Monday, January 20, 2014

Legends In Their Own Minds

Oh, those victories are piling up, aren't they.

Although we are continuously informed of unimagined success via false rhetoric and propaganda, the reality on the ground cascades into defeat.

At least President Obama is a legend in his own mind, and in the narrow halls of the Obamabots mind sets.  

Our opponents stand in astonishment that we have elected such an individual to lead our once great nation; either an economic and international relations neophyte or an individual with identifiable to goals to bring this country to its knees through wealth redistribution to seemingly right ill-perceived wrongs in effort to promote social justice with equal opportunity, and outcomes.

Both lines of thinking will escalate the demise of this nation as we have known it, and just might get tens of thousands killed.

Take the Global War on Terror.

According to Obama, under his brilliant leadership, al Qaeda is on the run, with only factions, or in the words of that major sports fan Obama, the jay-vees, still causing limited trouble these days.  The war is over, again not possible without his intellectual acumen, and we can all rest easy now.

Except, the al Qeada flag was just recently raised over Fallujah and Ramadi, both located in the Anwar province of Iraq.  In fact, as Breitbart reports, Jim Bridenstine (R-OK), a former Navy pilot and combat Veteran in Iraq, says these locations are being used to launch attacks into Syria.

Remember Syria?

Recall back in August, President Obama took to the national airways to plead for national support to take this country to war against Syria, who Obama described as having used chemical weapons on its own people. What ever came of that?  Why is Obama no longer tearfully concerned about those poor children.

President Obama, not considering victory as a goal, informed a war weary nation he would end the war, and in his mind, he has with roaring success.  But in reality, he has waved the flag of surrender, (don't think for a moment he finds this negative), making all our spilled treasure practically worthless all the while having placed the United States in an increasingly vulnerable position.

Our "scheduled" retreat provides far reaching opportunities for our enemies, and while everything is sunshine and lollipops according to Obama and his propaganda mechanized media. Last Christmas Eve, Buck Sexton of The Blaze, offers us a legit scorecard of our foreign policy and national security.




There have been such "limited"events such as the Boston bombing, but none are more attention grabbing at the moment than the warnings of terror attacks surrounding the upcoming Olympics in Russia.

Amid a rash of terror threats, considered by most as active and alarmingly legitimate, there is growing concern worldwide which has resulted in unprecedented steps being taken to secure the games.  Alerts for as many as four "black widows" and a "white widow," the wife of a dead terrorist, have been released by authorities, with fear these operatives have already infiltrated the immediate area of the games.

The hunt is on, and various news agencies, including FOX News and CNN, have reported that the US has positioned war ships within reach for a multitude of scenarios.

Russia President Vladamir Putin has vowed to "do whatever it takes" to secure the games, but Russia has a tainted history in dealing with these terrorists.  Putin does not appear to be seeking much help from US authorities, although past working relationships in this arena have achieved results.

Sadly, the United States, under President Obama, has no credibility in terms of working relationships with allies in this arena, and furthermore, through weakness, has failed to present a stern front against the terrorists, rather embracing bad actors who harbor terrorists while embracing dialogue with those countries who actively engage in terrorist activities.  See Iran, who is now estimated to be only within weeks of being able to produce a nuclear weapon.

It is this lack of resolve, void of leadership, and a dovish if not sympathetic position on the extensive dangers of terrorism, that emboldens our enemies and increases opportunities for their success.  I subscribe to the Reagan philosophy of peace through strength, which is the opposite of the international relations being currently implemented by this strong reemergence of the blame America first crowd.

The global war on terror is not over.

I fear, having put these small minded arm chair philosophers fresh from the faculty lounge in charge, America and our partners in the west may indeed pay a steep price for not fighting these terrorist with a full arsenal.  If so, the reasons we were placed in such a position of vulnerability should be quite clear.

It would rest with our current leadership, Ms. Clinton included, who are legends in their own minds.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Time To Change Lanes

Recently, a blog post titled Breaking The Boardwalk, was presented detailing how early hopes have most certainly been lost when it comes to Chris Christie, the boisterous governor of New Jersey.

While early on Christie had exhibited such promise, it has become increasingly clear that Christie, while certainly preferable to Hillary Clinton in a 2016 presidential campaign, is not someone who should be placed in the position to represent the republican party in 2016; or at least the republican party once commanded by Ronaldus Magnus.

Christie has found himself at the center point of a ever increasing scandal involving members of staff closing several lanes of the George Washington bridge, a very heavily traveled bridge connecting New Jersey with Manhattan.  The drive by media cannot get enough of the story, as they see it damaging to who they view as the main challenger to a Hillary Clinton nomination in 2016.

Gov. Christie has denied any knowledge of the actions of his staff members, noting he was heartbroken and "disturbed by the tone and behavior and attitude" from those long time associates within his staff.  It is exactly that culture, which no doubt houses Christie himself, that is troubling. 

At least Christie, in a news conference, accepted responsibility for the debacle, asked forgiveness from the citizenry and sought to be received by the mayor Fort Lee, a Christie critic, to apologize, which he was in what was described as a cordial meeting.  Fort Lee, by the way, is not some relay station along the Hudson, but rather a major business area, home in fact to the operations of CNBC.

Christie had previously said the bridge lane closures were part of a traffic study.  So, if we got this straight, because the government needs information, easily gathered through a handful of means, lane closures causing untold discomfort, losses in time and wages, and potentially interfering with law enforcement and ambulance activities was deemed necessary.

Rather than noting the lane closures as part of this potential study, had I been the Governor of New Jersey, it would seem obvious the pain inflicted upon the citizenry far exceeds the benefit of having to acquire this information in that particular fashion.  Is not everyone on board with that?

The tentacles of this story are plentiful, but most of them will not grace the front pages of the nations leading newspapers or the mainstream media news organizations.

Democrats. No, democrats and an alarming amount of republicans. No. While progressives are using this opportunity to blast Christie's potential clash with Clinton, calling his actions reprehensible, the have a blind eye to the actions President Obama, which make the bridge lanes closures look like failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.

Obama administration scandals such as Fast and Furious, Benghazi, the IRS targeting of conservative groups, the manipulation of economic data, NSA data collection programs and politicizing the Department of Justice are considered completely within the realm sensible political action by his progressive supporters on both sides.  Have any of the above scandalous incidents been adequately investigated with any conclusions drawn?  Why? Obama has said he will get to the bottom of each of these issues save the economic data, but has gave us nothing but lies, now at least verified regarding Benghazi.

