Hardwood Hopes

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

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

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

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

Having Traveled Through These Gates

I had the occasion to attend a local showing of this wonderful documentary film about "what it means to be a Cornhusker, because being a 'Husker is bigger than football."  

For many of us, this hits home. Growing up, it was my dream to play football for the University of Nebraska, a dream I failed to make materialize.  However, my passion for the Big Red has never wavered, although I am now also a Florida State Seminole, my Alma mater.

Beyond the deep rooted tradition, there is simply much more about those who form the fabric of the Husker Nation.

Please see the official trailer for "Through These Gates".

 

Directed and Produced by Ryan Tweedy, this outstanding documentary travels through the life of typical Cornhusker fans who express how meaningful life in the red is as a base of moral compass for those who embrace the passion for the Big Red.



Outside Memorial Stadium in Lincoln above an entrance reads "Through These Gates Pass The Greatest Fans in College Football".  This film "gives glimpse into the world of the Cornhuskers examining true sportsmanship, genuine community and unconditional love" in splendid fashion.

Courage; Generosity; Fairness; Honor; In these are the true awards of manly sport.  Indeed, There Is No Place Like Nebraska!

No War On Women At Daytona

During the last election campaign, we were led to believe by the Obama campaign and the mainstream media that Republicans were waging a war on women.  Obviously, as usual with this group who seek to demonize, ridicule and discredit their opponents, nothing could be further from the truth.

That does not mean they were not successful in creating the false narrative.  In threatening a potential domestic policy described as limiting to women with respect to health care issues, women became terrified of a retracement of women's rights eclipsing reality.  The left, with a complicit media assisting, were relentless in their attack on the issue, which was personalized for many women.

Although the right is certainly against abortion, the base of these attacks were outside of that argument, utilizing an orchestrated attack on contraception, starting from a seemingly out of left field question to GOP primary contender Mitt Romney.  It is recognized that there is a divide with respect to abortion between many women who hold their right to chose dear and those who think the rights of choice end when a human life is conceived. A Mitt Romney victory could not immediately impact the abortion debate, although it was presented it could.

Knowing the falsity of the attacks, the right was somewhat bewildered on why the left would keep running with this seemingly non existent issue.  We had the misfortune of being introduced to Sandra Fluke, and got a very strange campaign ad from a television star few had heard of.

As we examined the aftermath of the re-election of Barack Obama, we found that this false issue actually resonated with women voters.  Polling shows that women were much more concerned about getting contraception, with several options reasonably priced at retail outlets such as Wal-Mart (WMT:NYSE), than losing gainful employment, watching their housing values plummet, rising gas prices and a declining standard of living.

Welcome to the low information voter, or ones who cannot decipher the truth amongst the waves of propaganda.

There is no war on women from the right, and we champion women with great respect.  They are our grandmothers, our mothers, wives, daughters, girlfriends, friends, bosses and co-workers, neighbors, customers and teammates.  They are leaders, champions, and competitors who provide a necessary guidance in all of our lives.  In one of my employment capacities, the director of the department is a woman. We could not and would not want to live without women.

Women play vital roles in the fabric of society. It was women who led the way in the formation of the Tea Party, as noted in a recent column. Women also excel in inventions and innovation, noted in recent years by Sara Blakely, a fellow graduate of The Florida State University, who invented a "body shaping" innovative product in undergarments called Spanx, now a billion dollar operation.

All Americans should champion the success of women, as their success is our success. 

Today, another opportunity exists to celebrate women as Danica Patrick won the pole position for the 55th running of The Great American Race; the Daytona 500.  Patrick recorded the fastest time in her Stewart Haas #10 Go Daddy Chevrolet and became the first female to win a pole for a NASCAR race.

Congratulations Danica!  Good luck running the high banks when they put the field under green on Sunday. No war on women. We will be at Daytona International Speedway, a place with scarce liberal infiltration, Thursday and Sunday, cheering you on!



Danica Patrick wins Daytona 500 pole positon.

