy, and quite telling about how we arrived in the mess we are in and where we stand as a nation.

For decades, folks from both sides of the political aisle have accurately labeled Social Security as a Ponzi scheme. For example, Jonathan Hoenig often battles Democratic strategerists on FOX Business Network making the case in pinpoint fashion.

In fact, Social Security is worse than a Ponzi scheme, as those involved with a Ponzi scheme engage the activity on their own, rather than being forced to partake.

Rick Perry is quite correct that this program is in need of extensive reform, as it is currently bankrupt and unsustainable. Although, as Perry correctly points out, Mitt Romney and a large contingent of pundits are attempting to scare seniors by implying they will not receive their benefits, they will not be impacted by any proposed changes. President Obama even proclaimed he could not guarantee checks for our seniors, in yet another inaccuracy out his arrogant mouth. Scare tactics aimed at our seniors in this perilous economic environment is pathetic, and it implies our seasoned citizens are ill informed.

Our senior community, as well as many of those who have freshly entered the workforce, understand that changes to the program are vital for it to survive, for the status quo is doomed for failure sooner than later. They appreciate the truth, something that is far too often missing in politics. Like health care, a private sector component to Social Security would be beneficial, and gives participants choices in investment vehicles which offer opportunities for greater return on investment.

It is time for the truth, and the Ponzi scheme known as Social Security is a great place to start the debate on reforming, or with any luck eliminating, dozens of entitlement programs that are in fact bankrupting our country.

Ultimately, the federal government should be out of this business, allowing individuals to plan for retirement in ways that best serve their particular interests. If a base of support is necessary, each state can produce programs that best suit the needs of its citizens. It will take decades for this to occur, but steps taken now through a broad initiative can begin the lengthy process.

For folks my age, mid forties, and below, retirement plan forecasts should not include anticipation of any return from Social Security. Folks saving for retirement should indeed focus on a collection of market base instruments for a solid return on investment.

Top 25

2011-09-12T17:52:00.003-04:00

College Football

1. Oklahoma, 1-0, 1
2. Alabama, 2-0, 2
3. LSU, 2-0, 3
4. Florida State, 2-0, 4
5. Stanford, 2-0, 5
6. Texas A&M, 1-0, 6
7. Boise State, 1-0, 8
8. Oklahoma State, 2-0, 9
9. Arkansas, 2-0, 10
10. Nebraska, 2-0, 7
11. Wisconsin, 2-0, 11
12. South Carolina, 2-0, 12
13. Oregon, 1-1, 13
14. Virginia Tech, 2-0, 14
15. Michigan State, 2-0, 16
16. Florida 2-0, 19
17. Ohio State, 2-0, 15
18. Arizona State, 2-0, 20
19. West Virginia, 2-0, 17
20. Auburn, 2-0, NR
21. South Florida, 2-0, 22
22. Mississippi State, 1-1, 18
23. Baylor 1-0, 23
24. Michigan, 2-0, 25
25. Central Florida, 2-0, NR

OUT: Missouri and Penn State.

VOTES: Missouri, Texas, Houston, Maryland, Georgia, Miami, North Carolina, Texas Christian, Penn State, Utah State, Tennessee, Washington and Northwestern.

I am borrowing a line from someone, but the thriller played in Ann Arbor Saturday night was a-MAIZE-ing. Three touchdowns in the final minute and a half saw Michigan pull out a home victory over Notre Dame, sending the Irish to 0-2. While it was exciting, the defensive effort late in the game were horrendous, which bodes bad for both of these teams moving forward.....Oklahoma State looked real good on Thursday night, and T-Boone Pickens has invested well int he facilities in Stillwater....Iowa State, with a speedy and elusive signal caller, upended Iowa in Ames winning the CyHawk Trophy, although I thought I saw in the bedlam of the victory it may have gotten damaged....Georgia is 0-2, casting doubt on the future of Coach Mark Richt. I have met Coach Richt several times and I think highly of him, so count me among his fans. The Dawgs are young on D, but did put 42 points on the board against a strong South Carolina team. A stellar defensive by top ranked freshman Jadeveon Clowney sealed the fate of UGA. Clowney looks like a future All American; take a look:

Arizona State got a big win, outlasting Missouri out in Tempe....So far so good for Florida....Ohio State, who barely got by Toledo, may in trouble visiting the Hurricanes, who will be ready....Florida State may be sandbagging, but the offensive line looks suspect, so for the Seminoles to win, EJ Manuel will have to come up big, both with his feet and his arm. I have faith in the defense....Nebraska also is lacking up front right now, and they will need something more than fleet footed Taylor Martinez offensively down the road....Central Florida bombed Boston College, who although light in the interior on both sides, really got it taken too them. UCF is emerging as a BCS buster....Alabama strangled Penn State with defense as most expected....Minnesota and Purdue both suffered bad losses...Colorado and Cal played a thriller also....Many thought Auburn would get beat by up and coming Mississippi State, myself included, but played strong on the plain and took out the Bulldogs with a goal line stand...Michigan State looks good, but has an against the wall Notre Dame this weekend...Wake Forest dumped NC State, which would not have happened had the Wolfpack retained QB Russell Wilson, who had another good performance directing the offense at Wisconsin...Clemson was scared by Wofford....Vanderbilt got a big win versus UCONN, who was in the Orange Bowl a year ago.

Sunday Night Song

2011-09-11T18:47:00.005-04:00

Today, on the tenth anniversary of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, the 9-11 Memorial was dedicated among a series of events during this day of remembrance.

At the events at Ground Zero this morning, America's Mayor, Rudy Giuliani, read from scripture.

Very shortly afterward, Paul Simon performed an acoustic rendition of his terrific song he made famous as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, The Sound of Silence. The song is as beautiful as the Memorial is, and is the choice for the Sunday Night Song for 9-11-11.

May God Bless all those who gave on this day, the families of those lost and The United States of America.

Never Forget

2011-09-11T09:39:00.014-04:00

Islamic terrorists remain committed to killing us.

Have you forgotten?

Top of the world

Evil spit in our face on the morning of September 11, 2001. As America sought comfort on this horrendous day, most found God watching over us. We had faith, which helped us through the incredible grief. With evil lurking all around us, we found love, courage and faith standing tall in the fire.

Although this is a day of remembrance, we must never forget!

I have not forgotten. Never Forget! Political correctness be damned, we must remain committed to taking out evil wherever it exists.

Top 25

2011-09-06T22:17:00.011-04:00

College Football

1. Oklahoma, 1-0, 1
2. Alabama, 1-0, 2
3. Louisiana State, 1-0, 4
4. Florida State, 1-0, 3
5. Stanford, 1-0, 6
6. Texas A&M, 1-0, 8
7. Nebraska, 1-0, 7
8. Boise State, 1-0, 10
9. Oklahoma State, 1-0, 9
10. Arkansas 1-0, 12
11. Wisconsin, 1-0, 13
12. South Carolina, 1-0, 11
13. Oregon, 0-1, 5
14. Virginia Tech, 1-0, 14
15. Ohio State, 1-0 19
16. Michigan State, 1-0, 20
17. West Virginia, 1-0, 16
18. Mississippi State, 1-0, 21
19. Florida, 1-0, 21
20. Arizona State, 1-0, 25
21. Missouri, 1-0, 23
22. South Florida, 1-0, NR
23. Baylor 1-0, NR
24. Penn State 1-0, NR
25. Michigan, 1-0, NR

OUT: Notre Dame, Georgia, Texas Christian and Texas.

VOTES: Texas, USC, UCF, Texas Christian, Houston, Notre Dame, Georgia, North Carolina, Maryland, Northwestern, Clemson, Utah State, Auburn, Miami, Iowa, Arizona and Washington.