What Bridgegate and the above referenced Obama administration scandals have in common is the abuse of power.  As Rush Limbaugh pointed out, "whether Governor Christie or President Obama were personally aware of the abuses perpetrated on their behalves is irrelevant. On some level, they set a tone in their administrations that signaled that such hardball would be tolerated," that a culture had been established of get your enemies."

Members of Christie's staff did just that with the lane closures, drawing appropriate scorn.  But, where is the public scorn for President Obama, who told his political operatives not to bring a knife to a gun fight.  In addition, Obama he told supporters to "punish our enemies".  His top advisor Valerie Jarrett, was clearer in commentary; “After we win this election, it’s our turn. Payback time,” warned Valerie Jarrett, Mr. Obama’s longtime senior adviser. “Everyone not with us is against us, and they better be ready because we don’t forget. The ones who helped us will be rewarded, the ones who opposed us will get what they deserve. There is going to be hell to pay.”

One should keep in mind, by the way, that those "against them" are American citizens her boss was elected to serve.

While the actions associated with Bridegate fail miserably to challenge those of the Obama administration, one thing is crystal clear; progressives who view government as the answer to all the problems have no problem utilizing governmental levers upon the citizenry, no matter the encroachment on liberty and freedom, as you are insignificant to their reign of power. 

This is called tyranny, as appropriately pointed out in a recent column by Dr. Milton Wolf in the Washington Post.

Glenn Beck further examines the similarities between Christie and Obama, which may come as quite a stunner to many.  Take a listen:



With no lane closures impacting travel plans, the media continues to travel down all the wrong avenues. Focused on 2016, they intentionally hide the real story you should be considering in an effort to keep you from being able to adequately consider what is taking place.

Many look the other way if is one of "their" team members, apparently losing proper perspective.  Certainly, a 2016 Christie administration would be much more preferable than a 2016 Clinton administration in my estimation for thousands of reasons.  But, Bridgegate shows Christie is a big government politician, who thinks government, rather than the people, are in charge, and I do not have issue calling him out just because he, like me, is a republican.

Those who aim to keep the power away from the people think these actions are reasonable political operations.  They are members of the ruling class, who seek to tinker with the Constitution tranferring power from the poeple to political opeartives who deem they are more qualifed and educated to make decisions for the citizenry. Those of us who embrace the founding fathers, the rule of law and the power of the people, should recognize that these are not individuals who should be given the opportunity to serve the public.

 This applies to the 2014 mid terms, not just the presidential election 2016. Does anybody care?

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Is There Gold In The Hills

Procuring physical gold seems to be a rather problematic and time-consuming process.

While most of America was fully immersed in the Christmas holiday, Glenn Beck and his team noted a troubling story presented on the fantastic financial website Zero Hedge.

The story centers around a request from the German government to repatriate portions of their gold reserves held in America by The FED.  There are many tentacles to this story, which would leave many of my readers deep in the weeds, but the story itself from Zero Hedge offers a strong overview of the situation, complete with opportunities to seek additional depth on the story.  Please see the Zero Hedge blogpost HERE.

There are seemingly logical reasons for the retrieval of physical gold to issue plagued.  Perhaps foremost on the list is covered at the end of the Zero Hedge piece, in that China and India are hoarding physical gold.  An overview of the reasons behind this demand shines a spotlight on the real elephant in the room.

Meet the theory of hypothecation.

David Buckner joined Glenn Beck back a year or so ago to effort to explain hypothecation in what most would consider English. Please take a listen:



In reflecting on the Christmas season, the wonderful Frank Capra movie Its A Wonderful Life comes to mind when attempting to provide a basic overview of hypothecation.

The Bailey Building and Loan Association, of which the central character George Bailey was the president, engaged in mortgage lending, lending out portions of monetary deposits to qualified buyers in an affordable housing project.  Provided the association retained proper reserve requirements without commingling funds, this was a quite ordinary and profitable enterprise for such a loan association.  Failure to adhere to regulatory banking laws would appropriately lead to fraud likely commensurate with incarceration upon conviction.

Enter The Federal Reserve.  The FED, as the holder of the physical gold, may lend to banks, and others, utilizing the gold as collateral, provided the depositors have consented to such an agreement.  An agreement in this regard would certainly have reserve requirements, although the FED, not being a public company and a quasi-governmental firm, has no regulatory requirement to publicly release terms of such agreements or asset balances.

Back to the request by Germany to obtain portions of their physical gold deposits from The FED.  The Zero Hedge piece noted the agreed upon amount of the first batch to be delivered was short, and Germany noted it was not the same gold initially deposited, as it was marked.

Why was did The FED short the batch size, and why were the gold bars not the original ones deposited?  Glenn Beck asks some legitimate questions about the batch and potential reasons for the alteration of the originally deposited gold bars, and the conclusions drawn are hair on fire troubling.





Has The FED deviated from common banking guidelines with respect to collateral requirements of gold reserves?  Does The FED actually possess the physical gold?  Are adequate reserves in place to accommodate the subsequent levels of hypothecation?

Where would these reserves be if not in the possession of The FED.  The financial crisis of 2008 was the greatest theft in history, and we still wonder who got all the loot.

If the gold is not possessed by The FED, given gold the position gold holds as the cornerstone of finance, the result would be catastrophic for everyone, and global collapse would be imminent.

Even Mr. Drysdale won't be able to fix this.

Dangerous Loonies On The Path

A Heroes Welcome.

New Years Day, when most of sane America is enjoying a day of watching college football bowl games, an attorney convicted of conspiring to defraud the United States and providing material support to terrorist activities was released from jail under a "compassionate release" policy.

Lynne Stewart, who aided Omar Abdel-Rahman, otherwise known as The Blind Sheik, should be considered an enemy of The United States of America should rot in hell for despicable behavior. The Blind Sheik, who participated in the orchestration of the first bombing of The World Trade Center, is among the most dangerous terrorist masterminds in the world, and any individual assisting him in the implementation of his terror tentacles should be incarcerated under our laws and should not fall under any criteria for release.

On FOX News The Kelly File, Megyn Kelly and Debra Burlingame, whose brother, a pilot of one of the hijacked airlines on 9-11, discusses the loathsome Stewart.  Take a listen:



Americans killed in the World Trade Center bombings, and our brave troops fighting terrorism world wide, receive no compassion from those who aim harm on the US, inclusive of Stewart.

FOX News Megyn Kelly engages in a discussion with Jay Sekulow, from the American Center for Law and Justice regarding this most unfortunate turn of events.



It is of immense concern that President Obama, by standing firm behind the actions of his Attorney General Eric Holder, would sanction by proxy the release of individuals who seek to harm the United States in such a grand scale.