Spear Opportunity

First of all, may I say up front I am strongly opposed to all the conference alignment we have witnessed in college football over the last decade or so. The last time I thought major movement made sense was when Boston College, Virginia Tech and Miami joined the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Texas started this new wave by refusing to share revenue in the previous Big XII and forming with ESPN The Longhorn Network. Nebraska, with fan loyalty and football tradition rivaling anyone and everybody, was not going to be second fiddle to Texas and bolted for the Big Ten, with Colorado also heading to the PAC 12. Given the situation, I thought the decision to move for UNL was necessary and principled, ensuring stability for Nebraska moving forward.

Many moves among second rate conferences took place in the aftermath, but the most significant was Missouri and Texas A&M leaving the Big XII for the Southeastern Conference. Then, Pittsburgh and Syracuse joined the ACC, a move that was no doubt centered on the hardwood rather than the gridiron, which left the ACC brass giddy.  As thoughts of the ACC basketball tournament being held at Madison Square Garden were bubbling, it seems focus on where the money was made, football, was temporarily suspended.  In a report on 60 Minutes last night, this focus was in full comprehension by the current Athletic Director at Michigan.

With Rutgers on deck to move on Tuesday, ACC charter member Maryland announced today that the Terrapins will be leaving the ACC for The Big Ten. Maryland and Rutgers are certainly not leaders or legends in anything, so one has to wonder on the merits of this move by Big Ten commissioner Jim Delaney. While it appears they will bring television eyeballs from the New York, DC and Baltimore population centers, I have doubts. That area has a greater appreciation for professional sports. Last Saturday, against highly ranked Florida State, Maryland could not fill their football stadium even with thousands of Seminoles visiting.

Make no mistake, conference realignment is shifting at a fast and furious pace, and we are far from the conclusion.

Brent Beaird of CollegeSportsNotebook.com concurs, with his crystal ball showing the SEC, after going west, looking east to perhaps North Carolina and/or Virginia.

These events are an alarm bell for Florida State University, which simply must, if not having previously done so, adopt a proactive mindset.

Previously, rumors had Florida State and Clemson heading to what remains of The Big XII, which no longer has a league title game and needs one.  But it seems the Seminoles hold a high rate of allegiance to the ACC, who welcomed in the Seminoles in 1992.

However, the landscape is changing; like struggling for footing in an earthquake, and billions of dollars and the future of the university is at stake.  FSU has spent a fortune in blood and money building a football tradition, not withstanding currently sitting as ACC basketball champions.

Previous actions have recently showed the ACC was continuing to build from a basketball mindset, and that is not the FSU pedigree.  The Seminoles seemed content to remain loyal to the ACC, but with Maryland now gone, and with potential replacements far below FSU in most every academic and athletic level, FSU must now look to depart.  Now.

Teams in the SEC, Big Ten and Big XII are guaranteed millions more annual dollars than FSU is in the ACC, and over time, with another four years of economic underachievement at best looming, FSU cannot afford to fail to seek to maximize future opportunities academically, athletically, and of course, financially.  Hopefully, the FSU Board of Trustees has been war gaming these potential issues and has planned avenues of approach.

The horrendous economy has stadiums across the country, even programs which typically are sold flat out like Florida, Michigan and South Carolina, with thousands of empty seats.  FSU, whose massive stadium upgrade is far from paid for, is no exception.

A huge factor in a move would be these leagues forming equivalents to the Big Ten Network.  The SEC is close, and The Big XII could get with ESPN and have The Longhorn network evolve into a Big XII network.

Although Florida State is considered a national program, the SEC is without question the better fit geographically and when considering football tradition, but the Big XII is an intriguing option as well. Annual games against Texas and Oklahoma are attractive. The Big XII would welcome a footprint in Florida, which may in a backward way turn out to be a reason the University of Florida relaxes their opposition to FSU joining the SEC.

Florida State is taking an ACC hit as we speak, unable to climb in the BCS poll to reach a higher payout bowl game, due to the weakness of the conference, leaving money and exposure on the table. Maryland leaving further discredits the ACC, and leaves the future of the conference shaky and down trending. 