Robert Griffin III was spectacular in leading Baylor to a high flying victory over ranked Texas Christian. With TCU rallying from 25 down to take a late fourth quarter lead, Griffin III and the Bears actually beat the Horned Frogs twice. Griffin III would be a Heisman front runner if he played at a major school, and may get my vote anyhow....Defending champion Auburn was nothing short of lucky to edge Utah State, and if this gives us a glimpse of the future, the Tigers are looking five losses in the eyeball.....Notre Dame, preseason #6 in Athlons, got dumped in the rain at home, turning the ball over five times inside the USF five yard line. USF beating you at home has gotten a handful of coaches fired.....Georgia got manhandled by Boise State, and Mark Richt had better light a fire fast, for his seat in burning....As is Rick Neuheisel at UCLA, who fell to Houston and their high powered offense.....UCF opened to splendid reviews on both sides of the ball and is looking to enter the top 25 with a win this week over Boston College.....Washington is most fortunate to remain unbeaten, as is Purdue....LSU punched Oregon in the mouth, just like we thought, but was very impressive in doing so.....Kentucky has offensive issues, while Virginia Tech and North Carolina looked good.....Missouri, USC and Clemson were not sharp...Florida State and Nebraska have offensive line issues but are among the best in the nation on defense....OU looked good, with heavy hearts on learning of the death of NFL Hall of Famer Leroy Selmon, Tampa Bay's favorite Buc who along with brothers Dewey and Lucious at OU, formed as ferocious a defensive line the Big 8 had ever seen.....Russell Wilson looked like he had been at Wisconsin his whole career, and established himself as a candidate for Big Ten MVP and potentially a Heisman Trophy, and gives Wisconsin hope for a big season if they can clean it up defensively....Bad weather plagued several games over the weekend, with Western Michigan at Michigan and Marshall at West Virginia on two separate days being "called". While on rare occasion a game may need to be delayed due to lightning in the immediate area, officials everywhere have taken political correctness to the extreme. I have been in Tallahassee during a delay with the most beautiful sunshine imaginable outside but lightning hitting five miles away. This business of calling games is unacceptable, for that hurts statistics and the opportunity for guys like me to get a chance to play. The elements are part of the game, so unless an electrical storm of the ages is on top of the stadium, let the pigskin fly....Behind Danny O'Brien, a true sophomore quarterback worth all the accolades, Maryland, in dazzling new uniforms, held off Miami at College Park. UM quarterbacks continue to throw to the wrong team, which leads to losses. Anyhow, the Terrapin uniforms created quite a stir, and as a descendant of Lord Baltimore, I kind of liked them, particularly the helmets.

Our Time

2011-09-01T18:52:00.001-04:00

This ain't their time. THIS IS OUR TIME!

GO SEMINOLES!

Omaha Oracle Fumbles On Taxes

2011-08-30T18:36:00.010-04:00

When you tax something, you get less of it. This simplistic theory is Economics 101, which is why it is so very puzzling that the worlds most successful investor, Warren E. Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway of Omaha, is so out to lunch on taxation. Is he having lunchtime bananas with the monkeys over at Doorly Zoo?

As a fellow Nebraskan, Cornhusker and stock investor, I have long admired Warren Buffett, often employing many of his techniques in my investment philosophy. Like Mr. Buffett, I am a longtime shareholder of The Coca Cola Company (KO:NYSE) and I do own shares of Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B:NYSE). I have always listened carefully to Buffett on market matters, noting his analysis and transactions on the corner of Wall and Broad.

Buffett, now ranking as third among the most wealthy individuals in the world, and unfortunately a big supporter of President Obama, wrote an opinion piece recently in The Wall Street Journal, championing the need for revenues (raising of taxes) and an increase in the level of taxation among the wealthiest Americans. In other words, taking money from successful individuals to give to those who for whatever reason have failed to achieve high levels of income. That is like Nebraska giving a less fortunate Kansas State three touchdowns. Absurd!

Buffett's unyielding support of President Obama, who has destroyed job creation and investment with his high taxation, expansive regulatory control and wealth redistribution policies, is bewildering. PGA golfer Paul Azinger has created more jobs than Obama. But for Buffett to editorialize support for policies that run against sound free market economic theory suggests the best days of Buffett may be behind him.

Buffett claims his secretary pays higher taxes in relative terms than he does. Since Buffett draws the greater majority of his income through stock dividends, this statement is thankfully accurate. Investors Business Daily explains and properly calls Buffett out.

Berkshire Hathaway's stock price has been diving since about the time Buffett editorialized, or when Obama and his policies handed Uncle Sam his first credit downgrade. Given the thought process behind the piece and the economic policies Obama and Buffett are eager to employ, one can certainly understand why. Furthermore, Buffett and Berkshire actually have tax issues to deal with, an incredible irony considering. Where is Timothy Geithner when you need him?

The bottom line is Buffett is far off the mark. Government has been criminally negligent engaging on a spending spree which is set to bankrupt generations. Given that alone, government has demonstrated their inability to efficiently utilize the tax dollars they do receive. For America to emerge out this economic malaise, regulations must be retracted and tax rates need to be lowered, allowing businesses, entrepreneurs and small business to to create, innovate and flourish. This will increase the tax receipts the government receives all the while putting American citizens back to work, restoring pride and dignity to our first class workforce.