However, it should not come as a shock to anyone who recognizes where Obama and his administration stand on the place America holds in the world, his disdain for our military and his embrace of those who have long histories of being counted among our enemies. Obama has considered the release of the Blind Sheik as a good faith gesture toward Iran.

I take another approach, first advanced by President George W. Bush in the immediate aftermath of 9-11, an evil and horrendous terror attack against the United States perpetrated by those attorney Lynne Stewart was found guilty of being in conspiracy with.

You are either with us, or you are against us.

A Heroes Welcome?

Among those obviously against us, (the United States) are those who welcomed and cheered the release of Stewart and participated in welcoming her back to freedom.  Who are these idiots?  Are these individuals this misguided or do they represent and ever expanding group of citizens who can be appropriately categorized as enemies within.

Notice is served.

While tens of millions cheered through HD Television and in stadiums nationwide LSU defeating Iowa and Nebraska upsetting Georgia on New Years Day, a collective group an America opponents welcomed the release of a high profile individual convicted in a court of law of assisting a terrorist mastermind in his effort to coordinate the death and destruction of not only the American way of life, but her citizens as well.

It is time we stand up against these folks in effort to transform our country into a globalist anti-America collection of troublemakers who disrespect our the rights of our citizens and the laws that govern our nation, from the passive trivial cult controlled by the infliction of pleasure to elected officials operating outside the Constitution.

The loonies on the path are expanding, and this is presenting grave danger to the future of America.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The Color & Pageantry Top 25

College Football

Final 2013 Top 25

1.       Florida State, 14-0, 1
2.       Auburn, 12-2, 2
3.       Michigan State, 13-1, 6
4.       South Carolina, 11-2, 7
5.       Missouri, 12-2, 4
6.       Oklahoma, 11-2, 12
7.       Clemson, 11-2, 9
8.       Alabama, 11-2, 3
9.       Oregon, 11-2, 11
10.     Stanford, 11-3, 5
11.     Louisiana State, 10-3, 10
12.     Central Florida, 12-1, 17
13.     Ohio State, 12-2, 13
14.     Baylor, 11-2, 8
15.     Oklahoma State, 10-3, 14
16.     UCLA, 10-3, 15
17.     Louisville, 12-1, 18
18.     Texas A&M, 9-4, 20    
19.     Wisconsin, 9-4, 19
20.     Duke, 10-4, 21
21.     Southern Cal, 9-4, NR
22.     Notre Dame, 9-4, 24
23.     Washington, 9-4, NR
24.     Nebraska, 9-4, NR
25.     Arizona State, 10-4, 16

OUT:  Miami (22), Iowa (24) and Georgia (25)

VOTES:  Vanderbilt, Iowa, Texas Tech, North Carolina, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Texas, Georgia, Arizona, North Dakota State and Miami.

BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Please find our analysis on the final BCS National Championship from Pasadena HERE. For a great read about the entire experience, please the following post from SBNATION.

BOWL GAME ANALYSIS

Colorado State roared from behind to take out Washington State in a most entertaining contest with Ram running back Kapri Bibbs running wild.......USC flexed some serious muscle, unlike last seasons lackluster performance in getting spanked by Ga.Tech, to smash up and coming Fresno State and heralded signal caller Derek Carr......San Diego State proved much to much for Buffalo.....The NO Superdome was almost full as Lafayette took out Tulane...Frank Solich and his Ohio Bobcats played strong but were overmatched by East Carolina, a game I actually watched most of at work on the wonderful WatchESPN....Oregon State easily disposed of Boise State, whose starting quarterback missed the game due to an unusual infraction....Pitt ran wild on Bowling Green, signaling issues for the MAC....Those issues of concern were warranted as Utah State won in controlling fashion over Jordan Lynch and Northern Illinois......Maryland lost to Marshall, but few recognize Marshall as the pretty good team they are....Minnesota had a very good year, with a home victory over Nebraska, but got dumped by Syracuse, who FSU beat 59-3 in November.....Washington defeated a sound BYU squad, and the Huskies are one of the best four loss teams out there....Notre Dame took out Rutgers in Yankee Stadium, a game much of Central Florida missed due to cable outage and notable for astute actions by ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer, who saved Chris Fowler from choking......North Carolina, seemingly for years, appears on the brink of becoming a major, but after a 1-5 start, doubt remained but the Tar Heels finished strong, blasting Cincinnati setting a catalyst for a decent 2014....Louisville destroyed Miami, with the Canes looking lethargic and uninterested, signaling a coaching alarm for me.....Even though Michigan had to play a reserve quarterback, Kansas State got them covered in every phase of the game, and Brady Hoke will begin to feel heat in his seat......Navy overwhelmed Middle Tennessee.....Ole Miss won a hard fought game against Georgia Tech....In the final game Mack Brown coached at Texas due to having been ousted, Oregon blasted the 'Horns, who are not what they used to be by any stretch....Texas Tech blasted Arizona State, who came in playing god football, and one must wonder the potential for the Red Raiders....In a game featuring two of the nations top running backs, KaDeem Carey and Andre Williams, Arizona bombed Boston College....UCLA, on the verge of becoming a solid top ten team, blasted Virginia Tech, who fielded an unusually poor team in 2013.....Mississippi State blasted a decent Rice squad, and eyes a bright future....Duke jumped all over A&M, scoring the first five times they had the ball, but behind the magical efforts of 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel, the Aggies came back to win a 52-48 contest.....See analysis of Nebraska's Gator Bowl win over Georgia HERE......North Texas bombed UNLV, and why this was a Jan 1 game is highly questionable.....Iowa played tough, but could not get past LSU, even with a backup signal caller....South Carolina beat Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl in beautiful downtown Orlando.....Michigan State came back to win a game of defensive strength against Stanford at the Rose Bowl......Baylor came in high flying, but upstart UCF, who won at Louisville and Penn State losing a tight home game to South Carolina after leading 10-0 at the half, jumped all over Baylor to easily win the Fiesta Bowl, a most significant milestone in the history of UCF, playing ball only since 1979 and seemingly cementing a brighter future....In stunning fashion, Oklahoma threw up 45 points in trashing the vaunted Alabama defense and disposing of the Crimson Tide, sending shock waves across the football landscape, and also a big win for the Sooners, who have been short on those in recent years.....Missouri outlasted Oklahoma State in a clash of former Big 8 rivals, a great y ear for the Tigers....Clemson beat Ohio State in the Orange Bowl giving the Tigers a much needed significant win after a somewhat disappointing 2013....After jumping out to a 24-0 lead, Vanderbilt held on to beat Houston for a second 9 win season in a row....Arkansas State used a brilliant fake punt to beat Ball State and Florida State beat Auburn 34-31 to win the 2013 National Championship at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.