Given that, much like Nebraska a few years back, Florida State needs to be proactive and make the best deal available to move in very short order to secure stability and the capitalize on future economic opportunities.  It appears, particularly from a football perspective, the Atlantic Coast Conference will not represent that opportunity.

Capitalism Unconquered

Out on the road promoting his new book No You Can't, John Stossel dropped by my old stomping grounds over at Florida State University. Stossel got together with Dr. James Gwartney, one of my former professors and director of Economic Education at Florida State University.

In the discussion, Stossel engages FSU Economics Professors Dr. Gwartney and Joe Calhoun who argue government can’t create jobs. Opportunity costs, the broken window fallacy and incentives are among the topics visited during the discussion.  Take a listen:


Students from the Economics Department also joined in the discussion, and it is great to know that sound economic theory, centering upon economic freedom, continues to be the centerpiece of the educational environment over at the Bellamy Building.

Free market capitalism remains the best path to prosperity, at Florida State, throughout the fruited plain and across the globe. If only our government recognized this truth.

Seminoles Snaer ACC Tournament Title

Florida State endured a furious rally By North Carolina to win the 2012 ACC Tournament in Atlanta, the Seminoles first ever ACC Championship.

Michael Snaer, tournament MVP, led the way, but this was a team effort, a merger of pinpoint 3 point shooting, timely offensive bursts and a healthy dose of top notch defense.

This was no fluke. After disposing of state rival Miami, the Seminoles took out the storied programs of Duke and North Carolina. FSU had beaten both previously in the season, and ended the Blue Devils 45 game home winning streak.

Seminole Nation is very proud of Coach Leonard Hamilton and the Seminoles for this significant accomplishment, no doubt a defining moment for our basketball program.

Off to the NCAA tournament, the Seminoles, behind their smothering defense and improving offensive field goal percentage, are poised for a deep run.

Not bad at all for a football school.

PHOTO/AP

The Howling Winds

There are GOP front runners, and then there is Mitt Romney. GOP challengers to Romney have risen and fallen, but Romney, who looks the presidential part, has remained steady as she goes hanging around 25%.

At the end of the day, it appears none of the GOP challengers can overtake Romney. Mitt has a long list of endorsers, including Bob Dole, Dan Quayle, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and most notably, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

Newt Gingrich has a few endorsements of his own, including former OU quarterback and Oklahoma Congressman J. C. Watts and Thomas Sowell, of the Hoover Institution, who I admire greatly.

While all these endorsements are wonderful, Romney does not represent the Conservative most Republicans are clamoring for. Romneycare is an albatross, and his belief of man to be participatory in the greatest hoax of all time known as global warming signals big government inclinations all over the place.

Kathleen Parker, a fellow graduate of Florida State University who I rarely agree with, wrote recently in her Washington Post Column that if the GOP does not support Mitt Romney, it is a death wish.

There is a lot to like about Romney, and he likely is the best chance among those currently running to defeat Obama, or so the pundits say. But looking the best among this group is not a life changing experience, and many in the GOP have doubts and are looking over their backs, which is why the winds are howling.

On the heels of a wonderful column by Jeb Bush in the Wall Street Journal today, our friend and WSJ Editorial Board member Steve Moore is out championing a potential entrance of Jeb into the race. While I do not view Jeb as a conservative, he was a very good Governor for eight years here in Florida, and as my friend Van Bo points out, the I-4 corridor will once again be pivotal in deciding Florida, and thus, the nation. With musings about Condi Rice as a VP candidate, a Bush-Rice ticket could do quite well.

Sarah Palin said last night it is not too late to jump in, leaving many to question whether she is reconsidering her status. I am all for it, but not sure she can get enough in the middle to defeat Obama due to the merciless beating she has taken from the biased media. Then again, few thought Reagan could defeat Carter in 1979 at this point in the process.