At such time, would it be too much to ask for government to discontinue rewarding bad behavior, cease all redistribution of wealth policies and spend our tax dollars wisely? As you may have heard across the fruited plain recently, we are TEA, or taxed enough already.

Sunday Night Song

2011-08-28T19:42:00.003-04:00

As you may have heard, Glen Campbell has announced that he has Alzheimer's disease. Health permitting, Glen will turn the Goodtime Hour into a Goodbye Tour. A scheduled date in Central Florida in early 2012 will find my family in attendance.

Glen and his wife Kim spoke with ABC News Nightline earlier this week:

In the interview, Glen mentioned his favorite song of his illustrious career. Still on the line, it was the Jimmy Webb composition Wichita Lineman, which is tonights Sunday Night Song. Enjoy!

2011 Florida State Seminoles Preview

2011-08-28T16:16:00.005-04:00

OFFENSE

Florida State will enter 2011 with a new quarterback, but then again, EJ Manuel is very experienced with significant playing time and having engineered two bowl victories. Manuel is an imposing figure at 6'4", 235, and he is quite dangerous running the football. The outside passing game is strong with Manuel, but he has shown issues in the past working the middle of the field. Manuel is only a redshirt junior, so he has everything still in front of him. A stable of experienced wideouts would help, but the Seminoles receiving core, although talented, is ready for a few players to emerge as game breakers. Bert Reed seems poised, while Willie Haulstead and Rodney Smith have shown flashes of speed and ability, particularly Smith who at 6'6", should be money in the red zone. A committee of running backs keep everyone fresh. Chris Thompson is far more consistent than his challengers and has goodbye speed, but Jermaine Thomas and Ty Jones are very solid. Two freshman, Devonta Freeman and James Wilder, Jr., seem mature and ready to push for playing time. Lonnie Pryor is an outstanding fullback, slotback, running and receiving threat out of the backfield. The offensive line lost some valuable members, but Coach Rick Trickett likes his group. Andrew Datko is very good at tackle and Zebrie Sanders is as well, but both have had injury issues. Trickett cannot stop raving about C Jakob Fahrenkrug, a JC transfer who will start day one and has a brilliant future. David Spurlock is another good player, who also has had injury issues. Jacob Stanley, Byron Stork and Henry Orelus will be counted on to step up, and a few new faces will be counted on to provided depth. This is the Seminoles most vulnerable position.

DEFENSE

Two season ago, this unit was a mess, getting torched repeatedly. Mark Stoops came in last fall and did a phenomenal job, turning the unit not only into a respectable unit, it became a unit ready to aggressively take over a ball game, as South Carolina can attest to. For 2011, the Seminoles will field one of the nations best stop troops, a unit that is young and blessed with quality depth. Defensively, it all starts up front, where FSU welcomes back Brandon Jenkins, among the nations leaders in sacks a year ago. Jenkins is considered by most media outlets an All America player. Sophomore Bjoern Werner has emerged as a quite a player opposite Jenkins, while in the middle, Jacobbi McDaniel, Everette Dawkins and Anthony McCloud form a solid nucleus, fighting off challenges from a host of young teammates, including true freshman Tim Jernigan. ILB Nigel Bradham returns to lead the linebacking core, where an abundance of young talent seems ready to elevate their game. Christian Jones out of Winter Park Lake Howell, Vince Williams from Davenport look to hold off Telvin Smith and Jeff Luc among others for the starting spots. All these guys will play and FSU has total confidence in each of them. The secondary is a real strength on this team. Greg Reid, know for his gifted nose for the ball and return capabilities, has emerged into a total player at field corner, able to lay the wood when needed. Xavier Rhodes has NFL scouts drooling at boundary corner, with Nick Waisome and Mike Harris as alternates. Lamarcus Joyner is in a strong safety and a real battle in fall camp between Nick Moody and Terrance Parks for free safety has everyone buzzing, meaning both are very solid. True freshman Karlos Williams may get in the mix as well, and he has the look of a future superstar.

INTANGIBLES

The schedule is again among the nations toughest. FSU will welcome preseason #1 Oklahoma to Doak Campbell with ESPN's College Football Gameday coming along. While FSU could still accomplish almost all of it's goals, including an ACC title, a state title, a BCS berth and a National Championship (would need help) with a loss to OU, this is a big game to set the tone for the season, carving in stone the return of FSU to the nations elite. Win or lose, a very tough game, which could derail most of FSU's goals, come the following week at Clemson. FSU will need mental toughness, but this is part of the program Jimbo has been installing since he took over. FSU will also have a very good kicking game, which can be a major factor in winning close games. Miami has issues, but while Florida seems down, they have top level talent and could put it all together as the 'Noles come calling., so count on that being a tough game.