It has been a most exciting season, and as a very proud alumni of The Florida State University, I congratulate the Seminoles; Undefeated and Unconquered, for daring to be great and achieving excellence.   Job well done!

2013 BCS & National Champion Florida State Seminoles

222 days to kickoff!

Controlled Destiny

Florida State Seminoles 2013 BCS Champions
Oddsmakers had established the number one ranked undefeated Florida State Seminoles as a ten point favorite in the final Bowl Championship Series National Championship against the SEC Champion Auburn Tigers at the Rose Bowl on Monday night.

The smart money was placed on FSU, and with good reason, as the Seminoles ran roughshod over each of their opponents, scoring a minimum of 37 points in each game and winning by an average of over 40 points per contest, which included an eye popping 51-14 win in a clash of unbeatens at Clemson, who ended the season as Orange Bowl Champions.

However, the public embraced a perceived team of destiny in the SEC Champion Auburn Tigers, who had dethroned defending champion Alabama along the way. Auburn started out slowly, but really became a force after the offense of new head coach Gus Malzan took hold and confidence built.  Then, there was the fact that the SEC, the nations premier conference, by far, had won seven consecutive BCS titles, with Alabama or Auburn winning the previous three.

After FSU took the opening drive, with alarming difficulty, down for a field goal, Auburn took charge, announcing they had come to seal their fate of destiny. Although the Tigers failed to own the line of scrimmage, they did a wonderful job of mixing the run and pass to puzzle the Seminoles, particularly with mid range passes in the middle of the field to post three scores.

Additionally, Auburn confused FSU's Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Jameis Winston, with the FSU starting slow for the third consecutive game. While it does not jump out at you on the stat sheet, the Tigers punting game pinned Florida State deep on a number of occasions, forcing the Seminoles to start drives deep in their own territory, which exponentially increases the difficulty in scoring.

Florida State continued to fight, grabbing a touchdown just before the half to close the deficit to 21-10.   However, after receiving the second half kick, FSU gained nothing and had to punt. But the Seminole defense stuffed the Tigers in the third period.

Leading 21-13 to begin the fourth period, Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, who had played brilliantly, forced a pass which was picked off by FSU cornerback PJ Williams, giving FSU a badly needed break.  The Seminoles responded, cutting the lead to 21-20. A potential opportunity to go for two was nullified by a mind boggling unsportsmanlike penalty on FSU running back Devonta Freeman.

The Tigers responded by scoring a field goal to take a 24-20 lead.  However, freshman Lavonte Whitfield, a world class printer from Orlando Jones HS, sprinted 100 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing kickoff to give FSU its first lead in moons, 27-24.

Auburn came to win, and trailing after the kick return, the Tigers mounted a very impressive drive, capped off by a thundering 37 touchdown run by tailback Tre Mason, a Heisman finalist who ran for 195 yards on the evening.  The Tigers were ahead 31-27, with 1:19 to play.

Jamies Winston went to work, hitting a few short passes, before connecting with Rashad Greene, who split two defenders a raced 49 yards downfield to give the Seminoles the file position to get the win.  As the degree of difficulty rose, Auburn was hit with a legitimate pass interference penalty giving FSU a first down and goal. Winston then hit Kelvin Benjamin over the middle for a touchdown, giving the Seminoles a 34-31 lead.

Kelvin Benjamin catches winning score from Jamies Winston
PHOTO/USA TODAY
Would Auburn, the team of destiny, be able to pull off yet another incredible win with 0:13 seconds remaining?

The Tigers would not.

Florida State took control of destiny on the beautiful evening at the Rose Bowl, winning the 2013 BCS National Championship. 

It seemed fitting, with FSU having lost to an SEC team in Tennessee in the first BCS Championship, to win the last BCS Championship against an SEC team in Auburn.

This game was emotionally tasking for the Seminole faithful.  FSU played tight much of the game, Winston was erratic and the receivers dropped a number of passes. FSU was the victim of many penalties and non penalties and decisively lost the field position battle. A poor punt with even worse coverage set up one Tiger score, while a Winston fumble set up another.  Auburn effectively victimized the FSU defense with mid range passes, and took it to the Seminoles in the line of scrimmage.

Auburn was completely as advertised, a very strong team clicking on all cylinders.  However, in the end, Florida State made the plays that were needed to win the game, including driving the field in less just over a minute for the winning score.  Winston hit nine of last ten passes to close the game.

FSU Coach Jimbo Fisher
PHOTO/CBS Sports
Congratulations to Coach Jimbo Fisher, the coaching staff and players for daring to be elite, keeping composure and delivering under fire when everything was on the line.  It was a great season, and the Seminoles finished the year unbeaten at 14-0 and are the 2013 National Champions, the third title for the Seminoles.

Job well done!

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Fixin To Find Out

On Monday night, the Florida State Seminoles will attempt to win their third national championship, and their first for head coach Jimbo Fisher, with a win over the Auburn Tigers.

The previous two titles were won under the leadership of famed head coach Bobby Bowden, in 1993 and 1999.

Coach Bowden took in practice today in Pasadena and weighed in on aspects of the game, the team and relived some history.



Wonderful to see Coach Bowden out there, and there is no doubt FSU would not find itself in this position without Bowden having laid the substantial groundwork in the formation of our top level football program.  This includes bringing Jimbo Fisher to the staff during his tenure.

Will FSU win it all Monday night?  As Coach Bowden would say, we are fixin to find out!

Saturday, January 4, 2014

All Bark; No Bite

The Nebraska Cornhuskers had by all accounts a difficult season in 2013.

Injuries took a major toll with losing All Big Ten quarterback Taylor Martinez for the season a few weeks in, along with All America guard Spencer Long halfway through. A young defensive unit failed to jell throughout most of the season, and the fundamental principle of protecting the football remained elusive for the Big Red.  Calls were made for changes of the coaching staff, including head coach Bo Pelini.

After a inexcusable home loss to Iowa to close the season, the Cornhuskers were invited to the TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl to face the Georgia Bulldogs, themselves injury stricken in 2013, for a rematch of the 2013 Capital One Bowl in Orlando, which the Bulldogs won late 45-31.

The game seemed a downer for both squads given expectations, but Jacksonville, provides a festive atmosphere and a great environment for bowling teams and their fan base, although much closer in proximity for the traveling Junkyard Dawgs.

The weather was suspect, about 55 degrees with intermittent rain showers, and the crowd was very light.  That did not stop us from participating in all the fanfare, inclusive of hanging out with the Husker cheer squad hours before kickoff.