Is there another candidate rethinking the issue? Paul Ryan? Donald Trump? Mike Huckabee? Who knows.

Should upstart Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who is quite sound on economic issues but as naive as they come on foreign policy, win Iowa, those winds could turn into a hurricane.

There is a long way to go, and not one vote has been cast. Untold events could be on the horizon.

Not withstanding today's strong rally on Wall Street, the Euro crisis is not fixed and could negatively pressure the markets in a lengthy ten minutes. In fact, with the S&P 500 recently breaking its 50 day moving average to the downside, some technical analysts fear the trend is negative. Bank of America's Mary Ann Bartels sees a potential level as low as 935 on the S&P, some 30% below current levels. Throw in a Euro collapse, and free fall comes to mind.

Turmoil in the middle east is another major issue, as is the uncertainty surround the North Korea government in the aftermath of Kim Jug Ill's death.

Certainly, the situation is fluid, and regardless of what the pundits say, Iowa is still wide open. One can only hope a Conservative with firm footing in the first principles finishes strong. If not, those winds will really start howling.

Forgive You Not!

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

Sunday Night Song

Since the Florida State baseball Seminoles failed to reach the College World Series in Omaha yet again, there was no trip to make.

However, with much of I-29 corridor flooding through Iowa up to north of Omaha, baseball may have to take a back seat. Take a look at a report from KFAB Omaha.

This is the worst flooding in the area since 1952. Unfortunately, much of the corn crop in Cornhusker country could be compromised, which will increase prices. These price increases will hit you, as corn is a central product. And, are there potentially deadly nuclear issues taking place at the Fort Calhoun plant north of Omaha? Although Russian sources are saying so, I don't buy it.

Here in Orlando, last night was yet another outstanding performance by Classic Albums Live with Zeppelin IV on the docket. Considering all the flooring, it seemed appropriate for the Sunday Night Song to be a cut off that album, "When the Levee Breaks"

As Robert Plant said, when the levee breaks, you got nowhere to go. Certainly, our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have had extreme weather disrupt the lives.

Plant and Page from 1995 with When the Levee Breaks:

Sixteen is Sweet

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

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

The Surly Bonds

25 years ago today, I was sitting at my Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity house having lunch at Florida State University when the horror happened. A hurt Central Floridian and American, I was scheduled to pick up my girlfriend, who would later become my wife, after her class and informed her of the most unfortunate news. We joined America in mourning. It was a bitterly cold Florida day which shook America to it's core. Ronald Reagan comforted America:

God Bless our Challenger 7 Space Hero's, who have "slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God!"

Sunday Night Song

This week, Florida Governor Charlie Crist got the needed votes to issue a posthumous pardon for Jim Morrison, lead singer for The Doors, for an indecent exposure conviction for an incident during a performance in Miami, Florida.

Morrison, who died in 1971, attended Florida State University before moving out to Los Angeles to attend UCLA. While at FSU, Morrison participated in a promotional video for the University.

So, begging your pardon, the Sunday Night Song tonight is Touch Me, from Jim Morrison and The Doors.

Real Zeal of Obama Radicalism on Israel

The Untied States has always had a special relationship with Israel and rightly so.

In the immediate aftermath of September 11, Benjamin Netanyahu, former Israeli Prime Minister, correctly summarized the "historical imperative" the future will deal us.

We have received a wake up call from hell. Now the question is simple: Do we rally to defeat this evil, while there is still time, or do we press a collective snooze button and go back to business as usual? The time for action is now. Today the terrorists have the will to destroy us, but they do not have the power. There is no doubt that we have the power to crush them. Now we must also show that we have the will to do just that. Once any part of the terror network acquires nuclear weapons, this equation will fundamentally change, and with it the course of human affairs. This is the historical imperative that now confronts all of us. ----------Benjamin Netanyahu 9-20-2001

Certainly, it is without question the Obama administration has aimed to sour the relationship, not only with Israel but with other strong allies like Great Britain. One has to wonder the mindset behind this new line of thinking, one I stand dramatically opposed to.