HONORS CANDIDATES

EJ Manuel has a chance to be All ACC with Russell Wilson gone from NC State. If he can remain healthy, Andrew Datko would be All ACC as well, and I think Chris Thompson, provided he is on the field enough and Rodney Smith could be all conference as well. Brandon Jenkins is All America and Greg Reid, should he contiue to improve, is as well. Nigel Bradham is minimum All ACC, with Joyner, Rhodes, McDaniel and Werner having a chance. Dustin Hopkins at placekicker could also challenge for national honors.

NEW ARRIVALS

A top notch recruiting class will yield several contributors to this years squad. JC transfer Jacob Fahrenkrug is anchored at center, already demonstrating veteran leadership at a very tough position. Nick Waisome will play at corner, while Karlos Williams seems poised to get on the field at safety, while Devonta Freeman and James Wilder, Jr. may find the field at running back. JC transfer Cornellius Carradine could emerge at backup rush end and Timmy Jernigan is turning heads on the defensive line. Given the squad coming back, it is a testament to the incoming talent for this many players to be challenging for playing time.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Last year we saw FSU winning the Atlantic and playing for the ACC title noting the future is bright. We hit it dead on. This season, the Seminoles will employ stifling defensive unit full of depth, which puts FSU in every game. The offense will gain strength as the season progresses and Manuel becomes seasoned. A win over OU could springboard FSU into the title hunt, and it just might happen. For FSU to reach that high, the offensive line will have to hold up and remain free from major injury, for depth in this area is a major concern. The 'Noles may well be a year away from National Title talk, but maybe not.

GAMEDAY GALLLERY

PLAYER PHOTOS/Getty Images

2011 Nebraska Cornhuskers Preview

2011-08-27T15:27:00.010-04:00

OFFENSE
Over the last several years, while Nebraska has been playing top notch defense, the offense, while at times showing promise, continued to fail to live up to expectations. The 'Huskers appeared to be shaking off the offensive woes last fall, led by Freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez. T-Magic looked brilliant at times, but he got hurt and the offense lost all sense of potency. Bo Pelini made a change at the coordinator position for 2011, a welcomed development to be sure in Cornhusker country. Tim Beck takes over, and the offense his is installing is one that should accentuate the skills of Martinez. If Martinez is healthy, I think he could be a superstar, as I think his passing skills are underrated. Up front, the pipeline has seemed broken in recent years, but this line has the opportunity to be very good. Mike Caputo is solid at center, and Andrew Rodriguez is a future star. Marcel Jones, Jeremiah Sirles and Jermarcus Hardrick are experienced tackles. Coaches are also high on Brent Qvale at guard. Rex Burkhead is a multi talented back, who should easily surpass 1000 yards this year. A pair of freshman, Aaron Green and Ameer Abdullah could see significant playing time. Kyler Reed is a weapon at tight end. Brandon Kinnie returns to lead the receiving core, but behind him there is limited experience. A couple of players need to stand up at this position, but an emerging star in Jamal Turner, a true freshman who arrived early and shined in spring drills, has the skill set to immediately be a difference maker on the field. Kenny Bell and baseballer Khiry Cooper are among those who could emerge at the wideout position.

DEFENSE

The Blackshirts will be nothing short of smothering this fall, without doubt the strength of this football team. Up front, All America DT Jared Crick is a top NFL draft pick, who has the rare combination of size and speed, a run stuffer and fearsome pass rusher. Baker Steinkhuler will join Crick on the interior to form perhaps the best defensive tackle duo in the nation. Carmeron Meredith, a proven player, returns on the outside, but Eric Martin, Jason Ankrah, Josh Williams and Joseph Carter are in the fight for the other DE spot. Martin is a fierce hitter, so if he can grasp the playbook, he could emerge as a real difference maker. Lavonte David, in his first season with the 'Huskers in 2010, had a record breaking year in tackles at inside linebacker and earned honorable mention All America honors. David is a sure fire All America selection this fall, and should be in the mix for the Butkus Award; a truly great player. Sean Fisher and Will Compton, both injured a year ago, are back and are very good linebackers. Depth is unproven at this spot, but the starters are very good. Alfonzo Dennard returns for his senior year at cornerback, and is pre-season All America. He is a little gimpy to start the year, but he will be fine and dominate the field side. Ciante Evans, who played very well after being thrown into the fire a year ago, is talented and should settle in at boundary corner. Anthony Blue is solid as a backup, and Dijon Washington is making progress and looks like the next player in. Courtney Osborne, PJ Smith, Corey Cooper and Austin Cassidy are the safeties. I would like to see one of these guys become a real force at this position this fall.