Pre-Game Husker Cheer Pep Rally
Although Georgia was without senior quarterback Aaron Murray, among others, the Bulldogs did have back almost healthy running back Todd Gurley, who has a Sunday career in front of him.  In addition, most felt the Bulldogs had superior talent and should win the game by about 10 points.

But the Cornhuskers seemed in control right from the beginning, with strong running from Ameer Abdullah and sound decision making from freshman quarterback Tommy Armstrong II.  After almost fumbling deep in Big Red territory, which would have been game changing, Armstrong II dropped back and found Qunicy Enunwa on a 99 yard touchdown pass, which was ultimately the game winner.



Nebraska held Georgia late, stopping them on downs in the red zone to preserve the victory as Nebraska defeated Georgia 24-19, a win that saw the Bulldogs manage only one touchdown.  Kicking field goals will get you beat, as Mark Richt and Georgia found out.

It was a strong effort for the Big Red, enhanced by winning the turnover battle, one in which Nebraska usually fails miserably at.  Given the wet field conditions, this was extremely important. 

This was a much needed win for seemingly embattled coach Bo Pelini, and those within the Big Red program.  For a young team, this win offers a cornerstone to build upon entering 2014, where continued improvement can lead to an opportunity to win the conference title and perhaps challenge for national honors.

Although it was wet and cold, it was a great experience to be there to see Nebraska break a string of bowl losses dating back to defeating Clemson on the same field on January, 1, 2009.  Much of football is mental, from the coaches to the players, and this game gave the Big Red a glimpse of what can be possible, playing and defeating a top team from the SEC, perceived to be the best.

Nebraska finishes the season 9-4.  Preparation for the 2014 can begin with an advantage in mentality, a visualization of success that help a young team aim for and reach higher goals.  With a mental advantage, sometimes the bark of your opponent does not match their bite.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Enjoy Santa's ride into Manhattan to Radio City Music Hall for the performance for the world famous Radio City Rockettes Christmas Spectacular.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Sunday, December 22, 2013

2013 All America Team


The Color & Pageantry
2013 Post Season ALL AMERICA TEAM
Offensive Player of the Year
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
OFFENSE

WR     Mike Evans, Texas A&M
           6'5, 225, SO, Galveston, TX (Ball)

WR     Brandin Cooks, Oregon State
           5'10", 186, JR, Stockton, CA (Lincoln)

WR     Amari Cooper, Alabama
           6'1", 202, SO, Miami, FL (Northwestern)

TE      Eric Ebron, North Carolina
           6'4", 245, JR, Greensboro, NC (Smith)

OL      Jake Matthews, Texas A&M
           6'5", 305, SR, Missouri City, TX (Elkins)

OL      David Yankey, Stanford
           6'5", 315, SR, Roswell, GA (Centennial)

OL      Bryan Stork, Florida State
           6'4", 300, SR, Vero Beach, FL (Vero Beach)

OL      Cyril Richardson, Baylor
           6'5", 340, SR, Fort Worth, TX, (North Crowley)

OL      Cyrus Kouandjio, Alabama
           6'6", 311, Hyattsville, MD (DeMatha)

QB      Jameis Winston, Florida State
           6'4", 228, FR, Bessemer, AL (Hueytown)

RB      Andre Williams, Boston College
           6'0" 227, SR, Schnecksville, PA (Parkland)

RB     Bishop Sankey, Washington
          5'10", 203, JR, Spokane, WA (Gonzaga Prep)

RB     Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona
          5'10", 207, JR, Tuscon, AZ, (Canyon del Oro)

Defensive Player of the Year
Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Photo/CBSSports.com

DEFENSE

DE     Trent Murphy, Stanford
          6'6", 261 SR, Mesa, AZ (Brophy)

DT     Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh
          6'0", 285, SR, Pittsburgh, PA (Penn Hills)

DT     Timmy Jernigan, Florida State
          6'2" 292, JR, Lake City, FL (Columbia)

DT     Ra'Shede Hageman, Minnesota
          6'6" 311, SR, Minneapolis, MN (Washburn)

DE     Michael Sam, Missouri
          6'2", 225, SR Hitchcock, TX (Hitchcock)

OLB   Anthony Barr, UCLA
           6'4", 245, SR San Pedro, CA (Loyola)

ILB    CJ Mosely, Alabama
           6'2", 238, SR, Mobile, AL (Theodore)

ILB     Telvin Smith, Florida State
            6'3", 220, SR, Valdosta, GA (Lowndes County)

OLB    Marcus Smith, Louisville
            6'3", 252, Columbus, GA, (Hardaway)

DB      Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State
            5'11", 197, SR, Dry Branch, GA, (Twiggs County)

DB      LaMarcus Joyner, Florida State
           5'9", 190, SR, Fort Lauderdale, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)

DB      Ha Ha Clinton Dix, Alabama
            6'1", 208, JR, Orlando, FL (Dr. Phillips)

DB      Justin Gilbert, Oklahoma State
            6'0", 200, SR, Huntsville, TX (Huntsville)

DB      Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon
            5'10", 185, JR, Chino Hills, CA (Chino Hills)

SPECIALISTS

K         Roberto Aguayo, Florida State
            6'1", 203, FR, Mascotte, FL (South Lake)

P          Austin Rehkow, Idaho
            6'3", 202 FR, Veradale, WA (Central Valley)

KR       Ty Montgomery, Stanford
             6'2", 215, JR, Dallas, TX (St. Marks)

NC       Myles Jack, UCLA
             6'1", 225, FR Belleview, WA (Belleview)

HONORABLE MENTION:

QUARTERBACKS:  Johnny Manzeil, Texas A&M, AJ McCarron, Alabama, Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois, Bryce Petty, Baylor, Braxton Miller, Ohio State, Derek Carr, Fresno State, Blake Bortles, UCF and Connor Shaw, South Carolina.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, Jarvis Landry, LSU, Allen Robinson, Penn State, Sammy Watkins, Clemson, Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State, Willie Snead, Ball State, Jeremy Gallon, Michigan, Odell Beckham, Jr., LSU, Antwan Goodley, Baylor, Cody Latimer, Indiana, Allen Hurns, Miami and Davante Adams, Fresno State.

TIGHT ENDS: Jace Amaro, Texas Tech, Nick O'Leary, Florida State, Devin Funchess, Michigan, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington and C.J. Fiedorowicz, Iowa.

RUNNING BACKS: Tre Mason, Auburn, Kapri Bibbs, Colorado State, Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska, Todd Gurley, Georgia, Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin, Tyler Gaffney, Stanford, Jeremy Langford, Michigan State, Mike Davis, South Carolina, James White, Wisconsin, TJ Yeldon, Alabama, Henry Josey, Missouri and Carlos Hyde, Ohio State.