It is also perplexing that so many of our Jewish citizens supported Obama in the election of 2008, not only as a voting block, but also with strong financial contributions. Obama signaled early he was no friend of Israel, but what is the real story behind Obama's intentions.

Trevor Loudon of The New Zeal presented a recent interview with Richard L. Rubenstein, a former professor of religious studies at among other schools, Florida State University, where he became the professorial chair of religious studies. In 2001, Florida State University created the Richard L. Rubenstein Professorship of Religion. The comments of Dr. Rubenstein must be heard by not only our friends in the Jewish community, but all Americans.



Not only is the mindset of the position of the Obama administration with regard to our relationship with Israel against our historical precedent, it is extremely alarming given the global war on terror and the new historical imperative, as appropriately presented by Netanyahu, that we continue to face.

I really wonder whose side Obama is on, and it increasingly looks like he sits on what I see as the opposing bench.

Freedom Speaking Loud in Youth of America

America's Freedom by 11 year old Sarah Warmack at the Second Tea Party Rally Speech in Tallahassee, Florida on July 4th, 2009.



That is quite a piece of work by young Sarah, who with any luck may stay home and be a future Florida State Seminole.

Speaking of the youth of America, they seem thirsty to get information of the founding of our great nation and the values and principles it was built on. Actress Janine Turner has provided an opportunity for youth to become more engaged on her outstanding website Constituting America, which has a special section for youths headed up by her daughter Juliette. The site provides an outstanding environment for learning the history and interacting with others who share the passion.

Left Aims to Incite Violence

Geraldo Rivera joined most of the other media outlets in an attempt to smear the tea party patriots across this great land on his program Geraldo at Large on Saturday night, and in a follow up interview, Tea Party Express Chairman Mark Williams let him have it. Take a listen:



Rivera acted like he had no idea what Williams was speaking of. Geraldo is therefore either an idiot or is lying about the piece he presented. Did you guess both?

The story in question, which I heard live in its entirety, was for sure a hit piece. Geraldo's brother Craig held an interview with the some chap from the Southern Poverty Law Center in an effort to conflate (ADD MOMENT: don't you just love the new popularity of this word) radical militia groups with the tea partiers and label the tea party participants as angry white racists. Why? For the Obama administration, and progressives in Congress, the tea party is an unexpected problem, and a huge one at that. Therefore, even though they represent middle America and have exhibited zero violence in the thousands of rallies they have held over the past year, they must be discredited.

Certainly, the usual suspects are marching in lock step in the effort to plant the negative narrative about the tea party patriots. Did you hear former President Bill Clinton, as we honor victims on the weekend of the fifteenth anniversary of the Oklahoma city bombing, sound off? How about the deplorable efforts by NBC News. FOX & Friends filed a decent report:



H/T HotAirPundit

NBC News Chris Matthews provided an outlet for Kathleen Parker, a fellow FSU graduate who should really be ashamed of herself, and Time Magazine's Joe Klein to weigh in. Not be left out, CBS News got a late start.

Geraldo came back with further insults to the tea party on his Sunday evening show, interupting a report by the lovely Kimberly Guilfoyle.


video via Gateway Pundit

Understand what is taking place. The Tea Party movement has those in power petrified and fierce and overwhelming steps must be taken to discredit the movement, including putting forth a narrative that paints the movement as radical, even if it is only the good, hard working taxpayers of America. This is despicable behavior by our leaders and the mainstream media, as it appears from their actions they are trying to incite violence.

Martin Luther King, JR would be appalled! So is middle America, and so am I!

Private and Public Choice

With our economy staggering from the burst of the housing bubble, our elected leaders are implementing economic policies that they hope will cure the ills.

Did you pay attention in economics class? I actually did, and I have to say I would be doing about the opposite of the Obama administration in combating the economic issues.

In a recent event hosted by The James Madison Institute honoring the birthday of famed economist Milton Friedman, one of my former professors, Dr. James Gwartney of Florida State University, makes commentary on the economic issues of the day.