INTANGIBLES

Unthinkable 2 years ago, the Cornhuskers are now members of the Big Ten Conference. Although the Big Ten has perennial power Ohio State, the Buckeyes are staggered from off the field issues that leave them with suspended players and an interim coach. Although Coach Pelini played at Ohio State and has familiarity of the stadiums and climate of the conference, it will still be new for Nebraska having to learn about all the new teams while each prior Big Ten team will only need to study NU. Even so, Nebraska is the best team in this conference and has the tools to overcome a brutal schedule. A trip to Wisconsin seems to be the major hurdle they will need to tackle, although late road contests at Penn State and Michigan sound difficult. The 'Huskers will have Iowa as the new rival with regular season ending contests, but this year it is in Lincoln. Outside the conference, Washington, who after getting pummelled by the 'Husker in Seattle earlier in the year, roughed up a flat and unmotivated Nebraska team in the Holiday Bowl. Nebraska was embarrassed, and so was I. So, I think the Huskies will not find their trip to Lincoln and enjoyable one.

HONORS CANDIDATES

Jared Crick will be considered for the Outland, Lombardi and Bednarik Trophies and win All American honors from his defensive tackle position. Lavonte David will earn All America honors and will be among the favorites for the Butkus Award. Alfonzo Dennard could also win All America honors and should be on the Jim Thorpe short list. Rex Burkhead and Taylor Martinez could earn all conference honors as well.

NEW ARRIVALS

Jamal Turner, a true freshman who enrolled early and participated in spring drills, showed flashes of brilliance. Recruited as a quarterback, Turner has moved to wideout to get on the field. He should figure prominently at both wide receiver and as a return man in the kicking game. Aaron Green was highly ranked in the ESPN 150 and given the lack of proven depth at tailback, he has an opportunity to star if he is the real deal. Brion Carnes looks great as the backup quarterback and Jake Cotton, along with Tyler Moore from Clearwater Countryside is making some noise on the offensive line.

FINAL ANALYSIS

Nebraska will face a slew of obstacles this fall. Most importantly, they face a difficult schedule as they enter the Big Ten Conference, which by itself presents a myriad of unfamiliarity. Each of those teams will have it out for the Big Red. On top of that, Nebraska will be working with a new offensive coordinator, who has installed a new offense. This is a good development long term, but may have some test in the short term. QB Taylor Martinez is another wild card, for if he can remain healthy and regain the "magic", it could elevate the 'Huskers to national title consideration. Unfortunately, as evidenced by the home game with Texas and the bowl game, last fall, The Big Red seems to lack the mental toughness to bring it each week, although this may have been a result of the poor play by the offense. Nebraska should win the Big Ten, but will likely have a loss along they way, which keeps them out of the National Title hunt. Martinez will be the key, and if he can strike magic, look out because the defense will be smothering.

GAMEDAY GALLERY

Is The Game Up?

2011-08-23T19:24:00.008-04:00

The US financial markets blew up in 2008 in the aftermath of a housing crisis, a bubble caused by easy money and governmental influence, one far from in conclusion. According to the Obama administration, their policies pulled the US economy from the brink of depression and have jump started a recovery. And I am King Tut.

Birth Pangs. Day by day since, there continue to be warning signs of global financial collapse across the globe. From France burning two years ago to London two weeks ago, the natives are restless and are lashing out.

Broken in spirit, void of incentive and corralled from leadership, the youth who were promised a gravy train from a central planning government are violently attacking now that the money has run out. A history of Margaret Thatcher would seem appropriate.

Europe, joined at the hip in promoting global socialism, and through inclusion in the EU, search for stability by limiting member governments from operating independently with the necessary flexibility to innovate and increase production and individual wealth. Who could have seen the negative fall out coming?

Nigel Farage for one.