OFFENSIVE LINE: Gabe Ikard, Oklahoma, Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State, Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA, Antonio Richardson, Tennessee, Cameron Irving, Florida State, Tre Jackson, Florida State, Jack Mehwort, Ohio State, Ryan Groy, Wisconsin, Taylor Lewan, Michigan, Greg Robinson, Auburn, Hroniss Grasu, Oregon, James Hurst, North Carolina, Brandon Scherff, Iowa and Reese Dismukes, Auburn.

DEFENSIVE LINE:  Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina, Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State, Vic Beasley, Clemson, Jackson Jeffcoat, Texas, Will Sutton, Arizona State, Nikita Whitlock, Wake Forest, Leonard Williams, USC, Demarucs Lawrence Boise State, Jeremiah Attaochu, Georgia Tech, Kelcy Quarles, South Carolina, Randy Gregory, Nebraska, Kareem Martin, North Carolina,  and Dee Ford, Auburn.

LINEBACKERS: Shane Skov, Stanford, Khalil Mack, Buffalo, Denicos Allen, Michigan State, Max Bullough, Michigan State, Chris Borland, Wisconsin, Myles Jack, UCLA, Kyle Van Noy, BYU, Ryan Shazier, Ohio State, James Morris, Iowa and Anthony Hitchens, Iowa.

DEFENSIVE BACKS.  Jason Verrett, Texas Christian, EJ Gains, Missouri, Ahmad Dixon, Baylor, Terrance Brooks, Florida State, Kyle Fuller, Virginia Tech, Anthony Harris, Virginia, Deone Bucannon, Washington State, Chris Davis, Auburn, Ed Reyonolds, Stanford, Ty Zimmerman, Kansas State, Jimmie Ward, Northern Illinois, Calvin Pryor, Louisville, Kurtis Drummond, Michigan State, Cody Prewitt, Ole Miss, Bradley Roby, Ohio State and Ross Cockrell, Duke.

KICKERS: Jeff Budzien, Northwestern, Shawn Moffitt, UCF, Nate Freese, Boston College, Michael Geiger, Michigan State, Marshall Morgan, Georgia and Marvin Kloss, USF.

PUNTERS: Tom Hornsey, Memphis, Drew Kaser, Texas A&M, and Cody Webster, Purdue

KICK RETURNERS: Chris Davis, Auburn, Ryan Switzer, North Carolina, Nelson Agholor, USC, Jamieson Crowder, Duke, Chrstion Jones, Alabama and Tyler Lockett, Kansas State.

NEWCOMERS: Jameis Winston, Florida State, Christian Hackenburg, Penn State, Austin Rehkow, Idaho, Roberto Aguayo, Florida State, Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh, Jaerd Goff, Cal, Kendall Fuller, Virginia Tech, Brandon Facyson, Virginia Tech, Vernon Hargreaves III, Florida, Nate Andrews, Florida State, Zayne Gonzalez, Arizona State and Randy Gregory, Nebraska.

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Self Loathing

Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist Michael Ramirez has delivered yet another alarmingly illustrative metaphorical truth of unrivaled arrogance while collapse increasingly lurks about.
 
Michael Ramirez/Investors Business Daily
Taunting us, no doubt basking in the glow of his destructive accomplishments, Obama internally chuckles, knowing that with the help of a complicit media of propagandists, the majority of America, drowning in a sea of irrelevance, fails to see the real Obama.

Promises have turned to lies.  Transparency is cloaking in deception, and faith based principles are mired in a war with political correctness.  Legislation and executive orders are implemented to inflict short term pleasure sure to result in long term pain, a controlling mechanism.

Rule of law is escaping the hand of liberty, and lawlessness and chaos are seeping through weakened portals.  George Orwell thought society would be ruined by our fears.  Instead, the orchestrated collection of freebies through government forced redistribution for "have nots" aiming at exploitation of  the "haves" indicate it will be the desires Aldous Huxley warned us of that turn our land to ruin.

All the while Obama takes time to secure "The Selfie". 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

A Shepherd Who Led The Flock

Glenn Beck tearfully reports Ken Hutcherson, who has stage four cancer, is in the last days of losing his fight to this insidious disease.  We are all losing, as Sean Hannity puts it; A Great American.
 
Pastor Ken Hutcherson
Although I never had the pleasure to meet Hutch, it seems many of us have known him for years.  Hutch, who emerged from a troubled childhood to play NFL football for the Dallas Cowboys, often joined Rush Limbaugh on his number one rated nationally syndicated radio show to discuss the NFL Playoffs.  It was always a hoot.

In this past year, meeting through David Barton, Pastor Hutcherson and Glenn Beck have become great friends; their friendship no doubt cemented on faith and their rising fears regarding the declineof our great nation.

During this time, through appearance on Beck's nationally syndicated radio show and The Blaze, we all learned a lot from Hutch.  Beck recognized Hutch spoke truths that needed to be heard, an so began a four part series on The Blaze, Beck's emerging television network. An episode on fatherhood was particularly insightful; a most significant message Hutch wanted to aim at young inner city youth.



Though few of us actually knew Hutch, through his relationships with Rush, and particularly Glenn Beck, many of us have had the honor to get to know Hutch, hear his message, and learn to become better servants of God in the process.

Beck fought back tears this past Tuesday in discussing Hutch with his staff.  Please take a listen:



Hutch will be dearly missed by all of those he touched.  God Speed Hutch!

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Excitement Lost

As President Obama embarked on his new administration, many of us knew the avenues of approach on the road we were going to travel to fundamentally transform America from her exceptionalism and lofty position of prosperity in the world.

While this seems intolerable, and it is, in the aftermath of a financial shock, a seemingly orchestrated crisis, much of the citizenry seemed willing to almost blindly place allegiance behind a young GQ black Senator with little meaningful experience who vocalized an altered political arena and workable landscape for those noting reductions in their standard of living.

The financial crisis had placed much of America in a stranglehold, and hope for change was placed in the hands of our new president, although few would seek an opportunity to read the "fine print" regarding his plans for a new America, one based on fairness, embracing social justice and focusing on equal outcomes rather than equal opportunity.

One avenue of approach in the direct aftermath of the financial crisis was the government rescue of the large US automakers.  You see, given their financial constraints, they were unable to survive without government assistance. Except, while Chrysler and General Motors accepted governmental cash, Ford did not.

Those who could not stand on their own should have gone through the bankruptcy process, rather than having been bailed out.  The Wall Street Journal did not foresee the bailout as a worthy investment.