If you failed to pay attention in class back in day, take 10 to get a refresher.



Government is not the answer, as there is no free lunch. Stay true to the Kudlow Creed, as free market capitalism remains the best path to prosperity.

Captain Speicher Comes Home



Capt. Speiker

The saga of Captain Michael Scott Speicher, thought to have been shot down on the first night of the Gulf War, has been wearing on many Americans.
Now, his remains have been identified and in fact Speicher was indeed shot down on that night 18 years ago. Although the finality of his death is sad, Captain Speicher can now rest in peace.

Speichers fellow alumni at Florida State University, where the new Speicher Tennis Center is named in his honor, and the citizens of The United States of America appreciate his service and will always remember him as a Hero.

God Bless You Captain Speicher!

THE MICHAEL SCOTT SPEICHER TENNIS CENTER AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Top Party Schools 2009

The Princeton Review has released their annual list of top party schools of 2009.

Some 122,000 students were surveyed and Penn State is the 2009 champion.

My old stomping grounds up at Florida State came in a very respectable 9th.

Obviously, the partaking has fallen off some since I left, but let it be known we did plenty of damage back in the day. The evidence of our efforts is captured in this 1986 photo from the best bar on campus, The Phyrst.

Unfortunately, the Phyrst was bulldozed and is now a dormitory.


Oh, the good ole days. How bout them 'Noles!

Political Crossroad Approaching Fast

With the announcement that US Senator Mel Martinez (R:FL), an Orlandoan and fellow Seminole whose term I view as a solid disappointment, will not seek re-election, a list of candidates on both sides has emerged. It is on the Republican side that a real time for choosing is at hand, as it appears this election will be a microcosm for the entire country.

The Republican battle seems to be between current Florida Governor Charlie Christ and former Speaker of The State House of Representatives Marco Rubio. The debate has begun.



The popularity of Charlie Christ has dropped considerably over the last several months. I have met Christ, voted for him for Governor and generally like him (another fellow Seminole). Like many, I was appalled when he joined with President Obama in supporting the stimulus, or spendulus, package, which has been quite unsuccessful.

In thinking of the unsavory direction the Obama administration is taking the country, and in particular the spending package which Christ supports, the time is now to stand up and separate ourselves from the politicians which do not stand behind a set of core conservative principles. The primary is the place to put forth a candidate that has those principles, which will make you vote for a candidate in the general election rather than choosing the best of two evils.

That candidate in this Senate race is Marco Rubio, who has established a solid record in the State House, inclduing on the very important issue of property rights, and is vigorously against the policies put forth by the Obama administration. I hope you will join me in supporting Rubio in the primary.

If Christ prevails, he will get my support over the list of Democrats currently running. And if I see him up in the University Center at an FSU game, I will respectfully give him a piece of my mind.

Lets get behind Rubio to make sure this does not happen! In my opinion, America is at a very dangerous crossroad. The time for choosing is now!

Seminoles Blast A Towering Shot

After starting the season playing in uncharacteristically bad form, the Florida State baseball Seminoles, complete with some position changes, seem to have hit stride here at the right time as a potential trip to Omaha looms.

Although the Orlando Sentinel felt compelled to place the Gators baseball victory on the front page today, it was Florida State that assaulted the record books in destroying Ohio State by four touchdowns and a field goal, 37-6, after calling the dogs off in the fifth inning.

Among the 12 records set were NCAA tourney records for hits, runs and total bases and an NCAA record for doubles in a game with 15. The record for individual hits in a postseason game with seven was recorded by shortstop Stephen Cardullo.

Back in December, I had a chance to visit with Coach Mike Martin, which is always a pleasure. After coming up short in Omaha last year and losing the nations best player in Buster Posey to MLB, it seemed a tall climb for FSU to make it back to Omaha this year. For now, the Seminoles still have to get through a Super Regional to get there. But, it looks like the bats are alive and kicking, and I am hungry for a visit to Gorat's Steakhouse myself. Go 'Noles