Farage hits a home run, one which should be absorbed as a shot heard round the world. Investors Business Daily notes in today's edition that Euro Zone debt fears start to hit France as the 10 year yield spread between France and Germany has tripled in recent weeks, which could be foretelling the financial contagion is spreading to the heart of Europe, just as Farage predicted.

Former FED Chair Alan Greenspan, The Maestro, who contributed to the easy money platform the housing crisis sprang from, weighed in on the Euro today, noting “The euro is breaking down and the process of its breaking down is creating very considerable difficulties in the European banking system,” Greenspan continues the European contraction would hurt profitability and stock values of American companies. You think?

The more central planners plan, the more their plans fail. The more their plans fail, the more they plan. Continue as they must to contain the fallout, we know one thing. Well, it won't work.

Greenspan correctly pointed out “The problem is that there is a growing cleavage in the economic and analytical and banking circles as to whether the Euro, which is the crucial issue here, should be 17 countries with very significantly different cultures” regarding the role of government, consumer spending and inflation. Indeed, while there can be alliances to further trade agreements, each country should have independent currencies for sound monetary policies to anchor allowing the necessary flexibility needed to create sustainable growth.

This is not the case in Europe, and with America moving swiftly to a cradle to grave entitlement nanny state, a global collapse is all but certain. PIIGS don't fly. Bailouts will lead to more bailouts, and at some point the money runs out.

Farage is quite right in hoping market principles derail the central planning elites prior to the spirit of the individual being lost for eternity. It is the principals of free market capitalism that provides the best path prosperity, and we must seek out and associate with leaders who are rock solid on this principle before the game is up.

Of course, in America, we always have the voting booth to cleanse out those void of our founding principles. At least for now.

The Right Decision

2011-08-22T18:43:00.013-04:00

Many young men are coming face to face with the decision of a lifetime, one which will no doubt play a very significant role in their future. Although I don't usually like the decision, more often than not, the young men are making the right call.

Although I am a casual Major League Baseball fan, college football is my sport, a sport losing several potential All America type players to the hardball. In fact, it seems my teams, Florida State and Nebraska, were sent on a MLB caused coordinated slide.

It appears it all began when Nebraska signed a player from Houston Jefferson Davis to a national letter of intent, who was a first round MLB selection. Carl Crawford is now among the top players in Major League Baseball, moving this past year from the Tampa Bay Rays over to the Boston Red Sox. Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, signed by Florida State out of Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul, MN, spent six years with the Toronto Blue Jays before returning to Florida State and winning the national championship and playing half a decade in the NFL. The Seminoles were stung again when three sport superstar Joe Mauer, remarkably out the same high school as Weinke, never enrolled at FSU, rather becoming the top player on the MLB diamond as a catcher with the hometown Minnesota Twins. While Weinke was never close to achieving the success of Crawford or Mauer on the diamond or in terms of financial compensation, he earned a nice financial foundation playing minor league ball, and post FSU in the NFL.

This year, another decision had to be made. Enter Bubba Starling, a top rated signal caller, who signed with Nebraska although he was certain to be a top draft pick in baseball. Starling was highlighted in a piece by Sports Illustrated earlier this spring. Take a look:

Like Mauer, Starling was selected by his hometown team, the Kansas City Royals, as the fifth pick in the draft. Football at the University of Nebraska or a big paycheck and a chance to play for years with the Royals, significantly lessening the chance of a career ending injury.

As you may suspect, although I think Starling really wanted to play pigskin with the Big Red, he signed on with the Kansas City Royals, reportedly signing a deal worth a guaranteed $7.5 million. Starling made the right decision no doubt. Most 'Huskers are also Royals fans, myself included, and the Royals future is bright as they have a fine young team that will no doubt be enhanced by the skills Starling possess. Starling will be joining Alex Gordon, the NCAA National Player of the Year as a senior baseballer at Nebraska in the Royals outfield.

I join Nebraska Coach Bo Pelini and Cornhuskers nationwide in wishing Bubba Starling all the best. Say Hi to George and Go Big Red!

Rumbling in the Heartland

2011-08-19T23:22:00.004-04:00

Sarah Palin is laying the groundwork for an unconventional presidential run, one that will shatter the pundits wisdom on how to get elected. America is clamoring for an outside of Washington common sense leader who can put to work the entrepreneurial spirit of the American people and unleash the economic firepower of this proud nation.

America the beautiful. Heck Yeah and Right On!