Ford has turned itself around quite nicely the old fashioned way, and for those who jumped in a $1 per share (F:NYSE), the current share price of approximately $17, it feels damn good to be an American.  With a distinct and measurable advantage of having borrowed from the government, both Chrysler, which since was sold, and GM have made significant gains.

The borrowing for GM can with a hidden cost; however, that most consumers were unaware of.

First, as an avenue to support the government sought after transition away from fossil fuels, Obama motors emerged building vehicles with energy sources whose supply failed miserably to match public demand.  Yes, due to global warming, nothing short of a vehicle for the transformation of wealth and the greatest hoax of all time, economic principles will be violated to advance a political agenda.  And due to GM accepting the cash, they were unable to deny the request, or mandate.

A second major decision, as it turns out, was also forced upon General Motors, and on a personal level, it is difficult for me to contain my rage on this one; the shutdown of the famed Pontiac Motor Division. GM did not want to go along with this, just having produced the Pontiac G8 Grand Prix sedan, which was a strong contender for Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2009.  But racy sport model sedans did not fit the agenda over at 1600 and the government forced GM to jettison the iconic brand. With no leverage against the government, who held the purse strings, the demise of Pontiac sadly became reality.


2009 Pontiac G8 GXP Grand Prix Sedan

VP Joe Biden, Pontiac Trans Am
So bent on advancing the alternate energy vehicles and working toward elimination of high powered V8 muscle cars, even Vice President Joe Biden, the owner of a classic Pontiac Trans Am, failed to take steps to thwart the shutdown. Shame on him.

Third, in a seemingly illegal action, those holding GM bonds were shut out in the reorganization, with the billions of taxpayer dollars going to the unions and political cronies along for the ride.

Fourth, the dealerships forced to close in the consolidation were overwhelmingly, over 80%, owned by GOP donors and or those owner-operators with vocal opposition to the agenda of the new administration.

While much of the automaker tale is classified by most as water under the bridge, it is worth noting that the administration agenda, one closely matching those outlined by Stuart Chase in his 1940's book "The Road We Are Traveling", is to achieve governmental control over significant engines of commerce, including transportation, health care, finance and communication among others.

Alas, there is good news reported by Pravda, oh excuse me, the mainstream media. GM, utilizing all that borrowed tax payer dollars, is "early chapters" of a comeback! However, don't get too excited about a return of all the lost taxpayer money.  It ain't gonna happen.

Time is said to heal all wounds.

Recently, Ken Blackwell, Senior Fellow of the Family Research Council and someone I respect and view favorably, asked Conservatives to rethink our animosity of GM.  It appears Blackwell subscribes to the axiom of George W. Bush of abandoning the free market system in order to save the free market system.  I do not.

As many of you may have previously read, my family has always driven Pontiac cars and Chevrolet SUV's and have always held the product in high regard.  That remains the case as this blogpost is written.

However, my Chevy Trailblazer is nearing 200K miles, and although in good shape, if global economic collapse can be averted next year, it likely will be time to make a move.

Due to GM associating with the regime, the closing of the Pontiac Motor Division, seemingly illegal targeting of political opponents, the rewarding of union cronies with taxpayer funds and my unwillingness to support socialism and the regime, a penalty will be levied and my next move will be the purchase of a 2014 Ford Explorer.

The regime should know cash is king. Pontiac built excitement, but thanks to the regime, that excitement is lost.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

House of Heisman

Jameis Winston
Davey O'Brien Trohpy
CFPA Player of the Year
After a brilliant season on the gridiron, Florida State redshirt quarterback Jameis Winston is the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday at The Marriott Marquis in Times Square in Manhattan.

Winston has overcome some legal issues in the weeks leading up to the voting, with the district attorney in Tallahassee announcing that charges will not be files against Winston in the aftermath of a complaint of sexual assault.

Had Winston not allowed a self proclaimed lapse in maturity to cloud the picture, this young man could well have won the Heisman by the largest margin in history.

Due to the lack of a stellar season from other contenders, he still might.

Winston will be the third Heisman winner from Florida State, joining fellow winners Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke.

I do not have a Heisman vote, but if I had one, the ballot would read as follows:

1.     Jameis Winston, Florida State
2.     Andre Williams, Boston College
3.     Johnny Manzeil, Texas A&M

For some background, I have personally seen live in person the following eleven Heisman winners play at some point during their college careers:

Johnny Rodgers, Nebraska, 1972*
Billy Sims, Oklahoma, 1978*
Mike Rozier, Nebraska, 1983*
Doug Flutie, Boston College, 1984
Bo Jackson, Auburn, 1985*
Vinny Testeverde, Miami, 1986*
Gino Torretta, Miami, 1992*
Charlie Ward, Florida State, 1993*
Danny Wuerffel, Florida, 1996*
Chris Weinke, Florida State, 2000*
Eric Crouch, Nebraska, 2001

*Saw the player play during the year they won the award

In fact, two played in one game, Bo Jackson and Doug Flutie, in the 1982 Tangerine Bowl in beautiful downtown Orlando with Auburn beating Boston College 33-26.  Please see the following highlight:



Having seen Jameis Winston play live on several occasions, as advertised to be sure, I can report that he fits very well among this very talented collection of players. 

The presentation can be seen on ESPN Saturday evening at 8PM.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Time To Man Up

Glenn Beck once again knocks it out of the park.



America needs an attitude adjustment in the worst way.

We need to encourage our youngsters to value the ethos we embraced; those of character, work ethic, responsibility, and perhaps, currently the most elusive of them all, common sense.

If the job needs done right, do it yourself. Don't wait for the other guy to do it, tackle control of the effort. Individuals with a dream and a never say die attitude built this country. Certainly, teamwork of individuals with common goals can achieve great things, including, of course, touchdowns.

Failure is not toxic, but rather a learning opportunity through identifying weaknesses to be built upon.

In addition, it is noted luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.  Indeed, preparation wins in sports and in life.  Visualizing success is also an effective tool, projecting the realization of achieving outlined goals.

Today, many Americans are living the Obama dream, many unemployed, waiting and hoping for someone else, or the massive apparatus of the government, to help. 

Help yourself, dammit man, for nobody cares more about your future success than hopefully you do.

It is time to man up, indeed.  Thanks for the reminder Glenn.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Something In The Air

The college football season has been tremendous this year, from outstanding Color & Pageantry to fantastic finishes.  There have been several Hail Mary touchdowns to win games, notably Nebraska taking down Northwestern in Lincoln, but nothing can compare to the Prayers In Jordan Hare, where Auburn used a miraculous reception and extremely rare return of a missed field goal, of 108 yards mind you, to win back to back games in the rugged Southeastern Conference.
 
Not to be outdone, the National Football League games on week fourteen were the most dramatic ever, with longstanding records having been broken in rapid pace. 

Matt Prater, a UCF product kicking for the Denver Broncos, broke the record for the longest field goal in NFL history, a 64 yarder.  Tom Dempsey, who kicked with club foot, set the record, which has been equaled twice since, in 1973 with the New Orleans Saints.

Among the records were the most fourth quarter lead changes and the most total touchdowns on a single day.  In the final 2:05, five scores took place exchanging the lead before Baltimore edged Minnesota with :09 left.  Miami had not won in Pittsburgh in decades, but as underdogs did so on this day. 

Barely.

The Steelers, took a page from the Cal-Berkley in the Big Game of 1982 by successfully navigating a series of laterals to score the winning touchdown, only to learn the player to hit paydirt stepped out unforced at the thirteen yard line.  The Dolphins win.
 
Let it snow.
 
Several games were played in a winter wonderland.  The dream of most every youngster, to play the game in field of covered snow, was played out on HD screens around the world for all to see.
 
Impacted games included the Minnesota Vikings at the Baltimore Ravens, the Kansas City Chiefs at the Washington Redskins, the Atlanta Falcons at the Green Bay Packers and the Miami Dolphins, pictured below, at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

PHOTO/FinSider

Nothing can compare to the game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia as the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Detroit Lions.  The conditions during the game were incredible, a wild whiteout.

PHOTO/Fansided.com
 
PHOTO/CTVNEWS.COM
 
PHOTO/EONLINE
Having followed both the collegiate game (my favorite) and The National Football League from my earliest memory some 45 seasons ago, I cannot remember searching for the pigskin in such a winter wonderland.  The whiteout got the attention of the nation, deservedly having been the topic of conversation at public schools and water coolers across the fruited plain.

Sadly, the global warming enthusiasts, who failed to find themselves in front of HD television, or for heaven sakes, in the stands of one of these contests.  In fact, on the day following the snowstorms, the administration held it first annual White House Task Force on Climate Preparedness.

As reported on Jim Hoft's Gateway Pundit, "The task force was established to advise the Obama administration “on how the Federal Government can respond to the needs of communities nationwide that are dealing with the impacts of climate change,”

Perhaps they discussed sending some snow plows down to Dallas, who was blanketed over the weekend with ice and frigid temperatures.

Additionally, former Clinton chief of staff John Podesta, who was co founder of The Center for American Progress, has been brought in to help retrieve the sinking second term of President Obama.  Podesta will be tasked to help save Obamacare, which has turned into a catastrophe, and to, according to The Washington Post, "be broad and include climate change issues and executive actions."

The description by the Post is most troubling for those of us who see the real directive behind the actions take by our president.  Among those sounding an alarm is Rush Limbaugh, who nailed it in describing the objective of shredding the Constitution.

As such, it is important to note that global warming, or the newly defined global climate change, is not about weather.  These people have no idea if it is going to rain next Tuesday in their own back yard.  It is about governmental control, the transfer of wealth, and limitations on real property, restricting property rights under the global premise of social justice.

If it was about weather, we all could conclude given the NFL frolicking around in a winter wonderland over the weekend that the earth is not warming.  Certainly, the those pushing climate change regulatory action know it as well.

This weekend, there was something in the air.  In more ways then one.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Do We Get The Picture?

Nelson Mandela
(RICHARD LEWIS/AP)
Today, in South Africa, was the funeral of Nelson Mandela, who died this past week at 95.  Mandela, who was held prisoner for some 27 years, is an interesting iconic political figure to be sure who was held in high regard around world. 

Through an association with Oprah Winfrey, a friend of mine met Mandela in 2000, and was deeply moved. She noted at his passing that Mandela provided a "blueprint showing each of us that by staying in-spirit, rather than in-ego & fear, it is possible to overcome anything".  She has that right.

It is said Mandela was free to be released on an annual basis if he would simply renounce terrorism, which he never did.  But rather than focus on that potential line in the sand, we can note the actions of Mandela after he gained his freedom.  Adjectives such as peace, freedom and most importantly, forgiveness, come to mind.

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others" is a noted quote from Mandela expressing his thoughts on freedom. 

While there is little doubt Mandela will live forever as a pioneer of freedom for many and an everlasting ambassador of forgiveness, it must be noted that Mandela was a communist, a political party that controls its citizenry and places substantial limitations on freedom.

While many of us vehemently disagree with the political affiliation and associations with fellow political leaders that at a minimum embrace communism held by Mandela, we must recognize that much good came from many examples he set until the time of his death.

Therefore, it was entirely appropriate for dignitaries around the world to pay homage to this man for his many contributions to the advancement of freedom for millions.  From the United States, among many, were former presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush.  Of course, President Barack Obama and the First Lady attended, with Obama speaking.

Sadly, as expected, the arrogance of Obama could not be contained. 

In his speech, President Obama cited himself on numerous occasions, and if there are boundaries to the arrogance of Obama, we would need Captain James T. Kirk to consult Mr. Spock to locate them. It is alarming and sad America has put herself in the position of having this narcissist as our president.

The narcissist in chief behaved like a spoiled brat all afternoon, embarrassing and demeaning yet again not only the stature of our nation, but torquing the First Lady.  She sent ole Barack the "death glare".
FLOTUS is far from pleased; we are embarrassed.
Engaging in laughter at this solemn time, embracing all the teen rage by posing for "selfies" during the event and exchanging pleasantries with the Prime Minister of Denmark (a female if you were wondering) is without question inappropriate behavior for my teenager, much less our president representing the United States in an official capacity.


It is all about ME!
In addition, Obama shook the hand of the leader of Cuba, a longstanding enemy who currently hold US citizens hostage, which any freedom loving American with their head out of the sand would be appalled by.

Election as the President of the United States is not an invitation to engage in your own reality television program, hit the late night talk show circuit, host concerts, attend sporting events, play endless golf and chase sexual partners. Many of those activities are left for those of us outside of the top level of public service, where the existence of our nation and lives of our citizenry are at stake.

Shame on our citizens who either are idiots or failed to adhere to their responsibilities during the election process to elected this charlatan, particularly the second time around.  Obama does not see this country the way our founders, or you and I, see it, and I think his actions seemingly on a daily basis provide multiple exhibits.

The citizenry should immediately engage in the necessary legal steps to have Obama impeached, and removed from office prior to an epic financial or terrorist action leaves us in such great peril that odds of a full recovery are remote.

Perhaps that is the result President Obama is seeking?  As with Nelson Mandela, actions speak louder than words.